Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - FIVE
Eastern Oregon comes unwired
The "W aterm elon
Capital of the World” is now
one gigantic High Tech WiFi
sweet spot.
Phase I of the largest
region-w ide
w ireless
broadband
d ig ita l
communications (WiFi) system
in the U.S. will be activated
Feb. 5 in “ wire cu ttin g ”
ceremonies to be held in
Boardman and Hermiston.
Congressman Greg Walden
(R-OR). EZ Wireless CEO
Fred Ziari and other dignitaries
will begin the “un wiring” of the
600 square mile w ireless
network at 12:30 p.m. at the
Port of Morrow headquarters
in Boardman. Several federal,
state and local public officials.
H om eland S ecurity and
em ergency m anagem ent
personnel and global
technology
com pany
executives will also be a part
of the festivities.
The system is being
developed through a unique
joint public/private partnership
with EZ Wireless, LLC, a
global leader in application
developm ent, design and
engineering for broadband
w ireless
and
m obile
em ergency m anagem ent
solutions and the Chemical
S tockpile
E m ergency
P reparedness Program
(CSEPP) being administered
by the Morrow County Office
of Emergency Management.
“A ccess to secure
‘real time’ data for emergency
responders that are mobile has
historically been difficult and
expensive. We were asked by
C SE PP to address this
challenge and we were able to
solve it,” says EZ Wireless
President Fred Ziari. "We
developed a unique, highly
secure 256-bit encrypted
approach using w ireless
broadband that gave the
em ergency m anagem ent
people the capability they had.
until now. only dreamed of.
The big difference with our
broadband wireless is we can
cover a whole city or an entire
region, not just a building or a
city block. That means one
can stay connected while
walking or driving around
town.”
Judge Terry Tallman,
Chairman of the Morrow
County Commissioners adds,
“But. the really exciting by
product was the creation of
the nation’s largest ‘hot spot’
that
opens
ex citin g
o p p o rtu n itie s for o th er
agencies, businesses and
consumers using universal
wireless access to high speed
internet connections.”
A new sophisticated
system c alled . Incident
Response Information System
(IRIS) will also be unveiled at
the wire cutting ceremonies.
IRIS allows first responders
and emergency management
personnel to have accurate
mobile information in real time
as they resp o n d to any
emeigency. ‘This exciting wire
cutting not only allows our
rural region to leap-frog the
‘digital divide,’ it proves that
when working together in a
public/private partnership,
g o v ern m en t can be an
innovator,” said Casey Beard,
Director of Morrow County
Emergency Management and
the C h em ical S to ck p ile
Em ergency Preparedness
Program (CSEPP).
Congressman Walden
and the other dignitaries will be
shown a mobile demonstration
of the high-speed broadband
w ireless (W iFi) internet
connection capabilities. While
driving around Boardman (and
later in Hermiston ) they will be
able, from any location in the
city, to get a w ireless
connection to the internet that
is about 5 to 10 times faster
than a normal T1 or DSL
connection.
Officials will then visit
the Hermiston Safety Center
before arriving for a reception
at the Hermiston Community
Center. Hermiston Chief of
Police Dan Coulombe has
ex p an d ed the w ireless
capabilities of the CSEPP
system to include intelligent
traffic control applications and
improved efficiencies for the
deployment and paperwork
challenges of his officers. He
will demonstrate the local
Hermiston “smart policing”
capabilities to Congressman
W alden and the o th er
dignitaries before they go to the
Hermiston Community Center
for a follow-up “unwiring”
celebration with Hermiston
M ayor Bob Severson and
Hermiston City Manager Ed
Brookshier scheduled for 3
p.m.
“This kind of unique
opportunity for our rural
communities to be the first in
the nation to have universal high
speed wireless access to the
internet is analogous to the first
city to get telephones or
electricity or even running
water.” Rod Davis, Hermiston
C ham ber o f C om m erce
Manager said.
W hen co m p leted ,
Phase I will encompass a
geographical area more than
four times the area of Portland.
OR and six times larger than
the C ity o f Seattle. The
6(XFksquare mile “cloud” will
feature broadband wireless
communications technologies
(WiFi) for emergency services,
public safety, transportation
and economic development
for the region. The project
includes parts of Oregon and
Washington; four counties,
and, seven entire cities. Phase
II, planned for the summer of
2(X)4 will cover an additional
seven cities in Eastern Oregon.
WiFi, GPS and digital
security experts such as.
Chameleon, Trimble and YD1
Wireless were part of the
tech n o lo g y team o f EZ
Wireless in the development of
the hardware and software of
the
W i-Fi
system .
