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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2020)
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 5A VISION NEW YEAR Continued from Page 1A Continued from Page 1A Hundreds of thousands of cars pass the Woodburn truck scales on Interstate 5. It’s here that inspectors, called compliance special- ists, complete random checks on a variety of criteria from the physical equipment to a driver’s documentation. The process starts with the 75 weighmasters across the state at roadside scales like Woodburn. Weighmasters use an auto- mated system that electroni- cally collects data from each truck that passes under a detector located about a mile up the freeway. Tom Avila is one of the weighmasters at the Wood- burn scales. After 14 years, he’s adept at reading dozens of data points on several trucks at once as they fi le past his little hut at the weigh station. He sits in front two computer monitors displaying details he needs to know about each truck. In a matter of seconds, Avila reads who is driving, where they’re licensed, how long they’ve been driving, whether their registration is valid, how much weight each truck axle is carrying and if the weight matches their per- mit. The Woodburn scales are also piloting a new technology that can tell Avila whether a tire is fl at or if there’s a prob- lem with an axle so he can alert the driver to pull over. The Woodburn scales see approximately 6,000 to 7,000 trucks a day. Between pre-clearance and simply not having enough time to weigh every truck, that number is a small portion of the total trucks rolling by. Avila works with inspec- tors like Don McCloskey, who pull trucks out of line either by certain type — such as focusing on those carrying hazardous materials — or using a formula. According to Jess Brown, ODOT Motor Carrier’s cen- tral safety unit manager, the algorithm is crucial to inspec- tors’ ability to keep Oregon’s roads safe. Instead of randomly check- ing trucks and stopping driv- ers who have no violations, inspectors can target trucks most likely to have an issue. “We want to take those trucks and drivers who are in bad shape off the road,” Brown said. McCloskey will ask Avila to fl ip a switch that notifi es the driver they’re going to be inspected and to pull around to a large truck barn located a hundred feet west of the weigh station. According to Brown, compliance specialists like McCloskey are expected to complete between eight and 10 rigorous inspections a day. That means they give each truck a 360-degree sweep, crawling down into a pit to get underneath, shining fl ashlights up into critical systems like brakes and load securement, checking the driver’s service and medical records and ensuring regis- tration is in order. An inspection can take from 30 minutes to an hour depending on what they fi nd and how long it takes to discuss with the driver what needs to be fi xed. According to ODOT data, the most common issues inspectors catch are improper lights and brake problems. Those account for nearly half the violations cited by inspectors. the event’s Facebook page that it was a great opportunity for train- ing on the bucket ladder. O’Toole said the block party has increased in popularity every year, with more people coming and more businesses staying open and participating in the festivities. “It is a simple party,” he said. “The real party is the people. We just provide the burn barrels, music and a ball to drop.” The Union County Chamber of Commerce for this year’s event again organized a scavenger hunt with winners receiving prizes pro- vided by Grande Ronde Hospital. Staff photo by Phil Wright The New Year’s Eve block party in downtown La Grande bustles as locals welcome in 2020. MADSEN Continued from Page 1A trooper. Hove, who also works in the La Grande offi ce, noted Madsen is a leader, an excellent teacher and willing to put in extra hours when the need arises. JoLyn Scott, an administration specialist for the La Grande OSP offi ce, describes Madsen as upbeat and positive. “He is always kind and fun,” Scott said. Madsen became a drug recogni- tion expert with state police. In this role he has been responsible for determining if people are under the infl uence of drugs when driving. He has found many peo- ple do not realize they can remain impaired by drugs even after the hallucinogenic effects wear off. “People are impaired much longer than they feel the effects,” he said. He noted people who use mari- juana can be impaired at least a day after taking it. One reason is marijuana now is much more potent than it was when he joined the state police. He explained the levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana that makes people high, averaged about 4% when he was a new trooper. That level has soared, he said, noting that he recently has seen some forms of marijuana with THC levels as high as 93.7 percent. He said contrasting marijuana of yesteryear to that of today is like comparing beer with 5% alcohol content to 150 proof whiskey. Madsen has seen fi rsthand how drug addiction destroys lives, but he does not hold many caught in its throes completely responsible. “Some didn’t know any better. Their parents did this (took drugs),” he said. By the same token, Madsen has seen young people with tremendous potential and family support who fell into the trap of drug addiction. “They made bad choices,” said Madsen, who made a number of FIGHT Continued from Page 1A a longtime Union resident, told the commission. The commission decided in a 3-1 vote to deny the permit. According to the letter the city sent the Wentzels, the denial was because allow- ing the land to be used for a residence would contradict the master plan for the city. “We felt like it was a gut punch after the planning commission meeting,” Jane Wentzel said. Wiggins supported the decision. “We don’t have a lot of commercial ground in town,” he said. As a compromise, the couple decided to split the land into three lots, and the planning commission unani- mously approved. With two new lots for potential businesses and buyers, the Wentzels looked to change NO MORE GUTTER CLEANING, OR YOUR MONEY BACK – GUARANTEED! 