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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2020)
Loving the lasagna #RenewLaGrande Platform. • Publish full Council & Commission materials online before public meetings • Repeal red tape that impedes doing business • Plow our roads In Home & Living Read more at www.alexfor.us/platform Endorsed by Union County Republicans Follow us on the web TUESDAY • October 20, 2020 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Donald James of La Grande Fighting the flu Debunking myths about domestic COVID-19 precautions could limit spread of seasonal virus violence October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month By Sabrina Thompson The Observer By Sabrina Thompson The Observer ISLAND CITY — October is Domestic Violence Aware- ness Month, and Shelter From the Storm has worked to show that in downtown La Grande. The local nonprofi t domestic violence and sexual assault shelter has decorated the town’s down- town light poles with purple rib- bons and informational cards to call attention to the issue of domestic violence. Shelter From the Storm Exec- utive Director Jamie Landa said the shelter offers a range of ser- vices from overnight stays to food assistance, counseling and sup- port groups. In 2019, the shelter, at 10901 Island Ave., Island City, served 165 domestic violence sur- vivors, and the shelter hotline took 118 domestic violence calls, according to Landa. “We lay out all of the options for survivors to give them their power back, because with abuse that power is taken away,” Landa said. “Everything we are doing is survivor led. They make the decisions.” Landa and Stefani Carrel, the shelter’s advocacy support coor- dinator, said there are several myths when it comes to domestic violence, and part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is helping people understand the truth in order to dispel these misconceptions. Myth: Domestic violence can’t happen to men Landa said one of the most common misconceptions about domestic violence is men are always the abuser and never the survivor. However, she said, this is not the case. Landa said 10% of the cases the shelter handles are male victims seeking help. “I am sure it is underreported,” Landa said. “This can be due to a cultural bias against males being a victim of domestic violence.” Landa said the shelter has services and resources to help anyone who is a survivor of domestic violence, regardless of gender. See, Myths/Page 5A LA GRANDE — Local doctors and public health are hopeful the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 will deliver similar benefi ts as the fl u season takes fl ight. “We have all learned some good habits,” said Dr. Bryan Tolle, a family medicine phy- sician at Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande. “People are masked at stores, we use hand sanitizer more frequently and as part of our routine.” Carrie Brogoitti, public health admin- istrator at the Center for Human Develop- ment Inc., La Grande, echoed the need to take precautions and not let low case counts of the fl u and COVID-19 fool people into thinking there is no risk. “We want to see the case counts stay as low as possible,” Brogoitti said. “But when this happens there is defi nitively a risk that people will not be as concerned about the virus and become less compliant with the mitigations we have been asking them to put into place. Even though our case counts have remained low in Union County, we are still seeing activity here and in neighboring counties, and throughout the nation and world, so we hope people will realize we need to keep taking precautions to keep our numbers down. The measures we are taking to reduce COVID-19 will absolutely help prevent fl u.” While the precautions can overlap and protect against both the fl u and COVID-19, Tolle recommended that everyone get a fl u shot, to protect themselves and all members of the community. He said it is important to remember the immune system can be compromised during fl u season, which also can put you at more risk for contracting COVID-19. “It is so important this season to get your fl u shot,” Tolle said. “And the fl u shot cannot give you the fl u.” Pharmacies at Safeway, Rite-Aid, Walmart and Bi-Mart in La Grande are offering free fl u shots, as are providers at Grande Ronde Hospital’s clinics and the Veteran’s Affairs clinic in La Grande through most insurance providers. The Center for Human Development also is holding free fl u shot clinics. CHD held fl u shot clinics on Friday, Oct. 16, and Monday, Oct. 19, and a third See, Flu/Page 5A Sabrina Thompson/The Observer Center for Human Development Immunization Coordinator Nancy Davila steps outside to the curbside fl u shot clinic Monday afternoon. Oct. 19, 2020. Local public health offi cials are hopeful that restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus could lead to restricting the spread of the fl u. “The holidays are defi nitely a concern for additional spread of viral illnesses like fl u and COVID-19. ... We know enough about these viruses to know these are some of the situations where spread is most likely to occur, and we really encourage people to rethink how they celebrate this year so they can keep their loved ones safe.” — Carrie Brogoitti, Center for Human Development public health administrator La Nina may ease Northwest drought Forecasters predict wet and cold winter in Pacific Northwest By Don Jenkins Capital Press SALEM — A La Nina is expected to make winter in the Pacifi c Northwest wet and cold, relieving drought conditions in Oregon and Washington, the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration said. In the southern tier of the U.S., La Nina is forecast to turn winter dry and warm, wors- ening drought conditions that cover much of the Southwest and parts of Northern and Central California. “This is the most widespread drought that we have seen in the continental U.S. since September 2013,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA’s Climate Pre- diction Center. “The winter fore- cast doesn’t bode well for many INDEX Classified ...... 2B Comics .......... 5B Crossword .... 2B Dear Abby .... 6B Phil Wright/The Observer, File Heavy snowfall in early February 2020 prompted plenty of work to clear roads in La Grande. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration said there is no strong signal to guide a winter forecast for temperatures in Oregon, but the odds favor above-average rain and snow for the northern half of the state. In the southern half, it’s a toss-up. of the areas around the nation currently experiencing drought.” In the 11 Western states, 80% of the land has some level of drought, the U.S. Drought Mon- itor reported Thursday. WEATHER Home ............ 1B Horoscope .... 3B Letters ........... 4A Lottery........... 2A THURSDAY Region .......... 2A Obituaries ..... 3A Opinion ......... 4A State .............. 6A Some 37% of Oregon was in “extreme drought,” the sec- ond-worst classifi cation. In Washington, 6% of the state, a section of Central Washington, is in extreme drought. Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Wednesday 43 LOW 48/29 Mostly cloudy A shower or two SENIOR SURVEY FOLLOW-UP NOAA forecasters pre- dicted conditions will improve in the two states in November, December and January. The Pacifi c Ocean along the equator is cooler than normal. The ocean-surface temperatures have triggered changes in the atmosphere, creating a moderate to strong La Nina favorable to a cold and wet winter throughout Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. A bit farther south, Oregon has a slightly different outlook. NOAA said there is no strong signal to guide a winter forecast for temperatures. The odds, however, favor above-average rain and snow for the northern half of the state. In the southern half, it’s a toss-up, NOAA said. The agency predicted Ore- gon’s drought will end in places and at least improve in the worst-hit parts of Central and Southern Oregon. See, Winter/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 125 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
