Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2017)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Wednesday, August 30, 2017 Firefighters make slow progress against Oregon’s big blazes Lawyer: Richardson lacks authority to change petition rules Associated Press the voters,” said Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis. Rayfield, who is a SALEM — Secretary lawyer, requested the of State Dennis Richardson opinion from Legislative may lack the authority Counsel on the proposed to change rules he has rule change. Richardson said his proposed for collecting initiative petition signa- intention is that petitioners would have to tures in Oregon, show voters the according to full text of their a preliminary initiative in place review by the of the official L e g i s l a t u r e ’s ballot title. lawyers. Deputy Legis- Richardson, lative Counsel a Republican, Dan Gilbert wants to allow issued a prelim- petitioners to inary opinion gather signatures that the proposed while an official Richardson change may be ballot title is still being drafted or remains outside the secretary of in dispute. The ballot title state’s jurisdiction, because is intended to be a neutral it would go against “legis- summary of what the initia- lative policy choice” on the signature gathering process. tive does. The secretary of state’s Richardson says his intention is to stop oppo- rulemaking authority is nents of an initiative from limited to administering delaying signature gathering legislatively enacted laws by filing a legal challenge of and policies and does not grant the secretary a ballot title’s wording. “The reason the secre- “authority to adopt admin- tary has proposed this rule istrative rules that alter is to empower grassroots legislative policy determi- activists and improve the nations,” Gilbert wrote. Elzinga said he is still democratic process,” said Steve Elzinga, govern- reviewing Gilbert’s anal- mental and legal affairs ysis. However, Elzinga, director in the Secretary of Richardson and Elections State’s Office. “It’s unfor- Director Steve Trout, who tunate that the coalition of are all lawyers, and two groups currently in power outside lawyers reviewed are opposing changes that state law and concluded will empower the people of the secretary of state has authority to change the rule. Oregon.” The two outside lawyers Critics say such changes would reverse restrictions were Dan Meek of the that the Oregon Legislature Oregon Independent Party and Richardson’s prede- and Eric Winters, who conservative cessors put in place in the champions past several years to combat causes. Both men have been signature fraud by paid advocates of less restrictive policies that support grass- petitioners. “The idea … was roots democracy efforts. The secretary of state you don’t want people to gather signatures without did not seek an opinion a neutral title because that from the Attorney General’s could potentially mislead Office, Elzinga said. By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau BROOKINGS — Firefighters in southern Oregon on Tuesday gained a toehold on a fire burning near the coastal town of Brookings but new evacuations were ordered after a flare-up on a different complex of lightning-caused fires in a remote area near the California border. Authorities allowed some residents back into their homes near Brookings but several thousand more remain evacuated. The 184-square-mile fire is now 5 percent contained with a full contain- ment date of mid-October. The blaze began from a lightning strike on July 12 but grew rapidly last week, at one point forcing about 4,500 people from their homes. Fire crews are bracing for more difficult conditions later this week, with very low humidity and triple-digit temperatures forecast. Winds on the fire have also been gusty and erratic. “Typically this time of year we’d be at least 30 or 40 percent humidity and we may get to single digits later this week. That is very, very dry,” said Terry Krasko, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. To the west of that blaze — and also in southern Oregon — another complex of fires has been burning since a lightning storm on Aug. 12. The 17-square mile fire is burning in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest near and along the Oregon-Cal- ifornia border. Many of the smaller fires have been put out, but several of the blazes have merged into three main areas of fire activity, said Brenda Bowen, a spokeswoman for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Brian