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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 2020)
Powder and the pandemic Inside Elgin couple off ers frights, 2A EOU football schedule, 6A In Outdoors Weekend Edition SATURDAY-MONDAY • October 10, 2020 Good day to our valued subscriber Dorothy Hunt of La Grande • $1.50 Two recent area calf deaths not by wolves ODFW also says they are not mutilation cases By Ronald Bond The Observer 4,305 votes for Bowen were just more than half of the number of voters who did not submit a ballot. The race for second and third was much tighter. Sheriff Boyd Rasmussen won by only 133 votes over Bill Miller. That differ- ence accounts for just 1.67% of the number of voters who did not participate. A fi fth of those who did not vote would have been enough to make up the margin between Bowen and Rasmussen. There even were enough non-voters that Shane Rollins, who fi nished fourth with 785 votes, could have ended up closer in the race. LA GRANDE — Two of the most recent livestock depreda- tions the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife investigated in Eastern Oregon lack any mark- ings that point to a wolf. The kills occurred in late Sep- tember, one in Union County, according to the ODFW investi- gation report, which showed 25 depredation exams from July to September. The fi rst investigation was Sept. 23 after a livestock producer that morning found a dead 400- pound calf in a large private pas- ture in the Manning Creek area of Baker County. Investigators estimated the calf died the day before. “No attack or struggle scene was found,” according to ODFW’s report. “There were no pre-mortem bite marks or hemor- rhage found on the carcass. The death of this calf was not wolf related.” The next morning, a landowner in the McIntyre Road area of Union County found a dead 500- pound calf in a large forested pri- vate pasture. The calf, investiga- tors determined, died about three days before the examination on the carcass began. It was missing intestines and muscle tissue from its spine, ribs and hindquarters. The examination of the site found no signs of an attack or struggle, and this carcass also lacked pre-mortem bite marks or hemorrhaging. “The death of this calf was not wolf related,” the reported stated. Michelle Dennehy, ODFW communications director, said there is no evidence of the death falling in the same camp as recent mutilation cases that have been reported around the state. “There was nothing to suggest the death or missing parts were human caused,” she said. “The missing portions of the animal were consistent with scavenger activity — not surprising since there was sign of coyotes, fox and scavenging birds at the scene. This is virtually always the case unless the carcass is found very quickly after death. Had there been evidence of human involve- ment it would become a potential criminal case and law enforce- ment would take over.” See, Vote/Page 5A See, Wolves/Page 5A Ronald Bond/The Observer Lisa Feik, chief deputy for the Union County Clerk’s Offi ce, La Grande, conducts a test run of the county’s new ballot tally machine on Thurs- day, Oct. 8, 2020. The new machine can sort out write-in and questionable ballots from others that scan OK. The machine is set for more test runs, including one that can be watched by citizens Oct. 27, before the Nov. 3 election. Every vote counts Almost 8,000 voters in Union County did not cast a ballot in May primary “I’ve been trying to tell people for years ‘You do count, you just choose not to.’ They choose not to be heard because they refuse to vote, and that’s my personal opinion.” — Robin Church, Union County Clerk By Ronald Bond The Observer This is the fi rst of a two-part series on voting. The second part, breaking down the margin between Kate Brown and Knute Bue- hler in 2018, runs Tuesday, Oct. 13. LA GRANDE — Robin Church is ada- mant about voters making sure their voices are heard. The Union County clerk this week talked with The Observer not only about the importance of voting in next month’s gen- eral election and understanding that votes do count, but how margins — both large and small — can be made up by the votes that are left on the table. Church wants to dispel a notion she said Eastern Oregon residents often carry — that their vote doesn’t count at the state level. That is true only if a person elects not to vote, she said. “I’ve been trying to tell people for years ‘You do count, you just choose not to,’” she said. “They choose not to be heard because they refuse to vote, and that’s my personal opinion.” Church cited the example of the close 2018 Oregon governor’s race between Dates and places to keep in mind for the 2020 general election • Oct. 13: Last day to register as a fi rst-time voter in Oregon. • Oct. 14: Ballots dropped off at post offi ce for delivery. • Oct. 27: Recommended last day to mail ballot. • Nov. 3: Registration update deadline for voters. • Nov. 3, 8 p.m.: Deadline to turn ballot in at drop box. BALLOT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS: • La Grande: 1001 Fourth St. Knute Buehler and Kate Brown. Less than 120,000 ballots decided the race in which smaller counties didn’t vote at the level of larger counterparts. A local, more recent election — Union County’s May primary for sheriff — points to the importance of voting as well as being sure to sign ballots. In that election, registered voters in the county cast 10,556 ballots out of more than 18,500. That’s a turnout of about 57%, which means nearly 8,000 voters did not take part. Deputy Cody Bowen won the primary easily to reach the November general elec- tions with close to 42% of the vote. But the • Island City: 10605 Island Ave. • Imbler: 180 Ruckman Ave. • Elgin: 890 Alder St. • Union: 342 S. Main St. • Cove: 504 Alder St. • North Powder: 635 Third St. MORE INFORMATION • If you have not received a ballot by Oct. 21, contact the Union County Clerk’s Offi ce at 541-963-1006. La Grande renames fi eld to honor Doug Trice By Dick Mason The Observer LA GRANDE — La Grande has a new memorial to the late Doug Trice, the community volunteer who lifted young people to greater heights without raising his voice. Wednesday night, Sept. 7, the La Grande City Council voted to rename Community Field at Pioneer Park in honor of Trice. The name change took effect immediately. Councilor Mary Ann Miesner said this is an excellent way to salute the legacy of Trice, an award-winning Special Olym- pics coach and a hall of fame ath- lete who died in his sleep at his La Grande residence May 6, 2020, at age 68. “He touched a lot of lives in this community,” Miesner said. The fi eld’s offi cial new name is Douglas Trice Community Field. Lin Casciato, a retired La Grande High School teacher and a softball coach, said it is fi tting that Trice’s name will precede the word “community” because he gave so much to the one in which he lived. “I think it is a great honor,” INDEX Classified ...... 2B Comics .......... 5B Crossword .... 3B Dear Abby .... 6B WEATHER Horoscope .... 4B Letters ........... 4A Lottery........... 2A Obituaries ..... 3A TUESDAY Opinion ......... 4A Outdoors ...... 1B Sports ........... 6A Sudoku ......... 5B Casciato said. “I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this.” The La Grande Parks and Rec- reation Department began pursuing the name change after receiving a recommendation to do so. An electronic survey showed over- whelming support for the name change, and the Parks and Recre- ation Advisory Commission voted to recommend the name change to the city council. Trice’s contributions as a Spe- cial Olympics coach were far from overlooked during his life. He was named an assistant coach for Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Sunday 40 LOW 54/44 A few showers A shower or two LA GRANDE CITY COUNCIL RACES Team USA at the World Games in Shanghai, China, in 2007. That same year he received a Gover- nor’s Gold Award from Gov. Ted Kulongoski for his work in Special Olympics. Four years later, Trice was selected as a Special Olympics coach for Team USA in Athens, Greece. Six months before his passing, Trice was inducted into the La Grande High School Tiger Booster Hall of Fame. He was recog- nized for his Special Olympics See, Trice/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 121 2 sections, 12 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com
