FROM PAGE ONE
A14 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Boardman:
Schools:
Continued from Page A1
Continued from Page A1
for plant employees who
decided to go back to school.
PGE had considered try-
ing to turn the plant, which
still has about 20 years of
expected life left, into a dif-
ferent type of generation
plant, using biomass pel-
lets in a process known as
torrefaction, or natural gas.
The utility stated in 2017
it had successful test runs
using biomass materials at
the plant, but later made the
decision to close the plant
completely.
Lindsey said it was
unfortunate the plant wasn’t
going to be used for torre-
faction, which could have
been a more stable source of
energy than some renewable
projects.
“The wind doesn’t always
blow and the sun doesn’t
always shine,” she said.
While
some
were
mourning what the plant
closure meant for jobs,
others were celebrat-
ing what it meant for the
environment. DEQ direc-
tor Richard Whitman
called it an “environmen-
tal success.”
“The closure of the
Boardman Coal Plant
helps put the state on a
path toward cleaner, safer
air, while we continue to
develop climate-friendly
sources of electricity,” he
said in a statement.
Closure of the plant
has been in the works for
a decade, after PGE struck
a deal with DEQ in 2010
to stop burning coal at the
plant by 2020. Environ-
mental groups lobbied for
a faster timeline, and the
Sierra Club sued PGE over
the plant, claiming the util-
ity should have built in
better emissions controls
before the plant fi rst came
online in 1980. That law-
suit was settled in 2011.
Cesia Kearns, dep-
uty campaign director for
the western region of the
Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal
Campaign, said in an email
Browning said as of the
fi rst day on Oct. 19, 79 stu-
dents said they would come
back, although on the fi rst
day not everyone showed
up.
“We had 14 at Highland
(Hills Elementary School)
today signed up for the
Newcomers program but
only three showed up,” she
said.
As regulated by the state,
the district can bring those
students into the building
for in-person instruction
for only two hours per day,
supplemented by the dis-
tance learning the rest of
the student body is receiv-
ing. Students are divided
up into “cohorts” of 10 stu-
dents and are not allowed to
come into physical contact
Hermiston Herald, File
Control room operator Nathen Heideman and assistant
control room operator Dan Shoemake monitor the operation
of the Portland General Electric coal-powered plant in 2009
outside Boardman.
“THE CLOSURE OF THE
BOARDMAN COAL PLANT
HELPS PUT THE STATE
ON A PATH TOWARD CLEANER,
SAFER AIR ...”
DEQ director Richard Whitman
it took a “chorus of com-
munity voices and a legal
challenge” to bring about
the transition to cleaner
energy, and those voices
are still needed to help
diversify Oregon’s energy
in a sustainable and eco-
nomic way.
“The closure of the
Boardman coal plant is a
turning point in Oregon’s
energy system — as the
power of the past gives
way to more affordable,
cleaner energy sources,”
she said.
She referenced the
Wheatridge
Renewable
Energy Facility currently
under construction in Mor-
row County, which, when
fi nished, will be the larg-
est combination of wind,
solar and battery storage in
North America.
“This is only the begin-
ning of the potential for
clean energy and other
development in East-
ern Oregon, which brings
jobs and stable sources
of tax revenue for essen-
tial services like roads
and schools,” she said.
“Reducing our contribu-
tion to the climate cri-
sis is an economic oppor-
tunity for Oregon’s rural
communities.”
The Boardman Gen-
erating Station gener-
ated enough power to run
roughly 500,000 homes,
according to Corson, and
PGE will use multiple ave-
nues to replace that power
supply. One of those is the
Wheatridge project, which
is a partnership between
PGE and NextEra Energy
Resources. The 300-mega-
watt wind farm portion is
expected to come online
by the end of 2020. The
50 megawatts of solar and
30 megawatts of battery
storage are expected to be
completed by the end of
2021.
The utility has also put
together fi ve-year con-
tracts with various power
suppliers, and is planning
to issue a request for pro-
posals for “additional long
term, nonemitting capacity
resources.”
