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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2020)
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 5A STORMS DEER Continued from Page 1A Continued from Page 1A Police reported no one suf- fered major injuries. The Oregon Department of Transportation also re- ported an increase in wrecks likely due to the weather. “Snow is a large contribu- tor to crashes,” transporta- tion department spokesper- son Tom Strandberg said. “We need people to pay extra attention and to make sure they are chaining up where they are supposed to and putting on traction tires.” A jackknifed semitrailer Saturday evening on I-84 near milepost 236 stopped the eastbound fl ow of traffi c for hours between Pendleton and La Grande, and crashed and stalled semis Tuesday afternoon led to the shut- down of I-84’s westbound lanes from Pendleton to Ontario until about 8 p.m. Strandberg said while many of the closures due to crashes involve large freight vehicles, all drivers should be extra cautious during winter weather conditions. Strandberg said vis- ibility also plays a key role in ODOT’s efforts to keep travelers safe. Fog or bliz- zard winds blowing so hard drivers can’t see will prompt ODOT to close roads. “Usually with snow and ice, cars can still get through,” he said. “But when estimated population loss of 2,000 deer due to the disease. EHD is a seasonal disease that can occur during the late summer and fall months, according to ODFW. EHD is known to have existed since the 1890s and is found in most of the United States with the exception of the extreme northeast and the northwest. It is different from Adenovirus hemor- rhagic disease, which can occur year-round. Biting midges, also known as “no- see-ums” or gnats, transmit the disease. The tiny insects can breed and live in small pools of warm, stagnant water, according to a news release from the state wildlife department, “even in pools as small as a hoof print fi lled with water.” Freezing weather kills the larva, Rimbach said, and colder temperatures in November brought an end to the outbreak. Rimbach also doubted anyone would have much luck now fi nd- ing more of the dead deer. Coyotes and other wildlife would have consumed what they could of carcasses while they decomposed. Maybe all anyone would fi nd now, he said, is a leg bone. The disease did not seem to touch the mule deer in the area, Rimbach said, nor the white tail that live at higher elevations, such as around Tollgate or in the Ukiah area. “I don’t think they were affected at all,” he said. But 80% of white tail live in lower elevations, right where the disease spread, he said. White tail are susceptible to hemorrhagic diseases anyway. Once an outbreak begins, he said, there is nothing to do but let it run its course. Deer loses to the disease are not uncommon in Or- egon, according to ODFW, and as signifi cant as this die-off is, it should not have long-term effects on the size of the deer population. Still, the state wildlife department is determin- ing whether to reduce the number of deer tags or cancel hunts in the Walla Walla, Mount Emily and Ukiah hunting units. The state agency reported it will inform hunters of any changes by April 15 so they have time to change their controlled hunt application choices before the May 15 deadline. Rimbach said given the size of the die off, cutting some antlerless hunts — particularity agriculture-re- lated hunt — makes sense. Ag hunts help curtail deer populations that dam- age crops. ODFW might issue only a certain number of tags for such a hunt, he said, but in this situation, he said, “There’s really no deer to be had.” Not holding such hunts also would allow the white tail population to recover all the sooner, he added. But he said he and other staff would like to see the anterless youth hunt con- tinue. He said that hunt is worth keeping because it’s such as good opportunity for youth to get involved in hunting. Meat from game with EHD is consumable and the disease is not transmit- table to humans, according to the wildlife department, but experts recommend thoroughly cooking any meat from animals from an infected area. Well-cooked venison, Rimbach said, would be just fi ne. “I would eat it,” he said. 541-786-8984 Alliance Self Storage Photo contributed by the Oregon Department of Transportation Semitrailers on Tuesday block the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 near milepost 247. The Oregon Department of Transportation shut down the lanes between Baker City and Pendleton due to semis spinning out and crashing on the icy road. visibility is an issue, it isn’t safe (for anyone).” With more snow on the way, Strandberg suggested drivers go to tripcheck.com for updated weather and road conditions before get- ting in the car. If you have to be on the road, authorities including ODOT and law enforcement also encourage travelers to be prepared by carrying traction devices, warm blankets, food and emergency kits. While the winter storms can make travel diffi cult, the increase in the snowpack is good news. According to the National Weather Service Northwest River Forecast Center, the snowpack in the Blue Mountains was 90% of normal as of Tues- Staff photo by Ronald Bond Vehicles navigate the snowy weather Monday afternoon on Island Avenue in La Grande. day afternoon. At the start of January it was at 50%. Snowpack typically acts as a natural reservoir, providing water throughout the drier summer months. CHANGES Continued from Page 1A replacement for the chamber by then, he said, the Oregon Military Depart- ment would later become responsible for the day-to-day operations of the building. Union County Commissioner Donna Beverage, a