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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2018)
REGION Saturday, June 2, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3A Umatilla County aims to train new leaders East Oregonian PENDLETON — Uma- tilla County is launching a new program to train county leaders for the future. The Umatilla County Leadership Academy com- mences July 31 with 11 county employees from multiple departments, including assessment and taxation, human services and community justice. County Commissioner George Murdock led the effort four years ago to create a staff training pro- gram with Susan Bower of Eastern Oregon Business Source. Murdock in a writ- ten statement said Bower is again partnering with the county to create the acad- emy and address the need for new leaders in county government. “We wanted to pro- vide a specialized training program for up-and-com- ing leaders who will very likely be our managers of the future as they take on more and more responsi- bility.” Murdock said. The academy will last a year and allow staff to develop a variety of skills, including effective leader- ship, communication and teamwork. MEETINGS MONDAY, JUNE 4 Staff photo by Kathy Aney Dan Sudel, of Sherwood, demonstrates an old Domestic 1.5 horsepower engine he rigged to continually pump water to and from a flower arrangement at the Old Iron Show at Roy Raley Park. The exhibit, which features antique farm equipment, vintage cars, old engines and demonstration, runs through Sunday. OLD TIME FLOWER POWER Staff photo by Kathy Aney Jamie Morse, of the Palouse, Washington area, tinkers with a 1930s-era Stover engine at the Old Iron Show at Roy Raley Park. STOKES LANDING SE- NIOR CENTER BOARD, 6 p.m., Stokes Landing Senior Center, 195 N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon. (Karen 541-922-3137) HEPPNER PLANNING COMMISSION, 7 p.m., Heppner City Hall, 111 N. Main St., Hep- pner. (541-676-9618) M I LT O N - F R E E WAT E R PLANNING COMMISSION, 7 p.m., Milton-Freewater Public Li- brary Albee Room, 8 S.W. Eighth Ave., Milton-Freewater. 6:30 p.m. study session, 7 p.m. regular meeting. (541-938-5531) TUESDAY, JUNE 5 Staff photo by Kathy Aney The Old Iron Show at Roy Raley Park runs through Sunday in Pendleton. MILTON-FREEWATER Teen gets 14 years for killing infant son Mother tells court ‘I lost a piece of myself’ when her son died at Freel’s hands By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Evan Freel, 18, stood Friday morn- ing in circuit court in Pendleton and admitted he killed his infant son Domi- nic nearly two years ago. Abby Smart, the baby’s mother, told the court a part of her also died that day. Freel did not give a statement during the short hearing in which he changed his plea. Circuit Judge Patricia A. Sullivan presided via video from Grant County. She asked Freel how he pleaded to the charge of first-degree manslaughter. “I plead guilty,” he said. The plea came as a result of nego- tiations between his attorney, Kara Davis of Pendleton, and the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office. Sul- livan asked Davis to summarize the facts of the case. Davis said Freel was alone with his 5-month-old son in their Milton-Freewater apartment on June 8, 2016, when Freel smoth- ered the baby with a couch cushion. Freel agreed that is what happened. First-degree manslaugh- ter carries a mandatory min- imum prison sentence of 10 years in Oregon. Sullivan explained Freel will receive Freel credit for the time he served in custody since his arrest for his son’s death, but otherwise he will serve the full stint plus four more years. The extra 48 months were an “upward departure,” the judge said, because Dominic was a vulnerable victim. Freel during the last four years, how- ever, can work to reduce that prison time. He also will have to serve three years of supervision after prison. Before pronouncing the sentence, Sullivan asked if Dominic’s family wants to speak, and that’s when Smart stepped forth with a statement in hand. “Dominic will never get to smell fresh cut grass or rain,” she said. “He will never get to make friends.” Smart said she was just 16 when she gave birth to Dominic on Jan. 1, 2016, but he was the light that guided her, and she was a good mother. “When I lost my son,” she said, “I felt like I lost a piece of myself that I will never get back.” Sullivan complimented Smart for having the courage to deliver the statement and asked her if she sought coun- seling since her son died June 8, 2016. Smart said she is still in counseling. She said she visits her son’s grave on his birthday and the anniversary of his death. Sullivan said she hoped this year was better for Smart because Freel’s change of plea and sentencing removes the uncertainty that is part of the legal system. “This is