REGION
Saturday, July 29, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
PENDLETON
PENDLETON
Championship swim meet makes
big splash at Aquatic Center
Lybrand sentenced
to four years in prison
Swimmers travel
as far as Spokane,
Moses Lake
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
Like the rest of the natural
world, the ecosystem of a
swim meet revolves around
the water.
More than 350 children
and their families from
across the inland Northwest
gathered Friday at the
Pendleton Aquatic Center,
the pool teeming with youth
competing in the breast-
stroke, butterfl y and freestyle
as a part of the 2017 Inland
Empire Long Course Cham-
pionship.
Kids in swimsuits walked
to and fro as parents and
coaches shouted words of
encouragement to the young
competitors in the main pool.
A smaller pool provided a
space for practice laps.
In the grassy area
surrounding the pool, partic-
ipants and their families
lounged under canopies and
camping tents, biding their
time between events. Further
out still, vendors sold food,
screen-printed t-shirts and
swimsuits.
This is a typical swim
meet championship in an
atypical location.
Fred Robinson, the meet
director and the president of
the Pendleton Swim Asso-
ciation, said this is the fi rst
time Pendleton has hosted the
Inland Empire championship.
Although Pendleton hosts
swim meets every year, it
took four years to secure the
winning Inland Empire bid
for the Round-Up City.
Teams
from
across
Oregon, Washington and
Idaho converged on Pend-
leton for the championship,
with the event winners
qualifying for the sectional
competition.
Teams from as close as
Walla Walla, La Grande and
Tri-Cities went up against
swimmers that traveled as far
as Spokane, Coeur d’Alene
and Moses Lake, Wash.
Tony Nelson coaches the
29-person strong Pendleton
Swim Association team and
spent the day with a variety
of duties, ranging from
critiquing his swimmers
performances to making sure
they were staying hydrated
on another bright summer
day.
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
A lifeguard watches swimmers race Friday afternoon during a preliminary heat of
the Inland Empire Long Course Championships at the Pendleton Aquatic Center.
The swim meet continues through Sunday.
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Ian Walsh, left, and Charles Cutter play cards during
downtime at the Inland Empire Long Course
Championships at the Pendleton Aquatic Center. The
swimmers came from Wenatchee Valley to compete in
the meet, which continues through Sunday.
Sixteen-year-old swimmer
Landry Huth was competing
in several events and has
spent the past fi ve years as
a member of the Pendleton
swim club.
Although she’s unsure if
she wants to keep swimming
competitively after high
school, she plans to keep
using the skills she was taught
in the association well after
graduation.
“You can do it anytime,”
she said.
Nelson echoed Huth’s
sentiments, calling it a “life-
long sport” that both promotes
individual achievement and
team work, and helps keep
you healthy and in shape.
Nelson, who is a lieutenant
for the Pendleton Police
Department in his day job,
said Friday’s poolside scene
was characteristic of the
family atmosphere most
events take on.
“It defi nitely becomes a
tent city,” he said.
Mike Kitsler was one of
seven family members who
rolled into Pendleton from
Spokane to support his two
children who were competing.
Although Pendleton lies
on the outer edge of Inland
Empire’s radius, Kitsler said
he likes Pendleton’s restau-
rants and amenities.
“I don’t like to pump my
own gas though,” he said.
While Pendleton Swim
Association members may
have worked for years to host
a championship, their work
isn’t over.
Time is running out on the
Blue Mountain Community
College pool, which has more
maintenance issues than the
college is willing to pay for
but is also the only indoor
facility the swim association
is able to use year-round.
Robinson, the swim
association president, said
he’s currently working with
Mayor John Turner to fi gure
out a proposal to build a cover
over the aquatic center.
In addition to giving
young swimmers the option
of swimming throughout the
year, Robinson said it would
open up more competition
options when Pendleton hosts
meets.
———
Contact Antonio Sierra at
asierra@eastoregonian.com
or 541-966-0836.
Pleads guilty
to drug charges
was already on probation for
separate drug convictions at
the time the latest offenses
were committed.
The possession charges
East Oregonian
also carried six-month DOC
Downtown Pendleton sentences, though they are
business owner Jason to run concurrent.
As per a plea agreement,
Lybrand has been sentenced
to more than four years in prosecutors agreed to drop
prison after admitting to all other pending charges
against Lybrand,
possession and
which included
delivery of meth-
multiple
sex
amphetamine
crimes, witness
Friday in Umatilla
tampering
and
County Circuit
using a minor to
Court.
help commit a
Lybrand, 46,
drug crime.
pleaded
guilty
Lybrand, who
to two counts of
owns
Wicked
possessing meth
Kitty Tattoo and
and two counts of
Piercing on South
delivering meth Lybrand
Main Street, had
for consideration,
charges that stemmed from previously avoided jail
two different episodes in time earlier this year after
pleading guilty to separate
May.
Circuit Court Judge charges of meth possession
Jon Lieuallen sentenced and marijuana delivery,
Lybrand to 25 months with instead receiving three
the Oregon Department years probation and $3,200
of Corrections on each of in fi nes. His latest legal
the delivery charges, to troubles arose following
be served consecutively. raids by the Blue Mountain
Narcotics
Umatilla County District Enforcement
Attorney Dan Primus said it Team on March 17.
A jury trial scheduled
was an enhanced sentence,
based
on
Lybrand’s to begin Friday against
persistent criminal involve- Lybrand was canceled after
ment and the fact that he he changed his pleas.
BRIEFLY
Harvest Town Produce open for season
BOARDMAN — With watermelon season in full
swing, Harvest Town Produce is now open for business
in Boardman.
People can shop for a variety of produce, including locally
grown watermelons from Hermiston Melon Company.
The produce stand is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
on Boardman’s Front Street next to the Splash Pad.
Chamber includes all entities report
HEPPNER — To help people catch up on area
happenings, the Heppner Chamber of Commerce’s
upcoming meeting features an all entities report.
The no-host luncheon is Thursday, Aug. 3 at noon at
Heppner City Hall, 111 N. Main St. The cost is $10. The
meal, which is catered by Willow Creek Diner, features a
chicken rice wrap, broccoli salad and a maple bar.
To ensure there’s enough space and food, those planing
to attend are asked to RSVP by Tuesday by contacting
541-676-5536 or heppnerchamber@centurytel.net.
Attention Attention!!
WE ARE CALLING ALL NURSES
Nurse Openings at Umatilla
County Health Department
SUBMIT
COMMUNITY NEWS
JOB TITLE: HOME VISITING NURSE
Submit information to:
community@eastorego-
nian.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.
JOB TITLE: NURSING SUPERVISOR
SIGN ON BONUSES ARE AVAILABLE!!
“ Making
a difference with first time moms from preg-
nancy until the child reaches two years of age.”
The solar eclipse is coming
August 21
Contact Umatilla County HR for more information 541-278-6207
Full Job description and applications available at http://
www.umatillacounty.net/hr/index.html
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