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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 2019)
PROPOSED SURGERY TO STERILIZE WILD HORSES RAISES HACKLES HERMISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES FIRST DOCTOR TO CLINIC NORTHWEST, A2 REGION, A3 E O AST 143rd year, No. 201 REGONIAN Friday, July 26, 2019 $1.50 WINNER OF THE 2019 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Your Weekend HERMISTON Tribes win auction for Hamley’s Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation post winning bid of $3.55M • Irrigon Watermelon Festi- val, Irrigon Marina Park • City-Wide Yard Sales, Pilot Rock • Veterans Town Hall and Benefit Expo, Pendleton Convention Center By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian FOR TIMES AND LOCATIONS CHECK COMING EVENTS, A5 “near and dear” to the commu- nity’s heart the project is. Com- mittee member Ric Sherman, who is a member of the Rotary Club, said the project would be the club’s top priority for the PENDLETON — The Con- federated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is the new owner of Hamley’s. The tribes was one of several interests bidding Thursday at a Portland law firm in an auction for the Hamley’s steakhouse, coffee shop and western store, the result of the split between former Hamley’s owners and business partners Blair Wood- field and Parley Pearce. Pearce, the day before the auction, said some bidders with piles of money were coming and if the tribes wanted to win, “they better put their big boy pants on and bring their wallet.” The tribes did. Woodfield said the tribes won with a bid of $3.55 million. He said he was pleased with the outcome and had every con- fidence the tribes would do a great job with the iconic Pend- leton establishments. Gary Burke, chairman of the CTUIR Board of Trustees, in a written statement said it was a fitting acquisition. “The tribes have a long and storied history with the Ham- ley family and businesses that have spanned over five gener- ations,” Burke said. “We are pleased to keep this business in local hands.” Wildhorse Resort & Casino, which the tribes own, will han- dle day-to-day operations of the Hamley’s business. “We look forward to con- tinuing operations and bringing our extensive business skills to bear,” said Gary George, Wild- horse chief executive officer. “Hamley is a western icon and will continue to provide a ser- vice to the community for years to come.” The Hamley’s family founded the business in 1905. Tribal members of the CTUIR See Playground, Page A7 See Hamley’s, Page A7 Weekend Weather FRI SAT SUN 97/64 88/55 89/57 Treasurer for nonprofit arrested for aggravated theft Police charge Robin Pickard with theft of more than $63,000 By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian PENdlETON — The for- mer treasurer of an athena nonprofit is is behind bars for first-degree aggravated theft. The uma- tilla County She r i f f ’s Office in a news release reported dep- uties Thurs- day shortly Pickard after 11 a.m. arrested Robin Lynn Pickard, 39, of Athena, and booked her into the county jail in Pendle- ton. Picard handled the money for Sunset Housing, a nonprofit organization that owns, oper- ates and maintains housing for See Theft, Page A7 Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Dylan Duke (left) and Kayla Sandlyn search for a wooden fence board carved with the name of Dylan’s father, Scott Duke, who passed away several years ago. By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian HERMISTON — The ball is rolling to rebuild Funland playground. The beloved, castle-like wooden structure in the shadow of the Hermiston Butte burned down in May in a suspected case of arson. This will be the third time the community builds a playground there — the orig- inal structure built in 1996 was burned down in 2001 and replaced in 2002. The committee leading the charge this time around held its first meeting Wednesday to dis- cuss design, budget, and fund- raising. They plan to open a new playground at the beginning of summer 2020. “How often do you get to do this?” parks and recreation director Larry Fetter said. “Too often, actually,” city councilor Jackie Myers quipped. Fetter told the committee, made up of seven community members, two city councilors and the mayor, that the insur- ance company has notified the Staff photo by Ben Lonergan The charred remains of the main Funland play structure are seen through a warped railing at the park. The structures at Funland burned this last spring in an apparent arson. city it will pay out $750,000 for the damages. He proposed a goal of raising $300,000 more by January. That may seem like a lot, but Mayor David Drotzmann pointed out Hermiston residents’ history of generosity and how Investor says Methodist church won’t be razed Sale of historic property brought speculation By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian PENdlETON — The investor who bought Pend- leton’s historic First United Methodist Church doesn’t plan to raze the building. “That will not happen,” said Craig Clemens, man- aging member of Calibrated Valuation LLC, which pur- chased the 113-year-old stone church in early June. The congregation put the church on the market a cou- ple of years ago for $410,000 after realizing it couldn’t afford repairs, mainte- nance and monthly utili- ties. Inside the sanctuary’s south wall lurks extensive water damage that requires something in the neighbor- hood of $100,000 to repair. Challenges included asbes- tos, cracking and peel- ing, crumbling mortar and deferred maintenance. The sanctuary features two huge stained glass win- dows and a vintage organ. Outside is a distinctive bell tower and a cornerstone laid in 1906. The church, on land purchased for $4,000, survived several fires. This spring, the con- gregation said a slow, sad goodbye to their house of worship, culminating with a final worship service on May 26 and then had what Pastor Jim Pierce called “the mother of all yard sales.” Clemens, by phone, said the church’s stately exterior first drew his attention as a buyer. “I was attracted to the architecture, the tower, the stone,” he said. “I really liked the building and it seemed like a good value.” The final purchase price was $350,000. Clemens’s vision for the church is still evolv- ing. In the days following the sale, locals speculated about what the company would do with the vin- See Church, Page A7 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.