COMMUNITY NEWS
B10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
IN BRIEF
20-year-old
changes plea in
sex abuse case
A California man turn-
ing 21 this month plans to
change his plea on commit-
ting sex crimes in Hermis-
ton when he was a teen.
A Umatilla County
grand jury in September
2015 indicted Luis Al-
berto Ramirez of Oxnard
on two counts of first-de-
gree sodomy and eight
of first-degree sexual
abuse, according to court
records. The crimes in-
volved three victims and
took place in 2010 and
2011. Ramirez pleaded
not guilty to the charges
in October,
Court records show a
psychological evaluation
in February determined
Ramirez could partici-
pate in his own defense.
His defense attorney
then filed a motion for a
change of plea.
That
hearing
is
Wednesday morning in
Hermiston in the court-
room of Circuit Judge
Eva Temple.
Hermiston bomb
hoaxer pleads guilty
Hermiston man who
claimed he was trying to
prank a relative plead-
ed guilty to possessing a
hoax bomb.
Umatilla County Cir-
cuit Court records show
David U. Ponce, 23, of
Hermiston, is serving two
years of court probation
for the stunt. Possession
of hoax destructive de-
vice is a Class A misde-
meanor in Oregon.
Hermiston police on
the morning of Nov. 30,
2015, responded to 217 E.
Beebe Ave., for a report of
a bomb inside a garbage
can, according to Herm-
iston police Chief Jason
Edmiston. Of¿cers arrived
and met with an employ-
ee from Sanitary Dispos-
al who found a cardboard
box displaying the words
“this is a bomb.”
The cops then ques-
tioned Ponce, who lives
at the address, and he ad-
mitting to trying to play a
joke on a relative, accord-
ing to Edmiston.
The chief also report-
ed Hermiston police had
cited Ponce 62 times and
arrested him 29 times be-
fore that day.
The police depart-
ment asked for help from
the Oregon State Police
bomb squad to examine
the box. All it contained,
according to Edmiston,
was a beer bottle. He also
said the gag kept cops on
the scene for about three
hours.
PO BOX 1 • 101 Olson Rd • Boardman, OR 97818 • 541-481-3014
www.boardmanchamber.org • email: info@boardmanchamber.org
Business Person
of the Year
Citizen of the Year
Maria
Richards
Penny
Jurney
Boardman
Hardware
receives
award from
Don Russell
receives
award
Thanks to all who made our Awards banquet a success:
Planning committee - Anna Browne, Kalie Davis, Julie Gisi,
Emerald Lantis, Karen Purcell, Maria Richards, Renee Grace,
Mary Ann Hancock, Stefanie Swindler, and Chamber Staff
Awards Committee
Don Russell - Our emcee
Country Gentleman Restaurant
Midway Bar & Grill
Port of Morrow Riverfront Center
Rover Security
Ron Mart for providing beautiful background music
Mike Zook - our wonderful auctioneer
Table Decorators Silent Auction Donors
And all who attended and supported the event!
Fire & Safety Award
Pioneer Award
Rick Stokoe
Ed & Frances Glen
Boardman Police Chief receives
award from Don Russell
receives award from Don Russell
And BIG Thanks to our Sponsors!
Educator of the Year
Youth Award
Threemile Canyon Farms, LLC
T & C Flowers and Melons
Morrow Cold Storage/ Watts Brothers
Banner Bank
Port of Morrow
American West Properties
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Boardman Foods
Boardman Hardware
Main Street Sinclair
Oregon Trail Library District
Rover Security
Taylor Transfer
W.I. Construction
Sam Cornelius
Edith Velasco
receives award from Maria Shimer
receives award from Emily Waite
Cabins ~ RV’s ~ Tents
Fishing ~ ATV Trails
Concessions
Castle Rock Farming LLC • Columbia River Dairy LLC
Six Mile Land & Cattle LLC
A proud part of Umatilla
& Morrow Counties!
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE!
www.threemilecanyonfarms.com
75906 Threemile Rd • Boardman OR 97818
Reservation Line 541-989-8214
Willow Run Golf Course
Saturday, April 2 • 9am
4-person teams
Website: morrowcountyparks.org
Email: mcparks co.morrow.or.us
Morrow County
Public Works
$200/team or $50/single player
Includes lunch, golf
& 6 raffle tickets
365 W. Hwy 74 • PO Box
Lexington, OR 97839
541-989-9500 office
Columbia River Community
Health Services
450 Tatone Street • Boardman
For your appointment, call 541-481-7212
Hours: Mon. 7:30am-7pm • Tues.-Fri. 7:30am-5pm
Hablamos Español
Some of our services include:
• Well Baby/ Child Exams • Childhood/ Adult Immunizations
• Sports Physicals • Men’s & Women’s Health Exams
• CDL Physicals • Flu Shots • Pre-employment Screenings
• Chronic Disease Management • Limited Access to Dental Care
We accept most major insurance plans + Medicare & Oregon Medicaid
Our experienced agents can analyze your insurance needs and select the
company or companies best suited to your individual situation.
You'll get hometown service from your neighbors and friends.
Monday through Friday, or by appointment. www.wheatlandins.com
IONE
245 NW Main, Suite 100 • PO Box 26
Phone 541-422-7410
Fax 541-276-7688
HEPPNER
294 N. Main • PO Box 755
Phone 541-676-9113
Fax 541-276-7688
HERMISTON
455 E. Main St. • PO Box 1349
Phone 541-567-8834
Fax 541-276-7688
Offices also located in:
• PENDLETON • CONDON • ELGIN • LA GRANDE • ENTERPRISE • ATHENA, WALLOWA • BAKER CITY
• Commercial • Farms & Crops • Agriculture • Ranch • Personal • Industrial
• Worker's Compensation• Service Organizations • Health, Life & Financial Services
UEC Ofers $2,500 Scholarships
Scholarships Available
Visit umatillaelectric.com For More Information
203 NE Boardman Ave.
750 W. Elm St.
Boardman, Ore 97818
Hermiston, OR 97838
541-481-2220
541-567-6414
800-452-2273
www.umatillaelectric.com
• Temporary Staffing Services • Recruiting
• Human Resource Management
• Risk Management • Payroll Administration
159 W. Hermiston Ave, Ste 160 • Hermiston, OR
(541) 567-9670 • Fax (541) 567-4427
251 Puskarich Ave., Boardman, OR
(541) 481-2666 • Fax (541-481-2239
WWW.BARRETTBUSINESS.COM
Contact Pendleton Grain
Growers, Inc. for all your
agricultural transportation,
agricultural and residential
energy and grain marketing
needs today.
PENDLETON GRAIN GROWERS, INC.
pggcountry.com
(800) 422-7611
If you would like to help sponsor the Boardman Chamber page, published on the
2 nd Wednesday of every month, call Audra Workman at 541-564-4538
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY