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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 11, 2017)
Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian ATHENA: Games were halted during the first World War Continued from 1A they’ve guided Pacific Northwesterners in discov- ering their heritage. Many of Athena’s pioneer residents were Scottish, explained Mark Steltman, the vice chairman of the games and former mayor of Athena. In 1899, the same year the town was named, The Umatilla Caledonian Society held a picnic in City Park. Over 2,500 people attended what has since become an annual event. They shared stories of Scotland and engaged in friendly competition, tossing hammers, stones, sheafs and the caber. The unusual athletic events “were like mock war trials,” Steltman explained. “How far can you throw an axe? How well can you throw a rock at your enemy?” It was a real war, the first World War, that sent the games grinding to a halt. Don Duncan re-instituted the tradition in 1976. In addition to the athletic competition, the games of today feature bagpiping contests, harp performances, dance “shindigs” and professional storytelling. Vendors sell sausage rolls and meat pie. Some visitors wear kilts and carry short daggers called dirks. Others come as novices to Scottish culture. “Somewhere in your history, there’s a Scot,” Stel- tman told the crowd during Saturday’s introductory ceremony. “Trust me.” Margaret Ley drove from Walla Walla to learn about that history. “I’m a Jameson,” she said. “Everyone in my family has always talked about our Scottish heritage.” But while perusing the six clan tents at the games, Ley 27,000 gallons of sewage spill into Portland creek PORTLAND (AP) — The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services says about 27,000 gallons of sewage spilled into a creek on Sunday. The Oregonian/Oregon- Live reports the sewage spilled into Woods Creek in the 6100 block of Southwest Canby Street. Woods Creek feeds into Fanno Creek. Maintenance crews estimate 27,000 gallons spilled into the creek before they diverted the flow into a nearby sewage line. The bureau urges the public to stay away from the creeks for at least 48 hours because of the possibility of increased bacteria in the water. Bureau spokeswoman Diane Dulken says the bureau is investigating the cause of the spill and working on repairs. She says most sewage spills are caused when grease, tree roots or other debris block pipes. DEMOCRATS: A Dem last held the seat in 1981 Continued from 1A Staff photo by Emily Olson Christopher Gordon signs a registry of the MacGregor Clan Association, hoping to receive more information about his heritage at the Caledonian Games on Saturday. Staff photo by Kathy Aney The Weston-McEwen Pipe Band marches in the Cale- donian Games Parade on Saturday in Athena. started forming suspicions. The name Jameson didn’t appear on any of the gene- alogical maps or surname lists. So she pulled out her phone, did a quick search and realized she’s probably English. “Maybe not everything our families tell us is accurate,” she said. Her husband, Joel, who has confirmed his Scottish roots in the McIntyre clan, is still skeptical. “We’re going to have to figure it out,” he said. They’d already discussed doing a DNA test. Others came away with Staff photo by Kathy Aney Duncan Anderson rais- es his candle during the opening candlelight cere- mony Friday night of the Caledonian Games. more luck. For his eighteenth trip to the games, Dale Turnbull said that he’d already confirmed clan blood for two visitors. “They’re family,” he said, smiling. FUNFEST: Arts Show merged with Funfest for the first time Continued from 1A waved the starting flag they took off, accelerating to more than 70 miles per hour and stopping, all within about 100 feet. On the way back they rolled up to the curb, high- fiving eager kids who stuck their hands out. The Outlaw Lawn Drag- sters have about 15 active team members, and host races around the region: Boise and New Plymouth, Idaho; Dayton and Yakima, Wash- ington; and in Pilot Rock. The races drew a crowd, with viewers lining both sides of Main Street to get a better look. “The speeds they reach within an eighth of a mile are commensurate with what they reach with the big cars,” said Bob Middleton, who usually watches the races with his wife Carol and their grandson, Rian. “They’re doing 70 or better.” Brian Olson, the announcer, encouraged those watching to get involved. “For a weekend sport, it’s really kind of a good thing,” he said. “We have a little fun, it’s good people, it’s not expensive. It’s like a family.” Some took his advice to heart. As the first of three heats ended, a woman and her husband walked by to look at the vehicles. “We know what we’re doing next year,” she told him. Lisa Olson, the only woman racing on Saturday, had a pink drag