RECORDS AND MORE
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021
BRIEFING
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• ISLAND CITY — The Island
City Area Sanitation District
will share information on pro-
posals to improve the dis-
trict’s wastewater collection
system during a virtual public
meeting 7 p.m. Thursday,
March 4, starting at 7 p.m.
The meeting will be lives-
treamed at www.EOAlive.
TV and www.facebook.com/
EOAliveTV. Viewing links also
are accessible at www.island-
cityhall.com. A fl yer has been
sent out to all residents within
the Island City Area Sanita-
tion District. Questions and
comments emailed to karen@
islandcityhall.com received
prior to the meeting will be
addressed.
• ISLAND CITY — The Island
City City Council will have
a regular meeting Monday,
March 8, at 7 p.m. at Island
City City Hall. Those who
attend the meeting will
observe social distancing and
wear a mask. Written public
comments on tropics to be
discussed may be dropped of
at the city hall or emailed to
karen@islandcityhall.com.
• LA GRANDE — The La
Grande Rural Fire Protec-
tion District board will meet
Tuesday, March 9, at 6 p.m.
at the fi re hall in Island City.
Call 541-910-3114 for more
information.
• LA GRANDE — The La
Grande School District Board
of Directors will holds its reg-
ular meeting Wednesday,
March 10, at 7 p.m. in the
Central Elementary School’s
library. Due to physical dis-
tancing requirements, the
public may attend the meeting
online, by phone and via the
Blue Mountain Translator Dis-
trict. For access information,
go to www.lagrandesd.org.
• LA GRANDE — La Grande’s
Parks & Recreation commis-
sions will meet via video
conference next week. Each
meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.
The Community Landscape
and Forestry Commission
meets Tuesday, March 9; the
Arts Commission’s meeting is
Wednesday, March 10; and the
Parks & Recreation Advisory
Commission meets Thursday,
March 11. Video conference
links may be obtained from
the department director at
541-962-1348 or sspence@
cityofl agrande.org.
Briefs
Rimfi re silhouette
shoot open to all
LA GRANDE — The La
Grande Rifl e and Pistol
Club is hosting a .22 rimfi re
silhouette shoot the fi rst Sun-
day of the month through
April at the club’s river range
on Highway 244 (I-84 exit
252, then 3 miles west on the
Ukiah-Hilgard Highway). The
next will take place Sunday,
March 7. The monthly events
are open to the public and
begin at 9 a.m. Entry fee is
$5. Eye and ear protection
is required. Rifl es or pistols,
with no restrictions on sights.
For more information and
updates on possible weather
or COVID-19 disruptions, call
Gary at 541-786-0809, go to
www.lgrpc.com or visit the
club’s Facebook page.
Lottery
Megabucks: $2.5 million
1-6-12-41-43-47
Powerball: $106 million
2-28-31-44-52 — PB 18 x3
Mega Millions: $43 million
4-8-13-34-64 — MB 18 x2
Win for Life: March 1
23-28-49-68
Pick 4: March 2
• 1 p.m.: 5-5-7-4
• 4 p.m.: 1-6-4-1
• 7 p.m.: 5-3-7-5
• 10 p.m.: 7-9-2-5
Pick 4: March 1
• 1 p.m.: 7-9-0-4
• 4 p.m.: 4-6-8-8
• 7 p.m.: 0-1-7-1
• 10 p.m.: 3-8-1-9
Delivery issues?
If you have any problems
receiving your Observer, call
541-963-3161.
THE OBSERVER — 3A
Elgin Lions Club resumes
regular meetings
ELGIN — Energetic and masked, the Elgin
Lions voted to begin meeting on a regular basis
for the year. According to a press release, a total
of 25 Lions in late February met and determined
with COVID-19 cases decreasing in Union
County and Oregon, they would like to continue
with projects for the community.
Club President Kathy Oliver led a discussion
on the group’s involvement in the annual River-
fest. The club decided to go ahead with its tra-
ditional activities, including the car show and
duck race. The Lions decided to support com-
munity yard sales during the festival as a means
of involving residents by putting together a map
for the sales. The release also stated a quilt show
is in the works for Riverfest.
The club also reported member Dennis
Cross donated $15,000 to work on an RV dump
improvement. The club will support the city in
completing the needed water and sewer lines for
this project.
Members also discussed other community
service activities, including focusing on the
Lions’ vision assistance program; donating $50
Elgin Lions Board of Directors will take the
issue under consideration and possibly create a
challenge to all Lions clubs in the four counties
the food bank serves.
Local veterans invited to
COVID-19 vaccination clinic
George Hopkins/Contributed Photo
The Elgin Lions, with 25 in attendance, in late
February agreed to commence meeting on a
regular basis and to continue the club’s commu-
nity service projects.
to the Women’s Service Club’s Easter Egg Hunt
to help with their expenses; and contributing to
the Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank as it
moves into a larger facility in La Grande.
