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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2016)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Thursday, October 20, 2016 Gas explosion rocks Portland Eight people injured PORTLAND (AP) — A powerful natural gas explosion rocked a busy Portland, Oregon, shopping district Wednesday, injuring eight people and igniting a ire that sent a huge plume of smoke over the heart of the city. Three ireighters, two police oficers and three civilians were hurt, and one of the ireighters was still in surgery late Wednesday for a broken leg, ire Chief Mike Myers said at a news conference. None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. A building that housed a bagel shop and a beauty salon in the popular NW 23rd Street shopping district was reduced to rubble, and its smoldering roof was splayed across the road. The windows of a nearby building were blown out and debris was everywhere. Fireighters swarmed the scene and dumped water from ladder trucks onto the smoking wreckage. NW Natural released a timeline saying the explosion AP Photo/Don Ryan Fireighters battle a blaze after a gas explosion in Portland Wednesday. A powerful natural gas explosion that neighbors said felt like an earthquake rocked the busy shopping district and started a ire that sent a huge plume of smoke over the heart of the city. One young ire lieutenant in particular — the same one with the badly broken leg — made several critical decisions that likely saved lives, Myers said. Fire Lt. Peter St. John posi- tioned ire trucks and hoses in such a way that they were out of the blast zone and ran into the building to pull ire alarms when ireighters realized not everyone had evacuated as ordered, Myers said, adding that the man was new to the ire department. occurred at 9:38 a.m. — a time when many businesses were still closed. City oficials said a catastrophe was averted by speedy work from ireighters and police who responded to a reported gas leak and cleared the area of people before the blast. “There are a lot of people alive” who might not be “but for the excellent work by our irst responders,” Mayor Charlie Hales said. BRIEFLY PERS attorneys earned $1,627 in fees in public records spat “That man saved the lives of a lot of people today and a lot of ireighters,” the chief said. Fireighters also donned their air packs and masks before the blast, an unusual move for a routine gas leak call, but one that also prevented serious facial injuries, he said. Portland’s NW 23rd Street — nicknamed “Trendy Third” — is packed with boutiques, bars and restaurants. Many are on street level with pricey apart- ments on the upper levels and a day care facility in the vicinity. The utility said it got a call at 8:55 a.m. saying a construc- tion crew had hit a gas line. Authorities and utility workers responded in 15 minutes and evacuated the building, NW Natural said in its statement. People in the neighborhood reported smelling gas as they were evacuated and later felt the explosion. The utility hasn’t determined what caused the gas to ignite, but NW Natural CEO David Anderson said it was a rare event that required a certain amount of ambient gas, an enclosed space and an ignition source. SALEM (AP) — Attorneys representing the state's Public Employees Retirement System racked up $1,627 in fees in a dispute with a Salem Statesman-Journal reporter who asked the agency to waive a public records request fee. The Bend Bulletin reported Wednesday that attorneys racked up the fees over a $112 charge. The Oregon Department of Justice overturned the rule last month that allowed PERS to charge for those records. The move reversed a 2002 interpretation of the law by an earlier state attorney general. Lottery employees this summer told The Bulletin they couldn't waive a $260 fee for a chain of emails. After the ruling, the lottery waived the fee and released the records. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is heading a task force to improve the state's public records law. Cannon Beach looks to become more handicap accessible CANNON BEACH (AP) — Groups in Cannon Beach are working to bring sand-friendly wheel- chairs to the beach. The Daily Astorian reports that the Chamber of Commerce and partners Remax Coastal Advan- tage, Martin Hospitality and Escape Lodging hope to provide the beach-accessible wheelchairs for visitors to the city next year. Last week, the City Council approved an agreement to store the wheelchairs at City Hall. The chamber seeks to purchase one adult chair and one youth chair that would be free for public use. The non-motorized chairs start at about $2,500 and include 4- to 5-inch-wide tires that keep the chair above sand. Neighboring cities Seaside and Manzanita currently provide beach-accessible wheelchairs for visitors. Ryan Bundy urges jurors to ‘stand for freedom’ PORTLAND (AP) — National wildlife refuge occupier Ryan Bundy twice referenced the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during his closing argument Wednesday, and he told