A8
OREGON
East Oregonian
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden will seek reelection in 2022
By CRYSTAL LIGORI
Oregon Public Broadcasting
SALEM — U.S. Sen.
Ron Wyden says he’s seek-
ing reelection in 2022, end-
ing speculation that Ore-
gon’s senior senator might
retire and pave the way for a
crowded lineup of potential
replacements.
Wyden, 71, told Ore-
gon Public Broadcasting he
believes he has more work
to do in Washington, D.C.
“Of course I’m running,”
he said. “There’s so much to
do for Oregonians, and I’d
very much like to have the
honor of representing Ore-
gonians again.”
Wyden holds several
key positions in Congress,
including on the Senate
Intelligence
Committee.
Should Democrats regain
control of the Senate this
month, Wyden is in line to
chair the Senate Finance
Committee.
One of his priorities
in the coming Congress,
Wyden said, is wildfi re
preparation and prevention.
He and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merk-
East Oregonian, File
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, right, speaks with volunteers from the American Red Cross during a
tour last year. Oregon’s senior senator says he will seek another term in 2022.
ley have proposed creating a
21st century civilian conser-
vation corps — essentially a
modern re-creation of a pro-
gram that was part of Pres-
ident Franklin Roosevelt’s
efforts to pull the United
States out of the Great
Depression. Among other
points, the legislation would
pay young people to work in
wildfi re-prone areas doing
fuels treatments and com-
munity protection work,
among other conservation
work nationwide.
Wyden said the racial
justice protests of 2020
changed the way he thinks
about his job. For example,
he said, the Senate Finance
Committee is looking at
racial injustices in the health
care system.
“You look, for exam-
ple, at the fact that so often
in affl uent white suburbs
there’s an incredible array
of health care services,”
Wyden said. “But in com-
munities of color, very
often, what we’re seeing is
almost health care deserts,
where they really lack for
basic services ... These chal-
lenges are going to have to
be priorities for every sin-
gle senator, for every single
committee, and they will be
at the top of my list.”
He’s
hoping
Presi-
dent-elect Joe Biden makes
infrastructure a priority
during his fi rst 100 days in
offi ce.
“I believe the big major
piece of legislation right out
of the gate needs to be infra-
structure, roads, bridges,”
Wyden said. “This is a
chance to put folks to work.
It creates jobs.”
Wyden’s decision to seek
reelection changes the polit-
ical calculus for ambitious
politicians planning ahead.
Though the 2022 campaigns
are more than a year from
entering high gear, specu-
lation is already mounting
about which Democratic
leaders might be consider-
ing seeking higher offi ce.
Wyden’s
announcement
means there will be only one
high profi le statewide job up
for grabs: the governorship.
Gov. Kate Brown is
term-limited out of offi ce
in 2022. The list of people
who could be interested,
or wooed, to run is long.
It includes House Speaker
Tina Kotek, State Treasurer
Tobias Read, Attorney Gen-
eral Ellen Rosenblum, Mult-
nomah County Chair Deb-
orah Kafoury and Metro
Council President Lynne
Peterson.
On the Republican side,
Salem oncologist and 2016
GOP nominee Bud Pierce
has said he’s running for
governor. The GOP has
struggled to fi nd challeng-
ers for Wyden since his fi rst
election in 1996.
Prior to his Senate career,
Wyden served 15 years in
the U.S. House.
More work set on Owyhee Reservoir ‘glory hole’
By BRAD CARLSON
Capital Press
VALE — Concrete work
on the Owyhee Reservoir’s
spillway-regulating
ring
gate, or “glory hole,” is
expected to enter its second
phase in late 2021.
A concrete structure
near Southeastern Oregon’s
Owyhee Dam houses a steel
ring 60 feet in diameter and
weighing more than 1 ton.
Differential valves are used
to fl oat or sink the ring.
Sinking it increases out-
fl ows through three release
points in the dam.
The system’s seals were
refurbished about a decade
ago.
“We learned some things
we probably can improve on
next time,” Owyhee Irriga-
tion District Project Man-
ager Jay Chamberlin said.
The nearly 89-year-
old district supplies irri-
gation water to more than
167,000 acres near Adrian,
Nyssa and Ontario. Phased
improvements to the ring
gate housing’s exterior con-
crete will increase durabil-
ity and better protect the
internal structure.
Crews from mid-Octo-
Bureau of Reclamation/Contributed Photo
The “glory hole” at the Owyhee Reservoir funnels excess wa-
ter into the spillway and into the river below the dam.
ber to mid-December 2020
built access infrastructure,
restored and added rein-
forcement bars, and disman-
tled and replaced a roughly
40-foot section of concrete
crest around the ring gate.
Chamberlin said the district
expects costs, still being tal-
lied, to be between $30,000
and $40,000.
He said the project took
about three times lon-
ger than expected due to
challenging prep work,
weather delays and corona-
virus-related worker short-
ages. Most of the concrete
was placed and fi nished by
hand because access was
diffi cult.
“The fi rst (phase) was
very diffi cult,” Chamber-
lin said. “It went longer
than anticipated because of
the unknowns. But the fi n-
ished product, we were very
pleased with.”
He said work on the sec-
ond phase is expected to
start around Nov. 1, depend-
ing on weather and reser-
voir levels. Five phases are
planned.
Chamberlin said the dis-
trict plans to buy a concrete
pump, concrete saw and
other equipment to increase
effi ciency and, ideally,
improve a longer segment
in 2021. A total cost of less
than $50,000 is anticipated.
EASTERN OREGON
marketplace
Place classified ads online at www.easternoregonmarketplace.com or call 1-800-962-2819 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
After hours, leave a voicemail and we’ll confirm your ad the next business day. Email us at classifieds@ eastoregonian.com or fax: 541-278-2680
East Oregonian
Deadline is 3 p.m. the day before publication
211 S.E. Byers Ave.
333 E. Main St.
We accept:
Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838
See www.easternoregonmarketplace.com for classified ads from all over Eastern Oregon
EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN
MED CAL DIRECTORY
PEDIATRIC DENTIST
CALL TODAY!
541-289-5433
1060 W. Elm,
Suite #115
Hermiston
FAMILY MEDICINE/URGENT CARE
HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE
& URGENT CARE
(across from
Good Shepherd Medical Center)
Family Care • Minor Injuries
Sports Physicals
Minor Surgeries
hermistonkidsdentist.com
541-567-1137
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
DENTIST
COMPREHENSIVE CARE
A better way to oral health
Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S., PC
We accept Medicare & some
Advantage Medicare plans
995 Orchard Ave., Hermiston
236 E. Newport., Hermiston
(across from U.S. Bank)
Mon.-Thurs. 8am-5pm • Friday 8am-3pm
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
ASSISTED LIVING
MENTAL HEALTH
“LET US BE THE ONE TO HELP”
• Adult, child & family therapy
• Psychiatric evaluation & treatment
• Mental health & crisis services
• Confidential and professional care
CRISIS PHONE:
866-343-4473
331 SE 2nd St., Pendleton
541-276-6207
595 NW 11th St., Hermiston
541-567-2536
WWW.LIFEWAYS.ORG
Put your business in today for only
$50 A MONTH!
PUBLISHES IN THE EO, HH & EO MARKETPLACE WEEKLY!
Contact Your Sales Rep Today!
Hermiston & surrounding areas
Kelly : 541-564-4531
Pendleton & surrounding areas
Angela : 541-966-0827