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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2020)
2A — THE OBSERVER TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020 STATE/REGION DAILY Virus closes one rural tradition, another continues PLANNER EO Media Group staff TODAY Today is Tuesday, April 14, the 105th day of 2020. There are 261 days left in the year. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On April 14, 1865, Presi- dent Abraham Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth during a performance at Ford’s Theater in Washington. ON THIS DATE In 1939, the John Stein- beck novel “The Grapes of Wrath” was fi rst published by Viking Press. In 1981, the fi rst test fl ight of America’s fi rst operational space shuttle, the Columbia, ended successfully with a landing in California. LOTTERY Megabucks: $2.6 million 4-5-14-19-45-46 Mega Millions: $145 million 2-11-21-57-60-13 x2 Powerball: $22 million 22-29-30-42-47—PB-17 x3 Win for Life: April 11 4-6-35-75 Pick 4: April 12 • 1 p.m.: 6-1-8-7; • 4 p.m.: 5-7-7-9 • 7 p.m.: 2-9-9-5; • 10 p.m.: 8-7-0-8 Pick 4: April 11 • 1 p.m.: 2-9-2-0 • 4 p.m.: 7-0-6-6 • 7 p.m.: 4-4-3-2 • 10 p.m.: 3-8-8-0 Pick 4: April 10 • 1 p.m.: 7-0-1-4 • 4 p.m.: 4-6-1-9 • 7 p.m.: 0-2-1-8 • 10 p.m.: 6-6-5-5 DELIVERY ISSUES? If you have any problems receiving your Observer, call the offi ce at 541-963-3161. TODAY’S QUOTE “I am a man of fi xed and unbending principles, the fi rst of which is to be fl exible at all times.” — Everett Dirksen, Ameri- can politician (1896-1969) SALEM — COVID-19 is impacting rural Oregon in a variety of ways. One well-known Oregon rural tradition has decided not to open, while another will operate under much different rules. For the fi rst time in 36 years, Iverson Family Farms in Woodburn, will not hold its annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, a col- orful rite of spring that draws thousands of visitors from around the world. Barb Iverson, who runs the tulip farm, said it was a diffi cult but necessary decision as the number of COVID-19 cases increased and more restrictions were placed on gatherings. The festival was scheduled to begin March 20 and con- tinue through May 3. Iverson said the farm is still considering whether to provide any access to the tulip fi elds this season — the fl owers are going to bloom regardless of what happens, she said. The con- cern is whether that would lead to a sudden rush of traffi c and potentially increase people’s exposure to the virus. “We want everybody to be safe,” Iverson said. “It’s just hard, because right now we don’t have enough infor- mation. Who knows what the next two weeks will bring?” Last year, the festival brought in about 150,000 visitors and a little more than $1 million in revenue, she said. EO Media Group fi le photo Crowds enjoy opening week of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn on March 26, 2015. EO Media Group fi le photo Many farmers’ markets in Oregon are open, but are taking precautions in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. “It’s a big hit for the farm,” Iverson said. Iverson Family Farms grows about 1,200 acres of grass seed, vetch seed, tulips, wine- grapes and, most recently, industrial hemp. Losing the festival could mean cutting back on sea- sonal employees and other expenses to help make ends meet, Iverson said. Other local and school groups also use the festival to host fundraisers of their own, extending the economic impact into the community. “It’s going to be a tough year for a lot of them,” Iverson said. “We will get through this. Hope- fully it doesn’t take down everything.” Farmers’ markets are known to cultivate a fes- tive atmosphere that attracts crowds, which is exactly what people are supposed to avoid during the corona- virus outbreak. At their core, however, such markets are about food distribution, which is why they’re exempt from Ore- gon’s prohibition on gath- erings of more than 25 people. Now that they must emphasize only food — not fun — Oregon farmers’ markets are preparing to strip their operations down to the essentials during the spring season. “The social fabric we’ve been weaving for years, we’re rapidly unrav- eling,” said Kelly Crane, executive director of the Oregon Farmers Market Association. At least for the time being, live music is out, as are chairs, tables, kids’ activities and anything else that would encourage people to congregate, she said. Vendors will space their booths farther apart, lots of hand-washing stations will be provided and signs will advise visitors to maintain social distance, Crane said. A couple of Oregon farmers’ markets have even decided against opening as planned this spring, since they didn’t have enough physical space available to spread out their vendors, she said. Apart from providing an opportunity to buy food in the open air, the state’s farmers’ markets are critical for the 6,700 small busi- nesses that sell about $63 million worth of goods at them each year, Crane said. Markets that maintain operations year-round have already seen a decline in attendance, but their sales haven’t dropped as sharply, she said. That’s because shoppers are still showing up individually, without their friends and families. NEWS BRIEFS EO Media Group staff Gas station self- service extended until April 25 SALEM — The Offi ce of the State Fire Marshal has extended temporary rule allowing Oregon gas stations to voluntarily offer self-service. The state fi re marshal’s offi ce announced the move Friday, extending the deadline to April 25. “We