REGION
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
BRIEFLY
Third pot business seeks approval
for store at old car dealership
PENDLETON — A third, unnamed recreational
marijuana retailer is applying for a conditional use permit
from the city, which will be considered by the Pendleton
Planning Commission at a meeting Thursday.
The applicant — Michael Ekblad of Hermiston —
wants to open the store at 2003 S.W. Emigrant Ave.,
formerly a Tom Denchel Ford dealership.
Ekblad’s proposed store is in close proximity to Kind
Leaf Pendleton, another prospective pot shop at 1733 S.W.
Court Ave. that was recently approved by the commission.
City staff considered whether Ekblad’s store would
be in violation of the city’s zoning rules prohibiting
marijuana facilities from being located within 1,000 feet
of each other, but their measurements showed that a little
more than 1,200 feet separates them.
In addition to Ekblad’s store and Kind Leaf, Pendleton
Cannabis at 816 Southgate is also seeking to open a
marijuana retailer. All three will have to obtain licenses
from the city and state before they can open.
SAGE Center hosts job fair
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Rep. Greg Smith dances and his partner, Trina Morago, react to being named winners of Dancing with the
Hermiston Stars on Saturday at Hermiston High School.
Smith struts to win at fundraiser
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
East Oregonian
Hermiston saw a lot of star power on
Saturday night, when six local business
and community leaders competed for
the title in the fifth annual Dancing
With the Hermiston Stars event.
State Representative Greg Smith
took home the top prize, dedicating his
winnings to the Hermiston Warming
Station. Local businesswoman LuAnn
Davison was the runner-up, with
her funds going toward Hermiston
Campus Life, a mentorship and Chris-
tian organization for local teens. The
other contestants were city councilor
Clara Beas Fitzgerald, county commis-
sioner Bill Elfering, retired firefighter
Spike Piersol, and business owner Eva
Swain.
Smith and his partner Trina Morago
danced the Paso Doble, with a “Buffy
the Vampire Slayer” theme. Davison
and her partner Anthony Whipple
danced the Cha Cha with a hard rock
twist — to AC/DC’s “You Shook Me
All Night Long.”
The six contestants raised a total of
$11,347 for their charities — though
earnings for each charity have yet to be
announced. Last year the event raised
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Rep. Greg Smith dances with his
partner, Trina Morago, during Danc-
ing with the Hermiston Stars on
Saturday at Hermiston High School.
about $15,000 for charities, event
director Mary Corp said.
“This is the second highest amount
we’ve raised, after last year,” Corp said.
“We’re very pleased.”
The contestants faced a panel of
judges — Phil Hamm, Erika Sandoval
and Tyler Hansell — who judged them
based on skill, enthusiasm and audience
engagement. The final scores were
taken from a combination of audience
votes, judge scores and funds raised
by each individual for their charity of
choice.
The crowd loved the dances from
both the stars and the professionals of
the Utah Ballroom Dance Company,
cheering mid-song and clapping along
to songs they knew.
“I was shocked to win,” Smith said
after the announcement. “I just came
out to have a good time. Everyone who
danced was phenomenal.”
Smith said he felt raising money for
the warming station was important now
more than ever, with the unusually cold
winter, and thanked all who contributed
to the event.
Smith had spent several hours this
week driving back and forth between
Salem and Hermiston for rehearsals —
but said it was worth it.
“It was a blast,” he said.
The event is organized by the Desert
Arts Council, and was sponsored by the
Hermiston Breakfast Kiwanis Club.
Snow forces roof collapses at Treasure Valley onion plants
EO Media Group
PAYETTE, Idaho —
Severe weather and snow
buildup has caused the roofs
of about 18 onion storage and
packing facilities to collapse
in southwestern Idaho and
eastern Oregon.
Roof collapses in the
Treasure Valley have wiped
out 25 percent of the region’s
total
onion
processing
capacity, leading to soaring
onion prices, The Capital
Press reported. A 50-pound
bag of yellow jumbo onions
cost $3.50 before the damage
and now costs about $6.50.
There are about 300
onion farmers and 30 onion
shippers in the region, which
produces about 25 percent of
the nation’s storage onions.
