LOCAL
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019
Oregon celebrates
25,000 electric
vehicles on its roads
Observer staff
SALEM — According to
a press release from the Or-
egon Department of Energy,
there are now more than
25,000 registered electric
vehicles on Oregon’s roads.
This marks the halfway
point to the state’s goal of at
least 50,000 registered EVs
by the end of 2020.
As of Aug. 1, Oregon had
26,218 registered EVs, from
plug-in hybrids to all-electric
models. The Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation
reports that of the registered
EVs, the most popular rides
for Oregonians are the Nis-
san LEAF, Tesla Model 3 and
Chevrolet Volt.
Multnomah, Washington
and Clackamas counties
represent about three-quar-
ters of Oregon’s EV drivers,
but less-populated counties
are also plugging in, stated
the release. Counties with
fewer than 100,000 residents
represent more than 3,000 of
the state’s registered EVs.
“More Oregonians are
choosing electric vehicles,
and with 25,000 EVs on
Oregon’s roads, we are gain-
ing momentum,” said Janine
Benner, director of the Or-
egon Department of Energy
and an EV owner. “We look
forward to celebrating when
SCHOOL
Continued from Page 1A
on school supplies. A report
on National Public Radio,
which aired Dec. 19, 2017,
stated that teachers in the
United States spend an aver-
age of $530 a year on school
supplies for their students.
The supplies provided
today by the Elgin Ministe-
rial Association to Stella
Mayfi eld included at least 20
backpacks, numerous pencils
and pens, notebooks, folders,
glue and boxes of crayons.
Lauri Ferring, pastor of
Elgin’s Nazarene Church,
which is part of the Elgin
Ministerial Association, was
moved by how the commu-
we reach 50,000.”
The 50K by 2020 goal was
identifi ed by Gov. Brown
in Executive Order 17-21,
signed in November 2017.
The executive order detailed
a series of responsibilities for
state agencies to encourage
and support the electrifi ca-
tion of Oregon’s transporta-
tion system.
“Transportation is the
largest source of greenhouse
gas emissions in Oregon, and
EVs are a critical piece of the
long-term solution to meet-
ing our reduction goals,” said
Richard Whitman, director
of the Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality, in
the release.
With an array of fi nan-
cial incentives and rebates,
Oregonians can save big by
making the switch to an EV.
The Department of Environ-
mental Quality’s Clean Ve-
hicle Rebate Program offers
savings of up to $5,000 for
qualifying EVs. Combined
with a federal tax credit of
up to $7,500 and other local
incentives, buyers can save
about a third of the cost of
some EV models.
Information on incen-
tives and on how to charge
at home and on the go are
available at www.goelectric.
oregon.gov.
nity has reached out to the
students.
“This is an awesome way
to help,” she said.
Other members of the
Elgin Ministerial Associa-
tion are St. Mary’s Catholic
Church and the Christian
Life Center.
This marks the second
year the Elgin Ministerial
Association and the Elgin
Lions Club have conducted
the school supply drive.
Elgin Mayor Allan Duffy
said their efforts refl ect
Elgin’s character.
“This shows that a com-
munity where others care
about each other thrives.
I see it thriving because of
these groups,” Duffy said.
O BITUARIES
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
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.
George ‘Doug’ McDaniel
Wallowa
George “Doug” McDaniel,
83, of Wallowa, died Aug. 15 at
Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A
celebration of his life will begin
at 1 p.m. Aug. 31 in the Beth
Johnson Room at the Wallowa
Elementary School, followed by
a catered lunch at the Wallowa
Senior Center at 2:30 p.m.
Kenneth L. Witty
Enterprise
Kenneth Lee Witty, 79, of
Enterprise, died May 27 at his
home. A celebration of his life
and potluck will begin at 1 p.m.
Aug. 31 at the Witty residence,
81768 Reavis Lane. Friends are
invited to share their memories
and favorite stories of Ken.
THE OBSERVER — 3A
L OCAL B RIEFING
From staff reports
All welcome at
Thursday night
bingo
Lecture explains
fi re refugia and
pyrodiversity
LA GRANDE — La
Grande Post 43 of the
American Legion, 301 Fir
St., is hosting bingo from
6 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. each
Thursday evening. Every-
one is welcome. Cash only,
please.
JOSEPH — Garrett
Meigs, PhD, a disturbance
ecologist at OSU’s College
of Forestry, will give a free
presentation Aug. 30 at the
Wallowology Natural His-
tory Discover Center, 508
N. Main St., Joseph. “Fire
Refugia in Oregon’s Forests:
Learning from the Land and
How to Deal with Change,”
part of the Climate Change
Biological Impacts Series,
will begin at 7 p.m.
Fire refugia — locations
that remain unburned or
burn less severely than sur-
rounding areas — infl uence
forest regeneration, wildlife
habitat and subsequent
disturbance dynamics. Un-
derstanding the landscape
conditions that support fi re
refugia and overall pyro-
diversity may enable land
managers and stakeholders
to prioritze locations for for-
est restoration and habitat
conservation.
Area closure issued
in and around
Granite Gulch Fire
zone
BAKER CITY — A
news release from the
Vale District BLM Oregon/
Washington announced
the enactment of an area
closure in and around the
Granite Gulch Fire zone to
ensure public safety. The
area between Rock Creek
Trail and Trail Creek
Trail, which drains into the
Minam River, excluding Elk
Meadows, was closed to the
public Aug. 23 and will re-
main until rescinded on Oct.
1, according to the release.
This closure is necessary
to provide forest visitors pro-
tection from the hazardous
conditions associated with
the current fi re situation
on the Eagle Cap Ranger
District of the Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest.
For more information, con-
tact the Vale District BLM
Oregon/Washington offi ce,
3100 H St., Baker City, at
541-523-1407.
