COMMUNITY
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• UNION — The Union City
Council will hold a work ses-
sion and its regular monthly
meeting Monday, May 11, at
city hall. The work session
begins at 6 p.m., the regular
meeting at 7 p.m. The meeting
will be streamed live on Face-
book at www.facebook.
com/cityofunion.ontheweb.
Viewers may email comments
to admin@cityofunion.com
during the meeting. Call the
city at 541-562-5197 for more
information.
• ISLAND CITY — The Island
City Budget Committee will
meet Monday, May 11 at
6 p.m. at the Island City City
Hall. Draft budgets are avail-
able at city hall, 10605 Island
Ave. The public can submit
written comments or can
attend via telephone confer-
ence. To attend, contact city
recorder Karen Howton 541-
963-5017 or karen@islandcit-
yhall.com.
• LA GRANDE — The Union
County Fair Board will hold
a pubic meeting via Zoom
on Wednesday, May 13,
at 6 p.m. to discuss public
access to the fairgrounds. To
attend the meeting virtually,
use: https://us04web.zoom.
us/j/74122978280?pwd=Z0F-
nUytGOVRjbTFMdkVzTm-
FqOXN6Zz09. The meeting ID
is 741 2297 8280, and the pass-
word is 6WKCjU. For more
information, email Heather
Rajkovich at rhrajkovich6212@
outook.com.
• LA GRANDE — The City of
La Grande Landmarks Com-
mission will meet in Thursday,
May 14, at 6 p.m. in Council
Chambers of La Grande City
Hall, 1000 Adams Ave.
Briefs
Liberty Theatre seeks
volunteers for board
LA GRANDE — With ren-
ovation moving ahead and
a goal of a soft opening in
late 2020, the Liberty Theatre
Foundation is seeking volun-
teers to serve on the nonprof-
it’s board of directors. People
with business education and
experience are especially
needed on the board.
Anyone who has an
interest in helping oversee
the performing arts center’s
renovation project and even-
tual operation is encouraged
to submit a letter introducing
themselves and explaining
their interest.
The letter should also in-
clude a brief overview of the
person’s background. Letters
may be emailed to Ashley
O’Toole, board chairman, at
asotoole1985@gmail.com.
Union County
Senior Center
takeout lunch menu
Pickup from 11:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m. at 1504 N. Albany
St., La Grande. For delivery,
call 541-963-7532 before
10 a.m. Age 60+, $3 suggest-
ed donation; all others, $5
May 11-15
Monday: baked potato
bar, salad greens.
Tuesday: sesame chicken,
rice, salad greens, bread,
fresh fruit.
Wednesday: fried
chicken, mashed potatoes
and gravy, green beans,
cashew-pea salad, dessert.
Thursday: hearty soup
with a variety of salads,
freshly baked bread, fruit,
dessert.
Friday: bacon cheese-
burgers, steak fries, sliced
fruit, cookies.
Janice K. (Womack)
Smith
Rescue from crashed Jeep leads to DUII charges
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Res-
cuers on Tuesday saved
a grandmother and her
3-year-old granddaughter
after their vehicle crashed
into the Grande Ronde
River. The grandmother,
Toni L. Campbell, 63, of La
Grande, also ended up in
handcuffs.
Oregon State Police
reported troopers and other
emergency personnel at
3:07 p.m. responded to a
report of a single-vehicle
crash that occurred on
Highway 244 near mile-
post 46 near Hilgard. Units
en route learned a Jeep left
the highway and entered the
Grande Ronde River.
The La Grande Rural
Fire Protection District and
the La Grande Fire Depart-
ment responded, along with
the Union County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce. Personnel res-
cued Campbell, the grand-
daughter and a dog from the
vehicle. State police sent a
jet boat and crew to help,
which arrived as the team
PLAN
Continued from Page 1A
orders and Oregonians’
adherence to safety precau-
tions with the state’s infec-
tion rate.
“These sacrifi ces have
prevented as many as
70,000 COVID-19 infec-
tions,” she said. “We still
don’t have everything we
need but things are defi -
nitely improving.”
Oregon’s three phases
allows businesses, per-
sonal service providers
and retailers to reopen on
a conditional basis, with
guidelines for each busi-
ness sector. Returning to
in-person activities will
depend largely on the risk
factor of each activity,
as well as health condi-
tions and the number of
COVID-19 cases in each
county and region across
the state.
Greg Smith, director of
the Small Business Devel-
opment Center, La Grande,
said there appears to be
a light at the end of the
tunnel.
“I’m cautious,” he said.
“I’m not an expert so like
so many others I can offer
an option, but it’s only that.
In my mind we need to
Photo courtesy of Oregon State Police
Emergency personnel prepare to save Toni L. Campbell,
63, of La Grande, her 3-year-old granddaughter and a
dog Tuesday from this Jeep that crashed into the Grande
Ronde River near Hilgard. Police subsequently arrested
Campbell for driving under the infl uence of intoxicants.
pulled everyone to safety.
