Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2018)
REGION Thursday, February 8, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3A Lawmakers weigh in on need to bridge digital divide Letter requests $40B for rural broadband development By GEORGE PLAVEN EO Media Group Members of Oregon’s congres- sional delegation are joining the call to close the so-called “digital divide,” extending high-speed internet access to citizens in rural parts of the U.S. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden joined 16 colleagues from across the country in sending a letter last week to President Donald Trump, requesting at least $40 billion in infrastructure spending for rural broadband development. “In an increasingly intercon- nected world and global economy, we must include in our discus- Walden Wyden sion of infrastructure not just roads, bridges and waterways, but also high-speed internet access,” the letter states. According to the Federal Communications Commission, 39 percent of Americans who live in rural areas, or roughly 23 million people, lack high-speed internet access, versus just 4 percent of Americans in urban areas. “While the vast majority of Americans have access to high- speed internet service, there is a John Brenne receives posthumous President’s Volunteer Service Award said with a laugh. The council’s remaining During the first Pendleton seven members later made City Council meeting since their own tribute when they his sudden death, Councilor voted on the consent agenda, John Brenne received a a package of agenda items considered minor enough tribute. Teresa O’Halloran of the that the council votes on them Oregon state office of the without discussion. With Brenne known Corporation for National to be quick to & Community second a motion Service presented for approval, the the council with council simulta- a President’s neously seconded Volunteer Service the consent agenda Award addressed to before it was Brenne. passed. Fighting back Contained in tears, O’Halloran the consent agenda explained how was a resolution Brenne committed declaring a vacancy to moving out to Brenne for Brenne’s Ward Eastern Oregon more than 40 years ago 1 seat, which covers South because the region was low Hill, the downtown area and in senior services. He became Riverside. The council will appoint the executive director of Pendleton’s Foster Grandpar- a replacement to fill the rest of Brenne’s term through the ents program and never left. O’Halloran read aloud end of 2018. If the replace- a letter signed by President ment wants to stay beyond Donald Trump, which the end of the year, he or she touched on Brenne’s thou- will have to file to run for a sands of hours of service full term in the municipal and his contributions to the election by March 6, the same deadline for potential appoin- community. She joked that Brenne, a tees to send their applications. Retired firefighter John registered Democrat, would have been displeased that he Cook is the only person to had received a commenda- file for the Ward 1 race, but tion from Trump, of whom he he was noncommittal about seeking appointment in a was not a fan. “He’d kick my butt,” she previous interview. East Oregonian The city of Pendleton pulled its new city planner out of retirement to replace its previous planner, who is retiring. City planner George Cress introduced himself to the council at a meeting Tuesday, giving members a brief personal history. Cress said this actually marked a return to Pendleton having already worked as a land use manager and economic development director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He moved from Pend- leton several years ago and became the director of light and power for Forest Grove. Cress returned to Pend- leton 10 months ago, but he said he was excited to begin a new job in a city that’s changed a lot since he left. This wasn’t the first time Cress has talked before the council. In October, Cress spoke in favor of a park smoking ban that was ultimately approved by the council. Cress will replace George Clough, who held the city planner position since 2016. trying to get broadband out there, and we’re trying to get three-phased power in some of our communities that have waited three years to get an (environmental impact state- ment) to get four power poles on BLM land. So I think there is an issue here with siting.” Closing the digital divide has made headlines early in 2018 after Trump signed a pair of executive orders in January to cut red tape for rural broadband deployment. Both orders are intended to make it easier for private companies to build broadband infrastructure, such as radio towers, on federal property. A coalition aimed at bridging the digital divide, called Connect Americans Now, also launched in January and is focusing on new technologies to deliver high-speed internet in rural America. Specif- ically, the group is pressuring the FCC to make TV “white spaces” available as part of the solution. When asked about TV white spaces, Walden said he thinks they could be harnessed by internet providers, but he wants to make sure they do not interfere with existing users. “You don’t want to create unin- tended consequences,” Walden said. Last year, the National Asso- ciation of Broadcasters opposed TV white space technology under development by Microsoft, saying it would threaten millions of viewers with loss of TV