REGION
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Pendleton Convention Center lays out new court
Students from the Pilot
Rock High School lead-
ership class help to lay
down a new basketball
court at the Pendle-
ton Convention Center
on Tuesday, March 16,
2021. The court, which is
emblazoned with logos
for the Southland Con-
ference in Corpus Chris-
ti, Texas, will be refin-
ished to represent the
Pendleton Round-Up,
Happy Canyon Night
Show and Boutique Air,
according to Pendleton
Convention Center di-
rector Pat Beard.
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
LOCAL BRIEFING
Hansell
appointed to
State Fair Council
SALEM — Oregon Sen.
Bill Hansell has an additional
job.
The Republican from
Athena was recently appointed
to serve on the Oregon State
Fair Council by Senate Presi-
dent Pete Courtney, according
to a press release.
“I am excited and honored
to have been appointed to the
State Fair Council, formerly
called the State Fair Board,”
Hansell said. “I look forward
to ensuring state and county
fairs will be enjoyed by count-
less more Oregonians in the
future.”
The Oregon State Fair
Council is a state of Oregon
public corporation, with 11
council members appointed
by the governor. Two addi-
tional positions are reserved
for a state senator and a
state representative, and are
appointed by the Senate pres-
ident and House speaker,
respectively.
“I want to thank Senate
President Peter Courtney
for the appointment. I look
forward to serving on the
council,” Hansell said. “The
Oregon State Fair has been
held since the early days of
statehood, and along with
county fairs, are critical
sources of economic vitality
and cultural celebration.”
Hansell’s appointment
to the fair council was met
with excitement in Umatilla
County.
“Hansell’s background,
wisdom and dedication will
make him a great advo-
cate for our state and county
fairs,” said Umatilla County
Commissioner Dan Dorran.
“I believe he is the first elected
official from Umatilla County
to serve on the State Fair
Council, and I know he will do
a great job and serve us well.”
Walla Walla man
flown to hospital
after bike crash
UMATILLA COUNTY
— A Walla Walla, Wash-
ington, man was flown by
Life Flight to a hospital after
crashing his snow bike,
according to the Umatilla
County Sheriff’s Office.
A news release stated that
the Umatilla County Dispatch
center received a 911 call after
5 p.m. on Saturday, March 13,
stating Eric Burmood, 63, of
Walla Walla, had crashed his
Honda snow bike and was
“suffering from severe inju-
ries.”
The crash took place on
Summit Road USFS 31, about
8 miles southwest of High-
way 204.
The caller, Matt Sweeney,
also of Walla Walla, reported
he was administering first
aid but requested Life Flight
to respond because of the
nature of the injuries and the
snowy conditions at the scene
of the crash. According to
the news release, two USCO
snow patrol deputies arrived
on scene at about 6:20 p.m.,
Umatilla County Search and
Rescue was activated in case
additional help was needed,
and Life Flight was able to
transport Burmood via air
ambulance to Providence
St. Mary Medical Center in
Walla Walla.
The hospital is not provid-
ing patient statuses during the
pandemic, according to the
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
McKay Creek
principal resigns
PENDLETON — McKay
Creek Elementary School
Principal Lorena Woods will
resign at the end of the school
year, meaning the Pendleton
School District will need to
search for two new principals
this spring.
Superintendent Chris
Fritsch said Woods would
continue to work for the
district through June and
was leaving Pendleton to
look for other opportunities
elsewhere.
The district hired Woods
in 2018 to replace Ronda
Smith, who had shifted
over to Sherwood Heights
Elementary School. Woods
was a math teacher in Herm-
iston at the time of her hiring,
but her long career in educa-
tion included stints as an
athletic director and assistant
principal.
This is the second Pend-
leton principal to resign
following the resignation
announcement of Pendle-
ton High School Principal
Melissa Sandven.
The district will accept
applications for the McKay
Creek position through April
8. Fritsch said the district will
set a timeline for hiring a new
principal after it reviews the
initial pool of candidates.
Woods’ replacement will
earn $110,131.
— EO Media Group
East Oregonian
City council passes
law allowing
electric scooters
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — The
Pendleton City Council
unanimously approved an
ordinance that allows elec-
tric scooters on city streets,
clearing the way for a South-
ern California company to
launch its scooter service in
Pendleton next month.
At a Tuesday, March 16,
meeting, Michael Covato,
an executive with scooter
company Bird, said Pendle-
ton’s regulations were more
conservative than some of
the other cities he’s worked
with, but he felt that Bird
could function within them.
Bird plans to ship up to
55 scooters to Pendleton
next month, with the fleet
being managed by a yet-to-
be-announced local partner.
Users will be able activate
and deactivate the scooters
with a cellphone app and
must ride them in the street.
The council also consid-
ered a companion ordinance
to allow electric scooters on
the Pendleton River Park-
way, but after Police Chief
Chuck Byram reminded the
council that it conf licted
with another ordinance, the
council tabled the issue until
the two laws could be recon-
ciled.
