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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2017)
Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian COUNCIL: Keith wants to focus on recruiting new businesses Continued from 1A “It inspired me to say we need to start doing something really strong locally, because that’s what we can control,” he said. Keith has a varied back- ground in business and real estate, serves as the clinic director at Umatilla Medical Clinic and as a volunteer fi re- fi ghter paramedic. He said he is busy, but knows how to balance his time and will make the time to effectively serve as a city councilor. He said he is interested in helping pull together more community events and social gatherings to bring the city together. He also said that over the next fi ve years he believes two of the most important things the city can do to encourage development is to focus on recruiting new businesses and on zoning issues. “In order to get built up, you have to make sure every- thing is zoned right,” he said. Keith and Torres-Medrano were appointed to fi ll seats that were vacated by Mary Dedrick and David Lougee in May. Dufl oth, who was appointed as mayor in May after the resignation of David Trott, said when he served as a city councilor a few years ago sometimes there were only two or three people in the audience. He said the fact that there were so many council candidates, and about 30 audience members who showed up to watch the process, was a sign things are changing in Umatilla. ——— Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastorego- nian.com or 541-564-4536. MUSIC: Will have more sales areas for drinks Continued from 1A the doors open and between sets, DJ Sovern-T will spin songs. With the exception of a few handicap-accessible seats, McAnally said the 16,500-person arena has been sold out. However, an allotment of artist tickets will be made available for purchase on the Whisky Fest website at 10 a.m. Friday. On concert night, doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and Little McKay Creek Band will begin at 5 p.m., with Runaway Jane following at 6 p.m., MAGIC! at 7:30 p.m. and Maroon 5 at 9 p.m. McAnallay said orga- nizers have been working “nonstop” to solve last year’s drink line issues. Besides establishing more sales areas, McAnally said Whisky Fest will allow attendees to buy scrips to purchase alcohol before the concert at a tent at Roy Raley Park and at event campsites. The Pendleton Whisky Music Fest would be incom- plete without Pendleton Whisky, and the event will serve three different types of the brand. Additionally, Whisky Fest will also feature, vodka, a craft brew garden from Elysian Brewing Co. of Seattle, and beers and wines from Hodgen Distributing, a Budweiser distributor. SOLAR: Land currently zoned for exclusive farm use Continued from 1A will also be invited to weigh in with comments. Laura Miner, a develop- ment manager for Invenergy who works out of Portland, said the Boardman facility will be located on land leased from Threemile Canyon Farms south of Interstate 84 and along the county line separating Morrow and Gilliam counties. While the solar farm itself would be built entirely within Morrow County, a 115-kilovolt trans- mission line would cross into Gilliam County in order to tie in with the Bonneville Power Administration elec- trical grid. The land is currently zoned for exclusive farm use, though Miner said it does not have a water right and insisted the solar farm would not take valuable cropland out of production. Still, the project will require a special exception to Oregon statewide planning goals — specifi cally Goal 3, which deals with agricul- tural lands. “We’ve found a pretty good spot to put the solar farm that will minimize impacts,” Miner said. Carla McLane, Morrow County planning director, described the property as scrubby, rocky desert with minimal historical use for cattle grazing. “It has been incredibly limited,” McLane said. “I think people look at this and recognize it’s very rocky.” Morrow County has been experiencing greater interest from solar developers over the past 18 months, McLane said, especially as industry costs have become more competitive. She said four to six developers have had conversations recently about capitalizing on solar in the county. “They’re not this big, but they are larger rather than smaller,” McLane said. Jeff Bissonnette, executive director of the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association, said the Boardman proposal is indicative of industrial scale solar taking hold in Oregon. He estimated costs have fallen as much as 50 percent in the last 18 months and are continuing to come down. “It’s getting very close to being cost-competitive with traditional resources, including gas,” Bissonnette said. “I defi nitely think this is a trend we’re going to see over the next couple of years.” According to the Solar Energy Industries Asso- ciation, Oregon has 264.2 megawatts of solar energy installed across the state and is projected to add another 2,100 megawatts over the next fi ve years. At 75 megawatts, Boardman would become by far the biggest installa- tion to date. No other single facility tops 10 megawatts. Not only are costs coming down, but Miner added the Boardman project would be located near I-84 and existing transmission infrastructure, which only sweetens the deal. “It’s not the best site in Oregon, but there are other factors that have helped all this come together,” Miner said. Assuming there are no bumps in the road, Miner said the plan is to get a site certifi cate either later this year or in early 2018, and wrap up construction by the end of 2019. “I think we’re almost there,” she said. