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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2018)
REGION Tuesday, July 3, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3A Highway 11 resurfacing project could begin next week Major highway construction in the works in Eastern Oregon By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Highway construction season is revving up in East- ern Oregon. The Oregon Department of Transportation reported it has wrapped up five projects to improve area highways and 33 more are in the works, including repaving a sec- tion of Highway 11 to make it safer, and the addition of a third lane on Interstate 84 near La Grande. Ken Patterson is the area manager for the department’s Region 5 encompassing the eastern third of the state. He said an $8 million project on Highway 11 could com- mence as soon as next week. Crews will resurface the state highway from mile- post 2 near Pendleton to the Weston Interchange Bridge near mile point 20.5. That work will occur from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., while guardrail replacements, rumble strip installation and painting will take place during the day. The construction could create delays of 20 minutes, according to ODOT, and wrap up in November. Patterson said two proj- ects that have been on ODOT’s wish list for years are finally rolling along. The end is nigh for the hairpin Minam Curve on Highway 82 in Wallowa County. The speed limit on the turn drops it to a mea- ger 25 mph, Patterson said, and traffic often bottlenecks there, Straightening the road will cost about $5 million and involve removing 360,000 cubic yards of earth. Patter- son said those bucketloads of soil and rock will go into shoring up a nearby slide area. “We’re getting ready to begin work on this in the next couple of weeks,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get it all done next year.” The second ambitious project is the biggest — add- ing a climbing lane to Inter- state 84 along Ladd Canyon near La Grande. “We’ve been working on this for quite a few years,” Patterson said, from cobbling together the funding to snip- ping away at small parts. This project puts in a third lane for truck traffic on the eastbound side of I-84 from about mile point 270.4 to 272.8 around six miles east of La Grande. ODOT has added third lanes on other uphill stretches, including west of Ladd Canyon on notorious Cabbage Hill outside Pend- leton. Those road expansions result in few lane closures, Patterson said, especially during winters. The Ladd Canyon proj- ect also includes removing or upgrading culverts on Brush Creek and Ladd Creek to improve fish passages. Oregon’s 2017 transporta- tion bill did not pay for this project, but ODOT reported the Keep Oregon Moving package does provide $3.4 million to resurface about 10 miles of eastbound and westbound slow lanes and increase fast lane shoulder widths 3 feet between Ladd Canyon and Second Street, La Grande. The engineering and per- mitting portions are in pro- cess, Patterson said, and some construction could com- mence this year with the big push in 2019 and 2020. He called this an exciting time for transportation in Oregon with a historic investment in road infrastructure allowing for the completion of projects that have lingered for years. AAA predicts record-breaking travel for the Fourth of July, with 46.9 million Americans traveling 50 or more miles from home for the holiday. That’s a 5.3 percent increase compared to last year and the highest travel volume for Indepen- dence Day since AAA started tracking the data 18 years ago. AAA expects about 555,000 in Oregon — 12.4 percent of the state’s popu- lation — to take off for the Fourth, an increase of 5.4 percent over 2017. Patterson said most road construction crews are tak- ing off the Fourth, but not all. He encouraged drivers to slow down in work zones and remain cautious and courte- ous. The Oregon Department of Transportation, he said, wants drivers to be safe. For more information about the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation’s Region 5 and projects and a statewide summer construc- tion map, visit www.oregon. gov. Umatilla County Residents surveyed about food truck rules increases DUII patrols HERMISTON — The city of Herm- for summer events iston is considering amendments to its HERMISTON mobile food vendor rules, and it wants feedback from residents. A survey is available both in English and Spanish at hermiston.or.us until July 15. After the city passed a mobile food vending ordinance in 2013, many food vendors closed up shop rather than pay for a $500 license and follow the other onerous regulations outlined. Those regulations include moving each night, providing parking, not providing seat- ing for patrons, closing by 10 p.m. and following design standards. As a result, the city only issued three vendors licenses and cannot issue more without a vote from the city council. As food trucks have gained in popu- larity nationwide, members of the pub- lic have approached the city council about issuing more licenses and cre- ating an area where food trucks can gather. The city survey asks for opin- ions on increasing the number of licenses, creating a food cart pod and possible amendments to the ordinance. East Oregonian EO file photo People wait in line at Tacos Xavi during the Hermiston High School Associated Student Body Leadership Club’s first Food Truck in 2015 outside Kennison Field. PENDLETON — The Umatilla County Sher- iff’s Office will increase its efforts to catch impaired drivers starting Tuesday. The sheriff’s office announced a grant from the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association is covering the cost of extra patrols looking for impaired and dis- tracted drivers during the Fourth of July, the Pend- leton Whisky Music Fest on July 13 and 14 and Pendleton Bike Week, July 17-22. The sheriff’s office stated 188 people died crashes in 2016 involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher, an increase of 28 percent from 2015. Nearly half of those who died were in a vehicle with at least one driver with a blood alcohol con- centration of .15 percent — almost twice the legal limit — or higher. These statistics do not include persons driving under the influence of drugs, or a combination of drugs and alcohol. The sheriff’s office also asked the public to call 541-966-3651 to