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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2018)
Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Friday, March 9, 2018 WILDLIFE: Donations cover most of the costs Continued from 1A Blue Mountain Wildlife received another good response following an inspection Wednesday. While the state inspects the nonprofit each year, Tomp- kins said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted its own inspection. “It went great,” Tompkins said. “There were no issues.” The nonprofit is 30 years old, has four employees, and serves Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The recovery center has 18-20 birds now, she said, and this winter took in about half as many birds as last year, primarily because the weather has not been as harsh. The warmer temperatures also have some birds hatching already, she said, rather than at the end of March of early April. The center received about $170,000 in 2014 and about $225,000 in 2015, according to its tax returns. Tompkins said grants provide some funding, but donations are the main driver. More funds would allow Blue Mountain to hire more employees and pay them better wages, she said. Blue Mountain Wildlife’s former intern now in Palo Alto, California, is working on that, Tompkins said. She created the “Adopt-a-Bird” program for symbolic adop- tion of birds and is heading up a capital improvement campaign to build a roomier and more efficient hospital. Tompkins also said Blue Mountain Wildlife would be happy to x-ray people’s packaged, frozen game meat for lead. The machine uses a minute amount of radiation that would not be harmful, she said, but still able to detect lead. “Maybe it will be fine,” she said. “Maybe not.” Staff photo by E.J. Harris Blue Mountain Wildlife director Lynn Tompkins places food out for a juvenile bald eagle on Thursday at the center outside of Pendleton. Tompkins said this eagle had the highest levels of lead toxicity she had ever seen. ROUND-UP: Majority of $876,365 in royalties from Pendleton Whisky Continued from 1A in 2017. Although the rodeo show itself lost $311,585, other sources of revenue like royalties and trade- marks, the Professional Bull Riders event and the kick-off concert helped the association turn a profit. • The $1.1 million in revenue the Round-Up brought in last year from ticket revenue surpassed the previous high water mark in 2010. While the centennial still sets the record for overall attendance across all four days, Round-Up Office Director Jason Graybeal said the Saturday 2017 rodeo was the best attended day in Round-Up history. • Tickets produced $889,046 in net income, the highest revenue generator for the Round-Up, closely followed by $876,365 in net income from royalties and trademarks. Graybeal said “99 percent” of royalty and trademark revenue came from Pendleton Whisky. The financial report gives the Round-Up some positive news after a turbulent end to 2017. Following a few year’s worth of delayed Staff photo by E.J. Harris William Jons of Hermiston rides into the arena carrying the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony Wednesday of the Pendleton Round-Up. financial reports and other complaints, a contingent of stockholders nearly rejected the Round-Up Board of Directors’ pick for president at an unusually raucous meeting in November. The board’s choice for presi- dent, Dave O’Neill, ended up narrowly ascending to the position, but directors assured stockholders that changes were coming. The directors said that turnover in the Round-Up’s accounting department was the reason that financial statements for 2015 and 2016 weren’t released until November 2017. In a Thursday interview, Graybeal said the board UK calls nerve agent attack on ex-spy was ‘brazen and reckless’ By DANICA KIRKA AND JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON — Whoever attacked a former Russian spy with a rare nerve agent is guilty of a “brazen and reckless act,” and Britain will respond without hesitation when it becomes clear who is responsible, the country’s security minister said Thursday. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said enormous resources were being used to determine poisoned Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33. The pair were found unconscious on a bench in the English city of Salisbury on Sunday, triggering a police investiga- tion led by counterterrorism detectives. Skripal and his daughter are in critical but stable condition at a hospital in Salisbury. A police officer who came to their aid is in a serious condition, though he is conscious and talking, Rudd said. He was identi- fied Thursday as Sgt. Nick Bailey. “The use of a nerve agent on British soil is a brazen and reckless act,” Rudd told lawmakers in the House of Commons. “This was attempted murder in the most cruel and public way.” As speculation centered on suspicions that Russia was behind the attack, Rudd said “people are right to want to know who to hold to account. But if we are to be rigorous in this investigation we must avoid