Representatives from many of
the companies will be on hand
at the recep tio n at the
Hermiston Community Center.
Other attendees to the
day’s activities will include
officials from FEMA’s Region
Ten, U.S. Army, Corps of
Engineers, Oregon’s Office of
Em ergency M anagement,
Oregon State Police. Oregon
Department of Transportation,
Oregon State senators and
representatives, area county
commissioners and mayors,
high
tech
industry
representatives and many local
civic and business leaders.IRZ
C o n su ltin g , Inc. and its
subsidiary, EZ Wireless, LLC
are leaders in the engineering
and installation of secure
broadband wireless systems
for Emergency Management
and Homeland Security. IRZ
has been involved in cutting
edge digital communications,
GPS and in fo rm atio n
technologies for nearly two
decades. In addition to the
co m p leted d esig n and
installation of the CSEPP
network. IRZ and EZ Wireless
are working with several
agencies and municipalities in
designing and developing
secure broadband wireless
communications systems for
first
resp o n d ers
and
emergency personnel as well
as businesses and consumers.
E arly stu d ies of
emergency preparedness of
the communities near the eight
chemical agent stockpile sites,
in clu d in g the U m atilla
Chemical Depot in Hermiston,
showed the need to improve
existing emergency plans,
train in g , equipm ent and
facilities. The purpose of the
C h em ical
S to ck p ile
Em ergency Preparedness
Program (C S E P P ) is to
im prove the em erg en cy
resp o n se c a p a b ilitie s o f
communities that surround the
chemical stockpiles. CSEPP
re c o g n ize s that each
co m m u n ity has its own
particular needs for emergency
preparedness. Emergency
services, for the communities
surrounding the Umatilla
Chemical Depot, are provided
by local fire and police
d ep artm en ts; w ho train
annually to test their response
capabilities. The IRIS was
d ev elo p ed w ith these
em ergency responders in
mind. Ensuring their safety was
the impetus. With a handheld
RECON, first responders are
able to view the “ risk
envelope” in relation to their
location, via global positioning
sy stem s (G PS ), and to
retrieve, collect and send data
from the field. WiFi has
a M otor Vehicle. He was was at a location in Boardman,
already lodged at the Umatilla in violation of his conditional
release agreem ent. Juan
County Jail.
allowed the IRIS to work in
-MCSO received a Artemio Martinez, 37, was
the field, building confidence report from a caller that she arrested for V iolation of
and ensuring the safety of our thought a male subject was at C o n d itio n a l
R elease
first responders.
a farm in Boardman.
Agreement and lodged at the
-MCSO received a Umatilla County Jail.
report of a panic alarm at
S ep t. 13: M CSO
Gregg’s Tavern in Irrigon. The deputy cited Joseph Lorin
owner called and advised it LaChappelle, 47, for Driving
The Morrow County was a false alarm.
while Licease Suspended Vi
-MCSO received a olation, Violation of the Ba
Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) re
ports handling the following request for a deputy at Huwe’s sic Rule, 72 mph in a 55 mph
in Irrigon for an unwanted zone and Driving Uninsured.
business:
m ale subject both erin g The vehicle was impounded.
S e p t. 1 0 : M CSO customers.
-MCSO deputy cit
-MCSO received a ed a juvenile for Curfew Vi
received a report of an audible
intrusion alarm at Bigfoot report from the Umatilla Police olation.
Industries in Boardman. The Dept, that Robert Brehm, 32,
-MCSO received a
was arrested on an Irrigon
alarm was cancelled.
re p o rt from a c a lle r in
-MCSO received a Justice Court warrant for Heppner that the neighbor’s
report of a residential burglary Forgery II and Failure to dog was on her porch. It was
alarm in Boardman. A deputy Appear/Driving while Licease an on-going problem.
determined that no one was Suspended. He was lodged at
-MCSO deputy ar
home and the building was the Umatilla County Jail on rested Christopher A. Buffo,
secure. A neighbor advised the local charges with a hold 18, on an Irrigon Justice
homeowner left just prior to placed for the warrants.
Court warrant for Failure to
S e p t. 11: M CSO Appear/Criminal Mischief D.
the deputy's arrival.
-MCSO received a receiv ed a request from The juvenile was cited and
request for a deputy contact Intertribal for a deputy to released.
from the Morrow County check an Intertribal building on
-M CSO d ep u ties
Road Dept, regarding the Tower Road. There was a cited Keith Axtell, 34, for No
report of an alarm sounding. Insurance. Trie vehicle was
dumping of dead animals.
-MCSO received a The building was secure.
impounded.
