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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2020)
RECORDS AND MORE THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 3A COMMUNITY City names winners of summer Beautifi cation Awards Briefs Fish for free this weekend SALEM — Everyone can fi sh for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16. Although no licenses or tags are required, all other fi shing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. All anglers are reminded to follow the ongoing COVID-19 precautions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations to fi nd out more and remember to check for any in season regulation changes at https:// myodfw.com/recreation-re- port/fi shing-report. Check for access before you go. Many spots have reopened to public access but some may still be closed due to the pandemic and/or wildfi re season. Cove candidate applica- tions due Aug. 21 COVE — The city of Cove is seeking candidates to fi le for the Nov. 3 general election. The city will elect a mayor (two-year term) and city councilors (four-year term). For fi ling information and forms contact Cove City Hall at 541-568-4566 or email cityadmin@cityofcove.org. Applications with signature pages will be accepted until noon Aug. 21. Choir canceled but mu- sic will go on LA GRANDE — Art Center East has decided to cancel Grande Ronde Community Choir this fall due to the ongoing pandemic. In lieu of practicing together as a choir, ACE and choir director Mike Frasier are looking at another way to explore music together. Those inter- ested, both prospective and existing choir participants, are encouraged to add their perspective to the discussion by fi lling out a short survey at www.surveymonkey. com/r/F5GHDXQ. Upcoming local services Aug. 15 — PAUL WAGONER: 11 a.m. celebration of life, Indian Rock; casual dress pre- ferred. Aug. 15 — ALIDEAN McMASTER: 2 p.m. graveside service, Hillcrest Cemetery, La Grande; face coverings required for age 2 and older. Aug. 22 — STAN CASE: 10 a.m. celebration of life, Case arena at 64066 Booth Lane, La Grande; face coverings and social distancing required; watch the livestream at www.lovelandfuner- alchapel.com (click on “Funeral Videos” near bottom of page). Aug. 29 — MIKE MAY: 4 p.m. memorial service, Riverside Park Pavilion, La Grande; face cover- ings and social distanc- ing required. — Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande The Observer LA GRANDE — The residence of Kirk Bor- derding and Seren Kop- etski was selected for the La Grande Community Landscape and Forest- ry’s Summer Beautifi ca- tion Award. Borderding and Kopetski have transformed a former “juniper night- mare” at their home, 1610 Foley St., into a handsome landscape. “What started out as a two-week vacation evolved into a six-month project involving 300 tons of rock, hundreds of plants and mul- tiple trips to GrandeScapes Nursery for supplies and advice,” said Kopetski. “We wanted to pack the front yard with lots of fodder for the pollinators so we would have fun watching the wildlife from the house’s beautiful windows. The tricky part was fi nding the right plants that would not become deer food too.” The sloping front yard covered in juniper has been replaced with rock- lined terraces and path- Submitted photo Kirk Borderding and Seren Kopetski transformed a former “juniper nightmare” at their home, 1610 Foley St., into a handsome landscape and won a La Grande Community Landscape and Forestry’s Summer Beautifi cation Award. Blue Summit Realty, 102 Greenwood St., was selected for a La Grande Community Landscape and Forestry’s Sum- mer Beautifi cation Award. Owner Haley Hines worked with Garden Girl, LLC, to add plantings of shrubs and pe- rennials that complement the building. ways that form the struc- ture for a diverse planting of shrubs and perennials. In addition to creating a hab- itat for native pollinators, removing the juniper also makes the landscape more fi re resistant. The Oregon Department of Forestry lists ornamental juniper as highly fl ammable and rec- ommends removing juniper shrubs near homes. Blue Summit Realty, 102 Greenwood St., was idential and commercial properties that add to the beauty and diversity of La Grande’s environment. Nominations for this award are made by members of the La Grande Landscape and Forestry Commis- sion, city employees and community members. The awards are given season- ally, in spring, summer and fall. The selection committee looks for landscaping that Submitted photo selected for the commer- cial award. Owner Haley Hines worked with Garden Girl, LLC to add plant- ings of shrubs and peren- nials that complement the building. New lawn and sidewalks were installed and the gravel parking area was paved, eliminating dust and the need to spray weeds. The purpose of the Beautifi cation Awards Pro- gram is to recognize res- MILESTONE Allan & Eddie Claudson — 60th anniversary PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT MONDAY, AUG. 10 TUESDAY, AUG. 11 7:39 a.m. — La Grande police responded to a report of a low hanging wire at 2100 Alder St. The utility service was notifi ed. 8:59 a.m. — Oregon State Police were informed of a loose horse on Highway 82 near Courtney Lane in Imbler. An animal enforcement offi cer responded and the owner now has the horse in possession. 10:04 a.m. — La Grande police responded to a report of domestic disturbance on the 2900 block Cedar Street and resolved the situation. 10:34 a.m. — Union County Sheriff’s deputies arrested one person in a domestic dispute on Highway 244 at milepost 41 in La Grande. 12:02 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce cited and released Kayla Marie Ruth Johnson, 28, on two Umatilla County warrants for failure to appear. 6:57 p.m. — La Grande police took a report of a hit and run on the 1500 block of Fifth Street. 5:47 a.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce assist- ed Union Fire on a fi re call on Delta Street in Union. 10:25 a.m. — La Grande police responded to a report of a deer tangled in a cord on the 2700 block of Gekeler Lane but were unable to locate the deer. 4:36 p.m. — The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Offi ce cited Elizabeth Rose Johnson, 21, on a Union County warrant for failure to appear. 