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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 2015)
Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Wednesday, November 4, 2015 MARIJUANA: Debate ‘a combination of reefer madness and revenue madness’ Continued from 1A prohibition — John Brenne, Becky Marks, Neil Brown and Tom Young. Opponents argued there wasn’t enough certainty in the state’s regu- lations to ensure sales and taxation would go smoothly and allowing marijuana business in the city would be akin to a tacit endorsement for drug use. Proponents countered by saying the city could make revenue on a drug that is already widely available on the black market, especially during a time when the city is looking for new sources of revenue for infrastructure. Councilor Jane Hill said the debate was “a combination of reefer madness and revenue madness” and suggested the council re-explore medical marijuana sales and refer recreational marijuana sales to the ballot. Councilors McKennon McDonald and Al Plute also supported a ballot referral, with Plute making a motion for the council to consider a temporary ban on marijuana sales that would refer the issue to the November 2016 ballot at the next meeting. With the motion only needing a simple majority to pass or fail, the same four councilors that supported the ban voted it down. Young said Pendleton voters could still consider a ban on mari- MXDQDVDOHVLIWKH\¿OHGDSHWLWLRQWR refer it to the ballot. McDonald said asking citizens to challenge the city in order to vote on the issue sends the wrong message to residents. :LWKRXWWKHUHTXLVLWH¿YHYRWHV the ban will be considered again at the next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 17. Boardman Boardman City Council voted Tuesday to allow medical marijuana growers and dispensaries, the only city in Umatilla and Morrow coun- ties to have done so. With the same ordinance, council prohibited the sale and production of recreational marijuana within the city. Cities are allowed to refuse state-licensed marijuana shops if they are located within counties that opposed Measure 91 — which legalized recreational marijuana in Oregon — by at least 55 percent. Morrow County voters opposed the measure by more than 60 percent, and the Morrow County Court has already voted to ban both recreational and medical marijuana businesses. Boardman City Manager Karen Pettigrew said there was little discus- sion before the ordinance passed. Pettigrew previously described the community as “old-school,” and said most of the residents she talked to were against having recreational marijuana businesses. Neighboring Irrigon City Council will also consider a similar ordinance at its November meeting. Tuesday, voting to adopt a zoning ordinance that did not list commer- cial marijuana activity as an allowed Pilot Rock use anywhere in the city. Pilot Rock City Council voted The council voted to ban 5-0 Tuesday in favor of banning commercial marijuana grows and marijuana businesses from the city. dispensaries during its Aug. 18 7KH FRXQFLO ¿UVW KHDUG D meeting, but councilors at the time presentation in favor of the ban made it clear that at least some of from Councilman Deacon Perkins, them were open to repealing the who expressed concerns about the ban once the council and planning city’s lack of resources to deal with FRPPLVVLRQ¿QLVKHGZRUNLQJRQDQ pot businesses and the social ills overhaul of the city’s commercial they could bring in spite of the tax zone codes. Earlier drafts of the revenue from the sale of recreational new zoning codes did allow medical pot. marijuana dispensaries in certain “I’m not convinced yet, from ]RQHV EXW WKH ¿QDO RUGLQDQFH what I’ve heard, that the tax revenue adopted unanimously on Tuesday will outweigh the social costs,” he did not. said. The new codes do allow adult That drew positive responses entertainment businesses — the from some council meeting regulars. other impetus for overhauling the And no one in the audience spoke in commercial zone rules — but only favor of marijuana businesses. But in the general commercial zone Pilot Rock residents Fred Wyatt located outside of the downtown and John Hill said the majority of and residential areas and only with a Oregonians voted for Measure 91, conditional use permit issued by the and they did not like lawmakers planning commission. tweaking what voters passed. Councilors at Tuesday’s meeting “That’s the way I grew up — described nearly a year’s worth of majority rules,” Wyatt said. “blood, sweat and tears” that had After the council voted, city gone into the new zoning codes. recorder Teri Porter said she would “The amount of effort that went have a draft law to the council at its into this document, it’s a mind-bog- next meeting, Nov. 17. gler,” Roak Ten Eyck said. The amendments to the zoning Umatilla FRGH DGRSWHG 7XHVGD\ RXWOLQH ¿YH The Umatilla city council put types of commercial zones within ZKDWORRNHGWREHD¿QDOQDLOLQWKH FLW\OLPLWVDQGGH¿QHVWKHDOORZDEOH FRI¿QIRUFRPPHUFLDOPDULMXDQDRQ uses in each zone. Chipotle E. coli outbreak