Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2020)
2A — THE OBSERVER Daily Planner TODAY Today is Tuesday, Aug. 18, the 231st day of 2020. There are 135 days left in the year. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Con- stitution, guaranteeing all American women’s right to vote, was ratified as Tennes- see became the 36th state to approve it. ON THIS DATE In 1587, Virginia Dare became the first child of English parents to be born in present-day America, on what is now Roanoke Island in North Carolina. (However, the Roanoke colony ended up mysteriously disappear- ing.) In 1838, the first marine expedition sponsored by the U.S. government set sail from Hampton Roads, Virginia; the crews traveled the southern Pacific Ocean, gathering scientific infor- mation. In 1846, during the Mexi- can-American War, U.S. forc- es led by Gen. Stephen W. Kearny occupied Santa Fe in present-day New Mexico. In 1894, Congress established the Bureau of Immigration. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Proclamation of Neutrality, aimed at keeping the United States out of World War I. In 1963, James Mere- dith became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Mississippi. In 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York, wound to a close after three nights with a mid-morning set by Jimi Hendrix. In 1983, Hurricane Alicia slammed into the Texas coast, leaving 21 dead and causing more than a billion dollars’ worth of damage. In 1993, a judge in Saraso- ta, Fla., ruled that Kimberly Mays, the 14-year-old girl who had been switched at birth with another baby, need never again see her bi- ological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, in accordance with her stated wishes. (However, Kimberly later moved in with the Twiggs.) In 2009, former South Korean President and Nobel Peace laureate Kim Dae-jung died in Seoul. In 2014, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard to Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis convulsed by protests over the fatal shoot- ing of a Black teen. Don Pardo, 96, a durable radio and television announcer known for his introductions with a booming baritone on “Saturday Night Live” and other shows, died in Tucson, Arizona. LOTTERY Megabucks: $5.3 million 7-12-13-15-26-37 Mega Millions: $31 million 3-24-29-42-47—13 x2 Powerball: $20 million 5-12-34-45-56—PB-3 x3 Win for Life: Aug. 15 4-15-33-55 Pick 4: Aug. 16 • 1 p.m.: 9-6-5-9 • 4 p.m.: 3-5-6-5 • 7 p.m.: 1-4-9-5 • 10 p.m.: 4-5-0-2 Pick 4: Aug. 15 • 1 p.m.: 7-4-5-6 • 4 p.m.: 3-6-0-8 • 7 p.m.: 4-4-8-2 • 10 p.m.: 2-9-4-7 Pick 4: Aug. 14 • 1 p.m.: 8-2-4-6 • 4 p.m.: 2-9-6-4 • 7 p.m.: 7-8-3-2 • 10 p.m.: 8-3-4-7 DELIVERY ISSUES? If you have any problems receiving your Observer, call the office at 541-963-3161. TuESday, auguST 18, 2020 LOCAL/REGION Joseph lauds late city council member Richard pointer died July 16 of COVID-19-related infirmities By Bill Bradshaw EO Media Group JOSEPH — A moment of silence and a tearful tribute to late Joseph City Councilor Richard Pointer turned an otherwise routine meeting, Thursday, Aug. 13, into an emotion-filled gathering outside the Com- munity Center. The meeting started with the moment of silence, but concluded with Coun- cilor Lisa Collier’s tribute to Pointer, who died July 16 of COVID-19-related infir- mities. Before she spoke, Collier brought an other- wise-empty chair to the spot where he would’ve normally sat. “I kind of didn’t want to come tonight because we’re missing a really big part of our city council,” Collier said. “Thank you for taking a moment of silence with us. I think I can speak for a lot of people who are right here and say that the day Richard Pointer died was one of the worst days this year.” She went on to tell a bit about Pointer. “For those of you who did not know him, he was only a resident of Joseph for about two years,” she said. Staff photo by Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain Joseph City Councilor Lisa Collier gives a tearful tribute Thursday, Aug. 13, to late Coun- cilor Richard Pointer, who died last month of a coronavirus-related illness. Listening, from left, are City Administrator Larry Braden and Mayor Teresa Sajonia. “But if you didn’t know that, you would think that he lived here his whole life. In his two years here, he was deep into the commu- nity. All of his favorite sto- ries and all the places he would be surrounded City Hall and city council that he had a mad passion for.… He had a passion for his city council job.” But Pointer’s passions went beyond city hall, she said. “He loved driving a school bus for Joseph Charter School and loved those kids — and they were ‘his’ kids,” Collier said. “He loved Ember’s, and that’s no joke,” adding they carry a particular dish because it was one of his favorites. “Of course, he loved his family and his church,” she said. “I just can’t say enough about the man. We lost an amazing man. We will all remember him. I put his chair back tonight because for us having our city council meeting out- side, he would’ve just been tickled. He found joy in everything and he would’ve loved it. Richard, you will be greatly missed.” Mayor Teresa Sajonia and others agreed. “Volunteerism is huge in this community,” the mayor Chaves to head EOU trustees The Observer LA