According to the release, the regional food
bank has requested funds for additional coolers
and freezers for the expanded warehouse. The
RICHLAND, Wash. — A COVID-19 vac-
cination clinic is open to enrolled veterans age
65 and older Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m., in Richland, Washington.
The clinic is organized by the Jonathan M.
Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center,
Walla Walla, which serves veterans in Union
and Wallowa counties, and will be held in the
parking lot of the Richland Federal Building,
825 Jadwin Ave.
To receive a vaccination, veterans must
schedule an appointment by calling 509-525-5200
(then dial “2” and “2” or ask for the Call Center).
The clinic will accept appointment requests
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Due to high call volumes, callers may experience
delays, but you must remain on the line to be
scheduled. Walk-ins will not be allowed.
For more information on the vaccine, go to
www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine.
OBITUARY
Donald L. Clark
Formerly of La Grande
Donald L. Clark,
99, formerly of La
Grande, died Feb.
20 in Jacksonville,
Alabama. A private
graveside service with
interment at the Hep-
pner Masonic Ceme-
tery will be held after
COVID-19 restric-
tions are lifted and it
is safer to travel.
Known as Don, he was
born in Ukiah to Lynn and
Lydia (Ochs) Clark. He
graduated from high school
in Ukiah in 1939.
Don worked for the U.S.
Forest Service until he was
drafted in September
1942. He was a medic
in the Philippines and
Japan during the war
and was discharged in
January 1946. When
he returned home he
worked for the Forest
Service and attended
college. After fi n-
ishing college he
began a 22-year
teaching career in
Pilot Rock in 1950. He later
taught in Pendleton, Hep-
pner, Ione and La Grande.
Upon retiring from
teaching Don worked for
VACCINE
Continued from Page 1A
About 4,800 doses will go to
local public health authorities to
vaccinate Oregonians living in adult
foster homes and other in-home
senior populations.
Walmart and Bi-Mart, two new
partners in the state’s pharmacy
vaccinations program, will receive
the Johnson & Johnson doses. Addi-
tional doses will go to some unspec-
ifi ed health systems in the state.
The new vaccine has pros and
cons compared to the two-shot vac-
cines from Moderna and Pfi zer.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine
has shown an effi cacy of about 80%
in tests. The Moderna and Pfi zer
vaccines have an effi cacy of more
than 95%.
CDC offi cials have said even if
there is a slightly higher chance of
getting infected with COVID-19
with the Johnson & Johnson vac-
cine, it is strong enough to prevent
severe illness and death.
But the Johnson & Johnson vac-
cine requires only one shot. Also,
because it requires only standard
the Oregon State Employ-
ment Offi ce as a coun-
selor for 11 years. Begin-
ning in 1988 he worked for
the Forest Service Wild-
life Habitat Lab for eight
years.
Don was a member of
the Elks Lodge for 30 years
and a member of the Island
City Lions Club.
Surviving relatives
include his children and
their spouses, Donald Jr. and
Barbara Clark of Maryville,
Tennessee, Richard and
Shirley Clark of Jackson-
ville, Alabama, and Linda
Kay and Bill Reinmiller of
Portland; foster son, John
commercial-level refrigeration, it
can be transported to areas farther
away in rural or mountainous areas.
The Pfi zer and Moderna doses have
to be kept in ultra-cold freezers,
then thawed before use.
The White House on March 2
told states to plan on administering
16 million to 17 million total weekly
doses of Pfi zer and Moderna vac-
cines by the end of March, climbing
to 17 million to 18 million weekly
by early April.
States receiving 14.5 million
doses of the Pfi zer and Moderna
vaccine will receive 15.2 million
doses next week.
Johnson & Johnson reported it
can ship 2.8 million doses to states
this week in anticipation of fed-
eral approval. But it won’t be able
to sustain that number immediately.
The company produced 3.9 million
doses total prior to federal approval
on Feb. 27.
The company said it will meet
its commitment to deliver 100 mil-
lion doses by June 30. The deal with
Merck could double production
within two months.
The Biden administration
estimates after a short dip, the
Upcoming local services
Please follow
guidelines regarding
face coverings and social
distancing at all services.
March 20 —
CHARITY HENRY:
11 a.m. memorial service, La Grande Church of Christ.
April 24 — BECKY ROBERSON: 2 p.m. celebra-
tion of life, Elgin Community Center.
— calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel,
La Grande
Cole and his wife, Susan,
of St. George, Utah; and
10 grandchildren and 18
great-grandchildren.
increased production aided by
Merck will rise to 4 million to 6
million doses per week by March 31
and 5 million to 6 million doses per
week by April 30.
When the fi rst two vaccines were
approved in December, U.S. offi -
cials were optimistic that some of
the more than 20 additional vac-
cines in various stages of develop-
ment soon would fl ood the country
with enough doses to quickly inocu-
late all Americans.
But vaccines developed by
Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and
Sanofi failed and research was
discontinued.
