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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2016)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 LOCAL NEWS County backs $1.5 million loan to EOTEC By JADE McDOWELL Staff Writer The Umatilla County Com- mission has agreed to back a $1.5 million loan to the Eastern Ore- gon Trade and Event Center with full faith and credit, if the city of Hermiston is willing to make the same guarantee. The EOTEC fundraising com- mittee is attempting to raise $2 million for construction of the new fair and rodeo grounds outside of Hermiston by March 1. For donors who want to break up large contri- butions over two to ¿ve years, the committee plans to access the full sum upfront by taking out a loan for the pledged amount and then using those pledged contributions to pay back the loan. Committee member Nate Ri- vera told the commission that the Hermiston School District had used a similar tactic to raise money for Kennison Field and as of the fourth year no donors had defaulted on their promised con- tribution. He said so far the EOTEC com- mittee had raised about $450,000 and expected to be able to raise more once the loan program was in place. “We’re working the phones, and people have been great,” he said. The original plan was for the loan to be backed using the EO- TEC property as collateral, but county council Doug Olsen point- ed out in December that EOTEC — formed by an intergovernmen- tal agreement between the coun- ty and the city of Hermiston — could not do that. Since the state constitution prohibits counties from using land as collateral for loans, EOTEC couldn’t do that either. The resolution on the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting offered full faith and credit backing for up to $750,000 in loans to EOTEC, with the assumption that the city of Hermiston would back the oth- er half of the loan. But Rivera told the commission that the banks needed both partners to of¿cial- ly back the entire $1.5 million on paper, however they might end up splitting it up in the event of a default. Commissioner Bill Elfering proposed that the number be in- creased to $1.5 million and that a clause be added that made the backing contingent on the city of Hermiston’s willingness to also guarantee the $1.5 million. Commissioner Larry Givens vot- ed with Elfering in favor of that resolution, with Commissioner State will revamp Highway 395 this spring, summer Traffic delays and detours will affect nearly 17,000 cars a day By JADE McDOWELL Staff Writer As the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation gears up for a summer of con- struction on Highway 395 in Hermiston, the department is putting an emphasis on driv- er safety. The corridor through the center of Hermiston will be the subject of a major re- paving project from March through the end of August. The department will grind out the old asphalt and place two inches of new pavement on the six-mile section of highway from Southeast Fourth Street to Highway 730. All intersections will get ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps and a cement median will replace the yellow traf¿c delineators at the intersection of 395 and Elm Avenue. ODOT public informa- tion of¿cer Tom Strandberg said as much work as pos- sible will be done at night to reduce the impact on ad- jacent businesses. One lane in each direction will always be open, but the work will disrupt traf¿c Àows through the corridor, which sees an average of 16,850 vehicles per day. Strandberg said safety along the busy stretch of highway has been an in- creasing concern for ODOT, especially after two serious crashes north of town late in 2015. “Whenever you have a situation like that where it’s heading out of town but you still have all those businesses along there and there’s ¿ve lanes, it’s tricky,” he said. Strandberg urged drivers who use the Highway 395 corridor to pay extra atten- tion to their surroundings and to reduce distractions while driving, which will be especially important during the construction period. “ODOT will continue to work with the city of Herm- iston to improve safety, but it is paramount that all mo- torists, bicyclists and pedes- trians take extra caution and be mindful of each other,” he wrote in a news release. “Safety is everyone’s re- sponsibility.” Between 2010 and 2014 there were 450 crashes re- ported on Highway 395 be- tween milepost 10 (just north of Stan¿eld and Highway 730. Ninety percent of those occurred in the six-mile stretch between Southeast Fourth Street and Highway 730. According to ODOT data, those crashes resulted in two fatalities, 15 serious injuries, 90 moderate injuries and 228 minor injuries. The full data set isn’t in for 2015, but there was another fatality reported on Highway 395 near Bag- STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Vehicles pass a turn-lane barrier at the intersection of Highway 395 and Elm Avenue on Wednesday in Hermiston. ODOT has identified the Highway 395 corridor from Stanfield to Umatilla through Hermiston as one of the busiest — and most danger- ous — in Eastern Oregon. Here are the numbers from 2010-2014. Vehicles per day 16,850 Total crashes 450 Fatalities 2 Serious injuries 15 Moderate injuries 90 Minor injuries 228 gett Lane in October 2015. The majority of crashes reported between 2010 and 2014 were classi¿ed as rear- end crashes or crashes during a turning movement. Half of the reports listed following too closely or failure to yield as the primary cause, while excessive speed or distracted driving were cited as a cause in 20 percent of the crashes. Thirty-three of the crashes happened on ice or snow-covered roads. Most were two-vehicle crashes. Fridays had the most crash- es at 87, while Saturdays had the fewest at 46. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said in a statement that in June 2015 the department reverted to having an of¿cer on a motor- cycle dedicated full-time to traf¿c violations. In the next six months the of¿cer issued 863 citations, mostly along Highway 395. “Law enforcement can impact traf¿c with either ed- ucation or enforcement,” he said. “We would much rather educate our citizens that dis- tracted driving as a result of passengers, electronic devic- es, etc., is preventable.” He said the highway is unique because it has so many business entrances and exits along it —as well as a high speed limit. Edmiston said it would be important for drivers to be especially cautious and practice good defensive driving during the period of construction on the highway. One particular section of the highway that has come under scrutiny is the intersec- tion of Highway 395 and Elm Avenue. The intersection is the busiest in northeastern Oregon and is considered by IN BRIEF No leads in cow slaughter Heritage Station hosts local author Oregon State Police are still looking for information to track down whoever shot and killed a 2-year-old heif- er in a winter pasture along Feedville Road. Trooper Mitchell Gold- man said several people have called with tips since local rancher Terry Ander- son found the animal butch- ered late last week, but no serious leads. “We’re just kind of hop- ing someone will speak up,” Goldman said. “It’s a pret- ty big deal to shoot some- body’s cattle like that.” The culprit could face extensive ¿nes or prison time if caught. Theft of live- stock is a Class C felony in Oregon, dating back to the old days of cattle rustling. Anderson reported someone butchered his cow in the ¿eld before apparent- ly making a hasty getaway, leaving most of the body to waste. He is offering a $5,000 reward for informa- tion leading to a conviction. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association has offered an additional $1,000. Goldman said there is the possibility more than one person was involved. Anyone with informa- tion should contact OSP at 541-567-3215 or call 1-800- 452-7888. Heritage Station Muse- um will host local author Peg Willis as she introduc- es her new book, “Rise Above: The Heppner Flood of 1903.” The author will be on hand for a Terri¿c Tuesday event Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at 108 S.W. Frazer Ave., Pend- leton. Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Willis will share about the unexpected cloudburst that turned an otherwise mild day into one that the little community of Hep- pner would never forget. For more information, call 541-276-0012 or visit /www. heritagestationmuseum.org. Cultural center group serves breakfast The Irrigon Multicultural Arts Center committee is host- ing a fundraising breakfast. The meal is Saturday, Jan. 30 from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Stokes Landing Se- nior Center, 195 N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon. The cost is $4.50 per person. The group of volunteers is raising mon- ey in hopes of preserving Irrigon’s 1921 school build- ing. For more information, call Peggy at 541-567-3806. 22 nD ANNUAL Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show Friday, Saturday, Sunday January 16, 17, 18 at in Pasco Featuring Outdoor Cooking Camp with “CeeDub” Welch N.W. Big Game Display (Bring your trophy to be scored) Indoor 3D Archery Range Fly Tying Theater Fishing Boats & Tackle Daily Hunting & Fishing Seminars ars Daily Door Prizes FREE Parking Everyday Outdoor Cooking Camp with CeeDub Welch! Just for Kids Lunker Lake – WIN CASH PRIZES!!! Sportsmen’s Journal Come and see the N.W. Big Game Display One-time 3 day admission Adults ...............................................$9 Kids 6-12 years ................................. Kids under 6 ......................................FREE ......... Sunday “Family Day” 2 adults and 2 children (6-12 year) .... FIND US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/scishows ODOT to be the second most dangerous in Eastern Oregon based on number of crashes per vehicle. There were 34 crashes reported from 2011 to 2013. In an attempt to reduce the number of crashes there each year ODOT put up tem- porary barriers at the inter- section to keep people from turning left out of surround- ing businesses. The plastic barriers will be replaced with a concrete median during the repaving project. George Murdock absent. If the EOTEC fundraising com- mittee raises at least $625,000 by March 1 it will add a third live- stock barn to the project. Another $600,000 will buy 2,000 perma- nent seats at the rodeo. The next $700,000 will buy panels and pens for livestock instead of renting them. And the last $75,000 of the $2 mil- lion goal would be used to add elec- trical and water hook-ups to the RV sites provided for exhibitors. The EOTEC board’s regular meeting, originally scheduled for Friday, has been postponed until Jan. 29 at 7 a.m. at the Stafford Hansell Government Center. F ea r w e a e ys to Giv l d 1 a 5 il 0 y people of courtesy Grigg’s Military discount with ID – $1 off any admission PAY ONCE! Come back FREE all 3 days! FREE Parking! Things we want you to know: Shared Connect Plan and Customer Service Agreement with a 2-yr. initial term (subject to a pro-rated $150 Early Termination Fee for basic phones, modems and hotspot devices and a $350 Early Termination Fee for Smartphones and Tablets) or Retail Installment Contract for installment pricing required. Credit approval also required. Up to $40 Device Activation Fee applies. A Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee (currently $1.82/line/month) applies; this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. 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