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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2020)
2A — THE OBSERVER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 LOCAL/REGION DAILY Annual Veterans Day meal adapts to pandemic PLANNER By Dick Mason The Observer TODAY Today is Tuesday, Nov. 17, the 322nd day of 2020. There are 44 days left in the year. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY On Nov. 17, 1800, Con- gress held its fi rst session in the partially completed U.S. Capitol building. ON THIS DATE In 1558, Elizabeth I acceded to the English throne upon the death of her half-sister, Queen Mary, beginning a 44-year reign. In 1869, the Suez Canal opened in Egypt. In 1889, the Union Pacifi c Railroad Co. began direct, daily railroad service be- tween Chicago and Portland, Oregon, as well as Chicago and San Francisco. In 1917, French sculptor Auguste Rodin died in Meudon at age 77. In 1970, the Soviet Union landed an unmanned, remote-controlled vehicle on the moon, the Lunokhod 1. In 1973, President Richard Nixon told Associated Press editors: “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.” In 1979, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini ordered the release of 13 Black and/or female American hostages being held in Tehran. In 1997, 62 people were killed when militants opened fi re at a temple in Luxor, Egypt; the attackers were killed by police. In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the 38th governor of California. LOTTERY Megabucks: $4.4 million 19-22-25-26-28-41 Mega Millions: $165 million 6-7-14-28-59—7 x2 Powerball: $168 million 7-15-18-32-45—PB-20 x2 Win for Life: Nov. 14 12-22-51-56 Pick 4: Nov. 15 • 1 p.m.: 0-0-8-5; • 4 p.m.: 0-7-9-8; • 7 p.m.: 9-2-6-0; • 10 p.m.: 9-6-3-5 Pick 4: Nov. 14 • 1 p.m.: 5-3-5-5; • 4 p.m.: 8-6-1-7; • 7 p.m.: 4-6-5-2; • 10 p.m.: 1-8-1-5 Pick 4: Nov. 13 • 1 p.m.: 0-9-2-4; • 4 p.m.: 3-2-8-8; • 7 p.m.: 0-6-5-2; • 10 p.m.: 2-9-4-0 DELIVERY ISSUES? If you have any problems receiving your Observer, please call 541-963-3161. LA GRANDE — A cherished local military tradition did a temporary about-face on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The COVID-19 pan- demic led to the cancel- lation of the annual La Grande Veterans Day parade. Nevertheless, the parade’s spirit remained alive thanks to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 43 of La Grande. The auxiliary, which has 132 members, all women, served spaghetti lunches to veterans and the public at the site of the Amer- ican Legion Hall, 301 Fir St., for at least the fi fth straight year on Wednesday. The auxiliary added to its growing tradition with a twist — serving the meals in takeout boxes in the parking lot of the Amer- ican Legion Hall, another move to meet requirements to help stop the spread of the virus. The auxiliary gave out about 80 lunches, which featured a large helping of spaghetti and included garlic bread and cookies. “Everything was home- made,” said Maggie LaMont, American Legion Dick Mason/The Observer Misty Dean, right, and Catie Johnson, members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 43 of La Grande, prepare takeout spaghetti lunches for veterans and the public on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. Auxiliary Unit 43 president. Kathi Karnowski, mem- bership chair of the unit, said serving the meal was a way of keeping the Vet- erans Day parade, which had been conducted annu- ally for many decades, on the forefront of people’s minds. “We were trying to keep it alive for next year,” she said. The meals were again free to all veterans and members of the auxiliary. For everyone else the cost was $5 per meal. The auxiliary began serving the post-parade lunches about fi ve years ago. Prior to that, the meals were cooked and prepared under the direction of American Legion Post 43 with help from its auxiliary. “We took over for them because we wanted them to enjoy Veterans Day instead of having to work,” Kar- nowski said. She said the members of the La Grande auxiliary have developed a remark- able camaraderie through projects such as the spa- ghetti feed. “We have become like sisters,” she said. Karnowski said she would not have known three-fourths of them if she was not in the auxiliary. “Our paths would not have crossed,” she said. The path Unit 43 has cut in Union County runs deep, for it was granted its charter in 1923. Karnowski said being able to provide grab-and-go meals to veterans was ful- fi lling Wednesday, but she liked it better when the lunches were served and shared in the Legion Hall. The auxiliary