GRANDE — The Eastern Oregon Univer- sity Board of Trustees last week unanimously elected Richard Chaves to serve as chairman of the board through November 2021. Chaves, a member of the EOU governing board since its inception in 2015, is a business owner in Baker County and an alumnus of the university. “EOU instilled in me that I had what it took to do whatever I chose to do. It taught me that rural communities have a lot of advantages,” Chaves said. “The chance to make a difference in altering the paths of young peo- ples’ lives, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what nourishes my soul.” Chaves served on the EOU Foundation Board of Directors prior to joining the school’s gov- erning board. He high- lighted several priorities for his term, including an increased presence in Salem, a focus on cre- ative problem solving and a willingness to make tough decisions and stand behind them. Chaves replaces David Nelson, a Pendleton resi- dent, who was appointed to be a founding member of EOU’s independent governing board. Board members met in a hybrid format, with some on-campus wearing The Observer LA GRANDE — The La Grande Parks and Rec- reation Department wants to keep the magic of the summer lemonade stand alive. The department has tra- ditionally conducted a day camp devoted to teaching youths about how to operate lemonade stands as profitable businesses. Unfortunately, it has not been able to do that this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In lieu of this opportu- nity, the city is offering youths the chance to learn, online, about operating a lemonade business. The lessons are avail- able via a free online Lemonade Day platform the parks and recreation department is offering in partnership with Com- munity Bank, Ignite-La Grande and Business Oregon. People accessing the platform will learn how to make a business plan for a lemonade stand plus the importance of goals and of giving back to the community, said McKayla Nitz, recreation supervisor for La Grande Parks and Recreation. Nitz said she hopes in 2021 the La Grande Parks and Recreation Depart- ment will again be able to conduct its lemonade day camp. She noted that in past years those who attended the day camp used the training they received to operate lemonade stands at La Grande’s Crazy News Briefs Police warn residents to be wary of driveway scam Photo by Alex Navarro, Eastern Oregon University Richard Chaves speaks during Eastern Oregon Uni- versity’s Commencement in June 2019. The universi- ty’s board of trustees last week unanimously elected Chaves to serve as chairman through November 2021. masks and physically dis- tant and others partici- pating via Zoom at last week’s meeting. Trustees recognized Nelson, the retired board chairman, and welcomed incoming members Karyn Gomez and Danny Bailey. Gomez, a professor in the College of Education, was appointed to serve as the faculty trustee, and Bailey, who works in the Financial Aid Office as the scholarship coordinator, was appointed to serve as staff trustee. New shared governance leaders for the coming academic year also were in attendance. Board members responded to legisla- tive and financial updates regarding COVID-19 and its impact throughout the state. Vice President for Finance and Administra- tion Lara Moore reported that state funding for higher education would not be affected in 2021, but the coming bienniums could bring significant challenges. “I’m grateful we have 2021 to further prepare,” she said. “Our efforts to reduce spending since spring have been fruitful. With many employees working reduced hours, implementing a not quite hiring freeze but a hiring frost, and virtually no travel, EOU will end FY 20 with $11 million in reserve — the strongest position EOU has ever been in — which will be necessary to weather the coming storm.” The governing board will review the universi- ty’s final budget at its reg- ular meeting this fall. La Grande offers online lemonade stand program By Dick Mason said. “It takes a special breed to stick with it and do it and do it the best you possibly can and not take it for granted, and Richard did not take it for granted. With that in mind, I hope we can find someone to step up and become a part of the community and continue to make it a positive place to be.” Sajonia said she would soon post an opening to fill the remainder of Pointer’s term, which runs through 2022. She said applicants must file by 5 p.m. Aug. 25 at City Hall. In another matter, the council heard a project Days celebration in July. This has proved to been an ideal place to sell lemonade. “There is a lot of foot traffic at Crazy Days,” Nitz said. In 2019, 10 youths attended the lemonade day camp, where they received advise from business experts including those at Community Bank. Later the youths operated a total of four lemonade stands at Crazy Days, each of which made at least $100 in profits, said Chris- tine Jarski, the city of La Grande’s economic devel- opment director. The platform parks and recreation is offering is connected to the National Lemonade Day program, which prepares youths to operate stands. The Lem- onade Day program was founded by Michael Holt- house, the founder and president of Paranet Inc., a computer network services company. The first Lem- onade Day