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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2020)
LOCAL AND MORE Saturday, March 28, 2020 News Briefs Community Briefs Harvest Share available by appointment at senior center LA GRANDE — Harvest Share items still are available at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande, but people must call 541-963-7532 to arrange pickup. Staff will bring the free bag of food to the door, with the goal of maintain- ing the mandated 6 feet of separation. Silhouette shoots will resume in December LA GRANDE — The La Grande Rifle and Pistol Club has canceled its April 5 .22 Silhouette Shoot. These matches will resume in De- cember. For more informa- tion, contact Gary Langlitz at 541-786-0809. Latin dancing restricted to living room LA GRANDE — The Latin dance lessons at Wine Down, La Grande, held on Monday evenings, are canceled until further notice. EOLS postpones kickoff UNION — The Eastern Oregon Livestock Show has postponed its 2020 Kickoff Dinner that was scheduled for April 4. Rotary tracks open businesses thE OBSErVEr — 3A EO Media Group staff Federal funds available to avoid layoffs LA GRANDE — The Eastern Oregon Work- force Board reported it has funding to help area busi- nesses that are at risk of laying off employees due to the novel coronavirus. “The flexibility allowed for this money is unprec- edented for federal funds, as they may be used for any activities to prevent, or minimize the dura- tion of, unemployment resulting from layoffs,” according to the board. “For example, the money could be used for a deep clean to keep employees safe and healthy, laptop computers that enable employees to work remotely, or any other supplies or services that qualify.” You can find the appli- cation at the board’s web- site: www.eowb.org. Return it with a completed W-9 to info@eowb.org, by noon each Wednesday. Applica- tions will be accepted until funds have been depleted. Successful applicants will be announced weekly. Call 541-963-3693 and leave a message for Brenda or Erin during regular business hours with your questions. Oregon fuel still 4th most expensive in nation PORTLAND — Gaso- line prices are plummeting across the country but fuel in Oregon, as well as other western states, is much more expensive than the national average. That’s actually a typ- ical situation, although the nationwide drop, which reflects decreased demand due to coronavirus restric- tions and crude oil prices at their lowest level since 2002, is not normal, said Marie Dodds of AAA Oregon/Idaho. “The West Coast usu- ally has the highest prices,” Dodds said. Oregon, with an average price of $2.80 per gallon for regular unleaded, down a dime over the past week, ranks as the 4th-highest price among states. Oregon has been in that spot for eight straight weeks. The national average is $2.10. Oklahoma has the cheapest gas, with an average of $1.70 per gallon. A total of 29 states have an average below $2. Hawaii, as it often does, has the highest average price at $3.44, followed by Cali- fornia ($3.17) and Wash- ington ($2.87). Dodds said the main reason that gas prices in West Coast states typically exceed the national average, and often by 50 cents and more, is that there are rela- tively few fuel refineries in the region (none in Oregon), and the distance to major refining states such as Texas is such that transpor- tation costs boost prices at the pump. Another factor, Dodds said, is California law requiring gas sold in that state contain less carbon to reduce pollution. That gas blend is more expensive because only certain refin- eries produce it, she said, and sometimes other states, including Oregon, end up selling the California-blend fuel. Regionally, Baker Coun- ty’s average price of $2.83 ranks second-highest among Eastern Oregon counties, behind Wal- lowa County ($3.02 — the highest price in the state). Other average prices among counties: • Malheur, $2.63 • Umatilla, $2.66 • Union, $2.69 • Morrow, $2.70 • Grant, $2.73 • Harney, $2.75 Thirteen of Oregon’s 36 counties have a higher average price than Baker County’s. Eleven of those counties are west of the Cascades, including Mult- nomah, the state’s most populous county, which ranks second behind Wal- lowa County at $2.98 per gallon. Linn County, in the Willamette Valley, has the lowest average at $2.46. Relief fund will support restaurant workers impacted by COVID-19 crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation announced the creation of a Restau- rant Employee Relief Fund to support U.S. restau- rant workers financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Industry icon Guy RELIEF Continued from Page 1A Photo by Bill Bradshaw/ EO Media Group Range Rider in Enter- prise in Wallowa County switched to takeout and delivery service. The Rotary Club of Wallowa County is letting people know what businesses still are open. UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER TAKEOUT LUNCH MENU Takeout only, pickup from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande for delivery, call 541-963-7532 before 10 a.m. March 30-April 3 Monday: chicken strips, steak fries, coleslaw, fresh fruit, cookies. Tuesday: ravioli, spinach salad, steamed winter-blend vege- tables, garlic bread, fruit. Wednesday-Friday: