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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2019)
In Go! Inside Showing off Oregon, 2A Walden won’t seek reelection, 3A Rick Steber in Elgin Follow us on the web WEDNESDAY • October 30, 2019 • $1.50 Going into a deep freeze ■ Temperatures plummet in Northeast Oregon Good day to our valued subscriber James Booker of La Grande New shelter site heats up ■ Union County Warming Station facing appeal that will delay opening of new site in downtown La Grande By Dick Mason The Observer The Union County Warming Station program’s drive to get a new shelter site has hit a roadblock. The La Grande Planning Com- mission’s Oct. 8 decision to grant a conditional use permit allowing a warming station to be operated in a portion of a commercial building at 2008 Third St. has been appealed. The appeal, fi led by La Grande businessman Al Adelsberger, will at least delay the opening of the warm- ing station. Adelsberger, who is working with others in the business community on the appeal, said it is meant to help bring the community together to develop a long-term solution to the homeless situation in La Grande. “We want to unite the community, not divide it,” he said. Adelsberger said he greatly admires the work members of the Union County Warming Station Board are doing to assist the home- less. “It is so awesome, the steps they have taken. They are fi ghting for people in need,” he said. He also stressed that he under- stands the need for a warming shelter in La Grande. “I am all for it,” he said. “Anyone who is against helping the homeless is not a good person.” Adelsberger also said he fi led the See Shelter / Page 5A By Sabrina Thompson The Observer Our corner of Oregon is experiencing a deep freeze, with temperatures getting as low as 6 degrees in the coming days and weeks, according to the National Weather Service. This abnormal mid-fall freeze usually comes later in the season. Beyond bundling up before you go outside, there are other ways to stay safe and be prepared during these cold days. Some tips from State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation include keeping walkways and sidewalks clear, shuffl ing your feet when walking on icy ground and bundling up with layers of clothing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention, keeping your house in safe conditions during the cold means making sure your windows are insulated and any roof leaks are fi xed, and having your heaters professionally serviced. The CDC also recommends mak- ing sure your smoke detec- tors and carbon monoxide detectors are working. One of the other big issues that can arise during the cold season is pipes freezing. To avoid this you should keep a light stream of lukewarm water fl owing from your faucets. Outside of your home, it is also important to prepare your car for winter weather. Having an emergency winter kit in you trunk or backseat is the best way to go, ac- cording to the CDC. The kit should include blankets and warm clothing; cellphone accessories such as an extra charger and batteries or a pre-charged battery pack; food and water; booster cables, fl ares, tire pump and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction); compass and maps; fl ashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries; a fi rst-aid kit and plastic bags (for sanitation); and chains or Food demand in four-county area increases during winter By Dick Mason, The Observer Dave Mellinger, warehouse manager of Community Connection of Northeast Oregon’s regional food bank, had a jaw-dropping experience Tuesday morning. He walked into a food refrigeration unit just west of the Union County Senior Center building and found that he felt warmer inside it than he did outside because the outdoor temperature was unseasonably chilly. “It was crazy,” Mellinger said. Temperatures are dropping in Union County, which means that hectic days are ahead for Mellinger and the other members of the staff at Community Connection’s food bank. Late fall and winter are always a busy time of year for food banks, when the demand for food increases, said Audrey Smith, manager Community Connection’s regional food bank, which is based at 1504 N. Albany St., in La Grande. “A lot more people request food in the winter months,” said Smith, whose regional food bank provides services for Union, Wallowa, Baker and Grant countries. Smith said that in September the regional food bank served 2,756 people in its four-county service area. This number, she said, normally jumps to about 3,500 a month in the winter. One reason is that many people who have seasonal jobs in fi elds like con- struction and tourism are unemployed in the winter. This is particularly true in Wallowa County, which has many tourism-related jobs. Community Connection’s regional food bank requires extra donations in the fall to help it provide for the additional people who need food in the winter. This is particularly true, Smith Dick Mason/The Observer Steve Kanopacky, left, Dave Mellinger, center, and Raymie Blanchard are members of the Community Connection of Northeast Oregon’s regional food bank staff. They are shown here Tuesday in the food bank’s warehouse in La Grande. Getting busier Audrey Smith, manager of Community Connection of Northeast Oregon’s regional food bank, said that in September the food bank served 2,756 people in its four-county service area. This number, she said, normally jumps to about 3,500 a month in the winter. See Demand / Page 5A See Temps / Page 5A Dick Mason/The Observer Dave Mellinger loads food into the warehouse of the Community Connection of Northeast Oregon regional food bank with a forklift Tuesday. The Union County Food Bank requires extra donations in the fall to help it provide for the additional people who need food in the winter. INDEX Business ...... 1B Classified ..... 4B Comics ......... 9B Crossword ... 6B WEATHER Dear Abby .. 10B Horoscope ... 6B Lottery.......... 2A Obituaries .... 3A FRIDAY Opinion ........ 4A Sports .......... 7A Sudoku ........ 9B Weather ..... 10B Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Thursday 20 LOW 46/19 Partly cloudy Turning sunny SERVICES OFFERED TO VETERANS CONTACT US HAVE A STORY IDEA? 541-963-3161 Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to news@lagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Issue 129 3 sections, 26 pages La Grande, Oregon Online at lagrandeobserver.com