0 % 15 %OFF AND! FINANCING* SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS *Contact us for additional details FREE ESTIMATES! 1-855-536-8838 Promo Number: 285 The party began at 10 p.m. with music playing down the blocks, barrels of fi re kept party- goers warm, hot chocolate on was served in a warming tent that sheltered people from the rain. The multi-use venue hq at 112 Depot St. also joined the festivi- ties, complete with an array of area bands. After the ball dropped, a couple of fi reworks went off and the party wrapped up by 12:30 a.m. and Adams reopened for cars. “I thought throwing the party would be a good idea and rela- tively easy to pull off,” O’Toole said. “I want everyone to love where they live and take pride in their community, and this event is one way they can.” Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAF- FNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registra- tion# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registra- tion# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H Staff photo by Dick Mason Eric Madsen is looking forward to spending Sundays with his wife, Jeannie. The senior trooper with the Oregon State Police offi ce in La Grande retired Tuesday after a 23-year career. presentations in schools during his career urging young people to stay clear of drugs. Madsen has dealt with many impaired drivers and plenty of others who were simply driving too fast. When pulling over these drivers, Madsen has made a point of asking their reason for speed- ing. “If there is a medical emergency I want to know right away so I can help them get to the hospital as soon as possible,” Madsen said. When counseling drivers about infractions, he said he aimed to get them to understand they are putting others at risk along with themselves. He pointed out, for example, that many of those injured in construction zone crashes are the workers who have no protection along with the drivers of speeding the zoning on the third lot to residential. They fi led for a zone change in April in addition to suggesting a zone swap for a residential property on Medical Springs Highway owned by Coy Wilde. Under that scheme, the Wentzels fi gured the city would not lose any residential or com- mercial property. However, the city denied the Wentzels proposal. The city in a letter cited the rejection was due to Wilde’s noncompliance with zoning conditions and out of concerns Wilde would not follow through on using his property for a business. The Wentzels presented their proposal during a June 19 public hearing before the planning commission. The fi nal decision regarding the matter went to the city council Aug. 12. During both public hearings, the Went- zels attempted to address vehicles. Madsen said as a law enforce- ment offi cer he has long strived to treat everyone with respect. He fol- lows a mantra from an OSP offi cer he worked under in John Day early in his career. “Treat everyone like you would like to see your mother treated,” Madsen recalled. Madsen said he has enjoyed a rewarding career with the OSP because of the tremendous people he has worked with and the support of his wife of 28 years, Jeannie. The couple, the parents of fi ve children, are looking forward to spending more time together, especially on Sundays, when Madsen often had to work. “Being able to spend Sunday with my wife and family is very impor- tant to me,” he said. concerns that opponents raised to the zone change. Some, such as Dennis Clark, who owns a workshop near the Wentzels’ property, said having people living in the commercial zone could lead to the city getting noise complaints. And Union resident David Orcutt said, “I can see problems in the future with mixing and matching commercial and residential properties.” Not everyone disap- proved. Gary Koegler of Union said he was in favor of the zone change because it would encourage more people to move to town. The council again voted 3-1 against the zone change. The planning commission and city council both cited the 2015 study in their deci- sions. That was enough for the Wentzels. “We made the decision to stop digging in a hole that has no bottom,” Jane Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Call for your FREE Information Kit! Wentzel said. She said they anticipate closing soon on a deal to sell two lots for $34,000 total, which will go toward paying off their debt incurred from purchasing the property. “The thing that kills me is they are just going to park equipment on the land,” she said. “I hope the city is happy with their decision. They could have had three new families.” But that was not the city’s intention for the land. “The city is not hold- ing out for anything other 541-786-8984 www.dental50plus.com/25 Coverage not available in all states. 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Add High Speed Internet Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket. 1-877-599-0125 Madsen also is retiring because he has worked long enough to qualify for full-time retirement benefi ts. He said if he worked as an OSP trooper past this point and he should die, the retirement benefi ts his wife would receive from the state police benefi t fund for spouses would be cut signifi - cantly. Despite his retirement, Madsen said his days in law enforcement are not over, not by a long shot. Madsen, who lives in Elgin, soon will serve as a parole and proba- tion offi cer for Wallowa County. It is a new challenge he is embracing. He will no longer be on patrol but will be continuing to do what he has don throughout his career. “I’m looking forward to helping steer people in the right direction,” he said. for 12 months 190 Channels America’s Top 120 CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Offer ends 1/13/20. /mo. Subject to availability. Restrictions apply. 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