REGION
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
ODOT will expand use of salt
on dangerous winter roads
By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Chance of
snow? Expect a sprinkling
of salt too.
On the first 11 miles of
Interstate 5 north of the Cal-
ifornia border, the average
number of winter crashes
dropped from 115 to 54 after
the state’s transportation
department started using
solid salt on a trial basis.
Because of the apparent
success of that pilot program
and directives from the Leg-
islature, the state will con-
tinue to use salt sparingly on
some major roadways this
winter.
While it can be diffi-
cult to peg the exact cause
of crashes, and the figures
fluctuate from year to year,
officials found that the two
areas they tested as part of
a pilot program from 2012
to 2017 saw a decline in
crashes after they tried salt.
“It was amazing to see,”
said Dave Thompson, a
spokesman for the Ore-
gon Department of Trans-
portation. “The salt was
really effective, and still we
wanted to minimize its use.”
ODOT will have salt on
hand for the first 100 miles
of the freeway north of Cal-
ifornia, on 200 miles of
Interstate 84 and in hilly
parts of the Portland metro
area, as well as a 121-mile
stretch of U.S. 95 in south-
eastern Oregon between
Nevada and Idaho that was
tested as part of the pilot
program.
Since the 1990s, the state
has used a liquid chemical
deicer, which isn’t always
enough to keep snow and ice
from bonding to pavement,
ODOT says.
The state has largely
avoided solid salt, which can
have deleterious environ-
mental effects and is expen-
sive to store. Solid salt has
the same chemical compo-
sition — sodium chloride —
as table salt.
Salt, through road run-
off, can make its way into
surface water, groundwater
and soil, which can make it
harder for plants to absorb
water. It can also corrode
roads, bridges and vehicles
more quickly.
But salt can also be very
effective, especially in cer-
tain conditions, like freezing
rain, which the transporta-
tion agency says is growing
more common in Oregon.
Salt will be just one com-
ponent of the state’s winter
maintenance plans.
Courtesy Oregon Department of Transportation
Results of a test program suggest that using salt can reduce weather-related crashes.
ODOT will have salt on hand for the first 100 miles of Interstate 5 north of California,
on 200 miles of Interstate 84 and in hilly parts of the Portland metro area, as well as a
121-mile stretch of U.S. 95 in southeastern Oregon between Nevada and Idaho.
Winter weather expected
to hit on Thanksgiving
East Oregonian
Eastern Oregon residents can expect some winter weather
on Thanksgiving Day, and are advised to plan ahead and get
on the roads early.
The Oregon Department of Transportation advised that
the area may see some wind, rain, ice, snow and fog, which
may present driving challenges for those trying to travel for
the holiday. Drivers are advised to pay attention to weather
and road conditions, and stay aware of weather warnings
and advisories.
ODOT District 13 manager Ace Clark said the agency
will have crews on the highway plowing snow and applying
sand and salt as needed.
“Please plan extra travel time, be prepared for winter
weather and drive according to the conditions of the road.
We want everyone to get to their destination safely,” he said.
Through the five years
of the pilot program, the
department wanted to see
whether a small amount of
salt could improve highway
conditions and cut down on
serious and fatal crashes.
On average, in areas
tested near the California
border, state crews applied
about 246 pounds of salt per
lane mile. In the stretch of
U.S. 95 in southeastern Ore-
gon, they applied about 190
pounds per mile.
A November 2017 report
on the pilot project recom-
mended between 150 and
300 pounds of salt should
be applied per lane mile.
ODOT was also required to
use the least amount of salt
possible to meet its goals,
depending on weather and
road conditions.
The winter of 2016-17,
which buried the Portland
area and Willamette Valley
in snow and ice, prompted
the department to consider
using salt more widely,
Thompson said.
And last year, lawmakers
directed the state’s Trans-
portation Commission to
develop a winter mainte-
nance plan that included the
use of salt or another solid
de-icer.
The
transportation
department may use salt in
Portland, Salem and Eugene
as it sees fit, Thompson said.
The agency will also
monitor high-traffic areas
and places that get a lot of
snow.
