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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2021)
Blue Basin beauty Inside Delivering Valentine’s Day spirit, 2A Outdoor contact sports can resume, 6A in Outdoors & Rec Weekend Edition SATURDAY– MONDAY • February 13, 2021 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Dale Young of La Grande Murder defendant Lee still unable to help in own defense By PHIL WRIGHT The Observer LA GRANDE — Murder defendant Ronald Dwight Lee of La Grande could be in for a long stay at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. Union County Circuit Judge Thomas Powers during a hearing Jan. 19 to review Lee’s fi tness to proceed again found he is not able to aid and assist in his own defense. Lee, 73, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and con- spiracy to commit murder. He has been undergoing treatment and evaluation at the Oregon State Hospital, Salem. According to the ruling, Powers concurred with the Jan. 6 forensic evaluation of Dr. Michael Saul Farris that Lee “continues to lack the fi tness to proceed” under Oregon law and is unsuitable for community release. Union County District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel explained determinations for whether a defendant can aid and assist in their own defense is not the same as fi nding a defendant is guilty except for insanity. Powers’ ruling applies to Lee’s situation at Alex Wittwer/The Observer Oregon State Police Honor Guardsman Daryll Sheets of Florence renders a salute before assuming guard over the casket of former Ore- gon State Police Superintendent Reginald B. Madsen on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Saluting an honored leader By DICK MASON The Observer LA GRANDE — Former Oregon State Police Superintendent Reginald Bernard Madsen dedicated his life reaching out to others. Thursday, Feb. 11, it was the OSP’s turn to reach out to Madsen and his family. The OSP Honor Guard conducted an honor watch for Madsen, 80, who died Jan. 29 at his Island City residence. The 90-minute honor watch was a solemn and ceremonial tribute to a man who gave more than two decades of service to the OSP. Nine members of the OSP’s honor guard took turns in pairs, standing at attention on both ends of Madsen’s casket draped with an American fl ag. The troopers stood at atten- tion in 10-minute shifts until the changing of the guard ceremonies. The watch ran 1-3 p.m., then Pauline Madsen, Reg Mad- sen’s wife of 59 years, received the fl ag that covered his casket. The honor watch saluted a man who was with the Oregon State Police from 1968 through 1993. Madsen was OSP superin- tendent from 1990-93. Those who worked under Madsen included LeRon Howland of Summerville, who was his deputy superin- tendent for three years before succeeding him. “I had a lot of admiration and respect for him. He was a great friend and a great leader,” Howland said. Howland said Madsen took great pride in representing the OSP. “He wanted to set an example for the department. Pride, loyalty and dedication were a big thing for him,” Howland said. He credited Madsen with never losing See, Lee/Page 5A State: Extension of jobless benefi ts easiest to manage Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden seeks $600 supplemental unemployment benefit By PETER WONG Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — As Congress starts work on President Joe Biden’s proposals to extend pandemic unemployment benefi ts, the acting director of the Oregon Employ- ment Department said straight- forward extensions that are on the table will be easier to manage. But David Gerstenfeld also said he and counterpart agen- cies in other states would like as much lead time as possible to pre- pare for any changes and avoid See, Benefi ts/Page 5A Alex Wittwer/The Observer Oregon State Police Honor Guardsman Jim King of Burns reads a memorial for former Or- egon State Police Superintendent Reginald Madsen on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Madsen served as OSP’s Superintendent 1990-93. He died at the age of 80 on Jan. 29 at his Island City residence. sight of the agency’s mission to serve the people of Oregon. Howland, who met Madsen when he was working in the state police crime lab in Pendleton in the 1960s, said he was an easy person to like. “He had a good sense of humor and was personable,” said Howland, who served as state police superintendent for six and a half years after succeeding Madsen. Howland said Madsen’s offi ce door always was open and he welcomed any opportunity to help others. He noted Madsen had a keen eye for spotting men and women who could direct others and tried to help them advance their careers. “He had an ability to recognize people with leadership potential,” Howland said. “He wanted to help people move up who See, Madsen/Page 5A Online learning skews school enrollment numbers Enrollment is down, but student numbers show in virtual classes By KALEB LAY The Observer UNION COUNTY — Enroll- ment at the La Grande School District is down from fall 2019, according to a recent report from the Oregon Department of Edu- cation. But the enrollment num- bers in the report also paint a somewhat inaccurate picture of how many students are learning in Union County school districts. According to the ODE report, VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY NUMBERS • The InterMountain Educational Service District reported the number of local students taking its Virtual Learning Academy in fall 2019. • Cove — 46 • Elgin — 4 • Imbler — 15 • La Grande — 217 • North Power School District — 15 • Union — 46 1,979 students were enrolled at the La Grande School District as of Oct. 1, 2020, a stark drop compared to 2,348 at the same point in 2019. However, that fi gure — which would repre- sent a drop of 15.7% — does not include students taking online- INDEX Classified ...... 2B Comics .......... 5B Crossword .... 2B Dear Abby .... 6B WEATHER Horoscope .... 3B Letters ........... 4A Lottery........... 3A Opinion ......... 4A TUESDAY Outdoors ...... 1B Sports ........... 6A Sudoku ......... 5B Weather ........ 6B FOOD DRIVE only learning through the dis- trict’s partnership with the Inter- Mountain Educational Service District. The InterMountain ESD provides its Virtual Learning Academy to schools in Union, Umatilla and Morrow counties Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Sunday 16 LOW 35/28 Flurries; cold Not as cold and to Burnt River School Dis- trict in Baker County. According to the ESD, 217 students in the La Grande School District were enrolled in the Virtual Learning Academy. “LGSD very much con- siders (those) students as our stu- dents,” said La Grande School District Superintendent George Mendoza. As does the InterMountain ESD. Erin Lair, director of teaching and learning for the IMESD, explained the service district offers a fee-based opportunity See, Students/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 19 2 sections, 12 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com