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0825. SUICIDE: Hospital to host Suicide Intervention Skills Training Continued from 1A to be the eighth-leading cause of death for Orego- nians, and 42 percent higher than the national average. ‘13 Reasons Why’ Mental health profes- sionals have cautioned that while it’s important to talk about suicide, there’s a way to do so without glamorizing or misrepresenting it. A popular television series released this year has raised concern about how to safely address suicide. “Thirteen Reasons Why,” a book by Jay Asher, follows the story of a young woman who commits suicide. After her death, her friend discovers a box of 13 cassette tapes she left, each addressed to a person who was a contributing factor, or “reason” she decided to take her own life. The book was recently made into a 13-episode Netfl ix series rated for mature audiences. Schools and mental health professionals said the show’s handling of suicide is problematic. “It’s very complex,” said Melody Bustillos, a counselor at Hermiston High School. “(The show) oversimplifi es it. We want reasons or someone to blame, and it’s not that simple.” Hermiston High School’s counselors said they have not seen the show, but that many of their peers said its message is dangerous. “It highlights issues that, without someone there to answer questions, can create potential problems,” said Maggie Hughes-Boyd, also a Hermiston High School counselor. In schools, suicide is discussed in the context of mental health and students learn about the signs and symptoms in health class. “Specifi cally, we talk about the difference between being depressed and being suicidal,” said Hughes- Boyd, adding that the two are not always hand-in-hand. She said students also learn how to be a resource for their peers. “If one of their friends or family members is showing signs of suicide, we teach them steps to take, not as a professional, but as a friend, to seek help from a trusted adult,” she said. How a community responds to suicide By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian If a student discusses, attempts or commits suicide, counselors try to ensure the safety of everyone affected. “Our primary concern is with the student themselves, but we need to be aware that it could be very traumatic for friends or other people as well,” said Melody Bustillos, a counselor at Hermiston High School. She said if a student dies by suicide, the school treats it as they would any other sudden death. “Our fi rst priority is, if there are any family members or siblings in the district, we support them,” she said. “We take the friend group, if they were part of a team or club, and look at how we can support them. Then we look at the greater school population. How can we support both students and staff?” Bustillos said the district can provide a crisis fl ight team, if necessary, to offer a safe environment where students and staff can grieve. The counselors said they’re careful with the information they release, too. “A lot of times nowadays with social media or even the newspaper, we know how information can get sent that’s inaccu- rate,” said counselor Cristina Cuevas. “So The students get lists of local and national resources like Safe Oregon, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and local resources such as the Umatilla County Crisis Line. Ending the stigma If a student seeks help at school, the counselor will contact a mental health authority, such as Lifeways, which will send a clinician to talk to the student. They will then assess and make a safety plan for the student — a series of steps to keep them safe. If a student’s safety is jeopardized, counselors make it clear they may have to share concerns with parents, the police or mental health professionals. “We talk to the person about what to do when they’re feeling upset,” said Carol Eck, director of Life- ways. “We make it clear how they’ll (follow the plan.)” Eck said the organization also works in 30 schools throughout Umatilla County, providing skills training for how things like anger management, self-assertion, interacting with others and dealing with bullies. While many are uncom- fortable talking about STUDENT OF THE WEEK Cassidy Welch Pendleton High School Submit information on community events to: community@eastorego- nian.com or drop off to the attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Hermiston or Re- nee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call 541-564-4539 or 541- 966-0818 with questions. Wednesday, June 7, 2017 • Varsity Cheerleader • Went to State as an alto voice solo • Wake up at 5am for early morning Bible Study (seminary) • Accomplished pianist • Sings the national anthem for many school activities • She is a Link Crew Leader for the Leadership class of Pendleton High School • Youth Camp Leader at girls church camp • Loves her Bucks •Full schedule of Chemistry, US History, Algebra, Spanish, English and two music classes • Has GPA of 3.6 Proudly Sponsored By: 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton, OR • 541-276-5121 we try to convey only factual information, that we get directly from the police depart- ment, to reduce rumors.” The school will only release that the death was a suicide if it is confi rmed by the police department. If a student’s family requests that it be withheld, the school will comply.. “The means by which they died is not as important as supporting those grieving,” Bustillos said. