A8
BUSINESS
East Oregonian
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Former EO editor steps into new role
work they do,” Wattenburger said
in a written statement. “They’ve
been fearless in taking on issues
that run counter to the popu-
lar narrative or are opposed by
well-funded backers. Those are
often the kinds of causes worth
championing.”
Pac/West is a top government
affairs and public relations firm
in the region. Pac/West president
Paul Phillips stated adding Wat-
tenburger strengthens the com-
pany’s expertise working with
media and on matters important
to rural Oregon.
“Daniel knows the issues
because he has lived them and
reported on them for the past
decade,” he said in the announce-
ment, adding Wattenburger can
give clients and their communi-
ties a stronger voice in the Ore-
gon Legislature.
Daniel Wattenburger
joins Pac/West
Communications as an
account manager
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Pac/West
Communications announced it
hired former East Oregonian
managing editor Daniel Wat-
tenburger of Hermiston as an
account manager.
Wattenburger earned recogni-
tion from the Oregon Newspaper
Publishers Association for his col-
umns and editorials and helmed
the EO‘s newsroom while the
paper swept the ONPA’s general
excellence award from 2013-18.
“I’m excited to join the Pac/
West team because I’ve seen the
As account manager at Pac/
West, Wattenburger will apply
his understanding of issues sur-
rounding water, wildlife and
other natural resources, as well
as economic development, edu-
cation and health care, to bridge
the gap between clients and their
audiences. Wattenburger also will
play a key role on Pac/West’s leg-
islative affairs team, using his
journalism experience to sup-
port public relations and strategic
communications.
Wattenburger lives with his
wife and two children in Hermis-
ton. He is a board member for the
regional food bank Eastern Ore-
gon Mission, a volunteer reader
for pre-K Head Start and spends
his free time cheering on the
Seattle Mariners Major League
Baseball team and planning fam-
ily road trips.
Oregon liquor license cost
raised for 1st time in 70 years
Oregon’s liquor
fees move to just
below the national
average
Associated Press
SALEM — The cost
of a liquor license in Ore-
gon is going up for the first
time in 70 years after newly
passed legislation doubled
the amount the agency will
charge bars, restaurants,
breweries and wineries for
the right to sell alcohol to
customers.
The law moves Oregon’s
liquor fees from among
the cheapest in the nation
to just below the national
average for such fees, but
the agency says getting on
a par with other states was
not the motivation.
The Oregon Liquor Con-
trol Commission wants
to use the new revenue to
move its license renewal
process online, deal with
the increase in applications
statewide as the population
grows and create a more
efficient, two-year renewal
option.
“Our fees were set in
1949, as far as we know,
back when bread was 10
cents a loaf,” said OLCC
spokesman Matthew Van
Sickle.
Starting Oct. 1, a full
liquor license will be $800,
up from $400, and winery
or brewery license fees will
increase from $250 to $500.
All other fees will also dou-
ble on and after that date.
OLCC’s revenues from
distilled spirit sales and
beer and wine privilege
taxes, forecast at more than
$1.5 billion for 2019-21,
are the third-largest source
of revenue for the state of
Oregon.
The increase in licensing
fees is projected to raise an
additional $9 million for the
2019-21 biennium.
The agency processes an
average of 454 new licenses
a year, adding to a load of
more than 18,000 active
licenses.
While there is no time-
line for a two-year liquor
license renewal option or
the transition to an online
system, bar owners say they
are looking forward to not
having to complete cum-
bersome paperwork every
year.
Another goal for the
new revenue is increased
stings, where the state
sends in underage people to
attempt to purchase alcohol
at licensed establishments.
Van Sickle says the Legisla-
ture sets the benchmark for
compliance and lawmaker
recently raised its expec-
tation from 80% to 90%
compliance.
Photo contributed by Pac/West Communications
Former East Oregonian managing editor Daniel Wattenburger of Hermis-
ton brings his media experience to Pac/West Communications.
BRIEFLY
Pendleton couple
offers vacation
planning
PENDLETON
—
Tammy and Amber Heath
of
Pendleton
recently
opened a Dream Vacations
franchise.
Amber, an Air Force vet-
eran, and her wife, Tammy,
completed an intensive
training program to become
certified Dream Vacations
travel agents in Pendle-
ton. As part of the home-
based travel agent fran-
chise network, the Heaths
have access to cruise and
land vacation deals as well
as Dream Vacations’ exclu-
sive product and service
offerings.
“Tired of staycations
or stuck in a vacation rut?
From Tammy’s extensive
cruise experience and my
travels around the world as
part of the U.S. Air Force,
we have the expertise to
transform your vacation
into a dream vacation,”
Amber said.
They are equipped to
handle all the details in
arranging travel and vaca-
tions. Consumers can
browse the Heath’s new
Dream Vacations website
or contact them for person-
alized guidance in planning
memorable vacations.
For more information
or to book a vacation, call
541-276-1917 or visit www.
roundup-travel.com. Hours
of operation are Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m.
BEO hosts school
supply drive
HEPPNER — The Bank
of Eastern Oregon is col-
lecting school supplies for
local elementary schools.
Each of the bank’s 13
branches will accept dona-
tions, which will be dis-
tributed to local schools. In
addition, each branch will
hold a drawing for a back-
pack filled with supplies for
a local student. Community
members with a student in
grade school are encour-
aged to stop in and fill out a
ticket. People do not have to
be a Bank of Eastern Ore-
gon customer to donate sup-
plies or enter the drawing.
“We welcome you to join
with your local branch and
celebrate the spirit of your
hometown,” said Becky
Kindle, chief banking offi-
cer. “Bring your school
supply donations to any
branch of Bank of Eastern
Oregon.”
BEO branches in Ore-
gon are located in Heppner,
Ione, Condon, Fossil, Moro,
Arlington, Boardman, Irri-
gon, Athena, Enterprise,
Prairie City, John Day and
Burns. For more informa-
tion, contact Kindle at 541-
676-0201 or bkindle@beo-
bank.com.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT EastOregonian.com
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