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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2015)
Page 2A NORTHWEST East Oregonian Thursday, August 13, 2015 Hanford whistleblower settles with employer for $4.1 million not tolerated, and will not tolerate, retaliation or harassment in any form against anyone who raises a safety issue in good faith,” AECOM said. “The company is pleased to put this matter behind us and continue with the important cleanup work at the Hanford site.” The settlement followed ¿ve years of legal ¿ghts. A trial had been scheduled in 2016. Hanford, located near Richland, for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons and now is engaged in the cleanup of the nation’s largest collection of radioac- tive waste. The $12.2 billion Waste Treatment Plant, whose construction is stalled, is intended to convert the most dangerous wastes into glass for eventual burial. “We are very pleased that Walter can get on with his life after ¿ve years of litigation, and that he has been vindicated,” said his attorney, Jack Sheridan of Associated Press SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A whistleblower on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation has reached a $4.1 million settlement with his former employer on the former nuclear weapons production site in Wash- ington state, his lawyer said Wednesday. Walter Tamosaitis was a former manager at Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant, where he worked for subcon- tractor 8RS, Inc., which is now known as AECOM. He was removed from his position in 2010 after raising safety concerns about the construction of the giant plant. He was eventually ¿red in 2013. AECOM, which acquired 8RS last October, said it reached the settlement to avoid the cost of litigation. “The company strongly disagrees that it retaliated against him in any manner,” AECOM said in a press release. “The company has BRIEFLY Brown signs 846 bills, vetoes none SALEM (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown won’t be issuing any vetoes in her ¿rst year in of¿ce. The Democratic governor signed all 846 bills sent to her by the Legislature, the last 43 of them on Wednesday, including one creating a special license plate honoring the Portland Trail Blazers. Proceeds from the plates will go to the Trail Blazers Foundation. With the House, Senate and governor’s of¿ce all controlled by Democrats, Oregon governors have issued few vetoes during the past decade. “We are very pleased Walter can get on with his life after five years of litigation, and that he has been vindicated.” — Jack Sheridan, Attorney for Walter Tamosaitis Seattle. “This settlement sends a message to whis- tleblowers everywhere that integrity and truth are worth ¿ghting for, and that you can win if you don’t give up.” In November, the 9th 8.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit ¿led by Tamosaitis against 8RS and said he was entitled to a jury trial. The appeals court ruled that a lower court wrongly dismissed the case against 8RS, the primary subcon- tractor on the plant. Tamosaitis contends that 8RS removed him as the research and technology manager of the un¿nished plant after he said more time was needed to resolve complex technical issues. Construction on the plant has since stopped because of technical and safety issues. 8RS disagreed, saying Tamosaitis had completed his work and sent inappro- priate emails discussing the issue. 8.S. District Court Judge Lonny Suko dismissed the case in 2012 after ruling that Tamosaitis had not followed legal requirements to wait one year after ¿ling an administrative claim with the Department of Labor before proceeding to a federal court case. Coast drowning viFtiP identi¿ed as missing man PACIFIC CITY (AP) — A drowning victim discovered on the Oregon Coast has been identi¿ed as a missing man. A hiker spotted the body in the area of McPhillips Beach north of Cape Kiwanda in Tillamook County on Monday morning. KPTV reports the medical e[aminer identi¿ed the man as 22-year-old Sean Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi had been reported missing out of Benton County on July 29. His death was ruled a drowning. Investigators say Yamaguchi was assumed to be with his girlfriend. She also was reported missing and has not been located. Growing number of Oregon cities, counties are banning marijuana 91. In counties where at least 60 percent of voters opposed the measure, local governments can ban the marijuana businesses outright; elsewhere, a ban is temporary until voters weigh in. Even in jurisdictions that opt out, adults can still grow and use marijuana subject to the same limits that apply in the rest of the state. But if they want to buy the drug from a retail store, they’ll have to travel to somewhere that allows them. The strongest opposi- tion so far has come from far-eastern Oregon, where Malheur County and three of its ¿ve incorporated cities have adopted bans. “I think some of our problem here really is our By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press SALEM — At least a dozen Oregon cities and counties have taken steps to ban marijuana businesses from their boundaries as the state prepares to begin retail sales in October. Four counties and eight