member explained she enjoyed get- ting more of an opportunity to talk to the veterans there. She added that dining at the Legion Hall gives vet- erans — especially those who have no family mem- bers here — a time and place to tell stories and share their histories with others. Still, she said Wednes- day’s event was one to cherish. “Everybody did a good job,” she said, “and it was such a fun event.” Train whistle triggered wild celebration at end of WWI By Dick Mason The Observer LA GRANDE — Train whistles are rarely heard today in La Grande after its state-approved quiet zone took effect Dec. 27, 2019. The relative sounds of silence at La Grande’s Union Pacifi c Railroad depot today are a stark contrast to the evening of Nov. 11, 1918. That is when train operators at La Grande’s depot led what was undoubtedly one of the loudest celebrations in this community’s history — triggered by the signing of the Armistice, ending World War I. The celebration started at 7 p.m., 16 hours after the Armistice became offi - cial. Up until that point, things had been quiet as word spread of the peace agreement. “When news fi rst trickled over the wires it may have been surprising to some that there was no wild outburst. There was just a great big thankful spirit of rejoicing born which grew and grew and grew and throbbed in the thankful tidings of the atmosphere during the day as the tidal wave spread from person to person,” a story in the Nov. 12, 1918, Observer stated. A little past 7 p.m., this pent-up exuberance was released in La Grande’s freight yard as a locomo- tive whistle started the cel- ebration. Another locomo- tive whistle sounded and then many others. Suddenly the town was “in a fervor of excitement,” according to The Observer article. Soon the streets were fi lled with people, including those from nearby communities and the “evening was given up in unpremeditated rejoicing.” The magni- tude of the celebration was uncommon. “Probably no such other joyous festival will ever be witnessed … until our boys have landed safe at home again,” The Observer stated. It was not known who to give credit for the celebration. “That is rather immate- rial, but at any rate the whis- tles have blown and the way cleared for the celebration as a result of the enterprise and a number of patriotic and foremost citizens,” The Observer reported. At least 15 million people lost their lives in World War I, including more than 110,000 Americans. And at least 15 offi - cers and enlisted men from Union County died while serving in the Armed Forces during World War I, according information from the website geneologytrails. com. This total was 17 for Wallowa County and 34 in Baker County. The celebration of the end of the war was damp- ened only by the remem- brance of the men who wouldn’t be coming home. Electric car chargers popping up around Wallowa County By Katy Nesbitt For the Wallowa County Chieftain Elgin Rural Fire Protection District/Contributed Photo Flames burst from the windows of a vacant home Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, that burned outside Elgin. Elgin house fi re under investigation Authorities working to determine cause By Kaleb Lay The Observer ELGIN — A fi re Sat- urday, Nov. 14, burned through a vacant struc- ture off Highway 82 out- side Elgin. The blaze drew resources from Elgin, Imbler and Island City’s rural fi re departments. Kevin Silvernail, chief of the Elgin Rural Fire Department, confi rmed no one was inside and there were no injuries. “We put it out,” Sil- vernail said. “We had it knocked down within about a half an hour (and) we had about two-and-a-half hours of mopping up and investigating.” The Elgin Rural Fire Protection received the call of the fi re at 9:35 a.m. Saturday and responded shortly thereafter. More than a dozen fi refi ghters, three fi re engines and three water tenders were deployed to the scene. Silvernail said law enforcement had character- ized the circumstances sur- rounding the fi re as “suspi- cious,” but the cause proved to be undeterminable, as the damage from the fi re left little evidence. The Union County Sher- iff’s Offi ce reported a deputy is investigating the fi re alongside the Oregon State Police Arson Unit, but the sheriff’s offi ce did not characterize the case or comment further. ENTERPRISE — Elec- tric vehicle chargers are popping up around Wal- lowa County making it easier to own a zero emis- sion, low-energy and low cost car in rural Eastern Oregon. Matt King, Renewable Energy Program Man- ager at Community Solu- tions, Inc., said new elec- tric vehicle chargers were paid for