Multiple agencies
team up to gain
quick control of
Mt. Fanny Fire
LA GRANDE — Fire-
fi ghters from the Oregon
Department of Forestry, Bu-
reau of Land Management,
and Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest teamed
up for an aggressive initial
attack beginning Aug. 20
on the Fanny Fire using
air resources, fi re engines
and hand crews. The fi ve-
acre Fanny Fire, located
approximately two miles
east of Cove, was caused by
lightning.
“The excellent teamwork
and dedication of our fi re-
fi ghters was critical for this
outcome,” said Bill Gamble,
La Grande District Ranger
for the Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest. “This is a
shining example of the coor-
dinated response envisioned
by the Cohesive Wildfi re
Strategy and a testament
to the positive working rela-
tionships here in Northeast
Oregon.”
There is currently no
estimate of the containment
percentage due to the spotti-
ness of the burning and the
level of heat in some areas.
Crews continue to extin-
guish burning or smoldering
material while also carefully
managing safety risks as
they work in steep terrain.
The road to Moss Springs
Campground and trailhead
is still open. Drivers should
drive slowly and yield to
fi refi ghters.
3 Rivers Race will
take place Oct. 5
ISLAND CITY — Shelter
From the Storm’s annual
3 Rivers Race, which aims to
raise awareness of domestic
violence, has been resched-
uled for Oct. 5. Shelter From
the Storm is seeking volun-
teers to help with the event.
For more information on the
event and on volunteering,
call 541-963-7226. Shelter
From the Storm is located
at 10901 Island Ave., Island
City.
Fiber arts and
jewelry exhibit
will be inspired by
farmers market
LA GRANDE — Art
Center East’s fourth annual
Fiber Arts & Jewelry Ex-
hibit, to be held in February
and March 2020, will have a
farmers market theme. This
year’s exhibitors are invited
to create a piece inspired
by a photo taken at a local
farmers market. As in last
year’s Fiber Goes Vogue ex-
hibit, the photo that inspires
each piece will be displayed
next to it.
This annual community
exhibit creates a platform
for the underrepresented
branch of visual arts and
to showcase local fi ber
and jewelry artists. The
exhibit is sponsored by
Union County’s own La
Grande Quilt Shop. To fi nd
out more about the exhibit
— and submit an applica-
tion to hold your spot — go
to www.artcentereast.org/
artist/fourth-annual-fi ber-
arts-jewelry-exhibit, stop
by ACE at 1006 Penn Ave.,
La Grande, or call 541-624-
2800.
O REGON IN B RIEF
From wire reports
Cougar sightings reported
on Lewis & Clark campus
gar walking in the Dunthorope neigh-
borhood last month near the campus.
PORTLAND — Lewis & Clark
College offi cials say there have been
numerous cougar sightings on or near
the Portland school.
KOIN-TV reported a notice went
out to the campus community alerting
people of the sightings at the private
college. According to the notice, there
was a possible sighting at the under-
graduate campus.
A sign posted near the college also
warns of the sightings.
Surveillance cameras captured a cou-
Hiker dies in fall at Oregon
state park
PORTLAND — Authorities in Or-
egon say a male hiker died after falling
100 feet at Smith Rock State Park.
KOIN-TV reported the male fell
while making his way down a climb-
ers’ path toward the northeast Lower
Gorge Saturday.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s
offi ce said the hiker was pronounced
dead at the scene.
One injured in Portland
motel shooting
PORTLAND — Portland police are
investigating a shooting at a motel
that injured one person.
Police said offi cers responded to
a report of shots fi red early Sunday
morning at a motel in the 3600 block
of Northeast 82nd Avenue.
According to police, offi cers found
a victim with a non-life-threatening
graze wound. The victim was taken to
a local hospital for treatment.
The shooter left before the offi cers
arrived.
P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT
UNION COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Arrested: Courtney M.
Hendrickson, 20, a transient,
was arrested on a charge of
third-degree theft.
Arrested: Salvador Cruz-Es-
camilla, 27, unknown address,
was arrested on a charge of
harassment.
Arrested: Brianna Kay Black,
20, unknown address, was
arrested on a Garfi eld County
Washington warrant charging
failure to appear in court. The
warrant was connected to an
original charge of possession
of a stolen vehicle.
Arrested: Scott Christopher
Lee, 50, Union, was arrested
on a parole and probation
detainer.
Arrested: Nichole Jean Tracy,
43, Union, was arrested on a
charge of misuse of 9-1-1.
Arrested: Richard Darrell
Green, 46, unknown address,
was arrested on charges of
second-degree burglary,
second-degree theft and felon
in possession.
LA GRANDE POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Morales, 28, unknown ad-
dress, was arrested by the
Ada County Sheriff’s Offi ce on
Union County warrant charging
failure to appear in court. The
warrant was connected to origi-
nal charges of unlawful import
or export of a marijuana item,
two counts; unlawful posses-
sion of a marijuana item, two
counts; and unlawful delivery
of a marijuana item.
LA GRANDE FIRE
DEPARTMENT
Firefi ghters responded to
two calls for medical assistance
on Sunday, seven on Saturday,
four on Friday, 10 on Thursday
and 12 on Wednesday.
Cited: Carter Lee Tulppo, 20,
unknown address, was cited
on a charge of possession of
marijuana under 21.
Arrested: Carlson Junior
Biamon, 26, unknown address,
was arrested by the Spokane
Police Department on two
Union County warrants. The
warrants were connected to
original charges of failure to
appear in court, two counts;
and fourth-degree assault, two
counts.
Arrested: Carlos Rojas
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Thursday 7pm-9pm
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Quick, Friendly Service since 1922
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