FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019
THE OBSERVER — 3A
LOCAL
China announces
tariff hike on $75
billion of US products
By Joe McDonald
The Associated Press
China on Friday announced
tariff hikes on $75 billion of
U.S. products in retaliation
for President Donald Trump’s
latest planned increase,
deepening a confl ict over trade
and technology that threatens
to tip a weakening global
economy into recession.
China also will increase im-
port duties on U.S.-made autos
and auto parts, the Finance
Ministry announced.
The announcement comes
as leaders of the Group of 7
major economies prepare to
meet in France this weekend.
Tariffs of 10% and 5% will
take effect on two batches
of goods on Sept. 1 and Dec.
15, the ministry said in a
statement. It gave no details
of what goods would be af-
fected but the timing matches
Trump’s planned duty hikes.
Washington is pressing
Beijing to narrow its trade
surplus and roll back plans
for government-led creation of
global competitors in robotics,
electric cars and other technol-
ogy industries.
The spiraling conflict has
battered exporters on both
sides and fueled concern it
might drag down weakening
global economic growth.
Peter Navarro, who advises
Trump on trade policy, tried
to downplay the impact of
Chinese tariff hikes. He said
they were “well anticipated”
and would only strengthen
Trump’s resolve.
China’s government ap-
pealed to Trump this week to
compromise in order to reach a
settlement.
That came after Trump
warned that the American
public might need to endure
economic pain in order to
achieve long-term results.
The United States, Europe,
Japan and other trading part-
ners say Beijing’s development
plans violate its market-
opening commitments and are
based on stealing or pressur-
ing foreign companies to hand
over technology.
Some American officials
worry they might erode U.S.
industrial leadership.
Chinese leaders have offered
to alter details but are resist-
ing giving up a development
strategy they see as a path to
prosperity and global influence.
The talks are deadlocked
over how to enforce any deal.
China insists Trump’s puni-
tive tariffs have to be lifted as
soon as an agreement takes
effect. Washington says at
least some have to stay to
ensure Beijing carries out any
promises it makes.
Trump announced plans
to raise tariffs Sept. 1 on $300
billion of Chinese products
after talks broke down in May.
Increases on some goods were
postponed to Dec. 15.
Trump escalated “trade fric-
tions” and is “seriously threat-
ening the multilateral trading
system,” the Finance Ministry
said. “China was forced to take
countermeasures.”
A separate statement said
tariffs of 25% and 5% would be
imposed on U.S.-made autos
and auto parts on Dec. 15. Bei-
jing announced that increase
last year but suspended it
after Trump and his Chinese
counterpart, President Xi
Jinping, agreed at a meeting in
December in Argentina to put
off further trade action while
they negotiated.
Trump and Xi agreed in
June to resume negotiations.
But talks in Shanghai in July
ended with no indication of
progress. Negotiators talked by
phone this month and are due
to meet again in Washington
next month. BMW, Tesla, Ford
and Mercedes Benz are likely
to be the hardest hit by the
Chinese auto tariffs. In 2018,
BMW exported about 87,000
luxury SUVs to China from a
plant near Spartanburg, S.C. It
exports more vehicles to China
than any other U.S. auto plant.
O BITUARIES
Donald L. Kilpatrick
La Grande
Donald L. Kilpatrick, 92, of
La Grande, died Aug. 22 at a
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
Aug. 24
Milton “Randy”
Erickson:
11 a.m., memorial
service, Elgin
Methodist Church,
followed by potluck.
Marion
Anthoney:
2 p.m., memorial
service, Presbyterian
Friendship Center,
La Grande.
Aug. 31
Ken Witty:
1 p.m., celebration of
life and potluck, 81768
Revis Lane (Witty
residence), Enterprise.
George “Doug”
McDaniel:
1 p.m., celebration
of life, Beth Johnson
Room, Wallowa
Elementary School;
followed by catered
lunch at Wallowa
Senior Center at
2:30 p.m.
Sept. 7
Michael Lowery:
2 p.m., celebration of
life, Eastern Oregon
Livestock Show
Clubhouse, Union.
local care facility. An obituary
is forthcoming. Loveland Fu-
neral Chapel & Crematory
will be handling the arrange-
ments.
