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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2020)
STATE/NORTHWEST TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 7A Melee erupts during rallies in Bend Trump supporters clash with social justice activists Oregonians who need to take a DMV driving test must pay to go through a third-party due to coronavirus crisis By Kyle Spurr The Bulletin BEND — An afternoon of vocal but peaceful rallies by supporters of President Donald Trump and social justice activists turned vio- lent Saturday, Oct. 3, at a park in Bend when a Black Lives Matter protester tried to steal a Trump campaign fl ag. More than a hundred people had gathered at the park and violence erupted as Trump supporters formed a caravan to leave. Trump supporters jumped out of their vehicles to chase the man who tried to steal the fl ag, punches were thrown and then a Central Oregon Peacekeepers pro- tester started spraying the crowd with pepper spray. At one point, a Trump sup- porter was sprayed with pepper spray inside his truck by a social justice activist. Bend police confi s- cated two handguns that the Trump supporter had with him. Police also later arrested Garrett Gerdes, 23, of Bend, who they identifi ed as the man who tried to steal the fl ag. State cuts driving tests to one option By Lizzy Acker The Oregonian/OregonLive Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin Trump supporters and counterprotesters throw punches Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at Pilot Butte in Bend. Amanda Hutchings, 33, of La Pine, who went to support Black Lives Matter, had never seen anything like it in Bend, where she grew up. She, too, was hit by pepper spray. “The next thing I knew, I heard Tasers going off and then pepper spray,” she said. “This is a fi rst for Bend.” The Trump supporters had been saying for more than a week they planned a rally and possible car- avan through Bend. When rumors surfaced that the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, might attend, social justice activ- ists planned a counter-rally. Both groups converged at the park near Pilot Butte about midday and for hours, their presence was peaceful, marked only by hurled insults and chants. “We are just having a party,” said Bend res- ident and social justice activist Mallory Becker as she put candles on a cake early in the afternoon. “We are going to counter hate and racism with having a party.” Throughout the after- noon Bend police drove through the parking lot to monitor the events. Kerstin Arias, co-founder of the Central Oregon Diversity Project who organized the party to counter the Trump rally, was initially pleased that the event was peaceful. After the melee, however, she appeared dazed and defeated. “They ... hate us,” she said. Nicholas Dieringer, a Bend fi lmmaker who orga- nized the Trump rally, said his intention was to host a celebration to support freedom, democracy and law and order. SALEM — Orego- nians who need to take the driving test to get a driver’s license have to pay to go through a third- party, according to the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services. “Because of COVID- 19,” said DMV spokes- person David House, “DMV has not been doing drive tests since March.” House also said at this time there are drive tests available from third-party testers and through some driver education programs for teens, but he acknowl- edged those programs have long waiting lists and additional costs. The DMV lists four companies offering this service. The tests cost from $60 to $75, depending in the com- pany, in addition to DMV fees. “At this time,” he said, “that is the only available alternative.” The DMV is currently working to develop pro- cedures to safely bring back in-person testing, House said, but there is no date yet for when that will happen. “I’m confi dent we will be able to start offering appointments for drive tests sometime this fall,” House said. “Because of COVID-19, DMV has not been doing drive tests since March. ... I’m confi dent we will be able to start offering appointments for drive tests sometime this fall.” — David House, DMV spokesman Imagine The Difference You Can Make Critics vow to continue eff orts to remove dams By Nicholas K. Geranios Associated Press SPOKANE — Environ- mental groups are vowing to continue their fi ght to remove four dams on the Snake River in Washington state they say are killing salmon that are a key food source for endangered killer whales. But instead of working with federal agencies, con- servationists intend to seek removal of the dams through the political or legal systems. Agencies of the U.S. government announced in late July the four huge dams will not be removed to help salmon migrate to the ocean. That decision was fi nalized Tuesday, Sept. 29, in a Record of Decision. The decision thwarts the desires of environmental groups that fought for two decades to breach the dams. “This is defi nitely not the end,’’ said Robb Krehbiel of Defenders of Wildlife. “I don’t see how this doesn’t end up in court.’’ But he also is encour- aged by signs that gover- Capital Press, File The Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River near Pomeroy, Washington. Environmental groups vow to continue not fi ght for the removal of this dam and three others on the Lower Snake River. nors of Northwest states, particularly Democrats in Oregon and Washington, are looking for a negotiated solution. “To say we need a new approach, that we need leadership from our elected representatives, and that we need to fi nd a solution that works for all of us is to state the obvious,’’ said Todd True, an attorney for Earthjustice. The ROD was issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonne- ville Power Administration, and sought to balance the needs of salmon and other interests. The plan calls for spilling more water over the dams at strategic times to help endangered salmon migrate faster to and from the ocean, a tactic that has already been in use. Dam critics have panned the Trump administration plan as inadequate to save Oregon Department of Corrections weighs cutt ing ties with colleges Associated Press PORTLAND — The Oregon Department of Cor- rections is weighing ending its connections to com- munity colleges across the state and proposing to move its education pro- gram in-house because of a budget shortfall. The DOC currently con- tracts with six community colleges in Oregon to pro- vide high school diploma equivalency testing, or GED services, to inmates across its 14 facilities. Department of Correc- tions communications man- ager Jennifer Black told Oregon Public Broadcasting that DOC is proposing the contracts be phased out and the agency hire back those positions as part of the DOC permanent budget going forward. She said nearly 1,000 inmates were enrolled in the Adult Basic Skill Develop- ment program as of Sept. 30. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, contractors were unable to enter the institu- tions and ABS (Adult Basic Skills) programming could not be adapted and continued during operation modifi ca- tions,” she said. “Converting contractor funding to DOC staff positions will allow the department to continue ABS programming during other disasters or operational restrictions.” DOC director Colette Peters sent a letter about the situation this week to Cam Preus, executive director of the Oregon Community College Association. DOC was already expe- riencing a projected budget shortfall of $110 million before the pandemic, Peters wrote, which has resulted in $25 million in layoffs and other cost-cutting measures. Peters said DOC staff met with Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario to discuss the idea of the six colleges working together to create a proposal standardizing services. “Treasure Valley was clear that such a proposal would not be forthcoming,” Peters wrote. “It was stated unequivocally during those meetings that the colleges are independent institu- tions and that the dynamics between colleges would not result in a unifi ed proposal.” salmon, an iconic North- west species. They contend the dams must go if salmon are to survive. “To us, the lower Snake River is a living being,’’ said Shannon K. Wheeler, chair of Idaho’s Nez Perce Tribe. “We are compelled to speak the truth on behalf of this life force and the impacts these concrete bar- riers on the lower Snake have on salmon, steelhead, and lamprey.’’ The tribe will go to court, to Congress and to state capitols to fi nd a way to restore the river, Wheeler said. Scientists warn southern resident orcas are starving to death because of a dearth of chinook salmon that are their primary food source. The Pacifi c Northwest pop- ulation of orcas — also called killer whales — was placed on the endangered species list in 2005. The dams have many defenders, including Repub- lican politicians from the region, barge operators and other river users, farmers and business leaders. DONATE YOUR CAR 1-844-533-9173 FREE TOWING TAX DEDUCTIBLE Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually Ask About A FREE 3 Day Vacation Voucher To Over 20 Destinations!!! Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY! 877-557-1912 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! Off er valid March 16, 2020 - June 30, 2020 Special Financing Available *Terms & Conditions Apply Subject to Credit Approval Blazing Fast Internet! 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