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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 2016)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 LOCAL NEWS Herald selected as one of the top weeklies in Oregon for 2015 STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST Sheriff Terry Rowan talks with Larry Storment and Sonny Liebe July 20 at Eastside Market in Hermiston. Rowan was kicking off a series of Coffee with the Sheriff session at various locations throughout the county. Sheriff talks shop over coffee By ALEXA LOUGEE Staff Writer Umatilla County Sher- iff Terry Rowan doesn’t mind drinking a cold cup of coffee. “It’s not the coffee, it’s what’s in the coffee,” he said Wednesday morning, July 20, as his once-hot cup of joe cooled over the hour he sat and visited with locals at Hermiston’s Eastside Market. “It’s the caffeine,” he said with a smile. The gathering was the irst in what Rowan plans will be a series of informal meet-and-greets in differ- ent communities around Umatilla County. He wants to give people the opportunity to ask ques- tions, voice complaints and make suggestions. The plan is to do this twice a month, depending on how the public responds. Rowan is running for his second term as county sheriff against Ryan Leh- nert, a corporal with the Pendleton Police Depart- ment, in the November election. One goal of the new program is to create more effective partnerships with local citizens. Rowan pointed to his gold badge, which is cur- rently adorned with a black band. “I don’t like wearing this banded badge, be- cause it signiies that we lost another brother or sister,” Rowan said. He said over the last couple of weeks local law en- forcement has received an overwhelming amount of support. He said he does not see the tension here between oficers and the public that is clear in oth- er parts of the country, but the local words of support really resonate with ofi- cers. Rowan talked about the challenges of serving in Umatilla County. “For too long we didn’t have enough presence around the county,” he said. He said it is still an issue that he and his de- partment are taking steps to improve. He started working for the sheriff’s ofice in 1989, at that time there were seven patrol depu- ties, a number that held consistent through 2012. But, according to Row- an, back in 1989 Oregon State Police had 24 troop- ers covering the area that includes Umatilla County, and that helped ease the pressure. Now he believes there are only four or ive state troopers assigned to the area. The sheriff’s depart- ment has doubled its dep- uty force since 2012 and is in the process of adding a 15th deputy. He said the national average is to have between one and two deputies per 1,000 people in a county. Currently, Umatilla County has less than one deputy per 1,000 people. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Ofice has also started addressing loose dogs in the county. Row- an said they are doing research and looking into adding a full-time animal control deputy. Rowan invites the pub- lic to come out and give him an earful. He tries to think outside the box, look at resources and see what can be done to address concerns. During the cof- fee hour one man asked whether the sheriff’s of- ice patrols Forest Service roads, which they do, but Rowan said deputies are not able to patrol them as often as they probably should. Rowan came into law enforcement out of neces- sity, needing a job. “It’s become so much more than that,” Rowan said. He has developed a passion for serving and making a difference. The next coffee with the sheriff event will be in Pendleton, with a date and place to be determined. Car Care section; and our The Hermiston Herald Veterans Day edition from staff placed second for Gen- November. eral Excellence in the The Hermiston Oregon Newspaper Herald placed sec- Publishers Associa- ond in the category tion’s Better News- behind Pamplin Me- paper Contest in an dia Group’s Outlook award announced Fri- newspaper in Gresham day at a convention in and ahead of News- Silverton. Times in Newport, General Excellence Tammy which placed third. Malgesini winning entries are Community Edi- based on three com- tor Tammy Malgesini plete editions from the cal- also won a irst place award endar year of 2015. The Her- in the Best Local Column ald’s entries in the contest category for a selection of featured coverage of 2015’s her “Inside My Shoes” col- Cinco de Mayo events in umns. May; a front page feature Former Herald sports from October of a Herm- reporter Sam Barbee also iston High School student won an individual third who gained Internet fame by place award in the Best posting senior photos taken Sport Story category for at the local 7-Eleven store his story “More than a on Twitter and included our game” about the annual fall Home Improvement and co-ed “Jeremy Howard — New Umatilla rural ire chief drives new ire engine cross-country By ALEXA