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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2015)
Page 2A NORTHWEST East Oregonian Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Forest Service yanks $10M PR contract GRANTS PASS — The U.S. Forest Service has abrupt- ly decided not to spend $10 - wide public relations cam- paign to brand itself as a public agency that cares about people and nature. The agency was planning on the campaign at a time when it’s struggling to pay for and wildlife. The Forest Service issued a statement Tuesday saying that it had not accepted any con- tract bids and would look for other ways to enhance the pub- lic’s access to national forests and understanding about what the agency does. The agency wouldn’t say why it withdrew the contract. Andy Stahl, director of the watchdog group Forest Ser- vice Employees for Environ- mental Ethics, said he thought listened to Forest Service em- ployees, and no one thought this was a good idea.” Stahl said that after he learned of the contract, he sent an email to 25,000 Forest Service employees, and about half of them opened it. He got about 50 replies, all critical, suggesting the money could be SALEM (AP) — As Oregon gets ready for legal recreational pot at mid-year, some farmers crops of hemp, the marijuana cousin that won’t get you high. are drafting rules that would allow growers to produce in- dustrial hemp this spring, The Oregonian reports. Hemp is a strain of the plant that doesn’t contain much of the psychoactive chemical in recreational or medical mari- juana, and its advocates tout it for a variety of uses. “It could save America,” said Jerry Norton, a hemp activist from Salem. “I am Record production in 2014 from Northwest nuclear power plant - ately return a phone message asking for comment. Its web- site describes the company as a “full-service social change agency that crafts and inte- grates strategic and creative services. We help our clients with strategic communication, multicultural engagement, or- ganizational development and resource development to build a just and sustainable world.” The website describes the company’s work for the Forest By JEFF BARNARD Associated Press trails and offering timber for sale. It has also faced a major public backlash in the West over plans to close trails and roads to motorized vehicles due to a lack of money for maintenance, as well as to pre- BRIEFLY AP Photo/Ben Margot, File This 2007 file photo shows a sign depicting U.S. Forest mascot Smokey Bear on a fire danger sign in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., as smoke from a wildfire rises behind it. The U.S. Forest Service has decided not to spend $10 million on a nationwide public relations campaign to rebrand itself. put to better use on recreation programs, revising forest man- agement plans, restoring eco- systems, hiring more employ- ees, and lifting a three-year wage freeze. Forest Service retirees also objected. Al Matecko, retired chief of public and legislative affairs for the northwest region and head of the Old Smokies, which represents about 950 retirees, said he received 50 emails from members who were strongly opposed. He passed on those objections to Forest Service leaders, Matecko said. “Retirees were just amazed that at this time of shrinking budgets, the Forest Service said. Last fall, the agency award- ed a $526,799 no-bid contract to Metropolitan Group of Port- talking about everything from biodiesel fuel to food to health care products to paper. It’s end- less. There are thousands of ap- plications.” He has begun lining up equipment and land, but he’s not sure yet how large an op- eration he’ll have, Norton said. Some of the regulations under discussion have made hemp proponents unhappy, such as the $1,500 license for three years. Courtney Moran, an attor- ney with expertise in hemp production, called that “a huge problem,” but she said some producers will move forward anyway. land, Oregon, for a branding campaign titled “Valuing Peo- ple and Place” in Forest Ser- vice regions covering Oregon, Washington, southern Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada, according to the federal web- site FedBizOpps.gov. It was the only no-bid contract issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of more than 3,000. Another federal website, USAspending.gov, shows the Forest Service has paid Met- ropolitan Group $3.6 million since 2011, much of it for the Valuing People and Place campaign. The area covers national forests where the Forest Ser- vice has faced intense pub- lic backlash to plans to close roads and trails on national Metropolitan Group’s Port- “I know lots of people ready to go,” she said. “They want to plant this summer.” There are also