Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 19, 2023 -- NINE
Boardman to get
$1.5 million
incubator
Senior meal celebrates
grand opening
-Continued from PAGE ONE emergency alert systems
Commerce, Justice, Sci-
ence, and Related Agencies
(CJS) bill and Financial
Services and General Gov-
ernment (FSGG) bill. The
bills passed out of commit-
tee Friday with bipartisan
support.
Federal funding in
the bills include a total of
$15,510,000 for 14 com-
munity-initiated projects
throughout the state, as well
as key investments to sup-
port programs and projects
that boost job creation and
innovation—particularly in
rural, coastal, and under-
served communities—and
public safety system up-
grades that will better pro-
tect Oregon communities
from wildfire threats and
other disasters.
“As I hold a town hall
for each of Oregon’s 36
counties every year, I hear
from folks about what mat-
ters most to them, includ-
ing robustly supporting
Oregon’s economic devel-
opment and ensuring our
communities are prepared
should disasters strike,”
Merkley said. “The com-
munity-initiated projects
funded in these bills will
boost rural and coastal
infrastructure and salmon
recovery efforts and help
upgrade public safety and
to keep Oregonians safe
during disasters.”
Other big news in
Boardman includes the
appointment of new city
manager Brandon Ham-
mond. Stokoe informed the
council at its July 11 meet-
ing that both Hammond
and the city had agreed
on a contract. The council
approved the final contract
with Hammond and ap-
pointed him the new city
manager.
Boardman Mayor Paul
Keefer extended his con-
gratulations at the meeting.
“Welcome back to
Boardman,” he told Ham-
mond, who was present via
Zoom.
Hammond said he will
be meeting with the city
employees and then hopes
to meet with the council
members. He said has al-
ready talked with the Herm-
iston city manager and they
plan to start a regional quar-
terly city manager meeting.
He also said that, be-
ing new to the position, he
hoped to do some training.
“Maybe we could all
do that together to do a re-
fresher of everyone’s roles,
responsibilities,” he said.
Hammond’s start date
will be Aug. 1.
Volunteers serve seniors and other visitors at the grand open-
ing of the South Morrow County Seniors Matter lunches last
Tuesday in Heppner. Organizers say volunteers are always
needed for the senior meal. -Photo by Tylynn Cimmiyotti
A large gathering celebrated the inaugural South Morrow
County Seniors Matter lunch in Heppner last week. Lunches
will be served at St. Patrick’s Senior Center every Tuesday at
11:30. -Photo by Tylynn Cimmiyotti
Boardman man drowns
in the Columbia River
The Boardman com-
munity is in mourning after
a 35-year-old Boardman
man apparently drowned
in the Columbia River on
Sunday.
Two cousins were en-
joying their Sunday, fishing
from the bank of the Co-
lumbia River, when tragedy
struck. Irwin Parcero Perez,
35, of Boardman, was fish-
ing with his cousin when
he walked a little farther
into the river and suddenly
slipped completely into the
water. Despite his cousin’s
attempts to help, Perez was
not located.
About 5:45 p.m. on
Sunday July 16, Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
Communications Center re-
ceived a 911 call reporting
that Perez was swept away
into the Columbia River.
MCSO and several oth-
er agencies all responded
to the scene to help lo-
cate the fisherman. In total,
there were seven boats,
two drones, two dive res-
cue teams and one private
plane searching for Perez.
Despite all the equipment
and searchers, they were
unable to locate the fish-
erman and the search was
suspended due to darkness.
As of Monday morning,
due to high winds on the
river, they were unable to
launch boats. The search
will continue as soon as the
weather allows.
“The Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office wishes to
express our deepest con-
dolences to the family and
friends of Mr. Parcero Pe-
rez,” the sheriff’s office
said in a press release. “Our
thoughts and prayers are
with you all at this difficult
time.”
MCSO also says this
is another sad reminder
that the Columbia River
is extremely powerful and
dangerous. The sheriff’s
department recommends
wearing a life vest when
going in the Columbia Riv-
er, even for wading, due to
unexpected drop-offs and
very strong currents.
