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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2018)
REGION Saturday, February 10, 2018 East Oregonian PENDLETON BRIEFLY Garbage truck knocks out power About 1,400 without electricity for short time during repairs East Oregonian A garbage truck early Friday stuck a power pole in Pendleton, knocking out electricity for about 200 Pacific Power customers. Tom Gauntt, spokesman with Pacific Power, said repair work later that morning jumped the number to about 1,400 for a short time. Pendleton police Lt. Chuck Byram said an officer at 4:04 a.m. saw sparks and flashes from the parking lot of Dr. Robert Pratt’s dental office, 916 S.W. Court Ave., and found a Pendleton Sanitary Service truck backed into a power pole. The collision cut off power to businesses and homes, as well as to the traffic control lights on Southwest 10th Street. Pendleton has some tight streets and corners, Byram said, and the garbage truck Staff photo by E.J. Harris Vehicles navigate the intersections at southwest Court and Dorion avenues along 10th Street on Friday in Pendleton. The traffic signals were down and temporary stop signs were placed at the intersections to control traffic. drivers usually are quite adept. Gauntt said the impact caused power lines to slap together, which blew a fuse. Crew restored electricity a few hours later. The repair work continued into the day, he said, and around 11:30 p.m. the crews had to turn off power, which affected about 1,400 customers until 12:25 p.m. “They are done with the stuff that should affect people’s power,” Gauntt said. Still, he said, there could be more work, depending on damage to the pole. PENDLETON Woman sues city for false imprisonment, more East Oregonian The city of Pendleton is the subject of a federal lawsuit alleging consti- tutional violations, false imprisonment and more. Legal aid attorney Chris- topher Morgan of Pendleton filed the suit Feb. 1 on behalf of Pendleton resident Angela Minthorn, who in the 18-page pleading accuses the city, its municipal court and two court clerks, Marilyn Anderson and Linda King, of causing her multiple arrests in 2017 and subsequent jail time of 55 days for failing to pay court-imposed fines of $873 stemming from her 2014 conviction of viola- tions of criminal mischief, littering and interfering with a police officer. The lawsuit states Minthorn is a “low-income person with disabilities who has struggled to secure stable housing, medical care, and food,” and thus could not afford to pay the court fines, which the city increased to $2,493 for her failure to pay. The lawsuit asserts the city nor its staff ever offered Minthorn an attorney, informed her of her right to counsel, provided her notice of the possibility of incarcer- ation, nor inquired about her ability to pay the fines. While in jail, Minthorn suffered emotional harm, including anxiety and depression, the lawsuit claims, along with further financial harm. “Ms. Minthorn’s expe- rience is not unique,” the lawsuit claims. “It is a reflection of how defendants operate a modern-day debtors’ prison in which people who cannot afford to pay court-imposed fines arising out of minor viola- tions are arrested, incarcer- ated, and fined further. Long- standing Supreme Court precedent has made clear that governments cannot imprison people simply because they are poor. Ms. Minthorn brings this lawsuit to end to defendants’ uncon- stitutional post-judgment collection procedures.” Minthorn’s lawsuit asked for a trial to determine economic, non-economic, and punitive damages and orders finding the city and its staff violated her rights to “refrain from continuing such unlawful practices.” The city has yet to file its a response. Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett said the city would not comment on the case at this time. Umatilla County postpones making new livestock district East Oregonian Umatilla County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday postponed creating a new livestock district near Umatilla. Commissioner George Murdock said he would like to take a field trip to see the area first, according to public records. Bob and Sue Keys led the petition to create the Salmon Point Livestock District on about 2,600 acres near Umatilla, including a portion of Hat Rock State Park. Bob Keys at the public hearing told commissioners they live on three acres in open range on Salmon Point Lane, and cattle over the past 20 years have caused about $1,500-$2,000 damage to his temporary electric fence. He and Sue Keys also said open range is not compatible with residential areas. Jason Torres said he also lives on Salmon Point and development in the area is going to continue, so now is the time to put the district to a vote. Other neighbors in favor expressed similar sentiments. Attorney Brent Smith said he represents cattle owner Joyce Langley and said there is a possible technical issue with the district boundary. Langley also took to the mic. She said open range works until “people who don’t understand the country way of life move into the area and want to change things to the way they are in their urban back yard. That’s why we Page 3A have cities and country.” No one has asked her for help with their fence, she said, and she has offered to help her neighbors. She said the cattle run six to eight weeks a year, sometimes starting in March, and it would be better to allow neighbors to reach a deal on their own. She also read a petition with several names to prevent the district, and the board of OPEN HOUSE! 