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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2016)
Enjoy a framed art print from Pendleton Art + Frame GERALD TERJESON OF HELIX ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF SWORN IN SENIOR OREGON OPEN PENDLETON/3A GOLF/1B 91/57 THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016 140th Year, No. 209 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2016 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Opponents: Tax measure language misleading Argue measure does not limit lawmakers from spending revenue on other things By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — Opponents of a corporate sales tax measure on the November ballot have asked election offi cials to remove draft language from the voters’ pamphlet that says the revenue would be spent on education, health care and senior services. Rep. John Davis, R-Wilsonville, was one of at least three people who made similar requests to the Financial Estimate Committee on Initiative Petition 28 as part of public comments on the proposed language. The initiative, backed by the nonprofi t Our Oregon, is on track to be called Measure 97 on the ballot. The measure levies a 2.5 percent tax on certain corporations’ Oregon sales exceeding $25 million and would generate an estimated $3 billion a year in new revenue, according to the Legislative Revenue Offi ce. The proposed fi nancial impact statement that would appear in the voters’ guide says “the increased revenue will require increased expenditures by the state in the areas of public early childhood and kindergarten through grade 12 education, health care, and senior services.” That comports with the measure’s text, stating that revenue from the tax “shall be used to provide additional funding for public early childhood and kindergarten through 12th grade education, health care and services for senior citizens.” But Davis and others say that statement confl icts with reality. Davis based his request on an opinion Monday from the nonpartisan Legislative Counsel’s Offi ce that concludes the measure effectively places no restrictions on lawmakers from spending the revenue on other things. See TAX/8A Evacuations lifted for Weigh Station Fire Fire 55 percent contained East Oregonian Firefi ghters made signifi cant progress containing the Weigh Station Fire east of Pendleton, and all evacuations have been lifted for residents near Deadman Pass. Despite higher winds Tuesday, crews held the blaze at 688 acres and continue to work on mopping up hot spots. The fi re is now More inside 55 percent contained. Highway 30 near Smooth wildfi re the Poverty Flats evacuation in exit will be reopened Blue Mountains Wednesday, though Page 8A travelers can expect some fi re equipment to remain in the area. The fi re, which started Saturday, destroyed two outbuildings but did not damage any homes. Weather forecasts call for a chance of thun- derstorms on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. With the chance for lightning in the region, fi re managers are urging residents to take caution to avoid starting any additional fi res. A number of fi res are still burning in Eastern Oregon and southeast Washington, including: • Rail Fire — The Rail Fire, burning 10 miles southwest of Unity, has reached 5,500 acres and is zero percent contained. The Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce issued Level 2 evacuation notices for 10 homes Tuesday evening, meaning those residents should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. The cause of the fi re has not been determined. There are approximately 314 personnel working the fi re, with more on the way Wednesday. • Range 12 Fire — The Range 12 Fire has now swept over 176,600 acres about 12 miles north of Sunnyside, Washington. It is 60 percent contained. Firefi ghters have worked diligently keeping the blaze away from the central portion of the Hanford nuclear site, and continue to reinforce containment lines along 117 miles worth of perimeter. To report a fi re, call the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center at 541-963-7171 or dial 9-1-1. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Emery Simmons, 10, of Hermiston makes an adjustment in the stance of her German Shepherd, Zero, 7, during the 4-H junior dog showmanship on Wednesday at the Umatilla County Fairgrounds in Hermiston. Dog days of August Early events begin as Umatilla County Fair draws near East Oregonian Activity at the fairgrounds in Hermiston will hit a fevered pitch next week, but Umatilla County Fair events and competitions have already begun. The 4-H fashion show was Tuesday at the Pendleton Convention Center and the 4-H dog show was Wednesday at the fairgrounds. The 4-H Horse Show is Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m., with submission of 4-H exhibits on Sunday and Monday. On Saturday the party gets Staff photo by E.J. Harris Leah Engelbrecht, 13, of Hermiston praises her boxer, started in earnest with the Belle, 2, while competing in the 4-H dog intermedi- Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off ate obedience on Wednesday at the Umatilla County Parade. The annual event starts Fairgrounds in Hermiston. at Kennison Field and winds its way through town from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. The fairground’s gates open to the public Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. and the fair itself runs Tuesday through Saturday, with the gates opening every morning at 9 a.m. The Farm-City Pro Rodeo runs Wednesday through Saturday, with slack during the day and evening performances starting at 7:45 p.m. Don Slone, in his fi rst year as fair manager after 25 years at the Harney County Fair, said he’s feeling “anticipation and nervousness” about his fi rst year at the helm, but he’s defi nitely See FAIR/8A Feds OK private firm’s plan to land on moon $10M flight planned for next year By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer WASHINGTON — The federal government for the fi rst time has given permission to a private Florida company to fl y a spaceship beyond Earth’s orbit and land on the moon. The Federal Aviation Adminis- tration gave clearance Wednesday to Moon Express to land a washing machine-sized vehicle on the moon that would take hops across the lunar surface using engine fi rings instead of roving on wheels. “Why crawl when you can fl y?” said Moon Express CEO Bob Richards. He called the company’s planned lunar ship a “single-stage hot rod of space.” The Cape Canaveral-based Moon Express plans to launch late next year, probably out of New Zealand, on a rocket that has yet to fl y, Richards said. The $10 million fl ight is the fi rst of many planned missions where they hope to make money extracting lunar resources, like platinum, and selling moon dust and rock collectibles, he said. See MOON/8A Wednesday in the Park Staff photo by E.J. Harris The sun shines through the branches of a tree as kids run through the grass in front of the stage at Roy Raley Park as the band 1939 Ensemble plays Wednesday in Pendleton. This was the second of fi ve concerts that are part of the Wednesday in the Park concert series.