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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2019)
REGION Tuesday, June 11, 2019 East Oregonian EOU graduates prepare for commencement in La Grande School holding two ceremonies for graduates on Saturday East Oregonian LA GRANDE — Eastern Oregon University graduates will celebrate their achieve- ments during commencement ceremonies in La Grande on Saturday. Graduates from the College of Business, the College of Sci- ence, Technology, Mathemat- ics and Health Sciences, those graduating with a Master of Business Administration, and those from EOU’s partner program with Oregon State University will walk across the stage starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Later that after- noon, at 2 p.m., the gym will fill with graduates from the College of Education, the Col- lege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, those com- pleting a nursing degree from Oregon Health and Science University, and those receiv- ing a Master of Science in Education or Master of Arts in Teaching. Distinguished EOU alum- nus and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Skye Fitzgerald will deliver the keynote speech at both ceremonies, addressing about 200 graduates at each. After graduating with a degree in theatre and a minor in cre- ative writing in 1993, Fitzger- ald earned an MFA and started Spin Film in Portland. His company has since produced a handful of hard-hitting docu- mentaries that have taken him from Rwanda, to Cambodia, to Germany and Syria explor- ing complex global issues for nearly 20 years. But his pas- sion for storytelling began at EOU, where theatre and English professors equipped him with writing and public speaking skills he plans to use in his role as commencement speaker. He said he’s honored to have the opportunity to inspire fellow Mountaineers and alumni-to-be. During the 2018-19 aca- demic year, EOU will have awarded about 740 bache- lor’s and master’s degrees through online and on campus programs. Additional student achieve- ments will be highlighted at several special events leading up to commencement. The nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau will induct new members at 4 p.m., Thursday in Loso Hall Foyer, and Phi Kappa Phi holds its induction ceremony the following morn- ing at 9 a.m. in Hoke Union Building, room 339. OHSU holds its 35th Annual Convocation and Awards Ceremony at 10 a.m., Friday in McKenzie Theatre, where nursing students are presented with awards and nursing pins. A reception, hosted by the OHSU School of Nursing faculty and staff, will follow. The EOU Student Awards Assembly recognizes stu- dents across campus for aca- demic achievement, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Friday in McK- enzie Theatre, with a recep- tion to follow. The Multicul- tural/International Graduation Celebration takes place from 6-8 p.m. that evening in the Hoke Union Building’s second floor Lounge. Online and onsite stu- dents who’ve completed their degrees at one of EOU’s 11 regional centers or online will celebrate their achievements from 5-7 p.m., Friday on the third floor of Hoke Union Building in room 339. All 438 commencement participants will convene Sat- urday for their respective ceremonies in Quinn Coli- seum. Tickets are required for the main seating area in the gym, but overflow areas do not require tickets. Free parking is available all day in campus lots, excluding reserved spaces. Hermiston adopts new budget By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian HERMISTON — The Hermiston City Council adopted a budget on Monday night that was roughly $1 mil- lion smaller than the current fiscal year, thanks to several large construction projects that are now off the books. Revenue increases from the city’s growth were bal- anced by a 25% increase in costs associated with the Pub- lic Employees Retirement System. Mayor David Drotzmann said the state needs to get PERS spending under con- trol soon, before the day comes when the city is forced to make cuts to services such as parks or police. He said the city was lucky to have increases in property tax rev- enue to assist in covering the rising costs. “A lot of other rural cities aren’t that fortunate,” he said. Beyond increased prop- erty taxes, the city has turned toward other ways to fund projects. The adopted 2019- 20 budget included several major water and sewer proj- ects, in part funded by a March increase in water and sewer rates. While residents have been encouraging each other on social media to ask the city council to rethink its util- ity rate increases on Mon- day, only one person actu- ally showed up to voice a complaint. She said she had been “shocked” to see her bill almost double and was con- cerned about the increase’s impact on residents. During time for coun- cil comment at the end of the meeting, councilor Rod Hardin said he was sympa- thetic to the problem, as his own increase in his water bill has caused him to rethink his water usage habits. “It’s a challenge, but see- ing what we have on the bud- get as far as water projects and sewer projects, it needs to be done,” he said. “I understand it, but it does hurt.” Before Monday’s regular meeting, city councilors spent an hourlong work session dis- cussing the strategic plan for the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. They agreed that get- ting water rights to the new fairgrounds should be the top priority, as it would feed into other goals such as landscaping. Previously one of the council’s top goals had been creating an RV park at the site that could rent out spaces year-round and bring in reve- nue to make EOTEC self-sus- taining. But after a disagree- ment about where the park should be located derailed plans to complete the park this summer, they sent it to their EOTEC advisory committee. The committee is recom- mending that the city do some minor upgrades — limited electricity and a dump station — to the grassy area currently serving as an RV park during the Umatilla County Fair, and put plans to build a full RV park next to the rodeo arena on hold indefinitely. Councilor John Kir- wan supported moving the RV park down on the strate- gic plan’s goals list and mov- ing a proposed multi-sport, sports field area up the list. He pointed out that no organiza- tions had expressed interest in helping fund an RV park, but several entities had already said they would be willing to make a significant investment in fields that could bring major tournaments for sports, such as lacrosse, to Hermiston. He and Drotzmann both pointed out the benefits to the economy of bringing in more sports tournaments, and of giving more of the commu- nity a reason to feel owner- ship over EOTEC. Other councilors voiced their own opinions about what should work its way up the priority list — Doug Prim- mer said the city needed to beef up its security at EOTEC to protect what was already