April menu not yet available. response “to address these threats to their lives and their livelihood and they need it now.” The $2.2 trillion legisla- tion will speed government payments of $1,200 to most Americans and increase jobless benefits for mil- lions of people thrown out of work. Businesses big and small will get loans, grants and tax breaks. It will send unprecedented billions to states and local govern- ments, and the nation’s all but overwhelmed health care system. “This is not a time for cynicism or invective or second-guessing,” said GOP Whip Liz Cheney of Wyoming. “This is a time to remember that we are cit- izens of the greatest nation on Earth, that we have over- come every challenge we have faced, and we will overcome this one.” Despite reservations, arch conservatives joined with progressives like Alex- andria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to back the bill, which moved quickly through a Congress that’s been battered by parti- sanship and is itself not immune to the suffering the virus has caused. Reps. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., announced Friday that they’d tested positive, bringing the number of infected lawmakers to five. Tea party Republicans said government orders to shutter businesses merited actions that conflict with their small-government ide- Photo by Evan Vucci/The Associated Press President Donald Trump speaks before he signs the coronavirus stimulus relief package in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday in Washington. Listening are, from left; Larry Kudlow, White House chief economic adviser, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarty of California. ology. Liberals accepted generous corporate res- cues that accompany larger unemployment benefits, deferrals of student loans, and an enormous surge of funding for health care and other agencies responding to the crisis. “I’m going to have to vote for something that has things in it that break my heart,” said conserva- tive Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. Many lawmakers sum- moned the bipartisan spirit of 9/11 and efforts to fight terrorism. Others praised the roles low-income workers play in keeping the country going and the her- oism of health care workers. Some, like Iowa Democrat Abby Finkenauer, who had just learned of two addi- tional coronavirus-related deaths in her district, came close to tears. Others couldn’t restrain their partisan impulses. Republicans chided Dem- ocratic leaders for delays and provisions they see as extraneous, such as funding for public broadcasting and the arts; Democrats said too many elements are a bailout for corporations that may not need it. Still, in a chamber increasingly populated by lawmakers whose chief skill often seems to be partisan attacks, Friday’s debate was a noteworthy break. “We have no time to dither,” said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. “We have no time to engage in ideo- logical or petty partisan fights. Our country needs Obituaries Inski H. Yu La Grande Dr. Inski H. Yu, 43, of La Grande, died March 22 at his residence. Arrange- ments by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. Nayda V. (Byrd) Wiseman La Grande • 1925-2020 Nayda Virginia Byrd Adams Wiseman, 94, of La Grande, died March 21 at a local care facility. At her request, there will not be a service. Nayda was born April 16, 1925, in Portland, to Franklin and Marie (Stone) Byrd. She was raised in Corvallis, where she attended grade school and graduated from high school. As a young adult, she lived in Portland, and she moved to La Grande in 1958. In 1946, Nayda mar- ried Dr. John C. Adams. That marriage ended in divorce. She then married Gary Wiseman in 1973. Nayda retired in 1988 after 30 years as a sec- retary, first at Mt. Emily Lumber and then at Boise Cascade. Nayda enjoyed gar- dening, music (Ella Fitz- gerald, Benny Goodman, Count Basie), sports cars, a glass of good wine and traveling, including trips to South America, Mexico, Canada, Europe (several times), the Canary Islands and through the Straits of Magellan. Nayda also was an avid skier at Little Anthony and Anthony Lakes. She was a member of the Women in Timber organization and a volunteer at Grande Ronde Hospital. Surviving relatives include her daughter, Nancy Adams of Bea- verton, and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin and Marie; son, John F. Adams; sister, Dor- othy Winters; brother, us as one.” The run-up to the vote contained an element of drama because libertarian conservative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced plans to seek a roll call vote. Leaders of both par- ties united to prevent that because it would have forced lawmakers back to the Capitol or blemished their voting records if they stayed home. Instead, they made sure enough law- makers would attend Fri- day’s session to block Massie’s move under the rules, and lawmakers took the unprecedented step of sitting in the visitors gal- leries to establish the neces- sary quorum. The House promptly adjourned for a weeks-long recess but will return later Fieri will lead a nationwide fundraising drive. “My entire career has been in the restaurant busi- ness,” Fieri said in a news release. “From bussing tables to flambe