Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2019)
REGION Saturday, August 17, 2019 East Oregonian O say can you sing? Pendleton Round- Up hosts national anthem tryouts By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian PENDLETON — Bon- nie Smythe walked boldly across the grass, took the microphone and began belt- ing out our national anthem — a song that is notoriously difficult to sing. “O, say can you see By the dawn’s early light.” The singer got to the pinnacle of the song’s range with “o’er the land of the free” and cruised to the end of the song with ease. Smythe, the first to sing, was vying on Thurs- day night to be one of six chosen to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during this year’s Pendle- ton Round-Up and Profes- sional Bull Riding events in September. She stood near the same spot where the lucky few would deliver the anthem to thousands of rodeo fans. During those performances, loud explo- sions drown out the words “bombs bursting in air” and occasionally jets roar overhead. On this day, there were no such embellishments. Only the judges, the other contenders and some sup- porters listened as Smythe and 26 others sang their hearts out. Judges sat in the grandstands jotting notes. Several people painting the chutes listened as they worked. Seven sprinklers emitted a swish, swish, swish sound and two small dogs raced around the grass. After her melodic rendi- tion, Smythe breathed out in relief. The 34-year-old Pendletonian has performed most of her life, but she admitted to fighting nerves. “I was nervous all day before coming here,” she said. “I’m better now.” The anthem is most often sung without instru- ments. If the performer doesn’t start low enough, trouble lays ahead. There have been infamous flubs by professional perform- ers such as Christina Agu- ilera, Steven Tyler, Scotty McCreery, Michael Bolton and Roseanne Barr. Bill Mayclin, a music director who auditioned with other members of the the Pendleton Men’s Cho- rus as a quartet, said the song offers challenges. Instead of flowing, the mel- ody leaps around. “The range is a little extreme,” he said. “It gets up pretty high and hangs there a while.” The lyrics, originally a poem, were penned by Francis Scott Key in 1814 after the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the Brit- ish. The poem evolved into a song and became the national anthem in 1931. David Placido, of Rain- ier, experienced the mine field of singing the national anthem firsthand. He started with power, then faltered. Finally, he handed the mic back to Round-Up Director Nick Sirovatka City readies money for $3 million UAS grant By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian Staff photo by Kathy Aney Francie Foster, of Pendleton, belts out the “Star Spangled Banner” during auditions to sing the song at the opening moments of the Pendleton Round-Up. who acted as emcee. Plac- ido, who studies vocal per- formance in college, said he just froze. “It’s such an important song. It carries so much weight,” he said. “It got in my head and I went blank.” He gathered his nerve and tried again — and nailed it. “I knew I could do it,” Placido said. “I’ve sung it 100 times a day for the past month.” Each person who audi- tioned Thursday brought a slightly different fla- vor, ranging from country twang and classical vio- lin to gospel and pop. Vol- umes fluctuated from low and sweet to blow-the-roof- off loud. Each time a singer finished, the small crowd clapped and whooped. Sirovatka announced each person’s name and stood nearby during the audition with his hand over his heart. He said later that it didn’t matter to him that these were auditions. “You’ve got to show respect for the national anthem,” Sirovatka said. “Even if it’s being sung for an audition, that doesn’t lessen the importance of the song and what it stands for.” Sirovatka evidently liked what he heard. At one point, he nodded to the eight or nine judges in the grandstands and said he was thankful not to have their job. Judges evalu- ated each singer for orig- inality, tempo, vocal con- trol and overall feel of the performance. The singers will learn via email whether they made the cut. Mayclin said the com- petition on Thursday was impressive. He sang with quartets in a few past Round-Ups, but he had no idea whether his group would get the nod this year. To those who do, he said the experience can be heady, but intimidating. “It can be terrifying,” Mayclin said. New building will consolidate services in Irrigon Commissioners to hold public hearing on design- build process By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian IRRIGON — Services scattered throughout north- ern Morrow County will be brought together in one Irrigon location after the county completes a new building. Next Wednesday the county commission will hold a public hearing on the question of using a design-build process, and plan to put the proj- ect out to bid shortly after. County Administrator Dar- rell Green said if all goes well they hope to have the new building complete by spring 2021. “It will be of benefit to the public to have one place to go for all those services, versus driving to Board- man for something and Irrigon for something and Heppner for something else,” he said. Currently, the coun- ty’s annex building at 205 Third St. in Irrigon holds the justice court, plan- ning department and parole and probation. When the new building is finished, it will also hold the Mor- row County Sheriff’s Office, veteran’s services and juvenile department. While officials, such as