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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 2017)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Thursday, February 16, 2017 Water regulators propose third transaction fee hike Bill would increase fee rates by 15.88 percent over four years By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau Oregon water regulators want to raise fees for water rights trans- actions by nearly 16 percent over four years to avoid processing slowdowns for irrigators. The Oregon Water Resource Department’s request to state lawmakers, House Bill 2295, would mark the third such increase since 2009. Some groups representing irrigators are uneasy about the proposal, particularly in light of another bill that would impose a new $100 management fee on every water right in Oregon. Under H.B. 2295, a transac- tion fee increase of 15.88 percent would be phased in over four years and a sunset on previous hikes — set to expire this year — would be eliminated. If the fee schedule reverted back to 2009 levels, OWRD would have to cut 5.5 full-time positions, effectively extending the time that irrigators must wait to develop or transfer water rights, said Tom Byler, the agen- cy’s director. The increase is also necessary to maintain OWRD’s dam inspection program, which oversees roughly 900 large structures, he said. “These are all very important functions for the agency.” Fees must be raised just to BRIEFLY 2.9 magnitude earthquake recorded near Adams Water for Life, an irrigator group, is concerned about the rate at which costs are growing, said Richard Kosesan, its lobbyst. “Water for Life is not enamored with the fee increases.” The Oregon Farm Bureau is neutral regarding HB 2295 and won’t oppose the hike as long as another piece of legislation — House Bill 2706, which imposes the $100 management fee on water rights — isn’t passed, said Mary Anne Nash, public policy counsel for the group. The cost of processing water rights transactions is currently split evenly between water users and OWRD. The Farm Bureau wants the agency to continue shouldering half the expense instead of shifting more of the burden on irrigators, Nash said. keep these services at current levels due to climbing expenses for salaries, benefits and retire- ment plans for state employees, Byler said at a Feb. 13 hearing of the House Committee on Energy and the Environment. The Oregon Water Resources Congress, an irrigator group, wishes that fee increases wouldn’t occur so frequently but nonethe- less supports HB 2295, said April Snell, its executive director. The Oregon Association of Nurseries also testified in favor of the bill. “Water transfers are a big part of how we do business,” said Jeff Stone, executive director of OAN. Nurseries typically rely on water rights transfers when they expand production onto newly bought or leased property. ADAMS — An earthquake has been recorded in Umatilla County. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 2.9 magnitude earthquake hit Wednesday at 1:55 p.m. It struck about 14 miles northeast of Pendleton, between Adams and Athena. There were no reports of damage, and several people who noticed the rumble compared it to a passing truck. The USGS says the quake occurred at a depth of just under three miles. A 2.9 earthquake is described as minor. Generally, it is felt by people near the epicenter but rarely causes damage. Shaking of indoor objects can be noticeable. About 100,000 such quakes occur worldwide each year. Woman killed on Valentine’s Day; husband arrested LEBANON (AP) — An Oregon man has been arrested in the shooting death of his wife. The Lebanon Police Department says 33-year-old Jason Garlinghouse called 911 to report the shooting on Valentine’s Day, telling a dispatcher his wife had attacked him. Police found the body of Sparki Sue Garlinghouse and obtained a warrant to search the home. The agency says it recovered the firearm allegedly used in the shooting and charged the husband with murder at one minute before midnight. The Albany Democrat-Herald reports two children lived at the house, but were not home when the shooting occurred. They have been placed with relatives. Garlinghouse was booked into the Linn County Jail. Republican spearheaded naturalization ceremony on House floor By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — While many Oregon politicians hail former Republican Gov. Tom McCall as their role model, Republican Rep. Julie Parrish idolizes former Gov. Victor Atiyeh, the nation’s first Arab-American governor. “Oregon had rich history … of welcoming immigrants,” Parrish said. The oft-rogue Republican from West Linn wanted to remind legislators and Orego- nians of that important history when she suggested hosting a naturalization ceremony on the floor of the House of Represen- tatives. The ceremony was held in conjunction with Oregon’s birthday and Valentine’s Day Tuesday on the House floor. Parrish was an infant when her Lebanese father was natural- ized as a U.S. citizen. In 2011, she became the first known Arab-American woman to be elected to the state Legislature. “I had never been to a natu- ralization ceremony before,” she said. (Parrish was three months old when her father took the oath of allegiance to the United States.) In January, she attended a naturalization ceremony at a U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services office in Portland, where Republican Dennis Rich- ardson spoke as part of his first official event as newly elected secretary of state. Parrish ran Bend seeks more funds to clear snowy roads Courtesy Speaker Tina Kotek Michael Hickman, Portland field office director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, conducts the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday in the Oregon House of Representatives. Richardson’s campaign against Democrat Brad Avakian, who was seen as the likely victor. “It’s pretty impressive, pretty powerful,” Parrish said of the naturalization ceremony. “At a time when the conversation around immigration is not very positive, this was an important opportunity to remind folks that we are a nation of immigrants. “I thought legislators should see that and experience that.” Naturalization ceremonies had been hosted at the state Capitol in the past but were booked in the basement, far from the public eye. Parrish and one of Richardson’s staff members approached House Speaker Tina Kotek to get permission to hold the ceremony on the House floor. Kotek, D-Portland, agreed to host the ceremony to mark Oregon’s 158th birthday, which coincides with Valentine’s Day. “That’s the first time we have done one on the House floor,” Kotek said. “We think it’s a really important symbolic way of saying that everyone is welcome here in the state of Oregon.” Fifteen people were natu- ralized as U.S. citizens during the ceremony. They come from four countries: Mexico, China, the Philippines and Denmark, said Lindsey O’Brien, Kotek’s spokeswoman. Michael Hickman, Portland field office director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, conducted the oath of allegiance during the ceremony. 