Julie Gribling
La Grande
Julie Gribling, of La
Grande, died Aug. 20 at
her home. An obituary is
forthcoming. Arrangements
are under the direction of
Daniels-Knopp Funeral
Cremation & Life Celebra-
tion Center.
UNION COUNTY
SENIOR CENTER
MENU
1504 ALBANY ST.,
LA GRANDE
Aug. 26-30
Lunch served
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
age 60+ $3 suggested
donation; others $6
Monday: chicken
cordon bleu, rice or
noodles, steamed
vegetables, salad
greens, fruit.
Tuesday: beef
stroganoff, rice or
noodles, steamed
vegetables, salad
greens, rolls, fruit.
Wednesday: tomatoes
stuffed with chicken
salad, fruit garnish, rolls,
brownies.
Thursday: taco bar,
salad greens, chips and
salsa, fresh fruit.
Friday: pan-roasted
chicken with shallots,
rice or noodles,
vegetable casserole,
sesame-cabbage salad,
rolls, fruit.
Dick Mason/The Observer
La Grande and La Grande Rural Fire departments put out the fl ames within an hour of the fi rst engine arriving at
an early morning fi re at Bearco Business Park today. The fi re was contained to two stored campers and an RV.
FIRE
Continued from Page 1A
by a dog barking and the
sound of a window popping
out. McCall also heard a
popping sound. He said as he
and his friends were racing
away from the tent they heard
explosions.
Several explosions occurred
after the fire started. Tibbetts
said that these were propane
tanks that burst.
Both McCall and Rice said
they feel lucky to have gotten
away safely.
Initially, there was a
suspicion of arson, but after
investigation the LGFD deter-
mined the blaze began when
a candle caught a curtain on
fire, according to Tibbetts.
The Bearco Business Park,
where the storage facility is
located, is managed by Monty
McIntosh, who said the re-
sponse time of the La Grande
Fire Department made a big
difference.
“It was amazing. They were
here instantly,” he said.
The camper in which
the fire started is owned by
McCall’s mother’s boyfriend,
Jessie Showden, who was
sleeping in it at the time.
Showden jumped out of the
window to escape the fire and
sustained minor injuries to
his hand. He was cared for by
medics on the scene.
McIntosh said Showden
should not have been sleeping
in the camper. While there
Sabrina Thompson/The Observer
An RV in the storage unit at the Bearco Business Park caught fi re after a candle set a
curtain in an adjacent camping trailer ablaze, according to LGFD Captain Tibbetts.
is no power for the campers
in the facility, McIntosh said
there have been issues with
transients breaking in and
sleeping in the trailers.
“They come back when I’m
not here at night and leave in
the morning,”
McIntosh said. “We have tried
to get them out but they won’t
leave.”
According to Tibbetts, the
other camping trailer that
caught fire had people in it
as well, and they escaped the
flames unharmed.
The building behind the
campers, the El Erradero,
suffered some smoke and
water damage as a result of
the blaze, Tibbetts said. The
restaurant is likely to remain
closed for the day, if not longer.
Jacob Chance, of La
Staying safe at
the scene
Scene safety is very important to quickly and safely put
out fi res. LGFD would like to remind people:
• To not drive over fi re hoses. They are not made to
be driven over and will become damaged. Doing so
violates Oregon law, and can hinder the ability for
fi refi ghters to put the fl ames out.
• If you must go to a scene to check your property,
though it is not advised, check in before entering the fi re
scene. Wandering around the scene can be a distraction
and it is hard to distinguish you from potential victims.
Grande, was getting off work
nearby when he heard about
the flames. His 32-foot RV was
destroyed in the fire. Chance
also stores other property at
the facility, including cars, a
pickup and another camper,
and he said he is concerned
about smoke damage.
“I had just gotten off work
and everyone was saying
there was a fire (on Bearco
Loop) and I wanted to make
sure. As soon as I noticed
where the flames were, I was
like, ‘Oh, shoot,’” Chase said.
The RV that was destroyed
was not insured and Chase
said he is eager to find out the
cause of the flames.