Also participating in
the recovery efforts were
Columbia Basin Dive
Rescue, Benton County
Sheriff’s Office, Umatilla
County Sheriff’s Office,
Boardman Police Depart-
ment and a Boardman Fire
drone operator, as well as
a private pilot from Wash-
ington.
One Trick Pony at
Boardman marina
Monday
Michael Trew
One Trick Pony will
be at the Boardman Marina
Park on July 24 for Music
in the Parks.
One Trick Pony is a
tribute to the music of sing-
er-songwriter Paul Simon.
Covering songs from the
‘60s Simon & Garfunkel
days, ‘70s hits and beyond,
musician Michael Trew
draws the audiences into
spirited sing-alongs. Trew
has been touring the U.S.
regularly since 2008.
The concerts are free
to the public and begin at
7 p.m. on Monday nights.
Visitors are encouraged to
bring chairs and blankets.
The series is funded by the
Morrow County Unified
Recreation District and
Portland General Electric
and sponsored by the North
Morrow Community Foun-
dation.
In the event of inclem-
ent weather, Boardman
performances will be held
at the SAGE Center.
Locals celebrated the inaugural South Morrow County Seniors
Matter lunch in Heppner last week. -Photo by Tylynn Cimmiyotti
Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice Chaplain Jerry
Conklin speaks to a full house at the first in-person senior
meal Heppner has seen since before COVID. -Photo by Tylynn
Cimmiyotti
Seniors Matter
Weekly Meal
South Morrow County
Seniors matter will be serv-
ing tacos on a plate and a
dessert on Tuesday, July
25. On Aug. 1, the meal will
be a chicken bake with roll,
wild rice and broccoli, and
a dessert.
Meals are served at
11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at
St. Patrick’s Senior Center
in Heppner. Seniors 60 and
above may donate what
they can toward the cost
of the meal. Those 60 and
younger are asked for a
suggested donation of $5.
No to-go plates or de-
livery are offered at this
time, but diners may bring
empty containers for a por-
tion to take home.
Anyone interested in
volunteering may contact
Jerry or Jackie.
First of ‘Movies in
the Parking Lot’
this Saturday
Heppner’s first evening
in the Movies in the Parking
Lot summer series will take
place this Saturday, July
22, at the Hopeful Saints
parking lot on the corner of
Gale and Church streets in
Heppner.
The movie will start at
8:30 as weather permits.
Call Cody High at 541-256-
0847 for up-to-date details.
This is a free communi-
ty event thanks to funding
from Morrow County Uni-
fied Recreation District.
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Sheriff’s Report
December 20, 2022—-
An officer with Albany PD
advised MCSO that a male
from Albany had a felony
warrant out of California.
The male resided in Alba-
ny but was in Irrigon for
work. The officer advised
he spoke with the subject
and the subject stated he
would turn himself in either
in Boardman or Irrigon.
He wanted local agencies
aware in case he showed up
at either location.
-Kaelynn Hollingworth
was lodged at Umatilla
County Jail and a detention
warrant served on her, with
no bail for parole violation.
-A farm in Irrigon
advised they had camera
footage and a picture of a
license plate for trespassers
and requested contact.
-A male in Irrigon ad-
vised that he just moved
into a residence and as they
were cleaning stuff out, they
located a box that appears
to have drug paraphernalia
in it. He requested contact.
-A person in Irrigon ad-
vised someone was pound-
ing on the neighbor’s door
and tried to jump in the
window to break in. The
caller believed the indi-
viduals inside didn’t want
them there.
-A female in Irrigon
advised that her husband
took off on foot from the Ir-
rigon Shell Station. She did
not know which direction
he went. He was making
suicidal statements and
took off on foot saying he
was going to kill himself.
He was just released from
Good Shepherd Hospital
around 11 a.m. that morn-
ing.
December 21, 2022—
A caller in the Irrigon area
advised of a dark colored
Chevy pickup speeding
toward Irrigon. The subject
was banging on the door
causing a disturbance. Mor-
row County Sheriff’s Office
responded.
-MCSO responded to a
verbal disturbance at Green
Acres in Irrigon. It was de-
termined to be only verbal,
nothing physical.
