Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2018)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 Seaside woman sentenced in hotel shooting Garfias gets five years in prison in plea By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian Pamplin Media Group The Oregon Health Authority wanted to boost taxes on beer and wine, in part to push down consumption and in part to raise millions. Gov. Kate Brown on Friday said those taxes are off the table. Governor stops move to raise alcohol taxes Health agency wanted money to fight abuse By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Tax hikes on beer, cider and wine are “off the table,” Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. The Oregon Health Authority wanted to increase taxes on beer, wine and cider by 10 percent, which offi- cials said could raise nearly half a billion dollars over two years. The agency also pro- posed significant tobacco tax increases as a strategy to deter tobacco use and improve public health. The health authority’s proposal became public two weeks before Brown was re-elected. Her office at the time declined to say whether she supported boosting alco- hol taxes. That changed Friday. “I’ve been saying noth- ing’s off the table,” Brown said, “But that one’s off the table.” The health authority said Friday its current efforts to prevent alcohol abuse don’t require additional money to continue. “Director (Patrick) Allen asked staff for budget ideas to encourage input and cre- ative thinking” Robb Cowie, a spokesman for the health authority, said in a written statement. “The beer and wine tax proposal was sug- gested as one of many ideas to address alcohol overcon- sumption as part of the Ore- gon Health Authority’s ongo- ing prevention efforts, which do not depend on additional revenue to continue.” The state hasn’t increased beer taxes since 1977 or taxes on wine since 1983. But the money such increases would generate isn’t worth the fight, Brown said. “The challenge for that particular arena is that we just don’t get enough bang for the buck,” Brown said, adding that “it’s a tough fight in the Legislature and we’re not likely to be successful at the ballot.” Craft beer and fine wine are big business in Oregon. Over the past 10 years, the alcohol industry has added more jobs than the high-tech sector, state econ- omists say. But Oregonians are also suffering more from alco- hol-related ailments. Alco- hol overuse is the state’s third most common cause of preventable death. Related deaths in Oregon have climbed about 38 percent since 2001. The governor said she would support higher taxes on tobacco. The health authority’s proposal would raise an esti- mated $293 million over two years through a $2 per pack tax on cigarettes, a tax on “inhalant delivery systems” such as e-cigarettes and removing the 50-cent limit on taxes per cigar. Two years ago, Brown unsuccessfully proposed raising cigarette taxes by 85 cents per pack. The state tax remains at $1.33 per pack. Brown plans to release her recommended state bud- get for the next two years on Nov. 28. The governor wouldn’t say whether that would include higher tobacco taxes, but said she supports the con- cept and thinks it could help fund the Oregon Health Plan. “I believe strongly that increased tobacco … reve- nue needs to be part of the solution in developing a comprehensive, sustainable funding source for the Ore- gon Health Plan,” Brown said. The health plan is the state’s Medicaid program. It’s facing an $830 million shortfall in the next two-year budget. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group and Salem Reporter. A Seaside woman was sen- tenced Friday to five years in prison after a 2017 clash at a hotel over drugs ended with a shooting. Marta Garfias, 22, entered a room at the Beachside Inn in Seaside with her boyfriend, Shaun Scarborough, 29, and Jeffrey Nathaniel Ryals, 27, standing behind her with guns. Garfias had arranged to meet with Christopher Neaman, of Washington state, to buy drugs. Scarborough, with a ban- danna covering his face, held ney’s Office. The plea a .45-caliber pistol as means she does not Ryals allegedly pointed accept guilt but recog- an airsoft rifle. During nizes prosecutors have the encounter, Scar- borough allegedly shot enough evidence for a Neaman. conviction. Neaman was taken Scarborough also by ambulance to a hos- pleaded no contest to Marta pital, where his spleen first-degree burglary Garfias was removed. He then in July and was sen- was taken via Life Flight Net- tenced to 8½ years in prison. work to Oregon Health & Sci- Five years are a result of the ence University Hospital in burglary charge and 3½ years Portland for further treatment. stem from a probation vio- Scarborough and Garfias lation in a separate case in were arrested a week later in which he was convicted of La Mesa, California. Ryals has being a felon in possession of a firearm. not been found. At his sentencing hearing, All three were charged with first-degree assault, second-de- Scarborough downplayed Gar- gree assault, first-degree rob- fias’ role in the incident, say- bery and first-degree burglary. ing he used her to “get in the Garfias pleaded no contest Fri- door.” day to the burglary charge as Garfias said Friday that she part of a plea deal with the hopes to use the prison time Clatsop County District Attor- to kick a drug addiction and become a better mother for her two sons. “Over the past 2½ years, three years, I’ve lost a lot because of my drug addiction, and now I’m losing even more by going to prison,” Garfias said. “But I’m going to make the best of this.” Garfias does not have prior criminal convictions, Dep- uty District Attorney Steven Chamberlin said. She will be eligible for alternative incar- ceration programs and a reduced prison sentence as part of the plea deal. Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas said Garfias was say- ing the right things and that she hoped she would act on them. “You’re definitely, you know, young enough to make some big changes and be the mom that you want to be,” Matyas said. Forest Service to propose measures for southern Oregon Associated Press MEDFORD — The U.S. Forest Service plans to pro- pose measures for southern Oregon aimed at reducing the size and intensity of wildfires and creating healthier forests better able to withstand the hotter, drier conditions brought by climate change. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest plan would include a mix of commercial logging and brush removal on 22,000 acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Manage- ment lands, the Mail Tribune reported Sunday. It would include nearly 5,000 acres of prescribed fire and using fire to maintain up to 13,000 acres of previously burned areas. Research shows the for- est will better adapt to hotter, drier climates if the density of its tree stands is reduced and the growth of more fire-resis- tant trees is promoted. Grow- ing more oak and pine trees instead of Douglas fir will also help the forests adapt. “The objective is to make the watershed more resilient to disturbances like fire, insects and climate change,” said Don Boucher, the forest’s district ecologist and main architect of the plan. In all, the package could cost up to $14 million, with as much as $2 million generated from commercial logging and the remainder coming from future grants, Boucher said. The plan is detailed in an envi- ronmental assessment expected to be released Wednesday. The proposals include 18 miles of new hiking trails and 4 miles of new off-high- WANTED American Forest Resource Council, said she thinks it’s a good project overall. She said it’s going to be “really good” for the landscape. Tim Niemela, from the Motorcycle Riders Association, said the amount of proposed new trails shows a bias against motorized users. He believes it doesn’t acknowledge the work his group does in the woods. Divorce need not be expensive. We help you get the paperwork right and provide mediation to help you divide your assets. Christy Shoop Brian G. Kulhanjian Paperwork Mediation RESOLUTION SERVICES Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 way vehicle trails. Miles of unauthorized trails would be decommissioned. The environmental assess- ment will be up for public com- ment for a month, with com- ments incorporated in a final decision expected next spring, Boucher said. Work could begin next summer, he said. Amanda Astor, southwest Oregon field forester for the 552 Commercial Street Astoria (503) 325-9115 A division of Stahancyk, Kent & Hook You can try, but you can’t quit me. Providence has made sure of that for 55 years and counting. Staying the course, Bob prov idenceoregon . org / de a rnorthcoa s t
