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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2020)
2A — THE OBSERVER Daily Planner TODAY Today is Tuesday, Oct. 6, the 280th day of 2020. There are 86 days left in the year. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On Oct. 6, 1973, war erupted in the Middle East as Egypt and Syria launched aa attack on Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday. (Israel, caught off guard, managed to push back the Arab forces before a cease-fire took hold in the three-week conflict.) ON THIS DATE In 1927, the era of talking pictures arrived with the opening of “The Jazz Sing- er” starring Al Jolson. In 1939, in a speech to the Reichstag, German Chancel- lor Adolf Hitler spoke of his plans to reorder the ethnic layout of Europe — a plan which would entail settling the “Jewish problem.” In 1979, Pope John Paul II, on a week-long U.S. tour, be- came the first pontiff to visit the White House, where he was received by President Jimmy Carter. In 2014, the Supreme Court cleared the way for a dramatic expansion of gay marriage in the United States as it rejected appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans, effec- tively making such marriag- es legal in 30 states. In 2018, in the narrowest Senate confirmation of a Su- preme Court justice in nearly a century and a half, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed by a 50-48 vote. LOTTERY Megabucks: $2.6 million 9-24-27-29-31-34 Mega Millions: $41 million 9-38-47-49-68—25 x2 Powerball: $43 million 18-31-36-43-47—PB-20 x2 Win for Life: Oct. 3 2-13-32-34 Pick 4: Oct. 4 • 1 p.m.: 6-4-8-9 • 4 p.m.: 0-5-0-1 • 7 p.m.: 1-8-6-5; • 10 p.m.: 5-8-5-6 Pick 4: Oct. 3 • 1 p.m.: 1-1-8-8; • 4 p.m.: 4-0-3-7 • 7 p.m.: 1-3-1-1; • 10 p.m.: 2-3-3-2 Pick 4: Oct. 2 • 1 p.m.: 2-8-4-8; • 4 p.m.: 9-0-3-9 • 7 p.m.: 8-0-0-3; • 10 p.m.: 4-5-2-4 TuESday, OcTOBER 6, 2020 LOCAL/REGION Baker City man fulfilling a dream Jesse Brown qualifies for National Finals Rodeo By Jayson Jacoby Baker City Herald BAKER CITY — Jesse Brown is used to wres- tling with several hun- dred pounds of uncooper- ative steer, but it turns out sitting still and watching his cellphone can be even more stressful. And cellphones, as you’ve probably noticed, lack horns. The date was Sept. 26. Brown, who grew up and lives in Baker City, had wrestled the last steer of the last rodeo of a long season in which he drove more than 40,000 miles and visited several states for the first time. He was in Stephenville, Texas. Whether Brown, 28, would achieve his ulti- mate goal of qualifying for the Super Bowl of rodeo — the National Finals — depended on what other steer wrestlers were doing thousands of miles away. Specifically, whether they were earning money. The top 15 steer wres- tlers qualify for the National Finals. With two rodeos to go, Brown was in 16th place, $500 out of 15th. Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File Jesse Brown leaps from his horse onto a steer during the steer wrestling event at the 2019 Pendleton Round-Up. Brown won the event and set a new arena record of 3.7 seconds. “I don’t care where it is. I’m just glad to be in the Finals.” — Jesse Brown, Baker City The previous two days he competed at Rapid City, South Dakota. He won the second round and claimed $2,010. That boosted his season earnings to $39,494.60. He flew to Stephenville thinking he probably had to win some money. That didn’t happen. So Brown had to wait. And watch as his com- petitors — and, he empha- sizes, his friends — wres- tled their final steers. Dirk Tavenner of Rigby, Idaho, was competing in, of all places, New Jersey. Shayde Etherton of Borden, Indiana, was back in Rapid City. “I was more nervous watching them than any- thing else,” Brown said. “Those last two days were everything. Every dollar counts.” His win at Rapid City ended up being enough. Brown finished 15th, $1,560 ahead of Tavenner in 16th place. Etherton was 17th, another $978 back. “It was tough — I’m friends with all those guys,” Brown said. But feeling badly for his buddies didn’t diminish Brown’s excitement at realizing his dream. After competing in more than 60 rodeos during the past four months, after living out of a horse trailer and returning to Baker City barely long enough to wash his clothes, Brown qualified for the ultimate competition. Ribbons raise domestic violence awareness Public safety report FRIDAY, OCT. 2 8:21 a.m. — The La Grande police received a report of possible animal abuse on the 500 block of Second Street. 10:57 a.m. — A caller on the 400 block of East Bryan Street, Union, reported an aggressive dog on the loose. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and secured the dog. 2:40 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s office responded to the 400 block of East Dearborn Street, Union, for a juvenile riding an all-terrain vehicle. The deputy counseled the juvenile and the parents. 5:54 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to the area of Hunter Road and Woodell Lane north of La Grande for someone firing a gun near the road. The deputy counseled the shooter. 9:12 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the area of Fourth Street and X Avenue for a domestic disturbance call. An officer separated the parties involved. DELIVERY ISSUES? If you have any problems receiving your Observer, please call 541-963-3161. Drive-thru flu shot clinics for vets begin Wednesday SATURDAY, OCT. 3 The Observer LA GRANDE — The Walla Walla VA Med- ical Center is holding two drive-thru flu shot events for veterans at the La Grande facility in October. The drive- thru clinics will run from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, and again at the same time Oct. 14 in the La Grande VA Clinic parking lot at 202 12th St. Due to the coro- navirus pandemic, according to a press release from the Walla Walla VA Medical Center, it is especially important this year for veterans to get a flu shot to stay healthy. Flu vac- cinations reduce the risk of getting the flu and spreading it to others. Eligible veterans can get their flu shot for free without having to exit their cars. Vet- erans must wear a mask (vented masks are not allowed). The press release encouraged vets who are unable to attend the flu shot clinics to get the shot from their pri- mary care team or at a Veterans Administration in-network pharmacy or urgent care facility (to find the nearest facility, go to www.va.gov/ find-locations, enter your ZIP code and select “community pharma- cies” or “urgent care” under “Facility Type”). More information on the Walla Walla VA’s scheduled drive-thru flu shot clinics at all sites is available at www.wall- awalla.va.gov/features/ Flu_Season_2020.asp as well as the medical center’s Facebook page under the “Events” tab. But of course this being 2020, the year of the coro- navirus pandemic, that competition is nothing like normal. The National Finals, scheduled for Dec. 3-12, won’t take place in the traditional venue, the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Due to the pandemic, the rodeo has been moved to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Trading the Vegas Strip for the Lone Star State isn’t the most significant change, though, Brown said. Globe Life Field is an outdoor baseball stadium. The Thomas & Mack Center is an indoor basket- ball arena. More importantly for a steer wrestler, who leaps from a horse galloping at more than 25 mph, the two venues are much different in size and layout. Brown said the set up in Texas is different from most rodeos, including the location of the chutes where competitors start their runs. He said he’ll set up his practice arena in Baker City with dimensions as close as possible to those in Arlington. Not that Brown is complaining about missing out on glit- tering Vegas. “I don’t care where it is,” he said. “I’m just glad to be in the Finals.” Sabrina Thompson/The Observer Light poles along Adams Avenue in downtown La Grande display purple ribbons to show support and raise awareness of October being “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” La Grande weather was warmer, drier than normal for September The Observer PENDLETON — The National Weather Service in Pendleton reported tempera- tures in La Grande averaged warmer than normal during the month of September. According to preliminary data, the average tempera- ture was 63.8 degrees, which was 3.9 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged 82.5 degrees, which was 6.3 degrees above normal. The highest was 97 degrees on the Sept. 8. Low temperatures averaged 45.2 degrees, which was 1.5 degrees above normal. The lowest was 36 degrees on Sept. 9. Temperature exceeded 90 degrees on eight days, according to the climate summary. Precipitation totaled 0.45 inches during September, which was 0.22 inches below normal. Two days received measur- able precipitation — at least .01 inch — with the heaviest, 0.30 inches, on Sept. 28. Precipitation this year has reached 16.59 inches, which is 5.05 inches above normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at La Grande has been 19.68 inches, which is 3.16 inches above normal. The outlook for October from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above normal temperatures and near to above normal pre- cipitation. Normal highs for La Grande fall from 70 degrees at the start of October to 54 degrees at the end of October. Normal lows fall from 39 degrees to 33 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 1.29 inches. 12:59 a.m. — A caller reported a suspicious person on the 900 block of Cedar Street, Elgin. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and gave a warn- ing for misusing 911. 9:26 a.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a theft of a political sign from the 900 block of North Main Street, Union. A deputy contacted the person who reported the theft. 10:53 a.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1700 block of Baltimore Street, El- gin, on a report of a domestic disturbance. A deputy spoke with the parties involved. 1:18 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office re- turned to the 1700 block of Baltimore Street, Elgin, on a report of a domestic disturbance. A deputy resolved the situation. 4:42 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a possible disturbance on the 1100 block of Adams Avenue. Officers responded and warned the person involved for disorderly conduct. 5:22 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 2400 block of Century Loop for a possible restraining order violation. An officer took a report. 8:34 p.m. — A caller on Mount Harris Loop, La Grande, reported a possible hit-and-run involving cattle. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and arrested a 52-year-old man on a Union County warrant for driving while suspended or revoked. 9:16 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1000 block of Jackson Avenue on a report of a vehicle crash. Officers arrested Tanner Ryan Johnson, 22, of La Grande, for driving under the influence of intoxicants. 10:50 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office re- ceived a complaint about a loud party at a residence on the 62600 block of Bird Lane, La Grande. A deputy counseled the person involved. 10:54 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office re- ceived a complaint about a loud party at a residence on the 62800 block of Fruitdale Lane, La Grande, which is the road one block north of Bird Lane. A dep- uty responded and counseled that person as well. SUNDAY, OCT. 4 1:17 a.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about loud noise on the 1900 block of H avenue. Offi- cers arrived and counseled the subjects involved. 1:58 a.m. — A caller on the 1200 block of Eighth Street, La Grande, reported someone was pounding on their door. Officers arrived and determined the person was a friend of the caller. 10:12 a.m. — A caller reported a dead deer in the road at Walton Road and Buchanan Lane, La Grande. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and removed the carcass. 12:52 p.m. — A caller reported a pug on the loose on the 900 block of Fourth Street, La Grande. The animal enforcement officer made contact with the person, who said they would take the dog to the shelter. 2:37 p.m. — A resident flagged down a Union County sheriff’s deputy in the area of the 10500 block of North McAlister Road, La Grande, for a juvenile causing a disturbance. The deputy explained options. 4:38 p.m. — Oregon State Police booked Orlan- do Sanchez Jr. into the Union County Correctional Facility, La Grande, for felony methamphetamine possession and third-degree rape. 7:54 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a handgun stolen from the 1900 block of Alder Street. 8:34 p.m. — A caller reported seeing a cougar in the area of the 62200 block of Fruitdale Lane, La Grande.