Members met as both the
city council and the Pendle-
ton Development Commis-
sion on the evening of March
16, and took action on a
number of issues.
• The council approved a
contract with McCormack
Construction to act as the
construction manager and
general contractor for an
airport terminal renovation
project.
McCormack will now
need to determine the cost of
the project, which includes
refurbishing the lobby,
conference room and bath-
rooms, rehabbing the office
and tenant spaces, updating
the heating, ventilation and
air conditioning system, and
creating disability access to
the control tower.
• The council agreed to
award Pave Northwest of
Marcola a $75,102 contract
to provide slurry seals and
Commsurf Pro of Medford
$164,104 for crack seals.
Crack seals and slurry
seals are typically performed
on higher quality streets
to help preserve them and
prevent more expensive
repairs down the line.
• The council approved
revisions to its parks and
recreation, convention
center and building fees
in addition to new fees for
police records, legal docu-
ments and electric vehicle
charging.
The city is also adjusting
its street utility fee. Whereas
the fee used to rise each year
based on a 2.5% increase or
a price index — whichever
was higher — the city will
now only consider raises
based on the index.
• Acting as the develop-
ment commission, the coun-
cil approved a contract with
2KG Contractors of Portland
to build a new splash pad at
Til Taylor Park for no more
than $250,000.
The splash pad will
replace the wading pool as
a part of larger park renova-
tion project.
• The council approved
$670,120 in façade and
second story grants to Pend-
leton developer Al Plute to
renovate the old Odd Fellows
building at 261 S. Main St.
into a multi-use facility with
12 apartments on the upper
floors. Plute, a former city
councilor, will act as his own
contractor, and will spend
$1.7 million on the façade
and upper story parts of the
project.
FIELD TEST Candidates Wanted
URGENT NOTICE: You may be qualified to participate in a special Field
Test of new hearing instrument technology being held at a local test site.
An industry leader in digital hearing devices is sponsoring a product field test in your area next week and they have asked us to select
up to 15 qualified candidates to participate. They are interested in determining the benefits of GENIUS™ 4.0 Technology in eliminating
the difficulty hearing aid users experience in difficult environments, such as those with background noise or multiple talkers.
Candidates in other test areas have reported very positive feedback so far.
We are looking for additional candidates in the Hermiston, Pendleton and the surounding areas.
HERMISTON:
Suite B,
B, Hermiston,
Hermiston, OR
OR 97838
97838 • • 541-716-5092
541-716-5092
HERMISTON: 955
955 SE
SE 4th
4th St.
St Suite
PENDLETON:
Southwest
Ave. 6, Pendleton
PENDLETON: 29
125
SE Court Dorian
Ave. Suite
Pendleton, OR
OR 97801
97801 • • 541-224-8661
541-224-8661
EXPIRATION DATE
March 23rd
November
8, 2019
In an effort to accurately demonstrate the incredible performance of these devices, specially trained representatives will be conducting
testing and demonstrations during this special event.
In addition to an audiometric hearing evaluation, candidates will receive a fiber-optic otoscope exam, a painless procedure that could
reveal common hearing problems such as excessive wax or damage to the eardrum, as well as other common causes of hearing
deficiencies.
Qualified Field Test Candidates:
• Live in Hermiston, Pendleton or the surrounding area
• Are at least 55 years of age or older
• Have experienced some level of hearing difficulty, or currently wear hearing aids
• Don’t currently work for a market research company
4.0 test product
We have a limited supply of the GENIUS™ 3.0
currently on hand and ready for testing. We have also been
authorized to offer significant discounts if you decide to take
the hearing instruments home. If you choose not to keep
them, there’s no risk or obligation of any kind. †
TO PARTICIPATE:
1) You must be one of the first 15 people to call our office
21MarField
Mention Code: 19AugField.
2) You will be required to have your hearing tested in our
office, FREE OF CHARGE, to determine candidacy.
3) Report your results with the hearing instruments to the
Hearing Care Specialist over a three week test period.
FIELD TEST PARTICIPANTS
Will be tested and
selected same-day.
A3
Qualified candidates will be selected on a first-come,
first-served basis so please call us TODAY to secure
your spot in the Product Field Test.
Participants who qualify and complete the product test will
receive a FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card* as a token
of our thanks.
21MarField
AVOID WAITING – CALL AND MENTION CODE: 19NovField!
*One per household. Must be 55 or older and bring loved one for familiar voice test. Must complete a hearing test. Not valid with prior test/purchase in last 6 months. While supplies last. Free
gift card may be used toward the purchase of food at participating restaurants where a minimum purchase may also be required. See restaurant.com for details. Not redeemable for cash.
Promotional offer available during special event dates only. † Pursuant to terms of your purchase agreement, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of
fitting, in satisfactory condition. See store for details.