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East Oregonian
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Senators confirmed to serve on power council CTUIR: Will take their
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
SALEM — The Oregon Senate has
confirmed Sens. Richard Devlin, D-Tu-
alatin, and Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, as
the newest members of the Northwest
Power Planning & Conservation
Council.
The federally-funded council is
charged with leading the development
of long-term strategies to balance power
generation with wildlife conservation in
a region that includes Oregon, Wash-
ington, Idaho and Montana.
Gov. Kate Brown nominated the two
senators for the appointments.
Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland,
presented the appointments on the
Senate floor.
“I still wish an aye vote but it is
bittersweet,” she said.
“I don’t know if there’s anything
sweet about it,” Senate President Peter
Ferrioli
Devlin
Courtney, D-Salem, quipped in retort.
“I’m unhappy with both of you (for
leaving).”
Council members take a salary of
$120,000, making them post one of the
highest paid political appointments.
Both senators will have to resign
their elected positions in the Legislature
before their first council meeting Jan.
16.
Their departure leaves a shocking
void in the Senate.
A renowned budget writer, Devlin
co-headed the powerful Joint Ways and
Means Committee, which must approve
all spending measures.
Ferrioli, along with Burdick, D-Port-
land, is the longest serving senator in the
Legislature and led the Senate Repub-
licans for several years with eloquent
oratory often in opposition to policy
proposals by the Democrats, who have a
comfortable majority in both chambers.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday,
Nov. 15, elected Sen. Jackie Winters,
R-Salem, to succeed Ferrioli as Senate
Minority Leader.
Ferrioli was elected in 1996 and has
held several leadership positions. Devlin
joined the Oregon House in 1996 before
winning election to the Senate in 2002.
He served as majority leader from 2007
and 2010.
Both Senate seats will be filled
through appointments by county
commissioners in those respective
districts.
Judge delays bail decision in train attack case
PORTLAND (AP) — A
judge postponed a decision
on whether to allow Jeremy
Christian to post bail
until after she watches a
defense-edited video of what
transpired the day police say
he stabbed three men on a
Portland light-rail train.
Multnomah
County
Judge Cheryl Albrecht said
Wednesday she will watch
the footage in private, to
spare surviving victim Micah
Fletcher and relatives of the
two men who were killed
from having to see it. Albrecht
said she will issue a written
decision.
Earlier, an emotional
Fletcher left the courtroom
and other spectators sobbed
as a Portland homicide
detective provided a lengthy
play-by-play, accompanied
by video stills, of what
Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian via AP
MAX stabbing suspect Jeremy Christian shows stab-
bing victim Micah Fletcher a “Don’t Tread on Me” stick-
er during a bail hearing on Wednesday Portland.
happened after Christian got
on the train May 26.
Christian has pleaded not
guilty to aggravated murder
and other charges. Though
prone to courtroom outbursts
at previous court appearances,
he remained quiet at this one.
However, he pulled a yellow
“Don’t Tread on Me” sticker
from his pocket and waved it
toward Fletcher, whose neck
remains scarred from the
attack.
A relative of Fletcher
responded by extending her
middle finger at Christian.
Detective
Michele
Michaels, the sole witness
called to the stand, said Chris-
tian inflicted 11 stab wounds
in 11 seconds after passengers
confronted him about anti-
Muslim comments directed
against two teenage girls.
Christian got on the train
about 12 minutes before the
attack, initially talking on
his cellphone before making
statements toward passen-
gers in an agitated manner.
Michaels said many witnesses
heard xenophobic comments
and rants about free speech.
POLITICS: Top fear was corrupt government officials
Continued from 1A
Pendleton psychologist
Connie
Umphred
isn’t
surprised by the survey
results.
“I have had people who
started with me because of
the results of the election,”
she said. “Very, very upset
because of the election.”
Even those who come to
Umphred for other reasons
such as family conflict,
trouble at work or financial
issues often bring up politics
during therapy sessions.
“And it’s not just the
political scene,” Umphred
said. “It’s concerns about
terrorists, global warming,
climate change, other leaders
and instability all around the
globe. During 9/11, we felt
pretty supported by most of
the world. Now, the world
is watching and they are
not necessarily for us. That
makes it more difficult to feel
comfortable and safe.”
Counselor
Katherine
Walter, who grew up in Pend-
leton, said business is brisk
for her and her colleagues
at Catalyst Counseling in
Seattle. Clients, both liberals
and conservatives, often
express anxiety and depres-
sion concerning the election
and the current political
scene. President Donald
Trump’s aggressive and
unpredictable style triggers
anxiety in many clients.
“There’s a general worry
about
unpredictability,”
Walter said.
Some are glued to the
news.
“My colleagues and I are
treating many more people
for addiction to the news,”
Walter said. “This means
using addiction counseling
to help people cut back on
watching 10 or 12 hours of
political TV per day, to the
detriment of their relation-
ships or other functioning.”
