IMC TRACK: Maher sweeps hurdle events | SPORTS PAGE A8
E O
AST
143rd Year, No. 154
REGONIA
REGONIAN
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019
$1.50
WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
HERMISTON
Utilities
work to
minimize
fi re risk
Hermiston
volunteers
show love
for their city
After devastating
California blaze,
local power providers
are on alert
Annual event draws
residents to clean up
trash, pull weeds,
paint over graffi ti
By KATY NESBITT
For the East Oregonian
By JADE MCDOWELL
East Oregonian
Wildfi res caused by elec-
trical transmission lines are
becoming an increasing con-
cern in the western United
States, and the fallout from
last year’s Camp Fire in
Northern California has local
utilities that serve power to
Umatilla and Morrow coun-
ties on alert.
The Camp Fire, which
killed 85 people, burned
150,000 acres and destroyed
nearly 15,000 homes in Butte
County, California, was
sparked by Pacifi c Gas and
Electric power lines, accord-
ing to a report from California
fi re investigators. The fi re had
two ignition sites, according
to investigators, as the second
fi re in a different part of the
county was consumed by the
initial blaze that started near
Pulga, California.
In a prepared statement,
Drew Hanson, senior commu-
nications representative for
Pacifi c Power, said safety is
his company’s top priority.
“Wildfi res are a serious
issue in all the states served
by Pacifi c Power and its sis-
ter utility, Rocky Mountain
Power,” Hanson wrote. “Our
priority is the same in all
states — to protect our cus-
tomers and provide safe, reli-
able power.”
Each state Pacifi c Power
serves has a comprehensive
wildfi re safety and mitigation
plan, including Oregon, Han-
son wrote.
“During past wildfi re sea-
sons, when a fi re occurs, it
has, at times, became neces-
sary to temporarily shut off
power to a section of line so
fi refi ghters could do their
work,” Hanson wrote.
Hanson wrote Pacifi c
Power technicians train for
wildfi re season just like they
do for winter storm season
and work with the agencies
Volunteers were out in full
force on Saturday to show
Hermiston a little love.
The annual I Love My City
cleanup event spread commu-
nity members out across the
city to pick up trash, weed
fl ower beds and paint over
graffi ti.
Across from the Hermiston
Community Center, a group
of families in red “I Love My
City” T-shirts were planting
fl owers and trimming bushes
Saturday morning.
Al Llanos was hand-
ing fl owers out of the bed of
pickup truck to his daughters,
who passed them assembly
line-style to his wife Ana.
“We’re out here to support
our community,” he said.
The family moved to
Hermiston
from
Idaho
recently and decided to sign
up when their church asked
for volunteers.
“It’s a really nice way to
teach our kids how to import-
ant it is to help,” he said.
Other groups spread out
through downtown and along
the railroad tracks, beautify-
ing as they went, or washed
cars for free.
The I Love My City move-
ment began in 2016. Hermis-
ton had been rocked by a mur-
der-suicide and several other
tragedies, and members of
Hermiston Assembly of God
church wanted to do some-
thing to help raise the com-
munity’s spirits. Their fi rst
day of service included creat-
ing a free car wash, handing
out snacks at parks and going
door to door with offers of
service and prayers.
Since then the campaign
has grown, encompassing
several area churches and
bringing out hundreds of vol-
unteers each spring for their
largest event of the year.
This year’s I Love My City
cleanup was perfect timing
for Riverfront Park, which
was damaged by fl oodwa-
ters after the Umatilla River
overfl owed its banks in April.
Much of the heavy lifting
has already been completed,
but Saturday morning doz-
ens of volunteers were at the
park pulling weeds, sweeping
dried mud off the trail and
refi lling the playground area
with bark chips after the river
washed all of them away.
Judy Vogt stood under the
swing set with a rake, spread-
ing bark chips as they were
See Wildfi re, Page A6
Staff photo by E.J. Harris, File
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, fi nishes with a 20.9-second time in steer wrestling on Saturday, Sept. 15,
2018, at the Pendleton Round-Up.
Trevor Brazile, winner of six all-around cowboy
titles in Pendleton, leads hall of fame class
By KATHY ANEY
East Oregonian
revor Brazile’s induction into the Pend-
leton Round-Up and Happy Canyon
Hall of Fame should surprise no one.
The Texas cowboy, the winningest
cowboy of all time, took home his share of honors at
the Pendleton Round-Up. Last year, he won a record
Corey
sixth all-around cowboy crown in Pendleton. He is a
23-time world champion.
The guy is mortal, but barely.
In 2018, he busted the 100-year-old record for number of all-around
cowboy wins at Pendleton, held by bronc rider Yakima Canutt. If not for
his attempt to avoid disaster, Brazile might also have won the steer rop-
ing event last year, though we’ll never know for sure. He pulled up before
crashing into a cluster of photographers at the edge of the grass after his
steer veered their way and looped around them. Generally, roping steers
tend to avoid clumps of people, but Brazile’s steer had a mind of its own.
The act of selfl essness by Brazile caught the attention of spectator Mike
Thorne.
T
See King of Cowboys, Page A6
Staff photo by E.J. Harris, File
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas,
poses with the All-Around trophy
after winning the title at the Pend-
leton Round-Up in 2018.
See Hermiston, Page A6
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.
questions.
• Healthcare providers who play an active role in
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.