In Salem, the state main-
tains parts of Interstate 5 and
sections of U.S. Highway
22, said Mark Becktel, the
city’s public works opera-
tions manager.
But the city of Salem has
no plans to use solid salt this
winter, Becktel said.
The city doesn’t use rock
salt but it does use magne-
sium chloride, another type
of salt suspended in liquid.
Becktel said the city’s
forecasters are expecting
more ice than snow.
“The issues we’ve been
warned to be more pre-
pared for are black ice and
ice storms, wind storms, not
so much the occurrence of
snow,” Becktel said. “We
would prepare for a full win-
ter either way.”
Not all snow is created
equal. The Willamette Val-
ley is warmer and much
more humid than areas east
of the Cascades.
Central Oregon, which
typically sees a lot of snow,
is much drier and colder,
and powdery snow doesn’t
respond as well to solid salt,
Thompson said.
Salt has other drawbacks.
Storing it properly can be
pricey. The transportation
department has requested
more money in the upcom-
ing two-year budget for
more salt storage.
The Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife is con-
cerned that using salt could
attract animals to roads,
resulting in more crashes.
But the transportation
department found no cor-
relation between using salt
on the road and accidents
involving animals.
The state’s salt plan may
change in the coming years.
“I expect we’ll keep
evolving this after the next
year or two or three as we
gain more experience, learn
new lessons,” Thompson
said.
Late volunteer surge allows Warming Station to open
The Hermiston Warm-
ing Station was able to open
Monday after all.
The nonprofit emer-
gency shelter had pushed
its opening date back from
Nov. 19 to Dec. 1 due to
lack of volunteers. But after
news of the shortage trav-
eled, a late surge of volun-
teers showed up to the last
round of training sessions
over the weekend.
Warming Station board
chair Teesie Hill said she
wanted to thank everyone
who responded to the need.
She now has 141 trained
volunteers on the roster,
which should be enough to
keep the warming station
open every day.
Hill said last year it served
84 different people through-
out the winter, from homeless
residents to stranded travelers
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Page 3A
HERMISTON
Hermiston Realty
to stay open after
Donn Walls’ death
ried or had children of his
own, Looman said he was
like family to her and to
Hermiston Realty staff other co-workers. His cli-
are in mourning after prin- ents were very important to
cipal broker Donn Walls him too.
“He was a
died Friday.
very
charis-
Walls, 79, was
matic person and
a staple of Herm-
iston’s real estate
worked hard for
his clients,” she
community. He
said.
was born in La
W a l l s
Grande, gradu-
received many
ated from Uma-
tilla High School
awards over his
and got a degree Donn Walls
career, including
Columbia Basin
in animal science
from Oregon State Uni- Realtors’ Realtor of the
versity before eventually Year in 2008. Looman said
returning to the Hermiston not only did Walls work
area in 1988. He worked tirelessly for his clients,
for Universal Realty and but it helped that he was so
bought Century 21, which connected to everyone in
eventually became Herm- the community and knew
iston Realty in 2001.
the history of so many
Patty Looman, office properties.
Hermiston Realty agent
manager for Hermiston
Realty, and Travis Rock, Sandy Allen said she got
who handles the Hermis- her real estate license the
ton Property Management same year Walls did.
“He lived and breathed
side of the business, said
Walls was active in the real estate,” she said.
Allen will be stepping
community. He was pres-
ident-elect of the Kiwanis up into the role of princi-
Club and heavily involved pal broker for the business.
in Umatilla High School’s It has been a rough time for
staff — they were still hav-
alumni association.
His first love, they said, ing to inform people call-
was real estate. But he ing the office on Tuesday
also loved Arabian horses, that Walls had passed away
orchids, going to Tri-Cities — but they said Hermis-
Americans hockey games ton Realty will continue to
and playing his lucky operate with “business as
wild cherry machine at the usual.”
“He would have wanted
casino.
“He was a very social us to continue on,” Rock
person,”
Rock
said. said.
A celebration of life ser-
“Everyone was his friend.”
