REGION
Thursday, July 14, 2022
East Oregonian
A3
Dem seeking to oust Bentz visits Eastern Oregon
Joe Yetter says
he knows taking
House seat from
incumbent is a
high bar to cross
By ANTONIO
ARREDONDO
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — Joe
Yetter, the Democratic
nominee for Oregon’s 2nd
Congressional District,
stopped by Pendleton on
Tuesday, July 12, during his
Eastern Oregon tour.
Yetter is running against
incumbent Rep. Cliff Bentz,
R-Ontario, and plans to use
his trip as a “listening tour,”
learning from the residents of
Eastern Oregon and asking
questions about their needs.
“It’s my belief that Amer-
icans, Oregonians and
East Oregonians all share a
common body of hopes and
dreams and aspirations,”
Yetter said, “Even though the
politics of the moment are
so toxic, we can understand
our shared values and act on
them.”
Oregon’s 2nd Congressio-
nal District, the seventh-larg-
est district in the nation,
stretches from Medford to
Ontario. With such a large
area to cover, Yetter embarked
on a 1,100-mile trip across
the region. July 12 marked
the second day of the trip,
following a stop in The Dalles
where the candidate met with
supporters and visited the
local community center.
The son of a World War
Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative/Contributed Photo
Pilot Rock’s Nicole Ferguson, left, and her 13-year-old son,
Jesse, pose for a photo Friday, July 8, 2022, with the prize
bottle they found at Hermiston’s Riverfront Park for this
year’s statewide Hidden Bottle Hunt. The event ran July 6-11.
X marks the bottle
Yasser Marte/East Oregonian
Oregon Congressional District 2 Democrat candidate Joe Yetter on Tuesday, July 12, 2022,
discusses issues facing Eastern Oregon and the nation at the East Oregonian in Pendleton.
II veteran and the grandson
of a World War I vet, Yetter
himself served in the mili-
tary for more than 35 years
as a physician. After teach-
ing other aspiring military
physicians, Yetter lives on
his farm in Azalea.
“The Army, the U.S. mili-
tary, and the U.S. taxpayer
have basically helped with
everything for me in my
whole life,” Yetter said, “and
so it’s my duty to give back
as much as possible.”
Yetter touted several
proposed policies, includ-
ing universal health care
and Veteran Aff airs assis-
tance. As a gun owner, he
said he also supports back-
ground checks for fi rearms.
He bills himself as the
“pro-choice” candidate and
said he hopes he can bring
together a diverse congres-
sional district.
Yetter also touched on
economic development in
the region and said he hopes
to improve infrastructure to
attract larger businesses to
Pendleton.
Most of all, Yetter recog-
nizes the campaign road is
tough. The district has not
elected a Democrat since Al
Ullman in 1981, and Bentz
serves as the sixth consecu-
tive Republican representa-
tive. But that doesn’t mean
Yetter will go down easily.
“Two years from now,
whether I’ll be running for
reelection or running to defeat
whoever the incumbent is, I’ll
be back,” he vowed.
Yetter met with Pendle-
ton Mayor John Turner in
the afternoon and planned
on meeting with supporters
at OMG! Burgers & Brew in
downtown Pendleton in the
evening. Following his stay
in Pendleton, the candidate
heads to Hermiston to meet
with more community leaders.
Recent arrests have Pendleton police on the go
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — Pend-
leton police reported the last
several days have kept them
busy. The department since
Friday, July 9, has arrested a
man for brandishing a gun at
a teen, a woman for an assault
with a hammer and two
suspects after a car chase.
Police arrest man after
weeklong search
Pendleton police July 9,
arrested a Pendleton man on
a warrant after a search that
lasted exactly one week.
Mark Alan Deuce
Romero, 31, is in the Umatilla
County Jail, Pendleton, on
several charges. Pendle-
ton police in a press release
reported the arrest stems
from July 2, when Romero
brandished a firearm at a
16-year-old boy.
Police had a warrant
for his arrest on charges of
unlawful use of a weapon,
s e c o n d - d eg r e e d i s o r-
derly conduct and menac-
ing. According to the press
release, an offi cer July 9 saw
Romero on Southwest First
Street and recognized him.
“When the patrol offi-
cer observed Romero, he
took off running west on the
(Umatilla River) levee,” the
press release said. “Offi cers
gave chase and were able
to catch up to Romero and
arrest him in the 300 block
of Southwest Court Avenue.”
Pendleton police reported
offi cers caught Romero with
a loaded. 22 revolver near
where he had been hiding.
In addition to the warrant,
police tagged Romero with
an arrest for felon in posses-
sion of a fi rearm
Police jail woman after
robbery, assault
with hammer
An altercation over a bag
of cans turned violent the
morning of July 10, as Pend-
leton police reported offi cers
arrested a woman for assault
with a hammer.
