REGION Saturday, November 14, 2020      šš¡  „…„  <  ­  <  ­€  ŒˆŠˆ‰ Š Œ¢Œ‰•Œˆ‰ˆ Œ ‰ : “š¡ šš¡  ­ ‚ ƒ„­ ­  ƒ„ … ‰‹’Œ‰Ž‹ ‰ “”• – “— ˜™ š›•œš š– ž™ šš•“Ÿ šŸ ž™ “Ÿ¡ š”¡ ž¡  <  ­   <  ­€ „’ ­„¡€≤”™ š¡ † ’„…„­ ‡ˆˆ‰ Š‰ˆ ‰‹Œ‰Ž‹ ‘ŒŒ Ž Bryce Dole joins the East Oregonian, while Alex Castle departs PENDLETON — Read- ers of the East Oregonian will see a new byline in the paper starting next week as Bryce Dole joins the newspaper. Dole will cover public safety, county government and public health for the newspaper starting Mon- day, Nov. 16. Dole grew up in Grants Pass in Southern Oregon and majored in journalism and environmental sciences at University of Oregon. While there he wrote for the university’s student publica- tions, covering everything from track and fi eld to cli- mate change. He interned for the Oregonian (no rela- tion to the East Oregonian) over the past summer as Dole Castle part of the Snowden intern- ship program. “We are excited about having Bryce joining the staff,” said Andrew Cutler, publisher/editor of the East Oregonian. “He did some amazing work for the Ore- gonian over the summer and I think he’ll continue that here in Umatilla County.” While the internship was a whirlwind that included reporting on the pandemic and protests in Portland, Dole said he also realized the limitations of working for a larger publication. “I would call people in small towns and say, ‘I’m with the Oregonian,’ and people would say, ‘We don’t know you. We know our own local reporters, but why would we trust you? Goodbye,’” he said. The opportunity to get to know a community and be one of those trusted local reporters was one thing that drew him to the East Ore- gonian, he said, along with his respect for the quality of work at the paper. He is also excited about getting to explore hiking and other outdoor recreation in a new part of the state. Dole said he is look- ing forward to covering his assigned beats, and is also interested in continu- ing to pursue environmen- tal reporting, particularly around agriculture in East- ern Oregon. He emphasized he wants to get to know the communities the paper cov- ers and that he hopes peo- ple will reach out with story ideas or just to introduce themselves. Dole replaces reporter Alex Castle, who interned for the EO in the summer of 2019, freelanced for the paper that fall, and then per- manently joined the staff at the end of the year. He was integral to the paper’s coverage of the fl ooding of February 2020 and has been at the forefront of the paper’s pandemic coverage. He said he is headed back to the Willamette Valley to be closer to family and take some time off before explor- ing new options in indepen- dent media and journalism. “My experience with the East Oregonian has been the most important and enlightening of my life so far,” he said. “I’m thank- ful for all the opportunities I had to tell stories about the Umatilla County com- munity and for the people who trusted me with those stories.” Cutler said the Univer- sity of Oregon graduate will be missed. “Alex’s attitude never wavered. He jumped on every story as though it was the biggest one he’d ever write,” Cutler said. “We’re sorry to see him leave, but grateful for the time he was here and we look forward to seeing what’s next for him.” Umatilla Electric receives $3 million from USDA Money will help cooperative customers make their homes energy effi cient By KATY NESBITT For the East Oregonian HERMISTON — Uma- tilla Electric Cooperative received a $3 million federal loan to fi nance major energy effi ciency upgrades that will reduce energy waste and cut costs for residents of Uma- tilla County. Steve Meyers, Member Services Administrator for Umatilla Electric, said the loan will further the co-op’s existing energy effi ciency program. “In 2018, we received a $1.5 million no-interest loan to begin our Energy Saver Loan program, in which we offer 1.99% loans for res- idential heat pumps, win- dows and insulation,” Mey- ers said. Well received by Umatilla Electric members and instal- lation contractors, Meyers said the co-op has made 60 loans since January 2019. Meyers said the program’s intention is that the monthly energy savings from these improvements will help off- 11/13-11/19 Cineplex Show Times Theater seating will adhere to social distancing protocols Every showing $7.50 per person (ages 0-3 still free) Freaky (R) 1:20p 4:20p 7:20p Dreamland (R) 2:00p 8:00p Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian Umatilla Electric Cooperative, of Hermiston, received a $3 million federal loan to fi nance energy effi ciency upgrades for residents of Umatilla County. set all or part of the home- owner’s loan. The $3 million the co-op just received from the federal government will pay for the development of a manufactured home replace- ment program. “Through this year, UEC has been working with state and community action agen- cies as guidance is devel- oped for manufactured home replacement