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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 23, 2020)
8A — THE OBSERVER THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 STATE Judge hears Oregon request to restrain federal agents By Gillian Flaccus Associated Press PORTLAND — A fed- eral judge heard arguments Wednesday on Oregon’s request for a restraining order against federal agents sent to the state’s biggest city to quell protests that have spi- raled into nightly clashes between authorities and demonstrators. The lawsuit, fi led by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, alleges federal agents that Presi- dent Donald Trump sent have arrested people with no probable cause, whisked pro- testers away in unmarked cars and used excessive force to quell the unrest. It’s part of growing pushback against the Trump administration’s use of federal agents in Port- land and its plans to do the same in other cities. In a twist, the judge hearing the case — U.S. Dis- trict Court Judge Michael Mosman — works out of the Mark O. Hatfi eld Federal Courthouse, which has been a target for more than 50 nights of protests following the killing of George Floyd. Floyd, a Black man, died after being pinned at the neck by a white Minneapolis police offi cer, igniting pro- tests against racial injustice nationwide. The motion for a tempo- rary restraining order asks the judge to immediately command agents from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Fed- eral Protective Service and the U.S. Marshals Service to Oregon town destroys train used in sex abuse By Teresa Jackson Madras Pioneer via AP StoryShare METOLIUS — Metolius Mayor Carl “Foncie” Elliott said last week a wooden train that was involved in a decade of sexual abuse has been destroyed. The story of the train led to an outcry on social media, which apparently led the city to take down its Facebook page, as well as a petition on Change.org that garnered 2,761 signa- tures and a Facebook group called Stop the Train that had 889 members as of Sat- urday morning. The victim of the abuse, Madras resident Cassandra Ruwaldt, said she’s grateful the train is gone, but the community wanted proof. She later received confi r- mation from Undersheriff Marc Heckathorn, who interviewed employees at the transfer station. “I’m standing next to the community,” Ruwaldt said. “I’m hearing their voices, and they would like proof from City Council ... I am so grateful that it’s gone even though there is no proof. ... They can’t be like, ‘It’s gone. Problem solved. Let’s move on.’ They have an entire community to deal with now.” “The train has been resolved, and it’s gone, destroyed, and that’s all,” Elliott said by phone. “It is no longer in our possession. Period.” Ruwaldt on Friday received a picture from an anonymous source that showed a pile of wooden debris, including the train’s wheels, at the Box Canyon Transfer Station, Madras. The train was built by Richard Pickett, who was convicted in 2008 of 35 counts in connection with the abuse and child pornog- raphy, including fi rst-degree sodomy, fi rst-degree sexual abuse and fi rst-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He is serving a 38-year sentence in prison. City offi cials didn’t know its history until Cas- sandra Ruwaldt, her hus- band, Bryan Ruwaldt, and Jefferson County District Attorney Steve Leriche brought it to their attention in March. immediately stop detaining protesters without probable cause, to identify themselves before arresting anyone and to explain why an arrest is taking place. During the hearing — held by videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic — Rosenblum said she was asking the court to “declare it not acceptable for federal offi cers to use unconstitutional police state- type acts to detain citizens of Oregon without cause.” There are 114 federal agents in Portland, according to Steve Lippold, another attorney for the state. David Morrell, an attorney for the U.S. gov- ernment, called the motion “extraordinary” and told the court it was based solely on “a few threadbare declara- tions” from witnesses and a Twitter video. “It’s important to under- score what’s at stake here. The Hatfi eld courthouse did not damage itself,” he said, calling the protests “dan- gerous and volatile.” But in a back-and-forth with Oregon attorneys, Mosman focused on a Twitter video of another arrest that showed a person being placed in an unmarked van and seemed skeptical of the state’s argument that arrest in particular was made without probable cause. It wasn’t clear when Mosman would rule. The suit by Oregon’s attorney general is one of several fi led over law enforcement’s response to the Portland protests. On Thursday a judge will hear arguments in a lawsuit fi led by the American Civil Liber- ties Union on behalf of jour- nalists and legal observers who say they were targeted and attacked by police while documenting demonstrations. A freelance photographer covering the protests for The Associated Press submitted an affi davit that he was beaten with batons, chemical irritants and hit with rubber bullets. Federal