appreciate the patience of all Oregonians and businesses with this temporary suspension of rules, which now allow for self-service at Oregon gas stations,” State Fire Mar- shal Jim said in a state- ment. “These changes provide station opera- tors fl exibility to manage their operations and help to make refueling safer for both customers and service station attendants, while Photo By Ellen Morris Bishop/EO Media Group Enterprise and Joseph fi refi ghters mop up Monday morn- ing after a fi re burned down this home in Enterprise. Early morning fi re torches Enterprise home, shed By Ellen Morris Bishop EO Media Group ENTERPRISE — A fi re that started in a large detached garage and shop around 5 a.m. Monday destroyed that building and severely damaged the Zak Bradshaw home at 61448 Lime Quarry Road. Enterprise and Joseph fi re departments responded to 911 calls from neighbors. “The shed and south side of the house were fully involved by the time we got here,” said Enter- prise assistant fi re chief Dan Niezen. “We turned our attention to the house fi rst. There wasn’t much we could do to save the shed.” The garage/shop con- tained stored furnish- ings, equipment and other household items, much of which belonged to Chief- tain reporter Bill Brad- shaw. It was a total loss. Niezen also estimated the home, a 5-bedroom craftsman built in 1904, was a total loss as well. Homeowner Zak Brad- shaw reportedly suffered severe burns on his hand and arm when removing a tractor from the shed and was taken to Wallowa Memorial Hospital. The only other casu- alty of the fi re appeared to be some baby chicks that were in a crate in the house and perished of smoke inhalation. The fi re was visible from Enterprise. “When I was driving up here in the truck,” one fi refi ghter said, “I saw a big plume of fl ame go up, and thought maybe it was a diesel tank. But then the fl ames just exploded into the sky and as I got closer I realized it was a big tree that was next to the house.” Friends and neighbors rallied around the family, who will need a place to stay while they piece their lives back together. “We are so grateful that everyone is OK,” said homeowner Lynn Brad- shaw. “We know that God is looking out for us all.” keeping stations open at a critical time when COVID-19 is impacting gas retailers who serve our many essential workers statewide.” The rule allows sta- tion attendants to assist customers without face- to-face or hand-to-hand contact and institutes phys- ical distancing measures. Attendants will continue to sanitize equipment and help customers as needed. According to a news- release from the Oregon Fuels Association, a recent survey found 88% of local gas station owners reported having staff unable to work or resigning due to the pan- demic. Three-fi fths also reported employees have asked to be removed from face-to-face interactions with customers. Self-service is not man- datory, but having it as an option allows some gas stations to continue their operations with less staff and allows Oregonians who have to travel to still drive without concern they may not be able to fi nd gas. This extension of the self-service rules change does not affect areas of the state already authorized for self-service refueling under Oregon law. $116 million from CARES Act earmarked for Oregon college students WASHINGTON, D.C. — $116 million in aid is heading to Oregon college students for relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Friday in a press release. The funds will be dis- tributed between the state’s 73 colleges, universities and community colleges, according to the statement, which then will decide which students receive the aid in a form of a direct emergency cash grant. Eastern Oregon Univer- sity was allocated $1.15 million. The funding comes from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Secu- rity (CARES) Act. Dis- tributions to each institu- tion is determined by the number of full-time stu- dents who are Pell-eligible but also takes into consid- eration the total popula- tion of the school and the number of students who were not enrolled full-time online before the corona- virus outbreak. DOC TALK Q&A: COVID-19 (NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019) A: If you develop COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus, you may be asked to "self-isolate” (if you're sick) or "self-quarantine" (if you might be sick). In some people, COVID-19 is mild enough that you can safely recover at home. Here’s how you can protect others in your household while you recover: Don’t leave home except to get medical care. Keep away from people and pets at home. Use a face mask, cover your coughs, and clean your hands often. Clean high-touch surfaces. Stay home until you get the green light. -Frank Szumski, DO, GRH RMC Primary Care Provider La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR 975-2000 Your trusted GRH doctors are answering your COVID-19-related questions through this Doc Talk Q&A series. For more information on what to do if you’re sick, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus. www.lagrandeautorepair.com MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE Joe Horst ACDelcoTSS As we navigate COVID-19, we want to be sure and remind you that the safety and health of our patients, staff and community is our number one concern. We are working closely with CHD, OHA, and other partners to respond appropriately and as effectively as possible. For the latest updates from GRH, visit our web page dedicated to COVID-19 News & Updates: grh.org/covid19.
