INSIDE: More Pendleton Round-Up week coverage, photos | PAGE A11
E O
AST
145th year, No. 141
REGONIAN
TUESDAy, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
$1.50
WINNER OF 16 ONPA AWARDS IN 2021
PARADE KICKS OFF
ROUND-UP WEEK
Chloe LeValley/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
According to Milton-Freewater Po-
lice Chief Doug Boedigheimer, a
sting operation last week was a re-
sult of close collaboration and had
to be executed with perfect timing
because of the many moving parts
and people involved.
M-F Police
key to biker
gang arrests
Local chapter of the
Pagan’s Motorcycle
Club operated in
Milton-Freewater
By JEDIDIAH MAYNES
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
A Main Street Cowboy hands out items to paradegoers Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at the Main Street Cowboys’ Dress-Up Parade in downtown
Pendleton.
After a year of uncertainty, Round-Up is back
By NICK ROSENBERGER
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — Colorful
attire, rides and costumes exploded
onto Pendleton’s streets Satur-
day, Sept. 11, for the Main Street
Cowboys’ Dress-Up Parade to kick-
off the long-awaited return of the
Round-Up after a canceled year due
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite high COVID-19 case
numbers and a smaller than aver-
age showing, it’s official: Round-Up
week is here.
“People are ready to have fun,”
said Rod Thompson, a Vietnam
veteran who has been attending for
40 years and said it felt good to be
back.
Thompson said he had learned
a long time ago to do whatever
your town does, explaining that
if you live in New york City and
want to be happy, to visit the
theater. If you live in Minnesota,
you go fishing.
“When you live in Pendle-
ton,” he said, “you come to the
Round-Up.”
See Parade, Page A9
2021 Dress-Up
Parade Results
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Pendleton Round-Up Queen Josilyn Fullerton rides along Southwest
Court Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, during the Main Street
Cowboys’ Dress-Up Parade.
The winners for each category
is as follows:
Queens & Courts: 1st, Happy
Canyon Indian Princesses
Dance/Drill: Jr. Jam
Horse & Buggy: 1st, Round-Up
& Happy Canyon Hall of Fame
Civic/Service Clubs: 1st, Main
Street Side Saddlers
Autos (Classic/Antique): 1st,
Blue Mountain A’s
Floats: 1st, American Legion
Post 37; 2nd Moe Pho Noodles &
Cafe
Special Awards
Larry Wahl trophy: Pendleton
Pupcakes
East Oregonian trophy: East-
ern Oregon Philippine-American
Community
President’s Choice: Chief Gary
Burke and Riders
Equestrian: 1st, Chief Gary
Burke
Autos (Miscellaneous): 1st,
ZOM-B13
Neighborhood Float: 1st,
Academy Mortgage
WALLA WALLA — A months-
long investigation wrapped up with
a massive law enforcement oper-
ation Thursday, Sept. 9, as two
Milton-Freewater, men were arrested
for allegedly being involved in
violent crimes connected to a nation-
wide biker gang. One of the men
arrested was working as a correc-
tions officer in Walla Walla.
According to the Walla Walla
County Sheriff ’s Off ice and
Milton-Freewater Police Chief Doug
Boedigheimer, the sting operation
was a result of close collaboration
and had to be executed with perfect
timing because of the many moving
parts and people involved.
Ultimately, the two Milton-Freewa-
ter men, Charles Montgomery, 29, and
Dustin Wendelin, 40, were arrested on
a grand jury indictment out of Spald-
ing County, Georgia. They’re alleged
to be local leaders of the outlaw motor-
cycle gang the Pagan’s Motorcycle
Club. The Pagen’s is a “1%er” or “One
Percenter” club — the 1% of motor-
cycle clubs that operate outside the
bounds of the law.
The gang is known for violent
crimes, including bombings, shoot-
ings, assaults and homicides, accord-
ing to the sheriff’s office, which also
reported Montgomery and Wendelin
hold leadership roles in the gang.
Wendelin, who worked at the
Washington State Penitentiary in
Walla Walla, appeared in Walla
Walla County Superior Court Sept.
10, and waived extradition to Geor-
gia. Montgomery was arrested in
Umatilla County and was slated to
appear in Umatilla County Circuit
Court. Requests for information on
Montgomery’s waiver status were
not returned.
Wendelin had few words in the
extradition hearing before Judge
Brandon L. Johnson.
See Arrests, Page A9
Area veterans enjoy Umatilla fishing event
‘Signature event’
for town on the
Columbia River
draws capacity
participation
By ERICK PETERSON
East Oregonian
More than 100 area
veterans and fishing guides
converged Saturday, Sept.
11, on the Columbia River
for the sixth annual Fish’n
the Brave.
Tony Fisher of Fishers
Catch Outfitters founded
the angling event and once
again organized Fish’n, with
the help of volunteers and
sponsoring organizations.
Early in the morning,
he was directing volun-
teers at the starting point,
the Umatilla Marina & RV
Park, when he spoke of his
feelings as they pertain
to veterans. Not a veteran
himself, Fisher still values
veterans. He said his father
was a veteran of the Vietnam
War.
“I honor him and appreci-
ate him,” Fisher said. “This
(event) is a simple way for
us to give back. A lot of
these guys and gals have
had some experiences. This
gives them a way to get away
for the day, go out, have a
good day and clear their
thoughts.”
The men and women who
served America’s armed
forces deserve respect, he
said. In their service to the
nation, they made our free-
doms possible. Those free-
doms include fishing, he
added.
T h i r t y-t h ree boat s,
captained and prepped by
volunteers, carried the veter-
ans. The captains, who also
were experienced fishing
guides, took the veterans
out for sturgeon, salmon and
walleye.
The starting time was
8 a.m., with the singing of
the National Anthem and
a prayer, though veterans
arrived hours earlier and
chatted with one another.
Breakfast —tur novers,
cinnamon rolls, doughnuts,
and more — was provided
for them, as was coffee.
Lunch and dinner also were
provided, as were prizes.
Fisher wrapped up the event
at 5 p.m.
Participants and
volunteers
As they participated in
the event, the veterans artic-
ulated their gratitude for
labor and resources given,
making Fish’n the Brave
possible. Meanwhile, the
volunteers also gave their
appreciation for the sacri-
fices the veterans made for
their country.
David Stockdale,
Umatilla city manager, said
he is happy for his city’s
involvement. Umatilla has
hosted the last four of the
six annual Fish’n events.
Though not a veteran, he has
family members who have
served.
“This event means a lot to
me and to Umatilla,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for our
community to say thank you
to our vets. It’s great.”
See Fishing, Page A9