REGION
Thursday, June 15, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
PENDLETON
HERMISTON
Wiener dogs rev up for Dogtona 400
Good Shepherd to
acquire Gifford Medical
East Oregonian
Calling all winer dogs — the Chil-
dren’s Museum of Eastern Oregon is
barking up trees in search of dachshunds
to participate in the 11th annual Wiener
Dog Race.
The event offers lots of dog-gone fun
and a chance to win an entry to the North-
west Championship Wiener Dog Race.
A TV-covered event, the championship
event attracts racers and spectators from
throughout Oregon, Washington and
Montana. The winner of the Northwest
Championship Race will go on to repre-
sent the region at the National Dachshund
Races.
The local race — The Dogtona 400
— is limited to 40 participants. Prize
packages will be awarded to the top three
racers. The entry fee is $20 if registered by
Thursday, June 22. For those who enter on
race day, the cost is $25. The event, which
raises money for the Children’s Museum
of Eastern Oregon, is Friday, June 23 at 6
p.m. in downtown Pendleton.
Held in conjunction with Pendleton
Farmers’ Market, the event also has a hot
dog eating contest. As a fundraiser for the
children’s museum, the Wiener Dog Race
also features other family-fun activities
starting at 4 p.m., including children’s
carnival games, food and drinks, and
raffle prizes.
The Children’s Museum of Eastern
East Oregonian
File photo
Miss Fatty Patty, at left, jumps out to an early lead on her way to winning
a past Wiener Dog Race. Registrations are being accepted for this year’s
fundraising event for the Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon, which is
Friday, June 23 in downtown Pendleton.
Oregon began in 1996 with a mission to
provide kids of all ages with opportunities
for educational exploration and devel-
opment through interactive exhibits and
play. It’s open Tuesday through Saturdays
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 400 S. Main St.,
Pendleton.
For additional information, entry
forms, race day volunteers or to inquire
about event sponsorship, visit www.
cmeo.org, call 541-276-1066 or stop by
the children’s museum.
———
Contact community editor Tammy
Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539.
PENDLETON
Council gives thought to overpass art
East Oregonian
Overpass décor could be
the next public art project in
the city of Pendleton.
At a workshop Tuesday,
Public Works Director Bob
Patterson told the Pendleton
City Council that the Oregon
Department of Transpor-
tation was interested in
installing new fencing at
the Interstate 84 overpass
crossing Southgate.
Patterson said the council
had sought a new look for
the fences several years ago,
even going as far as to select
a design for the project, but
it was put on the back burner
when funding fell through.
Councilor
McKennon
McDonald said several
other cities like Hood River,
The Dalles and Woodburn
along Oregon’s interstates
have invested in overpass
displays.
“Those are the three that
I can think of that have been
majorly redone,” she said.
“They’re not just the basic
model. They’ve actually
taken it and they’ve gone
to the Cadillac version.
They are things that people
remember when they drive
to those communities or are
driving by them.”
With the cattle run statues
at the Exit 209 ramp and the
Round-Up grounds framing
the interstate for people trav-
eling from the south, Mayor
John Turner said there was
already plenty of art.
“Personally, I question
the need for more artwork at
this intersection,” he said.
Some council members
suggested putting art instead
at the overpass at Exit 207,
west of Pendleton. The
council discussed referring
the idea to the arts committee.
The
council
also
discussed some water and
sewer projects the public
works department will
undertake this year.
Thanks in part to a $14.9
million water loan from the
state, Patterson said the city
is planning $3.9 million in
utility projects this year, not
including in-house work.
Spanning projects from
both inside and outside the
city’s utility master plans,
Patterson said the council
needs to approve $848,894
in professional engineering
services from Murraysmith,
an engineering firm.
As a part of the projects,
Murraysmith will be asked
to pre-design two lift stations
for the Airport Road indus-
trial land and a future Pend-
leton UAS Range industrial
park.
Councilor Neil Brown
asked Patterson to compare
the utility infrastructure
situations between Pendleton
and Hermiston.
“There are no apples to
apples comparisons,” he
said. “Pendleton is Pendleton
and we’re unique. Hermiston
is Hermiston and they’re
unique and they have their
own issues. The question is
who’s going to step up first
and address it and be sustain-
able.”
Patterson said Pendleton
needed to make these moves
before they became more
expensive.
HERMISTON
Participants, volunteers needed for bike camp
East Oregonian
A nonprofit organization
that teaches individuals with
disabilities to ride a bicycle is
pedaling into Hermiston.
The iCan Bike program is
a five-day camp that features
one 75-minute session per
day. There are five session
times to choose from, with
the first session available at
8:30 a.m. and the last one at
3:35 p.m. It runs June 26-30
at Armand Larive Middle
School, 1497 S.W. Ninth
St., Hermiston. Hosted by
Hermiston Kiwanis and
supported by the Hermiston
School District, InterMoun-
tain
Education
Service
District, numerous business
and private donations, the
cost is $99 for participants.
Discounts may be available
for returning riders or multiple
participants from a family.
Using adaptive equipment,
trained professionals and
File photo
Abbi Feltner helps Kyle McCorkle-Hartwell ride a
bicycle during a past iCan Bike event in Hermiston.
Volunteers and participants are needed for the June
26-30 day camp.
volunteers, more than 80
percent of the participants
learn to ride a conventional
bicycle independently by the
end of camp.
Riders must be at least 8
years old (teens and adults
are also welcome), have a
disability and be able to walk
without an assistive device
HERMISTON
School prepares for move into WIAA
East Oregonian
The Hermiston School
District held its final meeting
before the end of the school
year to take stock of a few
upcoming changes.
• Athletic Director Larry
Usher spoke to the board
about Hermiston’s recent
entry into the Washington
Interscholastic
Activities
Association (WIAA).
