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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2019)
WEEKEND EDITION UMATILLA COUNTY RESIDENTS GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT B2H PROJECT REVIEW REMAINS UNFINISHED REGION, A3 LIFESTYLES, C1 GIRLS BASKETBALL: PILOT ROCK TAKES ON MYRTLE POINT SPORTS, B1 DECEMBER 21-22, 2019 144th Year, No. 48 WINNER OF THE 2019 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD $1.50 EO SPOTLIGHT Ready to bag it Plastic bag ban sweeps across Oregon starting Jan. 1 Contributed photo William Wehrli poses for a portrait in his Darth Vader costume at the cine- plex at Wildhorse Resort & Casino on opening night of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” on Thursday night in Mission. Wehrli purchased the cos- tume online several years ago and says that it is a hit wherever he wears it. The Force is strong in Umatilla County Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Dave Meade, the store manager at Columbia Harvest Foods in Umatilla, stocks reusable bags on a display on Thursday morn- ing. Meade is trying out several diff erent varieties of reusable bags, in addition to paper bags, until he is able to determine what plastic bag alternative customers gravitate toward. By ALEX CASTLE East Oregonian U MATILLA COUNTY — If you’re hoping to reduce your impact on the environment in 2020, then the Oregon Legis- lature has a New Year’s reso- lution for you. Starting Jan. 1, Oregonians will no longer be able to receive single-use plastic grocery bags from stores around the state. Instead, stores must offer a paper, as long as it’s made of 40% recy- clable materials, or a reusable option for at least 5 cents apiece. The eradication of single-use plas- tic bags in the checkout aisle will be an adjustment for both retailers and con- sumers in the region as both prepare to adhere to the new law. “I think this will be something that See Bags, Page A11 Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Araceli Sanguino bags groceries in single-use plastic bags at Columbia Harvest Foods in Umatilla on Thursday morning. Columbia Harvest Foods Store Manager Dave Meade said that the store is looking to use up its existing single-use plastic bags ahead of the new year. Locals come out in force for ‘Star Wars’ By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian UMATILLA COUNTY — “The Rise of Skywalker” is the subtitle for the ninth entry in the “Star Wars” fran- chise, but it’s also the broad arc of the original trilogy of fi lms, a coming-of- age story William Wehrli of Pendleton identifi es with. In protagonist Luke Skywalker’s case, Wehrli said he was a “whiny farm boy” who went on to become a great hero. For Wehrli personally, it was going from an autistic boy who was told he would never live independently to a man who holds down a job and lives on his own. The “Star Wars” story is some- thing thousands of people around the world have identifi ed with in one way or another, helping to create a multi- billion dollar franchise that debuted its latest movie, “Star Wars: The Rise of See Force, Page A11 Secretary of State rejects clean energy proposals By DIRK VANDERHART Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — Secretary of State Bev Clarno has rejected two pro- posed ballot measures that would force Oregon to transition to car- bon-free sources of electricity in the next 25 years. Setting up a second potential con- fl ict with environmental groups, Clarno ruled Thursday the two pro- posals violated a constitutional requirement that they stick to a “sin- gle subject.” “Both measures speak for them- selves, if read carefully, that the issues presented are not limited to a single subject,” Deputy Secretary of State Rich Vial said of Clarno’s most recent ruling. “The secretary has the responsibility to make that constitu- tional decision.” That’s the same controversial rationale Clarno used earlier this year when she rejected three separate pro- posals aimed at protecting state for- ests. In that instance, her decision led to an unsuccessful court challenge from environmentalists that is cur- rently being appealed. “There is now a pattern of fl a- grant abuse of power by this secre- tary of state, far outside the norms for any Democrat or Republican who has held the offi ce,” said Tera Hurst, See Energy, Page A11 EO Media Group fi le photo Secretary of State Bev Clarno has rejected two proposed ballot measures that would force Oregon to transition to carbon-free sources of electricity in the next 25 years.
