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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2021)
Inside Grizzly fire cleanup La Grande’s fi rst new baby of the year, 3A Pandemic-era Mardi Gras looks different, 8A In Business & Ag Follow us on the web THURSDAY • January 7, 2021 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Julia Samples of La Grande Gray wolves delisted, remain protected in Oregon By KALEB LAY The Observer SALEM — Gray wolves no longer receive protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, but they do from the state of Oregon. The U.S. Fish and Wild- life Service formally removed the gray wolf species from the endangered species list effective Monday, Jan. 4, in the lower 48 United States. The change trans- fers wolf protections from the fed- eral government to state govern- ments. In Oregon, that job goes to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The known wolf popula- tion in the state has grown from 14 in 2009 to 158 at the end of 2019, with 141 of those found in ODFW’s eastern management zone. ODFW said in a press release the most signifi cant change to the management of Oregon’s wolves will be in the form of depredation. ODFW could allow the lethal removal of a wolf in situations where nonlethal measures have proven unsuccessful. Nonlethal and preventative measures for resolving con- fl icts with wolves are a focus for ODFW. “Wolves remain protected throughout the state. Hunting and trapping of wolves remains pro- hibited statewide,” according to an ODFW press release. Fish and Wildlife encouraged livestock producers to visit their website to review preventative measures to limit confl icts with wolves and to sign up for updates on wolf-livestock confl icts. “We thank all landowners in areas with wolves for going the extra mile to implement nonle- thal measures over the past few years,” said ODFW Director Curt Melcher. “We know that regard- less of whether or not you lose livestock to wolves, their presence requires changes to your business practices, and we thank you for taking these steps to reduce con- fl icts with wolves.” ODFW identifi es “areas of known wolf activity,” where packs have become established — such as the Clark Creek Pack in Union and Wallowa counties. The agency communicates with livestock producers in these areas about wolf conservation and non- lethal protection measures, such as fencing, protection dogs and alarms. They emphasize these measures in “areas of depredating Julio Cortez/AP Photo President Donald Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepared to affi rm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, thousands of people gathered to show their support for Trump and his claims of election fraud. Scenes of chaos Capitol complex secure after violent occupation By LISA MASCARO, ERIC TUCKER and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON — Violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, and forced lawmakers into hiding, in a stunning attempt to overturn America’s presidential election, undercut the nation’s democracy and keep Democrat Joe Biden from replacing Trump in the White House. The National Guard and state and fed- eral police were called in for control, and the mayor of Washington imposed a rare evening curfew. One person was reported to have been shot. Offi cials declared the U.S. Capitol com- plex “secure” after heavily armed police moved to end the nearly four-hour violent occupation. An announcement saying “the Capitol is secure” rang out Wednesday evening inside a secure location for offi cials of the House. Lawmakers applauded. The occupation interrupted Congress’ Electoral College count that will formalize President-elect Joe Biden’s upcoming inauguration on Jan. 20. Lawmakers were evacuated to secure locations around the Capitol complex and Washington, D.C. after thousands of Trump supporters breached the building and skirmished with police offi cers. Lawmakers have signaled they would resume the constitutionally mandated count as soon as it was safe to do so. The protesters were egged on by Trump and his false attacks on the integ- rity of the November presidential election. While rallying his supporters outside the White House, he urged them to march to the Capitol. But later — hours after they See, Wolves/Page 5A Andrew Harnik/(AP Photo U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. INSIDE • Oregon’s congressional delegation reacts to the turmoil and violence, Page 5A fought police and breached the building — he told them that although they were “very special people” and he backed their cause, they should “go home in peace.” Biden, two weeks away from being inaugurated, declared in Wilmington, Delaware: “I call on President Trump to go on national television now to fulfi ll his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege.” Biden said democracy was “under unprecedented assault,” a sentiment echoed by many in Congress, including some Republicans. The chaotic protests halted Congress’ constitutionally mandated counting of the Electoral College results, in which Biden defeated Trump, 306-232. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had tried to steer Con- gress away from Wednesday’s formal pro- test of those results, and he said at the start See, Chaos/Page 5A Health care worker recovers after vaccine reaction Adverse reaction to Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could be the first in Oregon By RONALD BOND Wallowa County Chieftain ENTERPRISE — A Wallowa Memorial Hospital health care worker has recovered and is out of the hospital after the Oregon Health Authority reported late Thursday, Dec. 31, the individual suffered an allergic reaction to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The OHA, in its initial press release, said the hospital worker INDEX Business ....... 1B Classified ...... 2B Comics .......... 5B Crossword .... 3B was hospitalized after experi- encing anaphylaxis following their fi rst shot of the two-dose vaccine. In a follow-up email with the Chieftain on Monday, Jan. 4, OHA’s COVID-19 Health Infor- mation Center spokesperson Delia Hernandez said anaphy- laxis was the only reaction the individual had to the vaccine. Brooke Pace, Wallowa WEATHER Dear Abby .... 6B Horoscope .... 3B Lottery........... 3A Nation ........... 8A SATURDAY Obituaries ..... 3A Opinion ......... 4A Spiritual ........ 6A State .............. 7A CCC COMMISSIONER Memorial Hospital’s commu- nications director, said late Tuesday morning the health care worker, who had received the fi rst dose Dec. 30, recovered and had been released. Pace also said nobody else in the county who has received a dose of the vaccine has had an adverse response. “There have been no other severe reactions,” she said. According to Ruthie Mann, WMH’s infection-control offi cer, the reaction to the vaccine hap- pened within a couple of minutes of it being administered, well Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Friday 32 LOW 38/27 Cloudy A bit of snow within the observation window. “All individuals are asked to stay for 15 minutes after the vac- cination,” Mann said, explaining the process. “Once a reaction is suspected, we assess for signs and symptoms of a reaction and the severity. We obtain vital signs, check airway and eval- uate the person’s reported symp- toms. We have an anaphylaxis kit available with the necessary drugs and medical equipment needed to initiate treatment. We simultaneously start treatment See, Reaction/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 3 3 sections, 22 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com
