The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current, December 03, 2020, Image 13

Historic Oregon Newspapers

The Observer., December 03, 2020, Page 13, Image 13

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 2020)

Prev Page of 20 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (1.4 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 20 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page TextTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 5A TOURS to COVID-19 social dis- tancing rules. Multiple tours, however, will run at the same time, allowing many to take part. Halladay said Return to Bethlehem will be able to provide tours to a total of 347 people in one day and still meet COVID-19 social distancing standards. And there is an elevator available to help those with mobility issues to reach the site. The tours are free, but people planning to attend are encouraged to reserve tickets online by going to www.abundantlife.tick- etleap.com. Abundant Life, a group of members of different local churches, is putting on Return to Bethlehem. Halladay said between 70 and 100 people have helped with the creation of this program. “The main purpose of this is to help us come together as a community,” Halladay said. John Bozarth, who was just elected to a position on the La Grande City Council, is among the strong sup- porters of the project. He said it is needed because of the challenges the world has experienced this year. “This is important because we need a little hope,” Bozarth said. “It is important to look at the spiritual aspect of Christmas.” another COVID-19 relief package, Brown’s pro- posed budget calls for fed- eral funds for COVID-19 testing, health services, rent forgiveness, targeted mortgage relief, additional $600 payments in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Insurance, a renewal of the Paycheck Protection Pro- gram for small businesses, child care support and more ﬂ exible Coronavirus Relief Fund support for local and state governments. In addition to applying federal funds towards pan- demic response, the gov- ernor’s budget invests $30 million in public health modernization “to better prepare Oregon’s public health system to respond to events like the current pandemic. The budget also includes $17.9 million in invest- ments in a range of strat- egies to protect seniors living in assisted living and nursing homes where there have been an abundance of COVID-19 outbreaks. Ore- gonians who are 80 or older account for more than half of the state’s COVID-19 deaths. Those also struggling during the pandemic are small business owners and workers. Restaurants have been forced to close their doors, only allowing takeout, as an effort to slow the spread of the virus and some- times results in closing their doors for good. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 200 restaurants, or 2%, have permanently closed in the state. “The COVID-19 pan- demic has had a devas- tating ﬁ nancial impact on many Oregon businesses and working families,” said Charles Boyle, the governor’s deputy commu- nications director. The governor’s budget also seeks to maintain funding for the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, Oregon Worker Quar- antine Fund, and the COVID-19 temporary paid leave program, to con- tinue to support Oregon workers during the pan- demic. In addition the budget maintains funding for the Oregon Employ- ment Department to ensure Oregon workers are paid the beneﬁ ts they are owed, as well as for Oregon OSHA, to ensure work- place protections continue to be enforced. As people have lost their jobs, their housing at times has also been at risk. Brown also is pro- posing that $65.9 million be invested into housing and homelessness, $350 million be used for rent assistance and $250 million for afford- able housing development funds. The governor also is calling for reforms in the justice system, from expanding police account- ability measures, reforming courts and stabilizing the Department of Corrections budget going forward. In addition, the pan- demic has exacerbated dis- parities in education. One of the largest challenges for rural and impover- ished students is access to the internet. Brown is pro- posing an investment of $118 million in broadband expansion statewide to con- nect an additional 50 com- munities that lack access. Lastly, the governor is working to tackle the issues of wildﬁ res, which burned a million acres, destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least nine Orego- nians this year. Brown’s budget ded- icates $189.5 million to rebuild communities impacted by the ﬁ res. In addition, the gover- nor’s Wildﬁ re Economic Recovery Council will have access to an addi- tional $170 million of community development resources to support debris cleanup, tree removal, sheltering and housing, food assistance and com- munity infrastructure. Continued from Page 1A The La Grande Sev- enth-day Adventist Church provided the facades. The church has used them for years at its popular Living Nativity display, which often included a live camel. The church will not be able to conduct its Nativity scene this Christmas season, Halladay said, so it provided items to the Return to Bethlehem pro- gram. He said he is grateful for the assistance of the church. Return to Bethlehem tours will operate the next three Saturdays in December (Dec. 5, 12 and 19) from 2-4:30 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m. The guided tours will take about 25 minutes, with groups limited to six or fewer people in order to adhere BUDGET Continued from Page 1A budget document said. A signiﬁ cant amount of the cuts fell on public safety and included the closure of three prisons in the next two years. In addition Oregon faces a $718 million budget gap for the Oregon Health Plan, largely due to the pandemic. Some of that gap will require “cost savings and asking our already-stressed health system to share in the sacriﬁ ce.” This could include lower than antic- ipated compensation for healthcare providers, which resulted in hospitals decrying the budget. “She has chosen to pro- pose direct cuts to hospitals in the middle of the biggest public health crisis in a cen- tury,” said Becky Hultberg, the president and CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Sys- tems. “Cuts of this magni- tude could force hospitals to reduce service to Orego- nians during a pandemic.” However, Brown’s budget would keep the state’s main school fund rel- atively unchanged at $9.1 billion. In addition, the governor’s budget stabi- lizes education funding by drawing $215 million from the Education Stability Fund for public schools. The governor’s recom- mended biennium budget spending plan is $100.2 bil- lion in total funds spending, including $25.6 billion in general and lottery funds. Lawmakers will consider it when they convene in Salem in January. Brown’s fellow Democrats control the Legislature. As lawmakers wait to see if Congress will pass Dick Mason/The Observer A realistic cutout of a donkey is among the displays on the Return to Bethlehem walking tour that opens Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in the basement of Market Place Fresh Foods, La Grande. NO MORE GUTTER CLEANING, OR YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEED! CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 15 % AND! OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE * 1-855-536-8838 10 % + OFF SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS Promo Number: 285 5 % OFF TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS! ** Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. ** Offer valid at estimate only. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H • 10 Depot Street, La Grande • Brother Bear Café, La Grande • Community Kindness, La Grande • Cove Drive-In, Cove • Le Bebe Cakes Bakery, La Grande • Maurice’s, Island City • The Potter’s House, La Grande • Union Stoplight, Union • Real Deals, La Grande • Blue Mt. Outfitters, La Grande Vaccine could be available this month in Oregon By Gary A. Warner Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Pending federal approval, the ﬁ rst 35,100 of a COVID-19 vaccine shots could be administered in Oregon on Dec. 15, the gover- nor’s ofﬁ ce conﬁ rmed Monday, Nov. 30. The vaccine, created by Pﬁ zer, is being sent to states in advance of expected approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A total of 6.4 million doses of the vaccine are being sent to states in quantities based on their per capita percentage of the U.S. population. The ﬁ rst shipment of shots in Oregon will be used to inoculate doctors, nurses, health care workers and med- ical facility staff who are working around COVID-19 patients. State health ofﬁ cials have cautioned that vac- cines for all the general public who want one will likely take months. Inoculation requires two shots given 19-23 days apart. On Dec. 31, Oregon would receive another 35,100 doses for the second shot to be given to those who had started the inoculation process. An additional 52,650 doses in the shipment would be used as the ﬁ rst shot for the next group of vaccine recipients. Additional doses of the Pﬁ zer shot will arrive regularly beginning in January. After health care personnel, a draft pro- posal of the state’s vac- cine plan calls for inocu- lation of at-risk residents of congregate care facil- ities such as nursing homes, along with staff who come in contact with residents. If a second vaccine from Moderna becomes available, as expected by year end, the number of people inoculated can be increased. Oregon Health and Science University, meanwhile, is seeking Portland-area residents to participate in a research study evaluating a poten- tial COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and the phar- maceutical company AstraZeneca. The clinical trial seeks to enroll 30,000 partic- ipants to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the investigational vac- cine known as AZD1222. The experimental vaccine is designed to be given in two injections that are administered about four weeks apart. The study strives to enroll a diverse group, prioritizing those who are older than 55 and people of color, the Portland uni- versity said. Two-thirds of partic- ipants will receive the experimental vaccine and one third will receive a placebo. — The Associated Press contributed to this report. We Cancel TIMESHARES for You Every year 150,000 people reach out to us for help getting rid of their timeshare. In 2019, we relieved over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and maintenance fees. We can help. Get your free information kit and see if you qualify: 855-385-4473 SUPPORT LOCAL-OPOLY SHOP HOP GAME RUNS Dec. 3-5, 2020: Collect Properties for a Chance to Win Real Prizes! • Carpet One, La Grande • Rosewood Cottge, La Grande • Direct Music Source, La Grande • Cherry’s Florist, La Grande • Fitzgerald Flowers La Grande • Tap That Growlers, La Grande • Cat’s Paw, Union • Buffalo Peak, Union • Legacy Ford, La Grande For Info 541-963-8588 Info@VisitUnionCounty.org www.VisitUnionCounty.org Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches Services This Week GRACE COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH The Place 62848 Philynda Loop in Island City “We are called to Serve” Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Phone: 541-568-4230 grace.lutherancove@gmail.com LA GRANDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH “OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS” 1612 4th Street – 963-2498 Pastor Taylor Gould For service information go to www.lagrandeumc.org Imbler Christian Church 440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201 www.imblerchristianchurch.org Sunday Services 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Worship Service Zion Lutheran Church (an ELCA church) 902 Fourth Street, La Grande, OR (541) 963-5998 9:00 am - Worship 10:00 am - Fellowship & Refreshments 10:30 am - Classes Pastor: Roberta Smythe www.zionlagrande.org Cove United Methodist Church 1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR North Powder United Methodist Church First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 lgdisciples@gmail.com 390 E. St., North Powder, OR JOIN US... Catch the Spirit! Worship 10:00 a.m. Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder ~Join us at The Lord’s Table~ Amazing Grace Fellowship 1316 T St., La Grande, OR 541-568-4567 Sunday 10:30 a.m. 2 Cor 12:9 My Grace is sufficient for you. SUMMERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Services: Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes 9:45AM Children’s Church & Worship Service 11:00AM Family Worship Service 6:00PM Wednesday: Prayer Mtg, Children’s Bible Club, Youth Group 7:00PM A church for your whole family IS 40:31 Visit us at summervillebaptistchurch.org La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church 1531 S. Main St. Union 541-562-5531 A Place where hope is found in Jesus Join us in Fellowship & Worship Saturday 11am 2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande 963-4018 lagrandeor.adventistchurch.org Learning for Today and Eternity Little Friends Christian Preschool/Childcare 963-6390 La Grande Adventist Christian School K-8th Grade 963-6203 www.UnionBaptistOregon.org 109 18th Street • 963-3402 Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Birthing, Building and Being the Body of Christ FIRST LANDMARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 1812 1st St. La Grande Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215 We use the King James Version Bible Sunday School - 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Sunday Evening Bible Study - 3:00 pm (Effective June 10) Wednesday Evening - 6:30 pm “Where you can find TRUTH according to the scriptures” www.flmbclagrande.com