-A caller at Pioneer Me-
morial Hospital in Heppner
reported that the hospital
was receiving odd calls at
night in which someone
was saying things that did
not make sense. It was un-
known who was making the
calls because the number
was restricted. The caller
didn’t want anything done,
just wanted it logged in case
something did happen.
-A caller at Irrigon Mini
Mart advised there was a
female yellow lab with a
pink collar roaming around
the Irrigon Shell. The caller
thought it had been out all
night and was unsure who
it belonged to.
-A caller in Irrigon ad-
vised they had lost their
mini Aussie by the RV park.
-A caller in Irrigon ad-
vised they were missing a
female yellow lab mix, un-
known if she was wearing
a collar, answering to the
name Cabela. The caller
advised it was okay to give
their information out if
someone found her.
-A caller at Columbia
Basin Electric advised their
phone lines were cut and
they were currently work-
ing on them. She advised
they would call back if
and when they have their
phones restored.
-Dispatch received an
open line 911 call from the
Boardman area. There were
no emergent sounds, but
they could hear machinery
and a male talking, possible
pocket dial. A communi-
cations deputy attempted
a call back and a male
answered but then hung up
when asked if there was an
emergency. Another call
back was attempted but
there was no answer.
-A caller with Oregon
Adjusters advised that they
repossessed a vehicle in
Heppner and that the regis-
tered owner was not aware.
-A caller in Irrigon re-
quested a ride to Irrigon
Shell to retrieve her car. She
was currently walking on
Depot. An MCSO deputy
responded and gave her a
courtesy ride.
-A deputy was flagged
down by a female who stat-
ed that her husband left on
foot stating he was going to
kill himself. She advised he
was recently on psych hold.
MCSO and Boardman PD
responded and Community
Counseling Solutions was
advised.
-MCSO received a
driving complaint regard-
ing a small red car speeding
down Utah toward Tenth
at approximately 40 mph.
MCSO advised they were
in the area at the time of
the complaint and it was
unfounded.
-MCSO responded to a
commercial burglar alarm
at Irrigon Medical Clinic.
The building was secure
and no one was inside.
-A deputy advised that
the train on the railroad
tracks at Paterson Ferry Rd.
hadn’t moved in a while.
Union Pacific Railroad was
advised.
-A caller in Irrigon ad-
vised that there was a sound
of loud bass in the area.
MCSO responded and ad-
vised the individual to turn
his music down.
December 22, 2022—
Morrow County Sheriff’s
Office, Boardman Ambu-
lance and Boardman Fire
responded to a call regard-
ing a 50-year-old male in
Boardman who had fallen
and was bleeding from the
head. The male was de-
clared deceased.
-Boardman Ambulance
responded to Murray’s Drug
in Boardman for a pregnant
female in extreme pain. The
patient was transported to
Good Shepherd hospital.
-A female in Boardman
advised that a neighbor over
on McGraw Lane had a
daog that had been barking
all night. MCSO responded
but was unable to locate a
barking dog.
-A caller at the Shell
Station in Irrigon advised
of a multicolored Toyota
parked in the handicapped
spot and leaking fluids, pos-
sibly gas. The caller told the
people in the car, but they
didn’t seem to care. MCSO
responded but was unable
to locate the vehicle.
-A caller advised
MCSO of a dark-colored
pickup parked on Black-
horse Canyon Rd. The
caller requested a deputy
check on them because
there was no reason to stop
there unless the pickup was
disabled.
-A female in Boardman
advised that her neighbor’s
dog keeps barking day and
night, and she would like
a deputy to talk to them
and have them tend to their
dog. The caller didn’t know
the address but stated it
would be the first house on
McGraw Lane, with all the
goats. MCSO responded
and gave the dog owner a
verbal warning for main-
taining a dog as a public
nuisance.
-Veterans Affairs re-
quested a welfare check on
a male in Heppner. They
also asked MCSO to ad-
vise him that the VA would
like to get him assistance.
MCSO made contact. The
male was okay and was
provided the information.
-MCSO dispatch re-
ceived an open-line 911
call. Nothing was heard and
there was no answer on call
back. MCSO made contact
-Continued to PAGE TEN