sickens at least 37 people SEATTLE (AP) — Chipotle’s industry-leading commitment to tracking its ingredients from farm to table is being put to the test by an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 37 people as of Tuesday, nearly all of whom ate recently at one of the chain’s restaurants in Washington state or Oregon. Scientists also said Tuesday that WKH\ LGHQWL¿HG WKH VSHFL¿F PLFUR- organism responsible, which they believe was carried on fresh produce such as lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro or onions, or possibly even spices. The chain of casual Mexican restaurants voluntarily closed 43 locations in the two states after KHDOWKRI¿FLDOVDOHUWHGWKHFRPSDQ\ to a growing number of E. coli cases involving people who shared one common experience: a meal at Chipotle during the last two weeks. The numbers grew Tuesday from three to 12 probable cases in Portland area and from 19 to 25 probable cases LQ¿YHFRXQWLHVQHDU6HDWWOH Colorado approves letting state keep $66M in pot taxes DENVER (AP) — Colorado voters agreed Tuesday to allow the state to keep $66 million worth of marijuana taxes despite an accounting error that could have forced the state to refund the money to taxpayers and pot growers. An error in a pot tax measure approved two years ago led to the proposition. The error required the state to ask voters again if it could keep the revenue collected last year from a 10 percent sales tax and 15 percent excise tax on recreational pot. The vote means the state won’t have to refund the $66 million and the 10 percent sales tax won’t be cut almost entirely for a time. Instead, the state will put the money toward school construction and educational and anti-drug efforts. Proposition BB had broad support from Democrats, Republicans, the marijuana industry and nearly every newspaper in the state. Lawmakers insisted that the marijuana money would be spent as voters generally intended when they approved the taxes in 2013. For example, the measure sends $40 million to a school construction fund. But it also gives money to some new recipients, including the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America. In the case of 4-H, the money is actually going to the Colorado State Fair, which expects to receive $300,000 for renovations. The Colorado Department of Education will get $2 million for a new “school bullying prevention and education cash fund.” An additional $200,000 goes to the Department of Law to train police. Roadside marijuana impairment could be the training topic, but the measure does not require the money to spend on anything Dr. Scott Lindquist, Washington’s VWDWHHSLGHPLRORJLVWVDLGWKHVSHFL¿F microorganism responsible for the outbreak is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26. 1RZ RI¿FLDOV DUH GRLQJ PRUH tests, on samples of human waste and on any E. coli found in food samples, looking for exact DNA matches. That, in turn, should indicate which ingredient carried it into the meals of diners, Lindquist said. Food from the restaurants linked to the outbreak is being tested, and Lindquist said they may know by Wednesday which produce, if any, tests positive for the same bacteria. Authorities have already asked Chipotle to turn over information about its food suppliers. “We’re really relying on working closely with Chipotle,” said Dr. Katrina Hedberg, Oregon’s state epidemiologist. Chipotle Mexican Grill Chairman Steve Ells said in a statement Tuesday that the company immediately closed BRIEFLY pot-related. An even bigger chunk, $8 million, doesn’t have any designated recipient. That’s because more taxes were collected than lawmakers expected when the ballot measure was written. Ohio voters reject legal marijuana COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio voters rejected D¿UVWRILWVNLQGSURSRVDO Tuesday that would have legalized both medical and recreational marijuana, following an expensive FDPSDLJQDOHJDO¿JKW over its ballot wording and an investigation into the proposal’s petition signatures. The marijuana question, Issue 3, would have allowed adults 21 and older to grow, possess and use pot recreationally and made cannabis available for the restaurants “out of an abundance of caution, even though only eight restaurants have drawn concern.” The company also says it is doing its own tests in restaurants and distri- bution centers. It is fully sanitizing the restaurants, replacing all the food and testing batches of ingredients in its supply chain as it helps investiga- tors, the statement said. Multi-state outbreaks have increased sharply in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. On average, two dozen occurred from 2010 to 2014, up from six a year from 1973 to 2010. That’s partly due to better detection, but food industry consolidation has meant companies ship to wider networks of grocery stores and restaurants now, so tainted products can spread more widely as well. In this case, identifying the supplier of any contaminated produce should be easier because Chipotle uses traceability software, made by medical uses