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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2017)
WARRIORS SEN. WYDEN CLAIM TALKS TRIBAL TITLE ISSUES SPORTS/1B 67/43 BUCKS HONOR HODGEN REGION/3A SPORTS/1B TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017 141st Year, No. 171 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2016 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Columbia River bridge begins long-term repair By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Interstate 82’s Oregon-bound bridge into Umatilla will be closed for more than a year for construction. Travel over the Columbia River will be reduced to the newer Wash- ington-bound bridge, which will have one lane dedicated to eastbound traffi c and one lane for westbound traffi c starting on or shortly after July 4. Work on creating the detour for eastbound travelers started Monday, reducing the Oregon-bound bridge to one lane of travel for the remainder of the month before full closure. The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to replace the patch-fi lled deck of the steel truss bridge, built in 1955, and do small upgrades to lighting and drainage. The bridge is expected to re-open sometime in the fall of 2018. “We do frequent closures throughout the year to fi x potholes,” WSDOT spokeswoman Summer Derrey said. “This will alleviate that.” See BRIDGE/8A Staff photo by E.J. Harris South bound traffi c is reduced to one lane at the Umatilla bridge over the Columbia River on Monday in Umatilla. HERMISTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PENDLETON A CLASS ABOVE Air taxi project clear for takeoff By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian Standing at a podium in the Pend- leton Unmanned Aerial Systems Range new hangar, Mayor John Turner told the audience about the Oregon Trail and the pioneer transportation made possible by wagon and livestock. “We can only imagine how the United States will be changed by a new way of transportation called UAS,” he said. Turner, politicians and aviation offi - cials convened at the new, 9,600 square foot hangar Saturday to celebrate the facility’s fi rst tenant — A 3 , a Silicon Valley affi liate of French aviation giant Airbus. A 3 plans to use the hangar and the test range to develop Project Vahana — an automated, electric-powered personal aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing. The A 3 website states it “can be an air taxi, but it can also be used as a cargo delivery platform, ambulance, search and rescue, mobile hospital, limousine, or even as a tool to deploy modular infrastructure in disaster sites.” A 3 Project Manager Herve Hilaire said Project Vahana would be a better short-range transportation option than cars or trains. He showed the audience a video with 3-D animated scenes of the Vahana concept fl ying around cityscapes as text fl ashed across the screen touting its features, like radar, cameras, senors, GPS and an emergency parachute. “We’re not just talking about a dream here,” he said. “We’re ready to fl y.” Hilaire said they expect to begin Staff photo by Kathy Aney Members of the 2017 Hermiston High School graduating class and their family and friends listen to one of the speakers during Saturday’s graduation ceremony in the gym. Class of 2017 largest in high school’s history By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian An hour before the largest class in Hermiston High School’s history graduated, the halls and sidewalks teemed with family and friends ready to celebrate the special day. “This is my second grandchild to graduate from Hermiston High School,” said Linda Johnson, a grandmother of HHS graduate Gabriela Rosales. “I’m so excited for her future and for her.” Johnson, who traveled from Moses Lake, Washington, was not alone. In the room next door, the 332 almost-graduates waited — some giddy and some nervous about the changes to come. For some, the moment represented years of hard work. “Traveling here was kind of a big move for me,” said Emilio Landin, who came to the area from Ontario when he was in fourth grade. “Getting that diploma, I’ve had to fi ght through a lot of obstacles. Every student has.” He smiled. “Ah, I’m getting all choked up now.” Landin said he plans to attend Eastern Oregon University or Blue See HERMISTON/8A 332 286 $4,354,440 Hermiston High School graduates Scholarships awarded (119 local) In scholarships awarded (as reported by students) Staff photo by Kathy Aney Blayne Benham adjusts Lillie Wheeler’s mortarboard shortly before the two friends and their class proceeded in to their school’s 107th annual commencement at Herm- iston High School. See HANGAR/8A PENDLETON March for equality draws large crowd Estimated 150 gather in support of LGBT rights By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian Staff photo by E.J. Harris John Thomas of Pendleton, carrying a full-sized fl ag, chants with marchers during an the Equality March for Pride and Unity on Sunday in Pendleton. More than 130 people participated in weekend march. In a fi rst for Pendleton, more than 100 people gathered in the downtown area in support of LGBT rights. The local chapter of PFLAG, an organization that supports members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, organized the Sunday march in support of More online For video from the march visit eastoregonian.com the National Equality March on Washington. Besides the occasional gawker, Pendleton PFLAG founder Vickie Read said as many 150 people marched down Main Street without attracting insults, rude gestures or any other disturbances. See EQUALITY/8A
