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TUESDAY • May 19, 2020
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Good day to our valued subscriber Sherry Sherman of La Grande
Union County reaches six cases of COVID-19
The Observer
UNION COUNTY —
Union County has another
case of COVID-19.
The Center for Human
Development Inc. in a
press release Monday
morning confi rmed the
county’s sixth case of the
coronavirus.
“This case was a con-
tact to a confi rmed case,”
according to the press
release.
The nonprofi t that
serves as the county’s
public health agency also
reported it is conducting a
contact investigation and
will reach out to anyone
this new case may have
come into contact with.
The center reported
the county’s fi fth case on
Friday, the same day local
businesses had approval to
enter Gov. Kate Brown’s
fi rst phase of reopening
after almost two months
of restrictions to curb the
spread of the virus. Union
County Public Health
Administrator Carrie Bro-
goitti said it is likely we
will see more cases as the
county enters Phase 1 and
more people leave their
homes and come into con-
tact with one another. She
said it is important to con-
tinue following social dis-
tancing guidelines and
proper hygiene to mini-
mize the spread.
Union County has no
deaths due to COVID-19.
Three of the six confi rmed
cases are considered active.
As usual, health offi cials
did not identify the indi-
vidual with the virus.
Avenue of
Flags scaled
back due to
COVID-19
The Oregonian/OregonLive
The steps to curtail the spread
of the coronavirus did not seem to
bother market shoppers and some,
such as La Grande resident Alicia
McConnell, appreciated the extra
precautions.
“I like how they are trying to keep
everyone safe and I want to sup-
port local growers,” McConnell said.
“It helps they told everyone what
to expect on Facebook and took the
time to plan it out.”
The La Grande Farmers Market
worked with sellers to manage their
expectations and gain the under-
standing of the new protocols. Sarah
Fisher from Evergreen Family
Farms, La Grande, said she is
doing everything possible to ensure
BAKER CITY — A
Baker County circuit judge
on Monday granted 10
churches who sued the gov-
ernor a preliminary injunc-
tion, fi nding Gov. Kate
Brown’s restrictions on reli-
gious gatherings “null and
void’’ because her emer-
gency order due to the
coronavirus pandemic had
exceeded its 28-day limit.
Circuit Judge Matthew
Shirtcliff found the plain-
tiffs had shown “irreparable
harm” from the deprivation
of the right to exercise their
religions.
“The governor’s orders
are not required for public
safety when plaintiffs can
continue to utilize social
distancing and safety pro-
tocols at larger gatherings
involving spiritual wor-
ship,” he ruled.
He found the churches
can take necessary social
distancing precautions,
just as grocery stores and
other essential businesses
have done. He also ruled
the injunction was in the
public’s interest, allowing
people the right to freely
worship and the ability to
restore economic viability.
“This court understands
that the current pandemic
creates an unprecedented
crisis in the state as well
as in our country,” Shirt-
cliff said, speaking from
the bench in a videocon-
ference hearing. He said he
must protect public health
See, Market/Page 5A
See, Churches/Page 5A
Pared-down
tradition continues
to honor veterans
on Memorial Day
Weekend
By Dick Mason
The Observer
See, Veterans/Page 5A
Judge finds
Oregon governor’s
coronavirus
restrictions on
religious gatherings
‘null and void’
By Maxine Bernstein
LA GRANDE — The
37th annual Avenue of
Flags at Grandview Cem-
etery, one of La Grande’s
longest-running Memo-
rial Day Weekend events,
is scaling back due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The event tradition-
ally has featured a Memo-
rial Day ceremony and the
display of more than 170
United States fl ags on staffs
along the road at Grand-
view Cemetery. All are
burial fl ags for American
veterans that were donated
by their families.
The local Memorial
Day ceremony tradition-
ally displayed more than
170 United States fl ags
on poles along the road at
Grandview Cemetery. All
are burial fl ags for Amer-
ican veterans that were
donated by their families.
The event regularly drew
more than 100 people and
featured a keynote address
by a local pastor, the raising
of the colors by National
Guardsmen and a rendition
of the National Anthem.
According to John Craig,
commander of Amer-
ican Legion Post 43, which
annually helps put on
the Avenue of Flags, the
Memorial Day ceremony
has been canceled due to
Gov. Kate Brown’s imple-
mentation of social dis-
tancing rules, including
restrictions she issued last
Religious
group wins
round 1 in
legal fi ght
Staff photo by Sabrina Thompson
Staff of Dianne’s Kitchen follow public health protections due to the COVID-19 virus Saturday morning at the
opening day of this year’s La Grande Farmers Market.
La Grande Farmers Market opens
Changes in place due to COVID-19 concerns
don’t delay opening day of seasonal marketplace
By Sabrina Thompson
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Booths selling
vegetables, plants and homemade
treats lined Fourth Street between
Adams and Jefferson avenues as the
annual La Grande Farmers Market
made its seasonal debut Saturday
morning.
However, a rope perimeter sur-
rounded the market, allowing a
single entry way, and workers wore
gloves and masks.
“As much as we want people to
come support the market, we want to
stay safe,” said Jessica Bogard, the
market’s manager.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the
market implemented several other
safeguards. Booths were 10 feet
apart, and chalk lines on the concrete
surface of Max Square measured
out the recommended 6-foot social
distance between customers. Only
food producers and makers could
sell goods at Saturday’s market. Cus-
tomers were not allowed to pick up
items until they were ready to buy
them, and hand sanitizer was avail-
able at every table.
Most sellers came prepared,
Bogard said, but the market had a
supply of gloves, masks and sanitizer
ready.
Liberty Theatre group seeks $100K grant for restoration
By Dick Mason
The Observer
LA GRANDE — The
Liberty Theatre Founda-
tion is seeking a hand of
assistance from the state,
a boost that would help
restore a former main
street icon to its previous
glory.
The foundation has
applied for a $100,000
Oregon Historic Theater
grant from the Oregon
State Historic Preservation
Offi ce to assist in the com-
pletion of the restoration of
the Liberty Theatre at 1008
Adams Ave., La Grande.
The grant would help
the foundation complete
the third portion of its four-
phase restoration project.
Once the third phase is fi n-
ished, the Liberty Theatre
will be able to open for the
fi rst time since closing 61
years ago.
Ashley O’Toole,
chairman of the Liberty
Theatre Board of Direc-
tors, said receiving the
grant would expedite the
process of completing the
third phase.
“It would greatly help
our chances of having a
soft opening before the end
of the year,” O’Toole said.
The terms of the Lib-
erty Theatre Foundation’s
grant application call for it
to provide a $20,000 match
for the $100,000 grant.
Of this $120,000 total,
$100,000 would be spent
for construction, $5,000
would go toward adminis-
trative costs, and $15,000
See, Grant/Page 5A
INDEX
Classified ...... 3B
Comics .......... 7B
Community .. 3A
Crossword .... 5B
Photo by Ben Lonergan/EO Media Group
Restoration work continues on the Liberty Theatre in
downtown La Grande in this May 7 photo. The founda-
tion behind the restoration effort is seeking a $100,000
state grant for the next phase.
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Issue 60
2 sections, 14 pages
La Grande, Oregon
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