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 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. 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Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group REGIONAL CITIES Forecast FRIDAY Cloudy with a couple of showers Chilly with clouds and sun 50° 34° 44° 30° SATURDAY Cloudy, a bit of snow and rain SUNDAY Mostly cloudy with a little rain An afternoon shower PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 37° 31° 46° 33° 47° 34° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 44° 34° 43° 32° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 33° 47° 66° (1982) 25° 29° -5° (1923) 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 0.16" 0.50" 0.62" 2.15" 2.17" 2.00" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 32° 48° 63° (2016) 27° 29° -8° (1936) 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 0.22" 0.44" 0.52" 2.13" 1.34" 1.80" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Feb 18 Feb 26 47° 32° 48° 32° Seattle 53/42 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 39° 31° Spokane Wenatchee 45/30 39/30 Tacoma Moses 53/38 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 39/29 46/32 51/42 52/37 40/28 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 52/41 50/35 Lewiston 42/32 Astoria 50/34 51/40 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 51/37 Pendleton 42/29 The Dalles 43/32 50/34 44/32 La Grande Salem 47/31 53/39 Albany Corvallis 53/41 52/40 John Day 46/30 Ontario Eugene Bend 40/29 52/38 45/30 Caldwell Burns 44/32 42/23 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 51 41 45 52 42 42 52 45 43 46 47 47 43 55 52 54 40 42 50 51 51 53 45 45 51 50 40 Lo 40 24 30 43 23 29 38 31 32 30 32 31 30 37 41 44 29 32 34 37 31 39 30 30 36 35 28 W sh sh sh r sh r sh sh sh r sh r r sh sh sh sh r sh sh sh sh r r sh r c Hi 51 39 42 55 38 42 52 45 44 42 45 42 42 56 53 55 40 43 44 52 45 53 43 43 52 45 43 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 23 61 30 41 46 18 39 40 27 73 46 W c s r pc pc c c s pc s s Lo 37 26 30 43 26 29 39 31 34 30 31 30 29 40 40 43 32 31 30 38 30 38 27 29 37 32 31 W pc pc c r c pc c c pc pc r pc c r c c c pc pc c c c pc c c pc c Fri. Hi 43 73 46 53 72 31 51 59 37 92 65 Klamath Falls 47/32 Lo 22 63 33 40 42 29 37 49 21 73 42 (in mph) Today Friday Boardman Pendleton SW 3-6 S 4-8 NE 3-6 NE 3-6 W s pc s c pc sn pc pc pc t pc UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Showers today; cooler in central parts. Eastern Washington: Rain today; steadiest during the morning. Eastern and Central Oregon: Cloudy today with a couple of showers. Cascades: Rain and snow showers today; snow levels will fall to 3,000 feet tonight. Northern California: Periods of rain today. Mar 5 Western Washington: Mostly cloudy today with some showers around; most extensive in the morning. 0 1 1 1 0 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 48 71 42 52 71 25 54 58 52 89 56 Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Fri. WINDS Medford 55/37 6:56 a.m. 5:24 p.m. 11:38 p.m. 9:50 a.m. First Full Mar 12 Today MONDAY Corrections The East Oregonian works hard to be ac- curate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. 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 • Elizabeth Freemantle 541-278-2683 • efreemantle@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 TODAY BEND (AP) — The central Oregon city of Bend may have to dip into a reserve fund to get its roads cleared in the event of another snowstorm this winter. The Bend Bulletin reported the head of the city’s streets department, David Abbas, plans to ask the City Council on Wednesday for $120,000 to pay private companies to plow snow from Bend’s roads. He’s also seeking $185,000 for plowing at the Bend Municipal Airport and in city parking lots if needed. The city has already paid private compa- nies $672,000 to plow roads for December and January. That’s about a half million dollars more than initially budgeted for the winter. Last winter, the city paid only $130,000 for the work. 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. ©2017 -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 snowstorm will wind down over Maine, while blustery and cold conditions linger over the Northeast with areas of lake-effect snow today. Heavy rain will spread southward along the Pacific coast. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 87° in Fort Pierce, Fla. Low -12° in Presque Isle, Maine 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 58 58 46 41 59 59 49 36 63 41 43 31 68 71 34 63 20 45 82 68 46 68 66 72 64 70 Lo 33 39 26 24 37 39 33 24 40 30 30 24 47 38 26 43 1 31 71 49 36 37 42 55 39 58 W s s pc pc pc s c sn s pc c c s s pc s pc s pc pc pc s s s s pc Fri. Hi 61 68 46 47 54 68 48 37 70 59 57 51 72 63 45 67 19 48 83 72 59 74 69 59 68 63 Lo 38 48 31 32 29 48 39 24 46 40 42 41 57 32 36 47 -8 33 68 58 42 45 43 51 47 55 Today W pc s s pc pc s c s s pc s pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc c s s s r s r 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 53 62 80 37 46 57 63 37 67 64 39 75 32 36 52 64 56 63 65 54 68 63 53 74 44 69 Lo 40 43 58 33 33 38 47 27 40 38 26 55 19 21 32 37 31 49 44 35 57 50 42 48 29 37 W pc s c c c s pc pc s s pc s sn pc s s r r s pc pc r sh s s s Fri. Hi 64 68 79 46 56 66 68 42 69 68 44 76 35 37 63 57 47 57 70 52 68 61 51 74 51 69 Lo 46 52 64 41 35 47 55 32 45 35 33 59 15 23 39 33 37 50 50 41 59 50 39 56 37 41 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W s s pc s s s c s s s pc c s s s pc c r s c r r c pc pc s
