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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2015)
Page 8A BUSINESS East Oregonian Saturday, June 6, 2015 First retail pot Marina installs boater fuel dock shop approved in Walla Walla ARLINGTON Only fuel stop on Columbia between The Dalles, Umatilla By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian A new fuel pump is open for business at the Port of Arlington Marina, providing the only service for boaters and anglers in 100 miles on the Mid-Columbia River. About 40 people attended a ribbon cutting Thursday to celebrate several recent upgrades at the marina, including a new gangway and 18 new boats slips at the “B” and “C” docks. But the project’s crown jewel is the on-water fuel dock, which ¿QDOO\ JLYHV ERDWHUV D SODFH WR¿OOXSWKHLUWDQNVEHWZHHQ Umatilla and The Dalles. Port Manager Peter Mitchell said a fuel dock has been on the board’s wish list since 1978. In 2011, the port conducted a survey of boaters that showed 93 percent of visitors from out of town were in need of fuel. The entire project cost nearly $550,000, most of which was paid for by grants through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Oregon State Marine Board. Construction began in December 2014 and passed inspection in April. “It took a lot of work and a lot of help to make this come about,” Mitchell said. “It’s been a really big project, and we’re really appreciative of all the support we’ve received.” The dock now serves both diesel and non-ethanol gasoline. It was installed by Anderson Environmental Contractors of Kelso, Wash- ington. Janine Belleque, boating facilities manager for the State Marine Board in Salem, said Arlington’s central loca- tion between Umatilla and The Dalles made it an ideal Staff photo by George Plaven Glen Cathers fuels up his boat Thursday at the Port of Arlington Marina’s new fuel dock, which now provides the only service for boaters on the Columbia River be- tween The Dalles and Umatilla. “Boaters came into the area without enough fuel to get to Umatilla. ... You had this beautiful stretch of river that couldn’t be used,” Shaffer said. “It was a huge concern.” Mitchell said visitors who would stop at the marina were already spending, on average, $45-$50 in town. 1RZ KH H[SHFWV WKDW WUDI¿F will only increase. “It just makes it more convenient for them to utilize Staff photo by George Plaven the services,” he said. The Port of Arlington paid $515,000 in mostly grant One local boater, Glen money on recent upgrades at its marina, including a Cathers of Goldendale, new fuel station for boaters and a gangway. Washington, said he is location to add a fuel station, Belleque said, as boaters stop pleased to see a station avail- whereas previously boaters not only for gas but to visit able closer to home. “Hopefully here, this is might choose to avoid the the city and shop at local going to solve our fueling area or risk being stranded. stores and restaurants. problems,” Cathers said. “Without fuel, it really Gilliam County Judge limits their capacity to go Steve Shaffer said the idea “This is really convenient.” ——— anywhere,” Belleque said. RIDIXHOGRFNZDV¿UVWUDLVHG Contact George Plaven Adding another destina- to him 13 years ago, and he tion on the river should also is thrilled to see the project at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4547. help Arlington’s economy, come to fruition. Wal-Mart keeps it all in the family chair passed to son-in-law Penner By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and CANDICE CHOI AP Retail Writers FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart is passing the chairmanship of the world’s largest retailer from the eldest son of late founder Sam Walton to a third gener- ation. The company said that board Chairman Rob Walton will step down and be succeeded by Vice Chairman Greg Penner, who is his son-in-law. The change took effect at the end of the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting Friday and came despite pressures from labor-backed worker groups to name an independent chairman. The calls for independent lead- ership mounted in the wake of allegations of bribery in Mexico and other countries Wal-Mart operates in that came to surface in spring 2012. Walton, son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, has been chairman since 1992. The company says the 70-year-old will continue to serve as a director. Jim Walton, another son of the late founder, also remains on the board. Penner, whose back- ground is in technology and ¿QDQFH ZLOO EH WKH FRPSD- ny’s third chairman in the company’s 53-year history. Rob Walton took over as chair upon the death of his father in 1992. The announcement comes as Wal-Mart is facing challenges on all fronts, from how it runs its operations to how it treats its workers. Penner, 45, joined Wal-Mart as a management trainee and held a number of positions including senior YLFHSUHVLGHQWRI¿QDQFHDQG strategy for Walmart.com DQG FKLHI ¿QDQFLDO RI¿FHU for the Japan unit. He had been a general partner of Madrone Capital Partners, an investment management ¿UP VLQFH +H MRLQHG Wal-Mart’s board in 2008. Rob Walton noted on stage at the meeting that Penner is health or safety” or “create nuisance condition” to A hearing examiner has neighboring properties. Kerr’s decision was made ruled in favor of allowing :DOOD :DOOD¶V ¿UVW UHWDLO eight days after the May 21 hearing, which was held in marijuana store. The proposed pot shop a packed city hall meeting at at 927 W. Main St. expects ZKLFKSHRSOHWHVWL¿HG Opponents of the pot to open this summer and go by the name Walla Walla store slightly outnumbered supporters in comments Cannabis Co. “I am shooting for end during the hearing, with of August,” owner Amber most stating the business Cole said in an email. “I am