captain to dishwasher to chef… I’ve done it all. I’ve also spent the better part of the last 15 years traveling this great country meeting other folks who’ve dedicated their lives to this business and let me tell you something, they are the hardest working, most real deal workers you’ve ever met. But they need our help and with Restau- rant Relief America, we can serve up some sup- port when these restaurant employees need it most… right now.” Starting Tueday, affected restaurant workers will be able to apply online for a one-time, $500 check to use toward housing, transpor- tation, utilities, child care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans. These grants will be administered by the NRAEF and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on the application process or if you wish to donate to RERF, visit https://rerf.us/. in the spring to consider further legislation. “This bill is not only a rescue package, it’s a com- mitment — a commit- ment that your government, and the people whom you elected to serve you, will do everything we can to limit the harm and hard- ship you face, both now and in the foreseeable future,” said Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The massive CARES Act started as a draft plan among Republicans con- trolling the Senate who were seeking a greater voice in the coronavirus response efforts — especially after Pelosi was a dominant force in earlier legislation imposing a sick leave man- date on businesses. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., welcomed Democratic participation a week ago, and signed off on a major expansion of unemployment insurance, but his efforts to freeze out Pelosi and force a quick agreement were met with Democratic demands for large infusions of aid to states and hospitals, as well as an assortment of smaller items. McConnell and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York wrestled for days, along with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other administration officials. Negotiations finally produced a deal early Wednesday morning, and the Senate passed the mea- sure by a 96-0 vote. The legislation dwarfs prior Washington responses to crises like 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and natural disasters. Public Safety Report Upcoming local services APRIL 3 Loren Fihn: 5 p.m. burial of cre- mains, Island City Cemetery; followed by reception dinner. APRIL 18 Linda Johnston: 1 p.m. celebration of life and potluck, Elgin Community Center. Robert Byrd; and broth- er-in-law, Larry Winters. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneral- chapel.com. WEDNESDAY 12:42 p.m. — Law enforce- ment received a report of a vehicle not yielding for an ambulance on the 11600 block of Island Avenue, Island City. A Union County sheriff’s dep- uty responded and issued a citation. 4:45 p.m. — La Grande police received a noise complaint on the 2200 block of Cove Avenue. An officer responded and told people to keep it down. 4:56 p.m. — A caller reported aggressive dogs on the 800 block of South Third Street, Union. An animal enforcement officer responded, returned the dogs to their home and left a notice for their owner. 7:07 p.m. — A caller in Union reported a disturbance on the 1000 block of South Main Street. Union County sheriff’s deputies responded and warned the subject about making too much noise. 8:32 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of loud bangs in the area of Riverside Park. Law enforcement responded but found no one in the area. 9:59 a.m. — A caller in Cove reported animal abuse. The Union County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the situation. 12:09 p.m. — La Grande police received a request to check on someone. An officer responded, and the person in question went to the hospital. Police also took a report. 4:35 p.m. — La Grande police cited three La Grande teens: an 18-year-old for first-degree theft and unlawful entry into a vehi- cle; a 17-year-old for first-degree theft and unlawful entry into a vehicle; and a 15-year-old for juvenile in possession of a fire- arm and theft by receiving. 7:52 p.m. — A caller reported someone throwing garbage around on the 2700 block of Bearco Loop, La Grande. Police arrived. The person decided to clean up the mess. 8:27 p.m. — Law enforce- ment received a report of sev- eral loud bangs in the area of the 62100 block of Mount Glen Road. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded but did not find any cause. La Grande Post Acute would like to extend a Great Big THANK YOU! to all our family members who have been so supportive about following our guidelines with this Covid-19. We would also like to let our family members know that all is well, and have had no outbreak of this violent epi- demic. Activities have been modifi ed to suit the needs, Walkie Talkie Bingo was a big hit. If you would like to support your family at La Grande Post Acute, Saturday-April 4, 2020 we will be outside 11:30a to 1:30p decorating the windows for the resi- dents. THURSDAY 9:10 a.m. — A caller report- ed two dogs chased horses in the area of 300 Inverness Street, Summerville. An animal enforcement officer responded and cited the owner of the dogs. Call Dona at 541-963-8678 and let me know if you are coming.
