Waste those milk ad parody stickers, commissioners say

Herald staff

RICHLAND — A sticker that shows a cow eating what appears to be radioactive grass is drawing heat from Benton County commissioners.

State Ecology Department officials distributed the stickers at a meeting about two weeks ago. In a parody of the national "Got Milk?" advertisements, they show a cow with a pale green mustache across its white snout and the words, "Got vit?"

"Vit" refers to vitrification, the process of converting radioactive waste into glass. The state agency enforces the federal government’s obligations to build vitrification plants.

In letters to Gov. Gary Locke and three state legislators, commissioners called the stickers "reckless" and the mustache "apparently a radioactive ‘moo-stache.’ "

The letter requested an apology from State Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons and an immediate recall of the stickers.

The stickers first appeared at a Hanford Advisory Board meeting about two weeks ago.

"We think the stickers are cute, but they contain inappropriate information that’s detrimental to the agricultural industry," said Max Benitz Jr., county commission chairman.

  • Port pulls back third runway permit: The Port of Seattle has temporarily withdrawn its application for permits to add to add a third runway to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, because of doubts over whether the application would be approved. Thursday’s move gives the Port more time to address questions from the state Department of Ecology about environmental effects of adding a third runway, said port spokesman Bob Parker. The port and the state agency were facing a Friday deadline for a decision on the permit. But with lingering questions about the runway, the permits would have probably been denied, Parker said. The port plans to resubmit the permit application in the next two weeks, giving Ecology another year to decide on it. However, the new application probably will be approved within two months, Parker said.

  • Abortion drug should hit state in six weeks: RU-486 has been used in Seattle trials for the past six years, but it will take about six weeks before the abortion drug becomes widely available across Washington state, officials said. RU-486, also known as mifepristone, was approved Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration for sale as a prescription medication in the United States 12 years after it was first approved in France. With the drug, doctors can offer chemical abortions through the seventh week of pregnancy. Washington is one of 12 states in the country in which abortions are covered by Medicaid. A decision on whether that coverage will be extended to cover mifepristone is up to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Don’t blame nightclub, owner says: The owner of a Pioneer Square nightclub says his business should not be blamed for a shooting on Sept. 23 that left five men wounded. Anthony Frazier, owner of the Bohemian Cafe, criticized Mayor Paul Schell for his quick condemnation of the establishment. "My club is upscale, clean and — unlike what you may read or see on TV — not a haven for gang members," Frazier said. What happens outside the club is the responsibility of police, he said. Frazier added that he is not sure those involved in the shootings had been at his club, which had been closed for an hour when the shootings occurred.
    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Local News

    Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

    Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

    Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

    Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

    Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

    Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

    Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

    A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

    Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
    Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

    The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

    Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

    Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

    People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

    The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

    Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
    Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

    The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

    The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

    The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
    Northshore School District bond improvements underway

    The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

    A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

    Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

    The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
    Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

    The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.