offi cers use chemical irritants and crowd control munitions on Wednesday, July 22, to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters outside the Mark O. Hatfi eld United States Courthouse in Portland. Photo by Noah Berger/Associated Press CARDIOLOGY CLINIC Join us in welcoming nurse practitioner Lauren Dillman to our team of Cardiology clinicians! Lauren is a graduate of Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky, and has spent the past two years providing primary, chronic, and urgent care in Canyon City and Denver, Colorado. She has particular interests in general cardiology, health promotion, and disease prevention. When Lauren is not caring for patients, she enjoys hiking, weightlifting, rock climbing, camping, traveling, and spending time with her family. Lauren Dillman, FNP-C Cardiology Clinic Nurse Practitioner GRH Cardiology Clinic, 900 Sunset Drive, La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-BEAT · grh.org/cardiology FIELD TEST Candidates Wanted (GENERAL LOCATION HERE) and the W URGENT NOTICE: surrounding areas. You may be qualified to participate in a special Field Test of new hearing instrument technology being held at a local test site. (DATES HERE) Dates: An industry leader in digital hearing devices is sponsoring a product field test in your area next week and they have asked us to select up to 15 qualified candidates to participate. They are interested in Product Test Site: 3.0 Technology in eliminating the difficulty hearing aid users determining the benefits of GENIUS™ experience in difficult environments, such as those with background noise or multiple talkers. Miracle-Ear Service Center Miracle-Ear Service Center so Miracle-Ear Service Center Candidates in other test areas have reported very positive feedback far. (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) We are looking for additional candidates in LA GRANDE and the surrounding areas. W (GENERAL LOCATION HERE) and the Miracle-Ear Service Center Miracle-Ear Service th, Center Miracle-Ear Service Center surrounding areas. (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) (DATES HERE) LA GRANDE Dates: BAKER CITY ENTERPRISE 111 Elm Street 2021 Washington Ave. 113-1/2 Front E. Main St. La Grande, OR 97850 Baker City, OR 97814 Enterprise, OR 97828 541-239-3877 541-605-2109 541-239-3782 Product Test Site: In an effort to accurately demonstrate the incredible performance of these devices, specially trained representatives will be conducting testing and demonstrations during this special event. Miracle-Ear Service Center Miracle-Ear Service Center Miracle-Ear Service Center HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) In addition (ADDRESS to an audiometric hearing evaluation, candidates will receive a fiber-optic otoscope exam, a painless procedure that could reveal common hearing problems such as excessive wax or damage to as well as common of of hearing deficiencies. Miracle-Ear Service Center Miracle-Ear Service Center Miracle-Ear Service Center the eardrum, as other other common cause causes hearing deficiencies. (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) (ADDRESS HERE) Qualified Field Test Candidates: • Live HERE)or area the surrounding area Live in in (GENERAL La Grande LOCATION or the surrounding • Are at least 55 years of age or older • Have experienced some level of hearing difficulty, or currently wear hearing aids • Don’t currently work for a market research company Expires: July 29 2020 We have a limited supply of the GENIUS™ 3.0 test product currently on hand and ready for testing. We have also been authorized to offer significant discounts if you decide to take the hearing instruments home. If you choose not to keep them, there’s no risk or obligation of any kind. † (GENERAL LOCATION HERE) FIELD TEST PARTICIPANTS Will be tested and selected same-day. TO PARTICIPATE: 1) You must be one of the first 15 people to call our office Mention Code: 2 0JulField 18AprField. 2) You will be required to have your hearing tested in our office, FREE OF CHARGE, to determine candidacy. 3) Report your results with the hearing instruments to the Hearing Care Specialist over a three week test period. Qualified candidates will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis so please call us TODAY to secure your spot in the Product Field Test. Participants who qualify and complete the product test will 1) receive a FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card* as a token AprField of our thanks. 2) AVOID WAITING – CALL AND MENTION CODE: 20JulField 18AprField! *One per household. Must be 55 or older and bring loved one for familiar voice test. Must complete a hearing test. Not valid with prior test/purchase in last 6 months. While supplies last. Free gift card may be used toward the purchase of food at participating restaurants where a minimum purchase may also be required. See restaurant.com for details. Not redeemable for cash. Promotional offer available during special event dates only. † If you are not completely satisfied, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition. See store for details. 3)