cities have informed the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that they plan to ban marijuana producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. In some juris- dictions, the ban must go before voters. Oregon lawmakers gave local governments the ability to keep out mari- juana businesses, which were authorized by voters under last year’s Measure proximity to Idaho, where it’s totally illegal,” said Larry Wilson, a Malheur County commissioner. “We even had testimony from police agencies on the other side of the river asking us to please opt out, or restrict it as much as we can, because that’s a problem with people going back and forth across the river.” Elsewhere, Douglas County opted out of allowing marijuana busi- nesses, but its largest city, Roseburg, voted to allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell pot to recreational users. The cities that have noti¿ed the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that they’re opting out are: Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, Brownsville, Sandy, Island City, Sutherlin and Junction City. The counties are Douglas, 8matilla, Harney and Malheur. Other city councils or county commissions may have voted to ban pot busi- nesses but haven’t formally noti¿ed the commission. State law gives local governments until Dec. 27 to adopt a ban, said Mark Pettinger, a spokesman for the commission. Marijuana possession and use became legal on July 1, but the state won’t be ready to begin regulated sales until next year. As a temporary stop-gap, medical dispensaries are allowed to begin selling the drug in some forms on Oct. 1. 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 2I¿Fe KoXrs Monday tKroXJK )riday, a.m. to 5 S.m. &losed maMor Kolidays SUBSCRIPTION RATES /oFal Kome delivery SavinJs off Fover SriFe E=Pay 14.5 41 SerFent 52 ZeeNs 173.67 41 SerFent 26 ZeeNs 1.6 3 SerFent 13 ZeeNs 47.77 36 SerFent E= Pay one-year rate ZitK a montKly Fredit or deEit FardFKeFN FKarJe www.eastoregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East 2reJonian (USPS 164-980) is SXElisKed daily e[FeSt SXnday, Monday and 'eF. 25, Ey tKe E2 Media *roXS, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, 25 71. PeriodiFals SostaJe Said at Pendleton, 25. Postmaster: send address FKanJes to East 2reJonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, 25 71. Single copy price: 1 7Xesday tKroXJK )riday, 1.5 SatXrday Copyright © 2015, EO Media Group TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Mostly sunny and very warm An afternoon t-storm; cooler Nice with plenty of sunshine 97° 68° 82° 57° MONDAY Pleasant with plenty of sunshine Sunny and beautiful PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 83° 54° 86° 56° 87° 59° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 99° 69° 84° 56° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 101° 88° 105° (1971) 66° 58° 42° (1907) 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 Trace 0.15" 5.00" 7.73" 8.10" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE Yesterday Normals Records HIGH LOW 99° 89° 106° (1971) 62° 58° 45° (1966) 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 0.00" Trace 0.08" 3.25" 4.29" 6.00" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today New First Aug 14 Aug 22 89° 54° 90° 56° Seattle 85/61 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 84° 52° Full 5:52 a.m. 8:07 p.m. 5:05 a.m. 7:25 p.m. Last Aug 29 Sep 5 Spokane Wenatchee 97/67 100/74 Tacoma Moses 87/60 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 101/66 98/62 72/61 86/58 102/66 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 84/61 100/72 Lewiston 101/68 Astoria 103/69 72/59 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 88/63 Pendleton 95/57 The Dalles 99/69 97/68 97/70 La Grande Salem 97/55 88/61 Albany Corvallis 85/59 85/58 John Day 96/63 Ontario Eugene Bend 102/64 85/59 90/54 Caldwell Burns 102/66 95/49 Medford 91/60 Klamath Falls 85/48 REGIONAL FORECAST Eastern and Central Oregon: Mostly sunny and hot today, except some clouds near the Cascades. Western Washington: Clouds and sun to- day. Cloudy tonight with a shower in spots. Showery tomorrow. Eastern Washington: Partly sunny today. Partly cloudy tonight; a shower in spots in the north. Cascades: Periods of clouds and sun today. Rather cloudy tonight with a shower in places. Northern California: Partly sunny today; pleasant in central parts. Corrections To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email FommXnity#eastoreJonian.Fom or Fall 7ammy MalJesini in Hermiston at 541-564-453 or 5enee StrXtKers in Pendleton at 541-66-1. To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstrXtKers#eastoreJonian.Fom or visit ZZZ.eastoreJonian. FomFommXnityannoXnFements Legal Advertising: Amanda JaFoEs 541-27-263 aMaFoEs#eastoreJonian.Fom To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-66-3 sSorts#eastoreJonian.Fom Real Estate Advertising: Jodi Snook 541-27-267 Msnook#eastoreJonian.Fom COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Steve .noEEe 541-66-25 sknoEEe#eastoreJonian.Fom Lo 59 51 54 56 49 57 59 61 69 63 48 55 47 60 56 57 64 66 68 63 51 61 67 53 63 72 66 W pc s pc c s s pc pc pc s pc s s pc pc c s pc s pc pc pc pc s pc s