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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2018)
REGION Thursday, December 20, 2018 East Oregonian A3 Crash takes out Hermiston police plan for a vehicle to help with evidence gathering By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian The Hermiston Police Department’s plan to cre- ate a vehicle to help with evidence gathering took a hard shot Tuesday due to a crash. Umatilla County Fire District last year donated a 2006 Ford ambulance to the police department. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said it has a lot of miles and the ball joints needed replacing, but the engine is a diesel and runs well. The ambulance looked like the right vehicle to outfit so the department’s evidence technician could respond to certain crimes, such as a storage unit bur- glary, and gather evidence rather than have an officer dust for fingerprints while calls for service pile up. Edmiston said the project would not replace the evi- dence vehicle that Oregon State Police sends to major crime scenes. Hermiston police sent the ambulance to a Tri-Cit- ies business to give it a Contributed photo by Hermiston Police Department A crash Tuesday in Umatilla likely damaged the frame of the former ambulance — behind the sedan and pickup — which the Hermiston Police Department planned to turn into a vehicle for gathering evidence at certain crime scenes. new coat of paint along with police striping, and recently left the vehicle at Duke’s Auto Plus, 30600 Highway 730, Umatilla, to replace the ball joints. But a little before 11 a.m. Tuesday the plan crashed. Literally. Oregon State Police reported a Dodge Ram pickup towing a trailer was heading east on Highway 730 near Duke’s when a Kia Sedona pulled out and struck the right front axel of the trailer. The Dodge’s driver lost control, went off the road and into the park- ing lot of Duke’s, striking a Toyota Camry and the old ambulance. The crash likely totaled the Kia, according to state police, damaged the front bumper of the pickup, along with its right side and the right side of the trailer and munched the rear of the Toyota. The ambulance sustained exterior damage that does not appear too significant, Edmiston said, but the impact probably bent the frame on the vehi- cle, which had insurance coverage of $17,000. “So that would likely mean it’s totaled,” Edmis- ton said. Marcelino Salas Canare, 67, of Umatilla, drove the Kia. Oregon State Police cited her for failure to yield the right of way, driving while suspended and driv- ing uninsured. Edmiston said that was the topper to the whole mess and it was disap- pointing the department did not get to try out the project. Staff photo by Jayati Ramakrishnan A driver hit a pedestrian while turning north onto Highway 395 from East Highland Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Pedestrian hit crossing 395 East Oregonian A car turning onto High- way 395 in Hermiston hit a pedestrian on Wednesday afternoon. The pedestrian, a 15-year-old male Herm- iston High School student, did not suffer any serious injuries, said Hermiston Police Captain Scott Clark. John Foster, 75, was turning north onto High- way 395 from East High- land Avenue, when the student ran out onto 395, angled to the crosswalk, to cross westbound heading back toward the school. Foster was already mak- ing the turn, and struck the student with the right front quarter-panel of his Chevy Equinox. Foster stopped immedi- ately and cooperated with police. He said he did not see the student. “Not at all, or I wouldn’t have made the corner,” he said. “I think the rea- son I didn’t see him is he darted out trying to catch his friends. I’m not saying he was in the wrong, it just happened that fast.” Clark said he didn’t anticipate issuing any cita- tions, but the student could be cited for a pedestri- an-related offense under state law. BMCC to serve Christmas Eve dinner By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Students at Blue Moun- tain Community Col- lege are gearing up for the 48th annual Christmas Eve dinner. The community is invited to the free meal, which is coordinated by student leaders. This year’s dinner, which is Monday, Dec. 24, is taking place ear- lier in the day. The event runs from 2-4 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention Cen- ter, 1601 Westgate. The meal features ham with all the trimmings and dessert. Abby Pierson, BMCC’s assistant director of out- reach and recruitment, said they moved the dinner up a few hours to help accom- modate volunteers hav- ing time to spend with their families on Christmas Eve. Also, she said the earlier time will make it safer for people to travel to and from the meal. “Last year the weather File photo Evangelina Olivera serves up pie during a past Blue Mountain Community College Christmas Eve dinner. In its 48th year, the free community meal is Monday, Dec. 24, from 2-4 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention Center. was