REGION
Friday, July 7, 2017
Defendant takes deal in
deadly reservation shooting
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Victor Joseph Contreras
pleaded guilty Wednesday
for his role in the 2016
shooting on the Umatilla
Indian Reservation that
left one man injured and
another dead.
Contreras made a deal
with the United States
Attorney’s
Office
in
federal court in Portland,
according to court records,
and admitted his guilt to
two counts of possession
of a firearm in furtherance
of a crime of violence and
assault resulting in serious
bodily injury.
“I knowingly assaulted
B.W., who I understand is
a Native American man,”
Contreras stated in his plea
petition, referring to victim
Beau Welch. “That assault
resulted in B.W.’s serious
bodily injury. During
that assault I possessed a
firearm and I discharged
it.”
The gun crime carries a
maximum prison
a party March
sentence of 10
19, 2016, at the
years, according
home of Beau
to court docu-
Welch on the
ments, while the
reservation. Court
assault
carries
documents state
a
minimum
Welch
decided
sentence of 10
to end the party,
years
consec-
and
Contreras
utive.
Federal
objected. Tony
prosecutors
in Contreras
Jimenez Jr. of
exchange for the
Pendleton stepped
plea promised to recom- in to help Welch. During
mend a prison sentence “no the confrontation outside
greater than the low-end of the house, Contreras and
his sentencing guideline Julian Simpson opened fire.
range” plus five years of Welch took a bullet in his
post-prison supervision.
lower left leg, and Jimenez
Judge Anna J. Brown set died at in the driveway.
sentencing for Nov. 20.
Simpson faces first-de-
The government also gree murder and related
dismissed the following charges stemming from
charges against Contreras: Jimenez’s death. Simpson’s
assault with the intent to attorney on June 16 asked
commit murder; assault for another trial delay.
with a dangerous weapon Judge Brown moved the
with the intent to do start of the trial from
bodily harm; and felon in July 11 to Oct. 31.
possession of a firearm. He
Brown also noted she
remains in custody pending would not grant any more
sentencing.
continuances
“absent
Contreras and Julian extraordinary
circum-
Simpson were attending stances.”
Names released after two
deaths at Rainbow Gathering
By SEAN HART
EO Media Group
The two men who died
in unrelated incidents at the
Rainbow Gathering have
been identified.
George Ernest Rogers
III, 43, of Dumas, Texas,
and William Pasko, 74, of
Takoma Park, Maryland,
are the only deaths reported
so far at the annual gath-
ering taking place this year
on the Malheur National
Forest, Grant County
Sheriff Glenn Palmer said
Thursday afternoon.
Rogers collapsed near
a
makeshift
medical
station at the gathering
July 2, Palmer said. An
emergency room doctor
from
Kentucky
who
was attending the gath-
ering provided medical
treatment, and CPR was
attempted
for
15-20
minutes without success.
The man’s identity was
unknown, so fingerprints
were sent to the Oregon
State Police Identification
Bureau. The FBI notified
the sheriff’s office of the
identity of the body late
Monday evening.
To notify his family,
Palmer tracked down leads
from Texas, California,
Alaska and Colorado. The
family was notified the
morning of July 5.
Palmer said he was
unaware of the cause
of death. Grant County
Medical Examiner Raffa-
ella Betza could not be
reached for comment.
Pasko died of natural
causes from a heart attack
July 3, Palmer said. A
doctor from California
provided treatment at the
gathering.
These have been the
only deaths reported at
the gathering so far, and
Palmer said he hoped they
were the last. He said,
however, Forest Service
officials warned bodies
may be found in tents as
the gathering winds down.
“They typically find
a couple after the fact,”
he
said.
“Everything
they’ve told us so far has
happened.”
East Oregonian
Page 3A
BRIEFLY
Rivoli Theater
selects contractor
for first phase
PENDLETON — The
first phase of the Rivoli
Theater restoration could
start as soon as this
summer.
According to a Historic
Rivoli Theater Performing
Arts Center Restoration
Coalition press release, the
nonprofit has selected Kirby
Nagelhout Construction
to handle the Pendleton
theater’s first phase of
construction.
The first phase includes
skilled demolition,
excavation and basic
structural work.
The coalition expects
Phase 1 to cost $560,000
and has already secured
a $100,000 grant from
the Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department and
$96,000 from the Pendleton
Development Commission.
Other first-phase donors
include Oregon Main
Street, Umatilla County
community and economic
development fund,
Pendleton Development
Commission, the Aetna
Foundation and the
EO Media Group and
anonymous donors. The
EO Media Group is the
parent company of the East
Oregonian.
The coalition’s goal is to
turn the old movie theater
into a modern performing
arts center. The project
could be completed in
2021.
HHS grad
promoted in
national wheat
organization
A Hermiston native
is among those recently
promoted at the U.S. Wheat
Associates.
