REGION
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
East Oregonian
A3
Former Eastern Oregon drug crime boss in jail for thefts
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Carlos Joaquin Barragan
of Hermiston used to run
one of the largest illegal drug
operations in northeast Ore-
gon. Now he’s in jail for jew-
elry theft and ripping off a
local car club.
Barragan in 2009 helped
set up the largest illegal mar-
ijuana crop in Grant County,
and in 2011 in federal court
he pleaded guilty to con-
spiracy to manufacture and
deliver more than 1,000 mar-
ijuana plants.
Barragan served almost
six years in the federal prison
in Sheridan and returned to
Hermiston.
Police there
arrested him
Nov.
17
and booked
him
into
the
Uma-
Barragan
tilla County
Jail, Pendle-
ton. Hermiston police Chief
Jason Edmiston said Barra-
gan is the subject of a drug
possession case and the two
theft cases, one involving
the Hermiston Classics Car
Club.
Larry Storment was the
recent club president and
recalled Barragan as a “nice,
friendly guy.” They lived a
couple doors apart, Barra-
gan would visit when Stor-
ment rolled out his 1955
pickup, and Barragan hung
with Storment’s son, Rich-
ard Storment, who state court
records show has a criminal
record. His last conviction
was in 2008 for second-de-
gree assault, a felony.
The car club needed a new
treasurer, Larry Storment
said, so he was handling the
club’s checkbook and one
day tucked it away inside his
desk at home after paying a
club bill. He said that’s when
Barragan had access to the
checkbook.
He took five checks from
the book in early August, Stor-
ment said, and wrote them for
$200 each and cashed four at
a local bank machine.
“You can take checks
to an ATM and 30 minutes
later withdraw the money,”
he said, and Barragan did
that four times. He gave the
fifth check, Storment said, to
another guy who cashed it at
a local credit union.
“That guy fled the country
to Mexico, but Carlos they
got,” he said.
The Umatilla County
District Attorney’s Office
charged Barragan on Nov. 19
with multiple counts of forg-
ery and theft. His defense
attorney, Herman Bylenga of
Pendleton, filed to dismiss a
month later because the par-
Nebraska artist pieces together ‘Parallel Worlds’
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Shea Wilkinson creates
art quilts using free motion
quilting and hand embroi-
dery. Using materials includ-
ing silk and cotton fabrics,
p o l y e s t e r,
cotton and
silk threads,
and wool,
Shea
cre-
ates stories,
using stitch
to amplify
the
tex-
tures of the
Wilkinson
spaces.
“The stories that I tell
through my work are related
to imagery from science,
natural and extraterrestrial
worlds, and mythology,” she
said. “I find natural phenom-
ena has the potential to seem
unreal or supernatural when
seen from an unusual per-
spective, which I strive to
share with the viewer.”
An exhibit featuring her
work, “Parallel Worlds,”
opens Thursday at Betty
Feves Memorial Gallery.
The free event runs from
4:30-6:30 p.m. in the gal-
lery, located in Pioneer Hall
at Blue Mountain Commu-
nity College, 2411 N.W.
Carden Ave., Pendleton.
An artist talk takes place at
5 p.m. via Zoom video con-
ference from her studio in
Omaha.
The Nebraska fabric art-
ist is interested in educating
viewers about the art form.
The exhibit also includes a
display of time-lapse videos
of her working in her studio.
“Aside from loving the
act of quilting, and the daily
rhythm of the machine, I
also enjoy the chance to
immerse myself in topics
that I find visually and intel-
lectually exciting,” Wilkin-
son said.
A self-taught fiber art-
ist, Wilkinson began sew-
ties reached a civil compro-
mise. Storment said Barra-
gan’s family made restitution
and gave the club the $1,000
it was out, and that’s signifi-
cant for the club’s work.
“We give that money
away,” he said. “That’s what
we do with it. We give it
away to some needy organi-
zations around town.”
Court records show Cir-
cuit Judge Christopher
Brauer on Dec. 20 signed the
motion to dismiss due to the
restitution.
But the law was not done
with Barragan. The district
attorney on Dec. 23 charged
him with first-degree theft.
Edmiston said the charge
stems from stealing jewelry
worth more than $1,000 in
November from residents at
the Country Squire Estates,
the trailer park at 1500 N.E.
