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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2020)
Making Tracks #RenewLaGrande Platform. • Publish full Council & Commission materials online before public meetings • Repeal red tape that impedes doing business • Plow our roads In Outdoors Read more at www.alexfor.us/platform Endorsed by Union County Republicans SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTIES SINCE 1896 SATURDAY-MONDAY • October 17, 2020 Weekend Edition Good day to our valued subscriber Cody Lathrop of Enterprise • $1.50 Council candidates speak at virtual forum By Dick Mason The Observer Sabrina Thompson/The Observer Peter Clark hammers heated metal against his anvil at his home forge in Summervile Wednesday night, Oct. 14, 2020, as part of a live blacksmithing demonstration. Clark livestreamed the demonstration in collaboration with Art Center East, La Grande, and the Northwest Blacksmith Association as part of a beginner class in blacksmithing. New tech meets old trade Summerville resident seeks to reach next generation of blacksmiths By Sabrina Thompson The Observer SUMMERVILLE — Blacksmithing is one of the oldest trades in the world, yet few people are part of it. Summerville res- ident Peter Clark is working on getting the next generation of blacksmiths ready. In collaboration with Art Center East, Smith taught a virtual beginner smithing class and provided a live demonstration from his home forge on Wednesday night, Oct. 14. “Blacksmithing is challenging, demanding, exciting and satisfying work,” Clark said. “It is a harder job than some, but it makes life worth living.” Clark, who owns the Northwest Skillet Company and runs Homestead Springs Farm and Forge in Summerville, made blacksmithing his career in 2016. He said he fell in love with blacksmithing because of its history, science and the creativity it provides. “When you think you’ve gone as far as you can in one area, you pick up the metal and try to make something new,” Clark said. Now, he said, he wants to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next gen- eration of blacksmiths. Clark said he had been planning on teaching a class at Art Center East and performing a live demon- stration in front of the building before Sabrina Thompson/The Observer Peter Clark begins to heat his metal in a propane forge during a livestreamed beginning blacksmith class at his home forge Wednesday night, Oct. 14, 2020, in Summerville. the coronavirus pandemic came to Union County. Due to the limitations on large gatherings, Clark agreed to do a lives- tream class and demonstration with help from ACE and the Northwest Blacksmith Association. “We really wanted to still do something to keep the ball rolling,” Clark said. “With livestreaming available it makes it easy to teach still.” LA GRANDE — The wild- fi res that devastated portions of Western Oregon last month should serve as a wake-up call for people living in Union County, according to La Grande City Councilor Nicole Howard. “The fi res from the west side are stark reminders that we have to be prepared. We need a comprehen- sive plan. Now is the time for the city to take the lead,” Howard said at a virtual La Grande City Council candidates forum Thursday night, Oct. 15. Howard, running for reelec- tion to Position 2, is one of nine candidates in fi ve contested races, including the mayoral contest, who took part in the forum, which inter- net-based Eastern Oregon Alive TV hosted. Candidates addressed sev- eral issues, starting with how to best help businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve Clements, who is com- pleting his sixth year as mayor, said the pandemic has revealed a number of businesses have not maintained records they need when applying for COVID-19 grants from the state. “We need to help them do this,” said Clements, who is running for his fourth two-year term as mayor. Position 6 candidate David Moyal praised the council for working hard to get funding to businesses hurt by COVID-19. Moyal, the husband of Nicole Howard, credited the council with making swift decisions that allowed critical funding to get in the hands of business owners in short order. Denise Wheeler, a Position 2 candidate, said she wants more businesses that have had to curtail their operations due to COVID-19 to begin increasing their presence. “They need to do so. They can soar again,” Wheeler said. The candidates also addressed allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in La Grande. David Glabe, a candidate for Position 3, said he opposes the sales. Glabe said people using rec- reational marijuana are much more likely to be involved in an auto- mobile accident. See, Class/Page 5A See, Forum/Page 5A Two vie for vacant LG City Council seat By Dick Mason The Observer LA GRANDE — John Bozarth seeks a return to the La Grande City Council, and to get there he will have to defeat David Moyal. The two men are vying for Posi- tion 6, which is vacant because Jim Whitbeck resigned the seat earlier this year to pursue other endeavors. John Bozarth Bozarth served 13 years on the council before stepping down in 2016. He said he was inspired to seek another term by the three candidates who are challenging incumbents on the city council: Alex McHaddad, who is running for mayor; Denise Wheeler, a can- didate for Position 2; and David Glabe, a candidate for Position 3. “I am very impressed with them,” Bozarth said. “They are INDEX Classified ...... 4B Comics .......... 7B Crossword .... 4B Dear Abby .... 8B WEATHER Horoscope .... 6B Letters ........... 4A Lottery........... 2A Milestone ..... 3A TUESDAY Obituaries ..... 3A Opinion ......... 4A Outdoors ...... 1B Sports ........... 7A very proactive and have a vision for La Grande.” Bozarth, who is employed part time by Goss Motors, said he would work closely with business owners to get ideas for how the city could best address their challenges and problems. He said he would strive to have more personal interaction with them to fi nd out how the city can better address their needs. “Business is the lifeblood of the community,” Bozarth said. The candidate said La Grande has a reputation as being a place Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Sunday 41 LOW 58/49 Partly cloudy A morning shower FLU SEASON DURING COVID in which it is diffi cult to operate a business. “I want to help it become an easier place to do business in,” said Bozarth, who with his wife, Janis, moved to La Grande in 1976. He also said as a councilor he would work to get the city’s truck route reinstated, which would ban trucks from driving on Adams Avenue between Second Street and Hemlock Street and instead direct them a block north to Jefferson See, Council/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 124 2 sections, 16 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com