member of the foundation’s board, said even under that scenario, the conference center would continue to serve as a community meeting center. She said a National Guard representa- tive recently told this to the founda- tion’s board. Moore-Hemann said the chamber will do everything it can to help the next contractor get off to a smooth start. “We want to lay the foundation for them,” she said. “Our goal is to have the transition of management go so smoothly that it will not be noticed.” Grover said he believes the chamber will be a big help with the transition process. “I feel very good about that. This is not an acrimonious situation,” he said, adding the foundation and the chamber “have had a very workable agreement.” However, he noted, the chamber has had many changes in leadership and personnel over the past nine years, hurting continuity. “The frequent changes presented challenges,” Grover said. Much of the management service work the chamber does involves sched- uling and putting on events at the Blue Mountain Conference Center. These include annual fundraising banquets for the Rocky Mountain Elk Founda- tion and Ducks Unlimited; the annual Festival of Trees and Santa Mall; as Staff photo by Dick Mason The Union County Chamber of Commerce is not seeking to renew its contract to manage the Blue Mountain Conference Center, La Grande. well as presentations, weddings and gun shows. The chamber also helps the National Guard put on banquets, reunions and more. Grover said the conference center, which opened in 1998, was made pos- sible by a community-wide effort. He pointed out the building is on land rent- ed from Eastern Oregon University, and the National Guard stores much of its equipment on land Union County pro- vides near the La Grande/Union County Airport. Grover said money from the city of La Grande and Union County’s motel tax, also known as a transient room tax, goes to the Blue Mountain Conference Center Foundation to help cover the cost of day-to-day operations. Beverage echoed Grover’s sentiment, adding that many people made dona- tions to get the Blue Mountain Confer- ence Center here. The conference center is aging and in need of maintenance. Eastern Oregon University this spring plans to start construction of a fi eld house. Tim Sey- del, an EOU vice president and the vice president of the Blue Mountain Confer- ence Center Foundation’s board, said he does not believe the conference center will face competition from Eastern’s shiny new facility. “First and foremost, the fi eld house is a space for students and student athletes,” he said. “I don’t see it as a space for banquets. It is not intended to compete with the Blue Mountain Conference Center.” The fi eld house, he said, will not even have a kitchen, as the conference center does. Despite the upcoming change in management, Beverage said people can still make reservations for events at the Blue Mountain Conference Center, even those scheduled past July 1. CENTER Continued from Page 1A with friends and relatives Saturday afternoon in the Elkhorn Mountains when an avalanche struck. The mass of snow trapped Stephens. He died at the scene. None of other three riders were harmed. Wallowa Alpine Huts serves the northern and southern Wallowa Moun- tains and hosts nearly 500 skiers a year. Brown said typically when a back- country skier looks at the homepage of an avalanche center, most of the polygons that outline an avalanche center’s region are colored. The polygons outlining the terrain forecasted by the Wallowa Avalanche Center is gray and outlined in blue, indicating there is informa- tion for that area but no color-coded rating, such as green indicating low danger while red indicating a high danger. Wallowa Avalanche Center photo For the last 10 years, the Wallowa Avalanche Center has been winter enthusiasts’ best resource for avalanche danger and snow conditions. Brown said most of the ski community that fl ocks to northeast Oregon is from outside the area and is used to the color-coded rat- ing — and need to read the advisories and observations carefully. “Because we can’t post the color-coded system, skiers have to read the conversa- tion on our website, which takes more participation and afterthought,” Brown said. Skiers and snowmobil- ers also will call outdoor recreation retailers that sell Oregon Sno Park permits, like Outlaw Motorsports in Enterprise, to get the local snow report. Dustin and Lorien James run the family-owned busi- ness and are both experi- enced snowmachine riders. “Our mission is to increase snowmobile users’ knowl- edge of avalanche danger, which is prevalent in our area,” Lorien James said. The Jameses said they are a sponsor and supporter of the center. For the past three years, Lorien James led a ladies snowmobile ride that culminates in a dinner with auction and raffl e items bringing in more than $2,000 — all donated to the center. James said they also support the center’s training sessions. “We participated in their fi rst companion rescue course on this side of the mountain and we are look- ing to do some for Wallowa County Search and Rescue. It only does so much good to wear the beacon — if you don’t know how to use it you are screwed,” James said. 2105 E L Ave., La Grande • allianceselfstorage123@gmail.com Thank You Chamber Members La Grande Ace Hardware www.VisitUnionCounty.org Gary F. Anger, Financial Advisor BEST OF HAWAII FOUR-ISLAND TOUR FROM $ 2,249 1,999 * $ 13 days, departs year-round TM 1-877-840-6119 Promo code N7017 *Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus $ 299 taxes & fees. Single supplement and seasonal surcharges may apply. Add-on airfare available. 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