pretty bad,” Pierson said. In addition to the dinner, children are invited to take a special trip through San- ta’s Toy Shop. Kids will be able to pose for photos with Santa and pick up a free present. In addition to donated items, gifts are pur- chased with money gath- ered through fundraisers held throughout the year. “We try to shop local as much as we can,” Pierson said. About 35 BMCC stu- dents help with the event, including student ambas- sadors, Associated Student Government leaders and work study students. Pier- son herself volunteered two years as a student ambassa- dor before being hired by the college. While assisting with the event comes with her job description, Pierson enjoys being a part of the Christ- mas Eve dinner. She partic- ularly enjoys seeing volun- teers from the community assisting with the event. People are invited to vol- unteer with everything from working in the kitchen and serving to assisting in the toy shop. For more informa- tion, including how to get involved or make dona- tions, call Pierson at 541- 278-5921 or contact Austin Shick at 541-278-5967 or ashick@bluecc.edu. Contact Community Edi- tor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4539 Umatilla County’s financials in good order, passes the latest audit East Oregonian PENDLETON — Uma- tilla County’s financial tracking is in good order, according to the latest audit. The county board of commissioners during its public meeting Wednesday in Pendleton heard from Cameron Anderson with the accounting firm Bar- nett & Moro P.C., Hermis- ton, which contracts with the county to perform the audits. He told the board the audit involved an array of tests, and the county’s accounting passed mus- ter each time. He said the audit found no material weaknesses or deficiencies in the county’s financial information. He also noted the cash for the county increased about $3 million overall from last year, with the gen- eral fund bumping up about $1.4 million. “Overall, not too excit- ing a year for the county,” Anderson said, “which is good,” Commissioners George Murdock and Bill Elfering voted to accept the audit report. Commissioner Larry Givens was absent. This was the last pub- Special Offer SAVE 20% lic meeting of the county board for 2018. The board meets next on Jan. 9 and will have a new commis- sioner. John Shafer of Ath- ena takes his oath of office Jan. 2 at the county court- house in Pendleton. Staff photo by Allen Norman A fire destroyed a house at 618 S. Columbia St. in Milton- Freewater on Tuesday. Milton-Freewater house destroyed in fire East Oregonian MILTON-FREEWA- TER — Milton-Freewater firefighters extinguished a house fire Tuesday, but the home is a total loss. The Milton-Freewater Fire Department answered the call-out at 12:18 p.m. for the fire at 618 S. Columbia St. Chief Shane Garner said three engines and a ladder truck responded, along with crews and equipment from the Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department. They found the two-story home “30 percent involved upon arrival,” he said, and the three occupants were safe. One, however, suffered a minor scrape and received treatment at the scene. Crews doused the blaze within an hour, Garner said, 2 65 oz.) Filet Mignons 2 65 oz.) Top Sirloins 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts 61 lb. pkg.) 2 64 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 63 oz.) 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Internet not provided by DISH and will be billed separately. 1-866-373-9175 Offer ends 11/14/18. Savings with 2 year price guarantee with AT120 starting at $59.99 compared to everyday price. All offers require credit qualification, 2 year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/ Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification. Fees apply for additional TVs: Hopper $15/mo., Joey $5/mo., Super Joey $10/mo. All new customers are subject to a one-time, nonrefundable processing fee. Located just inside the front entrance to the hospital. Open five days a week, Inspirations is staffed by generous volunteers, who are happy to help you find just what you’re looking for, whether you are a visitor, patient or employee. You can find thoughtful gifts, greeting cards, spiritual and inspirational items, stuffed animals, flowers, toys, snacks and refreshments, and special seasonal merchandise. Profits earned through the operation of the gift shop are used to fund scholarships for students pursuing an education in healthcare as well as to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies for St. Anthony Hospital. This year alone $11,000 in scholarships were given out. To volunteer please call 541.966.0528 If you’d like to discuss how you can join the St. Anthony Hospital family, please call the number below. Emily Smith • 541-278-2627 • emilysmith@chiwest.com 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton, OR 97801 www.sahpendleton.org HOURS: Inspirations is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.