Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2020)
SPORTS Inside Tigers bury Bulldogs FRIDAY-SUNDAY • January 10-12, 2020 • $1.50 Removing dams would prove costly, 2A Accessible viewing, 1B Good day to our valued subscriber Arleigh Isley of La Grande Health Oregon Legislature Not too late to get flu shot New climate plan taking shape Country ■ Clinics in February offer flu vaccine for free La Grande ■ Dems intend to roll out a new plan that would be easier on industry, rural Oregon By Claire Withycombe Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Less than a month be- fore legislators convene again, a new proposal to cap Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions is taking fi rmer shape. The aim is to reduce the state’s overall emissions from electricity, fos- sil fuels like natural gas and diesel, and industrial processes like making cement, steel and semi-conductors. Together, those three sectors account for about 80 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a briefi ng provided Thursday by two Democratic state senators. In a nod to industry, the new plan does not enact limits on natural gas emissions from high-emissions factories. Key industries still would remain subject to limits on other emissions from their production. And to cut the impact on rural Oregon, the new plan still limits emissions at- tributable to fuel suppliers, but fi rst in Portland and then just in other populous areas. The proposal hinges on a system of emission allowances — essentially permits to emit greenhouse gases — that can be bought and sold. See Plan / Page 5A By Sabrina Thompson The Observer LA GRANDE — Flu shots remain available for those who may need them and, ac- cording to local data, people do. With visits to the hospital for fl u symptoms at a steady 5% across the state according to Oregon Health Association reports, plenty of people are getting sick with this season’s bug. Fortunately there is time and there are ways of preventing the spread of the fl u. Flu shots are available locally from primary care providers as well as Grande Ronde Hospital and the Center for Human Develop- ment, both in La Grande. The hospital and the center are partnering to provide fl u vac- cinations free to anyone over the age of 6 months at clinics Feb. 13-14 and Feb. 18-21 at locations throughout Union County. Free fl u shots also are available at CHD, 2301 Cove Ave., by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. or for walk-ins on Friday. Grande Ronde Hospital infection preventionist Amy Miles said the hospital still is seeing a high number of people test positive for the fl u, and 90% of those positive tests are for the Infl uenza B strain, which the fl u shot protects against. “We are defi nitely anxious to see fl u numbers start trending down,” Miles said. CHD encourages fl u shots and education about the fl u through its immunization program, which offers low- cost or free vaccines to Union County residents. Elizabeth Sieders, the center’s immu- nization coordinator, is part of those efforts to educate and inform Union County residents about the fl u vac- cination and prevention. See Shot / Page 5A Bon appetit at LHS The Observer Staff photo by Dick Mason ■ Corporate chef serves up Vietnamese dishes for La Grande High School students By Sabrina Thompson The Observer See Chef / Page 5A ■ La Grande native making a name for herself as county singer in Nashville By Sabrina Thompson La Grande High School student Katie Crowson, left, and school district employee Melissa Reagan help pre- pare Thursday’s Vietnamese lunch at the school. The meal is part of an effort to expose students to foods and cultures they may not know. LA GRANDE — La Grande High School students were treated to a special lunch Thursday from corporate chef Chris Murray. District staff, students and faculty served dishes inspired by Murray’s trip years ago to Vietnam. “We want to expose kids to new food, new cultures,” Murray said. “There are lots of good things around the world, and lots of great food.” Murray decided on a bun cha noodle bowl. He learned about the dish during a stint with the chef’s council, a group of 12 chefs who travel the world looking for new and interesting food and recipes to share. He said the chefs had the meal in Hanoi. They sat on small chairs in a circle while a woman cooked the meal on a charcoal grill in front of them. “It’s a really common dish in Vietnam,” Murray said. “But to have it fresh and see it made in front of you, it is really amazing.” star hits the right notes Staff photo by Dick Mason La Grande High School students, from left, Kentrell Farmer, Marissa Vaughn and Alex Larvik select Viet- namese entrees during their lunch Thursday. LA GRANDE — Nicole Lewis went from the stages of La Grande to the stages of Nashville, Tennessee. She returned to her hometown for a pub talk Thursday night at Side A Brew- ing to share her experiences and advice about the Lewis music industry. Lewis was born and raised in La Grande, attended La Grande High School and took music lessons with local instructors, including Peter Wordelman and Lanetta Paul. Lewis was part of local choirs through school and church. When she was 3, Lewis said, her babysitter told her mother she was constantly singing. From that point there was no turning back. “I’ve always just loved it so much,” Lewis said of singing. “I love melodies and I just love how music sounds. I hear music all the time, even when it is just playing in the background.” As a shy, only child, Lewis said she would go home and sing to herself for hours, putting in hours of practice, although she had so much fun, she said she often didn’t mind practicing. Lewis graduated from high school in 2004 and went off to Gonzaga University, Spo- kane, to study pre-medicine and minor in music. She used the music as an escape from her studies.] She was the fi rst student to receive a jazz vocal minor from the school. During her junior year of college in 2007, Lewis won a talent competition in Spokane and her music career took off. Lewis said the achievement provided her more opportunities and began opening doors that See Lewis / Page 5A Umatilla County Psychiatric patient still missing from Pendleton facility By Alex Castle EO Media Group PENDLETON — The psychiatric patient who went missing from a residential treatment facility in Pendleton on Sunday remains at large, according to Pendleton Police Department Chief Stuart Roberts. On Sunday afternoon, Thaddeus Ziemlak left Salmon Run, a residen- tial treatment home under the juris- Ziemlak Avenue. A press release from the review board stated Ziemlak was last seen leaving Salmon Run, 2575 West- INDEX Classified ..... 2B Comics ......... 5B Crossword ... 3B Dear Abby .... 6B diction of the Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board, on a planned recreational outing to the area of Walmart and Safeway on Southwest Court WEATHER Horoscope ... 3B Lottery.......... 2A Obituaries .... 3A Opinion ........ 4A MONDAY Outdoors ..... 1B Sports .......... 7A Sudoku ........ 5B Weather ....... 6B gate, Pendleton, around 11:30 a.m. and was due back around 2:30 p.m. He never returned, and authorities were notifi ed shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to Roberts. Alison Bort, executive director of the psychiatric board, said Salmon Run offi cials were following protocol for Ziemlak’s conditional release when he went missing. Bort said each patient on con- See Ziemlak / Page 5A CONTACT US Full forecast on the back of B section Friday Saturday Sunday 32 LOW 39/31 39/27 2-4” of snow Snow, 1-3” Snow, 1-3” LHS, BHS CLASH ON HARDWOOD ditional release under the board’s jurisdiction is assigned a case moni- tor to stay in contact with. When a patient goes missing from a facility, the case monitor is contacted to help go over any recent incidents or potential red fl ags. Sometimes, Bort said, it’s just a mistake by the patient and there’s no need to contact the police. 541-963-3161 Issue 151 2 sections, 18 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com . More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com
