RECORDS/COMMUNITY
Thursday, January 21, 2021
PUBLIC SAFETY
SUNDAY
5:49 a.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on Highway
730 in Umatilla.
9:51 a.m. — Police responded to a reported assault on
Wenatchee Street in Umatilla.
5:07 p.m. — Police responded to a reported burglary on
Southwest 41st Street in Pendleton.
7:09 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred at Hat Rock RV
Park on Hat Rock Road in Hermiston.
9:26 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on West Sun-
land Avenue in Hermiston.
10:51 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred at a Rental
Property on Southwest Sixth Street in Pendleton.
MONDAY
8:18 a.m. — Police responded to a reported assault on South
First Street in Hermiston.
5:41 p.m. — Police responded to the report of a missing per-
son on West Main Street in Lexington.
7:30 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on Southwest
First Street in Pendleton.
TUESDAY
7:44 a.m. — Police responded to a reported burglary on
South Highway 395 in Hermiston.
7:45 a.m. — Police responded to a reported burglary
at Brittany Farming Company on North Columbia Street in
Milton-Freewater.
3:48 p.m. — Police responded to a reported assault on Chu-
kar Lane in Umatilla.
4:38 p.m. — Police responded to a reported burglary at Birch
Creek Mini Storage on Northwest Cedar Street in Pilot Rock.
5:55 p.m. — Police responded to a reported burglary on
Southwest Kinkade Road in Boardman.
6:45 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred at Irrigon Shell
Station on East Highway 730 in Irrigon.
7:16 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on Stiller Lane
in Milton-Freewater.
9:20 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred at Stanfield RV
Park on South Main Street.
WEDNESDAY
1:29 a.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred at the intersec-
tion of Birch Creek Road and Eastside Road in Milton-Freewater.
ARRESTS, CITATIONS
•The Umatilla Tribal Police arrested Natalie Lanae Key, 21, on
two counts, including a felony count of the unlawful possession
of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor count of the posses-
sion of a Schedule IV controlled substance.
•The Milton-Freewater Police Department arrested Luis
Alberto Ledezma Saldana on a felony charge of fourth-degree
assault (domestic violence and harassment).
•The Umatilla Tribal Police arrested Alex Rivera, 42, on three
counts, including felony counts of identity theft and the unlawful
possession of methamphetamine, and one misdemeanor count
of false information (fraud/deception).
•The Umatilla Tribal Police arrested Mathew Loring Murray, 29,
on four counts, including felony counts of attempting to elude/
flee law enforcement and first-degree criminal mischief, and mis-
demeanor counts of reckless driving and reckless endangering.
•The Stanfield Police Department arrested Diego Vela Ibarra,
19, on three counts, including felony counts of first-degree crim-
inal mischief and coercion, and one misdemeanor count of vio-
lating parole.
•The Pendleton Police Department arrested Dillan Drake
Massey, 30, on six counts, including contempt of court, two fel-
ony counts of violating parole, one felony and one misdemeanor
count of failing to appear in court, and one misdemeanor count
of second-degree theft.
East Oregonian
A5
OBITUARIES
Mary-Jane Elizabeth Faria
June Arlene Schmidtgall
Pendleton
October 30, 2006 — December 29, 2020
Athena
December 5, 1928 — January 16, 2021
Mary-Jane Elizabeth Faria, if they do, chew them like
14, of Pendleton, Oregon, the monkeys do,” to which
died alongside her grand- her mom responded, “Mmm
mother during a senseless act protein” and MJ would finish
of violence on December 29, with “Eeww gross ... good
2020. A celebration
night Mom.”
of life will be held
MJ’s favorite
at a later date (time
poem: “What’s
and date TBA).
Mickey without
Mary-Jane “MJ”
Minnie, what’s
was born Octo-
Piglet without
ber 30, 2006, at
Po oh , W h at’s
9:36 p.m. to parents
Donald without
Vera Francke and
Daisy, that’s me
Dennis Faria in La
without you, When
Grande, Oregon.
