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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2020)
In Home & Living Inside Anti-tourism signs in Joseph investigated, 2A November ballot measure list is short, 6A Getting the most from rice Follow us on the web TUESDAY • July 7, 2020 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Debbie McConnell of La Grande Coronavirus pandemic New Day reports COVID-19 outbreak Submitted photo Paul Howard of La Grande died Thursday at a Boise hos- pital due to complications from COVID-19, his brother, John Howard, reported. Paul Howard was 62. Local man succumbs to virus Paul Howard contracted the coronavirus three weeks ago Only 1 of 9 staff members still an active case; others recovered By Ronald Bond The Observer Staff photo by Dick Mason Jan Marrs, co-owner of Almosta Farm at Cove, shows how it easy it is to work with her Nigerian dwarf goats. Almosta Farm is on the new Union County Farm Loop map. AROUND THE FARMS Union County Farm Loop map to be released soon By Dick Mason The Observer By Ronald Bond The Observer LA GRANDE — John Howard described his younger brother, Paul Howard, as a man who didn’t complain in spite of the circumstances he faced. “He did the best he could with the hand he was dealt with,” John Howard said. “As family members and friends, we were proud of the way he handed himself all the way through life.” Paul Howard, 62, died Thursday due to complications from COVID-19, his brother said. “It’s just the sudden shock,” John Howard said Monday. “Three weeks ago Paul was enjoying life, enjoying his work and family and doing all the things he loved to do. In three weeks, it’s all gone. It’s a total shock. It seems surreal. “Paul had many years of life ahead of him if it had not been for the COVID virus.” John previously told The Observer his brother con- tracted the virus through community spread and was admitted to Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande, and ini- tially returned home after a three-day stay in the hospital. “I think he had a fl are-up with the virus,” John Howard See, Howard/Page 5A UNION COUNTY — GPS units will be no match for this new map. The Union County Farm Loop map soon will be avail- able online and in print throughout the county. The loop map provides a self-guided scenic drive through a series of farms, ranches, backyard farm stands, pastures, orchards and agri- culture-related businesses, said the map’s creator, Janet Dodson of North Powder, who is involved in agritourism proj- ects throughout Northeast Oregon. The map outlines a route starting in La Grande at Avella Orchard on Fir Street and then running to Summerville, Cove, Union, the Hot Lake area and ending back La Grande at Community Merchants on Adams Avenue, whose features include locally raised meat. The map, which is being fi nalized, will have about 18 stops. The map is a revised edition of the Cove-Union Farm Loop map, one created by Dodson and put out 2016. That map featured stops along a 40-mile Staff photo by Dick Mason Jan Marrs, co-owner of Almosta Farm at Cove, greets one of her Ni- gerian dwarf goats on June 30. Almosta Farm is on the new Union County Farm Loop map. loop that began in Island City and ran southeast to Union and then north to Cove and Lower Cove Road and fi nally west to Island City. All of the stops on the Union County Farm Loop are at sites where visitors are welcome during operating hours or, in many cases, by appointment. The map is part of an effort to develop agritourism in Union County. “Agritourism is a way for farms and ranches to diversify See, Loop/Page 5A LA GRANDE — The Oregon Health Authority last week listed New Day Enterprises, La Grande, among the entities that had expe- rienced a workplace outbreak of COVID-19. The outbreak, which saw nine members of the New Day staff contract the virus, has largely passed, according to executive director Christy Slack. Most, in fact, have returned to work. “We have nine confi rmed and eight have been cleared and recovered,” Slack said Thursday. “We have one currently out with a positive case. She has not returned to work since then.” New Day Enterprises — a pri- vate, nonprofi t community mental health facility — serves adults with intellectual and develop- mental disabilities, providing a place to live and opportunities to interact within the community. Slack said none of New Days’ roughly 30 clients, nor the rest of the staff of about 60, have con- tracted the virus. The OHA’s weekly report lists the outbreak as having been “fi rst reported” June 13, though it was not included in the report until July 1. New Day should be in the clear by mid-July if nothing changes. “(From) what I’m under- standing, if there is no increased report from 28 days from the onset, the outbreak should be con- sidered washed, so to speak,” she said. Slack said the outbreak was traced to an individual at Light- house Pentecostal Church, the source of the recent major out- break in Oregon. When health authorities contacted New Day about there being potential cases within its staff, Slack said they See, Outbreak/Page 5A Red-tailed hawk released into wild Raptor had been hit by a truck May 9 near Cove By Dick Mason The Observer COVE — This adult red- tailed hawk lacks a name but not odds-defying spunk. The raptor, which could not stand nearly two months ago after being hit by a truck near Cove, was reintroduced into the wild Thursday afternoon, capping an unlikely comeback story. “It was one of those positive, feel-good events,” said Donna Rainboth, an Eastern Oregon Uni- versity science education pro- fessor who led the release of the hawk. Rainboth placed the raptor back where it was found May 9 after it had spent almost two months recovering at the Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilita- tion & Education center, Pend- leton. Lynn Tompkins, director of Blue Mountain Wildlife, said the bird’s recovery is nothing short of remarkable. “It could not stand the fi rst few days it was here,” she said. “I was not optimistic that it would make it. It is nice to be wrong.” Tompkins initially feared the reason the bird could not stand was because it had a broken back or pelvis. However, x-rays indicate the bird had no broken bones. Still, Tompkins knew the bird had MORE INFORMATION • To learn more about Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education, visit, bluemountainwildlife.org. See, Hawk/Page 5A INDEX Classified ...... 4B Comics .......... 7B Community .. 3A Crossword .... 4B Contributed photo by Jenny Phelps Donna Rainboth releases a red-tailed hawk back into the wild Thurs- day near Cove close to where it had been hit by a truck May 9. CONTACT US Dear Abby .... 8B Home ............ 1B Horoscope .... 4B Letters ........... 4A THURSDAY Lottery........... 2A Obituaries ..... 3A Opinion ......... 4A Sports ........... 6A MORE ON MASKS 541-963-3161 Issue 80 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