A vaccine by AstraZeneca did
not meet federal standards for test
reliability. It is in use in Britain and
other parts of the world. Vaccines
by Russia and China are considered
unreliable by U.S. standards.
Vaccination rates have picked
up in recent weeks. The CDC said
just less than 51 million Ameri-
cans have received at least one shot
of the Moderna or Pfi zer vaccine.
Of those, about 25.5 million have
received both shots to become fully
vaccinated.
That still accounts for just more
He was preceded in death
by his wife, Loray, and son,
David L. Clark, who was
killed in Vietnam in 1967.
than 15% of the adult population
since the fi rst vaccines were intro-
duced at the end of last year.
Oregon is nearing 1 million total
shots. Mass vaccination centers
have been joined recently by a phar-
macy program that allows residents
to be inoculated closer to home.
In Oregon and other states,
demand for vaccine has far out-
stripped supply. With additional
groups being made eligible, the
competition for appointments to get
inoculated has been intense.
Vaccination appointments fi lled
rapidly and breakdowns in web-
sites and communication have
plagued getting doses into people’s
arms.
Recent severe winter weather
across the United States, including
ice storms in Portland and Salem,
hampered distribution and forced
cancellation of thousands of
appointments.
CDC offi cials have said that
when 70-80% of the population is
vaccinated, the country will reach
“herd immunity” that will even
protect the unvaccinated because
the virus will not fi nd enough hosts
to infect.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
Monday, March 1
8:20 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 1900
block of Cove Avenue on
a report of a domestic dis-
turbance. Police arrested
Alex Joseph Smith, 29,
of La Grande, on a Union
County warrant for unlawful
manufacture/delivery of
a schedule III controlled
substance. Police also
arrested Smith for felony
fourth-degree assault and
strangulation.
11:10 a.m. — A caller
reported animal abuse on the
500 block of M Avenue, La
Grande. The animal enforce-
ment offi cer responded and
took information.
2:45 p.m. — A La Grande
woman suffered non-life
threatening injuries when a
crash ejected her from the
vehicle and closed the east-
bound side of Interstate 84
near milepost 283 for a short
period.
Oregon State Police
reported the driver, William
Dayton, 28, of Union, lost
control at 60 mph when the
blue Ford Escort “seized”
and he overcorrected,
rolling the car at least once
and coming to a rest in the
median. Dayton suffered
minor injuries. State police
cited him for driving while
suspended.
Darlene M. Ferguson,
49, was not wearing a seat-
belt, according to OSP, and
the crash threw her from the
vehicle. While her injuries
were not life threatening,
state police reported, an
emergency helicopter fl ew
her from the scene.
3:38 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
harassment from Greenwood
Elementary School, 2300 N.
Spruce St., La Grande. An
offi cer made contact. Police
will provide extra patrol,
and there is a safety plan in
place.
4:46 p.m. — A caller
reported indecent expo-
sure on the 200 block of
North Main Street, Union.
A Union County sheriff’s
deputy responded and coun-
seled the subject.
9:16 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 1900
block of Second Street on a
report of a suspicious person
who yelled at someone. An
offi cer counseled the subject
for disorderly conduct.
Tuesday, March 2
8:59 a.m. — A caller
reported a person sleeping
in the doorway of Umpqua
Bank, 1215 Adams Ave., La
Turning 65, paying too
much or want to
compare your options?
Grande. Police responded,
but the person was gone
before the offi cer arrived.
12:53 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
a dog running into traffi c at
Island Avenue and Walton
Road. An animal enforce-
ment offi cer responded but
did not fi nd the dog.
3:08 p.m. — A resi-
dent on the 1900 block
of H Avenue, La Grande,
reported theft of services.
An offi cer made contact and
took a report.
6:33 p.m. — A caller
reported a domestic dis-
turbance at a residence on
the 1500 block of Adams
Avenue, La Grande. Offi cers
responded but the situation
was fi ne upon arrival.
11:11 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to The La
Grande Inn, 2612 Island
Ave., on a report of tres-
passing. Police arrested
Nicholas Geatano Olivera,
49, for felon in posses-
sion of a fi rearm, unlawful
possession of metham-
phetamine and unlawful
transfer of a fi rearm.
The Union County Chamber
and La Grande Main Street
have teamed up with local
businesses to encourage you
to safely shop and support
• Shoppers collect punches by making purchases at participating locations (EACH DOLLAR
local businesses as we
spent earns a punch). Fill as many cards as you wish.
• Up to 50 punches per purchase!
March into Spring!!
• Turn in punch cards by 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 for weekly drawings
• All punch cards must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. on March 31st for a chance to win the
Grand Prize Drawing!
Turn cards in at Chamber (207 Depot), La Grande Main Street (102 Depot St.)
or any participating location.
An Independent
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admin@kereed.net
Nicole Cathey
10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City
541-975-1364
Toll Free 1-866-282-1925 www.reedinsurance.net
Kevin Reed