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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.
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