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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2020)
REGION Saturday, February 15, 2020 East Oregonian A3 River levels expected to rise from weekend snow East Oregonian UMATILLA COUNTY — The National Weather Service is forecasting as much as 15 inches of snow in the northern Blue Moun- tains over the weekend, which is expected to cause some rises in river lev- els around the region by Monday. “We do expect some win- ter weather to come through The Touchet River near Walla Walla, Washington, is projected to rise above action stage and crest at 11.2 feet Monday morning, according to the forecast center. Minor fl ood stage for the Touchet near Walla Walla is 13 feet. Along the Umatilla River, levels are expected to remain below action levels throughout the weekend at 8.89 feet near Pendleton and and mainly effect the north- ern blue hills,” said Ann Adams, an assistant fore- caster with the weather ser- vice in Pendleton. “It will take some time to refl ect in the basin and the foothills.” Adams said the North- west River Forecast Center has projected the snowfall will bring some rises in river levels around the region, but forecasts into next week are mostly clear and dry. Jackalope Jamboree plans two-day festival for Year 2 Pendleton music festival will feature about a dozen artists By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian PENDLETON — Head- ing into Year 2, Jackalope Jamboree is looking to take a foothold in Pendleton. Like last year, the music festival will feature about a dozen artists from the Amer- icana and country genres, retain its Happy Canyon Arena venue, and will even carry over one of the inau- gural event’s headliners — Shane Smith and the Saints. But co-organizer Chad Colwell said the big differ- ence between this year and last year’s events is the deci- sion to split it to two days: June 26 and June 27. Colwell said organizers also intend to schedule longer breaks between musical acts to allow audience members more time to go to the bath- room, visit vendors, or get set- tled into their seats. Colwell said he was excited Staff photo by Kathy Aney, File Brandy Zdan plays a guitar solo during the 2019 Jackalope Jamboree. to bring back Shane Smith and the Saints for an encore headlining performance. “They’ve got a live act that will bring you to tears or get you up to start dancing,” he said. The rest of the acts will be a mix of musicians with local ties, like Tylor & the Train Robbers and James Dean Kindle’s Hyper Mod- ern Country Quartet, and performers from across the Northwest and beyond, like Jenny Don’t & the Spurs and The Lonesome Billies. Jackalope Jamboree is operating fi rmly in its wheel- house, but Colwell said this year’s festival will feature dif- ferent subgenres of country and some acts, like Portland “psychedelic cumbia” band Orquestra Pacifi co Tropical, that don’t fi t the mold at all. Colwell said Jacka- lope Jamboree’s 2020 goal is growth in all facets of the operation. Eight hundred people attended the fi rst festival, and although Colwell said they don’t have a target sales amount, the organizers would like to see that number grow. Tickets are on sale at www. jackalopejamboree.com. West Umatilla County gets tourism grants Umatilla, Hermiston chamber each receive $7,000 By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian HERMISTON — Herm- iston and Umatilla netted some tourism-promoting cash this month as the East- ern Oregon Visitors Associ- ation announced its fi rst-ever regional grants program. The city of Umatilla received $7,000 toward new wayfi nding signage, and the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce received a total of $7,000 to be split evenly between a new tourism web- site and a new visitor center. Kimberly Nevil, the chamber’s CEO, said the money for the visitor center will be used when the cham- ber builds its new offi ces and workforce development cen- ter on South Highway 395. A visitor center will be included in the project, and Nevil said ideas for the money include a mural promoting Hermis- ton and an interactive elec- tric kiosk. On the website side, Nevil said the chamber has a Travel Hermiston committee that has “really taken off” in the last six months. The com- mittee hopes to take the tourism-related parts of the chamber’s current website and spin it off into a separate Travel Hermiston website that would highlight hotels, restaurants, events and other attractions for visitors. “Basically, ‘What can you do during the weekend while you’re here for business?’” Nevil said. The Travel Hermiston committee meets at 7:30 a.m. the fi rst Thursday of every month at the Union Club, 201 E. Main St. in Hermiston, and members of the public are welcome to attend. The city of Umatilla will use the money it received to add wayfi nding signage to help direct visitors to attrac- tions in the area. The association paid out a total of $81,850 for the 2019- 20 grant cycle after receiv- ing applications for more than $322,000 in projects. The money comes from the passage of House Bill 4146, which required Travel Ore- gon to invest 20% of the statewide lodging tax into Oregon’s seven designated tourism regions. The Eastern Oregon Visitors Association implements the money for the Eastern Oregon region. The association’s execu- tive director Alana Carollo said in a statement that they were “ecstatic” about the level of response for the fi rst grant cycle. “The Grants Program has been a great opportunity to engage with new partners and organizations, and to further grow and align our collaborative efforts,” she wrote. “We are looking for- ward to the product develop- ment and economic impact the project recipients will have at the local, regional and state level, and are excited to see what next year’s submis- sions will bring!” Other grants awarded include grants to various East- ern Oregon visitor centers, museums, arts centers, agri- tourism farms and the East- ern Oregon Film Festival in La Grande. 