speculation and allow the police to carry on their investigation.” Rudd said the “govern- ment will act without hesi- tation as the facts become Andrew Matthews/PA via AP Personnel in hazmat suits work to secure a tent covering a bench in the Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury, England on Thursday where former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found critically ill by exposure to a nerve agent on Sunday. clearer.” The Russian Embassy in London, which has mocked other British politicians for suggesting Russian involve- ment, tweeted that it agreed with Rudd: “First evidence then conclusions on Mr. Skripal’s case. Responsible political approach.” Police have refused to speculate on who is behind the attack, but many have focused on Russia because of the case’s similarity to the 2006 killing of another former Russian spy who was poisoned in London with radioactive polonium-210. A public inquiry found that Russia was responsible for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, and that Presi- dent Vladimir Putin probably approved it. The Russian government has denied any involvement in the Litvinenko killing or the attempted murder of Skripal, a former Russian agent who had served jail time in his homeland for spying for Britain before being freed in a spy swap. In an interview with the BBC, Rudd refused to spec- ulate about what nerve agent may have been used, but she confirmed that it was a “very rare” toxic substance. The rarity of the material buttresses suggestions that a state actor was involved. Chemical weapons expert Richard Guthrie of the research project CBW Events, which records the use of chemical and biolog- ical weapons, said the highly public attack appeared to be “an expression of power” intended to send a message. “There’s echoes of Litvinenko — you are doing it in a way that makes it obvious you’re doing it,” he said. Russia is “obviously a clear candidate,” but it is too soon to say who was behind the attack, Guthrie added. “It’s also possible there could be some troublemaker out there who wants to make it look like it was Russia,” he said. wanted to make sure the budget numbers were properly reviewed before they were put in front of stockholders. “The stockholders have a right to an accurate posi- tion,” he said. According to Graybeal, the Round-Up altered the way it presented its financial statement to make it more informative and stream- lined. “They’re cleaner, more accurate,” he said. “Without a more accurate picture, you don’t know where you are.” Expenses and revenues are now aligned under the same budget category and the net revenue is included with gross revenue figures. The Round-Up’s finan- cial statement also reflected the association’s continued interest in expansion. The Round-Up spent nearly $500,000 on purchases in 2017, including the Frontier Tavern property and a couple of residential properties. Graybeal said that figure also included a $25,000 “good faith” payment to the prior owners of the Albert- sons property before the deal closed in January. The final sales figure remains unknown. Both sides declined to reveal the purchase price and it is not included in Umatilla County records. Graybeal said the purchase price won’t be revealed in the 2018 financial statement either because the property will be transferred to Round-Up Holdings LLC, a holding company that owns most of the association’s property. He said the Round- Up’s financial committee is considering the cost of developing the Albertsons property, ranging from full renovation to demolition. Back in the Round-Up arena, Graybeal said the organization is on track to pay back its loan on the western grandstands by May 2019, about 18 months early. Once done, the association will have nearly $1 million extra to spend per year. While the association looks to expand outward, Graybeal said the Round-Up doesn’t have big plans to alter the arena. The Round-Up could look to expand the 1910 Room and the Double D Bar, sections that replaced the eastern grandstands. Each section generated about $30,000 in profit last year and have proven popular with attendees. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. COMING EVENTS FRIDAY, MARCH 9 STORY AND CRAFT TIME, 2 p.m., Echo Public Library, 20 S. Bonanza, Echo. (541-376-8411) PENDLETON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SOCIAL AND DIN- NER, 4-8 p.m., Wildhorse Re- sort & Casino, 46510 Wildhorse Blvd., Pendleton. Social hour with hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting, presentations by local panelists, keynote speaker Drew Bledsoe of Bledsoe Family Win- ery and Doubleback Winery, and plated dinner. Tickets are $40 for chamber members, $45 for non-members, RSVP requested. (Adrienne Lapp 541-276-7411) 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) GAMER’S NIGHT, 7-10:30 p.m., Pendleton Recreation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Tournament gaming and activities for teens. (541-276- 8100) SATURDAY, MARCH 10 A L L - Y O U - C A N - E AT BREAKFAST, 6 a.m., White Ea- gle Grange