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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2020)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020 VIRUS Continued from Page 1A 10 people died in Oregon from the virus, raising the state’s death toll to 788. The OHA reported Union County had six new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday and the three more Wednesday, bringing its most recent four-day total to 51 and overall total to 630. Union County’s death toll remains at two. Grande Ronde Hospital well stocked While cases in North- east Oregon continue to rise, local hospitals remain steady in the fi ght against COVID- 19. Ford with Grande Ronde Hospital said the medical facility is prepared for a surge in cases. Should this occur, GRH will work with other hospitals in the region to fi nd beds and supplies if the need arises. Baker, Malhuer, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wal- lowa counties make up the Oregon Health Author- ity’s Region 9 for emer- gency response, which had 10 people hospitalized for COVID-19 as of Tuesday. There are 26 staffed adult intensive care unit beds in the region, with seven beds available. Of the 131 staffed non-ICU beds in the region, 37 remain available. At Grande Ronde Hos- pital there are about 350 days’ worth of face shields, 1,500 days’ worth of gloves, 660 days’ worth of gowns, 3,600 days’ worth of N95 respirators and 1,200 days’ worth of surgical masks, according to OHA per- sonal protective equipment tracking. POLICE EMPHASIZE EDUCATION FIRST The La Grande Police Department and Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce in a joint statement reported they have received a number of phone calls after the gov- ernor’s announcement of a 14-day statewide “freeze” wanting to know what their position is when it comes to enforcing the directives, which include returning TREES Continued from Page 1A “We’re looking at how to best balance mul- tiple values and priori- ties, including managing for wildfi re and protecting wildlife habitat,” Baker wrote in an email. Andy Geissler, federal timber program director for the American Forest Resource Council, said the THE OBSERVER — 5A COVID-19 STATS AS OF NOV. 18, 2020 Statewide cases: 59,669 Statewide deaths: 788 Union County cases: 630 Union County deaths: 2 Wallowa County cases: 70 Wallowa County deaths: 2 Baker County cases: 236 Baker County deaths: 3 restaurants to takeout only options, limiting indoor church services to a max- imum of 25 people and lim- iting private social gather- ings to a maximum of six people from no more than two households. “We remain united in our efforts to continue to com- municate with and educate people about the directives,” the press release stated, “just as we have throughout this event.” La Grande Police Chief Gary Bell and Sheriff-elect Cody Bowen said offi cers and deputies will handle responses to violations of mandates and consequences on a case-by-case basis. The police department and sher- iff’s offi ce also may refer information to the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration, just as anyone can. The two agencies also stressed they remain busy and will pri- oritize calls for service that pose an immediate threat to people or property. “Our agencies will con- tinue to address all of these priority calls just as we always have,” the joint release said. “We support our offi cers and deputies in exercising well-reasoned dis- cretion and common sense in their application of enforce- ment, especially for low level crimes and violations.” The agencies asked res- idents to call the business line, 541-963-1017, instead of 911 if reporting a violation of the mandates. “My thoughts are this, I want our lives back to normal,” Bowen said. “I want our kids back in school. I want to shake someone’s hand and read an expres- sion on a face. I want to see smiles again. My concern is more toward the long- term damage being done to our local economy and the unforeseen social, mental and physical damages being carbon study further val- idates the proposed East- side Screens amendment, allowing for the harvest of some large trees to pro- tect others amid shifting conditions. AFRC, a timber industry group, submitted its comments on the East- side Screens, arguing that a more adaptive 21-inch harvest rule will provide land managers with the fl exibility to meet desired done to our youth. I take the virus seriously, and those at risk should take precautions. However, I take our consti- tutional rights even more seriously, and I’m concerned about the direction we are heading.” The Oregon State Sher- iffs’ Association, the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and the Oregon State Police also issued a press release Tuesday stating they will continue the edu- cation-fi rst approach of enforcing pandemic rules. “Oregon Law Enforce- ment will only take enforce- ment action (criminal cita- tions) as a last resort,” according to the press release. “As with most enforcement decision