Heavy
snowstorms
starting
in
December
followed by near-freezing
rain and then more snow
have caused many structures
in the area to collapse. At
least four onion packing
facilities have had their roofs
collapse beneath the weight
of snow and ice and at least
14 storage facilities have
collapsed as well.
Murakami
Produce
General Manager Grant Kita-
mura, who is also chairman
of the Idaho-Eastern Oregon
Onion Committee’s promo-
tion committee said the
region’s weather is having a
serious impact on onions.
“This is major. There are
a lot of them down,” he said.
Partners Produce’s main
onion packing facility in
Payette, Idaho, collapsed and
will be out of commission for
at least seven months, said
co-owner Eddie Rodriguez.
“I have 25-30 million
pounds of onions that were
destined to run through that
line,” he said.
The company’s empty
inventory holding facility
also collapsed. Kitamura
said at least three of the
four onion packing facilities
impacted will be out of
commission for the rest of
the season.
Paul Skeen, president of
the Malheur County Onion
Growers Association, said
the disruption will also cause
problems for onion growers.
“When a shipper loses
their packing line, it’s not
just him but all his growers
have to figure out what to
do as well,” he said. “All
those onions have to go
somewhere.”
BOARDMAN — More than 30 immediate career
opportunities are available at Lamb Weston.
People can participate in interviews and get
information during the Lamb Weston Sage Center Job
Fair. The event is Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman.
People are encouraged to bring a copy of their resume.
For more information, visit www.lambweston.com/about/
careers or call 855-216-9551.
Business luncheon to get water update
HERMISTON — An overview of Northeast Oregon
Water Association’s progress on new, mitigated water
development from the Columbia River will be discussed
during the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce B2B
Luncheon
Director J.R. Cook also will unveil the new Oregon
Water Coalition focus and structure, and will introduce
Marika Sitz, a Stanford graduate and paid intern of the
Oregon Water Coalition.
The no-host event is Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 11:45 a.m.
at the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S. Highway
395. The meal, catered by Pudding on the Ritz, is $10 for
members and $13 for non-members. People are asked to
register by Saturday, Jan. 21.
For more information or to RSVP, contact 541-567-
6151, info@hermistonchamber.com or visit www.
hermistonchamber.com.
Car fire extinguished in Stanfield
STANFIELD — No one was injured in a car fire
in Stanfield Saturday morning. The owner of the red
Plymouth Breeze was trying to leave her driveway on
Main Street, when the front of the vehicle caught fire. The
driver got out of the vehicle and was not injured.
“She was trying to get out of the driveway, when some-
thing happened — an overheated engine, or something,”
said Eldon Marcum of Umatilla County Fire District 1.
Juniors race moved to Thursday
JOSEPH — The 22-mile juniors race at this week’s
Eagle Cap Extreme sled dog race has been moved from
Friday to Thursday, according to race organizer Troy Nave.
Nave said the juniors race will be the last to leave
Thursday from Ferguson Ridge Ski Area. Fifteen-
year-old Christina Gibson, of Riverside, Washington, is
the only participant in this year’s juniors race.
Race start will be noon Thursday for the 200-mile and
100-mile races, with the first leg of the two-day pot race
and juniors race to follow. A shuttle bus will be available
at 9:45 a.m. to bring spectators up to Ferguson Ridge.
Phone and Internet Discounts
Available to CenturyLink Customers
The Oregon Public Utility Commission designated CenturyLink
as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area
for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service
rates for residential voice lines are $15.80-$17.80 per month and
business services are $28.00-$32.00 per month. Specific rates
will be provided upon request.
CenturyLink participates in a government benefit program
(Lifeline) to make residential telephone or broadband service
more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families.
Eligible customers are those that meet eligibility standards as
defined by the Federal Communications Commissionand OPUC.
Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may
qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain
federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for
only one telephone or broadband service per household, and can
be on either wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must
be 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload or faster to qualify.
A household is defined for the purposes of the Lifeline program
as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the
same address and share income and expenses. Lifeline service
is not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in
the program. Consumers who willfully make false statements
in order to obtain a Lifeline discount can be punished by fine or
imprisonment and can be barred from the program.
POWERFUL TOOLS FOR THE
CAREGIVER:
Caring for Children with Special Needs: Build a toolkit for taking
CH11115
13th Annual
Cattleman’s Workshop
Navigating the Future in the
Cow/Calf Industry
Saturday, January 21st, 2017
Blue Mountain Conference Center • 404 12th Street, La Grande, OR
9:00 - 9:15
Workshop Introductions & Overview
Kevin Ochsner, Host Cattlemen to Cattlemen TV; Kersey, CO
FREE!
