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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2020)
2A — THE OBSERVER D AILY P LANNER TODAY Today is Friday, Jan. 17, the 17th day of 2020. There are 349 days left in the year. FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 LOCAL Wallowa County Fire decimates charter school gym ■ Fire officials say damage to Joseph Charter School gymnasium is ‘extensive’ By Ellen Bishop and Steve Tool EO Media Group TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On Jan. 17, 1995, more than 6,000 people were killed when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 devastated the city of Kobe, Japan. ON THIS DATE In 1806, Thomas Jef- ferson’s daughter, Martha, gave birth to James Madi- son Randolph, the fi rst child born in the White House. In 1916, the Professional Golfers’ Association of America had its begin- nings as department store magnate Rodman Wana- maker hosted a luncheon of pro and amateur golfers in New York City. (The PGA of America was formally es- tablished on April 10, 1916.) In 1917, Denmark ceded the Virgin Islands to the United States for $25 million. In 1945, Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw during World War II; Swed- ish diplomat Raoul Wallen- berg, credited with saving tens of thousands of Jews, disappeared in Hungary while in Soviet custody. In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address in which he warned against “the acquisition of unwarranted infl uence, whether sought or unsought, by the military- industrial complex.” In 1977, convicted mur- derer Gary Gilmore, 36, was shot by a fi ring squad at Utah State Prison in the fi rst U.S. execution in a decade. In 1994, the 6.7 magni- tude Northridge earthquake struck Southern California, killing at least 60 people, ac- cording to the U.S. Geologi- cal Survey. In 1997, a court in Ireland granted the fi rst divorce in the Roman Catholic coun- try’s history. In 2001, faced with an electricity crisis, California used rolling blackouts to cut off power to hundreds of thousands of people; Gov. Gray Davis signed an emer- gency order authorizing the state to buy power. JOSEPH — Joseph Charter School students were enjoying a leisurely lunch Thursday when they found their world turned upside down. Eight-grader Nathan Bosch headed for the weight room on the second level of the JCS gym, Sather Court, when he got a surprise. “I heard a buzzing sound,” he said. “I looked up and there was white smoke coming from the ceiling. Then the fi re alarm went off. I just ran.” He ran the right direction — to the offi ce and reported where he’d seen smoke. School fi re drills had paid off. Within as little as three minutes every student was out of the school and harm’s way. Many left their jackets, backpacks and other posses- sions in their classrooms. “The emergency responders, especially Joseph Fire, got here really fast,” said Christina Eaves. She was serving food in the lunch line when the fi re alarm went off. She said the school fi lled with smoke very quickly, and that teachers gathered their classes and exited the building rapidly. After gathering outside in groups, Photo courtesy of Kendall Hayes Smoke pours out of the Joseph Charter School gym Thursday after students and staff safely evacuated. older children walked and younger children were bused to the Joseph Community Center, which city em- ployees opened up for the refugees. Joseph Fire Department re- sponded within minutes as well as Enterprise Fire, Wallowa County and Oregon State Police not long afterward to the Sather Court blaze, a particularly diffi cult one to fi ght because of the size of the building, its inherent darkness and smoke. The fi re started in the mechanical room and sped to the ceiling, where it fl ourished, devouring everything not made of timber in its path, including the fl ag, unfurled so reverently at each building event, which was now charred ash heap on the fl ooded gym fl oor. Wrestling practice takes place Oregon What Republicans think of cap and trade By Claire Withycombe Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — One question has lingered in political circles in the days since Democratic legislators unveiled their latest plan to limit the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. What do the Republicans think? The GOP holds a shrink- ing share of seats in the Leg- islature, but still possesses just enough members to halt legislative business. Senate Republicans made national headlines for tank- ing last year’s proposal by fl eeing the state, a possibility that looms over the coming session, which begins Feb. 3. Hence the interest: Are the slate of changes recently pro- posed by Democrats enough to get their colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stay in the building? Sen. Bill Hansell of Athena for District 29 cover- ing Northeast Oregon said on Thursday he understands the new proposal is similar to what forced lawmakers to walk out last session and deny a quorum. “We as a caucus are even more determined now than ever before that whatever the leadership wants the bill to be, that it needs to be re- ferred to the people,” he said. “This is too monumental not have a state vote on it.” Sen. Herman Baert- schiger, R-Grants Pass, who leads Republicans in the Senate, was rather opaque about the odds of a another walkout when taking ques- tions from reporters on Wednesday. Eastern Oregon LOTTERY Sen. Bill Hansell, front left, offi cially submitted paperwork Thursday morning to run for reelection in 2020. Megabucks: $1.6 million 1-8-16-30-32-40 Mega Millions: $103 million 9-11-13-31-47-11-x2 Powerball: $321 million 39-41-53-55-68-19-x2 Win for Life: Jan. 15 22-44-61-70 Pick 4: Jan. 16 • 1 p.m.: 0-3-8-3 • 4 p.m.: 9-7-8-6 • 7 p.m.: 2-6-4-6 • 10 p.m.: 4-1-4-0 Pick 4: Jan. 15 • 1 p.m.: 0-3-6-6 • 4 p.m.: 4-4-6-7 • 7 p.m.: 2-9-5-6 • 10 p.m.: 9-0-5-1 NEWSPAPER LATE? Every effort is made to de- liver your Observer in a timely manner. Occasionally condi- tions