jurors to “stand for freedom” and ind him not guilty. Bundy, 43, is among seven defendants being tried on a charge of conspiring to impede federal workers from doing their jobs during last winter’s occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Thursday, capping a six-week trial. Acting as his own attorney, Bundy quoted the civil rights leader at the beginning and toward the end of his hourlong argument, saying injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Bundy said that explains why he joined the protest in support of two ranchers he believes were wrongly imprisoned. He said federal brother, Ammon, were arrested during a Jan. 26 trafic stop that ended with Oregon State Police fatally shooting occupation spokesman Robert “LaVoy” Finicum. The government gave its closing statement Tuesday, with federal prosecutor Ethan Knight asserting it is “inher- ently intimidating” to have your workplace taken over by an armed group that doesn’t like you. Ryan Bundy did not deny taking over workspaces that belonged to U.S. Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Bureau of Land Management employees. But, as the defendants have repeatedly said, there was no conspiracy to prevent them from going to work. “We didn’t know their names, their tasks. We didn’t know whose seat we were sitting in, and we didn’t care,” Bundy said. That may sound callous, Bundy told jurors, but “our purpose was so beyond such considerations.” government overreach not only put ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond behind bars, it imperils the economies of places such as Harney County, where the Hammond ranch and the refuge are located. He said the county — nearly 10 times the size of Rhode Island — has gone from a jewel to “the biggest weed patch in the country,” and it’s because the federal government controls most of the land and restricts logging and ranching. Because there is no doubt the occupation occurred, Bundy repeatedly appealed to the jurors’ sense of justice, essen- tially saying a minor infraction is justiied for the greater good. “At some point the people have to insist that the govern- ment is not our master,” he said. “They are our servants, and we have given them a duty.” The refuge takeover began during a Jan. 2 rally in support of the Hammonds and lasted nearly six weeks. Bundy and other key igures, including his younger One of Bundy’s co-de- fendants, Shawna Cox, also represented herself during the trial. On Wednesday, she let her standby counsel, Tiffany Harris, handle her closing statement. Harris hit on similar points as Bundy, talking about the economic travails of Harney County. She said the govern- ment wants to sell a story that outsiders came to Burns and stirred up trouble. “The problem was already there,” Harris said. The conspiracy charge faced by the seven defendants is punishable by up to six years in prison. Harris emphasized to jurors that the government picks and chooses who to pros- ecute and how serious a charge to ile. Hinting at the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency, she said “administrations change” and there may come a time when urban liberals feel the need to take a hard stand, and not simply go home after a rally. Didn’t receive your paper? Call 1-800-522-0255 before noon Tuesday through Friday or before 10 a.m. Saturday for same-day redelivery 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Ofice hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays SUBSCRIPTION RATES Local home delivery Savings off cover price EZPay $14.50 41 percent 52 weeks $173.67 41 percent 26 weeks $91.86 38 percent 13 weeks $47.77 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit or debit card/check charge www.eastoregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and Dec. 25, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday Copyright © 2016, EO Media Group FRIDAY Mostly cloudy with showers A couple of showers 64° 50° 58° 44° SATURDAY Intervals of clouds and sunshine SUNDAY A thick cloud cover PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 63° 46° 61° 44° 62° 44° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 69° 49° 60° 44° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 65° 62° 82° (1940) 39° 39° 15° (1911) 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" 1.22" 0.62" 9.29" 5.89" 9.60" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 66° 64° 77° (1973) 35° 38° 15° (1949) 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" 0.90" 0.35" 6.34" 3.71" 6.94" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Oct 22 Oct 30 7:19 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 10:08 p.m. 12:25 p.m. First Full Nov 7 64° 43° 65° 47° Seattle 61/48 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 65° 44° Nov 14 Today MONDAY Variably cloudy, showers around Spokane Wenatchee 52/42 57/42 Tacoma Moses 61/44 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 59/40 53/45 60/48 61/45 63/39 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 61/50 61/49 Lewiston 67/48 Astoria 58/47 62/48 