REGION
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
STANFIELD
Coach resigns after parents blame cheerleaders for loss
Coach’s mother dismissed from school
secretary duties shortly before retirement
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
East Oregonian
A verbal altercation
between a school board
member and the cheer-
leading coach after Stanfield
High School’s loss in the
state basketball champion-
ship game led to the coach’s
resignation. And several
months later the coach’s
mother was removed from
her job as the school
secretary shortly before her
planned retirement.
The mother and daughter
believe the early dismissal
was in retaliation for the
heated argument earlier in
the year, but school officials
say that isn’t the case.
Cheerleading
coach
Naomie Valdez resigned
her position on the team
following a series of
arguments with a group of
parents during football and
basketball season, including
school board member Terry
Monkus, who Valdez said
berated her and the cheer-
leaders after the state cham-
pionship basketball game.
Valdez claims the group
of parents blamed the boys
basketball team’s 57-54 loss
in the title game at the Pend-
leton Convention Center on
the lack of enthusiasm from
the cheer squad. It was a
complaint similar to what
she said she heard from
parents after the football
team, featuring many of
the same players, lost the
state championship game in
November at Hermiston’s
Kennison Field.
After
an
argument
between Monkus and Valdez
during a student gathering at
the convention center imme-
diately after the state final
basketball game, Valdez
texted
Superintendent
Shelley Liscom about the
interaction. Liscom apolo-
gized to Valdez in a reply
text and said it shouldn’t
have happened, and the next
week Monkus apologized to
Valdez in an online message.
Valdez said she and the
students did not make any
official written complaints,
but verbally complained
to the superintendent and
principal as well as the
school board chair, but did
not feel her complaints
were adequately addressed.
Valdez, who had coached the
cheerleaders for 10 years,
resigned soon after.
Scott Morris, the chair of
Stanfield’s school board, said
he met with Valdez, Monkus
and a few other school offi-
cials as a group. He said he
thought the issue had been
resolved in that meeting, as
did Liscom.
“Some apologies were
made,” Morris said. “The
administration did look into
it. We listened to what had
transpired.”
UMATILLA
Landing Days kicks off Friday
Monkus told the East
Oregonian she apologized to
the cheerleaders, but said her
comments were not directed
at them. She said they were
made to someone else, and
the coach overheard what
she said.
“There was nothing more
to it,” Monkus said.
Valdez said she had hoped
to discuss the incident and
get her job back. She said
she tried repeatedly before
the meeting to speak with
Liscom and Beth Burton,
who is both the Stanfield
Secondary School principal
and athletic director, but
neither responded to her
messages.
She said at the end of last
month, she received a letter
from the district saying they
had accepted her resignation.
Valdez’s mother, Aleta
Lemmon,
had
worked
in the Stanfield School
District for 22 years and in
December gave notice of
her intent to retire at the end
of the school year. But not
East Oregonian
In celebration of the
town’s 155th anniversary,
Umatilla Landing Days will
feature a two-day celebra-
tion.
The festival kicks off
Friday, 5-10 p.m. at Umatilla
Marina Park. Geared towards
an adult crowd, the evening
offers food vendors, a beer
garden and live music,
including The Outsiders and
Grupo Viajero.
The event kicks into
high gear Saturday, starting
with a parade at 10 a.m. in
downtown Umatilla. After
the parade, the fun moves to
the marina park, which will
feature a full schedule of
entertainment and activities.
In addition, craft and food
vendors will be on hand.
Additional displays and
educational activities include
boater safety information,
boat rides from the Umatilla
County Sheriff’s Office
marine division, personnel
from the Umatilla Rural Fire
Jesus Carrillo, Jr. of
Umatilla was arraigned
Tuesday on misdemeanor
charges of disorderly conduct
and criminal mischief after a
brawl at a Hermiston hotel,
which came just a week
after his arrest and release
in a suspected assault in
Umatilla.
Carrillo and Cesar
Placensia
have
been
charged with involvement
in a two-on-one beating
at the Holiday Inn in
Hermiston on Saturday.
According to prosecutor
Matthew Dyal, Holiday Inn
employees reported an esti-
mated $1,000 in damages.
The hotel had to get blood
out of the carpet and walls.
He also said there were
several witnesses to the
incident.
Hermiston Police Chief
Jason Edmiston said there
File photo
Protection District and a
drunk driving display trailer
from the Oregon Department
of Transportation. In addition,
a group of chainsaw artists
will be on hand making and
selling their creations.
