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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2019)
BASEBALL: DUST DEVILS OPEN SEASON WITH A MIX OF YOUTH, EXPERIENCE SARAH SANDERS LEAVING WHITE HOUSE NATION/WORLD, A8 SPORTS, B1 E O AST 143rd year, no. 172 REGONIAN Friday, June 14, 2019 $1.50 WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Your Weekend Umatilla prison super under investigation By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian • Summer, Saint-Saëns & A Symphony, Pendleton • Pendleton Men’s Chorus Pendleton High School • Inland Northwest Musi- cians Anniversary Concert, Hermiston uMaTiLLa — The super- intendent of Two rivers Correc- tional Institution is out of the office pending a human resources inves- tigation in the wake of scathing accusations. Jennifer Black, communi- cations director for the Ore- gon department of Corrections, reported that Troy Bowser is “duty stationed” at home as of Wednesday. The investigation began april 15, Black reported, due to an employee Bowser complaint. Three days before, corrections director Colette Peters received an email from robert Hillmick, president of the non-security unionized employees at the prison in umatilla, accus- ing Bowser of disparaging vet- eran employees, making a sexist comment to a woman employee and ignoring the sexual assault of another employee. Hillmick sent the message to fellow members of the american Federation of State, County and Municipal employees, as well as to other corrections staff and to eight state lawmakers, including rep. Greg Smith, r-Heppner, and Sen. Bill Hansell, r-athena. “Mr. Bowser stated in a meet- ing in front of approximately 15-20 employees that our Military Veter- ans are the cause of the problems here at TrCi,” Hillmick wrote, “and they are also the reason we have so many problems here at TrCi.” Hillmick did not get into what “the problems” are, but he defended military vets, calling them “an See Prison, Page A10 FOR TIMES AND LOCATIONS CHECK COMING EVENTS, A6 Weekend Weather FRI SAT SUN 83/51 85/55 90/58 Whisky Fest adds 50 Cent to its lineup East Oregonian PendLeTOn — Pendle- ton Whisky Music Fest dou- bled down on hip-hop acts this year, announcing that 50 Cent would join Post Malone at the round-up grounds as a performer at the July music festival. Whisky Fest organizer andy McAnally confirmed Thursday that the new york rapper was joining the concert lineup. Born Curtis Jackson, 50 Cent rose to fame in 2003, when his debut album “Get rich or die Tryin’” produced hits like “in da Club” and “Candy Shop.” 50 Cent would go on to release four more albums and has received several music awards. Jackson has also done some acting, starring in a fiction- alized biographical film, also called “Get rich or die Tryin’” and “Power,” a television show that’s set to end its five-year run later this year. 50 Cent’s booking contin- ues Whisky Fest’s focus on attracting big name acts. Pre- vious years have included Staff photo by E.J. Harris Keynote speakers Amanda Tobin, left, Jose Romero and Monica Silva shared their life stories with their fellow graduates on Thurs- day during the BMCC commencement ceremony in Pendleton. By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian O n one of the most joyous days of their young lives, three Blue Mountain Community College graduates went up to the podium at the Pendleton Conven- tion Center and shared some of their most private and painful memories. But the pain had a purpose at the BMCC graduation ceremony Tues- day, as each student speaker wanted to demonstrate how far they had come and hopefully inspire some of the hundreds of people who filled the bleachers. For Jose romero, his message was told through the story of how he came to this country. in an interview before the cere- mony, romero couldn’t quite remem- ber the name of the affliction that filled his airways with phlegm and mucus when he was really young. See Graduation, Page A10 See Whisky Fest, Page A10 Lamb Weston cuts ribbon on expanded facility new project adds 150 jobs to Hermiston area By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian HerMiSTOn — More french fries than ever will come out of Hermiston after Lamb Weston cut the ribbon on a $250 million expan- sion of its processing plant. The 300,000-square-foot expan- sion increases the facility’s capac- ity and adds 150 full-time jobs to what was already Hermiston’s larg- est employer. Chief Executive Officer Tom Werner told the audience at Thurs- day’s celebration that the facil- ity was a very important part of Lamb Weston’s operations around the world, and represented one of many investments the company is making toward its future. “it’s an exciting time to be with Lamb Weston,” he said. according to a news release, the company is the “leading global supplier of frozen French fries and other potato products to restau- rant customers around the world.” it employs more than 7,000 people at 25 manufacturing facilities in north america, China and europe. at the Hermiston plant, 570 employees make approximately 750 million pounds of potato prod- ucts per year. Other Hermiston residents commute to the compa- ny’s Boardman or Tri-Cities sites. rick Martin, chief supply chain officer for Lamb Weston, told the East Oregonian that the company looked at a mix of factors, includ- ing the availability of raw product and the labor market, when choos- ing Hermiston for its expansion. Potato growers in the area, who partner with Lamb Weston, played See Expansion, Page A10 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.
