REGION
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Hermiston council
approves Horizon
Project annexation
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Another
housing project took a step
forward in Hermiston.
The Hermiston City
Council at its meeting
Monday night, Feb. 28,
approved Horizon Project
Inc.’s application to annex
1.02 acres at 80 N.E. Tracey
Lane.
City Planning Director
Clint Spencer told the council
Horizon Project sought the
annexation to connect to city
services and further develop
the site for multiuse housing.
Terri Silvis, CEO of Hori-
zon Project, during the public
hearing on the annexation
explained the organization
wants to use this property to
develop a small, integrated
housing complex to serve
working families and others.
She said this is a model of
housing that has proved
successful for Horizon Proj-
ect.
No one spoke in opposi-
tion to the proposal, and after
a brief discussion, the coun-
cil unanimously approved the
annexation.
Spencer also pointed out
the planning commission
found the access to Northeast
Tracey Lane is inadequate
for multi-family develop-
ment. That road is “basi-
cally (a) driveway,” he said,
that runs between Petsense
and Big 5 Sporting Goods.
The commission found East
Theater Lane should be the
primary point of access.
Mayor Dave Drotzmann
said he agrees with that.
The council also approved
two resolutions.
Resolution 2209 estab-
lishes an economic develop-
ment incentive program that
benefi ts very large industrial
power users within the city.
Those users would receive a
rebate for any amount they
spend in excess of $750,000
in a calendar year in fran-
chise fees and payments
in-lieu of taxes per developed
parcel.
According to Assis-
tant City Manager Mark
Morgan, no power user in the
city comes close to paying
$750,000 in electricity FF/
PILT within a calendar year.
And the council approved
a resolution for the expan-
sion of the Greater Hermis-
ton Enterprise Zone.
The move adds approxi-
mately 1.34 square miles to
the zone outside the city limits
and also requires the approval
of the Umatilla County Board
of Commissioners and the
Port of Umatilla.
East Oregonian
A3
Freedom Convoy
crosses the county
Supporters of
the American
Freedom Convoy
stand atop an
overpass at
Exit 234 on
Interstate 84
Wednesday,
March 2, 2022,
near Meacham.
Ben Lonergan/
East Oregonian
Pendleton man jailed for stabbing multiple people
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — A
Pendleton man is in jail on
felony assault charges related
to the stabbing of four people.
Pendleton police arrested
Sterling Harrison Severe,
30, on two counts each of
fi rst-degree and second-de-
gree assault, as well as a
parole violation warrant.
Pendleton Police Chief
Chuck Byram in a press
release Wednesday, March 2,
reported offi cers at 9:22 p.m.
March 1 responded to
122 S.E. 19th St., after receiv-
ing a 911 report of a male at
the residence stabbing multi-
ple people.
Police at the scene heard
and observed through the
front window of the resi-
dence an “active distur-
bance,” according to the
press release.
Offi cers entered the resi-
dence and encountered a man
straddling another male on
the fl oor just inside the front
door. Byram reported the
victim on the fl oor was bleed-
ing heavily from the head.
Offi cers quickly detained
the suspect, and after gain-
ing control of the situation
medical personnel attended
to the victims inside the resi-
dence. In total, according to
the release, two ambulances
and two personal vehicles
took four adult victims to
St. Anthony Hospital, Pend-
leton, for “treatment related
to stab injuries and blunt
force trauma injuries.”
While the injuries did not
appear to be life threatening,
Byram reported, they were
quite serious in nature.
Severe also received treat-
ment at the hospital for inju-
ries he suff ered during the
altercation inside the resi-
dence. Police then booked
Severe into the Umatilla
County Jail, Pendleton.
Byram reported the inves-
tigation showed drug use and
mental health issues were
contributing factors to the
assaults.
The investigative mate-
rial next goes to the Umatilla
County District Attorney’s
Offi ce for review of charges
and prosecution.
LOCAL BRIEFING
Local candidate
fi eld stagnant ahead
of March 8 deadline
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
UMATILLA COUNTY
— With about a week left
before the fi ling deadline for
the May 17 local elections
across Umatilla County, new
candidates remain rare.
In Pendleton, fi ve candi-
dates are vying for fi ve seats
on the city council with no
competitive races. Unless
new candidates file by
March 8, incumbents Carole
Innes of Ward 1, McKennon
McDonald of Ward 2, Linda
Neuman of Ward 3 and Steve
Campbell of an at-large seat
will run unopposed and are
all but guaranteed new terms.
Newcomer Addison Schul-
berg, who is running for
the other at-large seat unop-
posed, rounds out the fi eld.