report possible drunk drivers or call or 911 if there appears to be an emergency. BRIEFLY The U.S. District Court assigned the case to Judge Michael H. Simon and set a three-day jury trial starting Sept. 24. Discovery — documents and other evidence Pendleton busi- in a case — is due ness owner Jason in 14 days. Attor- neys for either side Robert New- som faces fed- can request delays eral charges for and often do, the transporta- Yummm is tion and pos- closed. A sign on session of child the door said to pornography. check the busi- ness’ Facebook Newsom, 42, operates Yummm, Newsom page for updates. a frozen yogurt That page also shop at 1803 S.W. Emigrant seems to be down. Ave. Agents of the FBI on Friday arrested Newsom Umatilla teen at the business. Newsom pleads not guilty to also operates a contracting company, Modern Home felony sex crimes UMATILLA — Alejan- Improvements, out of his home at 2811 N.E. Riverside dro Christian Campos, 19, Ave., Pendleton, according of Umatilla, pleaded not to state and county public guilty this week to multiple felony sex crimes. records. According to public Umatilla police arrested records from the United Campos on June 17 and States District Court of Ore- booked him into the Uma- gon, a federal grand jury on tilla County Jail, Pendleton, June 26 indicted Newsom for felonies of sodomy and on four counts — three for second-degree unlawful sex- transportation of child por- ual penetration. nography and one for posses- A grand jury on June sion of child pornography. 21 indicted Campos on 10 The indictment alleges counts of sexual crimes, Newsom knowingly trans- including first-degree sexual ported child pornography on three occasion in Novem- ber 2016 and possessed child porn on Jan. 31, 2017, including “images of prepu- bescent minors and minors 7/2 - 3 who had not attained 12 Cineplex Show Times years of age.” $5 Classic Movie • 7/4 • 12:00 PM Independence Day The indictment also states $5 Children’s Classic Movie • 7/4 • 10 AM conviction for the charges Happy Feet results in Newsom forfeiting Free Small Popcorn & Small Soda his smartphone to the federal JURASSIC WORLD: government. That phone, per FALLEN KINGDOM (PG13) the indictment, was “seized 3:30* 6:30 7:00 9:30 4:00 10:00 from defendant on or about SICARIO: DAY OF THE January 31, 2018.” The FBI kept Newsom SOLDADO (R) 3:50* 6:40 9:20 in the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, during the week- INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) end, but Monday he was 6:50 4:10 9:40 in federal court in Port- land where he pleaded not OCEANS 8 (PG13) 7:20 guilty to the charges. Judge John V. Acosta presided and TAG (R) released Newsom under cer- 4:50 9:50 * Matinee Pricing tain conditions, according to wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 court records. Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Feds arrest Pendleton business owner for child pornography abuse, sodomy and incest. The indictment alleges Campos sexually assaulted two girls younger than 14 in late May and early June. The Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office on Monday charged Campos based on the indictment, and he pleaded not guilty to the accusations. The court set a trial read- iness hearing for July 16 and trial for Aug. 7-10. Campos still has time to waive his rights to a speedy trial, a common move. He remains in jail in lieu of $200,000 bail, according to court documents, and he has a trial readiness hearing Tuesday. Heppner theft defendant misses sentencing while in jail Kyler Douglas Dial of Heppner missed his sentenc- ing Thursday in three theft cases because he was in jail in Washington. Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson said he anticipated Dial might not make the hearing. The district attorney’s office charged Dial, 28, with 35 counts in all of theft, 7/4 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie • 7/4 • 12:00 PM Independence Day $5 Children’s Classic Movie • 7/4 • 10 AM Happy Feet Free Small Popcorn & Small Soda JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (PG13) 3:30* 6:30 7:00 9:30 4:00 10:00 THE FIRST PURGE (R) 5:00 7:30 9:50 SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO (R) 3:50* 6:40 9:20 INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 6:50 4:10 9:40 * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 forgery and negotiating bad checks. Court records show Dial in May pleaded no con- test to two counts of identity theft, two counts of first-de- gree theft and one of sec- ond-degree theft. His plea petitions show he also agreed to serve a total of two years, two months in state prison, and he could earn time off for good behavior. Nelson said Dial had a probation violation warrant out of Washington, so his defense attorney, Dan Ste- phens of Hermiston, decided it would be better to clear up that matter before the sen- tencing. Nelson explained having the warrant hang over Dial’s head would have disqualified him from pro- grams that could reduce his prison time. The online roster for Franklin County Correc- tions, Pasco, shows Dial has been in jail there since Thursday. Nelson said once Dial’s matter wraps up in Wash- ington, he will be right back to Oregon to face the local music for his crimes. Pendleton man takes deal in sex crime case PENDLETON — Roger Parrott of Pendleton does not have to worry about prosecutors using the term “victim” during his trial. Parrott, 55, took a deal Monday and pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted sexual abuse — still a fel- ony, but one without prison time. The plea came one day before he faced trial in Umatilla County Circuit Court for domestic violence assault, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree rape. Parrott through his attor- ney, Philip M. Wasley of La Grande, filed a motion on June 5 to exclude the use of the terms “victim” and “rap- ist” during trial, along with other information. In exchange for the plea, the state dismissed the other charges, and Judge Christo- pher Brauer sentenced Par- rott to five years probation. Parrott contended the sex was consensual, according to court documents, and the woman only accused him of crimes after they broke up. RED HOT SALE! Up to 10% off... Patio Covers Pergolas·Awnings FREE estimates! Sun Rooms 541-720-0772 Solar Shades & More!! www.mybackyardbydesignor.com From all of us at License #188965 Hurry! Sale ends 7/18/18
