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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2019)
REGION Tuesday, August 13, 2019 East Oregonian A3 District 57 representative worries about saving for a rainy day By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian HERMISTON — The Oregon Legislature passed a balanced budget and funded new programs and proj- ects this year. But Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, is hoping that the next budget cycle will see a better balance of spend- ing and saving. Smith, who met with the East Oregonian’s editorial board on Aug. 8, said the state needs to prepare for the next economic downturn, when- ever that may be. “We balanced the bud- get and we were able to fund many good projects, but I will share with you that comes at a cost,” he said. As the most senior mem- ber of Oregon’s House of Rep- resentatives, and as someone with years of experience on the Legislature’s revenue and spending committees, Smith knows that Oregon’s reve- nue won’t stay “sky high” for- ever. And when the economy starts its next downward fluc- tuation, reduced revenue will mean cuts unless the state sets aside more money now. The Oregon Health Authority is of particular concern, Smith said. Nobody wants to see people lose their health insurance, but if there’s a drop in revenue and the state wants to continue funding everyone on the Ore- gon Health Plan, “that has to come out of education and public safety.” One solution for setting money aside would be chang- ing Oregon’s kicker law. Cur- rently, if tax revenues come in more than 2% higher than the state economist forecast for that biennium, the excess revenue is returned to Ore- gon taxpayers in the form of a rebate check based on income. It takes a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Leg- islature to divert any kicker Staff photo by Kathy Aney Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, speaks Friday during a legisla- tive panel at the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit at Herm- iston High School. money elsewhere. Smith called the kicker “bad tax policy,” but said he couldn’t see Oregonians vot- ing to do away with it alto- gether anytime soon. “There no doubt in my mind we need to set aside excess revenue, but people don’t trust the Legislature,” Smiths said. “They think we’ll use it to backfill PERS.” That’s exactly what Gov. Kate Brown proposed in May. Under her proposal, the next kicker would be capped at $1,000 per person and the extra $500 million would be put toward helping K-12 schools with pension costs, with a small amount also going toward rural broadband and housing. House Speaker Tina Kotek also introduced a bill this summer to use half of the kicker for seismic upgrades to Portland-area interstate bridges and pollution-fighting initiatives. Neither proposal went anywhere. Despite worries the state isn’t saving enough for a rainy day, overall Smith was pleased with many outcomes of the 2019 session. His first focus is always taking care of the five counties in District 57, he said, and the district came away with several policy and fund- ing wins. While a wide variety of pri- orities in Umatilla and Mor- row counties did get funded, including a mental health-fo- cused upgrade for the Uma- tilla County Jail and funding for more early childhood edu- cation classrooms in the area, Smith said one of the things that remains to be funded is BRIEFLY Hermiston schools get ‘Buddy Benches’ USFS seeks volunteer campground host Class of 1999 help raise funds to finish project By JESSICA POLLARD East Oregonian HERMISTON — When the recess bells ring later this month, elementary school students will have a place to go if they find themselves without a playmate thanks to recent the installation of 10 benches across Hermiston School District’s elementary school playgrounds. These aren’t just ordi- nary benches. They’re Buddy Benches — or “friendship benches” — which are meant to be a safe space for students to sit when they’re lonely or having a bad day. Other stu- dents can visit the bench and invite kids to chat and play. “The Buddy Benches create a beautiful opportu- nity for students to be kind, to see someone who doesn’t have a friend to play with, who may be having a bad day,” said Melissa Purswell, who teaches sixth grade at Armand Larive Middle School. Purswell, who also heads Armand Larive’s Kindness Club, secured grant funding from the Hermiston Educa- tion Foundation for Buddy Benches last year. After meeting with prin- Staff photo by Jessica Pollard Alumni from the Hermiston High School Class of 1999 as- semble a Buddy Bench at Rocky Heights Elementary School. cipals at the elementary schools, Purswell said it was decided that each of the five schools should have two benches — one for their smaller and one for their main playground. Purswell found herself five benches short of this goal. That’s