through grants and most are available to the public. Pacifi c Power grants for electric vehicle proj- ects are to non-residen- tial customers, like Wal- lowa Resources and its subsidiary, Community Solutions. In Oregon funding awards can cover up to 100% of the eligible costs of studying, planning, pro- moting or deploying elec- tric transportation tech- nology and projects. “Wallowa Resources/ CSI managed the electric vehicle grant that funded 70% of the cost of those chargers,” King said. Katy Nesbitt/For the Wallowa County Chieftain Electric vehicle chargers are popping up all over Wallowa County, such as this one in front of the Doug McDaniels Stew- ardship Center in Enter- prise. Chargers funded, in part, by Pacifi c Power are at Mt. View Motel and RV Park, Five Peaks RV Park, the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast in Joseph, Wallowa Lake State Park and Park by the River in the Wallowa Lake village and Wallowa Resources and Enterprise Electric in Enterprise. Forth Mobility Fund of Portland funded work- place chargers at Moon- shine Glass and Wallowa County Fairgrounds Clo- verleaf Hall. The Fund’s philan- thropic mission is to demonstrate how electric vehicles and other smart transportation choices can improve environmental quality and strengthen the economy. King said the city of Joseph is considering installing a charger at the city lot on the Imnaha Highway. “I think we now have more chargers than elec- tric vehicles in the county,” King said. Electric vehicle char- gers benefi t visitors, as well, who may travel hun- dreds of miles and want the security of a map of available outlets. “We can tell people, ‘Come visit Wallowa County with your elec- tric car — we are open for business,’” King said. “While your car charges at Enterprise Electric, you can have a beer at Ter- minal Gravity.” DOC accepts less-than-ideal off er from community colleges By Antonio Sierra East Oregonian SALEM — Blue Moun- tain Community College, Pendleton, and several other community colleges seem- ingly saved their prison education programs from the chopping block. But it could come at a steep expense. On Thursday, Nov. 12, the Oregon Department of Corrections sent out word to stakeholders that it was accepting an offer from the Oregon Community Col- leges Association to retain contracted adult education services within the state prison system. But BMCC President Dennis Bailey-Fougnier said the deal still would result in cuts at Blue Mountain’s Corrections Education pro- gram, which offers GED classes and other adult edu- cation courses at Eastern Oregon Correctional Insti- tution in Pendleton, Two Rivers Correctional Institu- tion in Umatilla and Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker City. Bailey-Fougnier said the association, negotiating on behalf of BMCC and fi ve other community colleges across the state, gave the department three options. The state prison system chose Option 1, which would reduce BMCC’s allo- cation from $3 million per year to about $1.25 million annually. Bailey-Fougnier said the deal would result in cutting 8-9 positions from the 27 staff that work for the program, among other service reductions. The other two options represented proposals with higher funding amounts and were considered more feasible by the colleges. Bailey-Fougnier said both sides will meet again this week and his hope is the colleges will be able to negotiate further and hammer out other details on working conditions, class sizes and how the new con- tract will be administered. The Department of Cor- rections accepting an offer made by the state’s com- munity colleges represents a change in tactics from the state’s prison system. DOC told community colleges over the summer that it intended to end its contracts with them in favor of moving the majority of its educational programs in-house, a move repre- sentatives said would save the department money and offer more consistency to inmates across the system. Even as the colleges made some concessions, the department rejected an October offer and made plans to move ahead with transitioning education operations internally. State Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Portland Dem- ocrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Educa- tion, met with representa- tives from the corrections department and the col- leges. Dembrow and Bai- ley-Fougnier credited the meeting with breaking the ice, leading to DOC accepting the Nov. 6 offer. But the ball is back in the colleges’ court as BMCC looks to avoid further cuts in a year where it’s already laid off several employees.
