Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2017)
Page 8A NORTHWEST East Oregonian Tuesday, October 31, 2017 TRIBES: Corps of Engineers recommended roughly $3M be spent on planning the new villages Continued from 1A in the 1970s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to relocate, replace or otherwise mitigate for losses of home and villages that became buried by water, said Charles Hudson, who works with an agency of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes. The Indians and their ancestors had pulled salmon and other fish from the river for thousands of years, Hudson said. Not only did the dams submerge their homes and villages, they eliminated the waterfalls and rapids that were trusted fishing spots where the salmon congregated before leaping upstream. Even after the dams appeared, backing up the river and creating large pools, many families stayed along the banks because fishing was their traditional custom and livelihood. They moved into trailers and other makeshift housing on plots of federal land, where they were told to wait for the promised new housing, Hudson said. “No shovels have turned yet,” Hudson said. “Here we are 50, almost 60 years later, and they are still waiting.” The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates and maintains 700 dams in America, had recommended roughly $3 million be spent on planning for the new villages, like conducting archaeological assessments and site evaluations, and had received about half the funds in the 2017 budget cycle, Hudson said. But an Oct. 24 letter from the Corps cited by the five politicians said most of an esti- AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file This 2011, file photo shows The Dalles Dam behind The Dalles Bridge on the Columbia River. “No shovels have turned yet. Here we are 50, almost 60 years later, and they are still waiting.” — Charles Hudson, works with an agency of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka, File This 2014 file photo shows the home of Ranetta Spino and her family at the rivers edge at Lone Pine, a Native American fishing site on the Columbia River. mated $1.5 million has been spent, and that future work “will cease until the remaining funds are received.” The members of Congress said they understood that Mulvaney had denied a request by the Corps to shift funding to provide that remaining $1.5 million. “We have seen first-hand the cramped, outdated, make- shift housing with limited access to reliable utilities and restrooms that tribal members are living in today. This is a matter of public health and safety, upholding treaty rights, and requires immediate attention,” the members of Congress said in their letter to Mulvaney. The Office of Manage- ment and Budget and the White House did not imme- diately respond to requests for comment. Hudson said non-Indian communities that were submerged were rebuilt by the government and have libraries and post offices. “In comparison, the tribal communities were glaringly neglected,” said Hudson, who is with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. One such community, called Lone Pine, sits near the base of a dam at The Dalles. It has just six bathrooms and four showers, one power outlet and two water spigots, The Dalles Chronicle news- paper reported this month. Dishes are washed in the bathroom sinks. There is no laundry facility. Up to 40 people live there year-round in worn trailers with tarps flapping from missing windows or skylights. Junked vehicles and boats are scattered about. Some of the Lone Pine residents would be among the estimated 400 to 500 tribal members who would move into a new village, if it is ever built, Hudson said. It’s necessary “to educate this administration on history, and the need,” he said. BRIEFLY Potentially contaminated liquid dumped at Hanford RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — The Washington State Department of Ecology is investigating a report of potentially contaminated liquid dumped into the ground at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in August. The Tri-City Herald reported Friday Department of Ecology spokesman Randy Bradbury says that initial analyses of soil samples collected where the liquid was dumped found no contamination above background levels. Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford nuclear reservation’s tank farm contractor, notified the state of the incident, but not until a couple of weeks after it happened. Bradbury says it is required to report incidents immediately. Tank farm contractor spokesman peter Bengtson says the tank farm contractor believes it did not violate state regulations. Gov. Brown wants to cancel water swap plans for Nestle PORTLAND (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown has asked a state agency to cancel plans for a water swap that would have allowed Nestle to access the valuable spring water it wants. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports the water transfer is a key part of Nestle’s plans to build a $50 million water bottling plant in Cascade Locks. Hood River County voted in May 2016 to ban commercial water bottling. Most voters in the city of Cascade Locks, however, favored letting Nestle in and city leaders have been pursuing a water rights transfer with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife that would allow it to sell water from Oxbow Springs to Nestle. Brown on Friday asked the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to withdraw its application for the water exchange. The governor wrote the agency’s director, Curt Melcher, saying the ballot measure makes the goal of the water exchange uncertain. Brown says she is also worried about spending additional state money for an uncertain outcome. Klamath Falls cemetery to inter 150 unclaimed remains KLAMATH FALLS (AP) — The unclaimed ashes of about 150 people will be laid to rest in a ceremony next month in Klamath Falls. The Herald and News reports that Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery is providing a final resting place for unclaimed cremated remains. Cemetery officials set out last year to collect unclaimed ashes from local funeral homes. They expected to find about 30 but now have about 150 remains they plan to inter at the cemetery. Ashes can go unclaimed for a number of reasons, including if a family can’t pay for cremation costs or relatives can’t be located. Ben Quen, president of the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Association, says the board unanimously agreed to set aside about 3,000 square feet of land behind the cemetery chapel to bury the unclaimed remains. Ministers of different faiths will be invited to the Nov. 18 ceremony. Military honors will be included for veterans. Jury selection to begin for Bundy, two sons in standoff case LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jury selection is set to begin in Las Vegas for the long-awaited trial of Nevada rancher and states’ rights figure Cliven Bundy, two sons and one other co-defendant on charges stemming from an armed standoff with federal agents in April 2014. The trial starting Monday for the 71-year-old Bundy, sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and Ryan Payne of Montana alleges that they led a self-styled militia to prevent the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from enforcing court orders to stop Bundy cattle from grazing in what is now Gold Butte National Monument. It comes after prosecutors twice fell short in earlier trials to gain full convictions of six other men who were armed with assault-style weapons during the confrontation. Three co-defendants pleaded guilty in recent weeks to lesser charges. For more information, call 1-800-962-2819 2x3 EXAMPLE Celebrate your loved ones in our VETERANS DAY TRIBUTE We are so proud of you for serving your country. Free Example: Honoring those who have served and those who are currently serving our country! They’ve served our country with courage and honor. They’ve left behind loved ones to risk their lives while protecting our country. They’ve defended our freedoms and ideals. They make us proud to be Americans. Help us honor them. SALUTE E 1x4 EXAMPLE Love Evelyn, We are so Joe proud and of you Cheryl for serving J OSEPH S MITH your country. J OSEPH B. D AVIS Staff Sergeant Joel Davis US Marines Veteran This special section will print in the Hermiston Herald on Nov. 8 and in the East Oregonian on Nov. 11, 2017. There is NO CHARGE to be included. Bring us or send in photos of servicemen, servicewomen or veterans, along with the information in the form to the right, by November 2. Thank you for your service! Love Evelyn, Joe and Cheryl If you’d like to purchase a larger space to include a special message, border, flags, or stars and stripes, rates are $40 for a 1x4” space or $55 for a 2x3” space. Private party only. Please call 1-800-962-2819. Love always Marcy, Julie & Emily Service Person’s Name Military Branch Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Military Rank Currently Serving Veteran (Check One) Deliver to: East Oregonian 211 SE Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston Herald 333 E. Main. Hermiston, OR 97830 or e-mail to classifieds@eastoregonian.com
