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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2019)
BUCKS, DAWGS COMING BACK FROM BREAK PEDRO HIRED AS CDA ECONOMIC DIRECTOR HOOPS, B1 REGION, A3 E O AST 143rd year, no. 54 REGONIAN Thursday, January 3, 2019 $1.50 WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD PENDLETON Pendleton man struck, killed by train Murillo a cowboy, leatherworker By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian The organization at its height claimed more than 3,000 members and built and moved into the Third street building in the mid-1950s. But the Elks by 2017 had about 250 members. That March the group surren- dered its charter to the national organi- zation and put the building up for sale. Blanc said closing the deal is a bitter- sweet relief and sign of the times. “That building was just much too big for us,” Blanc said. “We didn’t have the membership to support it.” Keeping the building going ate into the Elks’ ability to do charity work, Blanc said, but the sale allows the group to refocus. he said in late spring or early Pendleton resident angel Murillo died early Tuesday when a train struck him. he was 24. Pendleton police are calling the death an accident. Murillo was from White salmon, Wash- ington, and moved to Pendleton sev- eral years ago. he attended Blue Moun- tain Community Col- lege, where he made Murillo honor roll in 2015 and in 2016 was the vice president of the new FFa collegiate chapter. Murillo was a cowboy and worked at the hamley Western store as a hat shaper and more recently as a sad- dle maker. He won first place in the novice class for saddle making at the 2018 Pendleton Leather show as well as the people’s choice award. he also spent many an evening in the weight room at Pendleton’s Club 24. People who knew Murillo posted comments celebrating his life on Facebook page. They described Murillo as a good, kind person. Pendleton business owner Kristine Taylor stated Murillo “became known as one of the best hat shapers around,” and “at such a young age he touched so many peo- ple’s lives.” Penny French, manager of the hamley Western store, said this was a difficult time for her and the staff, and the store at some point plans to hold a memorial for their co-worker and friend. The store’s Facebook page con- tained a post stating Murillo “was one of the nicest and most honest young men around and we are going to miss him terribly.” The post also provided a link to donate to a memorial fund for Murillo. some people who knew Murillo also said he had a drinking problem. Pendleton police Lt. Tony nelson said Murillo was “unresponsive” in public areas on three occasions since May See Lodge, Page A8 See Cowboy, Page A8 Staff photo by E.J. Harris Portland electrical contractor Lance Leonnig bought the 24,000-square-foot building at 14 S.E. Third St. for $225,000. Elks Lodge sold to Portland contractor Owner with Pendleton roots envisions bar with hometown theme By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian T he former Pendleton Elks Lodge has a new owner. Portland electrical con- tractor Lance Leonnig bought the 24,000-square-foot building at 14 s.E. Third st. for $225,000 and plans to turn it into a bar and entertainment space. Leonnig, 45, said his family has been in Pendleton since the late 1800s and his great-grandfather built churches here. The Elks building drew his inter- est years ago. “Every time I come to town I looked at the building and I wanted it,” he said. “It came up for sale and I managed to get it.” Leonnig said his business in Portland, 84 Electric, is a one-man show, but he has done electrical work and lighting in some of Portland’s newer top-end bars, including Capitol and hey Love. “The bars I do look like doll houses,” he said, and he aims to bring that movie set-like aesthetic to the old Elks building. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge no. 288 has been in Pend- leton since 1895. Larry Blanc, one of the trustee chairmen for the club, said the group’s first seal remains above the Secu- rity apartments, 130 s.W. Court ave. Technology connects father, mother and baby daughter hermiston couple delivers Umatilla County’s first baby By KATHY ANEY AND JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian When Umatilla County’s first baby breathed her first breath on New Year’s day at st. anthony hospital, her father watched from thousands of miles away at his base in Iraq. Mila Marie Mcdonough came into the world at 9:56 a.m., weighing six pounds, four ounces. her mom, Brandi Mcdonough, held her daughter in her arms as ryan Mcdonough watched from Brandi’s iPhone screen. This is the first baby for the Herm- iston couple. Brandi learned she was pregnant a week before ryan deployed. ryan is with the navy seabees, the military’s elite construction unit. he was working when he got the word his wife had gone into labor just after midnight and had headed to the hospi- tal about 4 a.m. he retired to his room at the base and launched a FaceTime session with Brandi. Part of the time, he used up nervous energy by folding laundry or saying comforting words to his wife. neither knew whether the baby was a boy or girl. See Baby, Page A8 Staff photo by Kathy Aney Brandi McDonough gazes at her newborn daughter, Mila. The baby came into the world at 9:56 a.m. on New Year’s Day as her father watched remotely from Iraq. CHI St. Anthony Hospital Family Clinic is recognized as a Patient -Centered Primary Care Home. What does that mean for you? • Better-coordinated care. • Healthcare providers who will help connect you • Listening to your concerns and answering with the care you need in a safe and timely way. • Healthcare providers who play an active role in questions. your health. • After-hours nurse consultation. 844.724.8632 3001 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton WWW.SAHPENDLETON.ORG Mon through Thurs, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.