LOUGEE Staff Writer A good road trip lends itself to plenty of Facebook posts. Steve Potts, the new- ly minted Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District ire chief, drove across the country in the district’s new ire engine and posting the road trip on Facebook. His posts read like a cap- tain’s log with updates from places like Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. On Tuesday, July 19, Potts wrote from Ocala, Fla., “The scenery here is quite green and when it ‘rains’ as they call it here, it’s serious. Not like the drizzles we get at home.” In November 2015, Umatilla voters narrowly passed a general obligation bond of $1.8 million to as- sist in purchasing updated ire safety equipment for the district’s volunteer ire- ighters and buying new ire engines. The newest addition to the ire district’s arsenal is a pumper ire en- gine built by Pierce Man- ufacturing in Bradenton, Fla. A pumper truck carries hoses, water and tools to a ire and is equipped with a pump that pushes the wa- ter out. By lying to Florida and driving the new engine back to Oregon, Potts said the district is saving about $4,000 in delivery fees. Along for the ride was Potts’ adult son, Tyler. Ty- ler graduated from Uma- Thank you to Hermiston High School’s Project Graduation Celebration Sponsors & Donors 60 Minute Photo 7 Eleven A-1 Property Management Advanced Orthopedic Advanced Pediatric Dentistry All That Wood Anderson Hansell Attorneys Ann and Dean Fialka Atkinson Staffi ng Barnett & Moro Best Buy Bellingers Bill and Yvonne Elfering Bi-Mart Blue Mountain Community College Burns Mortuary Calpine Chuckwagon Café Columbia Orthodontics Community Bank Desert Lanes Devon Oil Co, Inc. Dominoes, Pendleton Durk Irwin Eagles Auxiliary East Oregonian Fiesta Foods First Community Credit Union Fourth Street Family Dental Girth Dog, LLC Gordon’s Electric, Inc. Hermiston Drug Hermiston Eagles Auxiliary Hermiston Foods Hermiston Generating Hermiston Herald Hermiston Vet Clinic Karen Bounds Lilly Chin Majorie Davidson Marlette Homes - Hermiston Northwest Farm Credit Services Northwest Farm Supply NW Crane Service NW Metal Fabricators O So Kleen Park Terrace Townhouses Payless Shoe Source, Hermiston Pendleton Building and Construction Platinum Transportation ... and to all the parents and other individuals who donated time, money and/or supplies to help make our party a huge success we say, “ THANK YOU!” HHS Project Graduation Committee & HHS Class of 2016 Rogers Toyota of Hermiston Safeway, Hermiston Sorbenots South Ranch Starvation Ridge Farms Stratton Insurance Services Subway, Hermiston Swire Coca Cola Union Pacifi c Railroad Universal Reality Walmart DC Westfall Septic Deposit Wheatland Ins. tilla High School in 2007 and entered the Air Force. The elder Potts said he was looking forward to spend- ing time with his son on the eight-day journey home to Umatilla. That journey took them through Missou- ri, South Dakota and into Montana, where the Potts men will visit with family and pay their own expenses. Potts believes the new ire truck, along with oth- er planned purchases, will improve the protection of residents living within the Umatilla Rural Fire District and its corps of volunteer ireighters. It’s not like her. Mom has always been so patient, but now when I ask her questions she gets angry. We can help. Call us with questions about aging and Alzheimers. 1-855-ORE-ADRC HelpForAlz.org OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM Hermiston SHOT AT GOLIATH Herald WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015 HermistonHerald.com Stanfi eld takes on Heppner Page A10 THANK YOU VETERANS $1.00 INSIDE By the Hermiston Herald Senior pictures in 7-Eleven make student #TWITTERFAMOUS Saluting Our Veterans: In today’s edition is a special six-page section honoring local veterans of U.S. military service of all generations Hermiston Herald HOME IMPROVEMENT & CAR CARE FALL 2015 SPECIAL SECTION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015 ABOUT TOWN School district plans facility forums Hermiston School District will hold two community forums in the coming weeks to discuss district facilities and student growth challenges. The community meetings will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Rocky Heights Elementary School and 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at Desert View Elementary School. Spanish translation services will be available, and anyone interested in learning more about the district’s capacity challenges is encouraged to attend. After record enrollment this year, district of¿ cials will discuss initial plans to address continued strain on school facilities. Attendees will learn about previous bond outcomes, the work of the Facility Master Planning Committee, current issues in the district and potential next steps. An opportunity for feedback will also be provided. These forums are part of the second phase of a ¿ ve-phase