pc Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Hi 95 89 87 76 71 83 88 90 88 65 85 Hi 70 86 72 70 84 86 76 80 84 82 75 87 77 83 63 68 96 87 82 73 74 73 86 78 73 86 84 NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Fri. Lo 57 43 44 56 41 48 52 50 56 53 42 48 38 56 52 54 56 55 57 59 41 55 54 46 57 61 50 W sh t pc pc pc t c pc pc pc s t t s c pc t pc t c pc c t t sh t pc Lo 74 82 68 65 54 53 63 69 71 47 79 W pc t s t t sh t s pc s t Hi 90 91 89 70 76 68 74 88 86 65 90 Fri. Lo 69 83 69 55 52 50 58 69 71 47 79 W pc t s sh t s sh pc pc s t WINDS (in mph) Today Friday Boardman Pendleton SW 4-8 NW 4-8 WSW 15-25 WSW 20-30 UV INDEX TODAY 1 4 6 NEWS To submit news tips and press releases: Fall 541-66-1 fa[ 541-276-314 email neZs#eastoreJonian.Fom To submit a Letter to the Editor: mail to ManaJinJ Editor 'aniel :attenEXrJer, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, 25 71 or email editor#eastoreJonian.Fom. WORLD CITIES Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Coastal Oregon: Mostly cloudy today with a stray shower during the afternoon. Hi 72 96 90 68 95 95 85 96 99 96 85 97 90 91 64 69 102 101 97 88 94 88 97 94 88 100 102 TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A Portland-based nonpro¿t group called Columbia Riverkeeper has ¿led a federal lawsuit against a Washington state heavy equipment company claiming it’s polluting the river with industrial waste. The group claims Vancouver-based Electro Incorporated is violating its state-issued Industrial Storm water General Permit and the federal Clean Water Act. The lawsuit ¿led in 8.S. District Court in Tacoma says Electro’s facility discharges pollutants via storm water that ends up in the Columbia River. The lawsuit says the company has also violated monitoring requirements by failing to collect, analyze and discharge samples. Electro’s website says it specializes in machinery used in mining and forestry as well as offshore equipment. A message left with the company seeking comment was not immediately returned. &ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJ 1--62-21 Flassi¿eds#eastoreJonian.Fom 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 Nonpro¿t claims Wash. company polluting river 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. REGIONAL CITIES Forecast SUNDAY SALEM (AP) — State regulators have launched an investigation into a Beaverton strip club over allegations it employed underage dancers. Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Multimedia consultants Jeanne JeZett 541-364-4531 MMeZett#eastoreJonian.Fom 'ayle Stinson 541-66-6 dstinson#eastoreJonian.Fom 7erri BriJJs 541-215-447 tEriJJs#eastoreJonian.Fom Didn’t receive your paper? &all 1--522-255 EeIore 5 S.m.7Xesday tKroXJK )riday or EeIore 1 a.m. SatXrday for same-day redelivery — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — State complaint alleges strip club employed minors ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson 541-27-263 MSerkinson#eastoreJonian.Fom Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 Avakian on Wednesday ¿led a complaint against Stars Cabaret in Beaverton alleging sexual harassment of minors. The complaint alleges that from July to September 2014 the club employed a girl under 16 years of age. This came after a former manager of the strip club was arrested in 2013 for his role in the prostitution of another minor, a 13-year-old girl, hired in 2012 to dance nude for customers and have sex with them in a back room. That manager was sentenced last year to 15 years in prison. Avakian’s complaint says the company failed to take action to prevent future sexual exploitation of minors. 6 4 1 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: Drenching storms will focus on Florida today, while most areas from the southern Plains to New England are dry. Storms will erupt over part of the North Central states. Heat will build over the West. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 108° in Thermal, Calif. Low 29° in Bodie State Park, Calif. 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 94 88 81 84 96 89 103 81 90 81 86 81 97 92 84 98 63 93 90 97 83 90 86 102 89 90 Lo 68 70 67 59 66 70 71 64 71 57 69 65 76 62 68 74 48 64 77 77 64 71 67 82 67 68 W s s s s s s s pc pc s s s s t pc pc c t c t s t s pc s s Hi 96 86 83 87 99 87 96 83 88 87 90 85 97 92 85 99 66 95 89 97 85 87 87 105 90 92 Fri. Lo 69 69 69 65 68 71 59 66 70 63 70 65 76 64 68 76 47 70 77 76 67 70 66 82 68 70 W s s s s pc s pc s s s pc t s t t pc c s sh s pc t s s s s Today Hi Louisville 84 Memphis 88 Miami 91 Milwaukee 86 Minneapolis 89 Nashville 86 New Orleans 94 New York City 83 Oklahoma City 90 Omaha 89 Philadelphia 84 Phoenix 111 Portland, ME 78 Providence 82 Raleigh 86 Rapid City 89 Reno 92 Sacramento 88 St. Louis 88 Salt Lake City 93 San Diego 80 San Francisco 72 Seattle 85 Tucson 106 Washington, DC 87 Wichita 86 Lo 63 68 76 71 71 63 78 68 67 69 66 89 58 61 67 62 58 58 71 73 69 59 61 80 69 69 W s s t s t s s s pc s s pc pc pc s t s s s pc s pc pc t s s Hi 86 89 90 89 92 89 94 86 90 90 88 114 80 84 87 91 90 92 89 93 83 75 67 105 90 88 Fri. Lo 68 71 77 70 72 68 77 71 67 67 70 89 61 65 65 67 57 60 70 71 70 58 59 79 73 68 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 t t pc pc pc s s s s s s s s s s s s s s pc sh pc s s