Inside America returns to space Governor fi res OED director, 2A MLB negotiations continue, 6A Page 8B Follow us on the web TUESDAY • June 2, 2020 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Gary Tucker of La Grande Canoeing trip on Grande Ronde turns into rescue Father recounts capsizing in river with son By Sabrina Thompson The Observer LA GRANDE — When La Grande residents Eric Hansen and his 11-year-old son Louis went on their second trip down the Grande Ronde River in a canoe May 4, their day trip into nature ended up as a search-and-rescue mission. “We got ready to leave and discovered that I had a fl at tire and had to get that fi xed,” Hansen said. “That gave a later start than what I’d hoped for. Other than that, everything was pretty normal. We launched from a bridge several miles up the Grande Ronde. Every- thing was great, we were having a great time.” Hansen, 49, said the sit- uation changed when they came near the Bird Track Springs Camp Ground off Highway 244 a couple miles southwest of Hilgard Junction State Park. There, a 45-degree bend in the river trapped the canoe, and the father and son went overboard. Hansen said he was able to get himself and his son out of the river after swimming 50-60 yards downstream. “Once I got out of the river I was fi ne,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t anything to fear. I knew we had some unpleasantness ahead of us. My panic was in the river. I have never really been faced with the thought of, for a few seconds, I might not get my son back. Once that passed everything else was a lot easier.” From there, the goal was fi nding a way back to the highway or a bridge. Their plan that day called for a family member to pick them up at the end of the trip. The pair never showed, and Hansen’s mother called Union County Search and Rescue at 10:11 p.m. Rescuers found them just before midnight, and the pair reunited with family around 2 a.m. The father and son started walking toward the last bridge they had gone under. Hansen had lost a shoe and cut up some of See, Rescue/Page 5A Staff photo by Dick Mason Staff photo by Sabrina Thompson Kentrell La’van Farmer receives his high school diploma from Randy Shaw, a member of the La Grande School Board, during Saturday’s drive-thru commencement. While onlookers at Cove High School’s graduation Saturday morning hold to social distancing measures, seniors hold to the tradition of tossing their caps into the air. Coronavirus doesn’t dampen LHS seniors celebrate commencement extraordinary graduation Cove’s Class of 2020 takes to the road to gather Cars line up close to a half mile By Dick Mason The Observer LA GRANDE — These teenagers took one of the biggest steps of their lives Saturday without putting a single foot forward. They are the 165 La Grande High School seniors who gradu- ated on the go. The graduates received their diplomas at a drive- through commencement ceremony on K Avenue outside the school’s main entrance. The vehicle-based approach was in lieu of a traditional commencement because of the coronavirus, which has forced the state to prohibit large gatherings. Late Saturday morning each senior, sitting in the front passenger seat in a vehicle with their family, received their diploma either from La Grande School District Superin- tendent George Mendoza, school board chair Merle Comfort or fellow board member Randy Shaw. Each was awarded at a diploma station, complete with a sound system, offi cial pho- tographers and a drone See, La Grande/Page 5A their diplomas in time of COVID-19 By Sabrina Thompson The Observer COVE — Cove High School’s 17 graduating seniors took to the starting line Saturday for a drive- thru commencement cer- emony. The event marked the fi rst time the class- mates where together albeit socially distant since the the order came down in mid-March to close schools due to the new coronavirus outbreak. Rather than sitting on folding chairs in the gym, the seniors lined up their cars on the football fi eld and listened with their supporters through radios as they ended their high school careers and began a new chapter. Each senior had a sign with their name and photo to designate their parking spot, and many students decorated their cars. As commencement began, the Union County Sheriff’s offi ce escorted the vehi- cles, which parents drove, onto the fi eld. “This is crazy, totally unexpected and way better See, Cove/Page 5A La Grande girl organizes protest for racial equality Subsequent demonstration set 4-5 p.m. Tuesday outside La Grande City Hall By Sabrina Thompson The Observer LA GRANDE — As the rest of the nation protests and mourns the death of George Floyd, 11-year-old Miri Koltuv of La Grande wanted to bring home the fi ght for racial equality. “I woke up Friday morning and was reading the New York Times and saw the rally happening there and decided I want to have one here,” Koltuv said. She organized a pro- test for Saturday morning in front of La Grande City Hall at Adams Avenue and Fourth Street. After con- tacting a few families and friends, word about the protest spread through the community. The event drew about 20 participants. “It is not as big of an issue here as in New York, because there is not as many people of color here,” Koltuv said, “but there are still people here and it is important that we let them know we see them and are protesting for them.” Cheryl Simpson of La Grande joined the effort. She said a second pro- test is planned for Tuesday from 4-5 p.m. again out- side the city hall building. Because of the short notice on Saturday, many people expressed a desire but inability to attend. So Simpson organized a fol- low-up protest to give those who want a chance to come out and support the cause. “I am happy that I had that idea and inspired people to do more stuff,” Koltuv said. Simpson said to combat See, Protest/Page 5A Contributed photo by Max Koltuv Around 20 people gather Saturday outside La Grande City Hall to protest for racial equality. Another event is set for Tuesday. Outbreak shines spotlight on public health organization Improving communications is key to CHD fighting virus on local front By Sabrina Thompson The Observer UNION COUNTY — Public health offi cials in Union County were pre- paring for a pandemic before the new coronavirus struck Oregon. But the actual outbreak has pushed the Center for Human Development Inc. into the role as the central player in the local response. Center spokesman George Thompson said before the pandemic there wasn’t as much aware- ness of what the center did daily. That was a good thing, he said, because if the center is doing its job, the public would not be hearing from it as much. But Public Health Adminis- trator Carrie Brogoitti said because the coronavirus is so visible, so is CHD Public Health. “For the most part we are doing our job, but the magnitude of what we are experiencing is different,” Brogoitti said. The center in May 2019 INDEX Classified ...... 3B Comics .......... 7B Community .. 3A Crossword .... 5B completed a bubonic plague drill, a statewide exercise to test the response from local agencies. The practice run assessed the county’s emergency response team’s communi- cation and its speed at set- ting up countermeasures to a fake plague. The exer- cise also tested response time in sending assistance. Thompson said the county was seamless in its work in the drill and performed well. While drills and guide- books on how to respond to a pandemic are valuable tools for the center, they are not a one size fi ts all, according to Thompson and Brogoitti, especially with a novel virus. “We have to adapt and modify our tools to some- thing we don’t know,” See, CHD/Page 3A CONTACT US Dear Abby .... 8B Home ............ 1B Horoscope .... 5B Letters ........... 4A THURSDAY Lottery........... 2A Obituaries ..... 3A Opinion ......... 4A Sports ........... 6A THE ANIMAL SHELTER’S PAST 541-963-3161 Issue 66 2 sections, 14 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com