Ariel doesn’t sing
She was raised
Faria
and Pooh Bear
throughout Eastern
hates honey, where
Oregon and spent time living Tigger stops bouncing and
in Milton-Freewater, Herm- Goofy isn’t funny, when Peter
iston, Pilot Rock, Pendleton Pan can’t fly and Simba never
and Elgin. Her last year of roars, when Alice in Wonder-
school she attended Elgin High land can’t fit through small
School. MJ was a 21st Century doors, when Dumbo’s ears are
Scholar, participating in the small and happily ever after
Oregon GEAR UP program.
isn’t true, that’s when I’ll stop
MJ’s hobbies included loving you.”
MJ is survived by her
coloring, Legos, ice skat-
ing, sledding, swimming and mother Vera Francke and
singing. Her favorite color father Dennis Faria, both of
was pink, she loved daisies, Pendleton, Oregon; grand-
and was a Raiders fan all the parents Ter r y Franke,
way! She was a unique soul great-grandmother Donna
and wasn’t afraid to learn or Hallgarth and Karen Faria;
try something new. MJ was numerous aunts, uncles and
always caring and concerned cousins; and furbaby Smokey.
and was always doing
For those who would
anything and everything to like to make a donation in
make her mom smile.
memory of MJ, the family
An evening tradition MJ suggests the Crime Victim and
and her mom shared when Survivors Services (CVSS)
finishing a phone conversa- through Tami’s Pine Valley
tion was to end it in a compe- Funeral Home and Cremation
tition of saying “Love you to Services, P.O. Box 543, Half-
the black and back, no returns; way, OR 97834.
good night, sweet dreams,
Online condolences can be
don’t let the bed bugs bite.” shared at www.tamispineval-
Then she would reply, “And leyfuneralhome.com.
June Arlene Schmidtgall of of their hair. Family was very
Athena died Jan. 16, 2021, at important, and she especially
Harborview Medical Center enjoyed holiday gatherings.
in Seattle, Washington. She She loved being the hostess.
was 92 years old at the time
Some of the travels June
of her death. Due
enjoyed were to
to COVID restric-
Hawaii, Israel,
tions on gatherings
England, Minne-
sota, Kansas and
and the inclement
Disneyland.
weather, a private
Some of June’s
graveside service
interests were
will be held. In
reading, quilting,
the spring or early
summer, there will
and pie baking.
be a celebration of
She took pride in
life for the public.
maintaining her
June was born
Schmidtgall
yard and flowers.
in Lind, Washing-
Even in her 80s,
ton, on Dec. 5, 1928, to Harry she was still mowing her
and Hilda Thompson Thomas. lawn. One day while mowing,
Part of her childhood was in the ambulance arrived at her
Lind, Washington, and Elgin, home summoned by her medi-
Oregon, before moving to cal alert device. It was a false
Athena. She attended schools alarm, as she had accidentally
in Elgin and Athena, and activated it. She turned off the
graduated from Athena High lawn mower and asked the
School. In November 1949, EMTs, “Why are you at my
she married Garrett Schmidt- house?”
gall in Athena. She lived in
June was able to live inde-
the house built by her husband pendently in her home with
and father-in-law for the next help from family, friends,
71 years.
and her special caregiver,
She began working in the Amanda. The family will
U.S. Bank in Athena at 16 always be grateful for the
years of age, retiring as oper- wonderful care and friendship
ations officer in 1985. June provided by Amanda.
June was preceded in death
was 19 years old when the
bank was robbed in 1948. At by her husband, Garrett; her
that time, the bank was located parents; two brothers, Harry
in the brick building directly and Stan; and two sisters,
across from the Sugar Shack. Hazel and Harriett. She is
She was baptized and survived by her children
became a member of Athena Connie (Dave) Johnson, Gary
Baptist Church on March 29, (Kathleen) Schmidtgall and
1942, where she held numer- David (Kathy) Schmidtgall;
ous positions over the years. and grandchildren Tabitha
She was also active in the Canada, Kristina (Kevin)
Women’s Mission Society, Ormond, Adam (Rhonda)
American Legion Auxil- Schmidtgall, Michael (Jaclyn)
iary, Seowan Sewing Group, Schmidtgall and Brandon
Study Club, Jolly Circle, and (Kristin) Schmidtgall. Her 12
Chamber of Commerce. She great-grandchildren were her
was instrumental in Cycle pride and joy.