was in 2007 in Houston. “Our mission is to help today’s youth become the business leaders, social advocates, commu- nity volunteers and for- ward thinking citizens of tomorrow, one lemonade stand at time,” the Lem- onade Day website states. The Lemonade Day program is open to youth of all ages but its curric- ulum is written to target ages 3-5. Parents can register their sons and daughters for the lemonade program at www.lemonadeday.org/ la-grande. update from Lucas Stangel, an engineer with Anderson Perry and Associates of Enterprise, on projects underway or proposed. In addition to a paving project and the expansion of city utilities into the indus- trial zone on the north end of town, the major proj- ects are a major upgrade on city water lines and a major upgrade to the waste treat- ment plant. The first two, City Administrator Larry Braden said, are covered by grants. But the city will need to take on the cost of the water lines and waste- water plant. The water lines are expected to cost $1.8 million, while the waste- water treatment plant is expected to cost $3.8 mil- lion, he said. Braden said the cost of the sewer and water projects should be covered by utility rate increases. The current residen- tial water bill of $37.60 a month and sewer bill of $36 a month will each have to be raised to $48.35 a month. Those increases are expected to be imple- mented at the conclusion of the two projects. The water lines are due to be replaced next year, so the water bill increase would be imple- mented in fall 2021. The sewer project is bigger, and would not be done until fall of 2023, at which time the sewer rate hike would be implemented. LA GRANDE — A new scam may be heading to Union County, and the La Grande Police Department wants the community to be aware. According to a press release from the police department, the scam involves Shanadoa “Shaun” Wayne Johnson, 43, with others making up a work crew that offers to pave or seal driveways. How- ever, according to police, the crew does not complete the projects or does so hap- hazardly. So far, there have been at least 10 victims in California. Johnson reportedly has family in the area, according to La Grande police, and he could be coming here or already may be here. Vehicles involved in the previous cases include a 1999 Ford F-250 extended cab with a white diamond plate tool box; a small dump truck, possibly with a flatbed trailer; a Toyota Prius; and a gray Dodge pickup with an amber light on top. Johnson has multiple warrants out of Oregon, the press release stated, including many for theft. If anyone in the commu- nity has information about Johnson, or is offered any- thing matching the descrip- tion of this scam, con- tact the La Grande Police Department business line at 541-963-1017. Domestic violence report leads to pursuit, arrest LA GRANDE — The La Grande Police Depart- ment received two reports Thursday that culminated in the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and the arrest of Deven Matthew Loree, 32, of Portland. At 2 p.m. Aug. 13, a report came to La Grande police of a stolen vehicle from the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation parking lot. An employee witnessed a man, later determined to be Loree, driving out of the parking lot in her personal vehicle. Law enforcement offi- cers from LGPD, Union County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police attempted to locate the vehicle, but did not find it. Just after 6 p.m., La Grande police officers were dispatched to a domestic violence situa- tion in progress where a woman called 911 while a passenger in a vehicle. Dispatch was able to track the location of the vehicle with the open 911 line. The driver threw the phone out of the vehicle in the area of Lake and Alder Street. The woman fell out of the moving vehicle, sustained injuries, and was taken to the hospital. Officers pursued the driver, who turned out to be Loree, in the vehicle, which was the stolen vehicle. Oregon State Police continued the pur- suit once it traveled out- side of city limits and con- tinued onto the interstate. Loree was found in Perry and taken into custody. Officers found a weapon near the driver’s seat and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Police arrested Loree for domestic violence assault, felon in posses- sion of a weapon, posses- sion of methamphetamine and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. La Grande police also reported Loree is in custody at the Union County Jail. Fire burns 8,000 acres in Malheur County JUNTURA — A wild- fire in Malheur County between Vale and Juntura grew rapidly after being reported Sunday after- noon, reaching 8,000 acres by Monday morning. The Indian Creek Fire is burning northwest of Highway 20 about 13 miles east of Juntura, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s Vale Dis- trict. That’s about 70 air miles south of Baker City. Vale District crews worked past midnight Sunday, extinguishing spot fires, cutting dozer lines and grading roads in the area to establish firelines. Nine aircraft dropped retardant to slow the fire’s spread Sunday and more water and retardant drops were coming Monday. The blaze was reported Aug. 16 about 12:45 p.m. near Jonesboro. Its cause is under investigation. — EO Media Group
