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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2016)
J.ALLEN GORDAINIER OF IRRIGON NEW HOTEL OPENS HERMISTON/3A Enjoy a free coffee at Obie’s Express in Hermiston WEATHER ALERT: 24/21 A winter storm is expected to sweep through Eastern Oregon today, bringing 3-6 inches of snow and ice. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016 141st Year, No. 38 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2016 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD UMATILLA PENDLETON McNary land rezoned for housing development By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by E.J. Harris Richard Oja gestures while talking about the ease with which he can control his Napoleon gas fi replace on Wednesday at his home in Pendleton. Turning up the heat on cleaner air City expands woodstove replacement program beyond city limits “They did all the paperwork and it couldn’t have been easier.” By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian Smoke curling from a chimney makes for a serene winter tableau, but in that woodsy scent lurks dangerous gases and other toxins that damage human health. “Woodstoves are one of the primary causes of particulate matter in the air,” said Rachel Sakata of the Oregon Depart- ment of Environmental Quality. “Particulate matter can be inhaled into the deepest part of the lungs and can cause respi- ratory disease, heart attacks and even premature death.” The ultrafi ne airborne specks (.0001 inch and smaller) also contain harmful pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocar- bons and acrolein. Pendleton, facing high — Richard Oja, on the contractor who removed his old woodstove Staff photo by E.J. Harris Richard Oja holds the remote for his Napoleon gas fi replace. The remote also functions as a thermostat. particulate levels in city air, started offering zero interest loans in 2000 to homeowners with ineffi cient woodstoves — those lacking certifi cation by the Environmental Protection Agency or DEQ. During the fi rst two years, 93 residents swapped their polluting stoves for cleaner burning gas, electric or pellet units. Only residents inside the urban growth boundary could take advantage of the interest-free loans, however. Recently, the city council recently expanded the area to include a three-mile swath of land outside city limits. Richard and Kristen Oja recently use the program to replace an old Earth Stove with a highly effi cient Napoleon gas fi replace insert that features See STOVES/8A The Umatilla City Council agreed to rezone a portion of McNary from commercial to residential after a developer made conces- sions in the design of a proposed subdivision. Fastrack, Inc. owner Arnie Wick fi rst approached the council in March, asking for the entire 8.5 acre property across from the Quality Inn to be rezoned from commercial to residential. He planned to build 38 homes on 8,500-square-foot lots valued at $130,000 to $160,000 each. At the time some city councilors called McNary a “bedroom community” and said the new housing could spur growth, while others said they were hesitant to get rid of most of McNary’s buildable commercial property. There were also concerns that the lots were too small and the houses would be sandwiched together. In April, after two meetings on the subject, the council voted unanimously to reject the See UMATILLA/8A PENDLETON Defense attorney appointed as municipal judge By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian The Pendleton City Council decided the municipal judge seat is a one-person job. The council chose Pendleton attorney Will Perkinson to replace retiring judge Jeff Wallace over a trio of experienced lawyers who would have shared the seat on a rotating basis. In public interviews held before the council meeting, Perkinson told the council his experience as a former prosecutor for the Perkinson Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and as a current defense attorney provided the qual- ifi cations needed for the position. “I have deep understanding of all aspects of criminal law,” he said. Although he’s considered joining the See PERKINSON/8A Trump chooses hardliners but talks softer on immigration By JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press NEW YORK — Donald Trump embraced new Cabinet offi - cers Wednesday whose back- grounds suggest he’s primed to put tough actions behind his campaign rhetoric on immigration and the environment, even as he seemed Trump to soften his year- long stance on immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. It’s clearer by the day, underscored by Trump’s at-times contradictory words, that his actual policies as president won’t be settled until after he takes his seat in the Oval Offi ce. Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly has been selected to head the Department of Homeland Secu- rity, and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a climate-change denier whose policies have helped fossil fuel companies, is to be announced as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Separately, Trump named the former chief executive of World Wrestling Enter- See TRUMP/8A Raising the roof Staff photo by E.J. Harris Members of the Quezada family and friends move roof trusses into position on the top fl oor of the old city hall building, which they own, Wednesday in Pendleton. An explosion and fi re gutted the structure in August 2015 and the building has been in a state of disrepair since. The city of Pendleton declared the structure a nuisance and gave the Quezada family until the end of the year to put a roof on the building.
