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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2019)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 O REGON IN B RIEF From wire reports State shuts down illegal vape oil operation near Dexter DEXTER — State and federal offi cials discovered and dismantled an illegal marijuana processing opera- tion in rural Lane County. The Oregonian/Oregon- Live reports Oregon State Police searched a makeshift outdoor operation last week near Dexter, where they found about 216 pounds of marijuana extracts, two oil extraction machines and 10 guns. They also found items related to manufacturing and selling counterfeit vape cartridges, according to the agency that regulates mari- juana, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The agency says the facility was not licensed to process cannabis. La Grande 1980-2019 Wendy Sue Cox Booth, 39, of La Grande, died Oct. 12 in Soldotna, Alaska, due to a traffi c accident. A viewing will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Nov. 9 followed by a fu- neral at 2 p.m. at La Grande First Christian Church. Wendy was born Feb. 8, 1980, in Monticello, Arkan- sas, to Charles and Cheri (Dreher) McCain. She moved UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by Nov. 2 Tyler Kahut: 11 a.m. memorial service, Island City Lighthouse Pentecostal Church; potluck follows. Virginia “Tobie” Williams: 2 p.m. celebration of life, Elgin Stampede Hall; casual dress preferred. Nov. 8 Thomas Hiatt: 1-1:45 p.m. viewing, followed by 2 p.m. funeral, Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Nov. 12 Phillip Mendiguren: 2 p.m. Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, La Grande. Democrats renew effort on cap-and-trade By Sam Stites The U.S. Drug Enforce- ment Administrations Eugene offi ce helped state police in the bust, along with the Lane County Sheriff's Of- fi ce. Allegations against two people are now in the hands of the county prosecutors offi ce. Owner of Creswell horse center arrested, 61 horses seized CRESWELL — A total of 61 horses were removed Wednesday from DeLeon- ardo Training Center in Creswell. The Register-Guard reports property owner Gwenyth Davies was arrested and cited in lieu of custody for second- degree animal neglect. The Lane County Sheriff’s Offi ce says deputies went to the center and seized the severely neglected horses. O BITUARIES Wendy S. (McCain) Cox Booth THE OBSERVER — 3A LOCAL to La Grande in 1984 with her mother and graduated from La Grande High School in 1998. Wendy attended on- line classes with the Univer- sity of Phoenix and received an associate of arts degree in health care administra- tion in 2010 and a bachelor of science degree in health administration in 2012. She had hoped to pursue her doctorate at a later time. Wendy had her fi rst son, Damian Hurst, with Joseph Hurst in 2000. She married Jacob Cox in 2007 and had her second son, Gabriel Cox, in 2008. After her divorce, she spent the rest of her years raising her boys. Wendy worked at JCPen- ney, Bi-Mart and Bealls before and after graduat- ing from high school. She enjoyed working with people and was also a caregiver for individuals with disabilities. Wendy loved her sons more than anything. As a family, they spent time camping and visiting the Oregon Coast and Roar- ing Springs. Her interests included crocheting, painting and exploring any mountain she could get her car up. Surviving relatives include her husband, Trevor Booth of Michigan; mother, Cheri McCain of La Grande; sons, Damian Hurst and Ga- briel Cox, both of La Grande; half brother, Edward McCain of Utah; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Arkansas, California, Florida and Oregon. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles McCain; paternal grandparents, James and Wannette McCain; and maternal grandparents, Dalbert Dreher and Betty Counsell. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel. com. Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The next session of the Oregon Legislature is expected to begin the way the last one ended, with a dra- matic clash between Democrats and Republicans over the future of carbon emissions. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, is reworking a pro- posal to create a cap-and-trade program in Oregon for con- sideration by legislators when they convene next February. And he’s aiming political pressure at Senate Republi- cans who walked out of the 2019 Legislature in a move that killed consideration of House Bill 2020. Dembrow was one of the chief architects of that legislation, which would have limited greenhouse gases, created tax incentives for industry and would have generated millions to be used for environmental programs. In the four months since the 2019 session ended, Dem- brow and his colleagues have worked to strengthen their proposal against Republican rebuke. He isn’t ready to share details and worries that Repub- licans may repeat in February their no-show approach to keep the Senate from acting. “Until we fi x the quorum requirement, it may not be possible for us to address climate action in the Legislature,” Dembrow said. Legislators may feel pressured to act in the face of three ballot measures being proposed by