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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2018)
REGION Friday, December 28, 2018 East Oregonian Bend would be ‘worse-case scenario’ command center in big earthquake BEND (AP) — A new state report says Bend would be the center of the state’s emergency response in the worst-case scenario of a cat- astrophic earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Oregon Coast. The Bulletin reports that the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program’s Bend campus is the fallback site for the state’s Emer- gency Coordinating Center if the current command cen- ter and two other locations in Salem are knocked out. The Bend site was listed as backup Emergency Coor- dinating Center in the state’s newly revised Cascadia Playbook, a 100-page out- line of actions to be taken in the first hours and days after the disaster. The playbook covers the first two weeks after an earthquake. Scientists have predicted a possible 9.0 scale earth- quake and subsequent tsu- nami along the 700-mile sub- duction zone could kill up to 25,000 people in the Pacific Northwest. Areas east of the Cascades are expected to escape with light to moder- ate damage. That could make Bend the linchpin in state plans for a worst-case scenario disaster. “The youth facility has plenty of capacity for people to bunk down, IT capability and communications facil- ities,” said Andrew Phelps, director of the state Office of Emergency Management. Oregon Youth Challenge Program is a tuition-free, residential alternative high school associated with the AP file photo National Guard that draws at-risk students from across Oregon. The campus 9 miles east of Bend is currently under- going a $10 million renova- tion and building program to expand its facilities, includ- ing a new dormitory. Build- ings are also being seismi- cally retrofitted to withstand earthquakes. When work is completed, the campus will be able to house 240 students. Because Oregon lacks the major military bases of neighboring California and Washington, the Redmond Airport would also likely be a central staging ground if airfields at Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford and other points west of the Cascades are rendered unusable. “We don’t have that large federal footprint, like Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, where you can expand operations with- out much additional plan- ning,” Phelps said. “We need to make sure we are on the same page as our federal partners about what they are going to bring, and when and where they are going to bring it.” Redmond Airport has two runways. Its princi- pal runway is 7,038 feet long. The secondary run- way, at 7,006 feet long, has recently undergone a $10.1 million upgrade to bring its lights and paving up to Fed- eral Aviation Administration standards. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, the mili- tary’s main heavy lift trans- port and cargo aircraft, can take off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet. Phelps said Central Ore- gon would also likely be where many people leaving the earthquake zone would go, especially if major north- south highways are knocked out. Governor establishes rural broadband office By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian Oregon Governor Kate Brown has established an office that will develop broadband opportunities for rural and underserved areas of the state. Brown signed an executive order to cre- ate the Oregon Broadband Office on Dec. 14. Eastern Oregon Telecom CEO Joe Franell is chair of the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council, a state- wide committee that backed the creation of the new office. In her proposed 2019- 2021 budget, the governor allotted $5 million to broad- band development in rural Oregon for the Broadband Infrastructure Fund. Franell said funding has not been approved for the office yet. Franell said he doesn’t yet know exactly how the office will be staffed, but said there are supposed to be five employees. He said there is already telecommunications analyst, Chris Tamarin, who has provided support to the advisory council. He said Brown has expressed specific inter- est in helping rural Oregon communities get broadband access. Franell said there are still more than 40 schools around the state that don’t have access to high-speed internet. But he said there are more gaps to bridge in broadband service than just the urban-rural divide. “I think once we dig in we’ll find out that there’s a digital divide along other lines,” he said. “Socioeco- nomic and cultural lines.” He said the second of two comprehensive stud- ies by the advisory council found that Latino commu- nities around the state had seen a reduction of broad- band adoption recently. “Like water or electricity, everyone should have access to broadband,” he said. “I think the office will be quite busy.” The advisory council was created by the legislature in 2009, Franell said, spe- cifically to provide advice to government officials on broadband utilities and avail- ability. Brown appointed spokespersons for several areas, including represen- tatives for tribal govern- ment, education, economic development organizations, healthcare providers, and urban and rural telecom- munications service provid- ers. Franell was appointed to represent the latter. Every two years, the coun- cil gives a full report to the legislature. Franell said the concept for a state broadband office was spearheaded by State Rep. Pam Marsh, from Ash- land. Marsh is also on the advisory council. “She brought it up because there were federal funds we’d been missing out on,” he said. “The council decided it was something we needed to put in our report. Earlier this month, when he testified before the House Interim Committee on Eco- nomic Development and Trade on behalf of the advi- sory council, Franell talked about digital inclusion — giving all Oregonians access to high-speed internet in order to bridge educational, medical and safety gaps. At 84.9 percent Oregon has a higher rate of internet adoption than the national average, 81.4 percent. But Franell said changing broad- band standards mean that coverage is less than idea. “The definition of broad- band is a moving target,” he said in his presentation. Lawmakers get committee assignments Smith prepares to start 10th term East Oregonian Oregon State lawmakers have received their commit- tee assignments for the com- ing session. Few changes appeared on the list of assignment for the three legislators represent- ing Northeast Oregon. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Hep- pner, will soon be sworn in for his 10th consecutive two-year term as a member of the Oregon House of Rep- resentatives, making him the longest-serving member of the GOP Caucus. Smith wields continu- ing congressional clout as HERMISTON Public library expanding its hours Hermiston Public library is expanding its hours in the new year. Starting Jan. 2, the library will open at 10 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. on Mon- day through Thursday. The library will continue to close at 7 p.m., and Fri- day and Saturday hours will remain from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Library director Mark Rose announced the change in an email, stating it reflected one of the goals that the library had put together after a communi- ty-based strategic planning In this May 24, 2016, file photo, Washington Air National Guard soldiers from Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash., work to assemble temporary living structures at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington to train for emergency response in case of a natural disaster. A new state report says Bend would be the center of Oregon’s emergency response in the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Oregon Coast co-vice chair of the Joint Ways and Means Commit- tee and co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Subcom- mittee on General Gov- ernment. Other assign- ments include Joint Ways and Means Subcommit- tee on Capital Construc- tion, co-vice chair of the Joint Student Success Com- mittee, Joint Tax Expen- ditures Committee, Joint Legislative Administration Committee, Joint Legisla- tive Audit Committee and the House Committee on Revenue. “I am honored to have been appointed to these posi- tions by my colleagues and look forward to the oppor- tunity to continue to serve in a leadership capacity,” Smith said. “These commit- tee appointments will allow me to continue to bring House District 57’s voice to the table as I work with my colleagues to craft solutions to the issues facing our great state.” Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Ath- ena, is midway through his second four-year term. His committees include the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Commit- tee on Workforce and the Transportation and Eco- nomic Development Sub- committee. He will also take HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM Follow us on Facebook! www.eomediagroup.com 920 SW Frazer Ste. 105 Pendleton, OR 97801 IPG Certifi ed Advanced Professional Groomer East Oregonian Four people were involved in a wreck at the intersection of East High- land and Southeast Fourth Street around 5:20 p.m. Thursday. One vehicle ran a stop sign and hit another, and police closed off the inter- section for about half an hour. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and others declined medical attention. One child was in the car and was not badly injured. The fire department also responded to a two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening, at the corner of East Elm Avenue and Fourth Street. One person sustained minor injuries in that crash as well. BRIEFLY Wounded Warrior placards available Jan. 1 SALEM — Beginning Jan. 1, qualifying Ore- gon veterans can apply for the new Oregon Wounded Warrior parking placard from the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation. Those eligible must qualify for a disabled parking permit and have a service-connected dis- ability that is VA-rated at 50 percent or greater. The Oregon Wounded Warrior parking placard exempts the driver from paying fees in public parking areas with metered park- ing. It also enables veter- ans to park in time-limited spaces for longer than the posted limit — except in zones that are designated 30 minutes or less. There is no fee for the placard. Its expiration coincides with the vet- eran’s driver’s license or identification card. Quali- fied veterans who already have a disabled parking placard need to complete Form 735-265 and submit it with a copy of their ben- efit summary letter. Those not currently possessing a handicap placard must have their doctor sign the form. For more information, contact 503-945-5000, stop by local DMV offices or visit www.oregondmv. com IMAC cooks up breakfast fundraiser IRRIGON — A hearty breakfast is featured during a fundraiser for the Irrigon Multicultural Arts Center. The meal is Saturday from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 150 Columbia Lane, Irrigon. The cost is $4.50 per person. The nonprofit group is interested in preserv- ing Irrigon’s 1921 school building and develop- ing a regional arts venue. For more informa- tion, call Peggy Price at 541-567-3806. The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. eomediagroup.com ST. ANTHONY HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS have the unique opportunity to make a positive difference in peoples' lives every day that they generously donate their time and talents. 12/28 -1/2 When you join the St. Anthony Hospital family, you will experience the personal fulfi llment and rewards that only come from helping others. 1/1/19 • 12pm THE CHASE (NR) THE MULE (R) 2:00* 4:30 7:10 9:40 MARY POPPINS RETURNS (PG) 1:20* 4:10 7:00 9:50 SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (PG) 11:20* 1:50* 4:20 6:50 9:20 MORTAL ENGINES (PG13) 11:10* * Matinee Pricing Like me on Facebook! Pair of wrecks cause minor injuries Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie BUMBLEBEE (PG13) 11:00* 1:30* 4:00 6:40 9:30 -megumi’s dog grooming- process this year. “With our growing community we see this as a benefit to families with small children and those needing access to the inter- net for work, housing and other needs,” he wrote. In addition to the earlier opening time, the library is also moving its Friday story time for children to Thursday at 10:15 a.m. For more updates on the library, visit its new web- site at https://hermiston- library.us or like them on Facebook. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends and develop new interests! AQUAMAN (PG13) 3:40* 6:50 12:30* 10:00 541.276.6220 The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. on the General Government Subcommittee for the first time. Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove, was named as Busi- ness and Labor vice chair and will serve on the Eco- nomic Development and Natural Resources Commit- tees. Barreto was elected to the Oregon House of Repre- sentatives in 2014. A3 wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 At St. Anthony Hospital, you can volunteer as little as an hour a week or as often as you'd like. Your service is greatly appreciated, so we are thankful for any time you off er. We attempt to fi nd just the right fi t for your talents and skills and our hospital needs. Frequent volunteer opportunities include: • Customer service/cashier in the gift shop, Inspirations. •Customer service at the information desk. • Patient services. • Day Surgery 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