objections to a minimum-acreage require- ment of 2.5 acres and the stip- ulation that seeds be used to cultivate a crop, not produced for such uses as dietary sup- plements and hemp oil, a food ingredient. Eighteen states, including - dustrial hemp as distinct from marijuana and have removed barriers to its production, said Lauren Stansbury, a spokes- woman for the Hemp Indus- tries Association. Only three states — Colorado, Kentucky its roots, discover its future, and “rediscover the meaning behind (Forest Service found- er) Gifford Pinchot’s early money into education won’t improve graduation rates or student achievement. kick off his fourth term, the Democratic governor spelled out his vision to use state funding to nudge school districts to make the education changes he seeks. He’s proposed a budget that would direct most new education money toward preschool programs. Ensuring children are ready for kindergarten and reading with their peers by third grade will keep them from falling behind when they reach high school, Kitzhaber has long said. He also wants to change the school funding formula to reward schools that show success in certain areas, such as getting English language learners up to speed and investing in new career- focused classes. “The money has to come from somewhere,” Kitzhaber said, and pulling it out of some areas to funnel toward education may have a detrimental impact on children. “The money we’re spending on housing, the money we’re spending on mental health, the money we’re spending on stabilizing families has a huge impact on the ability of these young kids to succeed,” Kitzhaber told the executives, lawmakers and lobbyists gathered at the annual Oregon Business Summit in Portland. Some school advocates have said the governor’s proposed budget wouldn’t provide enough money to reduce class sizes or provide training for teachers. Bids were to close Dec. 26, the day after Christmas. “It’s called the ‘Take out the trash season,’” Stahl said. “It’s when government does things it doesn’t want people to know about.” Stahl sent out his email Dec. 26, and the Forest Ser- - ing the bid period to Dec. 29. A week later, it announced it was not accepting any bids. and Vermont — planted crops this year. In 2009, the Oregon Leg- islature approved industrial it became apparent the crop wouldn’t run afoul of federal law enforcement. Democratic Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene, a propo- nent of industrial hemp, said the state’s law and the rules that will guide the new industry may need to be tweaked, but Corrections An article in Tuesday’s East Oregonian incor- rectly stated when full operations will resume at the Williams Northwest Pipeline LNG plant in Plym- outh, Washington. Full operations will resume at the plant by November 2015. The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. in strong support of us moving forward and getting the rules of the current statute in place,” he said. ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson NEWS To submit news tips and press releases: Multimedia consultants • Jeanne Jewett To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: • Stephanie Burkenbine for same-day redelivery To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: • Dayle Stinson 541-966-0806 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Terri Briggs SUBSCRIPTION RATES www.eastoregonian.com PORTLAND (AP) — Gov. John Kitzhaber on Tuesday defended his proposed budget from critics who say it shortchanges education, telling notice Nov. 28, the day af- ter Thanksgiving, that it was soliciting bids to expand the campaign nationwide at a cost Didn’t receive your paper? 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Governor defends education budget at business summit good.’” The website adds that Met- ropolitan Group was helping train Forest Service employ- ees to deal with the public on the agency’s so-called Travel Management plans, which re- fers to the road and trail clo- sures. Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — The only nuclear power plant in the Northwest, the Columbia Generating Station at Richland, produced more electricity in 2014 than in any year in its 30-year history. Energy Northwest says the Columbia Generating Station sent nearly 9.5 million megawatt hours of electricity to the grid, beating its previous record of 9.3 million megawatt hours in 2012. The Tri-City Herald reports the plant operated at nearly 99 percent of its capacity. It ran every day in 2014. The Columbia Generating Station has 30 years remaining in its operating life. The power is sold through the Bonneville Power Administration. To submit a Letter to the Editor: To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ Postmaster: Single