REGION
Saturday, June 19, 2021
East Oregonian
A3
Hermiston sets sights on new east-west corridor
Gettman Road/Railway Alternative
Transportation Enhancement
Project cost totals $8.6 million
By JADE MCDOWELL
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — The
city of Hermiston is hoping to
leverage some of its American
Rescue Plan dollars to push
the timeline up for a road proj-
ect that would create a new
east-west corridor through
town.
Dubbed GRATE, which
stands for Gettman Road/
Railway Alternative Trans-
portation Enhancement, the
project is divided into four
phases totaling $8.6 million.
The GRATE project has
been listed in the city’s capital
improvement plan as a wish
list item without a defined
timeline, but Assistant City
Manager Mark Morgan said
the city is seeing an opportu-
nity to tap into several new
funding sources, including
American Rescue Plan stimu-
lus funding from the state and
the Community Project Fund-
ing that will allow members
of Congress to earmark funds
for local projects.
Congressional delegates
and state legislators have been
reaching out to cities in their
districts, Morgan said, and
“this is one we’ve been press-
ing as our top priority.”
The Umatilla County
The fi rst phase would pave
the existing portion of Gett-
man Road, which runs along
the southwestern edge of town
near Armand Larive Middle
School. The second phase
would extend Gettman to
Highway 395, creating a new
connection between 395 and
Highway 207. The third phase
would replace and widen
a bridge on Southeast 10th
Street, and the fourth would
rebuild and widen Northeast
10th Street, creating a better
route from Gettman Road
north to Highway 730.
LOCAL BRIEFING
IMESD cancels
Children’s Rodeo
PENDLETON — The
Round-Up is back on for 2021,
but at least one of its associated
events is taking a second year
off .
In a press release, the
InterMountain Education
Service District announced it
was canceling the Children’s
Rodeo in 2021, the year after
the entire Round-Up was
canceled due the COVID-19
pandemic.
Although the state is lift-
ing COVID-19 restrictions as
vaccinations continue to rise,
many of the children brought
to the Children’s Rodeo are
medically fragile and all are
too young to be eligible for the
vaccine.
“We regret having to cancel
this event again, but know this
is the right decision for our
medically fragile students,”
IMESD Superintendent Mark
Mulvihill said in a statement.
“Although our lives are return-
ing to a regular schedule after
the pandemic, we are proceed-
ing cautiously and methodi-
cally in order to be safe.”
Founded in 1984, the Chil-
dren’s Rodeo typically takes
place on the Thursday of
Round-Up week on the arena
grass. Special needs children
from ages 5-10 get to play the
role of cowboy or cowgirl for a
day as they participate in activ-
ities like horseback riding and
roping.
Mulvihill anticipates the
Children’s Rodeo returning
in 2022.
Umatilla County
announces 87th
COVID-19 death
PENDLETON — Umatilla
County Public Health in a
press release Wednesday, June
16, announced the county’s
87th COVID-19-related death.
The victim is a 91-year-
old man who tested positive
on June 10 and died four days
later at Juniper House Assisted
Living Community, Pendle-
ton. The health department
did not report if the man had
underlying conditions.
The disclosure comes as the
health department reported 13
new COVID-19 cases, raising
the county’s total case count
to 8,543 since the pandemic
began.
Pendleton fi re
chief elected to
statewide board
PENDLETON — The
Oregon Fire Chiefs Associ-
ation elected Pendleton Fire
Chief Jim Critchley to its board
of directors,
according to
a Monday,
J u n e 14 ,
press release
from the city
of Pendleton.
The asso-
Critchley
ciation is a
group dedi-
cated to the education, organi-
zation and engagement for fi re
departments and emergency
services across the state.
Pendleton hired Critchley
in 2018 after a 29-year-career
with the fire department in
Tucson, Arizona, the last six
years spent as its fi re chief.
Irrigon plans to
pave new paths
IRRIGON — The city of
Irrigon plans to use state and
grant funding to improve two
biking and walking paths this
summer, according to a press
release.
The fi rst project, called
the Division Street Multi-
Modal Path Project, began
on Tuesday, June 15, accord-
ing to the press release. The
city plans to pave a 10-foot
path on the west side of Divi-
sion between U.S. Highway
730 and Southeast Wyoming
Avenue for bicyclists, walk-
ers and students to travel
safely along the west side of
Division Road.
Funding for the project is
coming from the Statewide
Transportation Improve-
ment Program, the Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion’s capital improvement
plan, the press release said.
A Small City Allotment
grant from ODOT is funding
the second project, which will
begin in August, the press
release said. The city plans
to pave a biking and walking
path along Southeast Idaho
Avenue from Southeast Divi-
sion Street down to Southeast
Fourth Street and up to High-
way 730.
According to the press
release, the second project
also will be “in preparation
for the future U.S. 730 Side-
walk project in 2022.”
BEO says farewell
to Gary Propheter
HEPPNER — Gary Proph-
eter recently retired from the
Bank of Eastern Oregon, after
a nearly 50-year career in
banking.