Amanda Spoo, a
2009 Hermiston High
School graduate, has been
promoted to Assistant
Director of Communi-
cations for the national
organization. Spoo joined
U.S. Wheat Associates in
October 2014, after two
years as director of commu-
nications at Kansas Pork
Association. At U.S. Wheat
Associates, she manages
social media outreach
and communicates with
stakeholders and overseas
customers.
“I knew I wanted to do
something with agricul-
ture,” Spoo said. “We didn’t
have a farm, but I grew
up around agriculture, and
knowing there were other
careers in ag besides just
farming.”
Her father Tom, now
Hermiston High School’s
principal, used to be
the school’s Ag Science
teacher. Amanda said while
participating in the school’s
Future Farmers of America,
she realized she wanted to
do something with commu-
nications.
U.S. Wheat Associates
promotes American-grown
wheat to international
markets.
The Dalles artist
paints western
colors
PENDLETON — Using
watercolor and fluid
acrylics, an artist from The
Dalles takes inspiration
from the natural world.
“A Love of Western
Color,” a gallery show
by Mary Rollins, opens
Friday from 5-7:30 p.m.
at Pendleton Art + Frame,
36 S.W. Court Ave.
Rollins will be on hand
to talk about her work.
Refreshments will be served
during the free reception.
Growing up, Rollins
spent countless hours sitting
on the banks of a creek on
the farm — mesmerized by
the complexities in nature.
That special connection
continues today as the artist
enjoys painting streams and
riparian wildlife, as well as
other animals.
Pendleton Art + Frame
is open Monday through
Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and Saturdays from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show
will remain through Aug.
31. For more information,
contact 541-276-3617,
artofframing@eotnet.
net or visit www.
pendletonartandframe.
com. For more about
Rollins’ work, visit www.
maryrollins.com.
History comes
alive in teen
writing class
PENDLETON —
Teenagers interested in
creative writing, history
and/or genealogy are
invited to participate in a
four-week workshop.
Creative Writing: Local
History meets Mondays
beginning July 10 from
5-6 p.m. at the Pendleton
Recreation Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave. Open to
ages 12-18, it costs $18.
The Pioneer Park
Cemetery was the first
cemetery in Pendleton and
contains lots of history
related to the town’s
founding. Together,
participants will discover
things in the cemetery to
write about. The focus of
the class will be to show
that when local history
comes alive, it can connect
people to their community.
Lessons in the class will
cover writing, revision and
research techniques. No
experience is required and
all supplies are provided.
To register, visit www.
pendletonparksandrec.
com or stop by the parks
office, 865 Tutuilla Road.
For more information, call
541-276-8100.
———
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.
Sale In Progress
Saager’s Shoe Shop
Up to 50% Off
Milton-Freewater, OR
؏ EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ؏
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OREGONIAN’S
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Get a one-year subscription to the East Oregonian
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love or extend your existing EO subscription for a
year at our special price of $150 (a 14% savings!) or
donate $150 to the EO’s Newspapers in Education
program and you’ll be entered into a drawing for
premium tickets to the Pendleton Whisky Music Fest
concert featuring Maroon 5 at the Pendleton
Round-Up Stadium on July 15!
CALL NOW TO ENTER: 800-522-0255 ext. 1 or stop by
our offi ce at 211 SE Byers Ave. in Pendleton, Monday
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GRAND PRIZE – $438 value
• Two VIP wristbands for access to the
sponsor’s building, with pre-party dinner
and open bar starting at 4:30 p.m.
• Two Premium Grandstand
We have an opening for a part time inside salesperson position.
No newspaper experience? No problem, as long as you understand
the importance of great customer service, working hard
and a desire to enjoy your job.
Could this be you?
We are seeking a dynamic salesperson to make prospecting phone
calls to potential customers and businesses of all types, service
existing accounts, be organized and have excellent computer and
communication skills. If you’ve been looking for the opportunity to excel
in a sales environment, this is it! The right candidate will be organized
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and work well in a team environment. Must be very accurate and detail
oriented plus have excellent customer service and communication skills.
Job qualifi cations include accuracy and speed when typing and spelling,
excellent organizational, phone and communication skills. No sales
experience required. Part-time, wage plus commission. Benefi ts include
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concert tickets (Section G, Row C)
• One VIP parking pass for lot
next to Pendleton Convention Center
SECOND PRIZE – $312 value
• Three Premium Grandstand
concert tickets (Section G, Row C)
THIRD PRIZE – $312 value
• Three Premium Grandstand
concert tickets (Section G, Row D)
Deadline for entry: Monday, July 10 at 12 noon.
Winners will be drawn July 10 at 1 p.m. and contacted that day.
Winners will be announced on July 11 in the
East Oregonian and on the EO’s Facebook page.
No purchase required. One entry per person.
Sweepstakes open to residents of Oregon and
Washington age 21+ only. Complete rules can be found
at www.eastoregonian.com/eo/sweepstakesrules.
Send resume and letter of interest to EO Media Group,
PO Box 2048 • Salem, OR 97308-2048,
by fax to 503-371-2935 or e-mail hr@eomediagroup.com
Come work with us! We are an awesome team.