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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2019)
143rd Year, No. 102 $1.50 WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 Staff photo by E.J. Harris Light clouds and blue sky hang above the snow-covered foothills of the Blue Mountains on Thursday east of Pendleton. Partially sunny skies and above-freezing temperatures are in the forecast for the region going into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. BLUE SKIES BLUE MOUNTAINS | Your Weekend READY TO VOTE? Hermiston teens discuss lowering voting age to 16 By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian • Talbott Brothers concert, Pendleton • Trivia Games, Pendleton Round-Up Grounds • Texas Hold ’em/Bingo/ Bunco Fundraiser, Ione I n 2020, Oregon’s teens may get a say in decid- ing who represents them. A group of Oregon legislators have introduced a bill to amend the state con- stitution, and lower the vot- ing age from 18 to 16. The bill is expected to go before voters in 2020. Locally, students were polarized on whether the move would be a good idea. In Aaron Davis’ senior social studies class at Herm- iston High School, the major- ity of the students said they didn’t think lowering the voting age was a good idea, but had varying reasons. Harrison Temple said there were likely students during the 2016 election who had enough awareness to make an informed choice. Staff photo by Kathy Aney See Voting age, Page A8 Emily Mendoza raises her hand after students in her Hermiston High School civics class were asked who planned to vote in the next election. FOR TIMES AND LOCATIONS CHECK COMING EVENTS, A6 Weekend Weather “I BELIEVE AT 16, WE’RE NOT WELL-INFORMED OF OUR VIEWS. WE RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT’S NOT RELIABLE, AND WE’RE IMPRESSIONABLE. I BELIEVE WE WOULDN’T BE VOTING FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE, BUT WHAT OUR FRIENDS, OR PARENTS BELIEVE.” Lucia Wiley, student Chamber promotes membership coordinator to director By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian Within 10 months, Member- ship Coordinator Cheri Rosenberg made a big enough impression on the Pendleton Chamber of Com- merce to get a promotion to execu- tive director. In a press release, the cham- ber announced that it had selected Rosenberg from a “large pool of candidates.” “Cheri’s work with our mem- bers and on committees has demon- strated that she can take charge and work well with teams; she has vision, dedication, and a positive outlook that will take the Chamber to the next level,” the press release states. Rosenberg attended Pilot Rock the hiring of Rosenberg to take over High School and Blue Moun- membership coordinator duties. tain Community College and has Former Pendleton City Coun- “a wealth of administra- cilor Chuck Wood led the tive experience,” the press chamber as interim direc- release also lauding her for tor until the nonprofi t hired her work with the Pendleton Janet Duffy, a woman with Downtown Association. 18 years of chamber of com- The hire is the latest merce and economic devel- development for a position opment experience in Mon- that has seen ups and downs tana and Nevada in July. Rosenberg since Gail Nelson left to Duffy resigned abruptly work for Umatilla County in six months later, only telling early 2018. the chamber board of director that Following Nelson’s departure, she was “unhappy and moving to the chamber appointed Membership Bend,” according to chamber Pres- Coordinator Megan Lauer as the ident-elect Velda Arnaud. interim director. Rather than hire an interim direc- Lauer stayed on for only four tor, the chamber board has collec- months before resigning for differ- tively fi lled executive duties before ent career opportunities, leading to Rosenberg’s hiring. FRI SAT SUN 36/21 33/21 31/18 Lifeguard recruitment season begins By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian There’s still snow on the ground at the Hermiston Fam- ily Aquatic Center, but the search for lifeguards is warm- ing up. Pool manager Kasia Rob- bins said lifeguards get 40 to 45 hours of training, so recruit- ment starts in the spring to fi ll positions. “It’s not an easy training,” she said. The parks and recreation department will be holding swim tests for applicants at the Boardman Recreation Center March 15-16. The test includes a 300-yard swim, 2-minute water treading session and a timed swim to retrieve a 10-pound brick from 7-10 feet of water. Those who pass can participate in a free lifeguard certifi cation course in April and May. Katie Bradshaw, a junior who is planning to come back for a second season of life- guarding this summer, said the distance swim was the part most people struggled with during last year’s swim test. “I think in my group there were 12 to 15 girls, and I know some of them didn’t pass,” she said. See Lifeguards, Page A8