when members of the Hermiston High School class of 1999, who celebrated their 20-year reunion last weekend, stepped in. Cody Hawes, a 1999 alumnus who now lives in Utah, caught wind of Pur- swell’s plan to get Buddy Benches to Hermiston’s schools. “We have Buddy Benches in Utah, and they’re really helpful for limiting bully- ing,” Hawes said. He, in partnership with other class of 1999 alumni, started a GoFundMe cam- paign, which raised more than $1,200 in three days. Most of the donations, Hawes said, came from the group of former Hermiston High School graduates. A crew of seven alumni, along with Purswell and her son, installed the benches Saturday. Purswell said Armand Larive’s Kind- ness Club will be making an informational video for stu- dents about how to use them. “It’s our job as adults to not only create opportuni- ties for our students to prac- tice kindness in action but to model it. I can’t wait for the students to use these benches,” she said. Pendleton woman faces attempted murder East Oregonian WALLA WALLA — Milton-Freewater bur- glary suspect Amanda Maria Warren remains in jail in Walla Walla on charges ranging from theft to attempted murder after police in Burbank, Wash- ington, shot her. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office identified Warren, 38, of Pendleton, as the suspect who ripped off an elderly man on July 26 at his home on Birch Creek Road northeast of Milton-Freewater. Accord- ing to the sheriff’s office, Warren offered to clean the man’s residence, but she left with his wallet and two handguns. Warren on Aug. 3 was involved in a police chase that ended with gunfire. According to the Wash- ington State Patrol and other agencies, Warren and another woman, Chey- anne Weems were suspects of a burglary at a home in Waitsburg, Washington, and took off from the scene in a Toyota Prius. Walla Walla County sheriff’s dep- uties spotted the car and gave chase on Highway 12. Speeds reached 100 mph, and law enforcement backed off due to the dan- ger. Weems bailed out near Dixie, Washington, where police arrested her. Warren kept on until police stopped her at Bur- bank. According to author- ities, she waved a gun, and a Franklin County deputy and two Washington State Patrol troopers fired their handguns, striking her at least once. Warren remained in a hospital until Thurs- day, when the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office arrested her on numerous charges for the run from and show-down with the police. She faces counts of eluding, possession of a stole vehicle, failure to com- ply with police, burglary, theft, robbery, unlawful imprisonment, second-de- gree assault and first-degree attempted murder. According to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, some of the charges stem from Warren trying to pull off the same bur- glary scheme as in the Mil- ton-Freewater case. Awnings · Patio/Sun Shades Pergolas ·Patio Covers · Solar Shades Solar Screens & More! The sheriff’s office reported Warren earlier on Aug. 3 offered to clean the house of an 88-year-old man near College Place. She then attacked the vic- tim and took off in the Prius. Weems, 29, may have joined Warren at that point. Warren also faces charges in Columbia County, Wash- ington, for felony attempt to elude. PENDLETON — The Umatilla National Forest is looking for volunteers to serve as campground hosts at Bull Prairie Lake Camp- ground from now until Octo- ber — duration is dependent on user use, but no later than Oct. 15. A camp host greets camp- ers, provides information on the surrounding area, and generally makes campers feel at home. Hosts will visit with campers and day-use visitors, clean and maintain restrooms, restock supplies, occasionally clean up after campers, and carry out minor maintenance as needed. They keep an eye on things and set a good example for others in the campground. Individuals or couples can apply to be hosts. Retirees often apply to the camp host program, finding it the ideal way to spend the summer in a beautiful setting. Hosts need to be friendly, flexible and responsible. Host appli- cants may be subject to a criminal background check. Those who apply will need to supply their own trailer, camper, or motor home. Camp hosts will be provided a campsite, usu- ally near the main entryway to the campground. Though the host program is a volun- teer program, a food allow- ance and propane is offered, and personal vehicle mile- age associated with hosting duties is reimbursed. Bull Prairie Lake Camp- ground is located 36 miles south of Heppner. Police department warns about business scam PENDLETON — The Pendleton Police Department is warning the local business Garbage rates increase for west side of county HERMISTON — Uma- tilla County customers of Sanitary Disposal Inc. of Hermiston will pay more for garbage service come Sept. 1. The company holds the waste collection franchise for Hermiston