2B Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Appeal Tribune Nominate athletes for honors Comeback player award Heart and Desire award GARY HOROWITZ STATESMAN JOURNAL Achievement in sports isn’t always about ath- letes who throw the most touchdown passes, score the most points, serve the most aces or card the most birdies. It’s also about difference makers who impact their teams in ways that may not show up statis- tically. The Statesman Journal will honor a high school athlete who exhibited heart and desire in a variety of ways during the June 6 Statesman Journal Sports Awards at the Salem Convention Center. The Heart and Desire Award will honor one athlete who leads on and off the field. These type of leaders are often not starters or stars on their teams. Nominees for this award are individuals who show up and give maximum effort and sup- port the team, even if they are on the sidelines. Last season then-South Salem High School seniors Elijah Schwartz and Damian Moe made the boys varsity basketball team after being cut the previous three years. They didn’t play much, but found themselves in the starting lineup in a late-season victory over North Salem that clinched the Greater Valley Conference cham- pionship. Schwartz, who served as a student manager along with Moe in the seasons they didn’t make the team, was awarded the Heart and Desire Award. To nominate an athlete for the award, fill out the form at www.statesmanjournal.com/ nominate. Early bird tickets for the dinner/awards event cost $50 and are available through March 12. General admission tickets are $65 and will be available through May 27. Tickets can be pur- chased here: www.statesmanjournal.com/ SportsAwards. This year’s special guest for the Statesman Journal Sports Awards will be Mia Hamm, who is recognized as one of the greatest women’s soccer players of all time. She led the United States to two World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals. ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com or Twit- ter.com/ghorowitz BILL POEHLER STATESMAN JOURNAL It’s one of the most universal experiences in sports: The come- back. All great athletes have to overcome something, injuries, ill- nesses, living conditions or even losing a big game. The Statesman Journal will honor a high school athlete who made a great comeback this year at the June 6 Statesman Journal Sports Awards at the Salem Convention Center. The Comeback Player Award will honor one person who suf- fered an injury or was removed from competition for other reasons and returned to excel. Last year, Regis’ Josh Scrocca came back from Crohn’s disease and a car accident to lead his football team in rushing in the state semifinals and was awarded the Comeback Award. To nominate an athlete for the award, fill out the form at www.statesmanjournal.com/nominate. Early bird tickets for the dinner/awards event cost $50 and are available through March 12. General admission costs $65 and will be available through May 27. Tickets can be purchased here: www.statesmanjournal. com/sportsawards. bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler Will Oregon regulate carbon emissions? TRACY LOEW STATESMAN JOURNAL MOLLY J. SMITH/STATESMAN JOURNAL Eugene residents Sophie and Jim Swirczynski cheer at a rally for a Healthy Climate and Clean Energy Jobs on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. LIMITED SPACE by Back ar l Popu d! an Dem YOU MUST RSVP TO ATTEND Statesman Journal The Oregon Legislature is again con- sidering regulating carbon emissions, possibly in the form of a cap-and-trade system that would link to those already in place in California and Quebec. The House and Senate environment committees kicked off the first of sever- al joint hearings on the topic Feb. 20 with an overview of climate change and of carbon pricing options. “Climate change is here. It’s going to impact us no matter what happens,” Kathie Dello, associate director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Insti- tute, told lawmakers. Oregon has been working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions for a dec- ade. A new report shows the state won’t meet its 2020 goal. Earlier this month, the state Depart- ment of Environmental Quality complet- ed a report on the impacts of a cap-and- trade program in Oregon. The program would put a collective cap on greenhouse gas emissions state- wide, then auction off allowances to emit those gases. Businesses could sell or trade allow- ances, but eventually might find it cheaper to invest in carbon reduction technology. Unlike a carbon tax or fee, a cap-and- trade program would allow Oregon to control how emissions are reduced, Palmer Mason, DEQ senior legislative advisor, told the committees. That’s because the state would set the “cap,” while the price of allowances would be market-based. The state would gradually decrease the cap, resulting in allowances becoming more expensive. About 100 businesses around the state would be regulated if the program cov- ered fossil fuel and natural gas suppli- ers, electricity providers, and industrial emitters responsible for at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Among those on the list: Chevron, Shell, NW Natural, PGE, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Georgia-Pacific Toledo, Oregon State University, Intel Corp. and Coffin Butte Landfill. None of the businesses are in