the county commissioners and district attorney will retain their main offices in Hep- pner, they will also have office space in the new Irri- gon building to meet with constituents in the northern part of the county. “The idea is for the pub- lic to have a one-stop place to visit,” Green said. Traditionally, pub- lic projects are designed and then put out to bid, but the county hopes to use a design-build model that integrates the design and construction into one process. “There’s a lot of value in all of us being in there together,” Green said. “You can typically avoid change OREGON REPUBLICAN P UBLICAN DINNER GON PARTY REPUBLICAN PARTY DINN orders. We anticipate there will be cost savings and time savings.” The new building will be built on the lot that holds the current Irrigon annex, which will be knocked down and turned into park- ing once the new building is complete. The former Chemical Stockpile Emer- gency Preparedness Pro- gram building on the cam- pus will remain and will house parole and probation. Green said the main offices will be about 12,500 square feet, plus however much the county decides to add on for storage space. The funding structure for the project is yet to be set, ng: Featuring: Featuring: Featuring: Featuring: Featuring: Featuring: Featuring: Stephen Yates Featuring: Featuring: CEO of DC International Advisory, former Chairman of CEO DC International Advisory, former Chairman DC CEO International DC Republican International Advisory, former Chairman former Chairman of to of EO of CEO DC of of International Advisory, former Chairman of of the of Idaho Party, Advisory, former Deputy Assistant CEO of Vice DC International Advisory, former Chairman of the Idaho Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant the the Republican Idaho Republican Party, former Party, Deputy former Assistant Deputy Assistant to of to the President for National Security Affairs, CEO of DC International Advisory, former Chairman e Idaho Republican Party, Advisory, former Deputy Assistant to to CEO the of DC International former Chairman of CEO of DC International Advisory, former Chairman of the Vice President for National Security Affairs, frequent commentator on Fox News, Fox Business, Vice President the Vice President for National for Security National Affairs, Security Affairs, the Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant to the Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Affairs, Assistant to the Vice President for National Security the Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant to the Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant to HNL, and Taiwan’s FTV. ry, former Chairman of on frequent commentator frequent commentator on Fox News, on Fox Fox News, Business, Fox Business, frequent commentator Fox News, Fox Business, the Vice President for National Security Affairs, the Vice President for National Security Affairs, the President for National Security Affairs, frequent commentator on Fox News, Fox Business, the Vice Vice President for National Security Affairs, HNL, and HNL, Taiwan’s Taiwan’s FTV. HNL, and Taiwan’s FTV. frequent commentator on and Fox FTV. News, Fox Business, mer Deputy Assistant to frequent commentator on Fox Fox News, News, Fox Fox Business, Business, frequent commentator on Taiwan’s frequent commentator Fox News, Fox Business, HNL, and FTV. HNL, - Taiwan’s and FTV. on Dinner $50/person VIP—$250/person HNL, and Taiwan’s FTV. FTV. nal Security Affairs, HNL, and Taiwan’s VIP reception begins at 5:30 and includes FTV. pre-dinner HNL, and Taiwan’s Dinner - - $50/person - $50/person VIP—$250/person x News, Fox Dinner Business, reception, pictures with Steve Yates, VIP—$250/person and dinner. Dinner $50/person VIP—$250/person reception VIP reception begins at begins 5:30 and at and 5:30 includes and includes pre-dinner pre-dinner - - $50/person VIP—$250/person n’s FTV. Dinner reception begins at 5:30 includes pre-dinner Dinner - VIP VIP $50/person VIP—$250/person Dinner $50/person VIP—$250/person Get your tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 reception, pictures pictures with Steve with Yates, Steve and Yates, dinner. and dinner. Dinner reception, - reception, $50/person VIP—$250/person VIP reception begins at 5:30 and includes pre-dinner pictures with Steve and dinner. VIP reception begins at 5:30 and Yates, includes pre-dinner Showing Today 47 Meters Down: Uncaged 12:10p*, 4:50p, 7:10p Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (PG13) 11:40a* 2:10p*4:40p 7:20p 10:00p The Kitchen (R) 2:20p* & 9:30p Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (PG13) 12:40p* 3:40p* 6:40p 9:40p 4:30p * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 8/19 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Showing Wednesday How to Train Your Dragon 2 at 10a VIP VIP reception begins at at with 5:30 and includes pre-dinner reception, pictures and dinner. reception begins 5:30 Steve and Yates, includes pre-dinner Dinner - $50/person VIP—$250/person reception, pictures with Steve Yates, and dinner. and The Man Who Would Be King at 12p Get your Get tickets your at tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 reception, pictures with Steve Yates, and dinner. Questions? Contact Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop VIP—$250/person ins Questions? Questions? Contact Tracy Contact Honl Tracy at tracy.honl@oregon.gop Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop The Angry Birds Movie 2 (PG) Questions? Contact Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop ures with Steve Yates, and