Across the county in
Hermiston, the city council
fi eld is more competitive but
uneven. As of Feb. 21, Ward 4
Councilor Phillip Spicerkuhn
is facing a challenge from
former Councilor David
McCarthy, and Municipal
Court Judge Thomas Creas-
ing will need to beat Judge
Pro Tem Cameron Bendix-
sen to secure a new term.
Ward 2 incumbent Roy
Barron and Ward 1 candidate
Jackie Linton are running
unopposed, although Ward 1
Councilor Lori Davis has said
she intends to run for reelec-
tion. Ward 3, which Coun-
cilor Jackie Myers holds, has
no fi led candidates.
After growing steadily
over the past several months,
the fi eld for two seats on the
Umatilla County Board of
Commissioners is remain-
ing static for now.
Five people have filed
to run for the open Posi-
tion 1 seat: Bob Barton of
Hermiston, Jesse Bonifer
of Athena, Susan Bower of
Pendleton, Cindy Timmons
of Milton-Freewater and
Alvin Young of Hermiston.
For Position 2, HollyJo Beers
of Pendleton is challenging
incumbent Commissioner
John Shafer.
Two seats on the Umatilla
County Circuit Court bench
also are up for election this
year. Judge Jon Lieual-
len of Position 2 and Judge
Daniel Hill of Position 3 are
running unopposed. District
57 state Rep. Greg Smith and
District 58 state Rep. Bobby
Levy both fi led for reelec-
tion and have yet to draw any
opponents in the Republi-
can primaries or the general
election.
Any prospective candi-
dates interested in state offi ce
will need to file with the
Oregon Secretary of State’s
offi ce, but local candidates
need to submit their paper-
work to the relevant city or
county offi ce on March 8 by
5 p.m. The primary elections,
when most local candidates
will run, is May 17. Some
races will require a runoff
election, which will take
place on Nov. 8.
Semitrailer hauling
windmill blade crashes in
Morrow County
IONE — A semitrailer hauling a
windmill blade crashed Monday after-
noon, Feb. 28, in Morrow County.
Oregon State Police reported a
Kenworth semitrailer was heading
west at about 3:15 p.m. on Highway
74 when it took a curve too wide near
milepost 15 about 12 miles from Ione.
The rig went over the shoulder of the
freeway and rolled.
The trailer itself was so long it had
its own operator, OSP reported, and
neither the truck’s driver nor the trailer
operator reported they knew how the
crash occurred.
The driver, a 56-year-old man from
Wausau, Wisconsin, suffered inju-
ries. An ambulance took him to a local
hospital.
Oregon State Police also reported
the windmill blade company arranged
its own tow.
The state has charged Jose Maria
Oseguera, 40, with unlawful use of
a weapon, felon in possession of a
weapon and fi rst-degree murder related
to the homicide of Alonso Madrigal.
Oseguera remains in the Umatilla
County Jail, Pendleton, According
to state court records, the Umatilla
County Circuit Court has set Oseg-
uera’s bail hearing for March 11.
Hermiston police Chief Jason
Edmiston has stated Madrigal, 23, was
“senselessly murdered” the evening of
March 4, 2015, in the parking lot of a
convenience store in the 400 block of
Northwest 11th Street, Hermiston.
— EO Media Group
Local murder defendant
has date for bail hearing
PENDLETON — The man facing a
fi rst-degree murder charge for a 2015
killing in Hermiston has a new court
date for a bail hearing.
March
26-27
3/4-3/10
Cineplex Show Times
Theater seating will adhere to social distancing protocols
Every showing $7.50 per person (ages 0-3 still free)
Saturday 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am–3:00 pm
The Batman (PG13)
3:00p 5:00p 7:00p 8:00p
extra 1:00p & 2:00p show 3/4-3/6
DESCHUTES COUNT Y
FAIR & EXPO CENTER
Uncharted (PG13)
4:00p 6:40p 9:20p
extra 1:20p show 3/4-3/6
REDMOND
•
OREGON
PRESENTED BY
Dog (PG13)
3:40p 5:40p 8:40p
extra 12:40p show 3/4-3/6
Death on the Nile (PG13)
6:00p 8:50p
extra 12:50p show 3/4-3/6
The Lost City
Coming Soon!
wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850
Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216
5 Buck Breakfast
SAT. MORNING 8–10
While supplies last
Sponsored by McDonalds
All proceeds to benefit Perfect Balance
KIDS’ ZONE
PROJECTS AND FUN ACTIVITIES
ALL THINGS AGRICULTURE
Clint Johnson Working
Dog Demonstrations
SAT. 11–NOON • SUN. 10–11
Early Day Gas Engine
and Tractor Display
with Demonstrations