REGION Thursday, December 28, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A PENDLETON Hamley’s co-owner files second suit against partner By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Hamley’s co-owner Blair Woodfield is calling in his chips against business partner Parley Pearce. Woodfield is again suing Pearce, this time for almost $873,000. Woodfield’s attorney, Steven Joseph of La Grande, filed the complaint Nov. 14 in Umatilla County Circuit Court. In the 56-page document, Woodfield asserts he made 11 loans from 2007-2011 to Pearce Woodfield Development, the limited-liability company the two men own and operate, and Pearce failed to pay back those loans. Woodfield claims Pearce owes $533,980, plus accrued interest as of May 31 of $338,646. The total comes to $872,626. Woodfield provided copies of the promissory notes detailing the loans. The first and largest was for $200,000 plus interest and came due Feb. 16, 2012. Woodfield asserts Pearce owes $262,543 on that deal alone. The lawsuit also contains a copy of the partnership agreement Woodfield and Pearce signed in November 1999. The partnership consisted of several limited-lia- bility companies the men owned, including Pearce Woodfield Development, Pearce Woodfield Properties and Wendy’s of Walla Walla, per the agreement, and had an initial worth of $6 million. Court records show Pearce and Pearce Woodfield Development received copies of the complaint. Both Woodfield and Pearce declined to comment to the East Oregonian on the proceedings. The parties have not set a date to meet in court. Woodfield’s first lawsuit against Pearce received new life in July. In that complaint, Wood- field accuses Pearce of wrongful Staff photo by E.J. Harris Hamley’s co-owner Blair Woodfield has filed a new lawsuit against his business partner Parley Pearce suing him for $873,000. conduct that had a negative effect on all Hamley’s operations and seeks to have the court dissolve the Hamley companies. Pearce sought to dismiss the lawsuit. Circuit Judge Lynn Hampton in January granted the dismissals, but she also allowed Woodfield Cities offer Christmas tree recycling East Oregonian As once-live Christmas trees begin to wilt, several cities are offering options for recycling the trees into mulch. Pendleton City Club is collecting trees from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until about January 7 at Fallen Field, located on Southwest 18th Street just north of the Pendleton Convention Center. The club asks that people leave a donation when they drop off their tree. “100 percent of the money donated goes to youth activities in Pendleton,” said Tim Smith of Pendleton City Club. Hermiston residents can drop off their trees for free at Butte Park on Northwest 7th Street starting Jan. 2. The city will place signs directing people to the drop-off point on the south side of the park after New Year’s Day. The trees are put through a wood-chipper each January to supply the city’s parks with mulch used at the base of trees and other landscaping areas. In Milton-Freewater, residents Staff photo by E.J. Harris The Pendleton City Club has set up a Christmas tree drop-off site off of Southwest 18th Street behind the Pendleton Convention Center. can place their tree on the curb in front of their home for free pick-up. Collection will take place Jan. 2-5 and residents are asked to put their tree, stripped of all decorations, out on Jan. 2. The trees will be chipped and used for landscaping and other purposes. Boardman is also offering free curbside collection of trees during the first week of January. HERMISTON Swim team dives in with annual talent show By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Members of the community are ready to make a splash as more than two dozen acts are featured during the Hermiston High School Swim Team Talent Show. With high transportation costs to shuttle swimmers to and from practices at the Blue Mountain Community College pool, the team plunged in to help offset expenses by holding the annual fundraising event. Talent show organizer Lynne Hamblin said in addition to behind- the-scenes help with the sound booth and other activities to put on the show, several members of the swim team will take the stage. In its seventh year, the talent show is Saturday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium, 600 S. First St. Tickets are $10 per person or $30 for a family. In addition to dipping into the school district’s budget, Hamblin said the Hermiston High School Sports Boosters have been “amazing” by diving in to help with the team’s expenses. Last year’s talent show fund- raiser brought in about $3,500. Hamblin said they are hoping to raise $5,000 during the 2018 event. During the show’s intermission, there will be a bake sale. Also, raffle tickets are being sold for $10 each for a chance to win an iPad, a one-hour massage from Jodi Wrathall, a Cottage Flowers basket and an assortment of other themed baskets and gift cards. Charlie Clupny will serve as the show’s master of ceremonies. Swimmers who will take the stage include Max Rahm, who will sing, and Lindsay McCallister will play the piano. Hamblin said other acts include Dance Unlimited, the Polynesian Dancers, a singing foursome of Nattalie Gray, Marti Plum, Hayden Larson and Schae Borrego and many others. The performers are vying for top prizes, which will be awarded in age group categories, including middle school and younger, and high school to adults. Winning acts will receive gift cards. For more information, contact Hamblin at 541-571-5691 or lynne. hamblin@hermiston.k12.or.us. to amend the complaint to better make his case. Woodfield did, and Pearce again asked the court to dismiss. Hampton in a three-page letter sent in July ruled against Woodfield’s suit on two fronts for not alleging damages. However, she also ruled his other claims, including that Pearce’s conduct hurts the busi- ness, can go forward. “Whether the alleged conduct actually does adversely and mate- rially affect the business or affairs of the LLC is a matter of proof for trial,” according