REGION Saturday, June 22, 2019 East Oregonian A3 Oregon’s new crime lab ready for business By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian PENDLETON — The new Oregon State Police crime lab in Pendleton is open and running. Calvin Davis is the foren- sic scientist in charge of the lab at 612 Airport Road, practically next door to the local command for Ore- gon State Police and the headquarters of the Pendle- ton Police Department. He said the building is a sig- nificant upgrade from the old office space on the 700 block of Southwest Emi- grant Avenue. He stopped short of call- ing that place “makeshift,” but noted the old building was better suited for typical office work than it was the demands of a crime labora- tory. Stepping into the new chemistry section, for exam- ple, he said, feels not only more comfortable but a good deal safer. State police had options for converting other build- ings and spaces into a crime lab, but each came with big downsides. Blue Mountain Staff photo by Benjamin Lonergan The team at the new Oregon State Police crime lab in Pendleton have the place up and running since moving in May 15, 2019. Community College offered to provide space at its Pend- leton campus. Making the lab secure, however, would have been a significant issue. State police decided to pay about $4.5 million to design and build a new lab. The construction began last August and wrapped in the spring. “We moved in on May 15,” Davis said, “but it took us awhile to get up and going and set everything up.” Some of that was due to the typical nature of mov- ing across town. But Davis said a forensic laboratory takes more than plugging equipment into outlets. He said the scientific equip- ment the lab depends on had to go through calibrations Friend remembers Trenton Williams as ‘positive about everything’ By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian HERMISTON — Jared Warren of Hermiston recalled his friend Trenton Williams as a life-loving buddy ready for just about any adventure. “I tell you what,” War- ren said, “that guy was never stuck at this house. He was always looking for something to do.” Williams, 20, died last weekend while boating on the Columbia River, along with Janice Arsenault, 44, of Uma- tilla. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate their deaths. Warren said Williams hailed from Kuna, Idaho, and moved to Eastern Oregon so funny.” for work. The past few weekends, “He and I were hired out together at the railroad last Williams took to spending time on the Colum- March,” Warren bia River and hanging said. “We were good out with Arsenault. friends since then.” Warren described Williams lived in Williams and Arse- Pendleton but came nault as friends. He to Warren’s home to said it was unfortu- enjoy video games nate his friend died so and barbecues. Wil- liams recently got Williams young. into rock climbing, “Trent was a good and earlier this year bought a kid,” Warren said. “He always motorbike. Warren said Wil- had a smile on his face. He liams ”absolutely loved” the was just positive about every- machine and recounted the thing. He might have been fun they had when he rode on ornery about it, but he was always positive.” the back with his friend. An online donation “It was just so funny,” he said. “Two bigger-sized guys account at gofundme.com is riding a motorbike. They raising money to help with had to videotape it, it was the cost of Williams’ funeral. Nearly 80 donors have con- tributed $4,090. And Laundry Smith of Athena started an online dona- tion account at gofundme.com in memory of Michael New- bold of Weston. The 16-year- old student at Weston McE- wen High School died June 11 in a car crash on a back road in Umatilla County. Nearly two dozen people as of Friday contributed $1,180 toward the account’s $10,000 goal. “Nothing can replace Michael,” according to the statement on the page, “but we hope this effort will relieve some of the family’s stress and bring an element of comfort and support to them, during this heartbreaking time of deep loss.” BRIEFLY Wyden will hold town hall in Pendleton every nook and cranny of our state is essential to finding solutions that work.” PENDLETON — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden will hold town halls on June 30 in Umatilla County. The town hall is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Bob Clapp Theatre in Pioneer Hall at Blue Mountain Community College. In fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of the state’s 36 counties, Wyden has held 942 town halls statewide — including 29 so far this year. “Heading into the Fourth of July when America cel- ebrates our independence, these upcoming open-to-all town halls in Baker, Uma- tilla and Sherman counties put democracy into action locally,” Wyden said. “I look forward very much to throw- ing open the doors of gov- ernment and hearing from residents of Eastern Oregon. Listening to Oregonians in Fatal stabbing under investigation by police MILTON-FREEWATER — A 22-year-old man died after he was found with stab wounds in Milton-Freewater. According to a city of Mil- ton-Freewater press release, 911 callers Friday at 12:24 a.m. reported the stabbing victim was on the 600 block of Ward Street. Police and emergency crews responded. Paramedics transported the man, who police did not identify, to Providence St. Mary Medical Center, Walla Walla. He later died en route to Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Richland, Washington. The Milton-Freewater Police Department is inves- tigating the death. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan 6/21 - 6/23 6/24 Cineplex Show Times Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Showing Wednesday 12PM JULIUS CAESAR $5 Classic Movie Showing Wednesday 12PM JULIUS CAESAR Toy Story 4 (PG) Toy Story 4 (PG) Men in Black: International (PG13) Men in Black: International (PG13) The Secret Life of Pets 2 (PG) The Secret Life of Pets 2 (PG) Aladdin (PG) Aladdin (PG) 2D 11:40a* 2:00p* 2:30p* 4:50p 7:10p 12:10p* 9:30p 1:40p* 4:20p 7:00p 9:40p 12:00p* 2:20p* 4:30p 6:50p 9:10p 12:50p* 3:40p* 6:30p 9:20p 2D 4:50p 7:10p 9:30p 4:20p 7:00p 9:40p 4:30p 6:50p 9:10p 3:40p* 6:30p 9:20p Shaft (R) Friday 21st to Tuesday 25th 7:20p Dark Phoenix (PG13) Friday 21st to Tuesday 25th 4:40p 9:50p Space Jam (PG) Wednesday 26th • 10:00a* Shaft (R) Friday 21st to Tuesday 25th 7:20p Dark Phoenix (PG13) Friday 21st to Tuesday 25th 4:40p 9:50p Space Jam (PG) Wednesday 26th • 10:00a* * Matinee Pricing * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Primus said his office is work- ing with the police, and this case does not involve the local major crimes team. That team consists of detectives and officers from area agencies to help in big cases. The district attorney or a law enforcement agency head can call out the team. Milton-Freewater is an active member of the team. Local entities face hefty fines for polluting PENDLETON — Local companies and public bod- ies are on the hook for thou- sands of dollars for water and air pollution. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reported issuing 21 penalties statewide totaling $292,752 in May for various environ- mental violations. The larg- est penalty was against an Eastern Oregon entity. The DEQ issued a $48,683 fine against Union County for violations at the La Grande/Union County Airport, La Grande. Accord- ing to the agency, the county, which owns and operates the airport, had a permit requir- ing the control and monitor- ing of erosion. The county did not do that, and the con- struction starting in August 2018 of a rappel base for the National Forest Ser- vice resulted in significant amounts of sediment enter- ing a drainage ditch that connects to a critical hab- itat for Snake River Basic steelhead trout. and verification to ensure it worked. The lab staff also have found a few things that need a bit more work, such as a blemish here or a sticky drawer there. Contractors are making those fixes, but Davis said there have been no major repairs. Local law enforcement remain keen on having the lab nearby. Hermiston police chief Jason Edmiston said it sure beats having to deliver evi- dence to the OSP lab in Bend or even to La Grande, where state police considered mov- ing the local lab. Umatilla County’s population also has the greatest demand for an evidence team, he said, and the staff in Pendleton are top notch. Pendleton police chief Stuart Roberts said the investment should signal the end to regular talk of cutting funding for the lab or yank- ing it out of the county. He said he argued year in and out to keep the lab in town since donning chief bars 17 years ago. Like Edmiston, he praised the lab staff for the work it does, from gather- ing evidence in the field to prescreening DNA. He also said the shiny jewel of a new lab could entice young forensic scientists to relocate and stick around Pendleton. Hermiston council to consider local improvement district By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian HERMISTON — The Hermiston city council will consider an option to form a local improve- ment district for its South Hermiston Industrial Park on Monday. The council meeting will start with a work session at 6 p.m. to dis- cuss options for an LID or urban renewal dis- trict, followed by a reg- ular business meeting at 7 p.m. Local improvement districts are used by cit- ies to distribute the cost of improvements between neighboring land owners. In this case the improve- ments being considered would include new water and sewer mains between South Highway 395 and Penney Avenue along an unimproved right-of-way and into property owned by the Port of Umatilla. It would also include paving the currently undeveloped Southeast 10th Street right-of-way, turning it into essentially a new road, and paving Camp- bell Drive. A resolution up for vote Monday would launch a feasibility study for the proposed LID, which would be presented to the council on July 8. On Monday the coun- cil will also hold a pub- lic hearing and vote to change the zoning of a half-acre piece of prop- erty at 1855 Northeast North St. behind Com- munity Bank. The reso- lution would change the map designation from commercial to residen- tial, allowing a proposed duplex development. Monday’s agenda also includes two facade grants for downtown businesses, a presentation on tribal cultural affairs and staff and committee reports. JOIN US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARKINSON’S DISEASE! Aff ecting as many as 1 in 100 older adults, Parkinson’s is the second most common neurological condition Shouldn’t you know more? Tuesday, June 25th 3:00-4:30PM St. Anthony Hospital, 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton Conference Rooms 1 & 2 Presented by Dr. Delaram Safarpour & Central Oregon’s Program Coordinator, Carol Pfeil • Free event • Pre-Registration required • Details Online PRO.EVENTBRITE.COM Subscribe to 800.426.6806 Delaram Safarpour M.D, M.S.C.E. Associate Profession of Neurology, OHSU Providing education, community and support to those living with Parkinson’s disease in Oregon and SW Washington. (541) 567-6457