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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2019)
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD • REGIONAL NEWS 3B — THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 Power outages, designed to reduce fire risk, burden California counties By Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — When California’s largest utility warned it would cut power to thousands to prevent its equip- ment from starting wildfires during warm, windy weather, officials in the wealthy wine re- gion of Sonoma County sprang into action. They declared a state of emergency and called up ad- ditional first responders who could direct traffic or take vulnerable residents to places with electricity. Nearly 200 miles north, officials in rural Butte County simply posted Pacific Gas & Electric information online about which neighborhoods would be affected and what to do with perishable food. Both counties had communi- ties decimated in destructive wildfires in recent years, ignited by power lines. They face the long-term prospect of frequent power shutoffs during fire sea- son as PG&E and other utilities try to prevent their equipment from sparking fires like the one last year that killed 86 people and nearly destroyed the Butte County town of Paradise. More populated, wealthier counties have adapted their emergency plans to respond to the new reality of thousands of residents losing power for an undetermined amount of time. But the preventive outages are proving to be a burden to smaller, poorer counties with- out resources to set up places for people to cool off or mobilize staff to deal with emergencies if outages stretch past two days. “Most of these counties haven’t had to deal with this before.” — Darby Thomas, California State Association of Counties “The outages are to avoid an emergency and a fire disaster, but there are no resources that counties can access to make sure that people are at a cooling station or get the transportation they need to get there,” said Darby Thomas, deputy executive director of the California State Association of Counties. California lawmakers this year set aside $75 million to prepare local governments for the outages, but officials have yet to decide how to distribute the money. The outages are new for PG&E and Southern California Edison, which together provide power in 55 of California’s 58 counties. The utilities and county officials are working to- gether to figure out their roles, but a lack of standards has led to disparate responses. This week, PG&E shut off power to more than 48,000 customers in seven counties in wine country and the Sierra Nevada foothills as the humid- ity plunged, temperatures rose and winds kicked up — a com- bination that has fueled some of the most destructive blazes in California history. The outages lasted less than a day, and no major problems were reported. In Sonoma County, PG&E cut power to 700 people in the Santa Rosa area, where a massive blaze in October 2017 killed 22 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes. The county started planning for power outages shortly after regulators approved them in May, emergency management director Chris Godley said. “Just like we prepare for an earthquake, or fire season, or flood season, we also prepared for the de-energization because if the power will be out for more than 48 hours, it’s really an emergency for the community,” he said. The county’s outage plan calls for opening facilities with air conditioning, adding more police patrols to direct traffic after streetlights go out and sending workers to check on those who are sick or immobile. “Our response philosophy is to ensure maximum and full response immediately because we don’t know the level and scope of what’s going to hap- pen,” Godley said. In Butte County, where 24,000 customers lost power twice this week, authorities ensured backup generators worked, had staffers ready in case they needed to check on vulnerable people and shared PG&E updates on social media. They planned to rely on two PG&E cooling centers. “Our role is to make sure the information gets out there be- cause it’s really PG&E’s thing,” county spokeswoman Miranda Bowersox said. Lake County, home to just 60,000 people