The day also features
a salsa making contest
(entries must be submitted by
noon), a soccer tournament
and an Instagram photo
contest — be sure to use the
hashtag #UmatillaLanding-
Days2017. Also, Nuketown
is the featured evening
performer.
There is a $5 parking fee
at the gate. Money is used
to help cover costs for the
fireworks show, which will
fill the air Saturday at dusk.
For more information,
call 541-922- 4825 or search
Facebook for “Umatilla
Landing Days.”
Fragrant festival blooms in Hermiston
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
After a one-year hiatus,
this weekend’s lavender
festival will bloom again as
it raises money for Agape
House and Martha’s House.
Jim and Sheri Konnin-
grud started Purple Ridge
Lavender Festival as a way
to share their lavender farm
with others and to give back
to the community. The couple
chose the two nonprofit orga-
nizations after having contact
through them with their busi-
ness, Pea Ridge Embroidery
& Signs.
In its seventh year, the
festival is Saturday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Purple
Ridge Lavender, 29081
Bridge Road, located west
of Hermiston. The general
admission cost is $10 or $12
for craft beer tasting. Youths
under 12 are admitted free.
All admission and vendor
fees are donated to Agape
House and Martha’s House.
With a theme of “Magic
in the Fields,” Sheri Konnin-
grud is excited to host
Penelope Pendragon and
encourages people to dress
up in their favorite fanciful
costumes. In fact, those
donning whimsical attire will
receive $2 off on admission.
“It’s a fairy tale theme
with a professional fairy and
her wish wagon coming in
from Las Vegas,” Konnin-
grud said.
On a mission to teach kids
about the power of positive
thinking, Pendragon even
Contributed photo
“Magic in the Fields” is the theme of the seventh an-
nual Purple Ridge Lavender Festival, which is Saturday
in Hermiston. The event benefits Agape House and
Martha’s House.
consulted with a childhood
development specialist when
creating her Whimsical
WiSH Wagon. The imagina-
tive art display teaches steps
to take that help boost the
power of positive thought.
Pendragon has received
positive feedback from
adults, as well. At a festival,
one woman said she had
attended numerous work-
shops, read all kinds of books
and watched DVDs from
motivational speakers.
“You just summed it all
up in the most simple, imagi-
native and magical way,” the
woman told Pendragon.
People are encouraged
to bring their camera to the
festival. The lovely lavender
makes a perfect backdrop for
photos.
In addition to the aroma
of lavender, live music will
fill the air with BBPD from
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10-11 a.m., Cruise Control
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and
Bobby Nelson & Faith
Martin from 3-5 p.m. The
event also features North-
west artists, artesian jewelry,
a henna artist, Auntie Ida’s
Quilt challenge and display,
food and more.
And last, but not least, all
things lavender will be avail-
able. People can cut fresh
bundles, purchase a plant for
their garden and visit the farm
boutique for everything from
culinary lavender products to
lavender bath and body gifts
of all kinds.
For more information,
visit www.purpleridgelav-
ender.com or call 541-561-
3945.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
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Mills chosen for produce
industry leadership program
HERMISTON — Mackenzie Mills,
who works in sales and account manage-
ment for River Point Farms, has been
accepted into the 2017-18 United Fresh
Produce Industry Leadership Program.
Mills was one of 15 candidates from
across the country
selected for the
program, sponsored by
a grant from DuPont
Crop Protection.
During the year-long
fellowship, partici-
pants will meet and
train with top industry
experts, including trips
to California, Costa
Mills
Rica, Washington,
D.C., and Chicago,
where they graduate at the 2018 United
Fresh Convention.
“River Point Farms is very excited for
Mackenzie,” said Bob Hale, company
president and CEO. “From the many
applicants, the 15 people accepted into the
program represent the top talent from the
top companies in the produce industry.
This is a huge honor for her, and an
indication of her high talent level.”
The United Fresh Produce Industry
Leadership Program has graduated more
than 200 people since it launched in 1995,
focusing on four core areas of develop-
ment: leadership, business relationships,
government and public affairs and media
and public communications.
For more information, visit www.
unitedfresh.org.
Seniors fire up the barbie
for a grilling good time
PENDLETON — Prizes, fun and food
is featured as members of the Pendleton
Senior Center fire up the barbie for a
community picnic.
