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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2020)
Opinion 4A Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Sabrina Thompson/The Observer, File Safeway Pharmacy at 2111 Adams Ave., La Grande, is one of the local pharmacies offering fl u shots. Our View Don’t wait to get a fl u shot f you haven’t done it in past years for what- ever reason, now, more than ever it’s time to get your fl u shot. Dont take our word for it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the best way to help limit COVID-19 is fl u prevention. It’s so critical now, the Oregon Health Authority has ordered seven times the normal number of fl u vaccinations. It is concerned how the fl u might exacerbate COVID-19 infections, according to a recent Bend Bulletin story by health reporter Suzanne Roig. The CDC has recommended people get a fl u shot by the end of October, since it takes two to four weeks for the vaccine to become effec- tive. One still can get a shot after that, but the optimum time is now. Most pharmacies, large grocery store chains and health care clinics are offering the shot for people carrying insurance. According to the CDC, the fl u has sickened 9 million to 45 million people a year with 39 mil- lion becoming ill last year and as many as 62,000 dying from the illness. (COVID-19 deaths have topped 225,000 in the U.S. alone). A recent story in the U.S. News and World Report said while health offi cials worry about a potential twindemic of COVID-19 and the fl u this winter, a new study fi nds hospital patients who were infected with both viruses were more than twice as likely to die as those infected only with the new coronavirus. A fl u shot is one way to avoid that dire situation. If you still have doubts, look to the Southern Hemisphere. Flu season in the Southern Hemi- sphere is from June through September, as it is winter there now. Australia, for example, has had a mild fl u season for two very important reasons. The fi rst was the country imposed strict social distancing regulations on its citizens at the outset of COVID-19. Then, the government was aggres- sive about ensuring citizens received a fl u shot; some three to four times the amount got the shot than the previous year. If the US. follows suit, a mild fl u season will help reduce that distraction from fi ghting COVID. Meanwhile, as far as a COVID-19 vaccine for the U.S., the CDC predicts it will not be available at the earliest until mid-2021, most likely after fl u season abides. Again, one more reason to take the shot. I Write to us The Observer welcomes letters to the edi- tor. Letters are limited to 350 words and must be signed and carry the author’s address and phone number (for verifi cation purposes only). Email your letters to news@lagrandeobserver. com or mail them to the address below. Letters Alf Rippee will bring a much-needed fresh perspective to city council I am writing in support of Kristine Alf Rippee for Position 4 on the La Grande City Council. She will bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the council. She is energetic, friendly, organized and open-minded. Her administrative and leadership expe- rience includes serving as treasurer of the La Grande Swim Club and director of the Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp. As a mother of four, she is con- cerned for the youth of our commu- nity, and as further evidence of that she has volunteered for Girl Scouts and at the high school. She has also earned degrees in physical education and sport science, and she has volun- teered with visitors and school groups at Haystack Rock Awareness Center. I believe Kristine Alf Rippee would bring new energy and ideas to the city council. I hope you will join me in voting for her for Position 4. Sharon Porter La Grande Comfort is the best choice for Island City First I would like to say I appre- ciate both candidates for running for the offi ce of mayor of Island City. Serving a small community in a elected position has very few accolades and a lot of criticism. So thanks to both for caring. If we are to survive as a free Republic good people must serve. I support David Comfort for mayor and feel he is the best choice for Island City. He is well known, local his whole life, and a reason- able, thoughtful, respectful person who will serve us without bias toward one group or another. Please join me in voting for David Comfort. Stan Terry Island City Contact your public offi cials Local offi cials La Grande: City Manager Robert Strope, 541-962-1309, fax 541-963-3333; RStrope@cityofl agrande.org; P.O. Box 670, La Grande, OR 97850; Mayor Steve Clements, mayor@cityofl agrande.org; Councilors Gary Lillard (mayor pro tem), glillard@cityofl agrande.org; Nicole How- ard, nhoward@cityofl agrande.org; Corrine Dutto, cdutto@cityofl agrande.org; Mary Ann Miesner, mmiesner@cityofl agrande. org; Justin Rock, jrock@cityofl agrande.org; and through the city manager’s offi ce. Elgin: City Hall, 790 S. Eighth Ave., Elgin, OR, 97827; City Recorder/Administrator Brock Eckstein, cityadm@cityofelginor. org; Mayor Allan Duff y, 541-240-9763, mayor@cityofelginor.org; Councilors Mary West, 541-805-0443, councilor3@ cityofelginor.org; Kathy Warren, 541-786- 9611, councilor6@cityofelginor.org; Risa Hallgarth, 541-437-9462, councilor2@ cityofelginor.org; Rocky Burgess, 541-786- 2417, councilor1@cityofelginor.org; David Reed,541-975-3306, councilor4@cityofel- ginor.org; and Ryan Martin, councilor5@ cityofelginor.org. Cove: City Hall, 504 Alder St., P.O. Box 8 Cove, OR 97824; City Recorder Donna Lewis, 541-568-4566, donna.lewis@cityof- cove.org; Mayor Del Little, 503-508-6727. Union County: County Courthouse: 1106 K Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541- 963-1001; fax 541-963-1079; Commis- sioners Donna Beverage, dbeverage@ union-county.org, Matt Scarfo, mscarfo@ union-county.org, and Paul Anderes, panderes@union-county.org; adminis- trative offi cer Shelley Burgess, sburgess@ union-county.org. Wallowa County: Courthouse, 101 S. Riv- er St., Enterprise OR 97828, 541-426-4543 ext. 15; fax 541-426-0582; Commissioners Susan Roberts, ext.133, sroberts@co.wal- lowa.or.us; Todd Nash, ext.132, tnash@ co.wallowa.or.us; John Hillock, ext.131, jhillock@co.wallowa.or.us. State offi cials Rep. Greg Barreto of Cove (58th District): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. N.E., H-384, Sa- lem, OR 97301; 503-986-1458. Email: rep. gregbarreto@oregonlegislature.gov. Sen. William S. Hansell of Athena (29th District): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. N.E., S-423, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1729. Email: sen.billhansell@oregonlegislature.gov Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www. governor.oregon.gov. United States offi cials Rep. Greg Walden (2nd District): walden. house.gov; D.C. offi ce: 2182 Rayburn Offi ce Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202-225-6730; fax 202-225-5774; La Grande offi ce: 1211 Washington Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-624-2400; fax, 541- 624-2402. Sen. Jeff Merkley: merkley.senate.gov.; D.C. offi ce: 313 Hart Senate Offi ce Build- ing, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Port- land offi ce: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-3386; fax 503-326-2900. Pendleton offi ce: 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton 97801; 541-278-1129. Sen. Ron Wyden: wyden.senate.gov.; D.C. offi ce: 221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande offi ce: 105 Fir St., No. 210, La Grande, OR 97850; 541- 962-7691; fax, 541-963-0885. President Donald Trump: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washing- ton, D.C. 20500; 202-456-1414; fax 202- 456-2461; to send comments, go to www. whitehouse.gov/contact.