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020
with other cohorts while
at school. Browning said
the district is also spacing
desks 6 feet apart, requiring
masks and following other
protocols.
The Hermiston Asso-
ciation of Teachers did
not return emailed ques-
tions about protocols in the
school building before this
week’s Hermiston Herald
went to print.
Some other districts in
the area have also begun
limited in-person learning,
including Morrow County
School District, which has
allowed some students in
the permitted categories to
return to each of its schools
in cohorts of 10.
Umatilla School District
has not returned any stu-
dents to the classroom.
“While we have been
very close, we still have not
met the metrics,” Superin-
tendent Heidi Sipe said.
She also said the state
is expected to release new
metrics soon, and the dis-
trict wants to provide sta-
bility for families by mak-
ing sure when they reopen
they aren’t immediately
changing plans again.
Sipe said she is “count-
ing down the seconds” until
she gets to see students in
the buildings again. How-
ever, the Oregon Legis-
lature has yet to pass any
liability protections for
schools that would pro-
tect them from a lawsuit if
they brought students back
without properly meet-
ing their metrics and then
a student or employee got
COVID-19.
“If we don’t follow the
rules to a T, the fallout
could be huge, and affect
students for generations to
come,” she said.
Umatilla County remains
on state COVID-19 watchlist
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
Umatilla
County
remains on the gover-
nor’s COVID-19 watch-
list as the state monitors
the county’s progress on
fi ghting the virus.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20,
Umatilla County Pub-
lic Health announced 15
new confi rmed cases of
COVID-19 in county res-
idents, for a total of 82
cases over the previous
seven days. The county
needs to be down to eight
cases a week for three
weeks in a row, along
with a test positivity rate
of less than 5%, to reopen
schools completely.
The Oct. 20 news
release stated the county
currently has seven res-
idents hospitalized with
the virus, and 168 pre-
sumptive cases. Presump-
tive cases are people who
are showing symptoms
of COVID-19 after com-
to 633 since the pandemic
began.
A list of workplace
outbreaks in Umatilla
and Morrow counties
can be found in the Ore-
gon Health Authority’s
weekly reported, pub-
lished each Wednesday,
at
govstatus.egov.com/
OR-OHA-COVID-19.
The weekly report also
breaks down the state’s
COVID-19 data by gen-
der, race, ZIP code and
other demographics.
According to the Cen-
ters for Disease Control
and Prevention’s COVID-
19 tracking website, Ore-
gon has one of the lowest
cases per capita numbers
in the country in the
past 7 days, at 7.9 cases
per 100,000 residents.
Nationwide, the CDC has
reported more than 8.1
million confi rmed cases
of COVID-19 since the
pandemic began, and
219,499 deaths of people
with COVID-19.
ing into close contact
with a confi rmed case, but
they have either not got-
ten tested or not received
their results yet.
Since the pandemic
began, Umatilla County
has 3,120 confi rmed cases
and 14,797 negative tests.
Umatilla County Pub-
lic Health announced one
new death of a resident
with COVID-19 in the
past week.
The county’s 43rd
death was a 69-year-old
woman, who tested posi-
tive Oct. 5 and died Oct.
14 at Good Shepherd
Medical Center in Herm-
iston. She had underlying
conditions.
On a statewide level,
on Oct. 20 the Ore-
gon Health Authority
announced 346 new con-
fi rmed and presumptive
cases of COVID-19 and
six new deaths of indi-
viduals who tested posi-
tive for COVID-19, rais-
ing the state’s death total
EASTERN OREGON
marketplace
Place classified ads online at www.easternoregonmarketplace.com or call 1-800-962-2819 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
After hours, leave a voicemail and we’ll confirm your ad the next business day. Email us at classifieds@ eastoregonian.com or fax: 541-278-2680
East Oregonian
Deadline is 3 p.m. the day before publication
211 S.E. Byers Ave.
333 E. Main St.
We accept:
Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838
See www.easternoregonmarketplace.com for classified ads from all over Eastern Oregon
EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN
110 Announcements
CELEBRATE OUR
LOCAL VETERANS!