According to a press
release, Pendleton resi-
dent Theresa D. Guardipee,
41, stole a bag of cans from
another man at Roy Raley
Park. A 911 call at 11:18 a.m.
reported Guardipee unveiled
a hammer and began swing-
ing.
“When the male victim
attempted to get the bag of
cans back, it was reported
that Guardipee hit the male
in the back with the hammer
causing pain and injury,”
according to Pendleton
police.
Off icers ar r ived at
11:21 a.m. and contacted
both of the people involved.
Police found visible evidence
on the victim’s body as well
as witness statements that
supported the victim’s case.
Police arrested Guardipee
for fi rst-degree robbery and
second-degree assault.
In addition to these
charges, police fou nd
Guardipee to be in posses-
sion of a “violation amount
of suspected methamphet-
amine.”
Police catch pair
after car chase
Pendleton police reported
a patrol offi cer on July 11 at
9:46 p.m. tried to contact
the driver of a gray Honda
Accord in the Safeway park-
ing lot because a rear tail
lights/turn signal was not
working.
“The patrol offi cer did not
conduct a traffi c stop, rather
his intent was to advise the
driver of the defective equip-
ment,” according to a press
release.
As the offi cer approached
the vehicle, the driver hit the
gas and took off from the
parking lot at a high speed,
ignoring the stop sign as the
vehicle entered Southwest
Court Avenue heading west-
bound
The offi cer gave chase to
stop the vehicle for the reck-
less driving, police reported,
but the driver did not stop,
and the pursuit was on.
The suspect continued
driving on Southwest Court
Avenue to Westgate where he
turned eastbound, ignoring a
total of four stop lights/signs
while attempting to fl ee.
Ultimately, the driver and
the passenger abandoned the
car on the 10th Street Bridge,
police reported, leaving
the vehicle in gear where
it rolled into a residential
chain-link fence. The offi cer
observed the pair run over
the embankment toward the
north side of the Umatilla
River.
Police set up a perimeter,
and after some searching
arrested Edwin Roy John-
son, 58, of Pendleton, and
Johny Ray Johnson, 68, of
Walla Walla, and booked
them into the Umatilla
County Jail. Together, police
arrested them for attempt to
elude in a vehicle, reckless
driving, interfering with a
peace officer, hit-and-run
involving property and a
parole board warrant.
“It is unknown if Edwin
Johnson and Johny Johnson
are related,” the press release
stated. “The residential fence
received minor damage and
there were no injuries to
anyone involved.”
All of the cases next go to
the Umatilla County District
Attorney’s Office for for
consideration of charges.
Hermiston council discusses psilocybin prohibition
By ANTONIO
ARREDONDO
East Oregonian
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
HER MISTON
—
Although Oregon plans to
make psilocybin legal state-
wide in 2023, Hermiston may
be voting to prohibit the drug.
Hermiston City Council at
its meeting Monday, July 11,
discussed a ballot measure
that would give Hermiston
residents a vote on whether
or not to make therapeutic
psilocybin legal in town.
The ballot is in response to
Measure 109, which Oregon
voters passed in 2020 that
allows those 21 and older to
take psychedelic mushrooms
in a therapeutic setting. Psilo-
cybin still will not be avail-
able for retail sale.
With the measure, though,
comes another option: Cities
To see a video recording
of the meeting, go to
www.hermiston.or.us/
meetings1.
that do not want legal mush-
rooms can opt out in Novem-
ber 2022.
“This is basically a use
it or lose it opt-out option,”
Hermiston Planning Direc-
tor Clint Spencer said to the
council. “This is the one
opportunity that we have to
pass a prohibition otherwise
it becomes legal effective
Jan. 2.”
Spencer referenced the
voting history of the city
often during his presenta-
tion. Hermiston voted against
marijuana legalization in
2015 and still prohibits the
sale or distribution of medi-
cal and recreational mari-
juana in the city.
The council moved to
discuss the psilocybin matter
further. Hermiston Assistant
City Manager Mark Morgan
said all signs point toward the
opt-out being on the ballot in
November.
Umatilla County Board
of Commissioners on July 6
voted to place a county law
on the November general
election ballot to ban psilo-
cybin manufacturing and
service centers.
In other council action,
the council approved a
supplemental budget to staff
a city information technology
department.
“IT can be viable if it’s
turned into a quasi-enter-
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.EastOregonian.com
prise,” Morgan said. “For the
largest city government in
the area, it makes sense. We
can shop the service out to
other areas.”
Morgan said Morrow
County and Umatilla already
have deals in place, and the
July 11 meeting referenced
Stanfi eld joining in.
