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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2017)
141st Year, No. 152 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2016 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD E O AST REGONIAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017 Staff photo by E.J. Harris Snow covers the foothills of the Blue Mountains on Tuesday above Mission on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. A winter weather advisory is in effect for much of the Blue Mountains with snow forecast at about 3,500 feet elevation, according to the National Weather Service. ELECTION RESULTS BOARDMAN Backlash against gas plant continues By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian Environmentalists rallied again Monday to oppose the expansion of the natural gas-fired Carty Generating Station in Morrow County, even after Portland General Electric suspended permit- ting for two new units at the project site near Boardman. The Oregon Public Utility Commission held a special hearing in downtown Port- land, where 260 protesters gathered to speak out against increased natural gas at Carty — including Willa Wallace, tribal activist from Pendleton, who urged PGE to choose See CARTY/10A Organic farm faces possible quarantine to control weeds By ERIC MORTENSON EO Media Group Sherman County may order owners of a 2,000-acre organic farm to spray noxious weeds or face a possible quarantine. Local wheat farmers say weeds spreading from Azure Farms, on the outskirts of Moro in north central Oregon, cost them money in the form of additional herbi- cide control. Most critically, growers of certified wheat seed say their crops will be worthless if contaminated by Rush Skeleton Weed, Canada Thistle, Morning Glory and White Top spreading from the farm. Spraying the weeds with Milestone or other herbicides, however, would cause the farm to lose organic certification for three years. Azure Standard, which operates Azure Farms, See WEEDS/9A Staff photo by E.J. Harris Pendleton Fire Chief Mike Ciraulo gives the thumbs up at an election night party Tuesday in Pendleton, after hearing the unofficial results that the Pendleton fire bond had been approved by voters. Fire hall approved Pendleton voters Unofficial results UNOFFICIAL VOTER TURNOUT: approve first Umatilla County: 25.1% bond since 1996 Morrow County: 22.3% By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian A new Pendleton fire station will soon rise on the old St. Anthony lot on the east side of town. Pendleton voters approved a $10 million bond in a special election Tuesday with 60 percent approval, according to unofficial results. The bond will cover the construction of a new primary station for the city’s fire department and new emergency equipment. Bond supporters celebrated the victory, the first successful bond passage for the city in 21 years, at Mac’s Bar and Grill. After Mayor John Turner and Fire Chief Mike Ciraulo led toasts to the bond’s victory and the efforts of campaign volunteers, the chief reflected on the win. “I have a happy heart and a humble heart,” he said. Although barred from campaigning for the bond, Ciraulo has been steadfast in saying the current Fire Station No. 1 at 911 S.W. Court Ave. is inadequate for his department. Built in 1959, the station is too small, poorly located on a corner lot near a street signal and rife with asbestos and PENDLETON FIRE BOND: Yes: 60.2% No: 39.8% HERMISTON SCHOOL BOND: Yes: 41.1% No: 58.9% UMATILLA/MORROW COUNTY DATA DISTRICT, POSITION 1 Michael A. Roxbury: 52.2% Loren Dieter: 47.8% UMATILLA/MORROW COUNTY DATA DISTRICT, POSITION 2 Kathleen Lieuallen: 67.4% Rick Stokoe: 32.5% PENDLETON SCHOOL DISTRICT, POSITION 7 Debbie McBee: 68.9% Chris Roop: 30.9% PILOT ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, POSITION 2 Jennifer Humphreys Gourlie: 75.6% Janice Schrein: 24.4% MORE RESULTS ON PAGE 10A carcinogens, according to city officials. The new station will be built on the site of the old St. Anthony Hospital at 1601 S.E. Court Ave, a spot staff believe will produce better response times and provide more space for emergency vehicles and female personnel. See PENDLETON/10A EO file photo Highland Hills first-grade teacher Madaline Laan checks students answers during a math class at Highland Hills Elementary School. Hermiston school bond fails “We have more work to do in educating the community Hermiston voters soundly rejected about the challenges facing the school district’s request for a our growing district.” $104 million bond that would have By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian built three new schools. In unofficial returns Tuesday evening, out of 3,695 voters 59 percent opposed the bond and 41 percent approved. The Hermiston school board campaigned heavily for the bond, which would have funded the construction of a new elementary school, new buildings for Rocky Heights and Highland Hills elementary schools, and significant — Fred Maiocco, Hermiston School District superintendent expansion and upgrades to the high school. They were disappointed at the lopsided result. “At this point, we need to step back, regroup and take a look at our options, if we have any, and go from there,” said Karen Sherman, Herm- See SCHOOL/10A Hermiston Offi ce: Pendleton Offi ce: GLENN SCOTT JENNIFER OLSON Veteran's Service Offi cer • 435 E Newport Ave. Veteran’s Service Offi cer • 17 SW Frazer Ph: 541.667.3125 • Cell: 541.848.8120 Ph.541.278.5482 glenn.scott@umatillacounty.net jennifer.olson@umatillacounty.net VETERANS SERVING VETERANS NS LET US ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR BENEFITS LE
