IN SPORTS:CASEY LOPER TRANSITIONING FROM PLAYER TO COACH, 8A
l IN HEALTH:STAYING HEALTHY IN THE HEAT,6C
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RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN OREGON
• When recreational marijuana becomes legal Wednesday in the state of Oregon, law enforcement all across the state taking more time to process drug DUII cases
Committee OKs Oct. 1 start SALEM — Retail sales of recreational marijuana would begin as soon as Oct. 1 in Oregon, far soonerthan had been expected, under a bill approvedThursday by a state legislative committee. The measure would allow early sales through existing medical marijuana dispensaries. Under a law approved last year by voters, marijuana use and possession becomes legal Wednesday. But regulators say it may be almost a year before they start issuing retail licenses. Until then, users would have to grow their own, get it from a friend or buy it on the black market. Advocates say allowing early sales will ensure a legal avenue to distribute a large amount of marijuana that's expected from the fall harvest. Some lawmakers wanted to start sales even sooner than Oct. 1. — The Associated Press
5 Oregon lawmakers had proposed to repeal, replace low-carbon fuel standard
By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
Local law enforcement offic ialsarepreparingfor Wednesday, the day recreational marijuana becomes legal in Oregon, just as much as resi dents in the state are — though for an entirely different reason. La Grande Police Sgt. Dusty Perry said the way the La Grande Police Department processes a driving under the influence case will not change, but the number of them will likely increase. At the same time, the number of man hours required to process a drug DUII versus an alcohol DUII is significantly more. "To process a DUII is an altogether exceptionally lengthy process," Perry said. "For a misdemeanor crime in Oregon, it takes longer to process a DUII than it does for some of our felony investigations." Perrysaidfor controlled substance DUIIs, the testing isn't as easy as it is for alcohol. Perry said if the person has been drinking alcohol and taking drugs, then, assuming they blow more than .08 during the Breathalyzer test, the legal amount for alcohol intake,theprocessispretty typical — the police officer has establ ished thedriverwas driving impaired. However, if
Inside
By Taylor W. Anderson VVesCom News Serwce
Comstock
Recreational marijuana becomes legal in the state of Oregon onWednesday. La Grande Police Sgt. Dusty Perry said the way the La Grande Police Department processes a driving under the influence case will not change, but the number of them will likely increase. the test comes back and the numbers don't match the level of impairment observed, the office risin fora long process. "Most of the time we'll have an idea they're under ithe influence of) a controlled substance," Perry said.cWe see impairment but don't smell alcohol. If they don't blow over a.08, we call in a iDrug Recognition Expert)." The impaired driver must consent to a DRE, as well, Perry said, which isn't always the case. There also has to be a DRE available to administer the evaluation, and there's only one in Union County and
a few in Baker County. According to Union County District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel, a DRE evaluation "is a scientific, 12-step process which identifies the category of substances by which a person is impaired," McDaniel wrote in an email.'This would conclude with a urine test." The test results take weeks to come back, though, Perry sald. "That's if everything goes smoothly," Perry said.'You're into a couple ofhours from the initial stop at this point." SeeDUH / Page 5A
SALEM — Last-ditch effortsto appease both Democrats and Republicans and find a path to the first major transportation package passed in the Oregon Legislature since 2009 was thrown by the wayside Thursday when Gov. Kate Brown announced there was no way forward. "Given the complexity of the issues and the remaining time available, there simply isn't a path forward through bothchambers for a proposal that accomplishes both this session," Brown said in a statement. Lawmakers had worked for months behind closed doorsto try to repealOregon's See State / Page 5A
WALLOWA COUNTY
Ranchers lose livestock, dog to wolves Getting
By Katy Nesbitt
Scorchingtemgeraturesintheforecast • Health oficials warn publi ctoprotect themselves ByAlyssa Sutton The Observer
It's about to get warm in the Grande Ronde Valley, with temperaturesexpected to break 100 degrees by Satur-
day. With several outdoor events happening, health officials w arn individuals to protect
NORTHEAST OREGON themselves against the heat. La Grande's forecast predictstemperatures reaching up to 102 degrees by Saturday, while not dropping below 90 degreesforthe next couple of weeks. "This is not unusual for this area,"said Meteorologist Joe Solomon with the National Weather Service in Pendleton. ''What could be unusual is it could lead to breaking heat
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records." A heat advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Sunday. SolWest Event Coordinator D'Jeane Peters said organizersare preparing for the hot weekend at the Union County Fairgrounds. SolWest will have tents for shade, free water in jugs, a first-aid station available with freecold compresses and air-conditioning in the 4-H building, Peters said.
"As forgeneral safety tips, we ask that people remember to stay hydrated, bring hats and sunglasses, and remember to pay attention to their body if they feel like they are overheating," Peters said. Along with the advisory, Oregon public health officials have provided information about preventing heat exhaustion and strokes. These tips include staying in air-conditioned places, if SeeTemps / Page 5A
Clear and mild
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The Observer
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WALLOWA — A Wallowa County calf and sheep and a guard dog found dead last weekend in Umatilla County, were confirmed to have been killed by wolves. Jeanie Mallory said on June 18 she and her husband, Max, were moving 100 motherand calfpairsof cattle from one pasture to another in the late evening when they struggled to get one of the calves through a gate. When they looked back at thegate therestood a wolf. "He was looking at us and See Wolves / Page 5A
Mike Hanson, the Enterprise assistant district biologist for ODFW, said there are six wolf packs and two pairs that may have pups bringing Wallowa County's total wolf pack count to eight.
CONTACT US
F ull forecast on the back of B section
Friday
Some Oregon students living in the U.S. without legal permission could qualify for state financial aidunder a measure advanced by the state Senate Thursday, despite criticism that the state can't afford the additional grants. Page 10A
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Issue 75 3 sections, 26 pages La Grande, Oregon
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