Place a photo of a veteran or
currently serving hero with
their name, military branch
and rank for FREE in our spe-
cial section to publish in the
East Oregonian and Herm-
iston Herald on November
10th! Deadline is November
2nd. Email the photo to clas-
sifieds@eastoregonian.com
or mail to one of our offices:
211 SE Byers Ave, Pendle-
ton, OR 97801 or 333 E. Main
St., Hermiston, OR 97838.
(Please indicate if you would
like the photo mailed back
to you.) Call 541-564-4538 if
you have any questions.
We also have larger mes-
sage ads available for $40
or $60 that would include
artwork, photo, name, rank
and a personal message.
(Must be prepaid and pri-
vate party only.)
110 Announcements
360 Garage Sales
504 Homes for Sale
504 Homes for Sale
**Notice**
The Island Cemetery Board of
Directors is providing the follow-
ing notice.
There are a number of Island
City Cemetery plots designated
“reserved” on the cemetery plat
with no record of payment. If
you believe you have a reserved
plot for which payment has been
made, please provide the re-
ceipt of payment which you re-
ceived at the time of payment or
canceled check designating the
plot number(s) paid for to Island
City Hall, 10605 Island Avenue,
Island City, OR 97850, by De-
cember 15, 2020. Documenta-
tion can be presented in person,
via email: karen@islandcityhall.
com or mailed to: Island City
Cemetery, PO Box 844, La
Grande, OR 97850
If documentation of payment or
payment is not received by De-
cember 15, 2020, the plot’s re-
served status will be removed,
and plot will be available for
sale. You may call either Alan
Keffer, 541-910-4525, or Dave
Johnson, 541-910-1881, to verify
the payment status of any plot
you believe to be reserved.
ONE DAY ONLY
Saturday, Oct. 24th; 8 AM
7 NW 9th St.
Pendleton, OR
What is on your WISHLIST?
3 bed 1 bath bungalow with addi-
tional separate1 bed apartment
to help with your mortgage. $162
300 Call Kerry at 541-377-6855
for all your Real Estate needs.
TURN HERE
REALTY & TRAVEL
$299,000
Flat, commercial lot zoned C3,
between Hampton Inn Hotel and
Social Security/ASCS Office.
Great location near I-84 Free-
way interchange, hotels, restau-
rants, gas. Jef 541 969-9539
cell. #18531931
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
$139,000
REDUCED/PILOT ROCK
2 bedroom, 2 bath home w/
spacious living and dining room
areas. Double car garage, pad
parking area, plenty of storage.
Minimal yard work. Marsha
541-377-5152 cell. #20080022
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
$475,000
4.16 acres overlooking McK-
ay Reservoir. 3 bed, 4.5 bath,
3248sf (m/l) on main level. Spa-
cious open floor plan. 1078sf
(m/l) basement w/bonus room,
bath. In-ground pool, patio. Kev-
in 541-969-8243. #20616259
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
$219,900
3 bed/ 2 bath home w/vaulted
ceilings, formal dining area,
completely remodeled kitchen
and bathrooms. Gas range, farm
sink. New A/C, high efficiency
furnace. #20591474. Jason
760-409-6842 cell.
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
$194,500
3 bed, 2 bath brick home w/
beautiful private back yard.
1200sf (m/l), 1 level. Attached
garage, + additional shop/over-
sized garage. Back covered
patio, corner lot. Jerry 541-969-
6378 cell. #20227127
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
360 Garage Sales
AUCTION NOTICE!!!!
Estate Farm Auction!!!
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Bidding starts at
10:00a.m SHARP!!!
GARAGE SALE?
Advertise it here
in the classifieds!
Class-
if-
ieds
Location: 67208 Highway 74
Ione, OR 97843
Columbia River Auction, LLC
Auctioneer: Paul Kramer
541-571-5771
For pictures and listing go
to Columbia River Auction
LLC@facebook.com.