legislation signed by the governor in January 2020,” Meyers said. To the extent possible, as a community service, Meyer said the co-op wants to com- bine its no-interest loan with related programs and incen- tives offered by state and federal agencies and Bonne- ville Power Administration. Meyer said Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and the USDA were help- ful in making changes to the Rural Energy Savings Pro- gram to make it more expan- sive and useful for commu- nities, and this loan approval is a good example. The Umatilla Elec- tric’s general manager and CEO, Robert Echenrode, expressed his gratitude for what he called the hard work and dedication of Oregon’s senators to help co-op mem- bers with their energy needs. CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT CLASS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21 ST Hermiston Ranch & Home 2500 S Hwy 395 9AM & 12PM Guardians of the Galaxy (PG-13) 4:00p 7:00p Multi-State $ 80 Let Him Go (R) 1:40p 4:40p 7:40p Oregon Only $ 45 Come Play (PG-13) 12:40p 3:40p 6:40p The Informer (R) 5:00p Toy Story (G) 1:00p wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Oregon Included No Fee MULTI-STATE Valid 35-States, including Washington Shaun Shaun Curtain Curtain 360-921-2071 360-921-2071 or or email: email: ShaunCurtain@gmail.com ShaunCurtain@gmail.com | www.ShaunCurtain.com.com | www.ShaunCurtain.com.com Œ ‹ ŒŽ ƒ   New reporter to join EO staff By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian A3  Œ‹ ‰ ‹ Œˆ Ž ˆ Œ Œ¢Œ‰•Œˆ‰ˆ Œ ‰‚   ­€  ‚ ƒ„­…„ ‡ „† East Oregonian “We have experience with the RESP program and this additional federal loan bolsters what we can offer to our members for energy effi - ciency,” Echenrode said. The 20-year loan, admin- istered through the USDA’s Rural Energy Savings Pro- gram, was designed to allow rural electric co-ops to offer their customers low-interest loans to provide affordable fi nancing for energy effi - ciency improvements. Cus- tomers then pay back the loans through the savings on their electric bills. „­„’„­€’ ’ “—— “”— œ—— š”— œ”— š—— Ÿ—— ”— Ÿ”— †‡  ˆ‰„Š ‡ LOCAL BRIEFING Foundation grants $1,500 for health programs and focuses on teaching how to apply “fi rst aid” and connect people with appro- priate care. LAKEVIEW — The Eastern Oregon Healthy Living Alliance has received a $1,500 from the Wildhorse Foundation to support dental and mental health programs in East- ern Oregon, the organiza- tion announced in a press release. “This funding supports the work EOHLA, Advan- tage Dental from Den- taQuest, InterMountain Education Service District, and community partners carry out in providing den- tal services, dental educa- tion, and mental health fi rst aid training,” the release stated. Funding to support den- tal programs is being dis- tributed to Healthy, Happy Smiles (HHS) and Every- body Brush! in partnership with Advantage Dental and the IMESD. The programs include free dental screen- ings, fl uoride varnish, fol- low-up for students identi- fi ed to have urgent dental care needs and more, in addition to education out- reach events that include materials on brushing, fl ossing, fl uoride, orthodon- tics, tobacco’s effect on the mouth, sugary foods and drinks, and more. The support for mental health programs is being distributed to Mental Health First Aid, which according to the release is “a nationally evidence-based program that gives people the skills to identify, understand, and respond to individuals who may be experiencing signs of a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.” Training sessions are available for adults, youth and teens, the release stated, Free fl u shot clinic slated for Weston WESTON — Uma- tilla County Public Health department hosts a fl u vac- cine clinic, 3:30-6 p.m., Monday at Smith Frozen Foods, 101 Depot St. in Weston. The shots are free to anyone who comes, offi - cials said, noting that every- one age 6 months and older can get vaccinated against infl uenza. Slide-offs close Interstate 84 LA GRANDE — The Oregon Department of Transportation closed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 eastbound lanes from milepost 287 to 289 and put the gate up at exit 265 in La Grande on Friday, Nov. 13, due to multiple semitrailers sliding off the road. ODOT spokesperson Tom Strandberg said icy roads and high winds may be contributing to poor road conditions. “Numerous slide-offs that indicate that folks are not able to maintain control of the vehicles on the road, and that means it’s time for us to close them until condi- tions improve,” Strandberg said. ODOT closed the inter- state around 8:30 a.m. before reopening around noon. ODOT crews also are using salt, sand or using other tools to help de-ice the roads. Strandberg advised to avoid driving as much as possible until conditions improve. — EO Media Group and Walla Walla Union-Bulletin “EARLY” Black Friday Sale! 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