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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 29, 2017)
REGION Thursday, June 29, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A PENDLETON Crime lab funded in House police budget East Oregonian Terrific day for tubing Staff photo by E.J. Harris Zaylon Burke-Picard, 11, of Pendleton negotiates some rapids on an inner tube on Wednesday in the Umatilla River in Pendleton. A state budget increase would keep the Eastern Oregon Forensic Laboratory open, and tax dollars raised by marijuana sales would fund a move to a new location. The Oregon House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would allocate a $427.9 billion biennial budget for the Oregon State Police Depart- ment, a 4.3 percent increase from the 2015-2016 biennium. According to a press release from state Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, that’s enough money to restore funding to the lab, currently located in Pendleton. There had been some discussion that the lab could be located on the Blue Mountain Community College campus, although no decisions have been made. The bill also includes a financial package of more than $1 million, which is funded through the state’s marijuana tax revenue. The package includes $370,645 in ongoing funding to supplement the crime lab’s budget and the rest is a one-time expenditure to move the lab from its current 405 S.E. Eighth St. building “into space more suitable for laboratory operations.” The current lab has had issues with space, the HVAC system and gnats, which makes processing delicate samples difficult. The lab serves counties in northeast Oregon as well as Malheur County and receives about 100 requests a month for casework. And a team from the lab goes to crime scenes throughout the region. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) said he believes the funding will pass without modification. West Nile virus Holiday activities heat up for Fourth of July found in Umatilla features activities Saturday and Monday, including volleyball, golf and poker tournaments, Movie in the Park: “Sing”). East Oregonian First case in Oregon for 2017 East Oregonian Umatilla County offi- cials reported Wednesday that West Nile virus has been detected in Umatilla, the first case detected in Oregon so far this year. The virus was found in a mosquito sample trapped June 21 near the mouth of the Umatilla River. Oregon State Univer- sity, Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Corvallis confirmed the finding in testing done June 25. Local residents can expect to see an increase in mosquito spraying based on the positive sample. Ultra-low volume applica- tions of insecticides from truck-mounted sprayers will be used to reduce mosquito populations. These applications will typically be made after sunset when mosquitoes are most active. All applicators are licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. West Nile is primarily a disease infecting birds. Some birds — including magpies, blue jays and crows — are especially susceptible. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on an infected bird and can pass the virus to humans, horses or other hosts when they bite. The public is encour- aged to alert district officials when they come across dead birds so the district can track the spread of the virus. There is a vaccine avail- able to prevent West Nile virus disease in horses. Contact your veterinarian for more information. The risk of West Nile is low but people are encouraged to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites. Most people who become infected with West Nile virus do not become ill. Some people develop mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, and occasion- ally swollen lymph glands or a rash. In rare cases West Nile may cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Individuals with severe or unusual headaches should seek medical care as soon as possible. Residents of the district should remain vigilant in protecting them- selves from mosquitoes and the diseases that they can carry, such as West Nile virus. Officer shoots dog at Rainbow Gathering By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian The U.S. Forest Service has confirmed one of its police officers shot a dog Tuesday morning in the parking lot outside the Rainbow Gathering site on the Malheur National Forest. Word of the incident began to spread late Tuesday on social media, sparking outrage among participants at the unautho- rized gathering. The dog, a pit bull mix, was given first aid by a K-9 officer on scene and was later taken to an animal hospital in Canyon City, where it was euthanized. According to a state- ment released Wednesday by the Forest Service, the officer — who was not identified — was conducting a routine daily count of vehicles parked at Flagtail Meadow, where this year’s annual Rainbow Gathering is being held. As the officer turned the corner, he encountered two dogs sitting about 15 feet away. The dogs were not leashed, which is required by law and also specifi- cally outlined in the event operating plan. No other people were present in the area. The officer did not have his recording device turned on. But the Forest Service claims one of the dogs got up and charged the officer, who drew his weapon and fired a single shot. After shooting the dog, the Forest Service says the owners and other Rainbow participants began to crowd and yell at the officer. The dog was taken to Canyon City, and its remains were returned to the owners. Accounts of the incident differ on the 2017 Rainbow Gathering Facebook page. Stephen Baker, a spokesman with the Forest Service, said the statement was meant to counter what he described as misinformation and “disturbing comments.” “Safety is our top priority,” Baker said. The incident remains under investigation, Baker added, and more details will be released as they become available. To date, there have been at least 15 warnings and six citations issued for dog-related violations at the Rainbow Gathering. Local and federal agencies are reminding visitors to keep their dogs on leashes for both public and animal safety. