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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2017)
REGION Tuesday, August 8, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A Dam maintenance to close Transformer joins tractors, more portion of Olive Lake at Umatilla County Fair parade HERMISTON East Oregonian By EMILY OLSON East Oregonian Move over candy. Saturday’s Umatilla County Fair Parade had a serious competitor for fan favorite. “I’m going to see Optimus Prime,” said Bentlee Dean, 3. His family drove him from La Grande for his first- ever fair parade, just to see the souped-up truck featured in “Transformers: The Last Knight.” Scott Teeples of Herm- iston agreed that’s what made this year’s fair special. He staked out his spot along the route at 8:30 a.m. and took his twin grandsons, Gerrel and Jackson, 3, to peek at the big rig before the start of the parade. Teeples couldn’t deny that he was just as excited about the truck as the boys were. As Optimus Prime passed — boasting blue and red flames and movie- quality sound effects — Gerrel and Jackson jumped up and down, brimming with wonder. The truck paraded as part of a nation-wide tour promoting the Paramount Pictures movie franchise and Western Star truck company. It was one of nearly 120 entries that moseyed down Hermiston’s downtown and beyond, completing a miles- long route. The path saw only slight alterations this year, still ending near the old fairgrounds even though the fair has moved to the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. Heat and a smoky haze left by regional fires did nothing to deter thousands of folks from lining the streets. Some were less interested in Optimus Prime, instead looking forward to the parade’s classic entries. “I’m most excited about the cheerleaders,” said Reyna Mendoza, 5, of Hermiston. “I’d really like to be one in high school.” Her mom, Gracie, was most excited to see the farm equipment, explaining that it’s not something she gets to see on the street every day. “They’re so big,” she said. “I’ve always wanted Staff photo by Emily Olson Optimus Prime, customized for the movie “Transformers: the Last Knight,” drives down Hermiston Avenue during Saturday’s Umatilla County Fair Parade. recreation site with 28 camp- sites and a two-mile hiking trail around the lake with additional access to wilder- ness and scenic areas. The natural lake was deepened by a 30-foot-high dam built in the early 1900s by the Fremont Power Company, which provided hydroelec- tricity for the nearby gold mining community. For more information, contact the North Fork John Day Ranger District at 541-427-3231. Staff photo by Emily Olson to be in the field in one of them.” Other attendees discov- ered delightful surprises along the way. Emily Shontz, 9, traveled from Castle Rock, Wash., to visit family for fair week. The promise of candy brought her to the parade, but her favorite part was receiving a free Hermiston watermelon for showing enthusiasm as a float with a super-sized slice drove by. “I had no idea they did that here,” Shontz said, adding that it left her even more excited for the fair. Sam Surber, 15, of Hermiston, sourced some surprises of his own. He gifted balloon animals to all the kids near his family’s spot along the route. He decided to bring his balloon supplies because his church, New Hope, distributed balloons along with their float entry. Surber knew they wouldn’t have enough for everyone. “I wanted to spread these to all the kids around me,” he said, estimating that he’d made about 35 that day. Some balloons succumbed to the heat, but a sea of colorful flowers and swords still waved around him, proof that Surber had helped elevate the festive atmosphere. The Umatilla County Fair is Tuesday-Saturday at EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport Road. A ribbon cutting is Monday at 5:30 p.m. ——— Contact Emily Olson at eolson@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0809 Man jailed for sexual assault of children Boardman police on Friday arrested a 57-year-old man for rape and sexual assault of three girls. Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson said the victims are between 8 and 12 years old. K e n n e t h James Sicard of Boardman faces the following initial charges: one count Sicard each of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, second-degree sodomy, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and second-de- gree unlawful sexual Photo contributed by USFS A portion of Olive Lake is closed to public access while crews perform maintenance the dam and spillway. Crews pass out Hermiston watermelons during Saturday’s Umatilla County Fair Parade BOARDMAN East Oregonian A small portion of Olive Lake is closed to the public as crews with the Umatilla National Forest complete maintenance on the lake’s dam and spillway. The closure went into effect Monday and is expected to last through Oct. 1. “We realize this is a popular recreation area and are committed to maintaining recreational opportunities at the site, while providing for public safety,” said Ian Reid, North Fork John Day district ranger. The closed area is approx- imately a half-acre in size — affecting less than 1 percent of the 149-acre lake surface — and will be signed, fenced and defined by a string of buoys extending 200 feet in the water to notify swimmers and boaters. The Olive Lake Camp- ground will remain open, though a portion of the hiking trail in the area of the dam and spillway will be closed during construction. Swimming and boating is allowed outside of the restricted area. Located 12 miles west of the tiny town of Granite, Olive Lake is a popular penetration. The state also charged him with six counts of first-degree sexual abuse. According to court documents, the state alleges Sicard committed the crimes in April. Nelson said the Mount Emily Safe Center, La Grande, played the key role in interviewing the three girls. “They are the professionals that handle these cases,” he said. Circuit Judge Randolph Garrison of Douglas County subbed in for Judge Dan Hill during Sicard’s hearing Monday. Garrison set bail for Sicard at $150,000. He remains in the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton. Sicard has been the subject of 11 previous state criminal prosecutions in Morrow County, according to court records, ranging from misdemeanor assault in 1990 to fleeing police in 2002 to drug making and endan- gering children in 2007. His most recent conviction was in 2015 for fourth-degree assault. Sicard’s next hearing in the sex crimes case is Aug. 14 at 3 p.m. at the