Looman knew Walls for vice for Walls will be held
28 years, and Rock worked Monday at 10 a.m. in the
with him for more than 30. Burns Mortuary chapel in
While Walls never mar- Hermiston.
By JADE MCDOWELL
East Oregonian
HERMISTON
East Oregonian
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3:40* 9:40
INSTANT FAMILY (PG13)
1:30* 4:10 6:50 9:30
DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH (PG)
12:20* 2:30* 4:40 7:10 9:20
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Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216
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to families whose heat went
out. People in need of shelter
for the night can go to the sta-
tion in the evenings at 1075
S. Highway 395, across from
Tower Apartments. Check-in
is from 7:30-9 p.m., although
volunteers will admit people
after that if they’re brought
by police, social workers or
clergy.
The warming station
does not serve meals, but
does provide guests with hot
drinks like coffee and cider
and a snack for breakfast
as they’re leaving. Dona-
tions of those items, along
with cleaning supplies, laun-
dry supplies, toiletries, ear
plugs, socks, gloves and
hand warmers are welcome.
To donate, call 360-508-
4523 to arrange for a drop-
off time.
For updates on the Herm-
iston Warming Station, visit
its Facebook page.
COMING EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21
CUSTOMER
APPRECIA-
TION SALE, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sal-
vation Army Thrift Store, 1805
S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton. Ev-
erything 50 percent off storewide.
Proceeds benefit Salvation Army
community programs. Volunteers
welcome. (Bill Dochnahl 509-521-
7388)
THURSDAY, NOV. 22
COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP
DINNER, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Hermis-
ton High School commons, 600
S. First St., Hermiston. Free tradi-
tional Thanksgiving dinner for all
residents.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIV-
ING DINNER, 12-2 p.m., Sal-
vation Army, 150 S.E. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton. Free and open
to everyone. Delivery available
for seniors and disabled citizens.
(541-276-3369)
COMMUNITY THANKSGIV-
ING MEAL, 1 p.m., All Saints
Episcopal Church parish hall, 140
W. Church St., Heppner. Every-
one welcome. Free.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIV-
ING DINNER, 1 p.m., Life Church
of Pilot Rock, 222 S.W. Third St.,
Pilot Rock. Donation of side dish
or dessert welcome, but not re-
quired. Non-perishable food or
cash donations will be distributed
by the Pilot Rock Food Pantry.
Free. (Sheila Buckley 541-215-
7974)
COMMUNITY
THANKS-
GIVING DINNER, 1:30-4 p.m.,
Boardman Senior Center, 100 Ta-
tone St., Boardman. Praise ser-
vice at 1:30 p.m., dinner served
from 2-4 p.m. Free and open to
everyone. (503-724-8823, 503-
307-5646 or 541-481-3257)
COMMUNITY
THANKS-
GIVING DINNER, 4-6 p.m., First
Christian Church, 518 S. Main St,
Milton-Freewater. Turkey and all
thetrimmings, free for all commu-
nity members. (Janet Collins 541-
938-3854)
FIDDLER’S NIGHT, 6:30-
8:30 p.m., Avamere Assisted Liv-
ing, 980 W. Highland Ave., Herm-
iston. Enjoy light refreshments,
listen to some favorite oldies or
join in the jam session. All ages
welcome. (Lori 541-567-3141)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
FREE FISHING DAY, 7 a.m.-
8 p.m., all fishable waters, in Ore-
gon including, Pendleton. No fish-
ing, crabbing or clamming tags or
licenses required on Free Fishing
Days, but all other regulations ap-
ply including closures, bag limits
and size restrictions. (Michelle
Dennehy 503-947-6022)
WALKING FOR WELL-
NESS, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Pend-
leton Recreatio Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
Get some exercise even when
the weather is bad. Free. (Csey
Brown 541-276-8100)
Comfort
Food at Hamley
Steakhouse
NEW WINTER MENU
All your favorites - plus we’ve added Baby Back Ribs,
Chuck Wagon Burger and Mushroom Bleu Burger!
8 SE COURT, PENDLETON
541.278.1100
H AMLEY S teakhouse & S aloon
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK