REGION
Saturday, August 5, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
PENDLETON
Kind Leaf owners look to start marijuana farm
“We want to be the
(Pendleton) Woolen
Mills of the
cannabis industry.”
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
Pendleton is no stranger to
family farms, although it’s not as
familiar with one that produces
Oregon’s newly legalized cash
crop.
Burnswell Family Farms,
owned by the group that operates
the Kind Leaf Pendleton dispen-
sary, is seeking conditional use
approval from the city to open a
marijuana grow and production at
the former Riverside Nursery.
The two-acre property at
2612 N.E. Nursery Lane has
greenhouses Burnswell plans to
use to farm organic, sustainable
marijuana.
“We want to be the (Pendleton)
Woolen Mills of the cannabis
industry,” said Brandon Krenzler,
a member of the ownership group.
Krenzler said it’s always been
the owners’ goal to vertically inte-
grate Kind Leaf and supply their
own marijuana, it was just a matter
of fi nding a spot that fi t the city’s
zoning parameters.
Burnswell will focus on
organic farming, avoiding the
— Brandon Krenzler,
member of the Burnswell Family
Farms ownership group
EO fi le photo
Kind Leaf co-owner Brandon Krenzler shows off a sampling of the
merchandise for sale on the Pendleton dispensary’s fi rst day of
business on March 11, 2017.
use of pesticides and herbicides,
planting sunfl owers and marigolds
alongside marijuana plants and
installing a beehive to spread
pollen throughout the area.
Growing cannabis in a green-
house rather than an indoor facility
will prevent Burnswell from
running up a large electric bill
and further reduce the company’s
blueprint, Krenzler said.
Krenzler also anticipates that
the Burnswell farm will be a boon
to Kind Leaf customers, allowing
the dispensary to sell their product
at a lower price than it would if
the marijuana was bought from
another vendor.
Burnswell plans to supply most
of its marijuana to Kind Leaf
while selling a small amount to
other vendors, creating a niche
market around Pendleton-grown
marijuana.
Public resistance to marijuana
facilities in Pendleton can range
from virtually non-existent to a
room full of concerned citizens,
depending on the location.
Krenzler said they spoke with a
potential Burnswell neighbor who
had concerns about the security
risks a marijuana farm might
bring, but he added that the Oregon
Liquor Control Commission has
extensive security requirements.
Burnswell isn’t the fi rst
company to show interest in
producing marijuana in Pendleton,
and isn’t even the fi rst to target
Riverside.
A company called GhostTown
Organix received conditional
use approval from the Pend-
leton Planning Commission to
open a cannabis grow at 2515
N.E. Riverside Place, although
according to the Oregon Liquor
Control Commission website, no
processor, producer or wholesaler
has submitted an application to the
state.
If Burnswell gets city and state
approval, Krenzler said they will
plant their fi rst crop next spring.
Burnswell will go before the
planning commission on Thursday
at 7 p.m. The commission holds
its meetings in the city council
chambers at Pendleton City Hall,
500 S.W. Dorion Ave.
———
Contact Antonio Sierra at
asierra@eastoregonian.com
or
541-966-0836.
CDA secures $7 million for Umatilla Depot roads
By GEORGE PLAVEN
East Oregonian
Plans to develop the former
Umatilla Chemical Depot received
a boost from state lawmakers earlier
this year, who earmarked a $7 million
direct appropriation to develop
access points onto the property in
both Umatilla and Morrow counties.
But fi rst, there is still the matter
of transferring the old Army base to
local control, which is not expected
to happen until December.
The $7 million appropriation was
included in the legislature’s $5.3
billion transportation package. The
Columbia Development Authority,
tasked with repurposing the area for
industry, will use that money to create
roads and access onto the depot from
Interstate 82 near Hermiston, as well
as Paterson Ferry Road in Morrow
County.
Greg Smith, who serves both as
director of the Columbia Develop-
ment Authority and a Republican
state representative, said those
dollars could also be leveraged for
additional infrastructure through
Business Oregon’s Special Public
Works Fund.
The caveat, however, remains
when the CDA will receive owner-
ship of the depot following a long,
drawn-out process with the Army’s
Base Realignment and Closure
Division. At Friday’s CDA meeting,
Smith said he was told the transfer
remains on track for Dec. 1.
“Once we get this deed of trust,
we’re really going to go full speed
ahead in terms of development,”
Smith said.
As has been lamented in the past,
Smith reiterated the CDA has already
missed out on multiple opportunities
due to delays in the transfer, including
from agriculture, solar energy and
Fortune 500 technology companies.
“I do feel comfortable saying (the
Army) is working diligently to get
this completed,” Smith added.
In other business, the CDA hinted
at a possible future partnership with
the Northeast Oregon Water Asso-
ciation, which has been working to
develop mitigated, bucket-for-bucket
water rights from the Columbia
River.
One of NOWA’s proposals,
dubbed the Central Project, recently
fell apart at the eleventh hour after
the Westland Irrigation District
was unable to follow through on its
investment. J.R. Cook, founder and
director of NOWA, told the CDA
board of directors Friday that the
group is starting to re-envision the
Central Project, and fully anticipates
a more formal relationship with the
CDA “in the near future.”
“I think we’ve put the kindling on
the fi re ring,” Cook said, though he
did not provide any specifi c details.
Smith said NOWA is “a great asset
for our region,” and they are having
discussions to see where water devel-
opment and industrial development
may intersect.
———
Contact George Plaven at
gplaven@eastoregonian.com
or
541-966-0825.
HERMISTON
Scammers using school athletics to target businesses
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Scammers are again trying to con
Hermiston businesses into buying
school sports ads.
Hermiston School District in a
written statement on Friday warned
about Hermiston businesses receiving
invoices in the mail from Sports
Media, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, seeking
payment for the “Hermiston High
School 2017 Fall Sports Poster.”
The ads cost $169, according to the
digital images of invoices the district
sent.
“Hermiston School District would
like the business community to know
that this vendor is not affi liated with
the high school or district,” according
to the statement, “and proceeds from
the posters do not benefi t district
students.”
It also is apparent, the district
stated, Sports Media knows this
is when Hermiston High School
contacts businesses for sponsorship
for the 2017-18 school year.
However, the district stated,
“Any advertising or sponsorship for
Hermiston High School programs
will come directly from Larry Usher,
the district’s director of athletics and
activities, or Lindy Thompson, the
athletics secretary.”
Sports Media tried this scheme
before in Hermiston, as well as in the
spring in Astoria.
The person who answered the
phone at the company’s number,
888-441-9584, said she only handles
collections while the company sales
department is in New Mexico. No
one was on-site at that time, she
said, who could answer questions
about why the company solicited
Hermiston businesses. There also
was no immediate response to an
email from the East Oregonian.
The Idaho Secretary of State’s
website for information on businesses
has no entry for Sports Media,
although the invoices show an Idaho
Falls address of 2184 Channing Way,
No. 185.
A search of internet mapping sites
shows 2184 Channing Way is the
location for Channing Square, a strip
mall.
The school district also reported
fi ling a formal complaint against
Sports Media with the consumer
protection division of the Oregon
Department of Justice.
COMING EVENTS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5
PANCAKE BREAKFAST, 7-10
a.m., Stanfi eld Community Center,
225 W. Roosevelt, Stanfi eld. Costs
$5 for full breakfast/$3 for light
meal. (541-449-1332)
PENDLETON ON WHEELS
RELAXED BIKE RIDE, 7 a.m.,
Chamber of Commerce Parking
Lot, 501 S. Main St., Pendleton.
Weekly casual ride. Meet with
those taking a longer ride, but take
a shorter route that matches par-
ticipant interests that day. Usually
in the 10 to 20 mile ride as partic-
ipants desire. (Pete Wells 541-379-
2180)
POW SATURDAY BIKE RIDE,
7 a.m.-1 p.m., Information kiosk at
Museum Park, 108 S.W. Frazer
Ave., Pendleton. Weekly bike ride
by Pendleton on Wheels. Rides
are open to the public, as far and at
a speed comfortable for you. (Pete
Wells 541-379-2180)
MEACHAM YARD SALE, 8
a.m.-4 p.m., Oregon Trail Store &
Deli parking lot, 64364 Old High-
way 30, Meacham. Bring your table
and goods to sell (free spaces are
fi rst-come, fi rst-served). Parade
at 9:30 a.m., Mtn. Millie’s famous
hamburgers and more. Net pro-
ceeds benefi t the Oregon Pioneer
Cemetery at Meacham and pub-
lication of the monthly Meacham
Gazette. (Karen 541-969-8227)
HERMISTON
FARMERS
MARKET, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Festival
Plaza, Northeast Second Street
and Main, Hermiston. Local pro-
duce, baked goods, crafts, jewelry,
art, live music, food vendors and
more.