Davies/The Register-Guard via AP A pair of cyclists pedal down dusty Cantrell Road against the backdrop of a smoky sunset, west of Eugene on Monday. Firefighters are confronting extremely hot and dry weather on the fire lines of two large blazes burn- ing in southwest and central Oregon. Authorities on Tuesday afternoon ordered mandatory evacuations in the rural community of Joe Bar, right along the Oregon-California border, as one of those active areas crept to within a half-mile of the outpost. About six homes are affected, Bowen said. In central Oregon, a 33-square-mile wildfire west of Sisters remains about one-third contained. Fire crews have been effective at creating dirt lines and using naturally occurring areas of lava rock to keep it in check, said Stacy Lacey, a spokes- woman for the U.S. Forest Service. No mandatory evacuations are in effect, she said. “The warmer weather the last few days has definitely increased the fire “The warmer weather the last few days has definitely increased the fire activity on the lines.” — Terry Krasko, Spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service activity on the lines, but we were prepared for it,” she said. Hot and extremely dry weather will pose challenges across the state later this week. Nearly two dozen fires are burning in Oregon and air quality in much of the western part of the state — including in Portland — has been poor because of wildfire smoke. Task force brainstorms ways to lessen pension deficit EUGENE (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s special task force is looking at ways to ensure the state has enough money to pay pensions for eligible state employees amid a multi-billion-dollar pension fund deficit. The state is considering commercializing its state-run liquor system, pulling money from public reserves or imposing new surcharges of up to 10 percent on all state-issued permits, licenses and registrations, The Regis- ter-Guard reported Tuesday. The advisory task force, made up of seven private- and public-sector executives, is charged with drafting a plan to take $5 billion off the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System’s $24.5 billion unfunded liability without touching government workers’ retirement benefits. The task force stressed that Oregon school districts, local governments and universities should take a greater stake in paying down individual pension unfunded liability. “I know some of these things are very sensitive,” said Don Blair, a former Nike chief financial officer. “I think that’s unavoidable.” The task force is floating a new state tax of between 1 percent and 10 percent on liquor sales with the proceeds — between $10 million and $50 million — being dedi- cated to the pension fund. The task force also is looking at state government’s two big reserve funds — the Rainy Day and Education Stability funds — that currently contain more than a combined $1 billion. Between $100 million and $500 million of that could be used for a pension down payment. Traditionally, however, those funds have been left untouched in good times, so the state can tap them to temper budget cuts during downturns. “None of our choices are free from downsides,” task force member and former state agency director Cory Streisinger said. 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 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays SUBSCRIPTION RATES Local home delivery Savings off cover price EZPay $14.50 41 percent 52 weeks $173.67 41 percent 26 weeks $91.86 38 percent 13 weeks $47.77 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit or debit card/check charge www.eastoregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and Dec. 25, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Marissa Williams 541-278-2669 • addirector@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Danni Halladay 541-278-2683 • dhalladay@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Angela Treadwell 541-966-0827 • atreadwell@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — Corrections The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday 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 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 Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group REGIONAL CITIES Forecast TODAY FRIDAY THURSDAY Sunny and very warm Pleasant with plenty of sunshine 93° 59° 87° 58° SATURDAY Very warm with plenty of sun Very hot SUNDAY Mostly sunny and very hot PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 