in the Sierra foot- hills where wildfires in recent years killed four people and burned hundreds of buildings, R egional B Riefing Most of Columbia River closed to salmon, steelhead fishing due to low numbers of returning fish emergency officials have spent $500,000 buying and install- ing generators that can power police, fire, water and sewage services. It doesn’t have the resources to do much more than ensure government buildings are operating during an outage, said Dale Carnathan, county emergency services manager. As in Butte County, Carna- than said Lake County’s focus has been on telling people the location of outages, advising them to buy nonperishable food and generators, and urging them to charge their phones. “What people need to under- stand is that local government is not going to be able to come to their rescue,” he said. “We need them to take responsibil- ity for their own safety and security, at least for the short term, because we’re going to be in the same boat they are in.” Though the outages were brief this week, those longer than two days can strain communities, said Thomas of the counties association. Even after the weather improves, there can be delays as utilities inspect every line before restor- ing power. A lot still needs to be done to help counties prepare, including drawing up plans to help people with medical issues or disabili- ties, she said. “Most of these counties haven’t had to deal with this before,” Thomas said. “We’re hoping that some of the funds go toward not only buying gen- erators but also helping them plan for these emergencies so they are able to respond.” RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — Most of the Columbia River will close to all recreational salmon and steelhead fishing, with the excep- tion of the Hanford Reach. The Tri-City Herald reports the closure went into effect Thursday. Bill Tweit, special assistant with the Wash- ington Department of Fish and Wildlife, says it comes at the tail end of a challenging year on the Columbia that saw low returns for many salmon and steelhead runs. The commercial harvest on the Columbia River will have to be reduced by fishery man- agers in Washington and Oregon to account for the number of upriver bright Chinook caught during the fall season. The closure announced this week extends upstream to Highway 395 in Pasco, excluding Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia River for coho retention. Truck drivers arrested for hauling industrial hemp through Idaho sentenced to probation BOISE (AP) — Three truck drivers who were originally charged with felonies for transporting industrial hemp through Idaho have been placed on unsupervised probation. The three men, who were charged in two separate cases, all had the felony charges reduced to misdemeanors earlier this year. The Idaho Press reports Ada County Mag- istrate Judge Michael Oths also gave the men withheld judgments on Thursday, which means the convictions won’t show up on their criminal records. Denis Palamarchuk was arrested in Janu- ary when he was stopped while transporting a shipment of industrial hemp from Oregon to Colorado on behalf of Big Sky Scientific. Andrew D’Addario and Erich Eisenhart were arrested in 2018 after Idaho State Troopers found that they were driving industrial hemp plants from Colorado to Oregon. Though hemp products like lotion and food items are sold in stores throughout the state, the plants themselves are illegal because Idaho’s anti-marijuana laws are very broadly written. C lassifieds Published by The Observer & Baker City Herald - Serving Wallowa, Union and Baker Counties • FIND IT IN THE CLASSIFIED ADS Whatever you're looking for, classified ads can help. 110 Announcements BINGO TUES & THURS.; 1:00 PM Community Connection 2810 Cedar, Baker City 110 Announcements BINGO SETTLER’S PARK Baker City Wednesdays ~ 2:30 PM .25 cents per card Everyone invited! • NORTHEAST OREGON CLASSIFIEDS reserves the right to reject ads that do not comply with state and federal regulations or that are offensive, false, misleading, deceptive or otherwise unacceptable VETERANS of FOREIGN WARS POST 3048 MONTHLY MEETING 2nd Thurs. of the month Post & Auxilary meet at 6:30 p.m. at Vets Club 2005 Valley Ave., Baker City 541-523-4988 CHECK YOUR