5:49 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce arrest- ed Timothy Earl Branson, 51, on a charge of assault IV and harassment. 7:21 p.m. — La Grande police cited Jorge Alejan- dro Fuentes, 27, for theft of services. 10:18 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce arrest- ed Joseph Dean Furgerson, 31, for criminal mischief I, manufacture and possession of a destructive device, unlaw- ful entry into a motor vehicle and reckless burning. Allan and Edytha “Eddie” Claudson were married Aug. 13, 1960, at the First Baptist Church in Lakeview. They met in college and graduated in 1960, after which they each found high school teaching jobs in Richland. After three years they moved to Ontario, where Allan taught math at the junior high, high school and community college. Their two children were born in Ontario, then the family moved to La Grande. From 1975 to 2000 Allan and Eddie operated a business that evolved into Claudson’s Sew and Soak on Adams Avenue. Allan taught math at EOU all the while, retiring after 38 years as an educator. They will celebrate their 60th wedding anniver- sary with memories of many wonderful trips and fun camping over the years. Staff was close to inmates and without masks at SRCI By Leslie Thompson Argus Observer ONTARIO — Oregon Department of Corrections on Friday denied a public records request fi led by the Argus Observer for video footage from inside Snake River Correctional Institu- tion pertaining to correc- tional offi cers not wearing face coverings while in close proximity to inmates. However, in that same letter, it was stated that in their own review of the 10 hours of video footage requested it was found that staff at the prison were not always in compliance. According to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, the Oregon Department of Corrections has the responsibility to ensure employees follow rules and policies. ODOC’s response was to a standing request sent on July 21 for video footage to see whether cor- Photo contributed by Malheur Enterprise The Oregon Department of Corrections stated that in a re- view of 10 hours of video footage it reviewed, the state found that staff at Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario were not always in compliance with wearing face coverings while in close proximity to inmates. rectional offi cers are fol- lowing social distancing mandates. The request was sent after the newspaper received multiple com- plaints from family mem- bers of inmates, as well as inmates, themselves, that offi cers not wearing masks while less than 6-feet away from inmates was an ongoing issue in spite of the pandemic. On July 30, SRCI offi cials contacted the newspaper seeking fur- ther information about the request, and it was explained that the news- paper would like footage from inside both the min- imum and maximum facility in order to look through it and track how many times correctional offi cers were in frame without a mask in close proximity of inmates. “At the outset, we acknowledge the public’s interest in seeking infor- mation about staff com- pliance with wearing face masks when six feet of physical distancing is not possible during the current novel coro- navirus COVID-19 pan- demic,” reads the letter sent to the newspaper on Friday. “We have taken this into consideration in reviewing your public records request. During our review of requested institution video footage, we acknowledge that there is video footage that depicts some instances in which correctional staff who were not able to main- High-speed chase leads to one arrest; driver escapes on foot The Observer LA GRANDE — An early morning vehicle pur- suit led to one La Grande individual being arrested and has La Grande police seeking a second person. According to a press release from LGPD, offi - cers attempted a traffi c stop on Caleb Nelson, 27, of La Grande, on “Real Food for the People” Open Fri-Sun Take-out Menu 5pm-8pm Updated Weekly www.tendepotstreet.com 541-963-8766 tendepotstreet@gmail.com integrates color, texture, seasonal diversity and appropriate use of hard- scapes and space; land- scaping that promotes resource conservation, wildlife habitat and/or food production; and owners who have overcome special circumstances. Nomina- tions for the fall beautifi ca- tion award may be sent to trees@cityolagradnde.org, or call the Urban Forestry Division at 541-663-1952. Wednesday, Aug. 12, a little after 3 a.m. Nelson had committed several traffi c violations, then led offi cers on a high-speed chase in the 2012 Jeep Patriot he was driving. He later stopped at the 2900 block of Misty Avenue and took off on foot. LGPD and the Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce were unable to locate Nelson, who had an active felony arrest warrant prior to the attempted stop. Offi - cers found weapons and drugs during their inves- tigation, and Nelson is facing additional weapons, drug and traffi c crimes. His passenger, 35-year-old Mykel Hansell of La Grande, stayed at the vehicle and cooper- ated with law enforce- ment. Hansell was arrested for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, was cited and then released from custody. LGPD asks individ- uals with information that could lead to the loca- tion of Nelson to call 541-963-1017. tain six feet of physical distancing are not wearing face masks as required by the Department’s policy.” In the letter, DOC explained its decision was based on those records being exempt under ORS 192.335(5) and ORS 192.345(23) in order to maintain internal order and security, and the safety of staff and adults in custody that work or live in our correctional institutions.” As such, DOC deter- mined in its review of the requested footage that “if disclosed, would allow adults in custody to avoid surveillance and permit identifi cation of potential weaknesses in the depart- ment security measures.” The Argus Observer intends to appeal the ODOC decision to not release the video footage, and has reached out to legal counsel. 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