People of all ages are invited Friday at
noon at Community Park, 1000 S.W. 37th
St., Pendleton. Those in attendance should
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On June 11, Carrillo, his
brother Rudy Carrillo and
Antonio Viesca, Jr., were
in a fight. Several people
witnessed the fight, which
left all three bloodied.
Viesca was taken to the
hospital with a broken arm.
A judge denied probable
cause for felony charges
in that incident. The state
is now pursuing misde-
meanor charges for both
incidents.
Circuit Court Judge Eva
Temple set bail for Carrillo
at $50,000. Additionally,
Carrillo
was
ordered
not to have contact with
Placensia, his brother Rudy
or Viesca.
Carrillo has previously
been charged with several
other crimes, including
criminally negligent homi-
cide in 2012.
His pretrial hearing for
Saturday assault is set for
July 3 at 3 p.m.
bring a lawn chair and a potluck dish to
share. Hamburgers, hot dogs, punch and
table setting will be furnished.
For more information, call 541-276-
7101.
Reunion unites old Boardman/
Riverside classmates
BOARDMAN — A class reunion for
the old Boardman/Riverside High School is
planned this weekend.
People can register Saturday at 10:30
a.m. at Boardman Marina Park. A screening
of the documentary “Higher Ground”
will be shown at 1:30 p.m. at the SAGE
Center. The film chronicles the construction
of the John Day Dam, which required
moving Boardman to a higher elevation.
Participants can also view the visitor center
exhibits. The day concludes with a potluck
at 4:30 p.m. in the Harold Baker Pavilion at
the park.
The activities continue Sunday at 11 a.m.
with announcements and a catered meal at 1
p.m., events are at the park. The cost is $20.
For more information, call Shirley
Jackson David at 541-922-2488.
Two local cemetery districts
receive grants
The Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department announced $70,265 in grants
for historic cemeteries across the state,
including two in Umatilla County.
Weston Cemetery Maintenance District
No. 2 received $4,000 to repair ten
markers, get a emergency response address
and install a security system at the Weston
Cemetery.
The city of Ukiah was granted $2,400
to install gates and a kiosk at the Ukiah
Cemetery.
———
Submit information to: community@
eastoregonian.com or drop off to the
attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E.
Main St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers
at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call
541-564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with
questions.
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was nothing to support that
the incident was gang-re-
lated, but that the people
involved had extensive
criminal histories.
Edmiston said his offi-
cers responded to a fight
at the Holiday Inn at 6:13
a.m. Saturday, and that
employees said they had
been getting complaints
about disturbances and
noise all night.
Edmiston said two
rooms had been rented
at the hotel, and several
people in their 20s and 30s
were having a party there.
“Our guys arrived and
detained
Carrillo
and
Placensia, and several
people fled,” Edmiston said.
Edmiston said they
have yet to track down or
identify the third person
involved in a fight, but they
were able to contact five
people. Three more fled on
foot.
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going to do, fire me?” to
students.
Lemmon said some of the
accusations were accurate,
such as leaving work early,
which she said she did
because she had not taken a
lunch that day, and making
the comment to students.
But she said she did not do
some of the others, such as
allowing students to leave
campus without permission
and slamming the superin-
tendent’s door.
While Lemmon is content
with her retirement and said
she has fond memories of
her time in the Stanfield
School District, she was
upset with the way things
ended. Valdez is upset by
the way she and her students
were treated, and feels it may
have had something to do
with the way her mother was
dismissed.
She also said she would
be interested in returning
to the job as cheerleading
coach, which has not been
filled, according to Burton.
Carrillo arraigned on charges of
disorderly conduct, criminal mischief
East Oregonian
Umatilla Landing Days features outdoor fun Friday and
Saturday at the Umatilla Marina Park.
long after Valdez resigned,
Lemmon was moved to a
smaller office and had her
duties reduced. Shortly after,
on May 19, with just a few
weeks left in the school year,
she was told to turn in her
keys and not come back.
Lemmon said she was not
given any prior warnings or
criticisms before receiving
a memo signed by Liscom
that she had been relieved of
her duties and was to leave
immediately.
Liscom said Lemmon was
not fired, because she was
paid through the end of the
school year. The memo stated
that Lemmon was relieved of
her duties because of several
behaviors, including leaving
work early, failing to follow
school policy and letting
students leave campus
without parent permission,
as well as reading another
staff member’s card when
flowers were delivered to her
at the school. The memo also
states that Lemmon made
the comment “What are they
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