AD ON THE FIRST DAY OF PUBLICATION We make every effort to avoid errors, however mistakes do slip through. PLEASE check your ad(s) the first day of publication and call us immediately if you find an error. Northeast Oregon Classifieds will cheerfully make your correction & extend your ad 1 day THE DEADLINE for placing a CLASSIFIED AD is 11:00 A.M. ONE BUSINESS DAY BEFORE PUBLICATION Publication Days: Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays SUBSCRIBERS! TAKE US ON YOUR PHONE and LEAVE YOUR PAPER AT HOME ! FULL editions of The Baker City Herald are now available online! GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED ™ Want to make a difference? Find out how at LIVEUNITED.ORG. 3 EASY STEPS 1. Register your account before you leave 2. Call to stop your print paper 3. Log in wherever you are at and enjoy! Call Now to Subscribe! Baker City Herald 541-523-3673 Classified ads get great results. Place yours today! 110 Announcements Kiwanis Club of Baker City Tuesday at 12:00 PM Sunrige Inn Restaurant 1 Sunridge Lane For more information call: (541) 523-6027 LAMINATION Up to 17 1/2 inches wide any length $1.00 per foot (The Observer is not responsible for flaws in material or machine error) THE OBSERVER 1406 Fifth •541-963-3161 SETTLER’S PARK ACTIVITIES 1st FRIDAY (every month) Ceramics with Donna 9:00am to Noon (prices starting at $3) SUNDAY Church Services 3:00pm MONDAY NIGHTS Nail Care 5:15pm (FREE) LAST TUESDAY (every month) Poker Night (FREE) 6:00pm •541-963-3161 WEDNESDAY Public Bingo, 1:30pm (.50 cents per card) EVERY MORNING (Monday - Friday) Exercise Class 9:30am (FREE) 114 Self-Help Group Meetings 114 Self-Help Group Meetings SAFE HAVEN Alzheimer/Dementia Caregivers Support Group 2nd Friday of every month at 11:45 AM Fellowship Hall (right wing) Nazarene Church 1250 Hughes Lane, Baker City NORTHEAST OREGON CLASSIFIEDS offers Self Help & Support Group Announcements at no charge For Baker City call: Julie (541)-523-3673 For LaGrande call: Devi- (541) 963-3161 BAKER COUNTY AA MEETINGS BAKER CITY MONDAYS Survivor’s Group 12 -1:00 pm Baker Presbyterian Church 1995 4th St. (4th & Court, Side Door) TUESDAYS K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Sister) 12 - 1:00 pm 1645 Eldon St. Eldon Court Apts Community Room WEDNESDAYS Survivor’s Group 12:05 pm Baker Presbyterian Church 1995 4th St. (4th & Court, Side Door) THURSDAYS Survivor’s Group 12:05 pm Baker Presbyterian Church 1995 4th St. (4th & Court, Side Door) FRIDAYS Been There Done That (Grapevine Meeting) 5:30 -6:30 pm 2970 Walnut (Corner of “D” & Grove St.) Grove Apts. Community Rm AL-ANON Wed., 4 p.m. ∙ Halfway Library (Please use back door) Corner of Church St. /Gover Ln. Halfway, OR (541) 540-5326 SATURDAYS As Bill Sees It Group 10:00 am 2970 Walnut (Corner of “D” & Grove St.) Grove Apts. Community Rm CELEBRATE RECOVERY Meets Thursdays at 6:15pm Calvary Baptist Church 3rd and Broadway SUNDAYS Been There Done That 5:30 pm 2970 Walnut (Corner of “D” & Grove St.) Grove Apts. Community Rm CELEBRATE RECOVERY Calvary Baptist Church 2130 4th Street Baker City, OR Every Thursday Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Class starts at 6:15 p.m. Questions call AA Hotline: 541-624-5117 www.oregonaadistrict29.org 114 Self-Help Group Meetings WALLOWA COUNTY AA MEETINGS Enterprise MONDAYS Enterprise Group 7:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. TUESDAYS Enterprise Group 12 - 1:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. Enterprise Group 7 - 8:00 pm (Big Bk Study) 113.5 E Main St. WEDNESDAYS Enterprise Group 7:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. THURSDAYS Enterprise Group 12 - 1:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. All Saints (Mens Mtg) 7:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. FRIDAYS Enterprise Group 7:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. SATURDAYS Enterprise Group 7:00 pm 113.5 E Main St. City of Joseph MONDAYS Grace and Dignity (Womans Mtg) 6:00 pm Joseph United Methodist Church 301 S. Lake St, Corner 3rd & Lake Side Stairs on Lake St. WEDNESDAYS Grace and Dignity (Womans Mtg) 12 pm 301 S. Lake St., Church Basement City of Wallowa SUNDAYS Assembly of God Church 7pm Questions call AA Hotline: 541-624-5117 www.oregonaadistrict29.org