INSIDE: HOME IMPROVEMENT & CAR CARE / 7B-10B
WEEKEND EDITION
DAWGS
DEFEAT
CADETS
AUCTIONEER’S CHANT
PRICE GOES UP FOR
BRIDGE PROJECT
SPORTS/1B
LIFESTYLES/1C
REGION/3A
OCTOBER 13-14, 2018
143nd Year, No. 246
Economy
is strong,
but will
it last?
$1.50
WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
“I knew I didn’t want to be another statistic of domestic violence. I wanted to be a survivor.”
— Cassie Greene
State economists
see warning signs
for 2020
By JADE MCDOWELL
East Oregonian
Times are good in
Oregon.
The unemployment rate
has dipped below 4 per-
cent, economic growth has
been strong, wages have
risen faster than the national
average and young work-
ers are moving in to fill the
new jobs being created.
Once again, residents are
expected to receive a bonus
“kicker” on their income tax
returns because state reve-
nues are coming in higher
than forecast.
But how long it will last?
For now, the outlook is
good. The state’s most recent
economic forecast, released
in September, predicts con-
tinued economic growth in
the short term. However, it
also warns that “potential
danger lurks around the cor-
ner” with a confluence of
events in 2020, and “econ-
omists are becoming more
comfortable talking about
plausible recession scenar-
ios given the expected path
of federal policy.”
Josh Lehner, senior econ-
omist at the Oregon Office
of Economic Analysis, said
while the economy is still
growing, the pace of that
growth is slowing down.
“We expect that pattern
to continue — that growth
tomorrow will be slower
than growth today,” he said.
Lehner said not many
economists are worried
about the next 18 months.
But federal policies, such as
increased interest rates and
changes to tax rates, usually
take a year or two before
their impact is seen, and
they could turn into a “drag
on growth” by 2020.
The economic forecast,
however, states that a reces-
sion is not a foregone con-
clusion, merely a reasonable
See ECONOMY/12A
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Cassie Greene of Hermiston would often spend nights on this couch in her parent’s home when her former high school boyfriend and do-
mestic abuser was stalking her. Greene now works as a probation services specialist with Umatilla County Community Corrections, often
working with clients that have a history of domestic violence.
Back in control
Domestic violence survivor
finds healing in helping others
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
EDITOR’S NOTE: Although the perpe-
trator of violence in this story was arrested,
charged and incarcerated, his full name is
being withheld at the request of the survi-
vor. The purpose in sharing her story as part
of National Domestic Violence Awareness
Month is to encourage victims of domestic
violence to speak out.
C
assie Greene is a survivor.
The physical marks are long gone.
The swelling and bruising from being
strangled, and scratches and welts from being
assaulted are replaced by tattoos that repre-
sent being a survivor of domestic violence.
The emotional scars are healing.
Like many teenagers, Cassie liked hang-
ing out with friends, playing sports and par-
ticipating in family activities. However, her
life started to spiral out of control several
months after her relationship with CL began
in the spring of 2008.
Now 26, Cassie was a sophomore at
Hermiston High School and CL was a senior
when they met as members of the cross coun-
try team. Describing him as a “bad boy sort,”
Cassie liked that CL was older and lived life
a bit on the edge — smoking marijuana and
drinking. Often “the life of the party,” he
appeared happy, and was fun to be around.
Also, CL seemed to care about his friends and
would do anything for them, Cassie said.
“He was extremely charming,” she said.
“Our relationship progressed pretty quickly.
It didn’t take very long for us to become a
thing.”
Cassie’s mom, Carol, said CL seemed like
a typical, not to say shy, teenager.
“He was very quiet, very soft-spoken and
cute,” she said. “He seemed like a gentle,
kind soul.”
As quickly as the relationship bloomed,
however, it began to wilt. Within a few
months, CL was exerting control in Cassie’s
life — who she hung out with, her commu-
nications with others and, sometimes, even
what she wore.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence, said Kathryn Chaney,
executive director of Domestic Violence Ser-
vices, includes a pattern of behaviors where a
person tries to gain power and control in any
way they can. It can include manipulation,
intimidation and humiliation.
“It isn’t just hurting someone. It’s gain-
ing control over the other with their actions,”
See CONTROL/12A
Health officials talk opioid dangers with Walden
Oregon to receive $17M
in federal funds to fight
abuse
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Dr. Dan Marier talks about the mentality of someone that is ad-
dicted to opioids to Rep. Greg Walden during a roundtable dis-
cussion Friday in Pendleton.
Receive Care
Whenever
and Wherever
You Need it!
Oregon Rep. Greg Walden’s bill
to help fight the opioid crisis could
become law as soon as next week.
The Republican from Hood River
swung though Eastern Oregon to talk
up the bill and hear from folks on
the front lines of the drug addiction
crisis. Friday morning at the Uma-
tilla County Courthouse, Pendleton,
he said the bill would provide about
$17 million split between the Ore-
gon Health Plan and local clinics to
help treatment, recovery and preven-
tion efforts and fight fentanyl and
other illegal drugs. The Columbia
River Community Health Services
in Boardman is one of the clinics and
received $295,000.
H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Dis-
order Prevention that Promotes
Opioid Recovery and Treatment
(SUPPORT) for Patients and Com-
See OPIOIDS/12A
ONLY $35 PER VISIT!
• COUGH • COLD • FLU
• SORE THROAT • EAR ACHE
• PINK EYE • RASH
• URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
• AND SO MUCH MORE!
Virtual Care
844.724.8632
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
WWW.SAHPENDLETON.ORG