1382 SW 39TH PENDLETON OR 97801 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10th • 10AM to 12PM commissioners accepted it. Murdock and Commis- sioner Larry Givens continued the hearing until the morning of March 21. Murdock told the small crowd probably all three commissioners would visit the area. If the commissioners approve the petition for the district, Olsen said the 66 voters in the district would decide the matter. $314,500 THIS HOME IS NOT A DRIVE BY!! 2927 square feet of gorgeous. Totally remodeled kitchen, with huge great room, lovely master bedroom and bath!! Please stop by and take a look. Open house will be hosted by Milne Purchase McLaughlin and Ann Elise Burnside. RMLS #17259700 614 SE Court Ave. • Pendleton, OR 97801 OR, LLC 541-278-9275 • FAX 541-278-9279 www.easternoregonranches.com Eat Smart for Your Heart Spokane man dies in crash near Hermiston HERMISTON — Oregon State Police reported a Spokane man died early Friday in a semitrailer crash near Hermiston. Troopers from the Pendleton and Hermiston offices at about 12:10 a.m. Friday responded to a report of the crash at the intersection of interstates 84 and 82. State police reported the preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Freightliner towing an unloaded flatbed trailer failed to negotiate the curve on the onramp to I-82, left the road on the west shoulder and rolled several times in the median. The crash ejected the driver, Ray Dean Harper, 50, according to state police, and he died at the scene. Troopers from the Pendleton Area Command are investigating the cause of the crash with the assistance of a collision reconstructionist. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Umatilla County Fire District 1 also responded to the crash. Police partially closed the road for approximately five hours for the investigation and to the recover the semi. The fatal crash comes eight days after a van hauling an Idaho youth group crashed at the same intersection. No one died in that crash, which occurred Feb. 1 at about 1 in the afternoon, but multiple people were injured. And on Monday night about a mile away on Interstate 84 Ever Moreno Lerma, 48, of Boardman crashed a Chevrolet Trailblazer, was thrown from his vehicle and killed. Baker City contractor to board up Rodeo City Inn PENDLETON — One of Umatilla County’s ugliest buildings is at least about to become more secure. The county board of commissioners on Wednesday awarded a $15,750 bid to LandMark Contracting of Baker City to board up the Rodeo City Inn. LandMark owner and operator Sam Brown said he plans to begin the work next week. Out-of-state owners have yet to make good on promises to bring new life to the derelict former hotel a few miles west of Pendleton off Interstate 84. The large two-story structure now lacks most windows and multiple doors. The county in October sent a “dangerous building” notice to the Western Hotels & Properties, a limited-liability company in El Centro, California. The notice directed the company to clean up and secure the building within 60 days and make structural repairs within 180 days. Western Hotels took no action, and the county sought bids to board up the place. County counsel Doug Olsen told commissioners LandMark submitted the lone bid, which commis- sioners approved 2-0. Brown said this weekend his crew is gathering lumber and materials for the job, and they would be on site within days. “It’s going to happen,” he said. Additionally, Olsen also said the county is going to pay around another $1,000 for workers to move broken toilets and other outside debris inside the building. Hermiston council to set goals on Saturday HERMISTON — After a day-long goal session planned for Saturday, the Hermiston City Council’s Monday agenda will have little new business to discuss. The council will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center, 415 S. Highway 395, for their annual goal-setting workshop. Then on Monday they meet for their regular city council meeting at 7 p.m. at city hall, 180 N.E. Second St. During Monday’s meeting the council will listen to reports from various city committees, the mayor and city manager as well as be asked to approve the 2018 financial report. The meeting will end with a closed-door executive session to discuss negotiating real property transactions. ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. 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