Memorial contributions
Oregon’s stop in Athena. In
1990, she was chosen as Citi- may be made to Athena
zen of the Year.
Baptist Church or the Friends
June was a sociable person of the Weston Library.
To leave a condolence
and liked spending time with
her close friends known as the online visit www.munseller-
“Cotton Tops,” due to the color hodes.com.
OBITUARY POLICY
The East Oregonian publishes paid obituaries. The obituary
can include small photos and, for veterans, a flag symbol at no
charge.Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation
and style. Expanded death notices will be published at no charge.
These include information about services.
Obituaries and notices can be submitted online at EastOregonian.
com/obituaryform, by email to obits@eastoregonian.com, by fax
to 541-276-8314, placed via the funeral home or in person at the
East Oregonian office. For more information, call 541-966-0818 or
1-800-522-0255, ext. 221.
Ruben Thomas Wetherell
Arlington
February 27, 1955 — January 18, 2021
Each of us has a light inside
SARAH
HAUG
LIGHT OF UNIT Y
S
o powerful is the light
of unity that it can
illuminate the whole
earth … I chose to title this
column Light of Unity,
because unity is the central
tenet of the Baha’i Faith.
That core idea includes:
The oneness of God.
The essential oneness of
religion.
The unity of humankind.
This idea — that all
humanity is one, intercon-
nected community — is
more obvious today than at
any other time in history.
Until recent decades, few
people were able to see that
everyone on this planet is
connected to everyone else.
Vast distances separated
continents and travel and
communication were diffi-
cult. And when people from
different continents and
cultures did mingle, the plain
fact of looking, dressing, and
acting differently erected
insurmountable barriers.
These differences were all
anyone could see.
As humans, we have a
distressing tendency to view
the world through a zero-
sum lens, an us versus them
mentality. You’re either on
our team or you’re an oppo-
nent.
Photos from space
confirm that state and
national borders are not
God-given demarcations.
Rather they are lines
on maps we ourselves
have drawn. Sometimes
those lines are a matter
of administrative expedi-
ence. More often, unfortu-
nately, they act as a means
to separate one group of
COMMUNITY BRIEFING
BMCC launches
IMPACT
Campaign
PENDLETON — People
are invited to make an impact
on students at Blue Mountain
Community College.
As the heart of the college’s
community, students are first
at BMCC. They provide the
leadership, academic achieve-
ment, energy, and enthusiasm
that defines the institution.
Recognizing this, the BMCC
Foundation is making avail-
able scholarships and emer-
gency funding, and providing
additional student financial
aid, among other things.
Now, more than ever gifts,
no matter the amount, will
make an impact and provide
educational opportunities and
support for BMCC students
during these tumultuous
times. The public is invited
to participate in the BMCC
IMPACT Campaign by
becoming an Impact Donor.
The tax-deductible contri-
butions will provide help to
students in need.
People can make an
Impact Donation via www.
bluecc.edu /about-bmcc/
foundation. The foundation
hopes to meet its goal of 600
IMPACT Donors by Feb 1.
For more information, contact
Ken Daniel, BMCC Founda-
tion executive director, at
541-278-5775 or kdaniel@
bluecc.edu.
— EO Media Group
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.EastOregonian.com
people from another.
As a planetary commu-
nity, we have chosen to
perpetuate that division.
We fear that tearing down
barriers between people and
countries means we all have
to be the same.
But that’s where we’re
wrong.
We don’t have to think
that way anymore.
We are all batting for the
same team.
We can not only accept
our differences, we can cele-
brate them. What’s more, our
diversity, those differences,
make us a stronger, better
team.
When I was 25, I went
with my husband and two
small children to live in
Punta Gorda, a little town
in Belize, where I studied
ethnicity and nationalism
in children for my doctor-
ate in anthropology. I was
constantly amazed at the
way children could ignore,
and even transcend, their
elders’ conceptions of iden-
tity. They could become
friends with all other chil-
dren, regardless of ethnic
group or religion. They
knew, because they were
growing up in a diverse soci-
ety, that unity was possible
even amid diversity.