in the same vote, a unique approach nationally. Some who voted “no” didn’t like that a small group of investors would have exclusive rights to grow pot commercially. “I can’t believe I voted QRZKHQLWZDV¿QDOO\RQ the ballot,” said Marty Dvorchak, 62, of the northern Cincinnati suburb RI)DLU¿HOG³,WKLQNLW¶V ridiculous that marijuana is illegal.” University of Cincinnati student Natalie McClorey, 22, said she also didn’t like the exclusive arrangement — but voted yes because it’s progress. She said she thought most students would vote the same — if they vote. In a last-minute legal VFXIÀHDMXGJHRUGHUHGSROOV in Cincinnati to remain open for an extra 90 minutes, leading to a delay in reported results statewide. STUDENT OF THE WEEK Bradey Cope the Durham, North Carolina-based FoodLogiQ company, and has prom- ised its consumers that it can trace every box of fresh ingredients from farm to table, in real time. “Ideally, any of these trace-back systems should help,” said Jaydee Hanson, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Food Safety, a Wash- LQJWRQ '&EDVHG QRQSUR¿W WKDW promotes food safety and sustainable agriculture. +HDOWK RI¿FLDOV EHOLHYH NQRZLQJ the distribution of food along Chipo- tle’s supply chain will give them useful information, said Dr. Jeff 'XFKLQKHDOWKRI¿FHUIRU6HDWWOHDQG King County Public Health. “We’re really hoping that the trace-back will give us some good clues about what the cause could be,” Duchin said. He acknowledged, however, that WKLV ZLOO EH D GLI¿FXOW LQYHVWLJDWLRQ because so many of the same ingredients go into multiple dishes at Chipotle. They’ve served our country with courage and honor. They’ve left behind loved ones to risk their lives in protecting their country. They’ve defended our freedoms and ideals. They make us proud to be Americans. Join us for Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2015 in the East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald, as we honor the men and women of the U.S. Military. Their courage, hard work and sacrifice are the backbone of our nation, protecting freedom, liberty, justice and all we hold dear. Fire bonds pass in Heppner, Umatilla East Oregonian Voters in both the city of Heppner and outlying Heppner Rural Fire Protection District passed bond measures on Tuesday to build a new $975,000 ¿UHKDOO The city’s measure passed with 316 votes in favor and 124 opposed and will cover 60 percent of the project’s cost, or $585,000. The remaining 40 percent, or $390,000, is covered E\ WKH UXUDO ¿UH GLVWULFW ERQG which passed with 380 votes in favor 109 opposed. Both results DUHXQRI¿FLDO The new station will be built just outside city limits at Highway 74 and Fuller Canyon Road. Fire Chief Rusty Estes said the new building will more than double the amount of space for his volunteer department. Space was so cramped in the old building, Estes said WKH\ FRXOGQ¶W HYHQ ¿W DOO WKHLU equipment in same place. The current station, located on Willow Street, was originally built in 1960. ——— Umatilla voters approved a bond for the Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District by just seven YRWHV DFFRUGLQJ WR XQRI¿FLDO results Thursday. As of press time Thursday night, 319 votes were cast in favor of the measure favor (51.3 percent), while 312 were opposed (48.7 percent). The 15-year bond will generate about $1.8 million to procure safety equipment, replace aging vehicles and LPSURYH¿UHVWDWLRQV7D[SD\HUV will pay 54 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Lt. Steve Potts previously said the funding would be used WR UHSODFH ¿UH¿JKWHU DLU SDFNV a 1977 tanker truck, a 1979 heavy rescue vehicle and a 1997 brush truck. He said the funds would also be used to refurbish or replace a 1986 ladder truck and, if funding allows, to replace another 19-year-old tanker truck. If funding allows, he said the stations would be upgraded to have automatic doors and sleeping quarters. PRICES 1x4 - $ 40.00 2x3 - $ 55.00 Full Color Included Private Party Only Bring in or call 1-800-522-0255 with a photo and message to your hero to give them a special thanks. DEADLINE Wednesday, November 5 th 1x4 EXAMPLE For more information call Paula at 541-278-2678 or 1-800-522-0255 or Hermiston Herald at 541-564-4530. G RISWOLD H IGH S CHOOL Griswold High School is proud to name Bradey Cope as the student of the week. Bradey is a member of FBLA and National Honor Society. Last year he took home state awards for his NHD (National History day) project which took him all the way to Washington DC to compete at the national level. In addition, he is an all American athlete participating in cross country, basketball and track! Bradey was also a Umatilla County 4-H Ambassador last year, and he is the current ASB President. Congratulations Bradey and keep up the good work! 2x3 EXAMPLE We are so proud of you for serving your country. Love Evelyn, Joe and Cheryl Proudly Sponsored by J OSEPH B. D AVIS 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton, OR • 541-276-5121 J OSEPH S MITH Thank you for your service! Love always Marcy, Julie & Emily