should not be allowed in very excited and proud to a neighborhood that is build this business in a way mixture of residences and that will improve Walla retail shops. In addition to the Walla in a meaningful and comments, a total of two positive way.” Cole said what remains petitions and 25 letters — is a build-out and remodel, including one by actress IROORZHGE\¿QDOLQVSHFWLRQ Susan Sarandon — were and licensure by the Wash- reviewed by Kerr in making ington State Liquor Control his decision. “Over the years, I have Board, to be renamed Washington State Liquor come to know that respon- and Cannabis Board effec- sible and safe cannabis use as an adult is something tive in July. 2Q:HGQHVGD\FLW\RI¿- that has elevated my own cials sent notices of Hearing well-being, health and Sarandon Examiner Leland B. Kerr’s awareness,” wrote in her May 14 letter May 29 decision. In his decision, Kerr of support. The results of the hearing said Cole’s Tangletown Holdings LLC met all can be appealed with the conditional requirements Walla Walla County Supe- required by local authorities rior Court. Individuals have and that the business would 21 days or until June 19 to “not endanger the public make their appeal. Walla Walla Union-Bulletin AP Photo/Danny Johnston New Wal-Mart chairman Greg Penner speaks to the Wal-Mart shareholder meeting in Fayetteville, Ark. on Friday. married to his daughter. Penner had been the chairman of the company’s technology and e-commerce committee since it was formed in 2011 and has been instrumental in guiding the company on the technology front. “You’ve been a great PHQWRU 1R RQH FDQ ¿OO your shoes,” said Penner, referring to Walton. Penner joined Walton on stage as well as Doug McMillon, the company’s CEO, and former CEO David Glass who served at the helm from 1988 to 2000. Walton said that Penner “brings an ideal blend of ¿QDQFH WHFKQRORJ\ DQG international business expertise — as well as a deep knowledge and love of Wal-Mart — to this role.” The announcement was not a surprise after Walton named Penner as vice chairman at last year’s annual shareholders’ meeting. The Walton family controls about 50 percent of the company’s shares. Keeping with Wal-Mart’s practice of showcasing celebrities at the annual event, the meeting was being hosted by actress Reese Witherspoon. Singers Brian McKnight, Rod Stewart and Ricky Martin also performed on stage. Entertainer Carol Burnett was on stage, too, and did her trademark Tarzan call. U.S. hiring jumps in May as businesses get bullish WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a robust 280,000 jobs in May, showing that the economy has regained momentum after starting 2015 in a deep slump. The unemployment rate ticked up to 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent in April, the government said Friday. But that occurred for a good reason: Hundreds of thousands more people began seeking jobs in May. Not all of them found work and so were counted as unemployed. Last month’s strong job growth UHÀHFWVDYRWHRIFRQ¿GHQFHE\ employers, a sign that they foresee a broader rebound for the U.S. economy DIWHULWVKUDQNGXULQJWKH¿UVWWKUHH months of the year. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth during March and April by a combined net 32,000. The steady hiring should help drive the economy through the rest of the year, overcoming the drags caused by a stronger dollar hurting exports and cheaper oil slashing into revenues for the energy industry. Ordnance Brewing opens Boardman tap room BOARDMAN — New beer-maker Ordnance Brewing will open its Boardman tap room to the public on weekends. The business at 405 N. Olson Road in the Port of Morrow will be open Saturdays from 2-10 p.m. and Sundays from 2-6 p.m. %UHZPDVWHU/RJDQ0D\¿HOGZLOOIHDWXUHSRSXODU ÀDJVKLSEUHZVRQWKHWDVWLQJURRP¶VWDSV7KHEUHZHU\ hopes to add more hours this summer. Ordnance Brewing was founded in 2014 by Hermiston neighbors Craig Coleman and the late Mark McLeod. BRIEFLY have refused, citing privacy concerns. The Mountain View, California- based company says the cars have driven about 1 million miles in autonomous mode since 2009, and Google’s drivers have been in control for 800,000 additional miles. AP file photo A row of Google self-driving Lexus cars in Mountain View, Calif. Google will make reports on self-driving cars NEW YORK (AP) — Google will release monthly reports on the performance of its self-driving cars, and it disclosed summaries of the 12 accidents that involved the vehicles. Google described all of the accidents as minor, saying no injuries were reported. The company said Friday, as it has in the past, that its cars were not to blame for any of the accidents. The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has pushed Google to release the accident reports, and The Associated Press has asked Google and the California Department of Motor Vehicles for the reports. Both Safety agency admits Àaws starts reforms after GM DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government’s auto safety agency acknowledged Friday that staffers’ failure to understand technology and lack of skepticism prevented them from rooting out a deadly problem with General Motors ignition switches for more than a decade. The mea culpa came Friday DVWKH1DWLRQDO+LJKZD\7UDI¿F Safety Administration outlined actions designed to make itself more DJJUHVVLYHLQ¿QGLQJDQGVROYLQJ safety problems among the 240 million FDUVRQ86URDGZD\V,W¶VWKH¿UVW time the agency has admitted fault in failing to discover the switch problem and link it to a series of fatal accidents, although regulators still blame the automaker for hiding the defect. Place a Yard Sale Ad 25 words, 3 days, private party only $20.00 East Oregonian & Hermiston Herald Yard Sale Kits - $5.00 Includes 2 signs, stakes & price stickers. Call Paula 541-278-2678
