Wesley Dixon Jones

Search Continues for Missing 71-year-old CTUIR Member

MISSION – The Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) is still searching for missing 71-year-old Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) member Wesley Dixon Jones, who was last seen Oct. 5. Since Oct. 6, UTPD Det. William Morris said the department has conducted two searches with the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue using canines, three aerial drone…

Birch Creek, Oregon

Crucial Stretch of Birch Creek Conserved in Land Conveyance to CTUIR

TRAVIS SNELL, CTUIR UMATILLA COUNTY, Ore. – On Sept. 26, the Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) completed a 100-acre land transfer of Birch Creek Ranch to the CTUIR. This transfer lays the groundwork for restoration of critical salmon and steelhead habitat in the Umatilla River Basin and re-connecting…

Pendleton’s Noemi Alvarez-Barroso chases the ball while playing Baker on Oct. 14, 2025, in Pendleton. Baker won the game 2-1.

Baker rallies for win over Pendleton

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PENDLETON — Baker scored two goals in the second half to rally for a 2-1 Greater Oregon League win over Pendleton on Tuesday, Oct.  14. “We unfortunately could not get in any sort of rhythm,” Pendleton coach Kiana Rickman said. “Baker did just enough to push us off kilter. It was a weird game from the…

Pendleton’s Miles Johnson and Spencer Pace go after the ball on Aug. 22, 2025 during boys soccer practice.

Bucks, Bulldogs play to tie

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ BAKER CITY — Pendleton and Baker played to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Baker Sports Complex in a key Greater Oregon League matchup. The top two teams in the league advance to the 4A state playoffs, with four at-large berths available. Baker (4-6-1 overall, 2-1 GOL) sits second in the league standings…

Pendleton sweeps Vale

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ VALE — Pendleton ran its record to 14-3 overall with a 25-14, 25-21, 25-21 nonleague win over the Vikings on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Fourth-ranked Pendleton, which won its sixth match in a row, had 21 blocks as a team and missed just three serves. “We played great all-around volleyball tonight,” Pendleton coach Jodi Primus said. “Our…

Pilot Rock’s Kessa Litfin serves while playing Nixyaawii on Oct. 1, 2025, in Mission.

Pilot Rock falls to 2A Stanfield

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ STANFIELD — Pilot Rock gave Stanfield all it could handle, but the Tigers were able to eke out a 25-23, 25-21, 25-16 nonleague win on Tuesday, Oct. 14. “We played really well tonight,” Pilot Rick coach Jen Porter said. “It was a fun match with lots of long rallies and great kills. It was just what we…

Pilot Rock’s Gracee Hemphill (2) serves the ball against Echo on Oct. 11, 2025 in Echo. The Cougars won the match in three sets. ROBERT ROSE/COURTESY

Echo digs deep for OOL win over Pilot Rock

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ ECHO — Echo improved to 5-2 in Old Oregon League play, and is tied for third place with Joseph, after beating Pilot Rock 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 on Saturday, Oct. 11. “It’s been a long week with homecoming and Dig Pink,” Echo coach Des Thew said. “The girls did a good job playing through the tired today.…

Aaron Noisey officiates on Sept. 19, 2025, at the Weston-McEwen/Grant Union football game in Athena.

TigerScots top Enterprise in BMC play

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ ATHENA — Jace Dunlap ran for 175 yards and three touchdowns to lead Weston-McEwen to a 40-26 Blue Mountain Conference win Friday, Oct. 10, over Enterprise. “The boys played tough,” W-M coach Morgan Dunlap said. “Played through some adversity and made some good defensive adjustments.” Colby Perkins added 55 yards rushing and one touchdown for the…

Pilot Rock seniors Aubrey Corwin (from left), Kashley Golden and Coley Gibbs played key roles in the Rockets’ win over Dayville/Monument/Long Creek on Oct. 9, 2025, in Pilot Rock. JEN PORTER/COURTESY

Rockets cruise past Tigers

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PILOT ROCK — Seniors Kashley Golden, Aubrey Corwin and Coley Gibbs were honored before the game, then they went out and played a strong match as Pilot Rock made quick work of winless Dayville/Monument/Long Creek 25-12, 25-9, 25-14 in nonleague play. “They showed up tonight,” PR coach Jen Porter said of her seniors. “They are a…

Pendleton’s MacKenna Naughton (18) attempts to pass around a Riverside defender on Sept. 25, 2025, in Pendleton.

La Grande tops Pendleton in GOL play

ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ LA GRANDE — Ava Jackson scored in the second half to pull Pendleton to within 2-1, but La Grande would score the final two goals of the game for a 4-1 Greater Oregon League win over the Bucks on Thursday, Oct. 9. “Overall, the effort was there and we did a nice job controlling a good team…