REGION
Thursday, September 7, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
HERMISTON
UMATILLA
Alleged attempted
kidnapper of high
school athlete arrested
Cardenas had demonstrated
similar behavior in other inci-
A man was arrested dents, and encouraged those
Wednesday, accused of trying who might have additional
to kidnap a Hermiston High information or concerns to
School student the previous call the department.
The same evening he is
week.
Joel Cardenas, 35, of 990 accused of accosting the high
W. Juniper Ave., Hermiston, school athlete, Cardenas was
later reported to
was charged with
have walked inside
harassment and two
the 11th Street
counts of sex abuse
Market and grabbed
in two different
the breast of a
incidents.
He
34-year-old female
was lodged in the
employee.
Umatilla County
The store did not
Jail.
report the incident
A 16-year-old
until a few days
female
student
later, and the officer
was jogging in the
involved in the case
area of Southwest Cardenas
was not able to talk
Seventh Street and
West Quince Avenue around to the employee immediately.
5 p.m. on Aug. 28 when a Edmiston said the incident in
man allegedly grabbed her. the market occurred between
The girl reported the incident 9 and 10 p.m. on Aug. 28.
to the Hermiston Police It was reported Aug. 30. In
Department about two hours that incident, Cardenas was
later. She told police she charged with sex abuse in the
believed the man tried to get third degree and harassment.
Edmiston added that the
her into his car.
The identity of the man cooperation of his department
was unknown at the time, but with other entities, along with
the girl and other witnesses sharing the information on
described him as about 5 feet social media, let to Cardenas’
9 inches tall, balding, with eventual arrest.
“Inasmuch as social
facial hair, noticeable tattoos
and driving a dark-colored media can be distracting with
misinformation, calls and tips
Toyota Prius.
Hermiston Police Chief were made to our department
Jason Edmiston said his from the Facebook post that
department believed there assisted (in this case),” he
was a strong likelihood that said.
East Oregonian
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
A firefighter uses a ladder to enter the second story of the Tillicum Inn while fighting a fire in the hotel
Wednesday in Umatilla.
Fire damages Tillicum Inn hotel
Five or six people
were evacuated
East Oregonian
Umatilla’s Tillicum Inn
was heavily damaged by
fire Wednesday.
The hotel, located at
1481 Sixth Street, was the
scene of hours of active
firefighting and mop-up
by fire departments from
throughout the region,
including those as far away
as Pendleton.
The exact cause of the
fire was not immediately
known. But around 12:30
p.m., Umatilla Police Chief
Darla Huxel said it was
thought to have been related
to maintenance work.
“They were working on
a water line, or doing some
soldering,” Huxel said.
She said she did not
know if the person doing
the maintenance work was
an employee of the inn.
Huxel
and
other
Umatilla police officers
directed traffic as crews
BRIEFLY
Sunset Park
celebration
canceled
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Firefighters from Umatilla and Morrow county respond to a fire at the Tillicum Inn
on Wednesday in Umatilla.
from Umatilla Fire Depart-
ment battled the fire. They
received mutual aid from
Umatilla
County
Fire
District 1 and Echo Rural
Fire Department, Pendleton
Fire Department and others.
Five or six people were
staying in the motel at the
time and were evacuated.
Inn manager Josephine
Kepich said she did not
know details about what
happened and could not
comment until she could get
in touch with the owner.
Outside
the
hotel,
employees were discussing
how to re-house their guests.
The hotel has an annex
behind the main building.
PENDLETON
Airport area gets OK for nearly $1M in improvements
East Oregonian
The Pendleton City
Council continues to spend
significant money at the
airport.
At a meeting Tuesday,
the council unanimously
approved $995,323 in street
and water main work in
the airport industrial area.
Pioneer Construction’s bid
will cover water main work
that will boost capacity for
the airport industrial area,
roadway
reconstruction
on Northwest H Avenue
and Northwest 49th Street,
and roadway overlays on
surrounding streets in the
Airport Industrial Area,
mostly between Northwest
46th Street, Northwest 53rd
Street, Northwest A Avenue
and Northwest H Avenue.
In other council action:
• Pioneer Construction
also won the bid to recon-
struct Southwest Marshall
Avenue and Southwest First
Street.
According to a report
from City Engineer Tim
Simons, the 1,100-foot
section of road between
Southwest Nye Avenue
and Southwest 14th Street
is deteriorating because it
was originally built with
minimal gravel and asphalt
and the soil underneath it
has a tendency to move.
The city rebuilt previous
sections of Marshall in
2004, 2008 and 2014.
Due to city utility work
over the summer, First
Street will be reconstructed
from Southwest Goodwin
Avenue to Southwest Hailey
Avenue.
