Bend News

Take the money and run

HOOD RIVER—Bill Neal has no problem explaining what the state should do with David Ryan and his juice company.

“They need to come up here and shut his ass down,” Neal said. “This has been a problem for 15 years.”

Ryan, the founder and CEO of Hood River Juice Company, was charged in late October with two misdemeanor counts of water pollution. This came as no surprise to Neal and a number of other farmers, ranchers and homeowners who reside near the business. After all, Ryan is already awaiting trial for six alleged felony acts of pollution tied to 16 separate charges. In addition, Ryan, 46, faces penalties for two felony counts of supplying false information to a regulatory agent, according to documents obtained by employees of this publication.

Deputy District Attorney Kate Stebbins is representing the state of Oregon in the case. Although she declined to comment specifically about Ryan and the charges, Stebbins did say it is unique for the D.A. office to become involved in an issue such as this. Stebbins is also working with the state Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department on the case.

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The Fiscal Health of States

Heavy use of citizen initiatives is one of the clearest predictions of states that are in danger of following California “to the brink of insolvency,” according to an extensive survey of state financial problems by the nonpartisan Pew Center on the States. Oregon, looking toward a critical vote in January, is perhaps the next state in danger of insolvency; if voters reject a $733 million tax increase on upper incomes and corporations, the state will face a huge budget deficit even after cutting state spending by $2 billion in the 2009 legislative session.

Among the states with the most serious financial problems, the top seven all have a super-majority requirement for their legislatures to pass taxes without a popular vote, allowing a minority to deadlock revenue measures; and six of the seven endangered states make use of citizen initiatives and referendums. Across the country, the two work hand in hand; nearly every state with a super-majority got there via citizen initiative.

Washington falls into that category. A stronger economy and sounder state financial management keep it from the “endangered” list, although it still ranks 14th among the 50 states in terms of fiscal trouble.

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H1N1 continues to spread throughout Western states.

Oregon is home to the country’s first reported fatal case of swine flu in a cat.

The cat, a 10-year-old male, died Nov. 7 near Portland.

The Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory examined the dead cat and discovered he carried the H1N1 virus.

While this is the third confirmed case of a cat with H1N1, it is the first fatality in a feline reported nationwide

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FOLLOWING MY SHOTS 2

I used to play basketball, but not too much since the day my coach took me aside, patted me on the head, and said, “Bill, you’re short, but you’re slow, and you really need to follow your shots.”

Well, that was a long time ago, and I admit to never doing anything about the shortness or the slowness, but I have learned to follow my shots. And sometimes, they’re worth following. When I write my columns, I frequently hope something happens, and guess what sometimes it does. Check out these updates to past columns.

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Where to go? What to do?

It’s no secret there are a number of Oregonians who enjoy smoking marijuana. And while that may be the case, there are millions in the West who don’t enjoy having their water polluted to produce the plant.

An estimated 200,000 marijuana plants were discovered in raids during the Oregon growing and harvest season this year, according to state and federal documents.

And while that number may be staggering, pools filled with chemical fertilizers to grow the plants are a main nerve of concern among state officials and environmentalists. 

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Bend visitor claims to be hit by minivan

After being struck by the large motorized vehicle, Gerad Byrne felt as though he was living in southern Florida.

“There’s some pain, yeah,” he said Wednesday morning, just several hours after being hit by a minivan on the streets of Bend.

Byrne, an Irishman presently living in Central Oregon, was walking Wednesday morning near the intersection of Lava Street and Franklin Avenue when the incident occurred. According to Byrne, a turquoise-colored minivan driven by a woman with black hair and who had a crazed looked in her eye struck him while he attempted to cross the street.  Oddly enough, the event occurred approximately 48 hours after Bend was named the second friendliest city for pedestrians in Oregon.

“It happened so quick, ya know,” Byrne said of being hit by the vehicle.

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