racer she and her husband built. She has been racing for 17 years, and is from New Plymouth, Idaho. “It’s just bragging rights,” she said. “It used to be more competitive, but now it’s just all in fun.” More cars, less revving Across the highway, the cars were stationary but drew just as much of a crowd. The Hermiston Classics Car Club hosted its 22nd Annual Cool Rides Car Show, showcasing a plethora of vehicles, some of which came from out-of-state. Jeanne Steffey of the car club said the entrant from farthest away was a car from Bellflower, California, in the Los Angeles area. The oldest car was a 1924 Ford C-Cab, owned by Lyle and Helen Bliss of Hermiston. The couple bought the car a year ago from a man in Louisiana, and now plans to sell it — a common practice for them. Tuesday, July 11, 2017 Staff photo by Kathy Aney The car show at Saturday’s Hermiston’s Funfest at- tracted plenty of looks under the hood. Staff photo by Kathy Aney Chainsaw artist Matt Holznagle works on a piece Saturday during Hermiston’s Funfest. “We buy ’em, he fixes ’em up, we sell ’em and get something else,” Helen said. Do they drive it? “Oh yeah!” Lyle said with a grin. “Horses are trailered, hot rods are driven. It runs great, 500 horsepower.” Helen helps detail the cars and keep them clean, too. “I’ve got grease under my fingernails,” she said. The couple has had several other classic cars, including a 1964 Falcon Sprint, a 1961 Ford Fairlane, and a 1940 Ford pickup, which Lyle said was his favorite. For Russ and Tammi Lynch, the car they had on display is a piece of personal history. “My grandfather bought it brand new in 1958,” said Russ of the red and white Ford Country Sedan. “He drove it till he was 92. Then he came back from breakfast one morning, got out of the car, and he passed away.” Russ ended up with the car, and has had it for about 20 years. The couple tries to maintain the car just as it was, repainting it in its original colors and restoring the front seat, which had a hole where Russ’ grandfather used to sit. “It’s only got 68,000 miles on it,” Russ said. “It reminds me of him when I drive it.” The car club also gave out some awards, including one for a car manufactured in each decade, as well as the “Police Chief’s Award” or, according to the emcee, the car least likely to get out of town without a ticket. The best of show award went to Chip Chapman, with his 1941 Willys Roadster. Funfest On Hermiston’s Main Street, kids played and adults browsed the many vendor shops set up, both local and out-of-town merchants. Patsy Dickinson was selling brightly colored birdhouses and planters, constructed by her 87-year-old father, Dean, in his woodshop. Many of the pieces were painted to look like watermelons. Caitlin Hunsaker was at the event for the second time with her business, Painted Mountain Henna. This was Melissa Littrell’s first year at the event, selling her own paintings. “It’s a home hobby,” she said. “I use acrylic paint, and just do a bunch of inspira- tional messages.” For the first time, the Eastern Oregon Arts Show merged with Funfest, hoping to add something to both events. The show was held in a tent in front of city hall, just across from the Hermiston Farmer’s Market. “We have a little less than we had last year,” said Mary Corp of the Desert Arts Council, which organized the event. “Some of the usual artists didn’t show this year, but we have some new artists, and it’s really a strong show.” A new component this year was the show’s youth division, featuring art from students ages 13 to 18. The show was juried by Roberta Lavadour, the director of the Pendleton Center of the Arts, and the best in show prize was awarded to Andi Aldrich for the photograph entitled “The Next Generation,” of a row of birds sitting on a fence. Just outside the tent, the Hermiston Farmer’s Market was in full swing, with several local farms represented, as well as some unique additions. Cayla Barthel and Tammy Ontiveros of Flowingroots Farm were selling lettuce and basil grown in an aquaponics system — meaning the plants were not grown in mud, but in water. On the main stage at the corner of Second and Main streets, crowds enjoyed the sounds of the Bram Brata Steel Band from the Tri-Cities, the antics of a mime clown, and an auction. The event ended around 3 p.m., but at 4, there was a new attraction — the Around the World in One Fun Day event, which highlighted various cultures with performances, food and informational booths. –—— Contact Jayati Ramakrishnan at 541-564- 4534 or jramakrishnan@ eastoregonian.com dents and gauge whether there’s a path to victory. Van Dyke introduced himself to the audience, touching on his stints as the Marion County district attorney, an executive for Nike and Patagonia and a senior vice president with the World Wildlife Fund. He also fielded questions from the crowd, who not