• The council finalized
a deal with Newburg
developer Saj Jivanjee to
move some city-owned
liens at his Pendleton
Heights
subdivision,
unanimously approving an
ordinance that will reassess
a local improvement district
between Jinvajee’s develop-
ment company and the city.
The city placed $320,000
in liens on the townhouses
to help cover $1.3 million
in infrastructure improve-
ments, which Jivanjee was
originally supposed to pay
once they were completed.
As a part of the deal,
Jivanjee agreed to pay the
city $200,000 now and will
pay the other $120,000
when he completes a
planned 100-unit apartment
complex on the property.
• Although the council
took no action, City Manager
Robb Corbett and Rob
Tremper, the city’s auditor,
presented early proposals
to significantly reduce the
airport’s $2.5 million in
interfund loan debt through
an interest write-off.
“It’s a huge number that
hangs over our head and
it becomes a problem,”
Corbett said. “Once a year,
there’s a newspaper article
that’s written when we pass
our budget that talks about
this interfund loan, because
not everybody does it in the
way that we do it.”
Some council members
said they wanted more
time to have the proposals
explained to them at the
a future workshop. Due
to Round-Up, the council
won’t hold its usually
scheduled workshop next
week.
COMING EVENTS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 7
PRESCHOOL STORY AND
CRAFT TIME, 10:30 a.m., MIl-
ton-Freewater Public Library, 8
S.W. Eighth Ave., Milton-Freewa-
ter. (Lili Schmidt 541-938-8247)
BOARDMAN SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Boardman
Senior Center, 100 Tatone St.,
Boardman. Cost is $4 for seniors
55 and over or $5 for adults. (541-
481-3257)
HERMISTON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Our Lady of
Angels Catholic Church parish
hall, 565 W. Hermiston Ave.,
Hermiston. Cost is $4 for adults,
free for children 10 and under,
$4 for Meals on Wheels. Extra
50 cents for utensils/dishes. Bus
service to parish hall by donation.
(541-567-3582)
PENDLETON
SENIOR
MEAL SERVICE, 12-1 p.m.,
Pendleton Senior Center, 510
S.W. 10th St., Pendleton. Costs
$3.50 or $6 for those under 60.
Pool, puzzles, crafts, snacks,
Second Time Around thrift store
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For Meals On
Wheels, call 541-276-1926. (541-
276-7101)
SENSORY STORY TIME,
12:30 p.m., Boardman Public Li-
brary, 200 S. Main St., Boardman.
For children from birth to age 4.
(541-481-2665)
SKILLS FOR LIFE, 3-5 p.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center,
510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
Gym activities and life skills for
middle and high school students.
Registration requested. (Danny
Bane 541-379-4250)
CASON’S PLACE GRIEF
SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES OF EASTERN
OREGON ORGANIZATIONAL
MEETING, 5:30 p.m., Pendle-
ton Early Learning Center, 455
S.W. 13th St., Pendleton. Board
meeting at 5:30 p.m. followed
by general meeting at 6 p.m. All
those interested in volunteering
are encouraged to attend. (Matt
Terjeson 503-720-1620)
YARN CLUB, 5:30 p.m.,
Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. (541-
567-2882)
ARTIST’S
RECEPTION:
MALCOLM PHINNEY, 5:30-7
p.m., Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
A new series of paintings featur-
ing Zumwalt Prairie in Wallowa
County will be on display through
Sept. 30. Refreshments; beer,
wine and soda available for a do-
nation. Free admission. (Roberta
Lavadour 541-278-9201)
THE ARC UMATILLA COUN-
TY BINGO, 6-10 p.m., The Arc
Building, 215 W. Orchard Ave.,
Hermiston. Doors open at 6 p.m.,
seats may be held until 6:30 p.m.,
then all seats first come, first
served; games begin at 7 p.m.
Proceeds benefit Umatilla County
citizens with developmental dis-
abilities. 18 years or older, must
have proof of age and photo I.D.
Basic pot $20, prizes range from
$20-$750. (541-567-7615)
FIDDLERS NIGHT, 6:30-8:30
p.m., Brookdale Assisted Living,
980 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston.
Enjoy light refreshments, listen to
some favorite oldies or join in the
jam session. All ages welcome.
(541-567-3141)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 8
HEPPNER FARMERS MAR-
KET, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Heppner City
Park, 444 N. Main St., Heppner.
