REGION Saturday, November 28, 2020       ƒ„ƒ ”—œ ‚ƒ­„ƒ † ƒ… … ‘ƒ„ƒ­ <  ­ <  ­€  ‹‡‰‡ˆ ‰ ‹Ÿ‹ˆ“‹‡ˆ‡ ‹ ˆ : <  ­  <  ­€ •’œ   ­€ ••œ ‚ ƒ „… •œ ”•œ †‡‡ˆ ‰ˆ‡ ˆŠ‹ˆŒŠ Ž‹‹ Œ ••œ •™œ žœ A3  ‹Š ˆ Š ‹‡ Œ ‡ ‹ ‹Ÿ‹ˆ“‹‡ˆ‡ ‹ ˆ¡   ­€  ‚ East Oregonian ƒ­ƒ‘ƒ­€‘ ‘ ƒ‘ ­ƒœ†≤™– ”™› ‡„ˆ­… … „ˆ­ ‰ ¢›› ¢™› —›› ”›› ˆŠ‘‹ˆŒŠ ˆ ’“”• •” ”– •“•— •• ˜– ”™“ š ˜ ›– ‹ —™› •™› •›› ™› ™›› ™™› „’“„ ˆ   „ Š ‹ „ŒŽ ­… ‹‘…  ž›› Christmas parade to bring cheer to residents Umatilla County commissioner-elect Athena Mainstreet Association is arraigned in DUII case sponsoring ‘Winter Lights Parade’ next month By SHEILA HAGAR Walla Walla Union-Bulletin ATHENA — While the COVID-19 pandemic has darkened many venues and events, a new light will shine here due to the limita- tions of 2020. Lots of new lights, if things go according to plan. The Athena Mainstreet Association is sponsoring its fi rst “Winter Lights Parade” on Sunday, Dec. 6, starting at 5 p.m., according to Pres- ident April Vorhauer-Flatt. The organization, which promotes the town’s busi- ness community, was estab- lished in 2013. Since then, it has had some big accomplishments, such as buying the large Main Street building in 2017 that once housed Pendleton Grain Growers. PGG shuttered its retail division in 2014, closing its stores in Pendleton, Herm- iston, Athena and Mil- ton-Freewater, before mem- bers decided to dissolve the Athena Mainstreet Association/Contributed Photo In this 2019 photo, residents joined in creating Christmas de- cor in an event sponsored by Athena Mainstreet Association. While such gatherings have been canceled this year, the orga- nization is planning to sponsor a lighted parade in December. farmers’ co-op entirely in 2016, the East Oregonian reported. The structure in Athena has been renamed The His- toric Stahl Building and is undergoing massive renova- tions for future use, Vorhau- er-Flatt said. “I’m also really proud of partnering with other orga- nizations to do things for the town,” including absorb- ing the tasks of the now-dis- banded Athena Chamber of Commerce, she said. To support this kind of work, the association has traditionally hosted farm- ers’ markets and done other fundraisers. This time of year, the all-volunteer crew sponsors the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a holiday bazaar, Vorhau- er-Flatt noted. All these traditions were crossed off by the chal- lenges of 2020. On the sur- face it looks grim, but it also allowed creativity to blossom. What about a parade, with as many as 20 fl oats and entries, that brings the lights of the season to the residents? “A parade that travels throughout the town so fam- ilies can stay home but still have some holiday spirit,” Vorhauer-Flatt said. And raise some money to boot, through a $10 par- ticipation fee. The event will also be a competition under several categories, judged by former Athena Citizens of the Year. Athena Mainstreet Asso- ciation is seeking people and organizations who want to part of the traveling hap- piness, Vorhauer-Flatt said. “This is a way to get involved. This is going to become a tradition for Ath- ena,” she said. This year put at least one unexpected gift in Santa’s bag for the association, Vor- hauer-Flatt pointed out. “It allowed us to step back and catch up, to reas- sess,” she said. “We can prioritize which events to keep.” For more informa- tion call Vorhauer-Flatt at 541-969-4810. By SHEILA HAGAR Walla Walla Union-Bulletin PENDLETON — Uma- tilla County Commission- er-elect Dan Dorran was arraigned on a drunken driving charge on Mon- day, Nov. 23. Dorran, 65, was arrested Sept. 26 for driv- ing while under the infl u- ence of intoxicants in the city of Uma- tilla after a colli- sion with another Dorran vehicle. In Ore- gon, the charge is a crim- inal misdemeanor unless there have been three or more prior DUII convic- tions in the past 10 years. It is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fi ne of $6,250, according to state law. Dorran pleaded not guilty in Umatilla County Circuit Court. A Republican, Dorran was elected to the nonpar- tisan Board of Commis- sioners, Position 3, on Nov. 3, winning with 45% of the vote. He is to be sworn in Jan. 2, 2021, to a four-year term. In a public statement after his arrest was being investigated by the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Dorran said he should not have driven after drinking alcohol at a golf event and that he took full responsi- bility for his actions. In Umatilla County, a defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest to a charge. If the defendant pleads guilty or no con- test, no trial is set and the defendant can be sen- tenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty, a trial date is set. A not guilty plea is a routine step in criminal matters and allows more time for both sides to con- tinue investigating the case. Dorran’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 29. LOCAL BRIEFING Parks and Rec to rip out old trees at Til Taylor Park PENDLETON — The city of Pendleton will be installing several new fea- tures at Til Taylor Park as a part of a $575,000 renova- tion project, but one of its fi rst steps will be to rip some old features out. According to a Pendleton Parks and Recreation press release, work crews will begin removing trees that have become safety hazards within the next few weeks. “Pretty much every time the wind blows hard, we fi nd big limbs down in the park,” Todd Kligel, a parks supervisor, said in a state- ment. “It really worries me from a safety perspective.” In the press release, Parks and Recreation Direc- tor Liam Hughes said the Pendleton Tree Commis- sion recently met at the park to look at the trees more closely and determined that seven trees were dangerous and four were a part of an invasive species. The Til Taylor project, known as “Til Taylor 101,” is meant to commemorate the 101st anniversary of former Umatilla County Sheriff Til Taylor’s death with a six-fi g- ure renovation. In addition to tree replacement, the city intends to install a splash pad, playground equipment and a fenced dog park. Hughes said work on the other aspects of the project will begin early next year. Umatilla County reports new COVID-19 death UMATILLA COUNTY — Umatilla County Public Health announced the coun- ty’s 49th COVID-19 death on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The patient was a 72-year-old woman who tested positive Nov. 16 and died Nov. 22 at Good Shep- herd Medical Center in Hermiston, according to the news release. She had underlying med- ical conditions. — EO Media Group Y our G enerositY C an H elp NEW 2021 RAV4 LE 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium model shown. $ 239 39 $ 2,999 PER MO. MOS. AFTER $500 LEASE BONUS CASH APPLIED TO AMOUNT DUE AT SIGNING DUE AT SIGNING, PLUS TAXES AND FEES NEW 2021 VENZA LE $ 299 36 $ 2,999 PER MO. 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