Cluster of respiratory illness related to vaping
Observer staff
SALEM — An Aug. 22
news release from the
Oregon Health Authority
states the OHA and local
public health departments
are urging clinicians to be
on alert for signs of severe
respiratory illness among
individuals who report vap-
ing or e-cigarette use.
OHA is aware of a clus-
ter of respiratory illness
primarily among teenag-
ers and young adults in
16 states. These people
have been hospitalized
after experiencing worsen-
ing symptoms, including
shortness of breath, cough
and chest pain. No deaths
have been reported. CDC
and the affected states
have not identifi ed a cause,
but all cases have reported
e-cigarette use or vaping.
OHA knows of no cases in
Oregon.
“These serious new ill-
nesses are another reason
to encourage people to avoid
vaping or to quit,” said Tom
Jeanne, deputy health of-
fi cer at OHA’s Public Health
Division, in the release.
Before the new illness
reports, OHA was already
concerned about the health
risks of vaping products. A
recent report by the agency
details the health risks
for the products including
nicotine addiction, exposure
to toxic chemicals known to
cause cancer and increases
in blood pressure.
The news release said
that individuals who have
recently vaped and are
having diffi culty breathing
should seek medical atten-
tion immediately.
L OCAL B RIEFING
From staff reports
4-H handled wild
horses available for
adoption
BOISE, Idaho — The Bu-
reau of Land Management
is holding a wild horse adop-
tion event at the Western
Idaho Fair, 5610 Glenwood
St., in Boise, from 1 p.m. to
2 p.m. Aug. 25.
There will be one geld-
ing and three fi llies avail-
able for viewing/adoption
in the Draft Horse Barn
on the north end of the
facility. Since June, youths
representing four different
4-H clubs have trained the
mustangs to lead, load in
a horse trailer and pick up
their feet.
Since the beginning of
the partnership between
the BLM and the Univer-
sity of Idaho’s 4-H Exten-
sion program in 2009, more
than 300 wild horses have
been trained and adopted.
To adopt a wild horse or
burro, you must be 18 years
of age, never have been con-
victed of animal abuse or
cruelty, and have the proper
facilities and transporta-
tion. All individuals must
be pre-approved before they
can bid on a horse. Applica-
tions may be fi lled out at
the Idaho Horse Expo BLM
booth and approved onsite.
For more information about
BLM’s wild horse program,
go to www.blm.gov.
Learn about ODOT’s
plan to upgrade curb
ramps in Union
UNION — The public
is invited to a Union City
Council workshop Aug. 26
to learn about ODOT’s plan
to upgrade curb ramps in
Union. The transporta-
tion project will improve
sidewalk curb ramps
to comply with current
Americans with Disabili-
ties Act requirements. The
workshop begins at 6 p.m.
at Union City Hall, 342 S.
Main St., and will include
time for public input. This
is a pilot project and the les-
sons learned will be used in
other cities around Oregon
as ODOT works to improve
more than 26,000 curb
ramps on the state highway
system. For more informa-
tion, contact ODOT’s Tom
Strandberg at 541-963-1330
or thomas.m.strandberg@
odot.state.or.us.
tion. Support persons and
community members may
attend free of charge. The
workshop is for adults only.
Child care is not provided.
For more information call
541-962-9500, ext. 42.
Help kids cope with
divorce, separation
LA GRANDE — Com-
munity Connection is in
urgent need of volunteers to
be Meals on Wheels drivers.
For more information, call
Sydney Gleeson at 541-
963-7532, ext. 1104, or stop
by 1504 N. Albany St., La
Grande.
LA GRANDE — Learn
how divorce or separation
impacts your children and
what you can do to help
them at a workshop held
from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 in the Misener Con-
ference Room, 1001 Fourth
St., La Grande. The work-
shop is facilitated by Mary
Lu Pierce and sponsored by
the Family Law Advisory
Committee. Cost is $30 per
person (cash or check only).
The fee may be waived by
prior order of the court, or if
attendance occurs prior to
or within 45 days of fi ling
for custody, dissolution,
separation or modifi ca-
Meals on Wheels
drivers needed
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
975-2000
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
MOST
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE
Joe Horst
ACDelcoTSS