Hall, 43828 White Eagle Road, Pendleton. Sug- gested donation is $7 for ages 8 and up, $4 for ages 5-7 and free for age 4 and under. ADULT OPEN GYM, 7-8 a.m., Pendleton Recreation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Pick-up basketball for adults only. Free. (541-276-8100) L’IL BUCKS OPEN GYM, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Pendleton Rec- reation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. For students in first through third grades. (541- 276-8100) AARP SMART DRIVER CLASS, 8:45 a.m., St. Anthony Hospital, 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton. Learn valuable defen- sive driving skills, proven safety strategies, current technologies and rules of the road, and how to accommodate for age-related 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) FREE FOR ALL, 9:30-10:15 a.m., Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendle- ton. Free art classes for children up to age 12. Children under 8 should be accompanied by an adult. (Roberta Lavadour 541- 278-9201) YARN CLUB, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston. (541-567-2882) SAGE SATURDAY, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman. For all ages. Free. (Stefanie Swindler 541- 481-7243) SATURDAY CRAFTS FOR KIDS, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston. Drop-in craft time for kids. Free. (541- 567-2882) HIP & HANDMADE, 11 a.m.- 12 p.m., Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton. Free drop-in project class for adults. (Roberta Lavadour 541- 278-9201) COUNTRY HOEDOWN, 1-4 p.m., Milton-Freewater Neighbor- hood Senior Center, 311 N. Main St., Milton-Freewater. Live music, dancing and singing. Admission $2, refreshments available for purchase. (541-938-3311) “A SOLDIER’S TALE”, 7:30 p.m., Blue Mountain Communi- ty College Bob Clapp Theatre, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., Pend- leton. Oregon East Symphony in collaboration with the Pendleton Ballet Theatre presents Igor Stra- vinsky’s classic theatrical ballet work. Advance tickets available at the symphony office and web- site, and Pendleton Art + Frame. (541-276-0320) SUNDAY, MARCH 11 SUNDAY BREAKFAST, 8:30-9:15 a.m., First Christian Church, 518 S. Main St., Mil- ton-Freewater. Donations ac- cepted. Everyone welcome. (541-938-3854) KIDS KLUB, 9:30 a.m., First Christian Church, 518 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater. For chil- dren of all ages. Includes arts, crafts, music and more. Free. (Janet Collins 541-938-3854) SPECIAL NEEDS OPEN GYM, 12-1:30 p.m., Pendleton Recreation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Free for special needs children and fam- ilies. (541-276-8100) “SEARCHING FOR MEAN- ING”, 3 p.m., Ione Community School, 445 Spring St., Ione. Annual St. Patrick’s Day drama written and directed by Fr. Gerry Condon. Free admission, but do- nations will benefit the family of Anson Fairbanks. ADULT OPEN GYM, 6:30- 8:30 p.m., Pendleton Recreation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Half-court basketball. Adults only. (541-276-8100) MONDAY, MARCH 12 WALKING FOR WELL- NESS, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Pend- leton Recreation Center gym- nasium, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Good music, new friends and indoor walking for health. Free. (541-276-8100) TOT TIME, 10-11 a.m., Pend- leton Recreation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. For children ages 0-5, $1 per child. (541-276-8100) PRESCHOOL STORY TIME, 10:30 a.m., Athena Public Li- brary, 418 E. Main St., Athena. For ages birth to 6. (541-566- 2470) 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) ART STUDIO, 4-5:30 p.m., Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton. Free class for ages 7-12 to develop skills and encourage art exploration. (Ro- berta Lavadour 541-278-9201) TEEN ADVISORY COUN- CIL, 4 p.m., Hermiston Public Li- brary, 235 E. Gladys Ave., Herm- iston. All teens welcome. Snacks will be provided. (541-567-2882) RHYTHMIC MODE PER- FORMANCE, 6 p.m., Pendleton High School Warberg Court, 1800 N.W. Carden Ave., Pend- leton. Annual dress rehearsal of the PHS dance team’s “Awaken the Masters” routine for the state competition. Free. TUESDAY, MARCH 13 WALKING FOR WELL- NESS, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Pend- leton Recreation Center gym- nasium, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Good music, new friends and indoor walking for health. Free. (541-276-8100) PRESCHOOL STORY TIME, 10:30-11 a.m., Stanfield Public Library, 180 W. Coe Ave., Stan- field. (541-449-1254) 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/dish- es. Bus service to parish hall by donation. (541-567-3582) 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) 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, puz- zles, 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) 4:15 CRAFTERNOONS, p.m., Pendleton Public Library, 502 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendle- ton. Drop in for a group or individ- ual craft project. All ages. (541- 966-0380)