Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2018)
REGION Saturday, July 14, 2018 East Oregonian MISSION Feds charge former officer with theft By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian A former Umatilla Tribal Police officer has pleaded not guilty to stealing from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. James Currey retired from tribal police on March 31, according to Chuck Sams, spokesperson for the tribes. Currey was a fish and game officer. He worked for tribal police since July 2004. Less than two months after retiring, a federal grand jury indicted Currey on the single count of theft from an Indian tribal orga- nization. According to the indictment, Currey stole tribal property for his own use between Jan. 21 and Feb. 14, at least six weeks before he left the job. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Oregon arraigned Currey on the lone charge on June 22 at the federal courthouse in Portland. He pleaded not guilty, accord- ing to court records. The indictment does not specify what the govern- ment alleges Curry stole. The FBI investigated the case. Bureau spokesper- son Beth Ann Steele said the only information she could release was in the indictment. Kevin Sonoff, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was not available Friday. The court set a two-day trial for the case beginning Aug. 21. Currey remains free from jail on a conditional release. The East Oregonian was not able to contact Currey. According to the online Oregon Criminal Jus- tice Information Records Inquiry System, Currey’s police certification from the state lapsed July 1. Staff photo by Brittany Norton No power, no problem Precious Byrd plays on Main Street on Friday as part of the Party in Pendleton ahead of Saturday’s Pendleton Whisky Music Fest. Power was out for much of downtown starting at about 4 p.m. Friday until about 8 p.m. Pacific Power reported the outage affected 775 customers, and the cause wasn’t known as of press time. Meacham gets new storage unit business MEACHAM — A col- lection of storage units rep- resents a watershed moment for the hamlet of Meacham. Co-owner Margo Herd recently opened Meacham Mountain Storage at 64183 Old Oregon Trail Road, a business she said is the first in Meacham in more than a century. Despite Meacham’s sparse population, Herd said there’s a demand for storage services in the area. With many vacation cab- ins in the area, Herd said part-time residents need a safe place to store their all-terrain vehicles, snow- mobiles, and other valu- ables when they’re away. “I know so many people who have lost things,” she said. The first new business since Oregon Trail Store & Deli, according to Herd, the Meacham Mountain Stor- age offers ten 10-by-20- foot units and six 10-by-10 units. Herd said security fea- tures include fencing and security cameras that oper- ate 24/7. Photo courtesy of Margo Herd Believed to be the first new business in Meacham in more than 100 years, Meacham Mountain Storage was opened to accommodate cabin owners looking to store their recreational vehicles in a safe place while they’re away. Page 3A MILTON-FREEWATER Communication agreement requires respect among all members of council By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian The members of the Mil- ton-Freewater City Coun- cil are free to express their opinion, but under a very specific set of conditions. At a meeting Monday, the council unanimously voted to reaffirm the mayor/coun- cil communication agree- ment, a code of conduct that sets parameters for how and when councilors commu- nicate in public meetings, and with their fellow council members, the community, and staff. The agreement includes provisions that require mem- bers to differentiate between fact and opinion in public meetings, work toward con- sensus on city issues, and listen and respond to “well founded and constructive criticism.” One of the longer rules involves how councilors can speak about past decisions. “(I) will, once a vote is taken, publicly support all decisions made by Coun- cil, even if I voted against them,” the agreement states. “I will not publicly criticize Council or individ- ual members of Council.” Milton-Freewater City Manager Linda Hall said the agreement isn’t meant to be used as a gag order for coun- cilors with contrary opin- ions. Under the rules, Hall said she thinks it would be appropriate if a councilor explained why they were voting against a resolution or ordinance. Hall said the provision was meant to be interpreted as a way of preventing coun- cilors from engaging in per- sonal attacks. She added that an acrimonious council made it difficult to conduct regular business and would be “hell on staff.” Hall said the agree- ment originally came about several years ago after Councilor Ed Chesnut attended a League of Ore- gon Cities conference and went to a discussion on communication. When he returned, the city formulated the com- munication agreement and passed it. Chesnut did not return a request for com- ment as of press time. The council must approve it again each time a new per- son joins the council, and with Councilor Jose Garcia’s Monday appointment, mem- bers followed through and reaffirmed the agreement. Despite all the specific language meant to regu- late council behavior, Hall said the council has worked well together and has never needed to invoke it. If a councilor ever did fall out of line, Hall said the city charter could give the coun- cil the ability to take action, although she wasn’t sure what the exact action would be. The agreement said all violations of the agreement would be dealt with in a “direct, appropriate, private, and timely manner.” While many Oregon cit- ies use codes of conduct to instruct council members on communication, Mil- ton-Freewater’s agreement shares much of the same lan- guage as a code approved by the city of Milwaukie. One of the key differ- ences is the language on council criticism. While both agreements bar members from criticiz- ing individual councilors or council decisions, Mil- waukie provides some lee- way to councilors who want to “respectfully disagree with a decision.” Before the Milton-Free- water communication agreement enumerates the rules, it admits that the council won’t be able to anticipate all the applicable situations. “The agreements have one common behavioral thread — mutual respect,” the document states. “Thus, if the list does not anticipate a situation, a response that is respectful of all concerned should suffice.” ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0836. BRIEFLY Pilot Rock considers 3 percent pay raise PILOT ROCK — The Pilot Rock City Council votes Tuesday evening on giving city employees a 3 percent bump for cost of living. The raises for the 11 city employees total $12,442 a year, according to the staff report. The chief of police is the highest paid employee with an annual salary of about $74,900, so that raise comes to about $2,247. And a part-time public works employee has the lowest pay at about $12,800 a year. That raise will amount to $384. The 2018-19 bud- get includes a 3 percent increase, and one employee is waiving medical cover- age, which saves the city $16,000 a year and leaves a balance of $3,578 with the raise. The increase would help retain city workers, accord- ing to the staff report, while the city pays its work- ers less than other cities in comparison. The council meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the coun- cil chambers in city hall. The council also will consider purchasing manhole risers and lids for $4,500 to make the covers level with asphalt on roads and could approve receiving a $100,000 grant from the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation for repaving projects. BottleDrop Give fundraiser to benefit Agape House HERMISTON — For Hermiston residents who have accumulated a large collection of cans and bot- tles while staying hydrated this summer, the Agape House and Hermiston Bot- tleDrop are providing a way for those items to go to good use. On July 31 from 1-4 p.m. people can drop off their cans and bottles at the Bot- tleDrop, 740 W. Hermiston Ave., and ask that the pro- ceeds from the deposits go toward the Agape House’s weekend food program that sends local children in need home from school with a bag of food each weekend. Pickups for large amounts of cans and bottles can also be arranged by calling Agape House director Dave Hughes at 541-567-8774. The Hermiston Bottle- Drop is part of a network of redemption centers run by the Oregon Beverage Recy- cling Cooperative. Bottle- Drop Give offers a num- ber of ways customers can give back to local nonprof- its — they can participate in fundraising days like the one for the Agape House, they can log into their Bot- tleDrop account online and CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT CLASS Valid in Washington J ULY 17 TH • 6 PM Best Western 2255 S Hwy 395, Hermiston $80 multi-State, Oregon included no-fee. $45 Oregon-only Required class to get an Oregon or multi-State Required class to get an Oregon or multi-State permit. Class includes: • Fingerprinting & photo • Oregon gun laws • Washington gun laws • Interstate travel laws • Interaction with law enforcement • Use of deadly force • Firearm / ammunition / holster selection 360.921.2071 FirearmTrainingNW.com : FirearmTrainingNW@gmail.com transfer the money in their account to a nonprofit or they can pick up the blue bags marked for specific nonprofits and then drop them off at the site filled with cans and bottles to be redeemed on behalf of that nonprofit. Kick up your heels for Round-Up dance lessons PENDLETON — Par- ticipants can learn the basic moves of swing dancing in just four lessons during a class offered through Pend- leton Parks & Recreation. Step it Up! meets Tues- days from July 17 through Aug. 7 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. in the Vert Club Room, 345 S.W. Fourth St., Pendleton. The sessions are open to ages 16 and older. The reg- istration fee is $26. Dances taught include the 1-step swing, 4-step swing, and East Coast swing. The class is aimed at begin- ner levels and those need- ing a refresher. No partner is required. To register, visit www. pendletonparksandrec. com or stop by the parks office, 865 Tutuilla Road. For more information, call 541-276-8100. 7/13-15 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie • 7/18 • 12pm Singin’ in the Rain $5 Children’s Classic Movie • 7/18 • 10am Madagascar Free Small Popcorn & Small Soda SKYSCRAPER (PG13) 1:40* 6:40 4:20 9:20 ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (PG13) 1:50* 4:30 7:10 9:50 JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (PG13) 1:00* 4:00 7:00 10:00 INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 1:30* 4:10 6:50 9:30 THE FIRST PURGE (R) 12:00* 2:20* 4:40 7:20 9:40 * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 985 N First St ● Hermiston www.hermistonhomes4sale.com TRACY HUNTER 541-561-5846 Broker, GRI, ABR, SRS, RENE LINDA SEAVERT 541-571-3788 Principal Broker, CRS, GRI 7/16-17 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie • 7/18 • 12pm Singin’ in the Rain Interior has custom built home charm! A full wall of built-in bookcases & enter- tainment center in the large family room. Kitchen boasting quartz counters with subway tile backsplash. Large backyard with garden area, fully fenced and deck. A MUST SEE HOME!! This home will WOW you with it’s floor to ceiling FP & hearth, it’s wall-to-wall windows for a spectacular view and the trex deck! 3bdrms, 2 baths, and den on main level, PLUS bonus room above the garage w/living area, bdrm and bath. This all sits on 3.78 acres! MLS#18586822 — Giant home with 3124 sf, 4 bdrms, 2.5 baths, sitting on a big .28 acre city lot, full 3 car garage, covered patio with misting system and more — $359,900 MOTIVATED SELLER REDUCED PRICE! MLS#18568554 — Beautiful .74 acres with 6 bdrms, 4.5 baths, gourmet kitchen, and a stones throw away from the Umatilla River — $519,000 JUST REDUCED!!! MLS#18162429 — Looking for a private $5 Children’s Classic Movie • 7/18 • 10am Madagascar Free Small Popcorn & Small Soda SKYSCRAPER (PG13) 6:40 4:20 9:20 ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (PG13) 4:30 7:10 9:50 JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (PG13) 4:00 7:00 10:00 setting? This .70 acres feels like a secret hideaway. Covered patio, gardens, fruit trees. Home has 4 bdrms and 2.5 baths — $319,000 INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 4:10 6:50 9:30 MLS#18325470 — Enjoy a cuppa joe on the deck of this well cared for Skyline triple wide. Panoramic view of the Columbia River, 30x50 shop, remodeled kitchen w/island and lots of storage — $314,900 THE FIRST PURGE (R) 4:40 7:20 9:40 MLS#17412417—Wake up to the view of the Columbia River when you build on this 4.02 acre land. Full water rights. Could subdivide property into (2) 2 acre parcels — $112,900 wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 * Matinee Pricing Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216