The Belizean government
realized it too. Their slogan
for their independence day
celebrations in 1994 was
“from many cultures, one
nation.”
The Baha’i Faith expands
that idea further to say “from
many nations, one planet.”
Each of us has a light
inside. If we can find a way
to all shine together, we can
illuminate the whole earth.
———
Sarah Haug is a member
of the Baha’i Faith and has
called Pendleton home since
2002. You can find her most
days walking on the river-
walk with her husband, Dan.
Pendleton Lions Club donate
$3,000 to BMCC Foundation
Ruben Thomas Wetherell, (granddogs too).
65, passed away on January
He spent 30 years working
18, 2021, in the comfort of as a heavy equipment oper-
his home surrounded by his ator for Waste Management
family. He was born on Febru- and was awarded the Waste
ary 27, 1955, to parents Ruben Management National Oper-
and Mary Wetherell
ator of the Year
of A rl i n g t o n ,
for 2020, naming
Oregon.
him The Best of
He g radu-
The Best. (Which
ated from Arling-
his family already
ton High School
knew).
He is survived
in 1973 and spent
by his wife Kris-
many years work-
ing around the
tine, daughter
Nicole and her chil-
Un it e d St at e s
before moving back
Wetherell
dren Tyler, Aubree
to his hometown in
and Emmett,
1986 where he met his wife. daughter Ashley, and daugh-
On June 25, 1988, he married ter Emily and her husband
the love of his life, Kristine Austyn Zamora, all of Arling-
Wetherell of Condon. They ton; and siblings Sharon Conz,
built their life in Arlington, Mike Wetherell, Jeanne Liese-
Oregon, where they welcomed gang and Tim Wetherell, and
their daughters Nicole, Ashley their spouses.
and Emily.
He was preceded in death
Ruben was a wonder- by his father and mother,
ful and devoted father and Ruben and Mary Wetherell.
husband. He loved his family,
A graveside service will
his church and his community. be held on January 25, 2021,
His three daughters were his at 11 a.m. at the Arling-
world; he was their biggest ton Cemetery in Arlington,
supporter, always making Oregon, following current
sure he was at every game, state COVID-19 guidelines.
play or concert they had. He
Memorial contributions
even spent many years coach- may be made to the Arlington
ing Little League and basket- United Methodist Church,
ball.
P.O. Box 417, Arlington, OR
His frequent hobbies 97812.
included going out on his boat,
Sweeney Mortuary of
making his famous sausage, Condon is in care of arrange-
pepperoni, jerky and wine, ments. You may sign the
along with spending time with online condolence book at
his family and grandchildren www.sweeneymortuary.com.
LOTTERY
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Rita Campbell, second from left, presents Dennis Bai-
ley-Fougnier, left, and Roman Olivera, of Blue Mountain
Community College, with a $3,000 check for the Blue
Mountain Community College Foundation on behalf of
the Pendleton Lions Club. The money, which was raised
through various fundraisers, is earmarked for the col-
lege’s veterans resource center and student urgent care.
Also pictured, from right, Ken Daniels, Janice Stewart and
Randee Bronson.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2021
Megabucks
01-09-19-26-30-45
Estimated jackpot: $7.2
million
Lucky Lines
04-08-10-14-19-23-27-31
Estimated jackpot: $17,000
Win for Life
30-49-61-74
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 7-7-3-5
4 p.m.: 5-9-6-5
7 p.m.: 6-9-6-0
10 p.m.: 4-0-7-7
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021
Mega Millions
10-19-26-28-50
Mega Ball: 16
Megaplier: 2
Estimated jackpot: $865
million
Lucky Lines
01-06-09-15-17-21-26-30
Estimated jackpot: $18,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 1-1-6-5
4 p.m.: 5-7-3-6
7 p.m.: 3-5-3-9
10 p.m.: 2-5-6-7
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 7-5-9-6