Preliminary informa-
tion revealed Campbell was
driving the Jeep eastbound
on 244 when it entered
the shoulder. She overcor-
rected and slid across both
lanes before going down an
embankment and into the
Grande Ronde River. State
police also reported the
Jeep fl oated approximately
150 yards before coming to
a stop in the river.
Medical personnel on
scene cleared the woman
continue to be cautious to
ensure public health and at
the same time take those
small common sense steps
that will help open the
economy.”
Reopening would be
“wonderful” for Union
County and Northeast
Oregon, he said, but “it’s
going to take time to get us
out of that hole.”
In all cases, state offi -
cials want residents to wear
face masks when working
in or entering any business,
with exceptions for eating
and drinking.
and boutiques also could
resume activity under the
Phase 1 plans, as long as
they can follow specifi c
guidelines laid out by the
Oregon Health Authority.
State leaders said they
aren’t recommending group
gatherings of more than 10
people yet.
A county could move
on to Phase 2 after three
weeks, only if they continue
to meet the parameters of
Phase 1.
Before entering Phase
1, a county would need to
demonstrate a steady drop
in COVID-19 hospital-
izations for 14 days, with
emergency room visits for
COVID-like illness being
below what they typically
are for infl uenza.
Duidelines for testing
regimens and contact
tracing systems, along with
supplies of personal protec-
tive equipment and other
health care capacity also are
identifi ed as prerequisites in
the state plan.
Counties were able
to submit their plans for
reopening — and if they
met the requirements put
forward by the governor
— Friday, which Union
County did. This was an
update to the county’s pre-
vious a plan.
Phase 1
In counties approved
to open during Phase 1,
restaurants and bars could
allow patrons to dine
on-site, so long as tables
are 6 feet apart. Employees
would need to wear face
masks and coverings and
all activity must end by
10 p.m.
Fitness centers could
open, with limits on the
number of occupants,
and salons could reopen
by appointment only, but
they’d need to keep a log of
every customer who visits,
to allow for contract tracing
by health departments if
needed.
Standalone retail shops
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
WEDNESDAY
6:39 a.m. — A La Grande
police offi cer responded to the
2800 block of Spruce Street for
a tree that created a hazard.
11:24 a.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce took a report
of vandalism on the 500 block of
South Main Street, Union.
11:37 a.m. — A caller reported
a dog killed some chickens on
the 200 block of B Street, North
Powder.
12:45 p.m. — Campers about
4 miles north of La Grande
received warnings for criminal
mischief and camping outside a
designated campground.
3:22 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of a restrain-
ing order violation on the 1500
block of 21st Street. An offi cer
responded.
9:10 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of a vehicle theft on
Catherine Creek Lane, Union.
THURSDAY
10:25 a.m. — La Grande po-
lice took a report for vandalism
on the 2100 block of Aries Lane.
2:05 p.m. — A caller com-
plained about a goat near
the road on the 2800 block of
OBITUARIES
Formerly of Wallowa and La Grande •
1938-2020
Janice Kay Smith, 81, of
Battle Ground, Washington,
and formerly of Wallowa
and La Grande, died April
15. Arrangements are under
the direc-
tion of Ever-
green Memo-
rial Gardens
of Vancouver,
Washington.
Janice
was born Aug. 23, 1938,
in Wallowa, to Marley
Osborne and Bertha Nona
(Winters) Womack. She
graduated from Wallowa
High School in 1956. After
high school, she moved
to La Grande, where she
met her future husband,
Churchel Leo Smith. They
were married May 19,
1958, in Weiser, Idaho.
Janice and Churchel
lived most of their mar-
ried life in Carver and
Vancouver, Washington;
and, most recently, Battle
Ground, Washington. They
celebrated 61 years of mar-
riage on their last anni-
versary. They were best
THE OBSERVER — 3A
Upcoming
local
services are
pending due
to efforts to
curb the
spread of the
coronavirus.
friends and were insep-
arable during the last 20
years of their marriage,
spending the winter months
in Apache Junction, Ari-
zona, where they developed
friendships from all over
the United States.
Janice had a love of
cooking and baking apple
pies and worked in the
food industry most of her
life. She was a waitress at
the Sacajawea Hotel in La
Grande and head cook at
the Carver Cafe in Carver.
She retired from Wy’East
Middle School in Van-
couver, Washington, as the
kitchen manager.
Surviving relatives
include her daughter,
Julie Murray; son, Ran-
dall Smith; son-in-law,
Kevin Murray; and fi ve
grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded
in death by her par-
ents, Marley and Bertha;
brother, Vernon Womack;
daughter, Jonna Lynn
Smith; and sister, Joyce
Beeman.
Highway 203, Union. The animal
enforcement offi cer spoke to
the goat’s owner.
3:54 p.m. — A caller reported
animal abuse on the 1600 block
of Albany Street, La Grande.
The animal enforcement offi cer
counseled the people involved.
7:53 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of a possible explosion
on the 73400 block of Gordon
Creek Road, Elgin.
9:59 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce responded to
an Elgin location for a juvenile
causing a disturbance.
Melada L. Comstock
La Grande
Melada L. Comstock,
79, of La Grande, died May
8 at a local care facility.