program- ming. Both the Oregon Farm Bureau and Oregon Cattlemen’s Asso- ciation have joined the Connect Americans Now coalition, saying internet is crucial for farmers and ranchers to use precision farming tools and remain competitive in the market. STANFIELD Factory receives three odor citations By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian East Oregonian New Pendleton city planner comes from Forest Grove stark disparity between urban and rural America,” the letter continues. “This digital divide puts many rural Americans at risk of being left out of critical technological advance- ments and economic gain.” Oregon’s lone Republican congressman, Greg Walden, has also honed in on the digital divide, leading a hearing on broadband solutions last week in Washington, D.C. Walden, who is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, represents most of rural eastern, central and southern Oregon. He stressed the need to reduce what he described as “unnecessary roadblocks” to siting new broadband in rural areas, saying the environmental review process to build on federal lands is especially burdensome. “I run into this issue all the time on siting,” Walden said. “We’re The Stanfield factory that prompted citizen complaints throughout 2017 has been cited by Stanfield Police for odor three times in 2018. Stanfield Police Chief Bryon Zumwalt said the pet food plant, owned by 3D Idapro Solutions, has received three citations in the past few weeks, and that each citation costs $435. Stanfield City Manager Blair Larsen said the plant had a court date for one citation last week, and for two others Wednesday. “To my understanding, they pleaded no contest, and they have to make arrange- ments to pay the fines,” he said. If the city receives at least four odor complaints from different households in a 12-hour period, it violates the city ordinance, and the city can issue a citation. Mark Johnson, 3D Idapro’s vice president of operations, said the company had no comment Using it properly and making sure people know how to use it is another.” The plant, which dehydrates potatoes that are used primarily to make dog food, was the subject of many complaints this summer, when the odor forced many indoors. In October, officials from the company’s midwest headquarters held a public meeting in Stanfield to go over the plan they had to mitigate odors. They said they had a EO file photo Stanfield Police have cited the pet food plant, owned three-step plan to mitigate by 3D Idapro Solutions, for odor three times in 2018. odors, which included putting up a large tent Each citation costs $435. in which potatoes could dry, which they said about the citations. they have received, which Larsen said that in fall of record the name and address would reduce the odors to 2017, plant operators struck of the complainant, the date surrounding areas. They an agreement with the city and time it was received, also planned to install a new scrubber, an air purifying council, which allowed and specific issues, if any. them until November to According to the log, the device. The old scrubber make all their improve- first time the city received was too small, and was ments before they began enough complaints to fit damaged by a fire in the issuing citations for odor the nuisance ordinance was plant last February. The complaints. on Jan. 18. They received plant has since replaced the “They were a little enough for two more cita- scrubber. ——— delayed, but they got it done tions on Jan. 20 and 22. Contact Jayati by mid-December,” Larsen “It’s clear that the at said. problem is not solved,” Ramakrishnan Larsen said the city has Larsen said. “Having the jramakrishnan@eastorego- kept a log of the complaints equipment is one thing. nian.com or 541-564-4534 We’re waiting for you at … 2/8 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie 2/14 12:00 PM An Affair to Remember Winchester (PG13) 4:20 6:40 9:20 Hostiles (R) 4:00 6:50 9:40 Maze Runner: The Death Cure (PG13) 3:30* 6:30 9:30 12 Strong (R) 4:10 7:00 9:50 Jumanji 2D (PG13) 4:40 7:20 10:00 Credit & Debit Cards accepted Cineplex gift cards available * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 211 SE Byers Ave.•Pendleton Thursday, Feb. 8•5:30-7 p.m. Watch the Press Run at 5:45 p.m. Tour the Archive Room & “The Morgue” Wine•Beer•Appetizers•Door Prizes•Networking 50/50 and Raffle Drawings Chamber Members & the Public are welcome to attend this FREE event! A program of the Pendleton Chamber Ambassadors A DVERTISING W ORKS W ITH T HE E AST O REGONIAN & H ERMISTON H ERALD Pendleton Art & Frame 36 SW Court Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 541-276-3617 pendletonartandframe.com “We feel our consistency with the chamber ad.. and BTW, thank you for that opportunity of “affordable for a small business” advertising.... is key to our growth!” We joined The Chamber in our first year and were glad to be able to take our first step in advertising on the monthly “Chamber Page” thru the East Oregonian, we have been able to reach a wide area of potential customers about the services we offer, custom framing and representing regional Artists works. The community has supported us to be able to continue to do what we love, and keep downtown Pendleton alive! Thank You! Cherise & Dena To advertise in the most powerful local media available, call Kimberly or Angela at 1-800-962-2819 . Kimberly Macias Angela Treadwell