-MCSO received a
rep o rt from a c aller in
-MCSO received a
B oardm an that som eone report from a caller of a release rep o rt from a c a lle r in
entered her property last night violation. The caller’s husband Pendleton that her daughter
and left a gate open. Her went to her residence in was going to Bull Prairie and
vehicle had also been entered Boardman and gotten his car was going to call from Anson
and the door left ajar. An extra while she was at work.
W right Park, but hadn’t
-MCSO received a called yet. The subject was
p atro l in the area was
report from a caller who found located at Bull Prairie.
requested.
-MCSO received a one of his sheep dead in a field
-MCSO received a
relayed rep o rt from the in Irrigon; it was possibly a dog report from a caller in lone
Oregon State Police of a attack.
that a male subject went past
-MCSO received a her residence and left after he
motor vehicle accident on
Highway 730 east of Irrigon. rep o rt from a c a lle r in saw her. The subject was to
It was a non-injury, non- Boardman that a male subject be given a stalking order
blocking accident. A tow truck had been leaving threatening when seen again. The caller
was requested to remove the m essages on the c a lle r’s will call back if the subject
mother's phone.
vehicle from the ditch.
returned.
-MCSO deputy cited
-MCSO received a
-MCSO received a
request for a deputy contact Dianna Garcilazo, 46, for rep o rt from a c aller in
from a caller in lone regarding Careless Driving.
Boardman who had a door
-M CSO , H eppner taken off an RV. It was un
the theft of an air compressor.
-MCSO received a ambulance. Lexington EMTs known when it occurred or
report from a caller in Irrigon received a request for an who took the door.
that her parents were fighting. ambulance from a caller at the
-MCSO received a
-MCSO received a MCGG convenience store in rep o rt from a c a lle r in
rep o rt from a c a lle r in Lexington for a 60-year-old Boardman of a theft of a bi
Boardman that a vehicle rolled female who had fallen. The cycle.
over on Tow er Road on patient was transported to
-MCSO received a
Boeing property earlier in the Pioneer Memorial Hospital in report that Action Towing
day. There were no subjects Heppner.
sold 10 vehicles for auction
-MCSO received a or salvage.
in the vehicle or in the area.
-M C SO
deputy report from a caller in Irrigon
-MCSO received a
arrested Curtis Ray Perkins, that someone shot through his request for a deputy contact
32, on a Morrow County window yesterday.
in Irrigon regarding an un
-MCSO received a wanted male subject at a lo
w arrant for No A ngling
request for a deputy at the cation in Irrigon. The subject
License.
-MCSO received a Irrigon Justice C ourt to was also involved in a distur
request from a caller in lone co n tact a citiz en at the bance a few days ago.
for a welfare check on a location.
-MCSO received a
-MCSO received a report of an audible burglar
subject and his horses. The
caller had not seen him in request for assistance from a alarm at a residence in
several days. It was c a lle r w hose v e h ic le ’s Boardman.
electronic doors would not
determined all was okay.
-MCSO received a
close.
A Chrysler dealer would rep o rt from a c a lle r in
-MCSO received a
report from a caller in lone of contact the caller.
Heppner that he found a
-MCSO received a scooter in some weeds near
a male subject driving very fast
on Main Street in lone. A request for deputy contact his residence.
warning was given to the from a caller in Heppner
-MCSO received a
regarding her neighbor’s dog. report from UCSO that Hol
subject.
-M C SO , Irrigon ly H. Mack, 32, was arrest
-MCSO received a
report that Ross C. Van Etta, ambulance received a request ed on a Morrow County Cir
22, was arrested on a Morrow for an ambulance from a caller cuit Court warrant for Fail
County warrant for Failure to in Irrigon who was feeling ill. ure to Appear/Possession of
-MCSO, Boardman a Controlled Substance II, on
Appear/Unauthorized Use of
Police D ept, receiv ed a a UCSO warrant and a war
request for an officer contact rant out of Multnomah Coun
regarding a theft.
ty. She was lodged at the
-MCSO deputy cited Umatilla County Jail with a
Lazaro Rodriguez-Ri vera, 41, hold placed for M orrow
for Violation of the Basic Rule, County.
73 mph in a 55 mph zone.
-M CSO, Heppner
-M C SO
deputy and lone Fire depts. received
reported he found a bicycle at a relayed report of a fire from
the Irrigon Sentry Market.
a caller in lone. About 30 min
-MCSO, Boardman utes later, it was advised the
Police Dept, received a report fire was c o n tain ed and
from a caller that her husband Heppner mutual aid could
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