LOCAL A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAy, AuguST 14, 2019 High-speed pursuits lead to arrests By PHIL WRIGHT STAFF WRITER Staff photo by Jessica Pollard Alumni from the Hermiston High School Class of 1999 assemble a Buddy Bench at Rocky Heights Elementary School. Class of 1999 helps bring Buddy Benches to Hermiston schools By JESSICA POLLARD STAFF WRITER When the recess bells ring later this month, ele- mentary school students will have a place to go if they find themselves with- out a playmate, thanks to the installation of 10 benches in Hermiston School District’s elemen- tary school playgrounds. These aren’t just ordi- nary benches. They’re Buddy Benches — or “friendship benches” — which are meant to be a safe space for students to sit when they’re lonely or having a bad day. Other students can visit the bench and invite kids to chat and play. “The Buddy Benches create a beautiful opportu- nity for students to be kind, to see someone who doesn’t have a friend to play with, who may be having a bad day,” said Melissa Pur- swell, who teaches sixth grade at Armand Larive Middle School. Purswell, who also heads Armand Larive’s Kindness Club, secured grant fund- ing from the Hermiston Education Foundation for Buddy Benches last year. After meeting with prin- cipals at the elementary schools, Purswell said it was decided that each of the five schools should have two benches — one for their smaller and one for their main playground. Purswell found herself five benches short of this goal. That’s when members of the Hermiston High School class of 1999, who celebrated their 20-year reunion last weekend, stepped in. Cody Hawes, a 1999 alumnus who now lives in Utah, caught wind of Pur- swell’s plan to get Buddy Benches to Hermiston’s schools. “We have Buddy Benches in Utah, and they’re really helpful for limiting bullying,” Hawes said. He, in partnership with other class of 1999 alumni, started a GoFundMe cam- paign, which raised more than $1,200 in three days. Most of the donations, Hawes said, came from the group of former Hermiston High School graduates. A crew of seven alumni, along with Purswell and her son, installed the benches Saturday. Purswell said Armand Larive’s Kind- ness Club will be making an informational video for students about how to use them. “It’s our job as adults to not only create oppor- tunities for our students to practice kindness in action but to model it. I can’t wait for the students to use these benches,” she said. Jeffrey Alan Kelly of Irri- gon is in jail on charges of sexual abuse after leading law enforcement on a chase. Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson said a grand jury indicted Kelly in secret. According to court documents, the state accused Kelly, 41, of sexually assault- ing a girl younger than 14 in December 2018. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count of second-degree sod- omy and two of first-degree sexual abuse. Circuit Judge Daniel Hill set bail for Kelly at $275,000. He remains in the Umatilla County Jail. The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kelly on a warrant for the charges Monday night, but not before he tried to get away. Patrol Sgt. Nathen Braun attempted a traffic stop on Kelly “after some strategic planning and organization,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Kelly and a passenger, however, took off in a 2007 silver Chevrolet Suburban down Highway 730. Sheriff Ken Matlack, patrol Sgt. Todd Siex and three deputies worked to close off escape routes, and Kelly turned south on Divi- sion Lane toward Depot Lane and entered a cornfield and a hemp field. Several members of sher- iff’s office followed. Kelly stuck the Suburban in sage- brush, then he and the passen- ger bolted on foot. The sher- iff’s office caught the pair after about three minutes. One sheriff’s vehicle also became stuck in the rough terrain and later removed, along with the Suburban. The sheriff’s office later released the passenger, Lucia Madrigal, 31, of Boardman, without charges. Kelly will face charges related to the chase, includ- ing felony eluding, criminal mischief and reckless endan- Kelly Abell gering. Nelson said his office could charge Kelly with failure to register as a sex offender. The state in 2009 charged Kelly with first-degree rape, sexual abuse and more. He pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree sexual abuse and served about six years in prison. Kelly’s next hearing is Aug. 22 for a pre-trial conference. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office called off a high-speed pursuit when it became too dangerous. Umatilla County sheriff’s Lt. Sterrin Holcomb said Stanfield police Saturday at about 9:30 p.m. tried to stop a black Acura Integra for speeding on Highway 395. “It was going at speeds over 100 mph,” she said. The driver got away, and soon a sheriff’s deputy spot- ted the car on East Highland Extension, Hermiston. The Acura wound up to 86 mph, she said, and swerved into oncoming traffic. The sher- iff’s office ended the chase due to safety concerns. But the sheriff’s office caught the suspect early Sun- day, Sterrin said, when a dep- uty responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on the 31000 block of Joy Lane, Hermiston. The deputy found the Acura with a front plate matching the car from the earlier chases. The dep- uty arrested Adam Fredrick Abell, 31, of Hermiston, on 10 charges, including felony eluding, reckless endanger- ing and felony methamphet- amine possession. He, too, is in the county jail. Abell also has a fel- ony weapons case pending in Morrow County Circuit Court. He bailed out of jail on that case Thursday. LIQUIDATION SALE Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. WEST HERMISTON AVE. IS CLOSED LOOK FOR SIGNS TO THE STORE OUR LOSS IS YOUR GAIN! Saturday Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. R O F E R A P E , S S E R T O PR R MATT M U O O O N R I W S O N H O I S T G A N RENOV ROOM, DINI BED L L E S T S U M WE ! G N I H T Y R E E V WE MUST EMPTY OUR MATTRESS, BEDROOM, DINING SHOWROOM IMMEDIATELY! HERMISTON MAIN STORE ONLY! 254 W HERMISTON AVENUE • 541.289.5000 WalkersFurniture.com • WalkersMattress.com