to the letter. The initial suit has a review hearing Jan. 18 in Umatilla County Circuit Court, Pendleton. Hampton is retiring, and court records show Circuit Judge Russell West of La Grande will preside. ——— Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833. BRIEFLY Trio of car theft defendants out of jail SAIF to host farm safety seminars HEPPNER — The three car theft co-defendants law enforcement in Morrow County caught Oct. 31 all made it back to Portland. Buddy James Buoy, 42, Michelle Carol McLean, 40, Julia R. Kraus, 37, each face multiple charges stemming from car thefts of Washington dealers. Circuit court records show they agreed to conditional releases from the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton. Buoy got out Dec. 4, McLean on Dec. 11 and Kraus on Dec. 14. According to the release conditions, Buoy and McLean have to stay at their homes in Portland under the supervision of an adult. Kraus, though, went into a drug treatment center in Portland. They cannot have contact with each other or the dealer- ships, and the court put a special restriction on Buoy — a 10 p.m. curfew. They each face five counts of first-degree aggravated theft for stealing a 2015 Ford F250 and a 2016 Ford F350 from Dave Smith Motors, Spokane, and a Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Silverado pickup from McCurley Integrity Chevrolet Pasco. The state also charged Buoy and Kraus with fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving and multiple counts of second-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trespass stemming from a police chase. McLean also faces one charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Buoy’s next hearing is Jan. 4, according to court records. McLean and Kraus have hearings Jan. 25. The hearings take place at the Morrow County Courthouse, Heppner. HERMISTON — Free farm safety seminars will be held in Hermiston on Jan. 9-10. The half-day seminars, hosted by SAIF Corporation, are open to “anyone interested in ag safety and health” even if they are not insured by SAIF, Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance company. The Jan. 9 seminar is in English and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S Highway 395. The Jan. 10 session is in Spanish and runs 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the conference center. Lunch is included both days. According to a news release from SAIF, this year’s topics include mechanical hazards, ergonomics, safety leadership, communication skills and the difference between safety and compliance. The seminar meets OSHA’s instructional requirement for small agricultural operations, the Oregon State Landscaping Contractors Board’s continuing education credits and the Department of Consumer and Business Services’ producer continuing education credits. For more information or to register visit www.saif.com/ agseminars. SAIF also announced that its 2018 calendar will feature N.W. Crane Service of Hermiston as its business for June. The theme of the 2018 calendar is “building a better — and safer — Oregon” to celebrate the state’s construction industry. N.W Crane Service was chosen to help represent that theme because they “consistently go above regulations and requirements” in their dedication to safety. PLASTIC IS NO LONGER RECYCLABLE WHAT: Mixed plastics #1-#7 is no longer recyclable. Our depot collection containers for this material near Fallen Field and at the Transfer Station will be removed on or before January 1, 2018. WHY: The only market for these materials was China. Eff ective January 1, 2018 China is implementing its “National Sword” policy to increase the environmental quality in its own country, which will stop all mixed paper and mixed plastics from being imported. This is a national and international issue, but the eff ects are very local. There are no markets to absorb what China has refused to accept. EastOregonian.com A Benefit For Subscribers Your subscription includes unlimited access to EastOregonian.com so you can read the latest news anytime, anywhere. It’s easy to access! Call 1-800-522-0255, ext. 1 Monday through Friday 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. and we’ll help you set up your EastOregonian.com login. Or go to EastOregonian.com and click on “Register” in the upper lefthand corner to activate your online subscription for the first time. Questions? Call, email circulation@eastoregonian.com or stop by 211 SE Byers Ave. in Pendleton, or 333 E. Main St. in Hermiston during business hours. WHEN: By January 1, 2018 the plastics collection containers will be removed and these plastics must be placed in the trash. Plastic water bottles and many other drink containers may still be taken for the $0.10 redemption at grocery stores or redemption centers. WHO: All Pendleton residents and surrounding areas who use Pendleton Sanitary Service recycling collection containers. OTHER COMMUNITIES: Other communities that have “co-mingled” recycling (all recyclables in one roll cart at their home) will be very severely impacted by these market changes. Pendleton’s impact is small in comparison. WHAT CAN I DO?: Continue to recycle whenever and whatever is possible. Recycling is still the right thing to do – it saves energy, natural resources, and creates a sustainable future, but be very careful about contamination. If an item is questionable for recycling - “When in doubt, throw it out” is the best policy. For complete recycling information, please visit our website at pendletonsanitaryservice.com or call our offi ce at (541) 276-1271. Pendleton Sanitary Service, Inc. is committed to off ering a recycling collection program supported by our customers and turning this diffi cult situation into an opportunity to strengthen the future of recycling. If markets for recycled plastics become available in the future, we are committed to reinstate our collection of plastics and adapt to current market conditions. LOCATION: 5500 NW Rieth Road • Pendleton, OR 97801 PHONE: (541) 276-1271 • OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 4 PM