only asked him about his positions on health care, immigration and gun control but also pressed him on the nuts and bolts of how he would finance and run his campaign. Although Van Dyke mentioned Donald Trump by name sparingly, the president did not escape reference. “I’m not much different than you,” Van Dyke said. “I wake up and some days I’m angry. Some days I’m also afraid. Recently I’ve been embarrassed and I’ve been saddened.” Van Dyke said the Democrats wouldn’t be able to turn the second district blue by criticizing Trump or Walden, but by offering a credible candi- date who could present a platform that would appeal to rural voters. But Van Dyke also included a few digs at Walden, accusing him of being “addicted to incum- bency.” When Umatilla County Democratic Party Chair Mark Petersen compared Walden to an old pair of shoes that created a sense of familiarity with voters, Van Dyke was ready with a response. “He is like an old pair of shoes,” he said. “But even- tually, old shoes get stinky and need to be replaced.” Despite talking about his career and political views at length, Van Dyke did not draw attention to his famous father — actor Dick Van Dyke. If Van Dyke opts to challenge Walden, he’ll join an eclectic group of Democrats vying for the nomination. The field includes Michael Byrne, a stone- mason from Parkdale, Rachael Scdoris-Salerno, a dogsled racer from Bend, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a former Phoenix, Oregon city manager, and Jim Crary, a retired attorney and oil company executive from Ashland. It would be a long shot for Democrats to unseat Walden, a nine-term incumbent from Hood River with $1.4 million cash on hand in his campaign account. Crary knows this first hand, having lost to Walden in 2016 by a 44-point margin. In an interview Monday, Crary said this election would be different because congressional Republi- cans’ health care bills are galvanizing District 2 resi- dents to oppose Walden. Crary said Walden’s role as the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee showed that his fingerprints are all over the American Health Care Act, the House Republican’s bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Van Dyke said health care would be his top issue as a candidate, and both he and Crary said they would support a single-payer system. Crary acknowledged that it would be an uphill battle to defeat Walden, but added it was the right time to try. “If it’s ever going to happen, it’s going to happen this election,” he said. If it does happen this election, the Democratic nominee will have to over- come District 2’s histori- cally conservative lean and its massive boundaries. A Democrat last held the seat in 1981 in a district that now covers roughly two-thirds of the state. While Republicans comprise only 36 percent of registered voters (a 9-point advantage over Democrats), the district has voted heavily for Republican presidential candidates in recent elec- tion cycles. Van Dyke believes there is a path to victory, saying that more District 2 constit- uents voted for Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden in 2016 than for Walden and Crary combined. Van Dyke said he’s met the other Democratic candidates and thinks there’s little daylight between them when it comes to policy. Whoever wins the primary, Van Dyke anticipates the other candidates will support the nominee. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0836. MAIOCCO: Has been district’s superintendent since 2007 Continued from 1A applications and go through a standard hiring process. The board unanimously approved Maiocco’s request for a leave of absence, and decided to advertise the position and go through a standard hiring process, with interviews conducted by district staff and board members. The position is open until filled. To qualify, candidates must have a valid Oregon administrator’s license and a master’s degree in an education-related field, Maiocco said. Maiocco also noted that once he returns, the interim superintendent may still be able to have a place within the district. When former director of special program Jon Mishra left at the end of this school year, Maiocco said he did not fill that position, but kept it in the budget. “It’s likely we’ll be able to keep that position, so there’s some security with that (interim role) as well,” he said. Maiocco has been the district’s superintendent since 2007, and said he plans to return to Hermiston after his service. “I just bought a new house,” he said with a laugh. “I certainly look forward to coming back.” Board members wished Maiocco well during his absence. “Thank you for your service,” said Jason Middleton. The board will begin accepting applications this week. The district will hold its next work session July 24 at the Hermiston School District office, 305 SW 11th Street, Hermiston.