approach to a potential capital construction bond planned for May 2017. Opportunities for community feedback will continue through January 2017 when the school board will begin considering placing the bond measure on the ballot. Twitter fame To see Stefano Peiris’ original Twitter posts and some of the reaction online to his photos, check out the following link: http://bit.ly/1RGsfNQ STAFF PHOTO BY SEAN HART Hermiston High School senior Stefano Peiris enjoys a Slurpee by the machine at his parents’ 7-Eleven franchise in Hermiston Tuesday. More than 27,000 people retweeted Peiris’ Twitter post with his senior pictures taken at the store by 60 Minute Photo owner Tammy James. HHS student’s pictures shared about 28,000 times By SEAN HART Staff Writer When Hermiston student Stefano Peiris posted his senior pictures on Twitter, he never ex- pected to become an Internet ce- lebrity. Of course, they weren’t the typical senior portraits. Peiris in- vited the photographer to shoot the stills at his parents’ 7-Eleven franchise — in the parking lot, behind the counter, at the Slurpee machine. The content went viral, and Peiris said he was shocked. With- in a few days of his Oct. 11 tweet, “So I took my senior pictures at 7-Eleven,” his Twitter followers jumped from about 200 to more than 900. More than 27,000 peo- ple have retweeted the post, and more than 46,000 clicked “favor- ite” as of Tuesday evening. See PEIRIS, A18 Library program highlights early Oregon suf ragist PHOTO COURTESY TAMMY JAMES PHOTO COURTESY TAMMY JAMES Hermiston High School senior Stefano Peiris gained many followers on Twitter after posting his senior photos taken at his parents’ 7-Eleven franchise in Hermiston. One of Stefano Peiris’ senior pictures featured 7-Eleven’s frozen beverage Slurpee machine in his parents’ store on Highland Avenue and Highway 395. City to hire pro tem municipal judges Facade grant also approved for Hermiston Herald building on Main Street By JADE McDOWELL Staff Writer The Hermiston City Council initiated a search Monday for a substitute to ¿ ll in when the city’s municipal judge has a conÀ ict of interest. In the past, the judge — current- ly Judge Thomas Creasing — has asked various licensed attorneys to step in when he has a conÀ ict. %ut language in the city’s new charter that took effect in January states that the City Council can hire an of¿ cial pro tem judge when neces- sary. City Manager %yron Smith said court staff estimated the pro tem judge would be needed for about an hour and a half each month and would be paid $200 an hour, total- ing about $3,600 a year. He suggested appointing two judges so if the ¿ rst isn’t available the city could continue to “keep those cases moving.” He said Creasing supported the idea of the council appointing of¿ cial pro tem judges. “He thought it was a good idea for transparency reasons,” Smith said. On Monday the council also ap- proved an agreement with the Ore- gon Department of Transportation. The department plans to grind up and repave Highway 395 through Hermiston next year, and the city will be responsible for paying about $23,000 to take care of man- hole covers and utilities in the right of way. The project is budgeted for $6.3 million. In about two weeks ODOT plans to put up temporary traf¿ c medi- ans at the intersection of Highway 395 and Elm Avenue, which will “When the temporary barriers are up, if we want to ask for something dif erent that’s the time.” — Byron Smith City Manager be replaced by permanent medi- ans during the 2016 project. The medians are meant to prevent left turns onto the highway to decrease the number of collisions at Herm- iston’s most crash-prone intersec- tion. “When the temporary barriers are up, if we want to ask for some- A special community program portraying the life and accomplishments of the nationally-recognized Oregon suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway is planned. Duniway was an American women’s rights advocate, newspaper editor and writer whose efforts were instrumental in gaining voting rights for women. In 1912, she authored the Oregon Woman Suffrage Proclamation, and her tireless work as an activist played an important role in later passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted the right to vote to all U.S. women. The free event is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave. The program is presented by Judy Allen of Wallowa County, a historian and career researcher. For more information, contact judy.allen.joseph@ gmail.com. For details about the Hermiston presentation, call the library at 541-567-2882. $1.00 ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES STAFF PHOTO BY SEAN HART :RUOG:DU,,YHWHUDQ5D\0RUJDQ8PDWLOODJUDEVDÁDJWKDWRQFHÁHZRYHUWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV&DSLWROZKLFKKHUHFHLYHGGXULQJDQ+RQRU )OLJKWLQ6HSWHPEHUWR:DVKLQJWRQ'& By SEAN HART Staff Writer U matilla resident Ray Morgan said it was his duty