Eight years ago Kola Shippentower, a member of the Umatilla tribe, was in the news for learning to dig roots in the traditional way. She told a reporter it was important to her to learn the old ways. Today Shippentower is becoming a leader for starting a new tradition.
Mike Roxbury resigned, sort of, as Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District on Sept. 1... only it isn't official because he didn't really resign. The district isn't sure what to do, but Roxbury, 50, says he's seen too much.
Several high-profile wrecks near Boardman have killed people in 2015. A couple more flipped vehicles near Heppner. And don't forget it's called "Deadman's Pass" for a reason. Yet none of those stretches of road made the list of most dangerous in Oregon. In fact, Eastern Oregon's most dangerous stretch of road is one you'd NEVER guess.
Every community along the Columbia River has problems with people living in tents in the riparian habitats (areas adjacent to a river). Umatilla is the latest to do something about it.
A former strip club owner in Umatilla asked to open one in Milton-Freewater but was denied without a stated reason. That may prompt the applicant to try again, except for his feud.
Umatilla businesses are furious with the two or three panhandlers that daily camp out at the community's only traffic light right at the entrance to town.