Meyer distributing building new warehouse in hermiston | REGION, A3
E O
AST
145th year, No. 74
REGONIAN
Thursday, april 8, 2021
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WINNER OF THE 2020 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
UMATILLA COUNTY
Risk drops to moderate as cases rise statewide
The county reported 25
cases last week — the
fewest total since last
spring, officials say
By BRYCE DOLE
East Oregonian
pENdlETON — umatilla
County has been lowered from the
high coronavirus risk category to
moderate risk, Gov. Kate Brown
announced on Tuesday, april 6,
relaxing restrictions for indoor
activities and commerce through-
out the county as cases surge else-
where in Oregon.
it’s the lowest risk category the
county has achieved since the state
started the four-tiered risk catego-
ries in december 2020.
“To be one of the counties to
move down is just phenomenal,”
umatilla County Commissioner
George Murdock said. “Of course,
we’ve got to continue now. We can’t
pause very long to celebrate because
we’ve just got to continue our efforts
to make sure that we get vaccinated,
wear our masks and distance.”
The new risk categories go into
effect on Friday, April 9.
Umatilla County was one of five
counties whose risk level dropped
in the state’s most recent list. Mean-
while, six other counties with cases
rising were placed under greater
restrictions, and five more were
placed under a “two-week caution-
ary period.”
“We still have to be cautious
and we still have to be care-
ful,” Murdock said. “We spent an
awfully long time trying to figure
out how to get to moderate (risk).
and if we let our guard down, we
could be right back at high (risk), as
a lot of counties are discovering.”
Low local cases
The change allows indoor gath-
erings of up to eight people, and 10
people outdoors. indoor dining is
also allowed at 50% capacity, or a
maximum of 100 people. Outdoor
dining is limited to 150 people and
establishments must close nightly
by 11 p.m.
Indoor fitness and entertainment
facilities can operate at 50% capac-
ity or a maximum of 100 people.
retail stores can operate at 75%
capacity. Churches can open at
50% capacity, with a maximum of
150 people indoors or 250 people
outdoors.
The change comes as the county
See Risk, Page A7
MORROW COUNTY
County
sees low
vaccine
turnout
Officials hoping
to use 2,000
doses this month
By BRYCE DOLE
East Oregonian
hEppNEr — Fewer than 250
people were vaccinated against
COVID-19 this week in the first two
of eight clinics scheduled in Morrow
County this month, raising concerns
as officials push to use more than
2,000 doses in april.
Morrow County
Com missioner
Melissa lindsay
said officials are
hoping to use 400
doses of the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine
at each of the eight
clinics. she said it’s
Lindsay
unclear what might
have led to the low initial turnout, but
said populations now eligible may be
more skeptical about the shot.
lindsay said that, with cases
rising across much of Oregon and
nationwide, it is especially import-
ant that people get vaccinated.
“it’s scary,” lindsay said of the
recent statewide case spike. “i don’t
think we’re going to sidestep it if it
continues.”
Over the last week, Oregon has
averaged more than 420 cases per
day, according to state health data.
and on Monday, april 5, the state
reported 177 Oregonians were hospi-
talized with COVid-19. Both totals
were the highest in seven weeks,
according to The Oregonian/
OregonLive.
The increase comes as Gov. Kate
Brown announced on Tuesday, april
See Vaccine, Page A7
Contributed Photo
Dekin Carney, third from left, and Samantha Craig-Allen, fourth from left, pose for a photo with their parents, Crystal Reynolds, far left,
and Josh Carney, second from left, and Sandy Craig, second from right, and Sheldon Allen, far right. Carney and Craig-Allen are starring
in “Waking Up In Idaho.” Craig-Allen is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Tribal member Samantha Craig-Allen to star in ‘Waking up in Idaho’
By KATY NESBITT
For the East Oregonian
P
ENdlETON — Budding
pe nd le t o n a c t r e s s
samantha Craig-allen is
getting her big break this
fall when she stars in the
upcoming film “Waking Up in
idaho.”
The film, scheduled to start
shooting in september, is about
two women who are new foster
moms and the teenagers for
whom they are caring. Craig-al-
len, 19, plays anna, a tough girl
and the best wrestler in her high
school, who was kicked off
the team for unsportsmanlike
conduct.
“anna has anger issues, while involved in theater at pendleton
my co-star, dekin Carney, plays high school and was encour-
aged by her acting teacher,
Boyd, a shy kid,” Craig-al-
len said.
shannon O’rourke, to
a natural-born
help with set design
ham, Craig-allen
and backstage
said acting has
work.
always been an
“W h ile i
interest.
w a s wo r k-
ing backstage
“as a kid i
i was able to
would reenact
take notes from
scenes from
the actors, kids
mov ies li ke
harry potter and
my age, who had
CRAIG-ALLEN
spider-Man,” she
parts in the play,”
said.
she said.
at the age of 15, Craig-al-
during her junior year she
len, a member of the Confed- got a part in a comedy skit called
erated Tribes of the umatilla “hold For Three.”
indian reservation, said she got
“i had to hold my breath
for three minutes, while doing
things the other actors told me
to do,” she said.
soon she will get to put her
comedic acting experience to the
test. While the film deals with
tough subjects, such as foster
care and struggling for love
and connections, it’s actually a
comedy.
Craig-allen became involved
when her father, sheldon allen
of Culdesac, idaho, contacted
her about the film’s production,
knowing her love of acting. shel-
don and Eve Bean-allen have
become producers of the film,
finding local connections and
See Action, Page A7
Pendleton Bike Week gets canceled again
pandemic forces
cancellation for
second year in a row
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
pENdlETON — For the second
year in a row, pendleton Bike Week
is canceled.
The organizers behind the motor-
cycle rally made the announcement
on the event’s website.
“due to COVid-19 and the
mandated restrictions the official
word has come down and unfortu-
nately, as most anticipated, pendleton
Bike Week 2021 … and the summer
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian, File
See Bike, Page A7
A contingent of bikers look skyward at a B-25 bomber flying over the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport as part of the
Pendleton Bike Week “Ride with the Raiders” event on July 17, 2019.