Page 10A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian POT: Sales would give city competitive advantage over other Eastern Oregon cities while requesting taxes on fuel. Continued from 1A Mayor Phillip Houk said only “ballpark estimates” he’s gotten the opposite feed- and that he rounded up some back. RI WKH ¿JXUHV XVHG LQ KLV “I get lots of emails, calculations. But his point to lots of conversations, from the rest of the council and the people that are pleased about public is that marijuana could not wanting us to become be a viable source of revenue the ‘drug mecca of Eastern for the city. Oregon,’” he said. Despite his arguments, On Thursday, Plute said members of the council that legalizing marijuana sales in have opposed marijuana sales Pendleton would give the city seemed unconvinced. a competitive advantage over Councilor Tom Young other Eastern Oregon cities, brought up the fact that the none of which have allowed state was going to change recreational pot sales. its revenue sharing formula Walla Walla has two recre- in 2017 and would disperse ational marijuana stores, but funds based on how many transporting the drug across recreational marijuana state lines would be a federal retailers were in a community. crime. He added that there were “Why would anybody going to be more “pothead do that when they can get it stores” on the west side of here?” Plute said. the state, which means they The council is scheduled to would get the lion’s share of vote on an ordinance banning the revenue. medical and recreational Plute countered by saying marijuana sales Nov. 3, the that even having as few as two same evening votes from the marijuana stores in Pendleton populace will be tallied for the would offset most of the loss gas tax. in revenue that would come It will be an uphill battle with the change in funding to prevent the ordinance from formula. being passed — Plute was Plute said an outright ban joined only by councilors of marijuana from the council Jane Hill and McKennon could negatively affect the McDonald in forming a city in other ways. minority that opposed the During a recent door-to- drafting of the ordinance. door campaign to convince All three said they voters to pass a 5-cent per preferred to let voters decide gallon gas tax on the North on marijuana sales ban on the Hill, Plute said prospective November 2016 ballot. voters told him they wouldn’t ——— vote for the gas tax because Contact Antonio Sierra at the council was “stupid” to asierra@eastoregonian.com pass on marijuana tax revenue or 541-966-0836. Friday, October 23, 2015 SHERIFF: Beverlin claims Palmer has declined to contact him MCKAY: ‘Safety comes ¿UVWLQRXUGLVWULFW¶ expressed how he has tried to contact Palmer through email, asked each to submit questions. phone calls and letters encour- No questions were submitted by aging to him to meet and discuss the sheriff. coordination. Beverlin claims Steve Beverlin, forest super- Palmer has declined to do so. visor on the Malheur National “I don’t know how to coordi- Forest, had four questions: nate with somebody if they are not • Did the county court authorize going to talk with me,” Beverlin the sheriff to send a letter Oct. 9 to said. %HYHUOLQDQGRWKHUIRUHVWRI¿FLDOV Palmer said he is willing to talk stating the county is asserting the with Beverlin anytime, and insists coordination process with the the two have no personal disputes. Forest Service? “My door is open to the man,” • Does the sheriff have the Palmer said. statutory authority to represent Without the sheriff in atten- or commit the county in such dance at Wednesday’s work matters without the county court’s session, the county court decided approval? to end it early because any further • Did county counsel review discussion would be unfair to and approve the Oct. 9 letter? Palmer. • Was the sheriff’s plan Before adjourning, the county DSSURYHG SHU SXEOLF QRWL¿FDWLRQ court said it hoped the work and other requirements set forth in session and legal opinion would state or federal statute? give the sheriff incentive to reach The answer to each question by out to Beverlin. the county court was “No.” “I just want them to talk,” At the work session, Beverlin Labhart said. Some of the powder escaped from the bag, which alarmed a school district employee who called 9-1-1. The district said students and staff followed proper evacuation procedures and were loaded onto buses. They planned to travel to the Pendleton Convention Center, but once the scene was declared safe, students returned to McKay Creek Elementary by 1:50 p.m. ³6DIHW\FRPHV¿UVWLQRXUGLVWULFWVRZH evacuated as a precaution since we were XQVXUHDVWRZKDWWKHVXEVWDQFHZDVDW¿UVW´ said Assistant Superintendent Tricia Mooney. “These types of incidents can be scary, espe- cially for younger students, so their ability to remain calm and follow directions this afternoon is outstanding.” Roads near the school were blocked and the Pendleton Fire Department staged at the Free Methodist Church across the street. Pendleton and Oregon State police were also on scene. Police Chief Stuart Roberts said the state police’s explosive unit was called to the scene and was prepared to deploy a robot to investigate the backpack if it had proven necessary. Continued from 1A Continued from 1A iPhone 6s with coverage In the Middle of Anywhere. Switch now and get $250 in Promo Cards instantly when you purchase the new iPhone 6s. STOCK: Will also receive a side-by-side utility vehicle Continued from 1A Before 2014, the Round-Up relied on a primary stock contractor to choose rough stock for the rodeo. Bracher and O’Neill that year with the idea that they could push up the quality of the stock another notch. The men are like scouts for equine and bovine athletes. They gather intelligence from cowboys and stock contrac- tors and study stats and videos. They arrange for the standouts to buck in Pendleton. Good bucking horses (and bulls) are just this side of unrideable, they say. The best buckers take cowboys on crazy rides, but also give the grittiest competitors an opportunity to stick on and earn high scores. Whatever Bracher and O’Neill are doing seems to be working. In 2014, 19 saddle broncs and 12 bareback horses bucked at both the Round-Up and the NFR. Six stock contractors — Calgary Stapede, Burch Rodeos, Korkow Rodeos, Sankey Rodeo, Outlaw Buckers and Four Star Rodeo — provided the animals. “The Remuda Award is all about providing the strongest and most even pen of horses possible so that the champi- onship is decided more by the skill of the rider than the luck of the stock draw,” said Jim Bainbridge, senior PRCA public relations coordinator. This is all music to the ears of O’Neill and Bracher, but WKH\GHÀHFWHGWKHSUDLVHEDFN onto the Round-Up Associa- tion Board of Directors. “I sincerely commend our board for having faith and FRQ¿GHQFHHQRXJKWRVWHSRXW of the comfort zone and give us this opportunity,” O’Neill said. O’Neill also praised three PRCA national event representatives (Heath Ford, Rusty Allen and Cody Whitney) who helped the men decide which animals ZRXOG EXFN GXULQJ WKH ¿QDO rounds. The men also relied on feedback from cowboys and the seven contractors that supplied bucking stock for the Round-Up this year. “It’s a team effort,” Bracher said. Bracher said winning the Remuda Award was one of their long-term goals, but even though they’ve check it off the list, they don’t plan to slow down. “We’ll keep the foot on the throttle.” Along with the trophy, the Round-Up will receive a Polaris Ranger, a side-by-side utility vehicle. He laughed when asked how the vehicle will be used. “Feeding stock, of course,” O’Neill said. The PRCA also honored Three Hills Rodeo, in Bernard, Iowa. The company had six horses selected for the 2014 NFR. ——— Contact Kathy Aney at kaney@eastoregonian.com or call 541-966-0810. The Boys are back for two nights! Don’t miss this great Portland area band! 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