A6 RECORDS East Oregonian AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, File In this April 5, 2011, file photo, Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias speaks during a news conference focusing on his government’s domestic policies at the Presidential Pal- ace in the divided island’s capital Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus ex-President Dimitris Christofias dead at 72 By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press NICOSIA, Cyprus — Dimitris Christofias, Cyprus’ first communist president whose troubled tenure was marked by near financial ruin that necessi- tated an international res- cue, uproar over a deadly Iranian munitions blast and failure to end the country’s ethnic division, died Friday. He was 72. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades confirmed his predecessor’s death in a written message, expressing “deep sor- row.” Anastasiades said he and Christofias may have been on divergent politi- cal paths, but he did what he thought was best for his country. Conveying his condo- lences to the Christofias’ family, Anastasiades said his predecessor had been in frail health for many years. Christofias, who was president from 2008-2013, had been in a critical con- dition since being admitted to Nicosia General hospi- tal in May. Israeli doctors had assisted Cypriot col- leagues in treating the for- mer president. Christofias’ personal doctor Michael Minas told state-run Cyprus News Agency the former president died at 5:36 p.m. local time (1436 GMT; 10:36 a.m. EDT). Condolences to Chris- tofias’ family poured in from Greek Cypriot polit- ical leaders as well as the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots Mustafa Akinci, who did so in a tweet. Greek Prime Minis- ter Alexis Tsipras praised Christofias as a “genuine leader” of the Cypriot peo- ple and a “great fighter of the Left” who was always on the frontline of the struggle for social justice and for reunifying Cyprus. Anastasiades will chair a Cabinet meeting Satur- day to work out the details of Christofias’ funeral arrangements. Christofias was the only Cypriot president not to seek re-election, citing his failure to achieve his “life’s vision” of reunify- ing the country that had been split since Turkey invaded in 1974 following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. After his March 2008 rise to power, Christofias was hailed as the leader with the best chance to achieve a peace break- through that had eluded his predecessors, thanks to long-standing ties with the Turkish Cypriot left-wing trade union movement. But all the optimism faded as talks with two Turkish Cypriot leaders dragged on over five years without tangible results. Some faulted Christofias for allowing momentum to drain from the process. “I will leave truly mis- erable, because what I had promised can’t happen given Turkey’s intransi- gence, so from here on in, I’ll suffer along with you as a common citizen,” he had told municipal offi- cials shortly before leav- ing office in 2013. Christofias’ “man- of-the-people” persona, which he often played up to underscore his work- ing-class roots, endeared him to many. OBITUARIES DEATH NOTICES Daniel Edward Wilcox III Janice Mary Arsenault Fort Collins, Colorado July 27, 1981 — May 26, 2019 Umatilla July 25, 1974 — June 17, 2019 Daniel Edward Wilcox III among the Kianyele people, was born in Madang, Papua about 70 miles from the near- New Guinea, on July 27, est road. He loved traveling 1981, to Rosalind and Daniel all over the world and work- E. Wilcox Jr. He passed away ing with wood. Daniel was loyal and caring to at his home in Fort friends and fam- Collins, Colorado, ily. He especially on May 26, 2019. loved children and He was 37 years animals. old. He is survived Daniel grad- uated as valedic- by his parents, a torian from high sister, a brother-in- school in Toledo, law, and their three Oregon, in 1999. children. There He received a are several aunts, Wilcox bachelor’s degree uncles, cousins in industrial engi- and many friends neering from Oregon State as well. University, then an MBA A celebration of life will from Portland State Univer- be held on Saturday, June sity. He was working as a 29 at Oxbow Regional Park, Senior Financial Analyst for 3010 S.E. Oxbow Pkwy, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Gresham, OR 97080-8916, Daniel had an interesting from 1-6 p.m. at the Beaver childhood, growing up in the Lodge. Anyone who wishes jungles of Papua New Guinea to come is welcome. Janice Mary Arsenault, 44, of Umatilla, died Monday, June 17, 2019, as the result of a boating accident near Herm- iston. She was born July 25, 1974, on Prince Edward Island, Canada. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, June 29, 2019, at 3 p.m. in the Hermiston High School Com- mons. