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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2019)
NEWS A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2019 Power Pro to close up shop By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR It’s a good time to be an electri- cian in Hermiston, but not a good time to need one. As Amazon continues adding data centers to the area, the tech company worth more than $1 tril- lion is poaching employees from local electrical shops faster than they can hire them. It’s gotten so bad that Jon Patterson of Power Pro — one of Hermiston’s three major elec- trical contractors — is closing his business. “You can’t hire an electrician,” he said. “Everyone is losing three to four people a month to those guys.” Patterson started Power Pro in 2001 out of his shop, and built his building on Campbell Drive in 2006. Over the past 18 years he has employed 99 different people as full-time employees, he said, and many more for part-time work. He said he has enjoyed his time building a business in Hermiston and had “a lot of fun” doing it. The community has been supportive, and employees have formed close- knit friendships. “It’s really been a pleasure work- ing here,” he said. The past year has been much less enjoyable, however, as employees have walked off partially completed jobs, lured away by high pay and large signing bonuses for Amazon. “I don’t mind if they’re ready to leave the nest, but everyone at once killed me,” he said. Hermiston projects, both munici- pal and commercial, have announced delays in recent years due to a strug- gle fi nding electrical contractors. Patterson said his two biggest com- petitors actually asked him to recon- sider his decision to retire. “That says something,” he said. He predicted local electrical con- tractors will have to raise wages — and prices — signifi cantly to keep employees from heading to Amazon. “What’s going to happen here is if you want something done to your house you’re going to be paying $200 an hour,” he said. That will be a problem for some- one besides Patterson to fi gure out. He said he’s taking about a year off to go build a cabin on some property he owns, and then he will start think- ing about what will come next. He is auctioning off Power Pro’s equipment, trucks and other sup- plies through Mike’s Auction LLC on May 31, which could provide an opportunity for someone else in the area looking to start or expand their business. Power Pro has performed a wide range of commercial and municipal jobs in the Pacifi c Northwest over the years, from schools to stores. Patterson said one of his favorite jobs was doing lightning protection on Forest Service lookout towers in Library art display features local artist remote locations all over the Pacifi c Northwest. As the Forest Service’s “go-to” person for lightning pro- tection, they used everything from mules and ATVs to helicopters to pack in supplies and equipment. “We had a lot of fun on the towers,” he said. “It was just like camping.” Patterson said despite closing the business he plans to remain chair of Blue Mountain Community Col- lege’s electrical apprenticeship advi- sory committee. He said if the state wanted to help ease Eastern Ore- gon’s electrician shortage it would revise its particularly restrictive rules for licensing and allow elec- tricians to take on more than one apprenticeship at a time. He also encouraged teachers to stop telling students that the only way to make money was with a col- lege education, when they can also do very well in life after entering an apprenticeship program. T here are still a few days left to view the artwork of Mariela Caldera, which is on dis- play at the Hermiston Pub- lic Library. Caldera, who went to school in Stanfi eld, enjoys traveling and some of her artwork is infl uenced by places she has visited. She is currently fi nishing up her fi nal term at Eastern Ore- gon University where she is studying business with a minor in art. The library is located at 235 E. Gladys Ave., Herm- iston. For more informa- tion, call 541-567-2882. COURTS Sentences PENDLETON — The follow- ing sentences have been imposed in Umatilla County courts: FELONY •Herbert William Hill Jr., 41, Irri- gon, pleaded guilty to Driving While Suspended/Revoked: sentence to discharge. •Christopher Scott Nelsen, 41, Hermiston, pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphet- amine: sentenced to 3 years probation, 180 sanction units, 90 maximum jail units, 160 hours community service, $200 fi ne, $2,300 fi ne-sus- pended and 6 months driver’s license suspension; pleaded guilty to Fleeing or Attempt to Elude Police Offi cer: sentenced to $200 fi ne and 3 years driver’s license suspen- sion; pleaded guilty to Giving False Information to Police: sentenced to 90 days jail and $100 fi ne. •Hector Elias Guerra, 36, Hermiston, pleaded guilty to Delivery of Heroin: sentenced to 12 months jail, 2 years post-prison supervision and $200 fi ne. Suits Filed PENDLETON — The follow- ing suits have been fi led in Umatilla County courts (interest, court costs and fees not listed): •Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Kassandra R. Brooks of Hermiston: seeks $1,821.17. •Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Brian D. Stone of Uma- tilla: seeks $3,926.77. •OneMain Financial Group LLC vs. Robert C. White Jr.: seeks $5,013.81. •OneMain Financial Group LLC vs. Jeff rey R. Evens: seeks $7,380.92. •Credits Inc. vs. Arianna Amezcua of Hermiston: seeks $707.46. judgment for $972.06. $1,616.15. Judgments •Credits Inc. vs. Stacy Skerjanec of Hermiston: judgment for $539.64. •Credits Inc. vs. Joseph A. and Nicole Tovar of Hermiston: judgment for $825.23. •Nationwide Recovery Service vs. William Lewis Mesteth of Hermiston: judgment for $4,971.17. •Credits Inc. vs. William L. and Karina Venoy of Hermiston: judgment for $1,552.95. •Ray Klein Inc. vs. Heather Lan- caster of Hermiston: judgment for $389. PENDLETON — Divorce decrees were signed in Uma- tilla County Courts for: •Credits Inc. vs. Pedro and Rachel Muniz of Hermiston: judgment for $815.49. Joshua L. Reddick and Serena R. Reddick of Hermiston. Marriages Rigoberto Claudio Garcia, 31, and Maria Domingo Domingo, 25, both of Hermiston. PENDLETON — Marriage li- censes have been registered in Umatilla County for: Charles Cody Case, 51, and Brenda Yvonne Porter, 48, both of Stanfi eld. Hugo Elizandro Guzman Rosales, 34, and Alba Luz Alvarenga Hernandez, 40, both of Umatilla. Manuel Escalante Cardenas, 38, and Maria Teresa De Jesus Hernandez, 29, both of Umatilla. Benjamin Edward Allen Green, 32, and Rachelle Renae Ara- gon, 28, both of Hermiston. Raul Garcia Torres, 36, and Ma- ria Frania Covarrubias Espain, 33, both of Umatilla. Carlos Jesus Carter, 37, of Uma- tilla, and Sara Naomi Knox, 36, of Astoria. Ernest William Erickson Jr., 26, of Irrigon, and Shavon Lee-Onne Newton, 20, of Hermiston. PENDLETON — The follow- ing judgments have been rendered in Umatilla County courts (interest, court costs and fees not listed): •Midland Funding LLC vs. Christy McMillen (Jenner-Bru- ton) of Hermiston: judgment for $2,105.65. •Credits Inc. vs. Gabriela Nieto Balcazar of Boardman: seeks $513.99. •Midland Funding LLC vs. Tara Machado of Hermiston: judgment for $5,953.74 and $2,421.26 in separate suits. •Credits Inc. vs. Tori E. Cate- Hinz of Hermiston: seeks $1,267.66. •Midland Funding LLC vs. Jessica Christina of Umatilla: judgment for $5,052.75. •Capital One Bank vs. Bruce A. Doty of Hermiston: judgment for $5,532.58 and $2,137.93 in separate suits. •Credits Inc. vs. Tania J. Estrada of Umatilla: seeks $3,801.80. •Midland Funding LLC vs. James Belew of Hermiston: judgment for $821.92. •Credits Inc. vs. Nadine E. and Ward Borden of Hermiston: judgment for $9,502.35. •Midland Funding LLC vs. Amber Westfall of Hermiston: judgment for $822.59. •Bonneville Billing & Collec- tions Inc. vs. Nadia Canche of Umatilla: judgment for $177.71. •United Finance Co. vs. Juan Gomez Juarez of Hermiston: seeks $5,645.36. •Credits Inc. vs. Candy Espain Garcia of Hermiston: seeks $2,134.66. •Credits Inc. vs. John T. and Erin Lovett of Echo: seeks $1,459.99. •Credits Inc. vs. Elisa Reyes of Hermiston: seeks $2,2522.45. Alonso Gonzalez, 24, and Sarah Kate Tabor, 22, both of Hermiston. $3,943.93. •Midland Funding LLC vs. Janet Doty of Hermiston: judgment for $2,671.90. •Midland Funding LLC vs. Ber- enice Rodriguez of Hermiston: judgment for $1,424.12. •Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona vs. Leslie Marsh: Seeks $5,592.60. •Credits Inc. vs. Vincent Harrison and Ivette Arellano Harrison of Irrigon: judgment for $1,023.04. •Elizabeth Melendrez vs. Col- leen Louise Holmstrom: seeks $125,000. •Credits Inc. vs. Alicia Ponce of Boardman: judgment for $713.19. •Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Jessica Christina of Umatilla: seeks $2,108.20. •Credits Inc. vs. Wendy and Anthony Raymond of Umatilla: judgment for $6,254.44. •Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Tina K. Wells: seeks •Credits Inc. vs. Lazaro F. Rodriguez of Umatilla/Irrigon: •Bonneville Billing & Col- lections Inc. vs. Terry D. and Kristen Iverson of Hermiston: judgment for $185.94. •Credits Inc. vs. Paul Bailey of Stanfi eld: judgment for Adolfo Mendoza Barboza, 46, and Ma Cristina Mejia Velasco, 45, both of Hermiston. Kevin Wayne Benham, 58, and Racel Bajado Inoferio, 36, both of Hermiston. Divorces George Ross Westfall, 21, and Claire Edean Wilson, 21, both of Hermiston. Santos Martin Lopez, 34, and Odilia Sales Godinez, 34, both of Hermiston. Thank you to the following businesses for supporting Newspapers in Education Their generous support of the Hermiston Herald NIE program helps provide copies of the newspaper and unlimited access to HermistonHerald.com and the e-Edition to to schools schools throughout throughout the the community. community. LEASE A NEW 2019 LEASE A NEW 2019 LE LE AWD-e AWD 1090 W. 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