OFF PAGE ONE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022
Heat
Burglary
Continued from Page A1
Continued from Page A1
Brown’s order covers 25 coun-
ties through July 31: Colum-
bia, Clackamas, Crook, Curry,
Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam,
Grant, Hood River, Jackson,
Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath,
Marion, Morrow, Multnomah,
Polk, Sherman, Umatilla,
Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wash-
ington, Wheeler and Yamhill
counties.
Extreme temperatures sig-
nificantly increase the potential
for heat related illnesses, partic-
ularly for those working or par-
ticipating in outdoor activities.
Brown’s order came just more
than a year after the highest tem-
peratures during the 2021 “heat
dome” that set records across the
state, with several areas record-
ing highs of up to 117 degrees.
The Oregon Medical Exam-
iner’s Office in August 2021 re-
leased a report that 96 people had
died from hyperthermia — ex-
cessive heat exposure — during
the late June heat dome event.
Oregon Health Authority
stepped up distribution of air
conditioning units to individ-
uals most at risk for heat-re-
lated illness while also offering
tips for staying cool during ex-
treme-heat conditions.
The program offering air
conditioning units to vulnera-
ble Oregonians, including older
adults, home bound individuals
and those with medical condi-
tions exacerbated by high-heat
events, was created following
passage of Senate Bill 1536
during the 2022 legislative ses-
sion. The bill allocated $5 mil-
lion to purchase air conditioners
for high-risk Oregonians who
are eligible to receive medical
assistance through OHA, Or-
egon Department of Human
Services or Medicare, or have
received any of these services
in the past 12 months. The law
also allows the units to be in-
stalled in homes even if they’re
not allowed in homeowner or
renter agreements as long as
they don’t pose a safety hazard.
Coordinated Care Organi-
zations can directly purchase
AC units and assist with any
increased electric bill costs for
their enrolled OHP members
through their flexible service of-
ferings. Members enrolled in a
CCO can call member services
to inquire about flexible services.
OHA reminded Oregon em-
ployers of a rule requiring them
to take steps to keep workers
safe against the dangers of high
heat. Such steps must be taken
when the temperature equals or
exceeds 80 degrees.
Another important step was
the development of a new heat
rule, adopted in May at the re-
quest of Gov. Kate Brown, that
protects Oregon workers, in-
cluding those whose jobs require
them to be outside. The rule
Shafer’s foot was injured as a
result, according to arrest doc-
uments.
As the sedan’s driver raced
out of the parking lot, Gorte’s
son-in-law fired three shots at
it with a pistol.
Gorte said he believes at least
one of the shots may have hit
the sedan.
Gorte’s son-in-law got into a
vehicle and began following the
sedan but pulled back when a
Union County Sheriff’s deputy,
responding to a 911 call from
the store, took over the chase
toward Imbler.
Gorte said he thinks the two
masked individuals and their
driver were responsible for the
earlier break-in and were at-
tempting to rob the store a sec-
ond time.
Yasser Marte/Hermiston Herald
The Hermiston Family Aquatic
Center provides some respite
Tuesday, July 26, 2022, from
the heat.
addresses access to shade and
cool water, preventive cool-
down breaks, and prevention
plans, information and train-
ing. Oregon Occupational
Safety & Health offers em-
ployers free resources to help
them comply with the rule.
Those resources include con-
sultation services, technical
experts, fact sheets about the
heat rule’s key requirements
and online training.
If workers who raise safety
or health concerns do not
believe their concerns are
being addressed, they may
file a complaint with Oregon
OSHA.
Finally, OHA continues
to warn Oregonians about
the risk of heat stroke and
heat exhaustion during ex-
treme heat events. Heat
stroke can be deadly, with
symptoms that include body
temperature of 103 degrees
or higher; hot, red, dry or
damp skin; headache; dizzi-
ness; nausea and confusion.
Heat stroke is considered a
medical emergency, and 911
should be called.
Heat exhaustion symp-
toms include heavy sweat-
ing; cold, pale, clammy skin;
fast, weak pulse; tiredness or
weakness; nausea or vom-
iting; muscle cramps; dizzi-
ness; headache and fainting.
People experiencing heat ex-
haustion should be moved to
a cool place and given a cool
bath, wet cloths to place on
their body and water to sip.
Seek medical help if symp-
toms worsen or last more
than an hour.
THE CHASE AND GUNFIRE
According to arrest docu-
ments, shortly after fleeing the
gun store, Spalinger switched
out from the driver’s seat with
Romine. Union County Sher-
iff’s Sgt. Travis Schaad in the
arrest document reported he
tried to stop the car, but Ro-
mine continued at speeds of
approximately 105 mph.
The pursuit ended in Imbler,
where the vehicle crashed at the
bridge on Indian Creek Road
Ambulances
Continued from Page A1
The determination also shot
down Hughes’ request because
one of the “overriding reasons”
for the request was about fund-
ing rather than public safety.
In spite of the health district’s
determination, Boardman Fire
has continued to respond to all
calls.
Ken Browne, chair of the
Boardman Fire Rescue District,
fired back on Facebook.
“In Boardman Fire’s case, it
is properly responding because
it is a Quick Response Team
agency. In March 2020, the
Health District was taking over
7 minutes to respond to 911
emergency medical calls, when
the accepted National average is
60 seconds. In an effort to pro-
vide quicker patient care (within
the County’s ASA Plan) and to
— Oregon Capital Bureau
reporter Gary Warner
contributed to this article.
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9
near Dutton Road.
Romine, Spalinger and Mon-
tez fled into the dense brush
and vegetation. As a result, ad-
ditional law enforcement was
called and a perimeter was set
up.
The Northeast Oregon Re-
gional SWAT Team and the Or-
egon State Police SWAT Team
responded and ultimately lo-
cated and arrested Spalinger
and Romine late on July 17.
Romine was arrested for
reckless endangering and for
misdemeanor and felony flee-
ing, while Spalinger is in jail for
first-degree assault, hit-and-
run with injury, recklessly en-
dangering and misdemeanor
fleeing from police.
Ronde Hospital, according to
police documents.
“I’m glad that nobody has
been hurt,” he said. “My daugh-
ter’s foot will heal.”
Gorte also lauded the work
law enforcement officers did to
apprehend the three suspects.
THE FALLOUT
Gorte said he has been over-
whelmed by the expressions of
support his family is receiving
on social media.
“It makes you feel like people
care, for sure,” he said.
Gorte, who has owned his
shop for almost 10 years, said
he finds it hard to believe
something like this occurred in
a place like Island City.
“You would not think this
could happen in a small town,”
he said. “Things have changed
and not for the best.”
Gorte said he is relieved no-
body suffered any major in-
juries. His daughter received
medical treatment at Grande
BACKGROUNDS
IN CRIMINAL COURT
The court has appointed
attorneys for Spalinger and
Romine. La Grande’s James
Schaeffer is representing Spal-
inger, and Canyon City’s Kath-
leen Dunn is the attorney for
Romine. They have hearing
pleas scheduled for Aug. 15 and
Aug. 22, respectively.
According to arrest docu-
ments, Montez is being rep-
resented by Rick Dall of La
Grande. His plea hearing is set
for Aug. 17.
Spalinger and Romine were
dating at the time of their ar-
rests, according to Spalinger’s
interview with law enforce-
ment, but what brought the
three remains to be uncov-
ered. Each member of the trio,
though, has a history of crim-
inal activity in Oregon and
Washington, according to state
court records.
Each has been arrested on
prior drug charges related to
methamphetamine, ranging
in severity from possession to
intent to manufacture or deliv-
ery. “I can share that (Montez
and Romine) made themselves
unavailable to supervision and
had warrants for their arrest at
the time of this incident,” Dale
Primmer, director of the Uma-
tilla County Community Cor-
rections, said in an email.
Montez has the most ex-
tensive criminal history of the
group.
He was released from the
Oregon Department of Cor-
rection in May 2020 after being
convicted in Umatilla County
on charges of delivery of meth-
amphetamine and felon in pos-
session of a weapon.
Montez since 2000 has been
arrested on 17 drug-related
charges across the two states,
with one count of a controlled
substance violation, two counts
of drug paraphernalia, three
counts of delivery and 11
counts of possession.
During the past nearly 17
years, he has been convicted
in Oregon on two counts of
possession of a controlled sub-
stance, two counts of posses-
sion of methamphetamine, two
counts of third-degree assault
and one count of first-degree
burglary.
Just days prior to the
events in Island City and El-
gin, Romine was due to ap-
pear in Umatilla County
court for probation viola-
tions. When he failed to ap-
pear on July 11, the court is-
sued a warrant for his arrest.
also be in alignment with the
Governor’s COVID response
State of Emergency, Boardman
Fire requested their dispatch
center, Morrow County Sheriff’s
Office, to page us for all medical
emergencies. The Sheriff’s dis-
patch center has been doing so
since March 2020.”
Browne also stated while the
Oregon Health Authority has
approved the ASA Plan, the
county has yet to adopt it.
Browne then took a shot at
Emily Roberts, CEO of Morrow
County Health District.
“However, Since becoming
CEO of the Health District,
Emily Roberts has been on a
mission to keep Boardman Fire
from doing what we have been
trained and certified to do. It
should also be noted that the
EMS Advisory Committee is
80% Health District employees,”
according to Browne’s post.
Morrow County Health Dis-
trict spokesperson Scott Galla-
gher explained Hughes is not
looking to partner with the
health district but instead take it
over and the funding that goes
with it.
According to health district
meeting minutes of April 25, its
2022-23 budget is about $14.6
million, and the district also was
set to receive almost $660,000
from Amazon, which operates
several data centers in Morrow
County at the Port of Morrow.
Boardman Fire not only ig-
nores protocol when it jumps
calls for ambulance service, ac-
cording to Gallagher, it then
bills the health district for the
service.
Browne further stated in his
post the health district has re-
fused to partner with Board-
man Fire, which remains “com-
mitted to providing the best
possible patient care and out-
comes to our community. We
have been doing this, within
the constraints of the county’s
ASA Plan. We will continue to
provide emergency services to
our community while trying to
bring forward a nationally ad-
opted response model.”
The health district also
stated it has attempted to “re-
solve this issue and develop
a partnership with BRFD to
enhance EMS services,” but
those efforts have been unsuc-
cessful. Still, the health district
stated it is working within the
ambulance service plan’s legal
process “toward a reasonable,
community-based resolution.”
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