Mother, son, fi nd
Hidden Bottle
Hunt prize at
Hermiston’s
Riverfront Park
By SHANNON
GOLDEN
The Observer
HERMISTON — For
Pilot Rock’s Nicole Fergu-
son, a single glass bottle
hiding in Hermiston’s
Riverfront Park gave new
meaning to the phrase “one
man’s trash is another man’s
treasure.”
Ferg uson and her
13-year-old son, Jesse, are
among the six winners in
this year’s statewide Hidden
Bottle Hunt — a fundraiser
the Oregon Beverage Recy-
cling Cooperative hosted.
The OBRC donated $1,000
for each of the six bottles
during the fi ve-day hunt.
She and Jesse found the
bottle Friday, July 8.
“It was a lot of fun,”
Ferguson said. “We had fun
fi guring out all the clues.”
This second annual hunt
commemorates the 51st
anniversary of Oregon’s
Bottle Bill. With the passage
of the bill on July 2, 1971,
Oregon became the first
state in the nation to imple-
ment a redemptive system
that reinforced recycling
and kept litter out of natu-
ral areas.
More than 50 years later,
the bill remains a lasting
legacy of the state’s cham-
pioning of environmental
activism. Oregonians who
return empty bottles and
cans to stores and redemp-
tion centers receive now
a 10-cent refund value for
each container returned.
The OBRC began releas-
ing clues on July 6. Partici-
pants from around the state
tried to decipher the cryptic
poems. It was on the third
day that Ferguson and her
son began to narrow their
search.
The third clue included
the phrase,“‘More Hints’
and you may celebrate!”
This was an anagram of
Hermiston — along with
other clues about the city’s
agricultural history and
burgeoning population.
The OBRC hid each
bottle in a park or trail open
to the public, so Fergu-
son and her son decided to
explore all seven parks in the
Hermiston area. They tack-
led Riverfront Park fi rst.
After negotiating which
direction to go and admir-
ing the mulberry trees that
populated the park, they
ventured toward Bridge
Road. On the other side of
the underpass, they found
the bottle; wrapped in
orange bubble wrap and
tucked into a small culvert.
This year’s six winners
got to keep the commem-
orative bottle and direct
the $1,000 to an Oregon
nonprofit of their choice.
Ferguson selected the
Pendleton Animal Welfare
Shelter/Pioneer Humane
Society.
“We’re animal lovers, so
we picked the humane soci-
ety,” she said. “I follow them
really closely on Facebook
and they’re always needing
donations.”
Ferguson, who was born
four years after the Bottle
Bill passed, credited the bill
as a positive incentive for
recycling in Oregon. Still,
Ferguson pointed out the
nearest BottleDrop for her
is almost an hour away. She
noted it would be useful to
have more redemption
centers around the state.
“I would hope in the
future of recycling, espe-
cially in more r ural
communities like we live
in, there would be a more
convenient way for people
to do it,” she said.
LOCAL BRIEFING
Umatilla Indian
Reservation bans
open burning
MISSION — Open
burning on the Umatilla
Indian Reservation ends
Thursday, July 14.
T h e c o n fe d e r a t e d
Umatilla tribes in a press
release announced the
recent dry weather plus
grass and vegetation drying
out prompted the ban.
The burn ban, which
comes later than in past
years due to record rain,
limits open burning until
the fi re season ends in the
fall. The ban applies to burn
barrels and yard debris, but
HAPPY
90
th
BIRTHDAY!
Help Jim Stanton
Turn 90!
Saturday, July 16th, 1-3pm
Birch Creek Golf Course Dining Room
sweathouse and ceremonial
fi res are exempt.
Those exempt fi res still
will need permits for spec-
ified burn days from the
Umatilla Tribal Dispatch.
To obtain a permit, contact
the dispatch at 541-278-
0550.
For more information
regarding the burn ban or
agricultural fi res, contact
the Offi ce of Air Quality at
541-429-7080.
— EO Media Group
7/15-7/21
Cineplex Show Times
Price changes: Adults: $10.00 • Child: $8.00
Senior: $8.00 • Matinees (before 4:00pm): $8.00
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (PG)
3:40p 6:10p 8:40p
extra 1:00p show 7/15-7/17
Where the Crawdads Sing (PG13)
4:40p 7:40p
extra 1:40p show 7/15-7/17
Thor: Love and Thunder (PG13)
5:00p 8:00p
extra 2:00p show 7/15-7/17
Minions: Rise of Gru (PG)
4:00p 6:30p 9:00p
extra 1:20p show 7/15-7/17
Top Gun: Maverick (PG13)
4:20p 8:20p
extra 12:40p show 7/15-7/17
wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850
Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216