10th St. Court records show
the case goes to trial Mon-
day. And Edmiston said there
remains the matter of the
drugs Barragan had on him at
the time of his arrest. He has
yet to face charges for that,
however.
Barragan remains in the
county jail, and Storment
said that is where he needs
to be.
“He came to our house
and we treated him like a
guest,” he said, “and he took
advantage of us.”
BRIEFLY
Heppner to
enhance visitor
experiences
drives are:
•Monday, Jan. 14 from
10:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at
New Hope Community
Church, 1350 S. Highway
395, Hermiston.
•Tuesday, Jan. 15 from
12:30-5:30 p.m. at Red
Lion, 304 S.E. Nye Ave.,
Pendleton.
•Friday, Jan. 18 from
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Uma-
tilla City Hall, 700 Sixth
St., Umatilla.
•Monday, Jan. 21
from noon to 6 p.m. at
St. Anthony Hospital,
2801 St. Anthony Way,
Pendleton.
•Monday, Jan. 21 from
noon to 6 p.m. at Good
Shepherd Medical Cen-
ter, 610 N.W. 11th St.,
Hermiston.
•Tuesday, Jan. 22 from
10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at
Pendleton City Hall, 500
S.W. Dorion Ave.
•Friday, Feb. 1 from
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at
Stafford Hansell Gov-
ernment Center, 915
S.E. Columbia Drive,
Hermiston.
While walk-ins are
welcome, donors are
encouraged to schedule
an appointment by calling
1-800-733-2767 or via
www.redcrossblood.org.
HEPPNER — In an
effort to shine, the First
Impressions program is
coming to Heppner.
In the fall, a visiting
team conducted a “first
impressions” assessment
of Heppner. The public
can learn about the find-
ings of the report and
continue discussions on
how to support local busi-
nesses and community
vitality.
The Heppner First
Impressions Community
Action Planning Meeting
is Tuesday, Jan. 15 from
6-8 p.m. at Heppner City
Hall, 111 N. Main St. A
free pizza dinner will be
served at 5:30 p.m.
To ensure there is
enough food and seating,
people are asked to RSVP
by Friday. For more infor-
mation or to register, con-
tact Heppner Chamber of
Commerce at 541-676-
5536 or heppnercham-
ber@centurytel.net.
Red Cross
announces
blood drives
Contributed photo
“Full Circle,” created with silk, organza, cotton, polyester and silk threads, silk, wool and
bamboo fibers and glass beads, is featured in “Parallel Worlds,” an exhibit by Shea Wilkinson. It
opens Jan. 10 at Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at BMCC in Pendleton.
ing as a child. While teach-
ing English in Mexico, she
became passionate about
creating art — returning to
the United States to pursue
her passion.
Her work has been fea-
tured in exhibits across the
nation. In addition, Wilkin-
son has been recognized for
her work, including receiv-
ing the James Renwick Alli-
ance’s Chrysalis Award for
distinguished emerging art-
ist in 2016. She has a bache-
lor’s degree in international
studies and German lan-
guage from the University
of Nebraska at Omaha.
“Parallel Worlds” runs
through Thursday, Feb. 7.
The gallery is open Mon-
day through Thursday from
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and
by appointment. For more
information, contact gallery
director Lori Sams at 541-
278-5952, lsams@bluecc.
edu or visit www.bluecc.
edu/community/feves-art-
gallery. For the artist’s web-
site, go to www.sheawilkin-
son.com.
Library program
gets crafty
In the coming weeks,
the American Red Cross
will hold several blood
drives in the area
The need for blood
is constant, especially
during the cold winter
months. Each day, blood
donors help patients of all
ages — from accident and
burn victims to heart sur-
gery and organ transplant
patients. According to
the American Red Cross,
every two seconds, some-
one in the United States
needs blood.
Upcoming
blood
HERMISTON — Free
craft activities are avail-
able at the Hermiston
Public Library.
The Free Saturday
Crafts is each Saturday
from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,
while supplies last. The
library is located at 235
E. Gladys Ave. Kids of
all ages are invited to join
the fun and get creative.
For more information,
call the library at 541-
567-2882 or visit www.
hermistonlibrary.us.
Dancing with the Hermiston Stars takes center stage Jan. 12
Area nonprofits
benefit from
dancing
competition
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Winebarger
A handful of local “stars”
will get schooled during
the seventh annual Dancing
with the Hermiston Stars.
