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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2016)
SUMMER READING MAKES A SPLASH CYGANIK RECEIVES SERVICE AWARD PENDLETON/5A SPORTS/1B HERMISTON/3A JOHNSON BIDS ADIEU TO TIGERS FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 140th Year, No. 185 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2015 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD THE WIZARD OF WEED GREG GREENUP OF HEPPNER PENDLETON Pendleton botanist famous for cannabis breeding Enjoy a free pass to the Heritage Station Museum in Pendleton Staff photo by E.J. Harris For more information see page 4A Union Pacifi c Railroad has agreed to tear down the Webb’s Cold Storage building on Main Street in Pendleton. Your Weekend • • • Big plans for old lot Wildhorse powwow all weekend in Mission Movie in the park in Pendleton on Saturday Quarterfl ash plays on Fourth of July in Ione Webb’s Cold Storage to be demolished on July 11 By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian For times and places see Coming Events, 5A “I’ve been functioning underground for so long. I’m going to do what I’m going to do regardless.” Plans to demolish Webb’s Cold Storage in Pendleton have not only heated up, an effort to further develop the land east of South Main is already underway. Councilor Chuck Wood, the chairman of the Pendleton Development Commission, said Union Pacifi c Railroad has agreed to begin demolishing the dilapidated building south of the railroad tracks on July 11. The Webb’s demolition is a boon to the Pend- leton Development Commission, which has been trying to tear down the building for several years. Union Pacifi c owns the 500 block of South Main Street, which is bordered by Southeast Frazer Avenue and Southeast Goodwin Avenue and contains railroad tracks the company uses to transport freight. At various points a slaughterhouse, ice cream factory and cold storage facility, Webb’s has long been abandoned and in disrepair. Wood said Union Pacifi c has incentive to tear down Webb’s because its structural instability and proximity to the tracks could affect railroad safety. A Union Pacifi c spokesman did not return requests for comment. Wood said Union Pacifi c is also on board with plans to further develop the area, which extends far beyond the Webb’s property. “We’re confi dent we could put this to good use besides a parking lot,” he said. A committee comprised of local governments and organizations has formed to further explore developing a plaza east of Main Street centered around food and health. It would also include a public parking lot, a Barhyte Specialty Foods warehouse and a work training program. It’s all conceptual at this point, but early ideas for the plaza include a permanent home for the Pendleton Farmers Market, a local food coop- erative, a Community Action Program of East Central Oregon distribution center, a commercial kitchen, a site for offering cooking classes and a festival area. The plaza could also incorporate the soon-to- be-replaced Eighth Street Bridge and old signs — D.J. Short, cannabis breeder See WEBB’S/10A Weekend Weather Fri Sat Sun 90/61 87/61 87/56 Fire east of The Dalles prompts evacuations THE DALLES (AP) — Authorities say a fi re is threatening homes about six miles east of The Dalles in the Columbia River Gorge. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue tweeted that the fi re started at 5:35 p.m. and went from Interstate 84 uphill to 15 Mile Road. Fire offi cials tweeted Thursday night that 1,000 acres had burned. Wasco County emer- gency manager Juston Huffman says people in Celilo Village and on 15 Mile and Old Moody roads have been issued a level three evacuation notice, which means people should leave their residences imme- diately. Resources from Hood River, the Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry and Klickitat County are helping battle the fi re. Fire offi cials said they were attempting to stop the fi re farther uphill at Fulton Road. Photo by Ralf Schuetz of Mushroom Dreams D.J. Short is an icon in the world of cannabis breeding stock, but is still something of an enigma. Created some of the most popular pot strains By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian In the marijuana world, cannabis breeder Daniel John “D.J.” Short gets rock star raves while simultaneously keeping to the shadows. The Pendleton marijuana man started tinkering with cannabis genetics about 40 years ago in Eugene and has crafted some of the most creative and well-known strains, including one that smells of fresh blueberries. Short’s seeds and pot breeding skills earned him a spot in the High Times Seed Bank Hall of Fame, which commemorates “brave pot pioneers and trailblazers.” He was spotlighted as “The Willy Wonka of Pot” in a 5,000-word tome for the website Grantland, and wrote the 2003 book “Cultivating Exceptional Cannabis: An Expert Breeder Shares His Secrets.” A year after legalization of recreational mari- juana in Oregon, Short continues to keep a low profi le, awaiting changes to federal law. In the few photos of him online, he inevitably sports a fedora and sunglasses. During rare interviews, he cagily avoids sharing much personal information. The professor of pot opened up a bit recently while dining on bagels and lox at the Great Pacifi c Wine & Coffee Co. in Pendleton. His sunglasses and fedora were nowhere in sight, revealing vivid blue eyes and gray hair pulled into a pony tail. He rose to his full six-foot-three-inch height, smiled and stretched out his hand before sinking back into his chair. While sipping a microbrew, he disclosed why See SHORT/10A HERMISTON Head Start offers food and fun for free By ALEXA LOUGEE Staff Writer Staff photo by E.J. Harris Hermiston Police community watch and crime prevention offi cer takes a plunge in a dunk tank on Thursday at the Umatilla-Morrow Head Start in Hermiston. Thrilled shrieks could be heard and smiles with missing teeth could be seen Thursday at Umatilla-Morrow Head Start’s Hermiston summer food service program. It was “Eat Lunch with a Police Offi cer” day and local elementary school children were happily sending Offi cer Erica Sandoval splashing into a dunk tank donated by Cottage Flowers. “I’m deathly afraid of going underwater, but if I can just make one of them (kids) smile, then it’s worth it,” Sandoval said, “Plus, it’s really, really hot.” The UMCHS serves lunch every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the back yard of its main offi ce on Northeast Fourth Street in Hermiston. Each day features some kind of experience for the kids. The day before, it was a bouncy house. There have also been water balloon tosses, face painting, dental checks, and Mayor David Drotzmann stopped by and made “oobleck,” a corn- starch mixture, with the kids. Hannah Williams, a local mom, likes to bring her children as often as she can. “It gives them something different to do during the day,” Williams said. Williams’ seven-year-old daughter, Rabekah, ate lunch with three of six siblings and said she likes coming for lunch. The program began last summer. Toni Eddy, the USDA manager for UMCHS, said last See FOOD/10A
