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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2018)
REGION Thursday, January 4, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3A Governor ‘confident’ in wolf shooting investigation Environmental groups cite discrepancies in physical evidence By GEORGE PLAVEN EO Media Group Oregon Gov. Kate Brown will apparently not ask state agencies to reopen their investigation into the killing of a female wolf Oct. 27, 2017, in Union County, despite concerns from multiple conserva- tion groups. Brian Scott, 38, of Clackamas, reported that he shot the wolf in self-defense while elk hunting in the Starkey Wildlife Management Unit west of La Grande. The wolf, he said, was charging at him though wildlife advocates dispute his claim, pointing to the bullet’s trajectory and other discrepancies in the physical evidence. A coalition of groups — 18 in all — wrote to Gov. Brown asking her to reopen the state’s investigation, though in her reply dated Dec. 1, 2017, Brown said she has confidence in the outcome after consulting with the Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and Union County District Attorney’s Office. “While Oregon is working toward wolf recovery, any wolf mortality is a serious concern that deserves a full and rigorous inves- tigation,” Brown wrote. Scott told investigators he feared for his life when he shot the wolf at “Too many wolves have been found shot in Oregon where the shooters have not been identified.” District Attorney’s Office declined to press charges. Steve Pedery, conservation director for Oregon Wild, said they will continue to put pressure on the governor and agencies regarding — Gov. Kate Brown wolf poaching investi- gations, and ensure those a distance of 27 yards. He described protections are taken seriously. “We now have, I think by seeing two animals flank behind him, while a third came running anyone’s standards, an epidemic of wolf poaching around the state,” directly toward him. The groups, however, argue that Pedery said. “That’s a situation that the bullet passed through the wolf’s should be deeply concerning for shoulders, perhaps indicating it was anyone who cares about wildlife in standing broadside to Scott and not this state.” In her letter, Gov. Brown reit- charging. Scott has said he cannot explain the trajectory, and does not erated that killing wolves is illegal know if the wolf veered sideways everywhere in Oregon, and remains before he shot. The Union County a federal crime west of highways UMATILLA House fire displaces two women By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian A Umatilla house fire displaced two women on Wednesday afternoon and sent huge clouds of black smoke into the air above a small neighborhood on Cherry Street. Engines responded from Umatilla Fire Department, Umatilla County Fire District, Boardman Fire Department and Irrigon Rural Fire Department to the home at 1913 Cherry Street. Scott Goff, Umatilla County Fire District fire marshal, said the department has not yet been able to identify a cause for the fire. He said crews had still been working on fire suppression, and he would have to return to the house on Thursday to determine what happened. Goff identified the resi- dents of the house as owner Carolyn McCall and her daughter Annette. Medics were called to the scene, but no one was injured in the fire. According to a neighbor who declined to be identified, Carolyn was not home at the time of the fire, but Annette came running out of the house when the fire started. “At first there was smoke coming out of the house, and flames coming out of the roof by the time the fire depart- ment got there,” he said. He said there may have been a cat inside the house when the fire started, and they did not know if the cat escaped. He also said he heard the blaze was started by a dryer, but Goff said he couldn’t confirm that. The home had been for sale. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Firefighters spray water in the garage of the home at 1913 Cherry Street while fight- ing a fire Wednesday in Umatilla. Firefighters from Umatilla, Umatilla County Fire District 1, Irrigon and Boardman responded to the blaze. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Anette McCall and her mother, Carolyn McCall, console one another as firefighters attempted to extinguish a fire in their home on Wednesday in Umatilla. By STEVE TOOL EO Media Group Contributed photo Wallowa County Commissioner Todd Nash (left) recent- ly visited Washington, D.C., with the main purpose of seeing the Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision, which includes the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests, reach its final destination. County Commissioner Mark Owens was appointed for the job. Nash attended meetings elsewhere as well as a number of follow-up meetings with the head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which oversees the USFS, and also representatives of the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management and a wrap-up with Tooke. The support you need to find quality The group also met with Walden and staff from Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. Much of the agency talk revolved around issues facing ranchers and loggers. These included the threat- ened species status of plants such as Spalding’s Catchfly, and fish species such as the bull trout. “We’re looking at setting up distinct population areas where they might be de-listed in an easier manner,” Nash said. “We have a thriving population of both those species in Wallowa County, and we should be proud of the fact that we have so many endangered species that thrive here, and we should be acknowledged for the good stewards we are.” Nash said that probably the most significant results from the meetings was a possible reassessment of federal grazing policy, including closed but most especially vacant allotments. “That was on their radar all the way through,” Nash said. “They wanted a priority list of the allotments we’d like to see reauthorized.” The trip cost Wallowa County $700. “For what we achieved, it was worth it,” Nash said. “Our lobbyist out there, Jay