REGION Saturday, October 23, 2021 East Oregonian A3      ­€  ‚ ˜……™š„š™…—› €† Ž ‹ŒŽ‘ €’ €„… „ŠŒ‚Ž ‹“‘ €’ †… „ŠŒ‚Ž ‹­‘ €’  ƒ Ž— € €† Ž ” ƒ €‰ Ž ‹“‘ €’ €„… Ž‚ €„  ƒ  ƒ Ž € Ž”  • ‡ˆ Ž ˆ‰†Šˆƒ  ƒ Ž‚ €„ €„ Ž„‘ ‡  ­€Ž– ‡ˆ Ž …†‡†€  ‚Ž­ €­  ­€Ž‰†  ’“€“Œ­…‹Œ“…Œ”€„€ŠŒ‡•”­‡…€…‰€Š€„‡Š…€• œ™š—‰ …™“—Œ”Œ“Œ‘–—­­›—…ž…”—–Ÿ¡¢ Ž‘„  ­€Ž‘„  ‘  ƒ Ž‚ €ƒ    ‡ˆ €† ­ €‰ Š†‹ „ŠŒ‚   ­€  ‚  ƒ €„… †… Umatilla County reaches 150 COVID-19 deaths East Oregonian PENDLETON — At least 150 Umatilla County residents have died of COVID-19, the county’s health department reported Thurs- day, Oct. 21. The county reported four new COVID- 19 deaths in an Oct. 21 press release. Two victims died in a single Pendleton nursing home. The disclosures mark another grim mile- stone as the county continues to grapple with the delta variant, the highly-infectious coro- navirus strain that has spread rapidly among the county’s unvaccinated residents in recent months, inundating hospitals with patients. But the county’s overall infection rates have recently declined, following a positive statewide trend. The county has reported a weekly drop in cases for two consecutive weeks. The newly disclosed deaths came as the county reports 50 new COVID-19 cases. The daily total remains far higher than totals in late spring and early summer, but it continues a general downward trend in average daily cases. As of Oct. 21, the county averaged 34 cases per day. That’s the lowest number since July 21. But as with all previous pandemic Man injured, another in jail after shooting East Oregonian PENDLETON — One man is in the hospital and another is in jail after a shoot- ing in Pendleton Thursday, Oct. 21. Police booked Cody James Fleming, 29, into the Umatilla County Jail, Pend- leton, on preliminary counts of first-degree assault and the unlawful use of a weapon early Friday, Oct. 22. Brian L. Frank, 36, is receiving treat- ment at CHI St. Anthony, Pendleton, for “multiple gunshot wounds,” according to a press release from Pend- leton Police Chief Chuck Byram. Police responded to 318 S.E. Ninth St. at 9:21 p.m. Oct. 21 after receiving a report that a person had been shot. Police arrived and found someone in a private vehicle already took the victim to the hospital. Police said an argument among residents at the house sparked the shooting. The brother of a female resident, who police identi- fi ed as Frank, arrived at the house. Police said an argu- ment occurred between a man living at the house and “several others associated with the female resident.” That argument prompted the man, who police iden- tifi ed as Fleming, to shoot “several” rounds from a .22 caliber handgun. Police said several of those rounds struck Frank. Frank was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Police did not know his condition as of Friday, Oct. 22. Af ter investigating the shooting and seizing evidence, police consulted the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office and obtained a probable cause affi davit charging Fleming with fi rst-degree assault and the unlawful use of a weapon. Police booked Fleming into the county jail Oct. 22 at 3:35 a.m. He remains there on preliminary bail of $260,000, according to the jail’s website. Police also will not release more information at this time, according to the press release, and the district attorney’s offi ce now is handling further inquiries. surges, COVID-19 deaths have followed in large numbers. The county has reported 49 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of August. At least 23 residents died in August alone, making it the pandemic’s deadliest month in the county. The following are the four deaths Umatilla County Public Heath reported OCt. 21: • The county’s 147th victim is an 86-year- old woman who tested positive Aug. 6 and died Aug. 20 at a private residence. She had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 148th victim is a 70-year- old woman who tested positive Aug. 31 and died Sept. 10 at Willowbrooke Terrace Nurs- ing Home, Pendleton. She had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 149th victim is a 79-year- old woman who tested positive Aug. 31 and died Sept. 21 at Willowbrooke Terrace Nurs- ing Home, Pendleton. She had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 150th victim is a 78-year- old man who tested positive Aug. 3 and died Sept. 23 at the Milton-Freewater Health and Rehabilitation Center. He had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. Since the pandemic started, the county has reported 14,450 confi rmed and presumptive coronavirus cases. State Supreme Court to hear Craigen appeal East Oregonian PENDLETON — The Oregon Supreme Court in March 2022 will hear an appeal from a convicted murderer from Umatilla County. George West Craigen, of Milton-Freewater, was sentenced in 2014 to life in prison for murdering his neigh- bor, Rob Carter, in 2011. But the Oregon Court of Appeals in 2018 overturned the case due to errors at the trial. Last week, the Oregon Supreme Court at the request of the Oregon Department of Justice granted a review of the case. Craigen faced four counts of possessing a fi rearm as a convicted felon, with the latest charge coming in 2011, and was out of jail on bail when he killed Carter. After police caught him following the homicide, he told police during an inter- view that Carter had set him up in the latest gun case, and that prompted the kill- ing. A 12-person jury in 2014 found Craigen guilty of felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, altering a fi rearm’s identifi ca- tion number and the murder. But the appellate court overturned the conviction, ruling police should have stopped their interview with Craigen after he made a statement connecting the two cases. By continuing the interview, the court ruled, police violated Craigen’s constitutional rights. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said the Department of Justice informed him it was seeking the review. He said at this point he does not have any more information about the case. Primus said the district attorney’s offi ce has no role while the case is in front of the Supreme Court. He said the case will be handled by the appellate division of the DOJ. The division will review the case with consideration of state law, write briefs and make oral arguments in front of the court. “It’s all in their hands at this point,” Primus said, adding, “I stand by the work we did previously, and we’ll see what happens.” Are you in pursuit of an inspiring career that encourages your community members to thrive? Is the place for you! CCS is committed to offering their award- winning Behavioral Health, Addictions, and Developmental Disabilities services throughout Eastern Oregon and our rapid growth has allowed us to expand our employment opportunities. Full and Part time positions available! Morrow and Umatilla Counties! www.communitycounselingsolutions.org CCS has a wonderful benefit package including, but not limited to, health, dental and vision insurance, 401K match, potential for tuition reimbursement, student loan forgiveness, relocation expenses and paid licensure supervision. BE PART OF OUR TEAM! 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