making, discretion will be used if/when any executive order enforcement action is taken.” The associations and state police also recommend reporting executive order violations to the Oregon OSHA for workplace viola- tions and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission for bar and restaurant violations. Wildfl ower comments on outbreak While Grande Ronde Hospital anticipates making the list for workplace out- breaks, 36 of Union Coun- ty’s 627 cases stem from an outbreak at Wildfl ower Lodge, La Grande. Carliene Bolen, executive director of the long-term care facility, said the health of residents and team members remains the top priority. “While individuals at our community have tested pos- itive for COVID-19, we con- tinue working together to care for our residents, protect the safety of our team mem- bers, and protect the people in our community,” she said. Bolen said Wildfl ower also has the support of a task force and management team to help in prepara- tion, readiness, commu- nication and management of the COVID-19 corona- virus. She said the facility is monitoring develop- ments and guidelines for COVID-19 and following enhanced internal proto- cols to help control the spread of the virus. forest conditions. “I think it’s easy to look at this paper and say, if these large trees are storing this much carbon, we should leave them alone,” Geissler said. “That fails to recognize that these for- ests are dynamic. They are competing for resources.... Nothing that I read in this paper took me aback and made me think the Forest Service was going down the wrong path.” WINTER Monthly total snowfall for La Grande Continued from Page 1A er-than-average snow- fall; however, it is a possibility. The La Nina winter of 2016-17, for example, inundated La Grande with 32 inches of snow, more than a third of which fell in December alone. That level of snowfall was the most since the winter of 1988-89, when 46 inches of snow fell in La Grande, more than half during the month of January. Winter weather, along with the slick roads, snowdrifts and poten- tial prolonged power out- ages, can be a serious hazard in Eastern Oregon. But, like with many of life’s hazards, they can be mitigated with good preparation. The Oregon Trail Elec- tric Cooperative, for example, issued a press release last week urging its members to prepare ahead of last weekend’s winter storm, which caused road closures and crashes around the region. “Everybody knows snow and ice are a part of winter here in Eastern Oregon,” said OTEC communications man- ager Joe Hathaway. “So we want our members to be as prepared as pos- sible and to keep them- selves and their families safe during winter storms and in winter weather conditions.” Hathaway said OTEC is urging people to pre- pare for the cold by win- terizing their homes, a process that can include insulating windows with plastic, sealing drafts with caulk or weather strip- National Weather Service/Contributed Graphic A chart from the National Weather Service details monthly and annual snowfall during La Nina winters in La Grande. ping, and taking steps to ensure household pipes do not freeze and burst. OTEC also reminded its customers that downed power lines, which always are dangerous, can be more common following winter storms, and anyone who encounters a power line on the ground should stay away. Falling trees or branches, which can break under high winds or the weight of wet snow, can take down power lines. Along with the Amer- ican Red Cross, the Fed- eral Emergency Man- agement Agency, the National Weather Ser- vice and a myriad others, OTEC encouraged people to prepare an emergency kit for use in the event of a disaster. “Having a survival kit ready, having enough warmth — blankets, other alternate heating sources that don’t require a plug in, a wood fi replace (or) a propane space heater — there is a ton of stuff that we really try to stress to our members about staying safe over the winter,” Hathaway said. Emergency kits should contain a number of items, including food and water, toiletries, a supply of vital medications, blan- kets and warm clothing and a fl ashlight, among other things. Those with children should also con- sider adding diapers, baby food or formula and any- thing else they may need to their kit. People who may need to drive in winter con- ditions should also con- sider preparing an emer- gency kit for their vehicle including jumper cables, chains, food and water and a way to contact help in case of trouble. For more information on building an emergency kit, visit www.ready.gov. STORAGE BUILDINGS www.CountrysideSheds.com Extra Garage for the Toys! (541) 663-0246 Locally owned and operated for over 25 years 10505 N. McAlister Road (Corner of Hwy 82 & N. McAlister Rd.) RENT to OWN starting at $ 68 Month Media Sales Professional EO Media Group is looking to hire a full-time Media Sales Professional to work in NE Oregon. Do you have the drive and determination to succeed? 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