exist that make delivery more diffi cult. If you are not on a motor route, delivery should be before 5:30 p.m. If your delivery is by motor carrier, delivery should be by 6 p.m. The Observer offi ce closes at 5 p.m. If you do not receive your paper please call 541-963- 3161. QUOTE OF THE DAY “The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on forever.” — Herb Caen, American newspaper columnist in the balcony, and the petroleum- based material of the mats emitted a viscous smoke that hampered fi refi ghters in their search for the fi re’s origin. Firefi ghters fi ltered into the building with hoses and emerged blackened with soot from the smoke. Self-contained breathing apparatus- es were in abundance. One man kept busy bringing in fresh air tanks and helping fi refi ghters don them before their return to battle. Two blackened fi refi ghters emerged from the building. One said, “It’s hot as hell in there.” The other replied he could barely see in the smoke-fi lled gym. Outside, as smoke billowed from open gym doors and an exhaust vent, other fi refi ghters labored to tend hoses and hold a ladder as another fi refi ghter climbed to knock out bal- cony windows to vent heated gases that could spread to other areas of the school. The gases had earlier caused a fl ash fi re when they ignited, accord- ing to Wallowa County Emergency Services Manager Paul Karvoski. “Luckily, no one was in there at the time,” he said. Firefi ghters’ hard work allowed them to get the upper hand on the blaze after 45 minutes and prevent the blaze from spreading into class- room territory. However, as Karvoski, said, every sprinkler in the school worked properly, which not only helped stop the spread of the fi re but also fi lled the school with water. He estimated 50% of the school sus- tained water damage. But it could have been much worse. “It was a hell of a catch,” he said. “I could easily see that school going up.” Joseph Fire Chief Jeffery Wecks said he doubted Joseph would host basketball events this season. “It depends on how deep the fi re got into the beams,” he said. “They might be able to re-sand and refi nish them. I don’t know if they can save the fl oor or not.” Wecks said the gym damage is exten- sive and probably won’t be known until tomorrow or later. He added no injuries were reported from the fire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is inspecting the scene to determine a cause. “Well, you know, it’s a very fl uid, dynamic situation,” Baertschiger said. “It’s ever- changing. You know, I’m still having conversations, but nothing is off the table. And I would not want to speculate one way or the other at this point because it is such a dynamic situation.” Baertschiger said Re- publicans have discussed a direct referral to voters and indicated there could be some support among Republicans for that. But the draft legislation contains an emergency clause, which means that the bill can’t be referred to voters by law- makers. Voters could still use the initiative process to force a public vote. On Monday, the interim Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR 975-2000 www.lagrandeautorepair.com MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE Joe Horst ACDelcoTSS heard three hours of testimo- ny on the revamped proposal from invited guests, ranging from the chief operating offi cer of a truck stop company to a policy adviser at the Nature Conservancy. Lawmakers are in Salem this week for a series of interim meetings. “As long as we can sit down and collaborate and work on common goals, on issues, I am 100% behind doing that,” said Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, the newest member of the Senate and its environment committee. “And that’s (what) I believe we should all be here for. ... But if it’s ‘My way or the highway,’ then that’s a dif- fi cult decision to make.” Rep. David Brock Smith, a Port Orford Republican who served on the com- mittee that considered Modern Jazz with La Grande’s Very Own “Wrecking Crew” Matt Cooper Trio with Luke McKern and Mark Emerson Thursday, January 16th 8pm-10pm 541-963-8766 tendepotstreet.com PACIFIC NORTHWEST ALASKA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO, MONTANA 5($&+PLOOLRQ3DFLÀF1RUWKZHVWHUQHUVZLWKMXVW2QH&DOO EO Media Group fi le photo Bill Hansell files for reelection EO Media Group staff SALEM — Sen. Bill Han- sell made it offi cial Thurs- day morning. The state senator and Republican from Athena offi cially submitted paper- work to run for reelection in 2020. He submitted the paper- work in Salem while there for legislative duty. “I had made my intention known last fall,” Hansell stated in a recent news release. “It has been my honor to represent the good people of District 29 in the Oregon Legislature, and if the citizens want me to con- tinue for another term, I’m willing and ready to serve.” This year marks Han- sell’s eighth year as a senator serving District 29, which spans across Wal- lowa, Union, Umatilla, Mor- row, Gilliam and Sherman counties as well as half of Wasco County. Citizens will vote in the general election on Nov. 3. A primary is scheduled in May, and the fi ling deadline for District 29 candidates is March 10. 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 FAMILY OWNED last year’s proposal, said he was not involved in crafting the new legisla- tive concept released last Friday. “Not being included in the new discussions was rather unfortunate,” Smith said in an interview, “Because we might have been able to mitigate some of the issues that this bill has.” Republicans seem to want to focus on nudging Orego- nians to sign on to cleaner energy sources. “We have to have a carrot, perhaps wrapped in choco- late icing, before you go with the stick,” said Findley, who was sworn in as a senator just last week. NOW HIRING: Shift Supervisor Production Workers Millwrights Electricians At Boise Cascade, we know our employees are our most valuable assets! 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