No
Pre-Registration
Required.
Lunch Included.
9:15 - 10:00
Cattle Market Challenges and Opportunities in 2017
Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
10:00 - 10:45
Genetic Technologies in the Poultry Industry, The Other Protein
Dr. Mitch Abrahamsen, Senior VP Research & Development;
Cobb-Vantress, Siloam Springs, AR
10:45 - 11:15
Break (provided by sponsors)
11:15 - 12:00
Ethics, Values & Science. Finding the Right Mix For
Building Consumer Trust
Donna Moenning, Center For Food Integrity; Gladstone, MO
12:00 - 1:15
Lunch (provided by sponsors)
1:15 - 2:00
Keys to a Successful Heifer Development Program
Dr. Che Trejo, Zoetis Beef Technical Services Veterinarian; Malad, ID
2:00 - 3:00
Navigation Tools for the Cow/Calf Producer
Kevin Ochsner, Host Cattlemen to Cattlemen TV; Kersey, CO
NOTE: For more information, please contact Kim McKague at
(541) 562-5129 • http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eoarcunion
better care of yourself while caring for your child, grandchild or
other child with special needs. Learn how to reduce stress and
relax, communicate effectively, reduce guilt and anger, make
tough decisions, set goals and problem solve. FREE.
Tuesdays • 4:30 - 6:30pm
Starting Jan. 24 through Feb. 28
Call 541-667-3509
GSMC Conference Room 7 (by the GS Education Dept)
includes book "The Caregiver Help"
LIVING WELL: BETTER
CHOICES, BETTER HEALTH
Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure, heart
disease, arthritis or another long-term health condition? Find
practical ways to living well by making a step-by-step plan to
improve your health...and your life. 6 weekly FREE classes,
open to patients, caregivers/support person or both. Pre-
registration required.
6 weekly sessions
Starting Jan. 26 • 4:30-6:30pm
Must pre-register, call 541-667-3509
Information or to register
call (541) 667-3509
or email
healthinfo@gshealth.org
www.gshealth.org
Internet Basics may also be available to Lifeline eligible
subscribers and provides reliable home high-speed Internet
service up to 1.5Mbps for $9.95* per month for the first 12
months of service. Please call 1-800-257-3212 or visit centurylink.
com/internetbasics for more information regarding CenturyLink
Internet Basics.
If you live in a CenturyLink service area, please call 1-855-954-
6546 or visit centurylink.com/lifeline with questions or to request
an application for the Lifeline program.
*CenturyLink Internet Basics Program – Residential customers only
who qualify based on meeting income level or program participation
eligibility requirements, and requires remaining eligible for the entire
offer period. First bill will include charges for the first full month of service
billed in advance, prorated charges for service from the date of installation
to bill date, and one-time charges and fees described above. Qualifying
customers may keep this program for a maximum of 60 months after service
activation provided customer still qualifies during that time. Listed High-
Speed Internet rate of $9.95/mo. applies for first 12 months of service
(after which the rate reverts to $14.95/mo. for the next 48 months of
service), and requires a 12-month term agreement. Customer must either
lease a modem/router from CenturyLink for an additional monthly charge
or independently purchase a modem/router, and a one-time High-Speed
Internet activation fee applies. A one-time professional installation charge
(if selected by customer) and a one-time shipping and handling fee applies
to customer’s modem/router. General – Services not available everywhere.
Customers must not be currently subscribed to CenturyLink Internet service.
CenturyLink may change or cancel services or substitute similar services
at its sole discretion without notice. Offer, plans, and stated rates are
subject to change and may vary by service area. Deposit may be required.
Additional restrictions apply. Terms and Conditions – All products and
services listed are governed by tariffs, terms of service, or terms and
conditions posted at centurylink.com. Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges –
Applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges include a carrier Universal Service
charge, carrier cost recovery surcharges, state and local fees that vary by
area and certain in-state surcharges. Cost recovery fees are not taxes or
government-required charges for use. Taxes, fees, and surcharges apply
based on standard monthly, not promotional, rates.