copy price: TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Mainly cloudy Partly sunny and chilly Mostly cloudy 42° 28° 37° 28° 40° 30° TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 51° 40° 70° (1914) 36° 26° -6° (1942) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Trace 0.18" 0.35" 0.18" 0.02" 0.35" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 49° 40° 58° (2009) 36° 28° -8° (1974) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Trace 0.10" 0.24" 0.10" 0.02" 0.24" SUN AND MOON Jan 13 Jan 20 Times of clouds and sun 37° 29° 39° 29° First Jan 26 39° 29° 40° 29° 39° 31° 40° 28° Seattle 51/39 PENDLETON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Mostly cloudy HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST through 3 p.m. yesterday Yesterday Normals Records SUNDAY PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records Forecast SATURDAY 7:35 a.m. 4:28 p.m. 7:26 p.m. 8:43 a.m. Full Feb 3 Spokane Wenatchee 37/25 43/31 Tacoma Moses 50/31 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 42/28 45/30 55/38 50/32 47/28 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 53/33 42/32 Lewiston 41/30 Astoria 47/33 56/40 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 52/34 Pendleton 43/25 The Dalles 43/30 42/28 46/33 La Grande Salem 48/24 52/34 Albany Corvallis 52/37 53/36 John Day 51/22 Ontario Eugene Bend 38/26 51/35 51/29 Caldwell Burns 36/25 42/18 Medford 57/32 REGIONAL CITIES Today Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima REGIONAL FORECAST Eastern and Central Oregon: Sunshine to- day, except mostly cloudy across the north; fog in the upper Treasure Valley. Western Washington: Partly sunny today; areas of fog in the morning. Areas of fog late tonight. Eastern Washington: Mainly cloudy today; a bit of freezing drizzle in the north during the morning. Cascades: Partly sunny today. Patchy clouds tonight. Partly sunny tomorrow. Northern California: Partly sunny today. Partly cloudy tonight. Times of clouds and sun tomorrow. Lo 40 22 29 46 18 25 35 29 30 22 28 24 24 32 45 43 26 29 28 34 25 34 25 29 31 32 28 W pc pc s pc s pc pc pc c s s pc pc pc pc pc pc c c pc s pc c pc pc c c Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Hi 57 38 47 59 40 42 53 39 40 48 54 45 42 58 59 60 36 41 37 52 47 53 36 46 52 39 44 Lo 41 24 30 46 18 24 35 28 30 27 29 26 25 38 45 45 28 30 28 36 26 34 22 28 35 31 31 W pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc Hi 40 69 41 49 67 5 43 56 28 83 48 Lo 19 57 35 47 44 2 39 43 14 69 37 W pc r sn c pc c pc sh pc pc pc Hi 46 68 42 50 62 15 51 57 31 84 48 Thu. Lo 21 57 35 42 41 13 41 45 19 70 35 W s s sh r pc c r c s s pc WINDS Boardman Pendleton Today Thursday VAR 2-4 N 3-6 NNE 3-6 NNW 3-6 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Coastal Oregon: Partial sunshine today; pleasant in the south. Patchy clouds tonight. Hi 56 41 51 63 42 43 51 44 43 51 55 48 46 57 59 61 38 44 42 52 52 52 37 48 51 42 47 NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Thu. WORLD CITIES (in mph) Klamath Falls 55/28 COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Director Jake Duquette Real Estate Advertising: Jodi Snook Copyright © 2014, EO Media Group 43° 30° To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: Legal Advertising: (USPS 164-980) 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: Cold air will extend over much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation today. Bands of heavy snow are forecast downwind of the Great Lakes. Most areas west of the Rockies will be dry, sunny and warm. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 87° in Fullerton, Calif. Low -23° in Black River Falls, Wis. NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 42 37 32 29 30 35 38 30 53 20 2 14 36 30 12 52 -1 2 77 53 5 61 7 66 33 81 Lo 24 15 15 11 26 12 29 0 18 8 -11 4 18 24 3 29 -15 -4 62 29 -9 26 -4 41 11 55 W sn pc pc pc pc pc pc sf pc sf pc sn pc sn sf pc s s s pc pc pc s pc pc pc Hi 46 31 26 24 27 30 37 21 37 22 12 15 40 44 10 50 15 12 79 43 14 46 26 65 30 75 Thur. Lo 27 23 21 18 -7 21 29 19 22 21 0 10 30 14 6 35 10 -9 64 35 8 32 6 41 25 53 W pc s s s sn s pc s s pc sf c s s sn pc pc sf s pc pc sh s pc s pc Today Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 19 31 80 3 -1 26 52 26 22 1 26 77 24 29 38 19 57 63 10 46 73 66 51 74 28 15 Lo 2 13 56 -8 -10 5 26 10 12 -7 11 51 -6 1 14 14 27 40 -1 30 53 47 39 48 16 4 W pc pc pc pc s pc pc sf pc s sf pc sf sf pc s pc s s s pc pc pc pc pc pc Hi 21 27 72 11 13 25 42 21 37 27 21 71 16 22 27 32 57 63 25 45 72 63 50 66 25 31 Thur. Lo 20 23 65 2 -5 20 33 19 21 4 17 49 14 19 17 -5 29 41 15 27 54 48 40 48 23 14 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W pc s sh sn sn s s s s s s pc s s s c pc pc pc s pc pc pc pc s s