environmental advocacy group Renew Oregon. The group said it intended to submit several thousand signatures on Wednesday as a step toward putting before voters the elements of the 2019 legislation. Such a tactic would sideline opponents from a role in craft- ing Oregon’s program. As proposed earlier this year, the cap-and-trade program would restrict the amount of carbon dioxide that businesses in certain industries, such as transportation, energy and fossil fuels, are allowed to emit. It would require an 80% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2050. Under the law, business would buy allowances for every ton of greenhouse gas they emit more than permitted. The state would make fewer credits available over time with the intention of requiring businesses to pollute less. Opponents argue the program would put undue pressure on Oregon’s rural economies by causing higher fuel costs and lost jobs. Dembrow is currently working on changes to the bill that would provide more clarity and certainty around invest- ments and economic impacts “to address the wild allega- tions and misinformation about cost impacts that were distributed via social media,” he said. One such piece of misinformation was the claim that gas prices would rise to $5 a gallon in the fi rst year of the program, Dembrow said. Projections from the state analysts show gas rising by around 21 cents in the fi rst year of the program and approximately $3 by 2050. The idea behind those revisions, which Democrats are holding close to the vest for the time being, is to make more L OCAL B RIEFING From staff reports Cove City Council meets Tuesday COVE — The City of Cove will hold its regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at Cove City Hall, 504 Alder. Agenda items include an update on the hydro update and planning a work session to discuss the sidewalk ordinance and snow plan. Guest speaker addresses livestock nutrition at UC Cattlemen’s meeting ISLAND CITY — Union County Cattlemen will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Ag Service Center in Island City. The guest speaker, Jake Severt, will discuss livestock nutrition and hay testing. Tickets ($27 each) for the Nov. 30 annual dinner and Cabela gift card drawing will be available. The meeting is open to the public. Meet Cook Memorial Library’s new director LA GRANDE — Cook Memorial Library will host a meet and greet for the new library director, Kip Roberson, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 6. The com- munity is invited to drop in and welcome Kip to La Grande. Refreshments will be provided. The library is located at 2006 Fourth St., La Grande. Public forum held on end-of-life planning in Oregon LA GRANDE — A free “End of Life Forum” will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Community Room at Cook Memorial Library, 2006 Fourth St., La Grande. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. The forum is meant to answer questions such as: What type of care do I want at the end of my life? How do I share my end P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT UNION COUNTY SHERIFF Arrested: Guy Ronald Griffi ths, 54, unknown address, was arrested on a Marion Coun- ty warrant. The warrant charged harassing communication. Arrested: Dalton Gene Hall, 23, unknown address, and Anthony Morgan Mailman, 35, unknown address, were both arrested on parole and proba- tion detainers. Arrested: Glen Eymard Thibodeau, 32, unknown ad- dress, was arrested on three Union County warrants. One warrant charged second- degree failure to appear in court. A second warrant charged failure to appear on an original charge of driving UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER MENU 1504 ALBANY ST., LA GRANDE Nov. 4- 8; Lunch served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. age 60+ $3 suggested donation; others $6 Monday: roast beef wraps with cheese and tomato, potato salad, broccoli raisin salad, fresh fruit, chips. Tuesday: BBQ chicken, steak fries, baked beans, coleslaw, fresh fruit, cookies. Wednesday: pork roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed Brussel sprouts, Jell-O, baked apples, cake. Thursday: handcrafted pizza, salad greens, fresh fruit, cookies. Friday: taco salad (loaded with vegetables, sautéed beef, chicken, olives, cheese, sour cream and avocado), chips, tortilla soup, fl an. Oregonians and businesses comfortable with how the pro- gram works and its potential benefi ts. Dembrow said he wants to clarify how the program would actually work. He’s working with “people on the ground” in rural districts to help voters to understand the harmful effects of climate change. He’s hoping those open to climate action policy will then convince their neighbors and commu- nity that long-term action is needed. Social media campaigns targeting rural voters and even a short documentary explaining how cap-and-trade policy works are expected to be rolled out in the coming month, according to Dembrow. Dembrow wouldn’t go into more specifi c detail about what industries and groups he’s working with to perfect the proposal, calling it “delicate situation.” He’s hopeful that getting information out to voters of the districts of the 11 Republicans who walked out in June would hold them accountable to show up to work in Febru- ary and stay there. But it seems unlikely that Dembrow and his colleagues will fi nd a middle ground to work with Republicans and keep them in the Capitol if cap and trade is on the agenda again. Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, said there was no change that could be made that could get him to vote for cap and trade. “The reason has to do with the poisoning of the well by virtue of the unsuccessful attempt to pass it this previous session,” Bentz said. “I think the focus should be on car- bon policy that has nothing to do with pricing carbon, and everything to do with addressing CO2 reduction using tools already available, and we have a lot of them.” He pointed out federal tax credits already exist to address some carbon issues. Democrats worry that Senate Republicans might not show up in February, denying Democrats a quorum and from accomplishing anything ahead of what is expected to be an important election for both parties next fall. “The walkout was only used as a vote blocking device because of the incredibly egregious nature of these bills and concepts,” Bentz said. “I don’t think people under- stand how overreaching HB 2020 was. I don’t think they get it.” He said if Democrats refer a constitutional amendment to voters changing Oregon’s quorum requirement, he won’t stand in the way. The Oregon Senate requires two-thirds of senators be present to act. There has been talk of chang- ing that to a majority, which would allow the Democratic- controlled Senate in the current lineup to proceed without Republicans. Bentz expects a public backlash to such a change. “That’s exactly what people are supposed to do when they see the majority overreaching. They need to step up and say no,” Bentz said. “Now if that tool is taken away by the people of Oregon, or a majority of them, then so be it. But there are going to be other ways people will express their dissatisfac- tion with the majority.” of life health care decisions with family, friends and health care providers? What is available in Oregon to help ensure my decisions are followed? Attend this public forum to learn about palliative care and why it’s important to share your wishes for care at the end of life in Or- egon. Speakers will include Zack Nice, attorney at law; Kate Pfi ster-Minogue, RN, NP, PhD; Richard Minogue, MD; and Cheryl Simpson, MSW, former director of the Idaho Quality of Life Coali- tion, Inc. For more informa- tion, contact Simpson at 541-663-6468 or cksw46@ msn.com. Firefi ghters grow mustaches to raise funds for food bank LA GRANDE — Twelve members of the La Grande Firefi ghters Union Local 924 are “grow’n for a cause,” growing their mustaches as a fundraiser for the local food bank. The fi refi ght- ers participating in the “No-shave November” fundraiser ask the commu- nity to support their efforts to grow their month-long mustaches by making a fi nancial donation to the Community Connections of Northeast Oregon’s food bank. Donations may be dropped off at the La Grande Fire Department’s front desk or mailed to 1806 Cove Ave., La Grande 97850 (make checks payable to Community Connections). Those who donate may do so on behalf of the entire department, a particu- lar shift or an individual member. The goal is to raise $1,000. Progress pictures and updates will be posted periodically throughout the month of November on Facebook. Please Join Us for the while suspended or revoked. A third warrant charged failure to appear in court on an original charge of driving while sus- pended or revoked. Arrested: Patrick Adam Walk- er, 35, unknown address, was arrested on a Union County parole and probation warrant. K Avenue. The accident was reported at 4:34 p.m. Arrested: Frederick William Pershing, 62, unknown address, was arrested by the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility while in cus- tody on a Union County warrant charging second-degree criminal mischief. LA GRANDE FIRE DEPARTMENT LA GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrested: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident Wednesday in a parking lot on Firefi ghters responded to one call for medical assistance on Thursday and three on Wednes- day. PACIFIC NORTHWEST ALASKA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO, MONTANA 5($&+PLOOLRQ3DFLÀF1RUWKZHVWHUQHUVZLWKMXVW2QH&DOO PNDC CLASSIFIED - Daily Newspapers 29 newspapers - 1,187,980 circulation Number of words: 25 z Extra word cost: $10 Cost: $540 (Runs 3 consecutive days including wkds.) PNDN 2x2 DISPLAY - Daily Newspapers 27 newspapers - 1,016,864 circulation Size: 2x2 (3.25”x2”) Cost: 1x 2x2: $1,050 More info: Cecelia@cnpa.com or call (916) 288-6011 Downtown Shop Hop November 8-9 Blue Mountain Friday 10am to 7 pm Outfitters Saturday 10am - 5 pm 1124 Adams ________________________ Join us for our Annual Holiday Shop Hop! Community Merchants 1210 Adams Discover what these wonderful stores have to offer. BELLA Stop in and have your card 1216 Adams stamped and enter to win the Fitzgerald grand prize of a $50 gift FHUWLÞFDWHIURPHDFK Flowers merchant...a $250 value. 1414 Adams Every store will have special Rosewood treats for you and individual Cottag e 1414 Adams prize drawings. Don’t miss out on this very special event