5.24 feet near Gibbon. This weekend’s tempera- tures in both the basin and the mountains are expected to be average for mid-Febru- ary based on trends from the last 30 years, Adams said. The snowfall could pres- ent challenges for those in elevations above 3,000 feet, Adams said. Risks of wind gusts and blowing snow could reduce visibility and make road travel diffi cult. In a press release on Thursday, the Oregon Department of Transporta- tion said it opened one lane of traffi c to be escorted by pilot cars between milepost 26 and 37 on Highway 204, which had been closed for nearly a week due to damage from last week’s fl ooding. However, additional snowfall in the area this weekend is expected to create challenges, the Truck fi re caused Highway 207 closure Thursday BRIEFLY MORROW COUNTY — Burning hay and dam- aged asphalt from a semi- truck fi re Thursday after- noon shut down a stretch of Highway 207 for eight hours, according to the Oregon Department of Photo courtesy of Morrow County Sheriff ’s Offi ce Transportation. Shortly after 2 p.m. No injuries were reported during a semi-truck and trailer Thursday, the transporta- fi re along Highway 207 on Thursday afternoon. tion department received a report of a semitruck and include approval of spring Council could raise trailer hauling hay catching construction projects, the utility fee by $3 at fi re near Milepost 6B on Educator Equity Plan asso- Highway 207. The Heppner ciated with House Bill 3375, next meeting and Ione fi re departments, and potential amendments PENDLETON — With Fire Station 7, along with to the presidential compen- recent activity dominated the department of trans- sation framework. Trust- by the response to last portation, state police and ees will also discuss a pro- week’s fl ood, the Pendle- Morrow County sheriff’s posed presidential salary ton City Council will turn deputies all responded to adjustment. some of its focus to the A legislative update and the scene. brief executive session are city’s other ongoing issues No injuries were also on the agenda. Repre- at a meeting on Tuesday. reported, and the identity of As a part of its goal to the semitruck driver has yet sentatives of shared gover- to be released, according to nance bodies, including stu- raise more than $1 million dents, faculty and staff, will in funding for street repair, state police. According to the Mor- give quarterly reports. the council will consider a The meeting is sched- row County Sheriff’s $3 raise to the street utility Offi ce, local residents uled for 8:30 a.m. on Thurs- fee. Corey Miller and Tim day, Feb. 20, in the Dixie The council plans to pair Rust aided with a front- Lund Board Room in Inlow the higher fee with a 4-cent end loader and a water ten- Hall. gas tax and a $2 hotel room der. Blattner Energy also tax. The council recently responded with a front-end State police ask voted to put the gas tax on loader. for help in fi nding the May ballot and intends Highway 207 between suspected poacher to pass the hotel room tax at Lexington and Hermiston remained closed in both ENTERPRISE — The a later date. directions until 10 p.m. Oregon State Police is ask- The council has dis- Thursday. Workers from ing for the public’s help in cussed discounting the the transportation depart- identifying somebody it street utility fee for low-in- ment remained on the scene says unlawfully shot and come residents, but staff is throughout the night. killed a bighorn sheep ram recommending members Patches of the road are in Wallowa County near rough but it remains open, the town of Troy, the agen- include it in a subsequent resolution that will expand according to ODOT. cy’s Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the city’s existing utility discount program. Friday. EOU trustees The council is also slated OSP is offering a $1,000 convene for reward for information that to continue discussion regular meeting over the status of Edwards leads to an arrest. Police say the bighorn Apartments, a vacant, LA GRANDE — The Eastern Oregon Univer- sheep was shot sometime dilapidated complex at 602 sity’s Board of Trustees during the week of Jan. 27. S.E. Dorion Ave. will convene for its regular Preliminary investigation The owner of the prop- meeting next week, accord- revealed that the ram was erty recently offered to ing to a press release from shot on the Wenaha Wild- sell the building to the city, life Area along the road allowing offi cials to either the school. Trustees will spend the leading to the feed site. demolish or restore the morning working in small The ram was fi tted with a groups to walk through telemetry collar and an ear building. — EO Media Group progress on the universi- tag. The collar and severed ear were the only items left ty’s strategic plan. After lunch, the board will hear a at the scene. Anyone with informa- fi nancial report and vote on a proposal regarding a new tion can contact Sgt. Chris Hawkins at 541-963-7575, residence hall. 2/14-2/17 Cineplex Show Times Additional action items ext. 4670. $5 Classic Movie ATTENTION Interested in a Medical career? Need funds to complete your training? Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation medical scholarship applications are now being accepted from qualified local students through February 29th. The Foundation is again pleased to partner with Tualatin Imaging to offer additional scholarships for students who have expressed interest in pursuing a diagnostic imaging career Please call 541-667-3419 for further information Applications can be accessed online at www.gshealth.org/foundation/scholarships GET YOUR BULL RIDING TICKETS HERE FOR FEB. 22 ND INSIDE PENDLETON ROUND-UP GROUNDS 7:00PM release said. “Drive with caution and expect delays anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on condi- tions,” the release said. According to the release, the pilot car operation is estimated to last through- out the rest of the winter and into the spring because repairs can’t be completed until all the snow in the area has melted. 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