and asked the county to approve a rate increase. Mike Jewett, pres- ident of Sanitary Disposal, told the county board of commissioners at its meeting Wednesday the company has about 3,200 customers in the county and most would pay $20.10 per month for service, an increase of $1.70. He explained Sanitary Disposal lost approximately $296,000 last year due to the lack of recycling stemming from China no longer taking recyclables from the United States. The rate increase would account for inflation for 2019, 2020 and 2021, Jew- ett said, and make up for the loss in revenue. He added Morrow County approved the rate increases, which went into effect in Boardman in July and becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2020, in Irrigon. Umatilla County com- missioners approved the rate increase with a vote of 3-0. — East Oregonian staff 8/13 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Showing Wednesday Balto at 10a and My Girl at 12p Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (PG13) 4:40p 7:20p 10:00p The Kitchen (R) 4:50p 7:10p 9:30p Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (PG13) 3:40p* 6:40p 9:40p The Lion King (PG) 4:20p 7:00p 9:50p Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (R) 4:10p 7:30p * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 August 14-17, 2019 Fair Admission: FREE Rodeo Admission: 13 & up $10 7-12 yrs. $6 6 & under FREE FAIR: www.co.morrow.or.us/fair Wednesday, Aug. 14 th Thursday, Aug. 15 th Bounce Houses~Arcades 4-H/FFA Conformation Judging Ventriloquist Vikki Green 4-H Food Contest FREE Tillamook Ice Cream Perry Gerber Band Ventriloquist Vikki Green FFA Floral Design 4-H Food Contest Small Animal Showmanship Grand Champion Market Drive Talent Show Murray’s Wine Tasting 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Featuring: Brady Goss 4-H Fashion Revue RDO Tractor Pull Trevor Tagle Dinner by Paradise Rose Chuckwagon Bounce Houses~Arcades 509-308-1354 FREE ESTIMATES! www.nwshadeco.com License #188965 community about a scam tar- geting employees. On Facebook, the depart- ment encouraged business managers to contact law enforcement if they received a call from a person claim- ing to be an investigator and wanting information about cash on hand. In an interview Monday, Police Chief Stuart Roberts said the warning was spurred by an incident at Shari’s around 1:15 a.m. An employee answered a call from a person claim- ing to be an investigator from Shari’s corporate office who wanted to know how much money was in the till and safe. Roberts said the employee hung up and reported the call to the police. He said the caller may have been trying to find out how much money Shari’s had on hand for a future robbery, but he added that it was just speculation. If residents receive a sim- ilar call or any other kind of phone scam, Roberts advised them to obtain the scammer’s phone number and informa- tion before hanging up. Scammers can be difficult for law enforcement to locate because they’re often calling from overseas and use tech- nology to obscure the phone number they’re actually call- ing from. Roberts said police hear about potential scams each week and a few people each year are unfortunate enough to fall for them. He urged residents to think critically when receiv- ing calls asking for personal or financial information. “ Treasure Chest of Morrow County's Best" Ask about our Monthly Specials! 102 E Columbia Dr. Kennewick 99336 a behavioral health center in Morrow County. He had hoped that the jail upgrade in Pendleton would help serve the Morrow County area too, but said further con- versations with law enforce- ment have helped him see Morrow County needs fund- ing to take care of people in crises closer to home. Smith said during the next two legislative sessions he also wants to see more focus on initiatives to help com- munity colleges and other higher education, as they were “neglected” in this session’s focus on early childhood edu- cation and K-12 funding. He said the Legislature also needs to come up with a way to balance concerns about pollution and climate change with concerns about stifling business and industry. The Senate Republicans’ walkout put a halt to the cap-and-trade bill this session, he said, but that issue is not going away. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS! Friday, Aug. 16th OMSI~Bounce Houses~Arcades 4-H/FFA Showmanship Ventriloquist Vikki Green Frappes & Flowers w/ Murray's Country Rose Perry Gerber Band Chili Cook-Off Contest Dunk Tank - County commissioners~administration~employees Master Showmanship OTPR/Ranch Rodeo Music after rodeo by: Dan Burns 3D productions Saturday, Aug. 17 t h OMSI~ Bounce Houses~Arcades Parade Ventriloquist Vikki Green FFA Awards Buyers Luncheon Livestock Auction OTPR/Ranch Rodeo Music after rodeo by: Dan Burns 3D productions www.facebook.com/oregontrailprorodeo www.facebook.com/morrowcountyfairheppneroregon