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of Herm- iston. Share memories of Janice with her family at www. burnsmortuaryhermiston.com. PORTLAND — So many gray whales are dying off the U.S. West Coast that scientists and volunteers dealing with the putrid carcasses have an urgent request for coastal residents: Lend us your pri- vate beaches so these ocean giants can rot in peace. The number of dead whales washing ashore in Washington state alone — 29 as of this week — means almost every iso- lated public beach has been used. Authorities are now scrambling to find remote stretches of sand that are privately owned, with pro- prietors who don’t mind hosting a rotting creature that’s bigger than a school bus and has a stench to match its size. “The preferred option is, at all times, that they just be allowed to decom- pose naturally,” said John Calambokidis, a research biologist with the Olympia, Washington-based Casca- dia Research. “But it gets harder and harder to find locations where they can rot without creating a problem. This is a new wrinkle.” At least 81 gray whale corpses have washed ashore in California, Ore- gon, Washington and Alaska since Jan. 1. If tal- lies from Mexico and Can- ada are added, the number of stranded gray whales reaches about 160 and counting, said Michael Milstein, spokesman for NOAA Fisheries. U.S. scientists last month declared the die-off an “unusual mortality event,” a designation that trig- gered additional resources to respond to the deaths and launch an investigation. The first private-beach owners to respond, a Washington state couple, received their carcass ear- lier this month. Volunteers with the so-called “strand- ing network” — a coali- tion of nonprofits, research institutions and govern- ment agencies — attached a rope to the dead whale’s tail and used a motorboat to tow it 3 miles (4.8 kilome- ters) along the coast to the couple’s beach, where they anchored it to tree stumps. Mario Rivera and his veterinarian wife, Stefanie Worwag, asked their neigh- bor’s permission first and are using copious amounts of lime to speed decom- position and reduce the stench. They visit the car- cass daily and consider it a Burl Green Canby July 25, 1932 — Oct. 24, 2018 Former Pendleton resident Burl Irvin Green died Wednes- day, Oct. 24, 2018. He was born July 25, 1932, in La Grande. A graveside service will be held Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. at Olney Cemetery, Pendleton. A celebration of life will follow at 1 p.m. in the Bamboo Room at Pendleton Center for the Arts. Bradley Eugene Peterson Pendleton Oct. 2, 1955 — June 20, 2019 Bradley E. Peterson, 63, of Pendleton died Thursday, June 20, 2019, died at his residence. He was born Oct. 2, 1955, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of Pendleton. Audrey Lee Stanley Robert ‘Bob’ Earl Smith Union Nov. 9, 1935 — June 19, 2019 Robert “Bob” Earl Smith, retired in 1998. Robert was 83, of Union passed away on a volunteer for the Stanfield Wednesday, June 19, 2019, Volunteer Fire Department at his residence. from 1964-1977, A graveside ser- with nine years vice will be held of being the chief. at the Hermiston Bob and Jan were Cemetery on Fri- snowbirds going day, June 28, 2019, to Winterhaven, at 10 a.m. Follow- California, for 21 ing the graveside years. He was a service, a recep- life member of tion will be held at the Union County the Stanfield Com- Museum, where munity Center, he was an enthu- 225 W. Roosevelt, siastic volunteer, Stanfield, Oregon. many an idea was Bob was born realized through on November 9, his handyman Smith 1935, in Here- abilities. ford, Texas, to Bob is survived Claude and Alline Smith. He by his children, Valerie resided in Dimmitt, Texas, Stockhoff (Hank) of Union, Weed, California, Sutherlin, Oregon, and Robbin Swales Oregon, Twickenham, Ore- of Lodi, California; broth- gon, Stanfield, Oregon, and ers, Raymond Smith (Jo) and Union, Oregon. He attended James Smith, both of Pend- schools in Weed, Califor- leton, Oregon; sister, Nancy nia, Sutherlin, Oregon, and Jeanes of Spokane, Wash- graduated from Mitchell ington; eight grandchildren; High School in 1955. Robert 18 great-grandchildren and served our country while in 16 nieces and nephews. He the United States Navy. He was preceded in death by his married Janice Bain on Sep- wife, Janice; daughter, Car- tember 17, 1957, in Pendle- rie Smith; parents, Claude ton, Oregon. and Alline, and step-mother, Bob was employed with Opal Smith. his family logging until In lieu of flowers, memo- November 1959, when he rial contributions can be hired on with the Union made to the Union County Pacific Railroad as a carman Museum, 331 S. Main Street, helper. From 1972-1977, he Union, OR 97883. Online condolences was also a derrick operator and then became the car fore- may be made to the fam- man in 1977. He was with ily at www.lovelandfuneral- the railroad for 38 years and chapel.com. U.S. agency seeks ‘hosts’ for rotting whales amid die-off By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press Saturday, June 22, 2019 Lexington May 26, 1932 — June 19, 2019 Audrey Lee Stanley, 86, of Lexington, died Thursday, June 19, 2019, at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner. She was born May 26, 1932, to John and Wahneta Yoakum Stanley in Rainville, West Virginia. A funeral service will be held Mon- day June 24, 2019, at 11 a.m. at the Community Bible Church of Lexington. A concluding service and burial will follow at the Lexington Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner. UPCOMING SERVICES SATURDAY, JUNE 22 