Arrangements by Love-
land Funeral Chapel &
Crematory.
Douglas L. Trice
La Grande
Douglas L. Trice, 68, of
La Grande, died May 6 at
his residence. Arrangements
by Loveland Funeral Chapel
& Crematory.
A S Y OUR
C OMMISSIONER
Check your
Voter’s Pamphlet
for more details.
WORKING FOR ALL OF
UNION COUNTY
DONNA
BEVERAGE
Paid for by
Beverage for
Commissioner
FOR
C OUNTY C OMMISSIONER
Vote Election Day! May 19th
Photo courtesy of Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police and other emergency workers save
a 3-year-old girl Tuesday from this Jeep that crashed into
the Grande Ronde River near Hilgard.
and child, according to state
police, and the dog also was
OK.
However, state police
reported the ensuing inves-
tigation resulted in troopers
arresting Campbell and
booking her into the Union
County Jail, La Grande, on
accusations of under the
infl uence of intoxicants.
State police also reported
family members on scene
took the girl and the dog.
Commissioner Matt
Scarfo credited JB Brock,
Union County emergency
services manager, for doing
much of the legwork to not
only put the original plan
together but the revised one.
“With our plan, with the
amount of time JB has put
in our plan, I truly think
that May 15 Union County
can open,” Scarfo said.
beyond that, until a vac-
cine or prevention is devel-
oped, draft guidelines
indicate.
Thursday’s announce-
ment followed draft plans
the governor’s offi ce
released earlier this week.
“It worked. Oregon
fl attened the curve,” Pat
Allen, director of the
Oregon Health Authority,
said Thursday. “So far, we
have avoided the tragic
worst case scenarios
we have seen play out
around the world and in
other places in the United
States.”
Allen said Oregon’s
COVID-19 death rate was
the “eighth lowest in the
country,” but Allen and
Brown cautioned that
reopening certain aspects
of public life doesn’t
mean the virus has dimin-
ished, and increased public
activity could lead to a
spike in infection.
———
Observer reporter
Ronald Bond contributed to
this article.
Phase 2
Similar to Phase 1, with
expanded gathering sizes,
Brown’s offi ce said the
goal of Phase 2 is to further
expand allowable gathering
sizes, allow more people to
work together in offi ces and
allow visitation at congre-
gate care facilities.
Phase 3
Concerts, festivals will
be last to return. Large
gatherings won’t see a
comeback anytime soon.
Initial guidance from the
state indicates they will
be postponed until at
least September, but large
events could be delayed
Terrence Roy Huffman
September 15, 1938 - April 6, 2020
Terrence “Terry” Roy Huffman of Imbler,
OR passed away on April 6, 2020.
Terry was born September 15, 1938 to
Marshall Eldridge and Ruth (Cusick) Huff-
man. He lived in LaGrande, OR before mov-
ing to Imbler, OR. He attended LaGrande
High School and later Eastern Oregon Col-
lege. He married Virginia Mae Jensen. To-
gether they had three boys, Tony, Tim and
Ted before divorcing. Later he married Ger-
aldine Louise Rogers and together with his
boys and her children, Leslie, Mike and Tami
they lived in Imbler, OR.
Terry worked for the natural gas company and as a welder in La-
Grande. He was proud to serve and retire from the Oregon National
Guard and worked for the Imbler School District maintenance
department for 18 years. Terry took extreme pride and care in building
and maintaining the Imbler High School Football field and grounds.
He was a member of the Elks, Eagles, Masons and the American
Legion. He was proud to be a part of the elusive Blue Mountain Boys.
Terry was a Master Mason. He was the 1973-74 Elk of the Year for
Lodge No 433. He was 2000-01 Officer of the Year (Exhalted Ruler)
Elks Lodge No 433. He also received the Oregon National Guard
Exceptional Service Medal.
Family was very important to Terry. He was extremely proud to
carry on his initials through the family. Each new member born into
the family has the initial TRH. With the new additions coming this year
there will be 13 TRH’s in the Huffman family.
Terry also enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles as well
as hunting and camping. Water skiing was a sport he loved on a sunny
day at the lake. His favorite days were spent in the mountains with his
family.
Surviving relatives include his children and their spouses, Tony
Ray Huffman (Elgin, OR), Timothy Robert and Jill Huffman (Enterprise,
OR), Theadore Ronald Huffman (LaGrande, OR), Leslie Gayle and Lewie
Michael (LaGrande, OR); Tamara Tracie and Dale Johnston (Imbler,
OR); and adopted kids Forest and Evie Stacey(Elgin,Or) sister Barbara
Huffman Weeks (Susanville, CA); Special nephew Darrin Williams and
Donna Torgason; Eighteen grandchildren, Eleven great grandchdren
and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Marshall Eldridge Huffman,
mother Ruth Joyce (Cusick) Huffman, brother James Marshall Huff-
man, daughter Susan Marie Huffman, and bonus son Michael Eugene
Trotter.
Date of service is to be determined. Terry wishes for family and
friends to be able to gather but due to COVID-19 social distancing
guidelines that is not possible at this time. A service will be planned
and announced at a later date.