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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2019)
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 3A OREGON Alternative group forms to promote Oregon wine industry ■ Group put together by businesses unhappy with Oregon Wine Association The Associated Press EUGENE — Wine businesses unhappy with the Oregon Wine Association have created a second trade group. The new coalition of Oregon wine industry stakeholders on Friday announced they had formed the Oregon Wine Coun- cil, the Eugene Register-Guard reported. Members earlier this year opposed wine legislation they viewed as “anti-competitive.” The new group said it represents the interests of the entire state. “We formed the OWC because a majority of large, taxpaying wine growers as well as many of small producers around the state don’t have a say in how their tax mon- ey is spent,” said Sam Tannahill, OWC board member and founder of A to Z Wineworks in Newberg, in a press release. “We haven’t been represented. Our goal with the OWC is to change that.” Members of the older organiza- tion said it’s already a statewide organization for growers and producers. “The argument that somehow than wineries, he said, and grow- ers want to be able to sell their grapes widely. A bill in the Legislature con- tributed to the split. The measure sought to more strictly enforce standards for labeling wines as from a certain region. Standards say a certain percentage of grapes have to come from a region referenced on a label. For example, an in- or out-of-state winery buying some grapes from southern Oregon re- gions, but labeling its wines from the Willamette Valley AVA, could include no more than 5% of that southern Oregon fruit in its wine. the OWA is a group of selfi sh people from one area of the state is patently false,” said board member Justin King, the national sales manager for King Estate Winery in Eugene. “We have reps from all over the state, from southern Oregon, more than a few, in fact.” The southern Oregon wine industry has a different business profi le than the Willamette Valley, King said. The valley has a large mix of wineries and wine grape growers. In southern Oregon, there are many more vineyards The standards already exist but enforcement by the Oregon Li- quor Control Commission would have been ramped up the legisla- tion, which did not pass. The measure created divisions with Oregon regions that primar- ily sell grapes. The bill was sponsored by the OWA and those who disagreed said the group did not take their interests into account. Both groups said they seek to unify the Oregon wine industry. King said the wine associa- tion has reached out to the new group with the intent of working together. O BITUARIES Baker City solar farm nears completion Virginia ‘Tobie’ (Thompson) Williams Elgin By Samantha O’Conner EO Media Group Construction is nearing completion on Baker Coun- ty’s fi rst two solar power farms, the larger of which is near Sutton Creek Road about six miles southeast of Baker City. That array of about 50,000 panels is about one mile east of the landfi ll and about 7/10th of a mile south of Interstate 84. Enerparc Solar Projects LLC of Oakland, California, is building that solar farm as well as a second project near Unity, in southern Baker County. Construction manager Douglas Stevens said work on the Sutton Creek project started Aug. 30, and compa- ny offi cials expect the farm to be online around Dec. 15. “This one is fast-paced,” Stevens said. Currently, workers are driving in piles — the metal bars that will hold the solar panels. The piles have be driven a minimum of six feet S. John Collins/EO Media Group Workers are building a 15-megawatt solar power farm near Baker City. into the ground. Stevens said he hopes to have the 50,000 panels installed within two weeks. The panels are on motorized tracks that shift the panels as the sun moves, to maxi- mize power production. The Sutton Creek project will cost an estimated $2.65 million, according to a permit issued by the Baker City- County Building Depart- ment. The company paid almost $27,000 in permit fees. The solar array will pro- duce 15 megawatts of power. That’s enough to power ap- proximately 3,000 homes. The Unity project, which should be fi nished soon and go online in mid-November, will produce about 2.75 megawatts. Stevens said about 35 people are working on the Sutton Creek solar farm, including employees from contractor Vale Electric Inc. Crews are also fi nishing a substation near Interstate 84 that will connect the solar farm to Idaho Power Com- pany’s transmission line. Work on the substation started in early July, accord- ing to Idaho Power, which is building the substation. Both the solar farm and the substation are on prop- erty owned by Hat Brand Land & Livestock LLC of Baker City. Brent Gyllenberg is Hat Brand’s manager. Enerparc applied in March for a permit to divide Hat Brand’s parcel into two parts. The one where the so- lar panels are being installed is 549.6 acres, and the site for the substation is slightly larger than half an acre. P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT LA GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrested: Brianna Wells, 29, unknown address, was arrested on a charge of violation of a no contact order. Accident: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident at K Avenue and Cedar Street on Fri- day. The accident was reported at 10:30 a.m. Arrested: Cody Tanner Colton, 23, unknown address, was arrested on a Union County warrant charging supplying contraband. Arrested: LaTrisha Maureen Williams, 28, unknown ad- dress, was arrested on a Union County warrant charging fi rst- degree theft, second-degree theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. UNION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Arrested: Joshua Taylor Gun- shore, 22, unknown address, was arrested on a parole and probation detainer. Arrested: Wesley Burgess, 27, La Grande, was arrested on a parole and probation detainer connected to an original charge of a probation violation. Accident: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident Sat- urday on Hwy 203. The accident was reported 12:32 a.m. Arrested: Amber Darlene Garcia, 37, unknown address, was arrested by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Offi ce on a Union County warrant suspend- ing post-prison supervision. The warrant was connected to an original charge of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine. OREGON STATE