Morrow County Courthouse, Heppner. Nelson said he aims to take the case to a grand jury for an indictment before then. BRIEFLY OHA issues health advisory for Willow Creek HEPPNER — The Oregon Health Authority on Monday said that Willow Creek Reservoir in Morrow County contains blue-green algae, which produces toxins harmful to humans and animals, and urged users to be careful around the water. People can be exposed to the toxin through ingesting or inhaling it, the agency said. While it is not absorbed through skin, it may cause a rash for people with sensitive skin. The toxin cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treatment with camping- style filters, and it is not safe to drink water from the reservoir at this time. The agency said that people whose homes are supplied with water from the reservoir should find an alternative water source because private treatment systems are not always effective at removing the toxin. Public drinking water systems are able to treat the water adequately. For people eating fish from that water, the agency advised removing all fat, skin and organs, where toxins are most likely to collect, before cooking. The health agency said people should avoid areas with visible scum that looks thick, foamy or scummy and with pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red color. They discouraged swimming and other water activities like power boating or water-skiing, where people could accidentally ingest water. The toxin can cause numbness, tingling or dizziness, leading to breathing difficulty or heart problems that require immediate medical attention. Other issues like skin irritation, weakness, diarrhea and fainting may also result from exposure to the toxin. Field day set for Milton- Freewater shooting range MILTON-FREEWATER — The East End Rod & Gun Club will host a range and field day for hunter education students Sunday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students are required first to complete a hunter education workbook or online course, and must have their certificate of online training or completed workbook in hand when they arrive for training at the range. Participants may preregister for hunter education field day by visiting www.dfw. state.or.us/education/hunter. There will be a $10 fee for students who have not prereg- istered. Firearms, ammunition, hearing and eye protection, as well as water and snacks, will be provided, though students should bring a sack lunch and camp chair. Washington students are welcome to attend. The states of Oregon and Washington are reciprocal, meaning that hunter education certification can be taken from either state. The East End Rod & Gun Club is located at 54752 Milton Cemetery Road, Milton-Freewater. For more information, contact Andy Millar at 541-938-4485. Business Oregon funds statewide development projects Several projects in Eastern Oregon will receive a piece of Business Oregon’s $4.81 million Strategic Reserve Fund. Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday that 13 different projects around Oregon would get funding, ranging from $50,000 to $1.25 million. The projects focus on small businesses, entrepreneurship and rural development and the funding is expected to create or retain 1,778 jobs. The local projects include Digital Harvest in Pendleton and rural broadband development. Digital Harvest, a Virginia-based company that has a research outpost in Pendleton, is developing a new robot that can harvest and prune wine grapes. The robot, called the Remote Operated Vineyard Robot, or ROVR, has been tested in Echo vineyards. Digital Harvest will receive $100,000 toward costs for the prototype. Funds will also be put toward expanding rural broadband services in rural Oregon, which may include commu- nities in Eastern Oregon. Communities around the state will receive $500,000 toward broadband planning, engineering and infrastructure development in rural and under-served areas. Other projects in Eastern Oregon that will receive funds include Snake River Produce in Nyssa and Baker and Murakami Produce Company in Ontario. Several facilities in the Willamette Valley will also receive support, including food processing plants, paper companies and manufacturing companies. HERMISTON Officers arrest barricaded man for assault East Oregonian A man was arrested after a four-hour standoff with Hermiston police early Monday morning for assaulting his ex-wife and her friend with a base- ball bat. Police were called at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday to a domestic disturbance at 600 of S.E. Seventh Street, Hermiston. Officers found two Pando injured women when they arrived and para- medics provided aid. The officers found the inju- ries were caused by Nicolas Pando, 38, the ex-husband of one of the victims. Pando’s ex-wife came to retrieve their four year-old child from him, but officers found that instead of exchanging the child, Pando attacked his ex-wife and her friend with his fists and a baseball bat. The women, ages 37 and 34, were treated for facial abrasions and contusions. The child did not have any injuries, according to police. The two women were able to leave the home in a vehicle, and Herm- iston Police Capt. Scott Clark and Lt. Randy Studebaker came to the scene from their homes. Pando went into his house, where he refused to come out or communicate with officers. Pando stayed barricaded in his house for nearly four hours until Studebaker, who is trained in communicating with barri- caded subjects, was able to get him to come out. During the incident, officer said, the child was inside the house. Pando was arrested on four outstanding charges of misdemeanor failure to appear, one count of assault in the second degree, one count of aggravated assault in the fourth degree, one count of strangulation, one count of menacing and one count of criminal mischief in the first degree. He was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail. The damage to the vehicle in which the women escaped is estimated to be more than $2,000. “These are the types of calls for service nobody in this profession enjoys responding to,” said Herm- iston Police Chief Jason Edmiston in a statement. “There are so many variables involved making every situa- tion unique and officers have to make split-second deci- sions on the best approach to intervene.” Old Fashioned Worship Service Picnic Lunch at the Park Sunday, August 13th / Pioneer Park 2 blocks west from the church on Despain Avenue • Pre Worship Music begins at 9:30 a.m. • Worship at 10:00 a.m. • Lunch served at 11:00 a.m. Hope to see you there!
