5 reasons the Ducks are the national title favorite SPORTS, 1B FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 ❚ STATESMANJOURNAL.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Page : A01 Natural gas prices on the rise in Oregon David Davis Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Many Oregon users of natural gas will see an in- crease in their bills starting in November. The Oregon Public Utility Commission has ap- proved rate hikes for the state’s three gas utilities, only the third time in the last ten years. The increase in the wholesale cost of natural gas is blamed on a pipeline explosion last winter which impacted regional gas supplies, according to a statement from the Public Utility Commission. An overall increase of $15.142 million was ap- proved for NW Natural, who serves nearly 670,000 customers in the Willamette Valley and on the Ore- Peter Frajola, associate concertmaster and second violinist with the Oregon Symphony, rehearses with the gon Coast from Astoria to Coos Bay. orchestra at Sprague High School in Salem on Tuesday. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL How much will bills increase? Typical residential customers of NW Natural us- ing 54 therms per month will see their bill increase Sprague alum Frajola by $2.31, or 4.4 percent, from $52.43 to $54.74. Industrial customers who use 5,438 therms per month see an increase of $555.82, or 3.2 percent, from $17,324.09 to $17,879.91. Typical commercial customers who use 235 being honored by city therms per month will actually see a decrease of $4.60, or 2.3%, from $197.95 to $193.35. Increases were also approved for Avista Utilites, ‘Oregon Symphony in Salem Day’ celebrates musician an overall increase of 10 percent or $8.467 million, and Cascade Natural Gas, an overall increase of Abby Luschei $5.3 million or 8.5 percent. Salem Statesman Journal Utilities must seek approval of state regulators to USA TODAY NETWORK pass along price adjustments to customers as the wholesale price paid by the gas companies changes. Peter Frajola’s connection to Salem runs deep. He was raised here. His father, Peter, taught orches- Ways to reduce your gas bill tra at multiple schools in the district, and his mom, Leah, taught private violin lessons from home. The PUC shares the following tips for families Salem is where he learned how to play the violin, a looking to save money on their gas bill: skill that would shape the trajectory of his career. ❚ Turning down thermostats to save up to 3 per- After graduating from Sprague High School in 1976, cent for each degree. A programmable thermostat he went on to play in symphonies around the country. that reduces heat at night or when no one is home Both his parents played with the Oregon Symphony for can lower heating bills by 5 to 10 percent. many years before they died, and he followed in their Leah Frajola and her son, Peter, at the Arlene ❚ Updating low-efficiency furnaces and water footsteps. Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland in 1998. Leah and heaters with higher-efficiency models. This is his 36th year with the Oregon Symphony. her late husband, Pete, taught Peter to play the ❚ Fully insulating homes to realize up to 30 per- He’s currently the associate concertmaster. violin. STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE cent savings on a heating bill. And, like his parents, contributing to music educa- ❚ Cleaning or changing the furnace filter once a tion programs is important to him. Frajola comes to month during the heating season. Salem from Beaverton a few times a year for this rea- community and arts scene here,” said Salem Mayor ❚ Conducting an online Home Energy Review son. Chuck Bennett. through the Energy Trust of Oregon. Frajola’s connection to Salem and his dedication to It was originally supposed to be “Peter Frajola Day,” ❚ Asking their natural gas service provider about music education here is why the City of Salem is hon- but Frajola insisted it be changed. bill payment assistance programs. oring him by proclaiming Nov. 2 as “Oregon Symphony “It’s not just for me,” he said. “It’s for the sympho- in Salem Day.” nies, for Sprague, for the symphony’s ability to come to “I (saw) a real opportunity to highlight this really outstanding family and Peter’s contribution to the arts See FRAJOLA, Page 3A � Salem Statesman Journal November 1, 2019 10:05 am (GMT +7:00) Powered by TECNAVIA AG won’t defend secretary of state over ballot measures ASSOCIATED PRESS Clarno’s deputy, Rich Vial, declined to answer ques- tions. AND Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is refus- Clarno, a Republican who has taken $36,000 in do- ing to defend Secretary of State Bev Clarno in litigation nations from timber interests in her career, is not back- SAMPLES&SAVINGS over Clarno’s rejection of three proposed ballot initia- ing down in a suit brought by environmental advo- tives to tighten state forestry laws. cates trying to ensure their original petitions advance. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Rosen- She will instead be represented by Schwabe Wil- ADDITIONAL 20% OFF blum also challenged Clarno’s legal basis for tossing liamson Wyatt, a Portland law firm that advertises it- the proposals, which Clarno said violated a state re- self as “one of the nation’s top timber law practices.” quirement that legislative measures stick to one sub- The firm says on its website it is “involved” with the FRI. NOV. 1ST3P-6P ject. The rule applies equally to voter initiatives and Oregon Forest & Industries Council, one of the leading bills in the Legislature. opponents to the ballot measures. FEATURING10ORMORE Rosenblum, a Democrat, said she couldn’t repre- Clarno on Sept. 24 rejected Initiative Petitions 35, sent Clarno, a Republican, because the Oregon Legis- 36 and 37. The measures are substantially the same, DELICIOUS ITEMS TO SAMPLE! lature is also a client and she didn’t want to make argu- calling for tightening the state’s aerial herbicide spray- VISITUSONLINEAT ments that would impede its work. She said she au- ing laws. They propose more logging restrictions in ROTHS.COM thorized Clarno to find another lawyer due to the con- steep, landslide-prone areas. They would prohibit flicting interests. conflicts of interest for state forestry board appoin- TO SEE THIS WEEK’S “There is no question that, under current law, the tees. SAVINGS! OR legislature could pass a measure such as this one and Clarno rejected the initiatives proposed by environ- TEXT ROTHS TO 78619 it would be in full compliance with the ‘single subject’ mental advocates, including the group Oregon Wild, AND BEGIN RECEIVING requirement,” Rosenblum told the newspaper in a saying each of the proposals covered more than one FRESHVALUESDIRECTLY statement. “I do not believe there is any compelling subject. The Oregon constitution says a ballot initia- TO YOUR PHONE reason to argue for a change in the current law.” tive can only address a single policy topic. Oregon Life Weather Volume 168 | No. 202 Home delivery pricing inside ❚ Near-party line vote in House launches It’s the time of year to put out the High 59° Low 31° Subscribe 800-452-2511 QEAJAB-07401u only the fourth impeachment process welcome mat for birds by filling up Abundant sunshine. ©2019 $2.00 in history of the United States. 4A those backyard feeders. 1C Forecast, 6B Salem Statesman Journal - 11/01/2019 Copy Reduced to 90%STATESMANJOURNAL.COM from original to fit letter page ❚ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 ❚ Page3A : A03 Police search for suspects in Medford home invasion robbery ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDFORD – Police are searching for two masked men who forced their way into a 75-year-old Medford wom- an’s home, bound her with zip ties and assaulted her, then stole jewelry in- cluding the wedding band from her hand. The Mail Tribune reports the wom- an heard a knock at the door at 8:40 a.m. on Oct. 27 and opened it to see two masked men, according to Med- ford police. Police say at least one was armed with a handgun. Police say the men barged into her home, zip-tied her hands and shoved her to the ground, which injured her face, arm and shoulder. They then stole the jewelry and fled. The woman managed to free one of her hands and then ran to a neighbor’s house. The woman was treated at the scene. Police believe the attack was target- ed and said the suspects stole more than $10,000 worth of property. Body found identified as missing Roseburg woman ASSOCIATED PRESS Peter Frajola, associate concertmaster and second violinist with the Oregon Symphony, rehearses with the orchestra, directed by Lisa Hanson, at Sprague High School in Salem on Tuesday. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL MYRTLE CREEK – Authorities say human remains found south of Rose- burg belong to a woman who was re- If you go For more than 60 years, the Oregon ported missing in September. Frajola Symphony Association in Salem and The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office What: Oregon Symphony in Salem the Oregon Symphony Association says Susan Marie Cason was reported Continued from Page 1A Classical Series Concert worked closely together. missing to the Roseburg Police Depart- When: 6:30 p.m. for the free Frajola/ The two nonprofits consolidated in ment on Sept. 13. different communities and help out Sprague performance, 7:30 p.m. for the 2018. The sheriff’s office says on Sept. 22 with education and inspiring young Oregon Symphony performance Friday, Oregon Symphony in Salem Day is a man reported finding human re- people.” Nov.