93° 63° 100° 66° 100° 61° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 90° 56° 96° 61° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 97° 84° 106° (1915) 63° 55° 36° (1927) 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 0.00" 0.07" 0.40" 11.37" 7.34" 8.35" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE Yesterday Normals Records HIGH LOW 97° 85° 102° (1972) 59° 54° 36° (1937) 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 0.00" 0.06" 0.19" 6.65" 4.99" 6.11" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Full Last 102° 62° 6:14 a.m. 7:37 p.m. 3:19 p.m. 12:10 a.m. New First Spokane Wenatchee 92/58 92/63 Tacoma Moses 74/57 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 96/58 89/53 67/58 75/55 96/58 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 74/59 94/64 Lewiston 98/60 Astoria 95/61 68/55 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 79/62 Pendleton 90/50 The Dalles 96/61 93/59 86/62 La Grande Salem 90/52 80/59 Albany Corvallis 80/56 79/54 John Day 94/54 Ontario Eugene Bend 96/60 79/52 88/47 Caldwell Burns 94/61 92/48 Sep 12 Sep 19 Sep 27 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 68 95 88 66 92 90 79 90 96 94 86 90 88 88 64 68 96 96 93 79 90 80 92 90 78 94 96 Lo 55 49 47 55 48 50 52 59 61 54 45 52 47 55 52 54 60 56 59 62 42 59 58 46 60 64 58 W pc s pc pc s s pc s s s pc s s pc pc pc pc s s pc pc pc s s pc s s NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Thu. Hi 69 87 86 74 87 82 84 85 90 86 87 83 81 92 65 68 93 89 87 81 88 85 83 82 81 87 90 Lo 51 44 52 59 45 51 52 57 56 53 50 48 46 58 48 52 57 54 58 58 47 56 57 47 56 63 55 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. W pc s pc pc s s s s s s pc s s pc s s s s s pc pc s s s pc s s WORLD CITIES Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Hi 83 92 83 60 69 63 77 86 74 65 85 Lo 63 81 64 50 57 47 54 66 60 47 72 W s s s r t pc t s pc s r Thu. Hi 82 91 82 66 70 68 69 85 78 62 77 Lo 66 80 64 51 59 49 53 66 60 46 69 W pc t s pc c s pc s s s r WINDS Medford 88/55 (in mph) Klamath Falls 86/45 Boardman Pendleton REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Clouds giving way to some sun today; hazy sun and smoky in the south. Eastern and Central Oregon: Mostly sunny and hot today, but some clouds in the south. Eastern Washington: Sunshine today; however, some clouds in the north. Mainly clear tonight. Cascades: Mostly sunny today. Not as warm; smoky in the south. Pleasant across the north. Northern California: Mostly sunny today. Hot in central parts; pleasant at the coast. Today Thursday WSW 7-14 W 7-14 WSW 6-12 W 7-14 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Western Washington: Areas of low clouds, then some sun today. Sep 5 104° 61° Seattle 73/60 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 96° 60° Today 1 3 5 5 3 1 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: Catastrophic flooding from Harvey will continue in Texas even as the heaviest rain shifts into the Mississippi Valley today. Showers will sink into the Upper Midwest. Much of the West will be sunny and hot. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 115° in Palm Springs, Calif. Low 32° in West Yellowstone, Mont. 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 87 74 74 77 94 76 94 69 82 82 80 79 86 93 81 91 64 81 87 79 81 87 81 107 78 97 Lo 62 69 66 63 66 72 64 60 71 63 64 62 71 62 62 65 45 58 73 72 64 74 59 84 69 74 W t sh pc pc s r pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc s pc s s r pc t s pc r s Thur. Hi 89 82 82 84 91 82 91 81 89 80 73 74 89 89 72 91 66 78 86 90 80 93 83 101 76 97 Lo 64 71 59 58 61 70 59 54 76 61 56 54 69 60 50 65 43 60 74 71 59 75 61 82 67 74 W s t pc pc pc t s c pc c pc pc pc pc pc s pc s pc pc c t pc c r s Today Hi Louisville 86 Memphis 79 Miami 93 Milwaukee 80 Minneapolis 81 Nashville 78 New Orleans 85 New York City 75 Oklahoma City 83 Omaha 83 Philadelphia 77 Phoenix 109 Portland, ME 73 Providence 73 Raleigh 84 Rapid City 89 Reno 95 Sacramento 96 St. Louis 83 Salt Lake City 92 San Diego 86 San Francisco 71 Seattle 73 Tucson 102 Washington, DC 79 Wichita 84 Lo 69 70 81 61 57 69 75 66 61 60 65 85 52 58 68 60 61 59 65 70 72 56 60 73 68 61 W pc sh t pc pc r r pc s s pc s pc pc pc pc pc s pc t s s pc t pc s Thur. Hi 82 78 92 69 73 80 87 83 85 86 84 109 77 83 78 87 95 103 83 90 86 80 78 102 85 86 Lo 63 67 80 57 53 66 72 56 61 62 58 83 48 53 68 60 62 68 65 67 71 63 56 73 64 62 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W c r pc pc pc r t pc s s pc c sh pc t pc s s pc pc s s pc s pc s