Requests for therapy
appointments at the online
therapy service Talkspace
tripled for a time after the
election.
“I’ve seen increasingly
more people, of all ages,
reaching out every day
because they are struggling
with anxiety and sometimes
feeling hopeless about the
future of our country and
really their future as an
individual, in regard to their
freedom and safety,” said
Talkspace therapist Jennifer
K. Fuller.
Clients
worry
over
changes to healthcare, travel
bans, women’s issues and
relationships. They find
themselves walking on
oaths of office Nov. 29
Continued from 1A
date has not yet been set.
The tribes reported 758
members voted — 597 in
person and 161 by absentee
ballot. Sams said turnout
was roughly 35 percent of
eligible voters.
All results are unofficial
until the Board of Trustees
receives the certification
of results by 4 p.m.
Wednesday.
Overall,
20
tribal
members filed to run for
eight seats on the Board of
Trustees, with one write-in
campaign, and seven others
sought four seats on the
General Council.
Gary Burke retained his
seat as board chair, defeating
challenger Elwood Patawa
423 to 296.
In the treasurer race,
Doris Wheeler defeated
Eugene Stacona 526 to 207.
Kat Brigham also won
her race for board secretary,
defeating Cedric Wildbill
410 to 316.
Willie Sigo IV unseated
incumbent Alan Crawford
for general council chair by
just 21 votes. Sigo received
266 and Crawford received
245. Dave Close finished
third and Kyle McGuire
fourth.
For the at-large positions,
Aaron Ashley, Sally Kosey,
Rosenda
Shippentower
and Woodrow Star won
seats on the board. Ashley
and Star are incumbents,
Shippentower was board
treasurer. Kosey is new to
tribal government.
For council vice chair,
newcomer Michael Ray
Johnson ran unopposed and
won, as did Shawn Gavin
for general council secretary
and incumbent Thomas
Morning Owl for general
council interpreter.
The newly elected
officials take their oaths of
office Wednesday, Nov. 29
at 9 a.m. at the Nixyaawii
Governance Center.
WESTLAND: Bellinger has
been on the board for 16 years
Continued from 1A
systematically taking water
from the plaintiffs to benefit
three larger farms with
junior rights, and seeks
$4.14 million in combined
damages. Bellinger said he
disagrees with the premise
of the suit, adding that
arbitration appears unlikely.
“I think there needs to be
a precedent set where their
claims are ruled upon,”
Bellinger said. “Then we
can move forward.”
As for the long term,
Bellinger said he remains
committed to finding new
sources of water for the
district to ensure a full irri-
gation season every year.
Unlike the neighboring
Hermiston, Stanfield and
West Extension irrigation
districts, Westland remains
entirely dependent on live
flows from the Umatilla
River and stored water in
McKay Reservoir.
The Westland board,
however, voted unani-
mously in May to abandon
the Central Project — a
$14.4 million proposal
that would have brought
mitigated water from the
Columbia River — over
fears the project could be
stalled or derailed by the
lawsuit.
Bellinger said that loss
still hurts, so much that
he considered not running
again for the board.
“This was a once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity that we
let slip through our fingers,”
he said.
Ultimately,
Bellinger
said there are things the
district can do to benefit
all farms, large and small,
if they come together. He
specifically thanked the
Westland Water Users
Group for coming together
after the Central Project fell
through to combat what he
described as misinforma-
tion within the district.
After 16 years on the
board, Bellinger said he
is encouraged that more
people are starting to pay
close attention to issues
affecting Westland, and
participating in the board’s
monthly meetings.
“It’s made me be a
better board member,”
he said. “I’m much more
conscious of my role, and
procedures.”
SWIM: Mayor Turner called
pools ‘money-sucking pigs’
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Chris Schuening, top left, Vickie Hendricks, top center, and George Winter discuss
political topics with two other members of their lunch group, neither wanted to be
identified, on Wednesday at Sister’s Cafe in Pendleton. The group gathers once a
week to write letters to their representatives in Washington D.C.
So what is an anxious
American to do?
Limit exposure to the news
“True, it’s important to be informed
right now, but we need to set boundaries.
The hour before bed is not the time to
check the news. Put your phone in a
different room. There is no breaking news
I really have to be aware of at 10 o’clock at
night so I can ruminate on it for an hour.”
Vaile Wright, director of research at the
American Psychological Association
Connect with others
“We’ve got to try to find someplace in
our lives and our social circles where we
can have a respectful conversation about
it and be openminded, even if it’s just
with one person.” Psychologist Connie
Umphred
Take care of yourself
“In times like these, how we take care
of ourselves is especially important.” Joel
Lane, president of the Oregon Counseling
Association
Empower yourself
“Be involved. Get involved with local
politics. Join with other like-minded people
and find some way to feel like you can
eggshells or quarreling about
politics.