Propheter joined the bank
in September 2006, as EVP
and chief operations offi cer,
according to Jeff Bailey, presi-
dent and CEO of Bank of East-
ern Oregon.
“Gary has been instru-
mental in the growth of our
bank from 11 branches and
one loan production office,
in 2006, to our current struc-
ture of 20 branches and fi ve
loan offi ces in three diff erent
states,” Bailey said. “Gary
has made sure that we have
remained up to date on tech-
nological resources, not only
for our customers, but also for
our employees.”
On behalf of the employ-
ees and directors of the bank,
Bailey thanked Propheter for
his years of service and wishes
him well in retirement. Proph-
eter said it’s been particularly
rewarding to spend the fi nal
chapter of his banking career
with a truly community-based
bank.
“The culture that our
employees have created and
their support of the local
communities where we do
business has been a highlight
of my career,” he said. “I have
truly enjoyed my time with
the bank and look forward to
watching its continued success
for years to come.”
For more about the Bank
of Eastern Oregon, visit www.
beobank.com or contact dwag-
ner@beobank.com.
— EO Media Group
PENDLETON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1970
Board of Commissioners,
Hermiston School District
leaders and the Confeder-
ated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation have writ-
ten letters of support for the
project, noting it will relieve
congestion in town. The
CTUIR wrote that extending
Gettman Road would make it
easier to plan effi cient routes
for the HART bus system run
by Kayak Public Transit in
Hermiston.
For the school district,
Armand Larive Middle
School and Desert View
Elementary School are right
off Gettman Road. But a
provision of building Armand
Larive was that the district
could not send school buses
down Gettman Road until it
is paved, which sends buses
on a long detour that increases
traffi c near Hermiston High
School at its busiest times of
day.
“Not only does this addi-
tional mileage increase green-
house gas emissions, but the
crossing which they must
utilize routes them through
the heavily congested inter-
section of (South First Street
and Highland Avenue),”
Super i ntendent Tr icia
Mooney wrote.
Paving and extending
Gettman would create a
straight shot from the Mid
Columbia Bus company barn
on Airport Road to the two
schools.
Morgan said the south-
east area where Gettman
Road is located continues to
grow, and has capacity for
300 to 400 more single-fam-
ily homes, without counting
a large acreage off Highway
207 and Feedville Road that
developers through the years
have expressed interest in
turning into a subdivision of
up to 1,000 homes.
“There’s a pretty signif-
icant potential for housing
growth there,” he said.
The GRATE project could
help support that growth, he
said, and relieve congestion
on Highland Avenue and Elm
Avenue, the city’s other east-
west corridors that run the
length of town.
Happy Canyon, Round-Up
announce kickoff concert act
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — Happy
Canyon and Round-Up have
found an act for their reopen-
ing kickoff .
In a press release, the two
organizations announced
they were hiring Gram-
my-nominated country singer
Billy Currington to take the
stage at Happy Canyon Arena
on Sept. 11.
The press release touted
his 11 No. 1 singles, includ-
ing “Don’t Hurt Like It Used
To,” “That’s How Coun-
try Boys Roll” and “Pretty
Good at Drinkin’ Beer.” A
Georgia native, Currington
grew up listening to Waylon
Jennings, Kenny Rogers and
Willie Nelson.
In a statement, both
Happy Canyon Presi-
dent Tanner Hawkins and
Round-Up President Randy
Bracher expressed excite-
ment at booking Currington.
“Billy Currington has
a great combination of
high-energy crowd pleasers
and relatable ballads that will
Jack Plunkett/The Associated Press, File
Billy Currington performs at the iHeartCountry Festival at
the Frank Erwin Center on May 5, 2018, in Austin, Texas.
Currington will take the stage at Happy Canyon Arena Sept.
11, 2021, for the kickoff concert to the Pendleton Round-Up.
connect with so many diff er-
ent people,” Bracher said.
“He’s a great fi t to kick off the
week after such a crazy year.”
The Round-Up, Happy
Canyon and all of their asso-
ciated events were canceled
last year during the COVID-
19 pandemic, the fi rst time
Pendleton didn’t host its
signature rodeo since World
War II.
The Round-Up spent 2020
raising money for businesses
and organizations aff ected
by the rodeo’s cancelation
and quickly committed to
a comeback event in 2021.
With COVID-19 restrictions
beginning to ease across the
state, Gov. Kate Brown has
repeatedly expressed confi -
dence that the Round-Up will
meet its goal.
Tickets will go on sale
June 24 at 10 a.m, with prices
ranging from $46 to $150.
Tickets can be purchased at
www.pendletonroundup.com
or by calling 541-612-3421.
Summer
Savings
$ 750 Customer
Cash
ON A NEW 2021 VENZA, RAV4,
HIGHLANDER & HIGHLANDER HYBRID
Come celebrate our 50th-51st reunion on August 20th & 21st!
Friday, August 20 • 6:30-10pm
no-host social at Hamley’s Restaurant patio
Saturday, August 21st
Social 5-6:30pm followed by BBQ
Sundown Bar & Grill (formerly Raphael’s) 233 SE 4th St.