to en- list in the Army when he graduated from high school in 1943 during World War II. He trained on a bomber crew for two years. He earned the rank of second lieutenant by the age of 19. His unit was scheduled to depart for Saipan, an island about 120 miles north of Guam, for operations in the Paci¿c Theater. But Before Morgan was able to join the battle, the histor- See MORGAN, A18 STAFF PHOTO BY SEAN HART 8PDWLOODUHVLGHQW5D\0RUJDQVKRZVKLV:DU'HSDUWPHQW LGHQWLÀFDWLRQFDUGZKHQKHZDVLQWKH86$UP\DLUFRUSVGXULQJ :RUOG:DU,, Pot ordinance stalls again Council can’t get fifth vote to send issue to residents By JADE McDOWELL Staff Writer JOSHUA BESSEX/EO MEDIA GROUP -DUVRIPDULMXDQDVLWRQVKHOYHVDW6ZHHW5HOLHI1DWXUDO0HGLFLQH DPHGLFDOPDULMXDQDGLVSHQVDU\LQ$VWRULD ABOUT TOWN Commissioners seek more oversight of EOTEC finances WWII-era vet describes duty, training and the guilt of coming home See JUDGES, A18 For the Love of the Game” softball tournament. The tournament raises money for athletic scholar- ships and promotes efforts HermistonHerald.com Hermiston City Council will have to take an- other run at sending a marijuana dispensary ban to the voters. Councilors thought they had passed the or- dinance putting dispensaries on the ballot after a 4-2 vote Monday but were reminded that at least ¿ve councilors must vote for an ordinance for it to pass. $n ordinance that doesn’t receive ¿ve votes in either direction will automatically appear on See POT, A18 Umatilla County Board of Commissioners is mov- ing to have more input and Fontrol over the ¿nanF- es of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. Commissioners vot- ed last week to have the county give $600,000 to the ongoing creation of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermis- ton. County commissioners this week discussed hav- ing the county Eudget of¿- cer Robert Pahl serve as a non-voting member on the EOTEC board and as its treasurer. Pahl said he used to handle the EOTEC books for about a year. Commis- ioner Larry Givens said the county would gain some “internal policy standing.” Givens and Port of Umatilla general manager Kim Puzey would remain as the county’s voting members on the board. Commission chairman George Murdock said he would like to see the coun- ty budget of¿cer serve as a voting member if there was an opening, and he wanted a county policy specifying a sitting com- missioner must serve on the board. Givens also said the county wants EOTEC to provide a comprehensive business plan, and Mur- dock added that should in- clude a rainy day fund. Commissioner Bill Elfering said the EOTEC would be self-sustain- ing and a rainy day fund would be good business. Murdock said the issue is EOTEC has nothing in writing to establish such fund. County counsel Doug Olsen said he would draft proposals for commission- ers to consider. — PHIL WRIGHT Agape House hosts parking lot sale Bargain hunters can ¿nd furniture, clothing, knick-knacks and more at the Agape House parking lot sale. Winter coats are free, other clothing is priced at three items for $1, fur- niture is as marked and knick-knacks are you name the price. The sale is Saturday from 8:30-11 a.m. at 500 Harper Road, Hermiston. Donations are accepted through Friday. Agape House serves the needs of low-income residents in the communi- ty. For more information, call 541-567-8774. to prevent melanoma and awareness of skin cancer prevention through the use of sunscreen for all partici- pants in the tournament. Train T-bones truck outside of Echo By ALEXA LOUGEE Staff Writer A train collided with a semi-truck Wednesday near Rieth Road, about nine miles east of Echo. The train was heading east toward Pendleton pull- ing roughly 15 railroad cars at about 30 mph, according to Umatilla Count Under- sheriff Jim Littleield. The semi-truck, belong- ing to Platinum Transporta- tion in Hermiston, was car- rying two trailers of wheat and headed north when it failed to yield at the railroad crossing. The driver, Budd Richards, 54, from Herm- iston, was conscious at the scene, but complaining of head, neck and leg pain when rescue crews arrived. BABYSITTING BASICS For babysitters ages 10-15. Learn childcare techniques, children's developmental stages and what to expect, basic first aid and infant and child CPR. $30, includes lunch & all class materials. 9:00am - 3:00pm July 16 or August 6 Must pre-register and pre-pay, call 541-667-3509 HEALTHY FRIDAYS FREE health screenings & health coaching: Blood pressure checks, weigh-ins, body mass index, cholesterol and glucose. First & Third Friday of each month 9:30 - 11:30am GSMC Conference Center 7 (by Education Dept) UNDERSTANDING & RESPONDING TO DEMENTIA RELATED BEHAVIORS Learn behavior triggers and strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer's Disease and dementias. July 26 • 6:00 - 7:30pm GSMC Conference Room 1 Information or to register call (541) 667-3509 or email healthinfo@gshealth.org www.gshealth.org