POLICE Accident: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident on Highway 22 in the Elgin area Saturday. The accident was reported at 9:50 a.m. LA GRANDE FIRE DEPARTMENT Firefi ghters responded to six calls for medical assistance on Sunday, fi ve on Saturday and eight on Friday. L OCAL B RIEFING From staff reports Health Speaker Series features EOU professor LA GRANDE — Eastern Oregon University and the Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center invite EOU students, high school students and community members to the fi rst Health Speaker Series presentation of the season. On Oct. 30, the presenter will be EOU’s own Dr. Kyle Pfaffenbach. Come to Huber Auditorium (Badgley Hall, Room 102) to hear his story and learn about career opportunities in health and human performance. The free talk begins at 5 p.m. Contact Brit- tany Hargrove at 541-962-3422 or bhar- grove@neoahec.org with any questions. Learn about parent-child interaction therapy ELGIN — An informational open house explaining parent-child interac- tion therapy will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Stella Mayfi eld Elementary School, 1111 Division St., Elgin. PIT is available to caregivers with children age 2-6 who have behav- Mon-Fri Blue Plate $12: Roast Pork with mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables Annual Halloween Party and Costume Contest with the Turkey shoot set for Sunday LA GRANDE — The La Grande Rifl e and Pistol Club’s annual turkey shoot will be held Nov. 3 at the High- way 244 River Range. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and shooting begins at 10 a.m. Shooters may use any center-fi re hunting rifl es or muzzle- loading rifl es, or any center-fi re or muzzle-loading pistol with iron sights. Cost is $20. Contact Darrel Plank at 541-910-4132 for more in- formation. The public is invited, and harassment is encouraged, according to the organizers. ‘Essentials Drive’ gathers non-food items LA GRANDE — American Family Insurance is hosting an “Essentials Drive” to collect non-food items to be distributed to those in need this winter. The community is encouraged to drop off any of the below items at American Family Insurance, 109 Depot St., La Grande, through Dec. 15. Call 541-663- 1919 for more information. Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, tissues. Hygiene products: bar soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, razors, shaving cream, feminine products, dia- pers, combs and brushes, lip balm. Cleaning products: dish soap, laundry soap, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, baby and body wipes. Sleeping items (new or used): blan- kets (easily washed, not comforters), sleeping bags, single fi tted or top sheets, pillows, pillow cases. Misc. (new or used): small tarps, backpacks or zippered bags, rain gear, waterproof ponchos, socks (especially needed), reusable water bottles, phone chargers or battery packs, tents and tent stakes, camping gear of any type, small camping cookware, hand warm- ers, emergency blankets. La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR Virginia “Tobie” Williams, 81, of Elgin, died Oct. 23 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Elgin Stam- pede Hall. Casual dress is preferred by the family. Known as Tobie, she was born March 15, 1938, in La Grande, to Emmett and Eva Mae (Rollins) Thompson. She lived on Cricket Flat as a child and resided in Elgin the rest of her life. She attended Elgin High School. Tobie married Chuck Williams on July 3, 1956. Tobie’s interests included playing guitar, piano and organ. She enjoyed hunting and fi shing. She especially enjoyed watching school sporting events and travel- ing to her grandchildren’s and many school-aged kids’ sporting events all around the Northwest. Tobie loved spending time with her grandchil- dren and great-grandchil- dren. The last few years in her home, she particularly appreciated time sitting on her patio in her favorite swing. Surviving relatives include her sons and daughters-in-law, Brent and Leone Williams of El- gin and Keith and Stepha- nie Williams of Island City; daughters and sons-in-law, Kelly and Glen Griffi th of Ione and Kanda and Steve Gresham of Elgin; brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Betty Thompson of Elgin; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchil- dren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck; parents, Emmett and Eva Thompson; and sisters, Peggy Kennedy, Dixie Stanton and Bobbie Horn. Thomas G. Hiatt La Grande Thomas G. Hiatt, 83, of La Grande, died Oct. 25 at Grande Ronde Hospital. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be han- dling the arrangements. Tyler J. Kahut La Grande Tyler J. Kahut, 25, of La Grande, died Oct. 24 at his residence. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crema- tory will be handling the arrangements. Donald W. Morris Formerly of Baker City Donald William Morris, 60, of St. Helens, died Oct. 2. A service will be held at a later time. Donald was born and raised in Baker City and has family in La Grande. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneral- chapel.com. UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by Nov. 2 Virginia “Tobie” Williams: 2 p.m., celebration of life, Elgin Stampede Hall; casual dress preferred. Nov. 12 Phillip Mendiguren: 2 p.m., Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, La Grande. New Lease on Retirement Enjoy what matters! 975-2000 Give us a call www.lagrandeautorepair.com MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE Wasteland Kings Thursday, October 31st 541-963-8766 tendepotstreet.com ioral issues. The service is provided by Center for Human Development. The open house will include light refresh- ments. For more information, call CHD at 541-962-8800. 1938-2019 Memorial contributions may be made to the Elgin Stampeders. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralcha- pel.com. Joe Horst ACDelcoTSS Undisputed leader in sports with exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET. Out-of-market games only. Select int’l games excluded. Iv Support Holdings LLC 855-502-2578 www.satellitedealnow.com/OR “NFL”, the NFL Shield design, “NFL SUNDAY TICKET” and its respective logo are registered trademarks of the National Football League and its affiliates. Team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. NFL: AP Images. ©2019 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners GRANDE 1809 Gekeler Ln. Ronde Retirement & Assisted Living La Grande 541-963-4700