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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2019)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 5A LOCAL Central Elementary School Lego Robotics Club HOSPITAL Continued from Page 1A Photo submitted by Central Elementary School The Central Elementary School’s Lego Robotics Club won the Dec. 7 regional competition and will be competing at the state level in January — a major accomplishment for this group of fourth- and fi fth-graders (from left): Hunter Austin, Ian Garlitz, Damen Hibbert, Ephraim Moyal, Jaydin Webb, Ava Mendoza, Fern McConnell, Lucille Morris, Jonathan Gisi and Gabriel Arias. The team is coached by fourth-grade teacher Leslie Graham (not shown). JACKSON Continued from Page 1A rivals, including Democrat Joe Biden, while withholding U.S. military aid as lever- age. That benefi ted Russia over the U.S. as Ukraine, an American ally, fought Rus- sian aggression, the Demo- crats said. Trump then obstructed Congress by ordering current and former offi cials to defy House subpoenas calling them to testify, and by block- ing access to documents, the charges say. By his conduct, Trump “demonstrated he will re- main a threat to national se- curity and the Constitution if allowed to remain in offi ce,” the nine-page impeachment resolution says. Trump is just the fourth U.S. president to face im- peachment proceedings, after Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and the fi rst to be running for re- election at the same time. Although the House impeached both Johnson and Clinton, neither was removed from offi ce. Nixon faced impeachment, but he resigned before the — Melissa Eckstein, president of the Unity Center for Behavioral Health at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland region. Eckstein expressed hope that discussions will lead to positive change and faster, more comprehensive care for patients. “This situation has a huge impact on operations at Unity Center for Behav- ioral Health. More than 25% of our current adult patients are waiting for a bed at the Oregon State Hospital,” Eckstein wrote. The Associated Press Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, the Speaker Pro Tempore, presides as the House of Representatives begins the day of debating the articles of impeachment against Presi- dent Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. House voted. Trump’s case is markedly different from his predeces- sors, in Jackson’s view. “Trump’s connection to foreign powers and the al- leged attack on Democratic processes in the United States makes this a quite dif- PARDON Continued from Page 1A administration did,” Davis said, explaining that mentioning this likely would help him on the campaign trail in 2020 while running for reelection. Davis learned of Kiriakou’s story while preparing to ask questions of him for a presentation he made at the high school via a Skype call. Davis and all stu- dents in John Lamoreau’s American his- tory classes asked questions of Kiriakou during the October session. She said she ferent set of circumstances,” Jackson said. “In many ways, we are in new territory.” Trump insists he did nothing wrong and blasts the Democrats’ effort daily as a sham that’s harming America. Republican allies seem unwavering in their op- was moved by Kiriakou’s presentation, learning not only about how the felony conviction affected his life but also how his time in prison cost him custody of his children and his marriage. The high school senior also was impressed with the upbeat and giving attitude Kiriakou maintains regardless of his circumstances. She noted while in prison he helped fellow inmates earn their GEDs. He shared this and more with the La Grande students. “He opened up about things,” Davis said. Continued from Page 1A Observer fi le photo Jack Howard of La Grande, former Union County Com- missioner, here in a 2015 photo, is running for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District. He is one of four Democrats seeking the party’s nomination. to where it is today. Although he is a Demo- crat, Howard said if elected he would follow many of the examples Walden set. “He is the gold standard of congressmen,” Howard said. position to expelling Trump, and he claims to be looking ahead to swift acquittal in a Senate trial. Despite the gaping partisan chasm, Jackson said he’s not sure the impeachment pro- cess will fracture the nation more than it already is. Following the Skype session, Davis sat alone with her thoughts in the school’s AV auditorium. “I thought, ‘This is crazy.’ It opened my eyes to how the justice system works,” she said. “I sat there and I teared up.” Soon after, Davis decided to start a drive to get a pardon for Kiriakou. She has been heartened by the response she has received from fellow students and community members. “It has made me extremely proud (to be a part of this community),” she said. HOWARD Howard wrote on his web- site, www.votejackhoward. com. “But the test is not all about what can be done ‘for’ people with perceived dis- abilities. It’s about respecting every person’s perceived freedoms to make their own choices.” Howard said on Tuesday he wants people with dis- abilities to be at the table when discussions of their needs take place. “We should not speak for people with disabilities. We should speak with them,” he said. Howard also expressed concern about poverty. “Every single day I will be involved in fi ghting poverty,” he said. “If I don’t talk about poverty one day, I failed that day.” Howard said as a con- gressman he also would focus on the continued devel- opment of the Union County Airport. He believes the airport has “unlimited” po- tential to boost the county’s economy. He said he wants to build on the outstanding work retired Union County Com- missioner Steve McClure and Union County Public Works Director Doug Wright have done to get the airport pension of civil admissions would force local hospitals and psychiatric care units to hold patients awaiting civil commitment a little longer than they might have expected. “These are people whom a judge has said they aren’t able to take care of their own basic needs and civilly commits them to the Oregon Health Author- ity, so they’re already on a waitlist to get into the state hospital,” she said. “They’re already in an acute care hospital with staff trained to meet their needs as opposed to our (aid and assist) popu- lation who we’re also trying to accommodate.” The number of civil pa- tients awaiting admission to the state hospital has grown throughout 2019, from 15 in January to 43 as of Dec. 16. Melissa Eckstein, presi- dent of the Unity Center for Behavioral Health at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, said in a prepared statement that her organiza- tion is in conversations with Oregon Health Authority and state hospital leader- ship to address needs for im- proved access to behavioral health care throughout the “This situation has a huge impact on operations at Unity Center for Behavioral Health. More than 25% of our current adult patients are waiting for a bed at the Oregon State Hospital. The lack of capacity at OSH is creating a patient fl ow crisis within Unity Center’s Psychiatric Emergency Services and long delays for patients who urgently need acute hospitalization for their safety and well-being.” He credited Walden with many qualities, including a sincere interest in the needs of everyone in his district. “Walden always listens,” he said. Howard moved to La Grande 14 years ago. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Western Washington University and master’s de- grees in emergency services and criminal justice from Columbia Southern Uni- versity. He earned his law degree at the University of Puget Sound. Howard is one of four Democratic candidates who have fi led to run for the nomination. The others are Medford resident John Holm, community organizer Isabella Tibbets of Talent, and Raz Mason, a high school teacher from The Dalles. The 2nd Congressional District is one of the largest in the country, covering all of Eastern and Central Oregon and much of the southern part of the state. At 69,491 square miles in size, the district is only 1,871 square miles smaller than the state of Washington. EO Media Group fi le photo Legislation to reduce wait times at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem have cut some people off from the mental health care they need. 541-786-8984 Visit our Website for Rules & Details www.VisitUnionCounty.org Your Family Deserves The e BEST Technology... Value... TV!... Add High Speed Internet /mo. 190 Channels America’s Top 120 CALL TODAY Save 20%! 1-866-373-9175 Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Call for your FREE Information Kit! Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket. 1-877-599-0125 www.dental50plus.com/25 Coverage not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969- 4781 for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). 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