REGION
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
East Oregonian
Page 3A
HERMISTON
Choir students to travel to Disneyland during spring break
Students raised
nearly $20,000
for the trip
By JAYATI
RAMAKRISHNAN
East Oregonian
Some of Hermiston High
School’s choral students will
be taking a trip to Disneyland
this spring, but they won’t
just be enjoying the rides
and sunshine. The group of
31 students will be working
with Disney production
teams and vocal coaches,
as well as touring a major
university and getting some
choir lessons.
The students will head
south the last week of March,
during their spring break.
Choir director Jordan
Bemrose-Rust said she has
done this specific trip five
times, either as a student or
instructor.
She said the trip will be
a formative experience for
many students.
“We’ll have fun, but the
purpose of the trip is educa-
tional,” she said. “It gives
them some performance
opportunities beyond Herm-
iston.”
While in California,
the students will perform
onstage at Disneyland, and
participate in a recording
Staff photo by Jayati Ramakrishnan
Hermiston Choir students and their instructor, Jordan Bemrose-Rust, accept a check from Tom Denchel and Nick
Kennedy, of Tom Denchel Ford. Back row, from left: Cody Henderson, Denchel, Kennedy, Bemrose-Rust, Marco
Lopez. Front row: Destiny Van Fossen, Hailey Roberts, Crystal Alvarez, William Kern, Madison Fricke.
session in a studio.
“They will get the music,
and they’ve never seen it
before,” she said. “They’ll
sight read it, and then the
person there will rehearse
it with them. Then they’ll
record it, good, bad or ugly.”
Then, she said, the
students will get to hear their
music played back, over an
animated film.
They will visit University
of Southern California,
where they will receive a
clinic from the head of the
choral department.
She said some other musi-
cians who live in the area will
also come and speak to the
students.
“Some people I know
who work there [...] will talk
about what it’s like to audi-
tion for Disney,” she said.’
Onstage, they will sing
music from a variety of
genres including jazz and
folk.
The performance will be
on March 28, and Bemrose-
Rust said they hope to live-
stream it on their Facebook
page.
The students have spent
the last several months fund-
raising for the trip, selling
items like Krispy Kreme
donuts, Yankee Candles
and flower bulbs, as well as
hosting events like a car wash
and a 50/50 raffle at football
games. Bemrose-Rust said
the students have done a total
of 22 fundraisers since June
2017.
“We’ve been busy,” said
freshman William Kern.
Their largest fundraiser,
which netted more than
$5,000, was the DRIVE 4
UR School event, in which
they partnered with Tom
Denchel Ford. Students were
asked to go out and find
people to test-drive various
cars. For each test-drive,
Denchel Ford donated $20 to
the choir program.
Denchel
and
Nick
Kennedy from the dealership
stopped by Hermiston High
School to present the check
to the choir students on
Monday.
In total, students raised
nearly $20,000 for the trip.
———
Contact
Jayati
Ramakrishnan
at
jramakrishnan@eastorego-
nian.com or 541-564-4534
BRIEFLY
Ballots due Tuesday, Umatilla County
voter turnout below 25 percent
PENDLETON — Umatilla County Elections Division
reported only 23.2 percent of around 42,000 voters have
returned ballots for Tuesday’s special election.
Voters are deciding on Ballot Measure 101, a tax on
health care insurance premiums to fund Medicaid expan-
sion. Ballots must be in a drop box by the time polls close
at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Umatilla County elections stated it is too
late to mail ballots and postmarks do not count in Oregon.
“Remind your friends, family and neighbors of the
upcoming deadline to cast your vote,” the division urged in
a written statement Monday morning. “Let’s give a voice to
Umatilla County in Eastern Oregon.”
Morrow County mailed 5,904 ballots, county clerk
Bobbi Childers said, and her department has accepted
1,656. That 28 percent turnout is near the statewide
average, according to data from the Oregon Secretary of
State.
“I would have thought that our numbers across the state
would be stronger,” Childers said.
Montana teen in jail on drug charges
HERMISTON — Umatilla County sheriff’s deputies
made an arrest and seized cash, cocaine and marijuana when
they found a Montana man on a drug run.