“There will be some
changes to the athletic
program,” Usher said.
“The bar for academic
eligibility is a little higher.”
The Washington league
requires student-athletes to
be passing six out of seven
classes, whereas the OSAA
only requires them to be
passing five of seven.
He noted that there would
be some other changes as
well when the move takes
affect in the 2018-19 school
year, but that student partic-
ipation fees should not be
affected.
He added that with the
district regularly playing
schools in Walla Walla
and the Tri-Cities, families
would have many more
opportunities to watch and
support their kids.
“It’s going to forever
change our community,”
said Superintendent Fred
Maiocco.
• The board approved
hiring Laura Jacobsma
as the principal of Desert
View Elementary School.
Jacobsma has served most
recently as an instructional
coach in Oakridge, and
has spent 11 years in the
Oakridge School District in
various roles, including as a
teacher. She will assume her
role July 1.
• The district also adjusted
and approved their budget
for the 2017-2018 school
year. The budget committee
had met in May, but at the
time had accounted for
the passage of the bond
measure. Since that measure
failed, the budget had to be
adjusted slightly. The new
budget includes the removal
of the capital construction
bond fund and reducing the
debt service requirements.
The adjustments reduce the
budget by $73,747,512 and
brought the total adopted
budget to $91,214,624.
• The board thanked Don
Rankin, who had served
among them for the past 12
years. Monday was Rankin’s
last meeting before he retires
from the position. He will be
replaced by Mark Gomolski,
who won a write-in
campaign for the seat.
such as a walker or cane.
Participants also must be able
to side-step quickly, have an
inseam measurement of at
least 20 inches and weigh no
more than 220 pounds.
Volunteers who are age
16 years and older and able
to help at the same time each
of the five days are needed.
Training will be provided.
Volunteers will offer physical,
emotional and motivational
support as they walk and run
alongside the riders. Volun-
teers are asked to register
online and will need to attend
a 45-minute orientation
session Sunday, June 25 in
the commons at Armand
Larive — the exact time will
be announced.
Volunteers and partici-
pants can register at www.
icanshine.org/hermiston-or.
For questions, contact ican-
bikehermiston@gmail.com
or 541-667-6021.
One of Hermiston’s
largest employers will
get even larger as Good
Shepherd Medical Center
will assume ownership of
Gifford Medical on July 1.
Gifford Medical, which
is located across from
Good Shepherd on West
Elm Avenue, will retain its
name and current services.
Dr. Joseph Gifford will
continue to see patients, but
on a part-time basis. The
other three doctors at the
facility will also continue
to work there.
Gifford has been a
doctor since 1974 and has
been practicing in Herm-
iston since 1990. When he
started the practice, he was
the only doctor there.
Lisa
Gifford,
Dr.
Gifford’s wife and the
company’s spokesperson,
said the hospital plans to
retain all the company’s
employees.
“It happened pretty
fast,” said Gifford. “We
decided to sell because
we’re wanting to retire.”
Gifford said she hopes
the change will be good
for the practice and for
patients.
“We hope it will eventu-
ally grow it and allow it to
expand hours,” she said.
A representative for
Good Shepherd could not
be reached by press time.
Gifford Medical currently
provides urgent care as well
as private practice.
BRIEFLY
HSD hires new operations director
HERMISTON — The Hermiston School District has
hired Brad Wayland as its new director of operations.
Wayland will start the job July 15, pending approval
from the school board, replacing outgoing director Mike
Kay. Kay is retiring from the district June 30.
Wayland has a background in operations
management. He is currently the president of his own
company, Sentry Security Consultants in Hawthorne,
Nevada. Among other jobs, he has served as the director
of facilities and operations for Central Valley School
District outside Spokane, Washington.
Wayland is also a retired Air Force lieutenant and has
a Masters of Science in Management Science from Ohio
University, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering
from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“Mr. Wayland will be a great addition to the
administrative team,” said Tricia Mooney, assistant
superintendent of human resources. “He brings a wealth
of knowledge in many areas.”
Hermiston signal project delayed
HERMISTON — One of Hermiston’s main
infrastructure projects has been delayed after it received
no bids from contractors.
The project, which planned to put a traffic signal at
Highway 207 and West Elm Avenue and another at West
11th Street and Orchard Avenue, will likely be delayed at
least six months according to Mark Morgan, assistant city
manager.
“We don’t have a plan nailed down,” Morgan said.
“But we will probably re-bid in the fall once construction
season is over.”
Morgan said the city had hoped to start construction this
fall, but now will likely not get to bid again until that time.
“It’s not a minor project,” he said. “Really, the
environment we’re in now is that construction folks are
just so busy.”
The projects at those two intersections included a
left-turn lane on Highway 207 into Good Shepherd
Medical Center.
The cost for the traffic signals is about $1.6 million,
with funds provided by an Oregon Department of
Transportation grant, Good Shepherd Healthcare system
and the city of Hermiston.
Adult programs continue at library
HERMISTON — Adults are invited to attend specialty
groups that meet regularly at the Hermiston Public Library.
•Yarn Club meets Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays
at 10 a.m. Lovers of needlecraft are invited to attend.
•Writer’s Group meets the fourth Thursday of
each month. The writing community offers support,
encouragement and motivation.
•Photography Club meets the second Tuesday of
each month at 5:30 p.m. The group often participates in
photo-taking field trips.
Each of the groups are free and open to the public. For
more information, call 541-567-2882 or stop by the library
at 235 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston.
Support group seeks senior input
HERMISTON — An advocacy and support group for
seniors is looking to meet in Hermiston.
S.O.S. (Saving Our Seniors) is in the planning stages
of when and where would be the best time to meet. For
more information or to provide input, call 541-656-6979.
———
Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press
releases. Email press releases to news@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.