WHATEVER YOU ARE
looking for, don’t buy until you’ve
checked the Classifieds!
CLASSIFIEDS WORK!
Estate Sale: Antiques, brass
beds, dressers, holiday decor,
oriental rugs, a little bit of ev-
erything! Friday & Saturday,
9am-4pm. 81650 Buell Lane,
Umatilla.
Estate sale: Household furni-
ture, tools, kitchen appliances/
dishes/utensils/gadgets, linens,
canning jars, sewing items/
patterns/fabric,
scrapbooking
items, wall decor. Many, many,
more items are for sale and
many are antiques as she has
lived in the house for over 45
years. 715 Cassen Ct Hermis-
ton. Friday, Saturday, Sunday
October 23rd, 24th, 25th F&S-
9am - ?/Sun 9am-2pm
HUGE MOVING SALE!!!
Everything must go.
Depression Glass, Antiques,
TV’s, Secretary, Reclining
Love Seat, Plus Size Wom-
en’s clothing NWT, Jewelry,
Office/School Supplies, Col-
lectibles, Furniture, House-
hold Items, Tools, and so
much more! Corner of Carden
and NW 8th Street. 123 NW
8th St Pendleton. October 23,
24th and 25th, 8am to 4pm.
Low Interest Rates
Connections with Financing...
Choices with homes to suit
you... Please call or Text 541-
377-6855 or Email Kerry at kjc-
baird@gmail.com
TURN HERE
REALTY & TRAVEL
Reach the buyer
you are looking
for with a low cost,
effective
classified ad.
Old Reith schoolhouse
Currently a 2 bedroom home
with all the extra 5000 square
feet of vacant classrooms (hard-
wood floors) for your imagina-
tion. Dance? Art? Photography?
Cash sale $149,000 #20142662
Call Kerry at 541-377-6855.
TURN HERE
REALTY & TRAVEL
502 Real Estate
$417,000 - ECHO VIEWS!
½ block from Echo Golf Course.
Open floor plan w/lots of natu-
ral light. Master suite w/walk-in
closet, deck. Lower level w/3
bedrooms. Cari 541-377-5058
cell. #20210732
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
541-377-6855
A phone call Away! Help to find
the home for you with access to
all possible homes on your list.
Please call with your questions
for the answers to help you into
your new home.
305 SW Court Ave., Pendleton
TURN HERE
REALTY & TRAVEL
$215,000
Well-kept/ great neighborhood!
3bed, 1bath, North Hill. New
gas range, new gas water heat-
er, new bathroom tile. Deck w/
views, garden RV space. Jed
541-969-2887. #20524793
Coldwell Banker
Whitney & Associates
541-276-0021
613 Houses
for Rent
3 bedroom (possibly 4), 2 bath,
located in Pendleton. $1250/mo.
1st, last + deposit. 541-276-5227
Arlington: 3 bedroom, central
heat/air, $1150/month, First &
last plus $500 cleaning deposit;
541-379-4111
Looking for a new place to
live? The classified ads offer
a complete section of homes,
apartments, and mobile
homes to fit your needs.
Check daily for new listings!
651 Help Wanted
JM Eagle of Umatilla, Or.
The world’s largest plastic
pipe company is seeking a
PRODUCTION
LINE OPERATOR
No experience necessary,
employer is willing to train.
Requirements:
• 18 years old
• Pass drug screen and back-
ground check
• Work any of the week includ-
ing weekends and holidays
Pay is $15-16 per hour DOE.
Hours are 7am-7pm or 7pm-
7am.
Great benefit package, med-
ical, 401K and retirement.
$500 signing bonus, based
on NO ABSENCES, NO
TARDINESS and NO DIS-
CIPLINARY ACTION. New
hires will receive $200 after
60 working days and $300 at
the end of 6 months.
Apply in person at 31240
Roxbury Rd, Umatilla OR.
97882 or send resume to:
branditurner@jmeagle.com
Call for your classified ad today! 800-962-2819