The sheriff’s office in a written statement reported
that reserve deputies Jerry Trujillo and Hector Ortiz were
patrolling late Saturday in the area of Powerline Road
and Country Lane near Hermiston when they spotted two
vehicles on the side of the road, a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
and a 2007 Subaru Impreza, both with Montana plates.
“When the deputies stopped to check on the vehicles
and occupants, they saw a clear plastic bag of white
powder inside the Equinox,” according to the statement.
Trujillo spoke to the driver, Eric Dunbar, 18, from
Helena, Montana, who said the powder was cocaine,
according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputies detained Dunbar and three occupants from
the two vehicles: Koby Martin, 19, Faith Scow, 20, and
Shayne Scow, 18.
The deputies found the following: 5.3 ounces of
cocaine, 13.1 ounces of hash/butane honey oil, 7 grams of
crack/rock cocaine, and almost 5.9 pounds of marijuana,
along with $2,400 cash.
Deputies booked Dunbar into the county jail, Pendleton,
for delivery of marijuana, a misdemeanor, and possession
and delivery of cocaine, felonies. Undersheriff Jim
Littlefield said deputies released the others, but they could
face charges after the case goes to grand jury.
Stolen vehicle chase ends in parking lot
HERMISTON — Umatilla Police arrested a 26 year-old
woman early Sunday morning, after a chase starting in
Hermiston led officers through both towns.
Hope Morasch, of Hermiston, was lodged in the
Umatilla County Jail on charges of Unauthorized Use of
a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Attempting to Elude a Police
Officer and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
On Sunday around 2 a.m., Hermiston Police were
informed that a Kia sedan had been stolen from a residence
on Southwest 11th Street. The vehicle owner said he
started the car to warm it, then briefly went inside. He said
when he came back out, the car had been stolen. While
a Hermiston officer was on the way to make a report,
Umatilla Police found the vehicle. They tried to make a
traffic stop, but the driver did not comply, and Umatilla
Police and the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office chased
the car back into Hermiston. Morasch stopped in the
Hermiston Police Department parking lot and was arrested.
She also had a handgun inside her purse. The stolen vehicle
was returned to the owner.
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Hermiston officers were not directly involved with the
pursuit.
There were no injuries or property damage from the chase.
Lt. Randy Studebaker reminded vehicle owners to lock up
their cars, take keys and hide valuables when leaving a car
unattended.
“The majority of the vehicles reported stolen in Hermiston
were left unlocked, with the keys in the ignition or available
nearby,” he said.
Dayton pleads guilty to manslaughter,
abuse of a corpse
PENDLETON — Conor Michael Dayton is heading to
prison for the 2017 killing of Marcos Gutierrez Rodriguez
of Milton-Freewater.
Dayton, 23, pleaded guilty Thursday in Umatilla
County Circuit Court, Pendleton, to
first-degree manslaughter and first-de-
gree abuse of a corpse.
The state charged Dayton with
murder and corpse abuse for killing
Rodriguez under a Milton-Freewater
bridge in May 2017 and then burning
the body to cover up the crime. Dayton
pleaded not guilty to those charges.
The plea deal Dayton made means
he avoids the murder rap, which carries
Dayton
a minimum sentence of 25 years, for
the less severe manslaughter charge.
But the deal comes with a sentencing recommendation
from the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office for
20 years in prison, according to the plea petition, twice the
mandatory minimum for manslaughter.
The petition states the stiffer sentence is partly because
Dayton committed the corpse abuse to hide the killing.
Court records also show Dayton’s sentencing for the
crimes is in April. He remains in the county jail in Pend-
leton on a $10 million bond.
Hermiston police seek help to find
culprits in Masonic Lodge burglary
HERMISTON — Hermiston Police are requesting the
help of locals to find the culprits in the burglary of items
from the local Masonic Lodge late last year.
Officers don’t know how many people were involved,
but in November of 2017, the suspect(s) entered the lodge
and stole electronics, as well as some items specific to
masonry.
Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said some of the
items have been recovered, but officers are still searching
for the culprits.
Edmiston said the department deliberately waited
to inform people about the theft, and that they couldn’t
comment further on the active investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. Randy
Studebaker at 541-667-5095.
Man injured in rollover crash near Pasco
PASCO — Drug or alcohol use is suspected in a
one-vehicle rollover that resulted in the injury of a Milton-
Freewater man late Friday night near Pasco.
Alan E. Roblero, 30, who was cited for driving under the
influence and negligent driving, was transported to Lourdes
Medical Center, Pasco, following the crash. Roblero was
booked into Franklin County Jail in Pasco on Saturday and
then was released after posting bail.
State trooper A. Martinez reported Roblero, who was
wearing a seatbelt, was driving westbound in a 2004 Honda
Civic Friday at 11:50 p.m. on Interstate 82, just west of
Highway 395 when he lost control of the vehicle. After
entering the median, the vehicle rolled before coming to rest
on its wheels. Police report the vehicle was totaled.
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Pendleton City Council to hold
constituent outreach meeting
PENDLETON — Members of the Pendleton City Council
will meet directly with constituents to discuss city issues,
according to a press release.
“The purpose of the outreach is to provide updates on
progress toward meeting council goals including sustainably
funding city assets and infrastructure, economic development,
increasing housing opportunities, and to answer constituent
questions and hear ideas on how the city and council can best
meet the needs of Pendleton residents,” the press release states.
Councilors Scott Fairley, McKennon McDonald and Dale
Primmer will host the meeting at the Hamley Cafe, 8 S.E.
Court Ave., on Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Fairley and McDonald held a similar constituent meeting
in November.
If a member of the public has a question but can’t make the
meeting, they can email McDonald at mckennon.mcdonald@
ci.pendleton.or.us, Fairley at scott.fairley@ci.pendleton.or.us,
or Primmer at dale.primmer@ci.pendleton.or.us.
Dinner raises money for Gale Gorrord
STANFIELD — A lasagna dinner and dessert auction will
help raise money for Gale Gorrord, who was recently injured
in an automobile crash.
The benefit event is Friday from 5-7 p.m. at the Stanfield
Community Center, 225 W. Roosevelt Ave., Stanfield. The cost
is by donation.
For more information, call 541-449-1332.
Bazaar benefits Journey of Compassion
PENDLETON — A bazaar featuring crafts, home
business products and more will help raise money for a
mission trip to Guatemala.
Tanna King and her 12-year-old daughter are raising
money for the Journey of Compassion. The event is
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention
Center, 1601 Westgate. There is no admission charge. Food
will be available for purchase. Also, from 1-2 p.m., Moana
and Iron Man will be on hand.
For more information, contact King at tannaward6@
gmail.com or 541-304-9255
McFundraiser supports Rocky Heights
Elementary students
HERMISTON — Rocky Raccoon, principal Jerad
Farley, and teachers and staff from Rocky Heights
Elementary School will be manning the counter at the
Hermiston McDonald’s.
The special McTeacher’s Night will help raise money for
the Rocky Raccoon Resource Fund. The program provides
sports and recreation scholarships as well as necessities to
Rocky Heights students in need.
The McFundraiser is Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 5-7 p.m. at
1320 N. First St., Hermiston. The crew will greet customers,
take orders and run the drive-thru. McDonald’s will donate 15
percent of all sales during the two-hour period to the school’s
special fund. In addition tip jars will be available, with 100
percent of the donations going to Rocky Heights.
For more information, contact Maria Duron at 541-667-
6036 or maria.duron@hermiston.k12.or.us.
———
Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press
releases. Email press releases to news@eastoregonian.com
DEQ Public Hearing
DEQ Proposes to Modify a Standard
Air Permit for Portland General Electric
When:
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Information session 6:00 p.m.,
hearing begins 6:30 p.m.
Where: Port of Morrow, Well Springs Room
2 Marine Dr., Boardman, Oregon
More Information at:
www.oregon.gov/deq/Get-Involved/Pages/Public-Notices.aspx