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 63/50 Pendleton 54/41 The Dalles 69/49 64/50 64/47 La Grande Salem 55/44 62/49 Albany Corvallis 62/49 63/49 John Day 61/49 Ontario Eugene Bend 63/36 62/50 63/45 Caldwell Burns 65/39 61/30 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 Hi 62 54 63 62 61 54 62 63 69 61 65 55 53 69 60 63 63 64 64 63 66 62 52 58 62 61 63 Lo 48 34 45 53 30 41 50 48 49 49 35 44 44 50 50 53 36 45 50 50 42 49 42 46 49 49 39 W r c sh pc pc sh r sh sh c pc sh sh pc r r pc sh sh r sh r r sh r sh c Hi 60 61 59 59 63 59 62 59 60 64 61 62 59 65 57 62 66 59 58 61 59 60 54 60 60 57 61 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 50 78 59 44 54 31 45 56 56 62 59 W r pc s pc pc c sh pc pc sh pc Lo 48 32 36 49 32 39 46 41 44 42 33 40 40 45 49 50 40 41 44 49 34 48 40 38 49 46 37 W r pc pc pc pc sh pc pc sh pc pc sh sh r sh pc pc pc sh sh pc pc c sh sh sh pc Fri. Hi 54 83 74 56 68 37 57 68 72 80 67 (in mph) Klamath Falls 65/35 Boardman Pendleton Lo 49 79 60 43 52 29 40 51 55 63 60 W sh r pc pc t c pc sh c pc pc REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Some sun today. Rain in central parts; morning rain, then a shower across the north. Eastern and Central Oregon: Showers today; partly sunny in the south and upper Treasure Valley. Western Washington: Rather cloudy, rain this morning, then a shower or two. Eastern Washington: Rain today, except showers around toward the Cascades and in central sections. Cascades: Periods of rain all day today; however, an afternoon shower in spots in the south. Northern California: Partial sunshine today; pleasant. Patchy clouds tonight. Partly sunny tomorrow. Today Friday SW 6-12 SSW 7-14 WSW 4-8 NW 4-8 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 0 1 2 2 1 NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: • call 541-966-0818 • fax 541-276-8314 • email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers in at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit www.eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit a Letter to the Editor: mail to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com. • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. WORLD CITIES Hi 57 87 75 58 75 37 58 69 78 73 78 Classiied & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classiieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Fri. WINDS Medford 69/50 Corrections 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 TODAY MYRTLE POINT (AP) — Biologists with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife say a black-tailed deer found dead in Myrtle Point was infected with a virus that is lethal to the species. The Coos Bay World reported Wednesday that the virus is known as A-H-D and is spread by direct contact. This is the irst conirmed case in Coos County. About 400 deer died of the virus near Sisters in 2002. Symptoms include frothing at the mouth, diarrhea and weakness. Animals that have been infected usually die in two to ive days. There are no known instances of transmission to humans, but biologists are still urging hunters to wear gloves when dressing deer and to cook the meat thoroughly. Advertising Director: Marissa Williams 541-278-2669 • addirector@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 • tbriggs@eastoregonian.com • Amanda Jacobs 541-278-2683 • ajacobs@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Chris McClellan 541-966-0827 • cmcclellan@eastoregonian.com • Stephanie Newsom 541-278-2687 • snewsom@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — Biologists: Dead deer found in Myrtle Point had lethal virus 0 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. ©2016 -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: A large storm system will spread rain and storms from the Northeast through the Ohio Valley to the lower Mississippi Valley today. Another storm will spread rain across the Pacific Northwest. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 100° in McAllen, Texas Low 11° 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 69 88 73 78 60 87 64 61 85 81 57 64 76 63 58 74 24 51 86 84 58 83 61 81 69 99 Lo 43 58 64 61 45 53 44 56 63 51 39 50 53 36 43 50 12 36 74 58 45 62 40 60 47 63 W s pc pc pc pc pc pc c pc c pc r pc s r s c pc pc t r sh s s r s Fri. Hi 72 70 73 67 65 71 69 69 79 57 53 56 74 74 55 77 25 57 85 78 55 84 63 86 67 94 Lo 47 47 49 45 43 45 44 54 50 40 38 43 53 42 38 53 8 36 74 51 39 53 46 62 44 61 Today W s c sh sh pc pc pc r pc sh pc sh s s pc s pc pc sh s pc pc s s s s Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 71 73 85 56 52 78 89 69 70 59 78 96 59 67 85 62 71 80 65 61 91 75 61 92 81 66 Lo 49 49 70 39 36 49 64 63 46 42 61 72 50 56 60 34 40 50 45 39 64 57 48 66 65 43 W r sh pc pc pc t pc sh s s c s c c s s s s pc s s s r s pc s Fri. Hi 63 67 87 53 56 65 79 72 72 67 73 96 64 74 71 69 74 80 62 69 89 70 59 92 68 71 Lo 43 45 70 39 41 41 61 52 48 44 46 70 52 53 45 35 42 50 46 48 63 55 48 65 49 44 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 pc pc pc pc pc sh s s sh s r r sh s s s s s s s sh s sh s