Sullivan, would like us to come back. Now that we’ve got a foot in the door we need to keep up those relationships and the lines of communica- tion open.” Imagine The Difference ou You Can Can Make Make DONATE DONATE TE YOUR YOUR YOUR CAR CAR CAR SENIOR LIVING SOLUTIONS DONATE -844-533-9173 1-844-533-9173 A Place for Mom has helped over one million families find senior living solutions that meet their unique needs. There’s There’s no no cost cost to to you! you! CALL CALL (855) (855) 864-4711 864-4711 ! We’re paid by our partner communities BRIEFLY Desert View principal resigns HERMISTON — Families of students at Desert View Elementary School were informed on Tuesday that the school’s principal, Laura Jacobsma, resigned over winter break. Assistant superintendent Bryn Browning told families in a letter sent home with students that she would serve as the school’s interim principal for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year. Jacobsma was hired for the Desert View job in May 2017 and moved from Oakridge School District, where she worked as an instructional coach Jacobsma and taught multiple grades. She said she was leaving the position for personal reasons. Browning has been the assistant superintendent for Hermiston School District since 2008, focusing on curriculum and instruction. She previously served as the superinten- dent/principal of Ione School District and Ione Community School for four years. She has taught first and fourth Browning grade, and worked as an elementary school reading specialist. Browning also acted as an interim principal at West Park Elementary after Shane Pratt left in October 2012 for personal reasons. District communications officer Maria Duron said Jacobsma gave notice of her resignation on Friday, but did not give a specific reason for her departure. Duron said district administrators do not yet know when they will post the position, but the search for a new principal will be conducted during spring, the regular hiring season. Franell re-appointed to Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Commissioner brings forest plan revision to D.C. Wallowa County commis- sioner Todd Nash has heard a lot of lip service from politicians and government officials who claim they want to change management poli- cies on federal forest lands. He hasn’t seen much action until now. A 14-year collaborative effort that resulted in the Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision has made its way to the nation’s capital. The plan revision includes three national forests: Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa- Whitman. Nash went personally Dec. 11-15 to see at least some of the process of debating the plan at the federal level. Nash asked U.S. Forest Service Region 6 forester Jim Peña if a county commissioner could accompany him when he made the plan revision presentation to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke in Washington, D.C. Peña agreed and Harney 395, 78 and 95. “Too many wolves have been found shot in Oregon where the shooters have not been identified,” she wrote. “Oregon State Police is appropriately investigating those cases, supporting their federal coun- terparts, identifying poachers and ready to assist in their prosecution.” ODFW is also in the process of revising its Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which Brown said will “keep wolves on the path to recovery across the entire state, focus on efforts to reduce wolf-livestock conflict rather than merely responding to it, and incor- porate the best current science into its management practices.” Oregon had 112 confirmed wolves as of the end of 2016. An updated 2017 population report is expected in March. FREE FREE FREE TOWING TOWING TOWING TAX TAX TAX DEDUCTIBLE DEDUCTIBLE DEDUCTIBLE AX Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually Ask About A FREE 3 Day Vacation Voucher To Over 20 Destinations!!! Hermiston’s Joseph Franell will return to the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council after re-appointment by Governor Kate Brown on Jan. 1. Franell, CEO of Eastern Oregon Telecom, has served on the council every year since the legislature created it in 2009, and has served as chair for all but its first year. He said it is an honor to continue to represent rural interests on the board during his fourth consecutive appointment. “The broadband advisory council is one of the most effective organizations of its kind in the U.S. and continues to have a significant positive impact on the adoption and utilization of Broadband in Oregon,” Franell he said in a news release. The Oregon Broadband Advisory Council was created to help ensure the implementation of statewide broadband strategies, according to the release. Its mission is to encourage coordination across the state in using broadband to further education, workforce develop- ment, government and healthcare. The council also works to promote use of broadband by citizens and communities. Members of the council were appointed by the governor, speaker of the house and president of the Senate. Port of Umatilla hears early discussion of new data centers UMATILLA — Port of Umatilla General Manager Kim Puzey said he has been in preliminary talks with a company other than Amazon that is interested in building data centers on port property. Puzey said while he can’t reveal the name of the company, he has had about four conversations with them, and they are looking at purchasing property, options to purchase the property, or leasing it. Puzey said the company had told him of their intent to build data centers, but he did not know how many, what the cost was, or what the specific purpose would be. “I think trying to acquire or secure properties is just part of their due diligence,” Puzey said, adding that the discussions were in the very early stages. Puzey said the plots of land the company is interested in are in McNary Industrial Park, in the vicinity of the existing data centers. Puzey said there are currently four data centers in the area. Puzey said as far as he knows, all the existing data centers are owned by Amazon. ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@eastorego- nian.com