“Family and friends are
fighting openly on social
media, calling those with
differing views idiots and
severing
relationships
entirely,” said Talkspace
therapist Jeanie Winstrom.
Joel Lane, president of
the Oregon Counseling
Association and a counselor
educator at Portland State
University, said counselors
around the state report an
influx of client anxiety,
especially for minorities such
as LGBT, people of color and
immigrants.
“They are experiencing
have an impact. Run for office or talk to
local politicians.” Psychologist Connie
Umphred
(In the Stress in America Survey, half
of respondents said the state of the nation
compelled them to volunteer or otherwise
support causes they value.)
Look for the good
“We live in a world with so much
conflict and violence, but there is also so
much beauty and love in the world. You
have to purposefully look for it when you
are overwhelmed with stress and fear, but
it is there. Take some time every day to
find it, even if it is just in small moments.”
Therapist Jennifer Fuller, Talkspace
Mindfulness
“Take a moment to step back, breathe,
and engage your five senses. What are you
feeling/seeing/smelling/touching/tasting
right now? Pay attention to how you are
experiencing the stress in your body. Note
that not only do you get to be kind to
other people, you also get to be kind to
yourself, and that means taking good care
of your body as it is under stress. After a
few moments, notice if the problem seems
as big as it did a moment ago.” Counselor
Katherine Walter, Catalyst Counseling
really significant anxiety,”
Lane said. “The huge rise in
hate crime is deeply troubling
for a lot of people.”
Another recent survey
offers an additional snapshot
of our fears. In the survey by
Chapman University, our top
fear was corrupt government
officials as it was in 2016,
but this year 75 percent of
us fear corrupt government
officials versus 60 percent
last year. The second most
feared thing, Trumpcare,
wasn’t even on last year’s
list. Almost half of us worry
about World War III (seventh
on the list). We fret about
medical bills and the environ-
ment (climate change, air and
water pollution and plant and
animal extinction) more than
we did before.
Therapists
encourage
their clients to exercise, eat
right, connect with others
and empower themselves by
volunteering for causes they
support, communicating with
politicians or even running
for office. Don’t be afraid to
ask for help.
“You are not alone,” Lane
said. “There are people out
there who can help you.”
———
Contact Kathy Aney at
kaney@eastoregonian.com
or call 541-966-0810.
Continued from 1A
their programs could end
if the pool closed and no
replacement was found.
“Without water, we’re
potentially
without
a
program,” Robinson said.
Nelson, who is also a
lieutenant for the Pendleton
Police Department, said his
teams range from 30-40
participants in the winter
to 80-100 in the summer.
If teams were to go away,
Robinson said it would take
away an athletic avenue for
students who might not fit in
other school sports.
Nelson said there’s only
a handful of 50-meter pools
in the Northwest like the
Pendleton Aquatic Center.
One of them is at Mt. Hood
Community College in
Gresham, a facility that
hosts the Oregon School
Activities
Association
swimming championships
each year — under a dome.
With a similar inflatable
dome in Pendleton, the
aquatic center would be
covered during the colder
months and uncovered
during the summer.
Acquiring and installing
the dome wouldn’t come
cheap — $800,000 to $1
million, including improve-
ments to the pool deck
and pool house, according
to Robinson’s estimate.
Robinson and Nelson said
that the swim association
would attempt to cover that
cost.
But buying and setting
up the dome wouldn’t be
the only expense involved.
Robinson estimated it
would cost $17,000 per
month to run the pool from
October to May, when it
is usually drained. That
figure doesn’t include the
additional labor needed to
maintain a pool year-round.
City officials seemed
supportive of the project
but did not seem eager to
commit general fund money
to operate it.
With the city already
saddled with $3.7 million
in deferred maintenance,
City Manager Robb Corbett
didn’t like the idea of adding
another six-figure cost to
facility maintenance.
“When I look at a number
like that, it just means we’re
getting further and further
down the hole,” he said.
Turner called pools
“money-sucking
pigs,”
and other council members
warned
Nelson
and
Robinson about the high
cost to run it.
“It looks expensive,”
Councilor Neil Brown
said. “We can’t even fix
potholes.”
The duo assured the
council that it was their
goal to make the domed
pool self-sustaining. The
aquatic center hosted two
popular swim meets during
the summer and could host
more with a covered pool.
Additionally, it could open
up more revenue oppor-
tunities like year-round
swimming lessons, physical
therapy and private rentals.
Although the group
now has the blessing of the
council to move forward
with the project, the associ-
ation still has some tall tasks
ahead of it.
In an interview after the
meeting, Robinson said the
swimming association can
now make specific plans on
how to raise the money for
the dome.
Before the meeting
ended, councilors Scott
Fairley and Dale Primmer
agreed to be the council
liaisons for the project.