Marion or Polk counties. The system would have little impact on Oregon’s overall economy, DEQ found, although some industries, such as those competing with businesses in oth- er states, could suffer. That could be addressed by freely giving allowances to those industries, Mason said. Residents of rural areas with few transportation choices also could be more severely impacted by higher fuel costs. That could be mitigated by offer- ing rebates. Sale of the allowances could raise hundreds of millions of dollars in reve- nue for the state. Oregon’s Constitution likely would re- quire revenue associated with transpor- tation fuels to be used for transportation infrastructure, DEQ said. The remain- der would be unrestricted. The committees did not take public testimony on Feb. 20. Previous attempts to put a price on carbon have been opposed by Associated Oregon Industries and some of its mem- ber businesses. They have argued that climate change is a global problem and Oregon’s emissions account for just a small fraction of those worldwide. tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503- 399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/Tra- cy_Loew Forecast: Oregon tax revenues up, but not enough to close budget gap TRACY LOEW STATESMAN JOURNAL SIGN UP TODAY AT statesmanjournal.com/coupons You will learn to save hundreds of dollars on groceries and more with coupons you can find in the Statesman Journal . Maryann Collier, featured on TLC’s Extreme Couponing, will share her strategies and tips at an exclusive workshop! Oregon legislators received a rela- tively rosy economic forecast Feb. 22, with revenue projections up for the cur- rent state budget period and through 2025. But Democratic leaders warned that it’s still not enough to keep up with rising costs. “Even when business is booming in Oregon, our revenue system prevents us from generating the funds we need to in- vest in our schools, senior care, and health care programs,” House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson said in a statement. Economists are projecting an addi- tional $188.6 million in the general fund and $6.7 million in lottery funds for the 2017-19 budget. That will put a small dent in the pro- jected $1.8 billion budget gap that law- makers currently are struggling with. The gap is due to rising costs for the state’s public pension system and Medi- Senior events bloom in March CHRISTENA BROOKS SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE Join us on Tuesday, March 14th at 7:00 p.m. The Grand Hotel in Salem 201 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301 We typically sell out these events, so sign up today AND get full details at statesmanjournal.com/coupons WEST5670 caid, as well as three voter initiatives. “Our budget isn’t balanced,” Senate President Peter Courtney said in a state- ment. “We’re going to have to make some cuts. We’re going to have to raise some revenue. Both are tough. Both have to get done if we are going to meet the needs of Oregon and her people.” The Legislature will wrap up a series of statewide public hearings on the 2017- 19 budget next week, with hearings in Ashland, Eugene and Tillamook. It will finalize the spending plan fol- lowing the May 16 revenue forecast. The state’s reserves also are continu- ing to grow and are expected to pass the $1 billion mark for the first time this bi- ennium. The majority of those funds are in the state’s Rainy Day Fund and Education Stability Fund. In addition to providing a cushion dur- ing a recession, the healthy reserve fund also is boosting the state’s credit rating. t loew@statesmanjournal.com, 503- 399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/Tra- cy_Loew? Residents of all ages are invited to Sil- verton Senior Center’s fundraising pan- cake breakfast on Saturday, March 25, while the remaining March activities are for people aged 60 and older. The pancake breakfast is 8 to 11 a.m., with all-you-can-eat pancakes, as well as scrambled eggs, fruit and beverages. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to 5 and free for children 4 and younger. Throughout the month, the center will host a free open studio at 1 p.m. every Wednesday for seniors who want to work on their art projects. Another continuing service is free tax aid for walk-ins every Saturday at 2 p.m. through April 15. In official business, members can meet candidates running for the Senior Center’s Board at 2 p.m. March 5 and then attend the board meeting at 1 p.m. March 6. March 7, at 6:30 p.m., is the Compas- sionate Friend support group for people who have lost a child or sibling. March 8 at 2 p.m. is a gardening class with Dale Small. March 15 at 6:30 p.m. is a presen- tation by the Bike Forum. Seniors can learn basic computer skills every Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m.; classes cost $40 for four weeks and are taught by Breanna Weston. March 21 at 2 p.m. is a free Alzheimer’s support group, while March 23 at 2 p.m. is a “Beating the Winter Blues” presentation. On Friday, March 24, seniors can at- tend the “Sharing is Caring” resource fair, which gives information on proac- tive aging. The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Expect door prizes and giveaways. On March 31, from 9 a.m. to noon, at- torney Phil Kelley will offer his monthly free legal advice. Those interested should sign up ahead of time by calling 503-87303093.