BBQ beef brisket and chicken dinner with sides and sweet treats.
No host bar, and recorded music after dinner for dancing.
Dinner is $35 per person. Please send a check with the names of
attendees to Pendleton High School Class of 1970,
c/o Chris Henson Woodard, 12115 SW Bowmon St., Portland, OR 97225.
We don’t have information yet about a class photo.
HIGHLANDER
HYBRID
HIGHLANDER
Please email Chris at woodardch@comcast.net with any updates.
Please visit and JOIN our class Facebook page:
Pendleton High School Class of 1970.
Andy Ely, Bob Blanc, Barbara Clark Hoffman, Betty Schiller Hammond, Bob Branstetter, Bob Thomas,
Brant Medonich, Bruce Marker, Brenda Kuhlmann Davis, Byron Murphy, Carl Culham, Carol Allen,
Carol Noel Furlong, Carolyn Sebastian, Cathy Christopher, Charles Rowell, Cheri Hall Svoboda, Cherie
Smith Coonce, Cris Cesarino, Christine Brown, Cindy Dickensen, Cindee Glennie, Connie Cogan.
Connie McCormmach, Dale Bruner, Dale Tinhof, Dan Foreman, Dan Swart, Dave Lemke, Dave
Michael, Davis Wallis, Debbie Perkins, Debby Wohlford Reber, Deborah Gentner, Debra Toronto, Dick
Vorseth, Don Hammond, Don Olsen, Donna Turner Sisk, Doug Doyle, Doug Haynie, Ed Elam, Eric
Ewing, Evan Mayer, Fran Stump, Frank Reed, Gary Galenbeck, Gary Mullin, George Peck, Gloria
Richardson Flint, Greg Gorham, Jim Lytton, Jamie Sands, Jan Lilly Cook, Janet Littlefield, Janette
Roberts Sparhawk, Janis Foster, Jayne Clarke*, Jean Hatch Donais, Jean Nooy, Jeanine Smith Hoeft,
Jim Gorger, Joan Oylear Hiaberton, Joanie Roettger, Jody Pastora Kipp, John Bullock, John Kaufman,
Karen Johnson, Karen Walder Wilson, Karlene Cunnington/Bob Smith, Kathi Ruff Cresswell, Kathy
Anderson Hartley, Kathy Healy Mayhew, Kathy Herndon Tucker, Kathy Lindi Simpson, Kathy Motta
O’Connor, Kathy Sutter Hare, Kay, Allen Baker, Kay Rauch Bailey, Kelly Wilson, Keith Bierman, Kitty
Page Anderson, Kris Bye Redin, Lana Fulton, Larry Hicks, Larry Spino, Linda Beck Petersen, Linda Gibbs
Bullock, Linda Harrel Picker, Linda Tester Foster, Liz Boyd, Lois Goe, Lorna Koski, Lyle Greene, Lyn
Bonbright, Lynn York Graham, Madelon Johnson Barham, Margaret Palmer Westersund, Marie
Bariletti Roberts, Marie Masters, Marilyn Cobb Morton, Marjorie Davis, Martine Maloney, Meralee
Weatherman Davis, Mike Tucker, Mike Watson, Nelson Billy, Nick Skillman, Pam Olsen Miller, Pat Kelly
Courtney, Paul Brown, Paula Robinson Kemp, Phyllis Fuller Fisher, Randy Cummings, Randy Smith, Ric
Hendricks, Richard Livingston, Rick Brown Rita Shuman Chochrane, Robert Smith, Rod Anderson,
Roger Dumbeck, Ron Meyers, Ron Simmons, Sandra Cleveland, Allen, Sandy Carlson Hatt, Sandy
Schiewe Macomber, Shari Kamm, Shellie Hyatt Patterson, Sherrie Hoyt Dobyns, Sherry Draper, Stan
Gardner, Stan Goldsby, Steve Penner, Terri Meredith, Terry Baird, Terry James, Theresa Farrow, Tom
McGill, Trudy Lay Harsin, Vicki Jones Horn Haldley, Wade McDougall, Wayne Salmon.
VENZA
RAV4
TOYOTA.COM
See Your Local
Toyota Dealer
*
Prototypes shown with options. Extra-cost colors shown. Cash back from Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. on select
models of the new 2021 Venza, RAV4, Highlander, or Highlander Hybrid from participating dealer’s stock and
subject to vehicle availability. Offer excludes RAV4 Hybrid models. Varies by region. Cannot be combined with TFS
APR Cash, TFS Lease Cash, APR, Lease, APR Subvention Cash, Lease Subvention Cash. Offer available in AK, ID,
MT, OR, WA regardless of buyer's residency; void where prohibited. Does not include College Grad or Military
Rebate. Expires 7/6/21. See your participating Toyota dealer for details. ToyotaCare covers normal factory
scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Certain models require a different
maintenance schedule as described in their Maintenance Guide. 24-hour Roadside Assistance is also included for
two years, unlimited mileage. Roadside Assistance does not include parts and fluids, except emergency fuel
delivery. See Toyota dealer for details and exclusions. Valid only in the continental U.S.