dinner. Questions? Contact Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop 2D 6:50p 9:20p Questions? Contact Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop 4:30p Get your tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 Questions? Contact Tracy Honl Honl at at tracy.honl@oregon.gop tracy.honl@oregon.gop Questions? Contact Tracy www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (PG13) 4:50p 7:10p Fast & Furious Presents: Questions? Contact Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop Hobbs & Shaw (PG13) t Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop but will likely use Strategic Investment Program and general fund dollars. How to Train Your Dragon 2 at 10a and The Man Who Would Be King at 12p reception, pictures with Steve Yates, and dinner. Get your tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 Stories to VIP reception begins at 5:30 and includes Scary pre-dinner Get your tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 Tell in the Dark (PG13) Get your tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 reception, pictures with Steve Yates, and dinner. 4:40p 7:20p 10:00p your tickets at at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 Get your tickets www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 at Get 5:30 and includes pre-dinner on The Morrow County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Port of Morrow, 2 Marine Drive in Boardman, to discuss the design-build- ing concept. 8/16-8/18 The Lion King (PG) Pendleton Convention Center 1:40p* 4:20p 7:00p 9:50p Pendleton Convention Center The Angry Birds Movie 2 (PG) on Convention Center Pendleton Pendleton Convention Convention Center Center 2D 11:50a* 2:00p* 6:50p 9:20p 1601 Westgate, Pendleton, OR 97801 Pendleton Convention Center COMMISSIONERS MEETING PENDLETON — The city of Pendleton will have to borrow money to gain access to a $3 mil- lion federal grant, but city staff are maintaining that they will immediately pay it back. At a meeting Tuesday, the council will consider approving an up to $2.25 million interfund loan as a part of a match for a long-awaited grant from the U.S. Economic Devel- opment Administration to help build an indus- trial park at the Pendleton Unmanned Aerial Sys- tems Range. In a staff report to the city council, the city man- ager, finance director, and public works director explained how the match and reimbursement pro- cess works. The trio wrote that the city must pay the contrac- tor before the city is eli- gible to have half of the expenses reimbursed. “Under this reimburse- ment scheme, EDA needs verification City of Pend- leton has cash available to make such payments prior to grant reimbursement,” the report states. “This is the primary purpose for creating a UAS Air- port Improvements Proj- ect Fund and providing an interfund loan.” City staff wrote that creating a new fund in the budget specifically for the EDA grant will lead to more transparency as the public will be able to track every expense the project requests reimbursement on. As soon as the city receives the reimburse- ment check from the fed- eral government, the report states the loan will be repaid. The federal grant is a part of a multimillion-dol- lar effort to build a UAS industrial park that will provide infrastructure and facilities to the drone industry. Besides the federal grant, the city is covering the rest of the expenses with money from state sewer and water loans that are in turn being paid for by a series of utility rate hikes. During the council meeting, members are also set to vote on a bid from Axon Enterprise of Scottsdale, Arizona, to supply body cameras to the Pendleton Police Department. To provide body cam- eras, related hardware, software, and data storage, Axon would charge the city $27,580 for the first year of service, accord- ing to a report from Police Chief Stuart Roberts. The body cameras will be covered by a $31,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, which requires Pendleton to match it with another $31,000. Roberts wrote that Axon’s bid was low enough that the city will be able to cover a sec- ond year of body camera services. Before the coun- cil meeting, members will meet as the Pend- leton Development Commission. The commission will discuss providing a $32,591 match for a $111,593 project to repair walkways, stair- ways, and entrances to the Vert Auditorium. Charles Denight, associate director of the commission, wrote in a report that the Pendle- ton Downtown Associa- tion has already received a $70,362 Main Street Revitalization grant from the Oregon Heri- tage Commission, but the project needs matching funds. “Entry areas to the Vert are in sad shape. It’s not just cosmetic,” Denight wrote. ”The crumbling concrete steps, sidewalks and ADA ramp are hazardous and may cause an injury to a patron that could result in serious expense to the City.” Owned and oper- ated by the city, the Vert Auditorium was opened in 1926 and serves as the home of the Oregon East Symphony. Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Saturday, August 24 7pm Pendleton Convention Center Pendleton Convention Center Pendleton Convention Center Pendleton Convention Center A3 3:40p* 6:40p 9:40p The Lion King (PG) 4:20p 7:00p 9:50p The Kitchen (R) 9:30p * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 3234 S.W. Nye Pendleton, OR Join us at 5 August 29th for our Annual ROUND-UP BBQ! • Round-Up Queen & Court • Happy Canyon Princesses • Main Street Cowboys • Side Saddlers • Good Food • Great Entertainment With VENUES INSIDE AND OUT.