FERGUSON, DORIS — Celebration of life service at 1 p.m. in the banquet room at The Pheasant, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston. MAEL, JAMES — Graveside service with military honors at 11 a.m. at the Monument Cemetery. A celebration of life remembrance gathering and potluck luncheon will follow at the Monument Senior Center, 269 Main St. THAUT, LEO — Funeral service at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 850 S.W. 11th St., Hermiston. Burial with military honors follows at the Hermiston Cemetery. SUNDAY, JUNE 23 FERGUSON, DORIS — Graveside service at 1 p.m. at the Athena Cemetery. NEWBOLD, MICHAEL — Celebration of life service at 2 p.m. at Weston-McEwen High School, 540 E. Main St., Athena. WESTON, JANE — Memorial service at 1 p.m. in the chapel at Burns Mortuary, 685 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermis- ton. Burial will follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Irrigon. A celebration of life gathering will follow the services at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 150 Columbia Lane, Irrigon. MONDAY, JUNE 24 STANLEY, AUDREY — Funeral service at 11 a.m. at the Community Bible Church, 170 B. St., Lexington with conclud- ing service and burial to follow at the Lexington Cemetery. TUCKER, BETTY — Memorial service at 1 p.m. at Crossroads Community Church, 350 N. Sherman Ave., Stanfield. TUESDAY, JUNE 25 No services scheduled MEETINGS MONDAY, JUNE 24 AP Photo/Mario Rivera, File Officials examine a decomposing whale that washed ashore on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Port Ludlow, Wash. scientific opportunity. “It’s decomposing nicely. There’ve been a cou- ple of days this week when I was out there mowing and I was like, ‘Oooph,’” Rivera said of smell from the 40-foot (12-meter) adult male whale sitting 150 yards (137 meters) from his house. “But it’s only temporary. It’s only going to be smell- ing for about a month — and after that, the smell’s gone.” Since the Port Townsend, Washington, couple wel- comed the carcass, 15 more private individuals have signed on to do the same, mostly in remote areas around the Salish Sea in far northwest Washington state, Milstein said. The number of dead whales found in Wash- ington state this year has already surpassed the tally for 2000, when the last significant die-off of gray whales occurred on the West Coast. In Oregon, five dead gray whales have been documented as of this week, more than in all of last year. California has seen 37, and 10 have come ashore in Alaska. Experts estimate the washed-up whales rep- resent just 10 percent of the total number of the dead, with the rest sinking into the sea unnoticed by humans. In past years, the major- ity of stranded whales were left to rot in place after nec- ropsies were done. A few were buried, hauled to a landfill or sunk at sea. Tow- ing them back out to sea isn’t the preferred method because the bodies could wash up again or could cause problems if they float into shipping channels and collide with boats. Officials have learned CASON’S PLACE CHILDREN AND FAMILY GRIEF RECOVERY CENTER BOARD, 6 p.m., Cason’s Place, 1416 S.E. Court Ave., Pend- leton. All those interested in volunteering are encouraged to attend. (Matt Terjeson 503-720-1620) UMATILLA BASIN WATERSHED COUNCIL, 6 p.m., Eastern Ore- gon Higher Education Center room 134, 975 S.E. Columbia Drive, Hermiston. (Michael T. Ward 541-276-2190) MILTON-FREEWATER CITY COUNCIL, 7 p.m., Milton-Freewater Public Library Albee Room, 8 S.W. Eighth Ave. (541-938-5531) HERMISTON CITY COUNCIL, 7 p.m., Hermiston City Hall council chambers, 180 N.E. Second St. (541-567-5521) IRRIGON COMMUNITY PARKS & RECREATION DISTRICT, 7 p.m., Irrigon Fire Station, 705 N. Main St. (541-922-3047) MORROW COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT, 7 p.m., Pioneer Memo- rial Hospital conference room, 564 E. Pioneer Drive, Heppner. 6 p.m. provider dinner, 6:30 p.m. board meeting. (Tonia Adams 541-676-2942) TUESDAY, JUNE 25 UMATILLA-MORROW COUNTY HEAD START, 11:30 a.m., Head Start boardroom, 110 N.E. Fourth St., Hermiston. (Monina Ward 541-564-6878) IONE SCHOOL DISTRICT, 3:30 p.m., Ione Community School, 445 Spring St.; 4:30 p.m. board meeting, 5:30 p.m. budget committee meeting. (Kim Thul 541-422-7131) UMATILLA PLANNING COMMISSION, 6:30 p.m., Umatilla City Hall, 700 Sixth St. (Brandon Seitz 541-922-3226 ext. 103) MORROW COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, 7 p.m., Port of Morrow Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive, Boardman. (Stephanie Loving 541-922-4624) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 MORROW COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, 9 a.m., Bar- tholomew Government Building upper conference room, 110 N. Court St., Heppner. (Roberta Lutcher 541-676-9061) HERMISTON LIBRARY BOARD, 4 p.m., Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave. (541-567-2882) LOTTERY Thursday, June 20, 2019 Lucky Lines 4-5-11-15-FREE-19-21-25- 31 Estimated jackpot: $56,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 5-5-2-6 4 p.m.: 5-5-4-0 7 p.m.: 6-9-1-2 10 p.m.: 3-5-0-9 Friday, June 21, 2019 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 6-7-8-7