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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2020)
Inside On Page 6A Survivors discuss Hiroshima bombing Free ride expansion, 2A Celebrating 20 years, 1B Follow us on the web THURSDAY • August 6, 2020 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Mary Jackson of Union COVID-19 Case drop needed for schools to reopen In the past three weeks, only Wheeler County would meet state COVID-19 standards for in-person teaching Contributed photo Cook Memorial Library em- ployee Celine Vandervlugt installs one of the pages Tues- day, Aug. 4, on the new Sto- ryWalk at Riverside Park, La Grande. Staff photo by Sabrina Thompson The Hines Meat Co. in La Grande received a $69,708 grant from the city’s Urban Renewal Agency to help the business fund its expansion. Three other businesses also received grants from the agency. Permanent Storywalk features local author The Observer LA GRANDE — Data from the Oregon Health Authority indi- cates it could be a while before Oregon students are back in a school buildings under the recent coronavirus standards. The Oregon Health Authority has begun posting weekly positive COVID-19 test percentages and cases per 100,000 individuals for each county in Oregon. The data show the state last week posted its highest positive rate in 4-1/2 months at 6.1%. One of the met- rics Gov. Kate Brown put in place July 28 requires the statewide per- centage to be at or below 5% three weeks in a row, meaning Oregon enters the month of August already needing to pull down that number. Even if the state hit the range, most counties are not yet in a place to reopen classrooms because they are outside their requirements — 10 cases or fewer per 100,000 people and a 5% or lower positive rate in a week for three straight weeks. In the last three weeks, from July 12 to Aug. 1, only Wheeler County — which has not had a case of COVID-19 during the pandemic — would qualify. Every other county in Oregon has had enough cases to break that 10 per 100,000 ratio in just the last two weeks. This even includes Grant County, which has had just two cases through the duration of the pandemic. The county had its second case during the week of July 19, but with a population of BUSINESS BOOSTS URA grants will fund upgrades, renovations By Sabrina Thompson By Sabrina Thompson The Observer The Observer LA GRANDE — The latest feature at La Grande’s Riv- erside Park highlights works from local authors. The city’s Parks and Recre- ation Department teamed up with Cook Memorial Library to create a permanent Story- Walk along the walking trail at the park. “It’s a great way to combine literacy, family engagement, health and exploring our com- munity,” said Carrie Bushman, the library’s director of chil- dren’s services. A StoryWalk displays sep- arate pages of a book along a walking trail, bike path or other routes as a way to simul- taneously promote reading and exercise. La Grande’s Sto- ryWalk will feature 20 posts for pages along the path. The library frequently will change the book on display to encourage people to return and see what’s new to read. City Parks and Recre- ation Director Stu Spence said he was excited when library staff approached him with the proposal. “I immediately thought the Riverside Park greenway would be a great fi t for the project since many families are already playing at the park and it would encourage them to explore the trail,” he said. “I’m excited to hear the reaction of the community.” Previously, Cook Memo- rial Library put up temporary LA GRANDE — The city of La Grande’s Urban Renewal Agency recently awarded grants totaling $185,780 to four local businesses for renovations and upgrades. “In the challenging time we are in right now, I respect and appreciate our small businesses that are continuing to grow within our city,” Mayor Steve Clements said in a press release. “The Urban Renewal grant pro- grams continue to be a way to help businesses expand and make improvements they might not otherwise be able to do on their own.” Hines Meat Company, Raul’s Taqueria and Flavors, Dry Creek Capital, and Jim and Connie Voelz received the funding boost. See, Storywalk/Page 5A By Ronald Bond Staff photo by Sabrina Thompson Raul’s Taqueria and Flavors is one of four La Grande businesses to receive a grant from the city’s Urban Renewal Agency. The $21,072 grant will help the Adams Avenue eatery expand into adjacent space. Hines Meat Company — 2315 Jefferson Ave. The Urban Renewal Agency awarded $69,708 to Hines Meat Company, covering a portion See, Grants/Page 5A La Grande Urban Renewal grants 2020-21 Dry Creek Capital (Slater Building) — $75,000 Hines Meat Company — $69,708 Raul’s Taqueria and Flavors — $21,072 Jim and Connie Voelz property — $20,000 See, Schools/Page 5A EOU founding member announces retirement Colleagues reflect on David Nelson’s years of service The Observer LA GRANDE — After fi ve years as chair of the Eastern Oregon University Board of Trustees, and following decades of public service, David Nelson will retire next week. Nelson, 79, was appointed to be a founding member of EOU’s independent governing board when it was established in 2015. He said he’s proud of what the fl edgling board has achieved in such a short time. “We were in a very diffi cult situation when the board came on — no reserve funds, essentially on probation from the state com- mission, looking for a president,” he said. “Now in fi ve years, we’ve got new full-time deans, pay and benefi ts have improved across INDEX Business ...... 1B Classified ..... 3B Comics ......... 7B Crossword ... 4B Photo contributed by Eastern Oregon University/East Oregonian David Nelson during a EOU Foundation event in January 2018. A found- ing member of Eastern Oregon University’s independent governing board when it was established in 2015, Nelson will retire next week. campus, and there are new pro- grams coming on.” He also said the best thing the EOU Board of Trustees did was hire Tom Insko as president in 2015. He credited Insko with WEATHER Dear Abby .... 8B Horoscope ... 4B Lottery.......... 2A Obituaries .... 3A SATURDAY Opinion ........ 4A Spiritual ....... 6A Sudoku ........ 7B Weather ....... 8B doing much to strengthen East- ern’s fi nancial position. Nelson said EOU and Oregon State Uni- versity are now in better fi nancial condition than any of the other state universities in Oregon. Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Friday 45 LOW 78/48 Clear and cooler Sunny and nice Nelson said he is stepping down because of his age and health. He had back surgery and a hip replacement in the past two years, he said, and health issues have taken a toll. “My energy is not good,” Nelson said. “It is time for someone with time and energy to come in and move us forward.” After his 16 years in the state legislature ended in 2012, the Pend- leton resident came to the univer- sity’s role equipped with experi- ence in building consensus and presiding in public meetings. His familiarity with the capitol and connections with Eastern Oregon communities added to Nelson’s natural affi nity for leadership. “It’s all about developing rela- tionships, listening, being trans- parent and looking for common ground,” he said. “You have to be able to respond to human emo- tions and strong feelings.” See, Nelson/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 93 3 sections, 18 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. OSAA MAKES DECISION ON FALL Online at lagrandeobserver.com