invested, while Jackie Myers said the hard-to-find location needed more signs pointing people in the right direction. Councilors also agreed that a marketing plan, new fair offices, landscaping and more meeting space should be high priorities in the strategic plan. A3 Pendleton School Board approves staff raises By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian PENDLETON — The Pendleton School Board adopted a new, $49.9 mil- lion budget Monday and then agreed to give many of their staff members raises over the next three years. Some of the most signif- icant raises came through a new collective bargaining agreement with the Pendle- ton teachers’ union. The Pendleton Associ- ation of Teachers pay scale will receive a 3.5% raise in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and a 2% raise in 2021-22. The longevity stipend — an annual payment that acti- vates in a teacher’s 10th year with the district and increases every five years until year 30 — and a longevity bonus — a one-time bonus that teach- ers get for reaching the 14th, 15th, or 16th step of the pay scale — follow the same pat- tern through the three-year contract. Teachers will also see the district’s insurance pre- mium contribution rise from $1,650 per month to $1,749 per month in 2020-21. The new collective bar- gaining agreement continues to solidify Pendleton’s educa- tors as some of the best com- pensated in the region. An analysis done by The Oregonian in 2015 showed that Pendleton had the high- est average salary of any dis- trict in Eastern Oregon, and even surpassed school dis- tricts in Salem, Bend, and Eugene, although school sys- tems across the state have approved at least one new collective bargaining agree- ment since then. Beyond compensation, teachers also won some benefits. The district agreed to cre- ate and convene a commit- tee that will look at ways to increase elementary teachers’ prep time from 150 minutes per week, with the goal of developing viable options for implementation by the end of the contract in June 2022. Teachers will also see their yearly tuition reim- bursement cap upped from $30,000 per year to $40,000 annually. Teachers weren’t the only type of district employee to receive a raise on Monday. Administrative staff — a group that includes princi- pals, assistant principals, and some central office adminis- trators — got the same raise as teachers. Confidential employees — non-administrative staff who work in the central office — also got the same raise as the teachers’ union. The director of business services and the facilities manager will make $122,164 and $82,751, respectively, in 2019-20. Each position will receive between a 2% and 5% raise in 2020-21 and 2021-22, depending on the consumer price index. After meeting behind closed doors to discuss his evaluation, the Pendle- ton School Board agreed to raise Superintendent Chris Fritsch’s salary from $138,346 to $141,113. Before approving a suc- cession of new contracts for staff members, the board approved the $49.9 million budget that will help pay for them. Although district officials have referred to the 2019-20 budget as “status quo,” it will make room for two new dean of students positions. The “teachers on special assignment” positions will help out with some adminis- trative duties at Washington and Sherwood Heights ele- mentary schools. Jon Watson, PA-C Physician Assistant Since 2019 LOCAL BRIEFING Local woman gets 21 months in federal prison for scissor attack PORTLAND — Chris- tina Sue Barkley of Pilot Rock is heading to federal prison for stabbing someone multiple times during a scis- sor attack. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Oregon reported Barkley, 30, an enrolled member of the Confeder- ated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, had a psychotic episode on March 31, 2018, entered a room where another adult mem- ber of the tribes was mak- ing necklaces and stabbed the victim with a pair of scissors. The victim tried to get away but fell. Barkley jumped on top of the vic- tim and continued stabbing her until the victim’s spouse entered the room and pulled Barkley off. The victim suffered serious injuries, the news release stated, and an ambulance took her to St. Anthony Hospital, Pendle- Come Check Out Our New ton, which transferred her via an emergency aircraft to Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, for additional treatment. Barkley on Feb. 20 pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman on Monday sentenced Bark- ley to 21 months in federal prison plus three years post- prison supervision, during which she must continue mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment and participate in anger management and family counseling. Police release name of man who died in plane crash SUMMERVILLE — The Union County Sher- iff’s Office has released the name of the man who died in a plane crash last week. Casey William Kuiper, 29, of Summerville, was fly- ing a Tican II airplane that crashed the evening of June 4 in Summerville. Daily Specials! SUNDAY: PRIME RIB SUNDAY MONDAY: BABY BACK RIB NIGHT TUESDAY: SALMON TACOS WEDNESDAY: WEDNESDAY BURGERS THURSDAY: THIRSTY THURSDAY The investigation into the crash is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board. The UCSO, along with Union County District Attorney’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration are also investigating. NTSB spokesman Terry Williams told The Observer last week that the airplane was an “experimental aircraft.” UCSO, Imbler Fire Department, the Deputy Medical Examiner and Ore- gon State Police were the initial responders to the crash. An FAA investiga- tor arrived within an hour or two later. Kuiper died at the scene, according to authorities. 6/11 “It’s not just what I do, it’s who I choose to be.” Passionate, Energetic, Attentive, Focused A Healthier Morrow County is Within Me. When I began my rural medicine rotations while in school, I knew instantly that I had to practice in a rural community. I look forward to building relationships here in Morrow County and doing all that I can to help meet the healthcare needs of the community. Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Showing Wednesday at 12PM WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF Dark Phoenix (PG13) 2D 4:00p 7:10p 9:50p The Secret Life of Pets 2 (PG) 2D 4:40p 6:50p 9:10p Read About How We are Working Together to be a Healthier Community Today and HealthyMC.org Godzilla: King of the Monsters (PG13) 3:40p* 6:30p 9:20p Rocketman (R) 4:20p 7:00p 9:40p Aladdin (PG) 3:50p* 6:40p 9:30p Men in Black: International (PG13) Thursday, June 13th • 7:00p H amley S teakhouse, S aloon wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 8 S E C O U RT, P E N D L E T O N • 5 4 1 . 2 7 8 . 1 1 0 0 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 * Matinee Pricing ƶ¬˟˟ ¬· ˟ijijij Boardman | Heppner | Ione | Irrigon | Lexington 541-676-9133