S.U.R.E. UMATILLA RIVER
CLEANUP, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,
Stillman Park, 400 S.E. Byers Ave.,
Pendleton. Enjoy a morning on the
river and help clean up the river
and parkway. People and groups
will be assigned to different stretch-
es of the river parkway. Gloves
and trash bags will be provided. All
volunteers are invited to a barbe-
cue lunch at 11:30 a.m. Everyone
welcome. (Kathryn Brown 541-
278-2667)
FREE FOR ALL, 9:30-10:15
a.m., Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
Free art classes for children up to
age 12. Children under 8 should be
accompanied by an adult. (Roberta
Lavadour 541-278-9201)
YARN CLUB, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.,
Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. (541-567-
2882)
ALTRUSA SCHOOL SUPPLY
DRIVE, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Walmart
Supercenter and Bi-Mart, 2203
S.W. Court Ave. and 901 S.W.
Emigrant Ave., Pendleton. School
supplies, clothing and cash will be
collected for distribution to Pend-
leton schools for children in need.
(Deb Wagner 541-276-2264)
HIP & HANDMADE, 11 a.m.-
12 p.m., Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
Free drop-in project class for adults.
(Roberta Lavadour 541-278-9201)
SATURDAY SPIN-IN, 1-4
p.m., Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
For spinners, knitters, weavers,
felters, fi ber enthusiasts and folks
who are just fi ber-curious. Drop-ins
welcome. (Roberta Lavadour 541-
278-9201)
UMATILLA COUNTY FAIR
PARADE, 6:30 p.m., Hermis-
ton High School, 600 S. First St,
Hermiston. All entries must check
in and receive line-up instructions
on South First Street in front of
Hermiston High School from 4-6
p.m. and must be in line by 6 p.m.;
parade starts at 6:30 p.m. sharp.
Entry deadline for judging is 5 p.m.
Friday, July 28. (541-567-6121)
PEOPLE WITH DISABILI-
TIES FILM FESTIVAL, 7-8:30
p.m., Great Pacifi c Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton.
Films by and about people expe-
riencing disabilities, on tour from
the New York-based Sprout Film
Festival, will be interspersed with
local people sharing stories of
community and work inclusion.
Free.
OLDIES NIGHT: MONKEES,
7-10 p.m., Wesley United Meth-
odist Church, 816 S. Main St.,
Milton-Freewater. Monkeemania
featuring songs by the group and
solo hits by the band members.
Free. (Bob Jones 541-938-7028)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6:30
p.m., Pendleton Recreation Cen-
ter, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pend-
leton. Half-court basketball. Adults
only.
MONDAY, AUGUST 7
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6 a.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Half-
court basketball. Adults only.
TOT TIME, 10-11 a.m., Pend-
leton Recreation Center, 510 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton. For chil-
dren ages 0-5. Costs $1 per child
per session. (541-276-8100)
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME,
10:30 a.m., Athena Public Library,
418 E. Main St., Athena. For ages
birth to 6. (541-566-2470)
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Pendleton
Senior Center, 510 S.W. 10th
St., Pendleton. Costs $3.50 or
$6 for those under 60. Pool, puz-
zles, crafts, snacks, Second Time
Around thrift store 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For Meals On Wheels, call 541-
276-1926. (541-276-7101)
ART STUDIO, 4-5:30 p.m.,
Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214
N. Main St., Pendleton. Free class
for ages 7-12 to develop skills and
encourage art exploration. (Ro-
berta Lavadour 541-278-9201)
HERMISTON
School district
introduces
online student
registration
East Oregonian
Registering children
to a Hermiston school
no longer requires an
in-person commitment.
According
to
a
Friday press release,
the Hermiston School
District is introducing
online registration for the
2017-2018 school year.
Starting
Monday,
parents or guardians can
log into http://hermiston.
k12.or.us/parents
and
register their children for
classes.
“The process is more
convenient for parents
to update their student’s
information from the
comfort of their own
homes;
update
the
physical/mailing address,
emergency
contact
information, etc.,” the
press release states.
Parents will need
to create an account
and provide a district-
supplied “snapcode” that
was sent through the mail
to begin the process.
New students to the
district will be required
to submit a record of their
birth, proof of residence/
physical address, health
record, and previous
report cards or transcripts.
To help with the new
process,
Hermiston
High School will have
computers and staff
available during the
traditional registration
week, Aug 14-18.
The district’s open
house will take place
Aug. 24. The district is
encouraging
students
and parents to attend and
get acquainted with their
teachers and school staff.
For more information,
parents can contact their
children’s schools.
Attention Attention!!
WE ARE CALLING ALL NURSES
Nurse Openings at Umatilla
County Health Department
JOB TITLE: HOME VISITING NURSE
JOB TITLE: NURSING SUPERVISOR
SIGN ON BONUSES ARE AVAILABLE!!
“ Making
a difference with first time moms from preg-
nancy until the child reaches two years of age.”
Contact Umatilla County HR for more information 541-278-6207
Full Job description and applications available at http://
www.umatillacounty.net/hr/index.html