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastorego- nian.com or 541-966- 0825. SUBMIT COMMUNITY NEWS 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. Parades, park activities and fireworks shows are featured in area towns to help celebrate Tuesday’s Fourth of July holiday. While some communities offer only a single activity, many are going all-out with full day or multiple day festivals. Independence Day events (and websites addresses to obtain complete activity schedules) in local communities include: PENDLETON Independence Day Parade • 10 a.m. • Downtown Pendleton Free. Starts at Pendleton City Hall, travels east on Dorion Avenue to Main Street, then west on Court Avenue to the Pendleton Convention Center. Due to fundraising efforts fizzling out, there will be no fireworks show in Pendleton. HERMISTON Stars & Stripes Fourth of July • 1-10:30 p.m. • Butte Park, 1245 N.W. Seventh St., Hermiston www.hermiston.or.us/ parks-recreation/home Free. Games, entertain- ment, live music, vendors, food booths and fireworks show at dusk on the Herm- iston Butte. Stars and Stripes Pool Party • 7-10:30 p.m. • Hermiston Family BOARDMAN File photo A 1928 Model A Ford Roadster owned by Jim Smootz drives underneath a U.S. flag during the 2016 Fourth of July parade in Pendleton. Aquatic Center www.hermistonpool.com/ events $16/ages 16-and-older; $10/ages 2-14; free/ages 0-2. Pool party, barbecue (catered by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit), live music, games and a front row seat to fireworks display. STANFIELD Stanfield Fourth of July • 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Bard Park, off Highway 395 between Harding and Roosevelt avenues www.facebook.com/Stan- field4thofJuly Free. Firemen’s breakfast, parade (10 a.m.), entertain- ment, Cash Vault, vendors, duck race, 3-on-3 tournament, pie baking contest (turn by 11 a.m.) and raffle drawings. Park activities end at 3 p.m., but fireworks will be shot off at dusk. (Monday night 6-9 p.m., Fourth of July Fund- raising Steak Feed; $20/steak; $10/hamburger. Includes beer garden and DJ music). Feats of Strength • 7 p.m. • Bard Park Free. Faith-based presen- tation by Hermiston High School graduate John Kopta of The Power Team, patriotic sings by Tony Long-Drew and fellowship. IONE Ione Fourth of July Cele- bration • 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. • Ione City Park www.cityofioneoregon. com/fourthofjuly Free. Firemen’s breakfast, parade (10 a.m.),Blues Cruise Car Show, vendor booths, horseshoe and 3-on-3 tour- naments, games, live music, talent show (3:30 p.m.) and auction/raffle drawings (8 p.m.) Featured entertainment is FrogHollow Band (6:30 p.m.) and Countryfied (8:30 p.m.), followed by fireworks at dusk. (Celebration also Boardman Thunder • 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. • Boardman Marina Park www.boardmanchamber. org Free. Boy Scout breakfast, parade (11 a.m.), tournaments (3-3 basketball, horseshoes, youth soccer), food/craft vendors, kids games (1-4 p.m.), DJ music and fireworks at dusk. (Also, there’s a glow run Monday, July 3 at 7 p.m. The cost ranges from $10 to $25, with T-shirts). CONDON Condon’s Fabulous Fourth of July Celebration • 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Gilliam County Fairgrounds & downtown Condon www.condonchamber.org/ events.html Free. Community break- fast, flag ceremony and program (9 a.m.) contests, beer/wine garden, barbecue, parade (noon) soapbox derby, kids game, grand marshal reception and raffle (5-7 p.m.). (The celebration also includes activities Saturday through Monday, including a fireworks show Monday at dusk). ——— Contact community editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalge- sini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539. Rules in place to deal with dangerous buildings By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Umatilla County has a new local law to abate dangerous commercial buildings. While the county has codes for cleaning up messy buildings, it lacked anything similar to deal with dangerous buildings. The county board of commissioners voted 2-0 Wednesday morning in favor of the ordinance after dealing for years with the now-der- elict and crumbling Rodeo City Inn a few miles west of Pendleton. County counsel Doug Olsen told the board he based the eight pages of regulations largely on a Clackamas County ordinance. The new law allows the county to declare a commercial prop- erty as dangerous if it meets criteria ranging from the threat of structural failure to inadequate sanitation or water to any other condition “that creates a significant structural, life or fire safety, health or other hazard that impacts the occupancy or continued use of buildings or structures. Commissioner Larry Givens asked “what kind of teeth” the law gives the county. Olson said building owners can face a $1,000 fine then fines of $500 per week for not taking care of problems. And if the county has to step in, it can charge the owners the cost of the abatement. While the county has some residential properties that could be dangerous, Olson said the law only applies to commercial sites. The county scheduled the Staff photo by Phil Wright Derelict and dangerous buildings like the Rodeo City Inn about five miles west of Pendleton face strict- er county rules under an ordinance passed by the commissioners Wednesday. discussion of the ordinance as a first reading and public hearing. But after the brief hearing, which consisted of Olson’s report, Givens said he was ready to vote on it. He and fellow Commissioner Bill Elfering voted in favor. Commissioner George Murdock was away. The Rodeo City Inn, meanwhile, remains a mess. Olson in early June reported new owner Kris Krishnan told the county he was sending crews to clean up the property. So far, no one has done any work there. The board also approved the sheriff’s office request to buy a mobile command vehicle for $65,000 from the Umatilla Morrow Radio Data Sale In Progress Saager’s Shoe Shop Up to 50% Off Milton-Freewater, OR District. County emergency manager Tom Roberts told the board the vehicle will help the county to respond to emergencies in remote areas where communications can be sketchy. The mobile data district in 2008 had the unit custom made and mounted on a Ford F450 extended cab pickup. Independent evaluations of the mobile center estimated its value between about $54,000 and $75,000. Roberts said he did extensive research and found nothing comparable on state and federal lists of vehicles for sale. The sheriff’s office plans to use its $150,000 fleet management fund in the upcoming fiscal year to pay for the unit. Undersheriff Jim Littlefield said it also needs radios and other equipment to be operational. 4TH OF JULY SIDEWALK SALE Biggest SALE of the Year! UP TO % 50 OFF Clearance Clothing $1 Items Buy One Get One Deals Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon Gift Store 1114 Court Ave Pendleton Thursday June 29th – Sunday July 2nd EXTENDED SALE HOURS 8:30-5pm Weekdays • 10-4pm Weekends Shop online www.leterbuck.com
