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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2019)
REGION Friday, June 14, 2019 East Oregonian Fun in the sun LOCAL BRIFING Local charity seeks volunteers for day of building beds Staff photo by E.J. Harris A group of tubers attempts to beat the heat while floating the Umatilla River on Thursday in Pendleton. High temperatures reached into the 90s on Thursday but will drop back down in the 80s for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. ODOT explains long work zones on I-84’s Cabbage Hill East Oregonian PENDLETON — Oregon’s $15 million Snow Zone Safety Improvement Project progresses along Interstate 84 between Pend- leton and La Grande. The Ore- gon Department of Transportation reported contractors are work- ing to cut through the westbound freeway shoulder to install electri- cal conduit from the power source near milepost 217 to the top of Cabbage Hill and beyond. This is “one of the most chal- lenging aspects of the project,” according to ODOT, and because the work zone is along the steep, curvy 6-percent grade, travel is down to one westbound lane at the top of the hill near mile point 223.5, almost four miles ahead of the work area. ODOT project manager Petr Lovasik explained safety is the reason for the long work zone. “It is extremely dangerous to merge traffic along a downhill grade like Cabbage Hill with its sharp curves and steep drop-offs,” he explained. “We can’t have cars and commercial trucks pass- ing each other down the hill, then expect them to merge safely into one lane. The laws of physics and human nature suggest that could lead to disaster.” Drivers may have frustration with the work zone configuration, but ODOT urged patience and caution. “Merging and slowing traffic near the top of the hill, and get- ting everyone to maintain those reduced speeds through the work zone is the best way to keep you and work crews safe,” according to ODOT. As the trenching moves up the hill, the work zone will become shorter. Crews should finish plac- ing the conduit and patching the shoulders in late August though mid-September. Other work — light installation, overhead sign foundations — and westbound lane restriction will continue through October between mile points 220 and 223 on Cabbage Hill, and additional sites between there and La Grande. The work then resumes next spring until completion by the end of 2020. “The final project will provide you with real time information MORE INFORMATION For more details check out the project web site at www.ore- gon.gov/ODOT/Regions/Pages/ Region-5.aspx about road and weather conditions, and a safer commute, especially during the wintertime,” according to Lovasik. “New digital freeway message boards, weather sensors, cameras, lighting, cable barriers and other enhancements installed at various locations between Cab- bage Hill and La Grande are all part of the project. Getting power to these new features is the first step and that’s what we’re working on now.” Mourners gather in wake of student’s death By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian ATHENA — Weston-McEwen High School students and staff gathered Wednes- day to grieve and remem- ber 16-year-old Michael Newbold. Newbold died early Tuesday in a car crash on back road in eastern Uma- tilla County. The two other Weston Hi teens in the crash remain in the hospital. Athena-Weston schools Superintendent Laure Quaresma recalled New- bold as a sweet youth. “Just a fun-loving kid,” she said. “The kid with the goofy smile.” Athena-Weston schools are closed for the summer, but the district Wednes- day morning opened the high school library in Ath- ena for students and staff to meet with crisis counselors. A “nice-sized group” of students came, Quaresma said, and she spent most of Wednesday with them. They made beaded neck- laces and candles as mementos, she said, and they talked and shared. A few students who were away for the summer came back to the school Wednesday. “That was a real trib- ute to Michael,” Quaresma said. Three teens were in the 1997 Ford Thunderbird that crashed early Tuesday into a tree over an embankment off Wildhorse Road near Indian Grade Road in Uma- tilla County. Newbold was the only fatality. The sheriff’s office reported Logan Foster, 18, of Weston, was the driver, and a 15-year-old girl also was in the car. Both sur- vived and are in the hospi- tal. Foster graduated from Weston-McEwen High School this year, and the girl also is a student. The youths who met Wednesday crafted gifts for the pair and visited them in the hospital, Quaresma said, and showed some real maturity in coming up with ways to help support the Newbold family with meal trains and more. Quaresma added the school may hold another session Thursday in Weston, and there was dis- cussion of an event for the community. Weston-McE- wen High is small, and the students know each other well, she said, and they have a sense of family, and that matters a lot at this time. “They’re going to need each other,” she said. ELGIN — The Blue Mountain Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace seeks volunteers to help build at least 20 bunk beds Saturday in Elgin. The local group is joining a chap- ters across 35 states for Bunks Across America, a day for communities to get together to build beds for children who don’t have beds to sleep in. Luke Mickelson, SHP founder, said in a written statement children who receive a bed gain confidence and feel less worry and stress. The Blue Mountain Chapter will hold its build Saturday, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. during the Riverfest Car Show in Elgin in the parking lot of Stella Mayfield Elementary School. The group needs volunteers for the event and asked locals to help spread the word. To sign up to volunteer ahead of time, contact the volunteer manager, Jamie Minarich at 541-519-4535, but volunteers also can show up through- out the event. The Blue Mountain Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace also stated it will accept donations of any new twin size bedding at the event. The Blue Mountain Chapter of SHP provides beds to children in Baker, Union, and Wallowa Coun- ties along with Pendleton, other Umatilla County communities, and in Walla Walla and College Place, Washington. State park closed due to landslides near Owyhee Dam VALE — Multiple landslides caused by heavy rains Wednesday evening have covered the sole access road to Lake Owyhee State Park in Malheur County, prompting the park’s closure until further notice. The park’s access road, Owyhee Lake Road, will be closed to visitors while Malheur County road crews work to clear slide debris and assess road conditions. The slides are cov- ering the road in multiple locations, starting about half a mile north of the dam and continuing south toward the park. Park staff have been in con- tact with the approximately 80 day- use and overnight visitors in the park. Park staff are asking visitors to remain in the park until county officials send word that the road is cleared and safe for visitors to use. There have been no reported injuries or medical concerns among park visitors. There is no damage to park facilities or structures from the landslides and access to pota- ble water, electricity and restrooms is unaffected. Come Check Out What’s New! HAMLEY DOUBLE-STACK BURGERS – 6 TO CHOOSE FROM! PAN FRIED SOLE ALMONDINE COWBOY STEAK BITES COWGIRL COBB SALAD … TO NAME A FEW! Saloon open at 4 pm • Dinner at 5 pm H Court AMLEY S TEAK H OUSE & S aloon & Main, Pendleton • 541.278.1100 St. Anthony Provider Spotligh t Michael J. Brunsman, M.D. is now accepting new patients. Obstetrics and Gynecology Education: Wright State University School of Medicine Board Certifi cation: Board Certifi ed American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology 6/14 - 6/16 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Insurance Accepted: Most major insurances, Medicare, Medicaid Showing Wednesday 12PM E.T. Special Services: Obstetrics and Gynecology Men in Black: International (PG13) 2D 1:40p* 4:20p 7:00p 9:40p Shaft (R) 2:20p* 4:50p 7:20p 9:50p The Secret Life of Pets 2 (PG) 2D 2:50p* 5:00p 7:10p 12:40p* 9:10p Dark Phoenix (PG13) 1:30p* 4:10p 6:50p 9:20p Aladdin (PG) 1:00p* 3:50p* 6:40p 9:30p Toy Story 4 (PG) Thursday, June 20th • 7:00p Michael J. Brunsman, M.D. 3001 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, OR 97801 Call for your appointment today 541.966.0535 * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 A3 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.SAHPENDLETON.ORG
