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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2017)
Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Wednesday, June 14, 2017 City of Pendleton, school district consider trading lots By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian The city of Pendleton is interested in trading a park to the Pendleton School District in return for a gravel lot. At a Pendleton School Board meeting Monday, members discussed swapping McKay Park, a six-acre park adjacent to McKay Creek Elementary School, for a mostly vacant lot east of the Pend- leton Early Learning Center. Each side has future develop- ment in mind for the two properties. Michelle Jones, the district’s director of business services, said acquiring the park would fit into the school system’s longterm planning. If the district decided to build a new McKay School, it would need more space for construction and demolition, similar to how Wash- ington and Sherwood Heights used their excess land when building new elementary schools in 2016. Obtaining the park would provide more space for construc- tion, Jones said. City Manager Robb Corbett said the city’s interest in the block east of the learning center lies in its potential for housing development. As a property zoned for central mixed use, the land can be used for either retail or high density housing. Additionally, removing the park from the city’s inventory would save money through decreased maintenance costs, although Corbett wasn’t sure how much. Corbett said the two sides haven’t discussed the issue too much beyond the initial proposal. The council hasn’t discussed the issue in an open meeting either. At the meeting, board members wanted some questions answered before opening negotiations. Board member Dave Krumbein said he was concerned about the potential for flooding from the nearby McKay Creek, which flooded the area in 1991. Jones said she referenced Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps, which showed a small section of the northeast corner of the park was in a zone with a 1 percent chance of annual flood. A larger swath of the park was in a zone with a 0.2 percent chance. Board member Gary George was concerned about the land swap being a fair trade, given that the district’s property was worth more than the city’s. Referencing Umatilla County records, Jones said McKay Park was worth $209,000 in real market value while the district’s property was worth $276,000. Board member Steve Umbarger suggested inquiring whether the city would be amenable to a water utility credit equal to the difference in property values. The board decided not to take any action while they had staff FOOD: July will feature Cupcake Wars, pizza cooking Continued from 1A of farm-to-table as a way to teach kids about local ingredients while also promoting the farmers market on Main Street. “I just think it’s a really important resource,” Nash said. The group arrived right as the market opened at 4 p.m., carrying grocery bags the kids decorated with brightly colored markers. Nash had already spoken with vendors ahead of time, and each stop gave the kids a chance to ask questions and taste free samples. Their shopping list included bread from Rolling Stone Bakery in Pend- leton, veggies from Crafton Farms in Hermiston, strawberries from Aichele Farms in Stanfield and homemade cheese from Umapine Creamery just outside Milton-Freewater. “It’s an important thing for kids to know where their food comes from,” Nash said. After loading up their bags, the class walked several blocks back to the Pendleton Foundation Room downstairs in the rec center. They then broke into smaller groups that took responsibility for prepping one course of the meal. Holden, Coleman and Nieves paid close attention as they were shown how to rinse and slice the strawberries. “Remember, you gotta set them up like a little hat. And watch your HOUFMUSE: Charged with attempted murder in 2005 Continued from 1A Staff photo by E.J. Harris Angie Nash of Pendleton passes out ranch dip to students in her Kids in the Kitchen cooking class Friday in the Pendleton Recreation Center kitchen. fingers!” Nash cautioned. Chopping was Coleman’s favorite part of the whole process. The girls also pulled small pits out of the vanilla cupcakes, so the strawberries would rest in the center. “Kids just want to be helpers,” Nash said. “And I want the kids to feel confident in working a knife and peeler, and helping their moms and dads in the kitchen.” Kids in the Kitchen is targeted to kids ages 5 to 10. Nash said they will try to do another farm-to-table class in August. Cupcake Wars will also be held July 11-12, and pizza cooking on July 25. For more information about activities and registration, download the Pendleton Parks and Recreation spring-summer 2017 guide at www. pendletonparksandrec.com. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0825. QUILT: Relay for Life is on Saturday at Roy Raley Park Continued from 1A Pendleton and Hermiston combine Relay for Life to take on the project, the store owner immediately said she would do it. Despite no prior involvement with Relay for Life, Webb said using her talents to make a difference in people’s lives appealed to her. “I liked the idea in doing it that it would raise money to help local people,” Webb said. While she has created more than 20 quilts, Webb had never undertaken a project to make one out of T-shirts. However, she has pondered the idea to make one from her granddaughter’s sports T-shirts. ElRae and Pete were thrilled that Webb was willing to make the quilt. The couple provided all the supplies and Webb donated her time and even gave a discount on materials that needed to be purchased to complete the project. “Cindy made a beautiful quilt,” ElRae said. “And the shirts are out of the closet — it’s a win-win situation all around.” A survivor of both prostate cancer and squamous cell carcinoma, Pete has participated in Relay events for more than a decade. Over the years, he had amassed more than two dozen T-shirts, sometimes collecting several different shirts at each event, including ones for being on the event committee, a team shirt and special survivor shirts. The former ambassador didn’t have a problem parting with the shirts. The Pendleton and Hermiston communities combined efforts to form the Relay for Life of Umatilla County. The event, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Roy Raley Park, Pendleton. People are invited to come out and enjoy the fun while raising money to fight cancer. “Everyone is affected by cancer,” said event lead Carol Preston. “I want that statement to become ‘untrue.’ If we work together we can do it.” The opening ceremonies are at 10 a.m., followed immediately by the survivor lap. Other highlights include a free survivor luncheon at 11 a.m., a silent auction from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., a fight back ceremony at 7 p.m., the luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. and the closing ceremony at 9:45 p.m. Live entertainment and other activities are planned throughout the event. Money raised from Relay for Life helps fund research and provides assistance with patient care programs. In addition, funds are used to develop and distribute education and prevention information. By combining the two major relay events in Umatilla County, Preston said it cuts overhead. The goal, she said, is to double the amount of money going to research in five years. “Each of us can contribute to this goal,” she said. “Exciting things are coming from this research — fewer people are dying from cancer, that is the goal.” For more information, contact Preston at relaypendleton@yahoo.com, 541-379-6294 or visit www.facebook.com/pdtrelay. “If you do another Relay, you get another one,” he said. The Wells’ said Webb masterfully crafted the T-shirts into a beautiful quilt. The Pendleton business owner said the final project is approximately 90-inches by 90-inches. Predominately purple — the official color of Relay for Life, which represents hope — the quilt also has splashes of other colors. “I’m overwhelmed,” Pete said about the finished project. “It is beautiful,” ElRae added. “She did such a wonderful job. You would never even know those are T-shirts.” Raffle tickets for the quilt are $5 each. They are available at Saturday’s Relay for Life of Umatilla County at Roy Raley Park or by calling ElRae Wells at 541-379-3239. ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastorego- nian.com or 541-564-4539 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 gather more information. It was only recently that the district decided not develop its property near the learning center. The former location of the district office, school officials originally intended to use remaining money from the $55 million bond passed in 2013 to demolish the remaining building and turn the land into “green space” for the neighborhood. While the district still plans to demolish the building, it doesn’t have the budget to develop the land further, leaving it as a gravel lot sometimes used for parking. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. 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. Judge Dan Hill set the bail at $1 million, citing the nature of Houfmuse’s charges. Houfmuse will appear before a grand jury later this week, and the preliminary hearing is set for June 20 at 8:15 a.m. at the Stafford Hansell Building in Herm- iston. Cragun’s mother and sister were in the courtroom for the arraignment. “We’re hoping for no bail,” said his mother, Beverly Cragun, shortly before the arraignment. “Hopefully, this time he stays in jail and doesn’t get the chance to do this to anybody else,” said his sister, Cynthia Bailey. Bailey said from what she had heard, her brother and Houfmuse knew each other back in high school, but she knew little about their relationship leading up to her brother’s death. She also said Houfmuse was dating her brother’s ex-girlfriend. Bailey said several people witnessed Cragun’s death, but the Umatilla County District Attorney’s office would not comment on whether there were witnesses to the incident. Beverly Cragun said she saw her son Friday morning, the day before he died. “He was very upbeat, and in a really good mood,” she said. Cragun said her son has three children aged 15, 11 and 7. “They’re all taking this very hard,” she said. Cragun and Bailey said they were surprised to hear that Houfmuse had been found in Umatilla. “I figured they’d find him in Washington, where every- body said he was,” Bailey said. Houfmuse’s last listed address was in Tacoma, Washington. Houfmuse has been arrested in the past for violent disputes, most recently a shooting in November 2014 outside a Kennewick bar. That incident left another man paralyzed. Houfmuse was arrested in Hermiston for that shooting, but a jury in 2015 determined he had acted in self-defense. He was also charged in 2005 with attempted murder after he allegedly fired shots into a moving vehicle with three people inside. The attempted murder charge was dropped, but he was charged with menacing, assault in the third degree, unlawful use of a weapon against another, criminal mischief and unlawful possession of a firearm. –—— Contact Jayati Ramakrishnan at 541-564- 4534 or jramakrishnan@ eastoregonian.com. Phil Wright contributed to this story. HEALTH: Bill requires three-fifths majority in both chambers to pass Continued from 1A Hansell said he did not object to the provider assess- ment itself, as it appeared that hospitals and other providers were on board with the provisions in the bill, but he was concerned about the 1.5 percent assessment on private insurance premiums outlined in the legislation, a concern shared by Sen. Alan DeBoer, R-Ashland. Because it creates new taxes, the bill requires a three-fifths majority in both chambers to pass. Republican opposition Tuesday could indicate that the legislation faces some hurdles to meeting that threshold. The current version of the bill also taxes coordinated care organizations and the Public Employees Benefits Board, which administers benefits for certain public employees. Medicaid is largely paid for by the federal government. But Oregon, like other states that signed on to expand Medicaid under the Afford- able Care Act, has to take on an increasing share of the costs of the expansion under the act The $673 million in expected proceeds could yield nearly $1.9 billion in matching federal funds for the state. The tax is a significant part of Democratic lawmakers’ efforts to close what they say is a $1.4 billion gap between expected revenues and what it would cost to maintain all state services at current levels. Democratic lawmakers are also working to restructure the state’s business taxes to raise revenue for all state services. MCKAY CREEK ESTATES Caregiver SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR SERIES RSVP Today - FREE Caregivers Support Series THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2:00 P.M. 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