Taking over organizing
the popular event, the Herm-
iston Education Founda-
tion is looking forward to a
fun time while also provid-
ing a fundraising opportu-
nity for seven local nonprofit
organizations.
After working with pro-
fessionals from the Utah
Ballroom Dance Com-
pany throughout the week,
the local stars will attempt
to work the crowd to raise
additional votes and money
for their cause. In addition,
they are vying for the cov-
eted mirror ball trophy.
Dancing with the Herm-
iston Stars is Saturday at
7 p.m. in the Hermiston
High School auditorium,
600 S. First St. Advance
tickets are $20 for adults
and $10 for students. They
are available by clicking
“Events” at www.hermis-
toneducationfoundation.org
Umbarger
or the Hermiston School
District office, 305 S.W.
11th St. Tickets purchased at
the door are $25.
With a theme of Music
Legends, the performances
should be legendary. The
local dancers include Beth
Anderson, a Hermiston
High School drama teacher.
Dancing for the Hermiston
Education Foundation, the
host organization provides
grants to district employ-
ees to enhance educational
opportunities for students.
Anderson reports her last
dance performance at age 6
was a tap routine to “I’m a
Little Teapot.” As for Jake
Bacon, Highland Hills Ele-
mentary School princi-
pal, it’s “Hammer Time.”
He hopes to dispel rumors
that “you can’t touch this”
as he raises money for the
Kiwanis Club of Hermiston.
Jonny Badillo, who’s
dancing for Court Appointed
Special Advocates (CASA),
picked up some tips from
Garberg
Frazier
‘I FELT LIKE I REALLY
ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING
WHEN I MADE IT THROUGH MY
90 SECONDS. IT WAS A LITTLE
SCARY BUT IT WAS FUN.’
Tricia Mooney, Hermiston School District superintendent
Umatilla-Morrow County
Head Start co-worker Jesus
Rome, who was a partic-
ipant in the 2016 event
(view at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=VBFR9pfNOis).
CASA volunteers provide
support to foster children.
Tony Garberg, director of
cardiopulmonary services at
Good Shepherd Health Care
System, will breathe easy
as he’s raising money for
the Hermiston Rotary Club.
The service club is support-
ing Pioneer Relief Nursery
to help prevent child abuse.
Kara Frazier, a first grade
teacher at Desert View Ele-
mentary School, will kick
up her heels for Made to
Thrive. The local nonprofit
provides support to at-risk
youngsters through sports,
activities music and art. Ash-
ley Umbarger, who grew up
attending Hermiston Cam-
pus Life, now serves as its
executive director with her
husband, Jeff. And, she’s
hoping to cut a rug and a
check for the faith-based
teen program. Mary Wine-
barger, who moved to Herm-
Badillo
Bacon
iston in 2010, got involved
with Altrusa International of
Hermiston in 2017, serving
as treasurer. A semi-retired
bookkeeper, she’s hoping to
add some cash to the ledger
of the local service club.
Getting people to com-
mit to dancing wasn’t a dif-
ficult process, said HEF
co-president Karen Sher-
man. The board contacted
several local nonprofits and
asked if they wanted to be
involved with the fundraiser.
The organizations then took
steps to find people willing
to dance on their behalf.
“I think that speaks vol-
umes about our community
— that organizations are full
of people that will put them-
selves out there,” said Tricia
Mooney, Hermiston School
District superintendent.
And, Mooney knows
what it means to put her
money where her feet are.
Despite being apprehensive,
she danced during the 2018
event.
Anderson
“I felt like I really accom-
plished something when I
made it through my 90 sec-
onds,” she said with a laugh.
“It was a little scary but it
was fun.”
The winner will be deter-
mined by a combination
of judge’s scores, audience
votes and money raised by
each dancer. People can cast
votes through donations at
the event or via https://squa-
reup.com/store/hef.
The first half of Danc-
ing with the Hermiston Stars
showcases the local dancers
paired up with the profes-
sionals. The second portion
features a program presented
by the Utah Ballroom Dance
Company. In addition to an
evening of fun, Mooney said
it serves as a way to support
multiple nonprofits.
“The event has been
going on for many years in
Hermiston,” she said. “It’s a
way to benefit a lot of differ-
ent deserving organizations
in the community.”