Local produce, crafts, baked
goods and more. (Don or Jo Ann
Shannon 541-676-8957)
STORY TIME, 10:15 a.m.,
Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. (541-
567-2882)
PENDLETON
FARMERS
MARKET, 4-7 p.m., 300 block,
South Main Street, Pendleton. Lo-
cal produce, baked goods, crafts,
jewelry, live music, food vendors
and more. (Cheryl Montgomery
541-969-9466)
VFW BINGO, 6 p.m., Herm-
iston VFW, 45 W. Cherry St.,
Hermiston. Doors open at 6 p.m.,
games begin at 7 p.m. Everyone
welcome. (541-567-6219)
SPAGHETTI DINNER FUND-
RAISER, 6-8 p.m., Our Lady of
Angels Catholic Church parish
hall, 565 W. Hermiston Ave.,
Hermiston. Meal features spa-
ghetti, soup, salad, garlic bread
and dessert. Tickets are $10 for
adults, $5 for ages 10 and under
or $30 for a family of 6. Proceeds
benefit the Knights of Columbus
scholarship program. (541-567-
5812)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
POW SATURDAY BIKE
RIDE, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Chamber of
Commerce Parking Lot, 108 S.W.
Frazer Ave., Pendleton. Weekly
bike ride by Pendleton on Wheels.
Rides are open to the public, as
far and at a speed comfortable for
you. (Christine 734-755-7034)
L’IL BUCKS OPEN GYM,
8:30 a.m., Pendleton Recreation
Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave.,
Pendleton. For students in first-
third grades.
AARP SMART DRIVER
CLASS, 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m., St. An-
thony Hospital, 2801 St. Anthony
Way, Pendleton. Learn valuable
defensive driving skills, proven
safety strategies, current technol-
ogies and rules of the road, and
how to accommodate for age-re-
lated changes in vision, hearing
and reaction time. Cost is $15 for
AARP members (bring card) and
$20 for non-members, prereg-
istration requested. Lunch is on
your own. (Nikii Murtaugh 541-
861-0024)
HERMISTON
FARMERS
MARKET, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Festival
Plaza, Northeast Second Street
and Main, Hermiston. Local pro-
duce, baked goods, crafts, jew-
elry, art, live music, food vendors
and more.
HERMISTON — A
planned celebration at Sunset
Park has been canceled due
to wildfires in the Columbia
Gorge.
The city, Moda Health and
the Portland Trail Blazers’
vice president of social
responsibility were set to
host a ceremony Thursday
to celebrate Hermiston
receiving new playground
equipment as the winner
of the Moda Assist online
competition. But parks and
recreation director Larry
Fetter said the Blazers asked
to reschedule the ceremony
and outdoor youth basketball
clinics in light of Interstate 84
closures and heavy smoke in
the area.
Fetter said he is still
working with them to set a
new date.
Man resisting arrest
tased, tackled
HELIX — A man was
tased and tackled at Vansycle
Road and Raymond Road
outside of Helix on Saturday,
after allegedly resisting arrest
by an Oregon State Police
trooper.
Brett Raymond Leake, 55,
of Helix, was spotted by OSP
trooper Ryan Sharp standing
in a driveway, and the officer
recognized him as having an
outstanding warrant out of
Umatilla County for failure
to appear on a DUII charge.
Trooper Sharp noticed Leake
was under the influence
of drugs and alcohol, and
while being handcuffed
Leake resisted and tried to
escape. Sharp eventually
tased him, but the taser was
not completely effective, and
Leake wrapped the officer’s
legs up.
After a scuffle on the
ground, Trooper Sharp sat
on Leake and handcuffed
him, then radioed for backup.
Leake was able to get away,
and ran around the officer’s
vehicle until he was tackled.
Officers later found Leake
was carrying a small bag of
methamphetamine.
Leake was transported to
St. Anthony Hospital, and
then lodged at the Umatilla
County Jail in Pendleton.
Possible stabbing
sends one to
hospital, one to jail
IRRIGON — An Irrigon
man was hospitalized and
another is missing after a
fight that may have included
a stabbing.
The Morrow County Sher-
iff’s Office received a call
around 7:51 p.m. Tuesday
regarding men fighting near
Highway 730 and West
Fourth Street in Irrigon.
One combatant reported
having possibly been stabbed,
and officers responded
with assistance from the
Boardman Police Depart-
ment. Deputies were on scene
within two minutes of the call
and the Irrigon Ambulance
crew transported the victim,
Jeffrey Alan Kelly, 39, to
the Good Shepherd Medical
Center, Hermiston.
Officers were able to
locate a suspect, 31-year-old
Joel Ernesto Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was arrested
and lodged in the Umatilla
County Jail for menacing,
first- and fourth-degree
assault, and unlawful use
of a weapon. Bail is set at
$275,000.
Law enforcement
officials are also looking for
a potential second victim,
a male who left the scene
before officers arrived. The
unidentified male is being
sought for a welfare check
and as a potential witness.
Members of the public are
asked to contact the Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office if
they have any information at
541-676-5317.
———
Briefs are compiled from
staff and wire reports, and
press releases. Email press
releases to news@eastorego-
nian.com
TWO
HOURS
every
morning
paid off
my credit
card debt.
Become an
East Oregonian
Carrier.
211 SE Byers Ave.
Pendleton
or call:
541-276-2211
1-800-522-0255