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said when his department investigates a potential suicide, offi cers treat evidence as if the circumstances were suspicious — as they would any other case. “Before we reach any conclusions, we have to turn over every rock we can,” he said. “And on top of that, we’re dealing with incredible emotions.” He said most Hermiston offi cers have been instructed in crisis intervention training and deal with people in distress daily. But ultimately, he said, its the people who are close to someone who can tell when that person may be suicidal. “Parents need to be in tune about what their kids are doing,” he said. He added that in the last few years, it has become especially important to be aware of what’s going on with kids on social media, with cyberbullying and suicide, mental health professionals hope it will one day be discussed as widely as any other health issue. “We speak about other public health concerns fairly openly, like alcoholism or cigarette use,” said Amy Ashton-Williams, director of Umatilla County Human Services. “If it increases your awareness, it increases your ability to make better choices. The same goes for suicide. If we can speak candidly, instead of attempting to hide it, maybe (people) can get help or guidance.” Ashton-Williams and Amanda Walsborn, a prevention education specialist with the Umatilla County Health Department, have organized suicide prevention training and programs locally. Further training The two most have also trained in suicide “post- vention,” or following up with different members of a community where someone has committed suicide. “It shows how death by suicide affects every aspect of a community,” Ashton-Williams said. “Law enforcement, schools, the faith community, public health. They all have a piece in how they support .... it’s a ripple effect.” There are “gatekeeper trainings” available for anyone who wants to be able to identify the signs of someone at risk for suicide. An upcoming opportunity is the ASIST program, or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, which will be June 26-27 at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. The training teaches participants to recognize signs of suicide, perform an intervention and develop a plan for safety. There is also QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training, a course to teach people outside the mental health profession how to help someone in crisis. Walsborn said there are plans for mental health programs geared at teens, to increase understanding of mental health and coping strategies. She said a peer mentor- ship program is in progress at the middle and high school level in Pendleton, which will aim to promote healthy behaviors and prevent behaviors that lead “If it increases your awareness, it in- creases your ability to make better choic- es. The same goes for suicide. If we can speak candidly, instead of attempt- ing to hide it, maybe (people) can get help or guidance.” — Amy Ashton-Williams, director of Umatilla County Human Services to risk of suicide. “This group focuses on discouraging substance abuse, talking about mental health at a peer level,” she said. Walsborn said many people think asking someone if they’re thinking about suicide will encourage them to do it, but that’s not the case. “Research shows that it’s not going to put the idea in peoples’ heads,” she said. “They want someone to care.” She said it’s diffi cult to get licensed mental health professionals to come to a rural area, but that shortage makes it more important for community members to step up. “There’s a county in Washington that has the most CPR-certifi ed people in the United States,” Walsborn said. “They say it’s ‘the safest place to have a heart attack.’ If we can make Umatilla County a safer community for mental health — there’s a lot of power in the individual.” Bustillos said she hopes people will remember that help is available. “It’s important that everyone feels like it’s their responsibility to look out for their community,” she said. “That community could be a church, their neighborhood, family, schools. But it’s all of our responsibilities to know what warning signs are, and to do something if you see something.” ——— Contact Jayati Ramakrishnan at 541-564- 4534 or jramakrishnan@ eastoregonian.com OPENINGS FOR OPERATORS OF NEW RETAIL LIQUOR LOCATIONS OLCC is recruiting applicants for new retail liquor locations. The open recruitment process is a market-driven effort to improve customer convenience by expanding retail liquor locations with a measured, but consistent amount of growth. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is accepting applications and aiming to add new retail liquor locations in the following counties: Baker County Crook County Deschutes County Gilliam County Grant County Hood River County Jefferson County Morrow County Sherman County Umatilla County Union County Wallowa County Wasco County Wheeler County Applicants are evaluated on background, knowledge and work experience in: • Retail business management • Inventory/cash management • Retail sales and operation • Customer service/public relations in a retail environment • Financial ability to open and operate a retail liquor location A detailed business plan will be required as part of the application process. For additional information on open recruitment for new retail liquor locations and application information, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/LIQUORSTORES/Pages/liquorsalesoutlets_openrecruitment.aspx Questions can be directed to OLCC.RetailServices@oregon.gov or call 503-872-5020 (toll-free 1-800-426- 2004, Dept # 62). Provide your name, email address and phone number. Applications can also be picked up at 9079 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Portland, OR 97222. An application with a business plan must be received at OLCC’s main office in Portland at the above address, by 5:00 PM, Monday, July 31st, 2017. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted. Additional open recruitments for these areas and others in the state may occur in the future.