one of the saddest situations I’ve ever encountered in my career,” Sullivan said just before closing the hearing, “and my heart goes out to the victim’s family.” The judge also encouraged Freel to engage in education and programs to better himself while he was in prison. MORROW COUNTY PARKS COMMISSION, 1:30 p.m., Mor- row County Public Works confer- ence room, 365 W. Highway 74, Lexington. (Kirsti Cason 541-989- 9500) UMATILLA MORROW RA- DIO & DATA DISTRICT, 1:30 p.m., Umatilla County Fire Dis- trict Station 23, 78760 Westland Road, Hermiston. (Shawn Halsey 541-966-3774) PENDLETON SCHOOL DIS- TRICT WORK SESSION, 3 p.m., Pendleton School District office, 107 N.W. 10th St., Pendleton. (541-276-6711) WESTON LIBRARY BOARD, 5:30 p.m., Weston Public Library, 108 E. Main St., Weston. (541-566-2378) IRRIGON PLANNING COM- MISSION, 6 p.m., Irrigon City Hall, 500 N.E. Main St., Irrigon. (541-922-3047) STANFIELD CITY COUN- CIL, 7 p.m., Stanfield City Hall council chambers, 160 S. Main St., Stanfield. (541-449-3831) PILOT ROCK CITY COUN- CIL, 7 p.m., Pilot Rock City Hall council chambers, 143 W. Main St., Pilot Rock. (541-443-2811) 6/1 - 3 Whether this is a new diagnosis or not, this class will assist you with learning more about diabetes and its effect on your mind and body. Six FREE weekly classes. Attend alone or with support person. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 MORROW COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, 9 a.m., Morrow/Grant County OHV Park, 71000 E. Morphine Lane (33 miles south off Highway 74), Heppner. (Roberta Lutcher 541-676-5613) HERMISTON AIRPORT AD- VISORY COMMITTEE, 4 p.m., Hermiston Airport lounge, 1600 Airport Way, Hermiston. (541- 567-5521) UMATILLA COUNTY CHAR- TER REVIEW COMMITTEE, 5:30 p.m., Milton-Freewater Pub- lic Library Albee Room, 8 S.W. Eighth Ave., Milton-Freewater. All interested persons are encour- aged to attend and provide input. (Doug Olsen 541-276-6208) MEACHAM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, 6 p.m., Meacham Fire Department, Mea- cham. (541-786-2069) BLUE MOUNTAIN BOARD OF EDUCATION, 6 p.m., Blue Mountain Community College Pi- oneer Hall boardroom, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton. 5 p.m. executive session, 6 p.m. regular meeting. (Shannon Franklin 541- 278-5951) CONDON CITY COUNCIL, 7 p.m., Condon City Hall, 128 S. Main St., Condon. (541-384- 2711) UMATILLA RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, 7 p.m., Umatilla Fire Department, 305 Willamette St., Umatilla. (541-922-2770) WESTON PLANNING COM- MISSION, 7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 210 E. Main St., Weston. (Debi Cineplex Show Times 6/4 - 5 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie • 6/6 • 12:00 PM $5 Classic Movie • 6/6 • 12:00 PM Midnight Run Midnight Run $5 Children’s Classic Movie 6/13 • 10 AM $5 Children’s Classic Movie 6/13 • 10 AM Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Free Small Popcorn & Small Soda Free Small Popcorn & Small Soda SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (PG13) 1:00* 4:00 7:00 10:00 SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (PG13) 4:00 7:00 10:00 DEADPOOL 2 (R) 1:30* 4:10 6:50 9:30 DEADPOOL 2 (R) 4:10 6:50 9:30 LIFE OF THE PARTY (PG13) 12:00* 2:20* 4:40 7:20 9:40 LIFE OF THE PARTY (PG13) 4:40 7:20 9:40 AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (PG13) 12:10* 3:30* 6:40 9:50 LIVING WELL WITH DIABETES igrant Ave., Pendleton. (541-966- 0201) BOARDMAN CITY COUN- CIL, 7 p.m., Boardman City Hall, 200 City Center Circle, Board- man. (541-481-9252) AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (PG13) 3:30* 6:40 9:50 * Matinee Pricing * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Thursdays June 14-July 19 6:00-8:30pm Celebration of Life for Lea Thompson Must pre-register, call 541-667-3509 LUNCH & LEARN September 4, 1940 March 9, 2018 Join us for these FREE, informative and popular lunch & learn series covering various topics focusing on healthy living. Bring your lunch and your questions! Maryhill State Park Shelter 1 June 9, 2018 11:00am – dusk Potluck Call for specific times, dates & locations 12:00-1:00pm call 541-667-3509 Information or to register call (541) 667-3509 or email healthinfo@gshealth.org www.gshealth.org June 9 is a free entrance day to Washington State Parks Contact Leah with questions, 503-901-5374 Umatilla County Historical Society Presents: EXTRACTIONS, WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL,ORAL AND IV SEDATION THE OLD IRON SHOW AG HERITAGE TOUR Friday - Sunday, June 1 - 3 June 16th In Roy Raley Park (Pendleton) Free Admission for all Space is limited, get tickets at heritage station museum. 541-276-0012 www.heritagestationmuseum.org 1100 Southgate, Suite 3. Pendleton OR 97801 541.276.5272 We are open from 7:30am - 4:30pm M-Th
