LOCAL/REGION
2A — THE OBSERVER
Today in
History
SaTuRday, apRil 10, 2021
News Briefs
Dousing a fire at the mill
Commissioners approve
IC law enforcement
contract
Today is Saturday, april 10, the
100th day of 2021. There are 265
days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN
HISTORY:
On april 10, 1947, Brooklyn
dodgers president Branch Rickey
purchased the contract of Jackie
Robinson from the Montreal Royals.
ON THIS DATE:
in 1912, the British liner RMS
Titanic set sail from Southampton,
England, on its ill-fated maiden
voyage.
in 1932, German president paul
Von Hindenburg was reelected in
a runoff, with adolf Hitler coming
in second.
in 1963, the fast-attack nuclear
submarine uSS Thresher (SSN-593)
sank during deep-diving tests east
of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in a
disaster that claimed 129 lives.
in 1971, a table tennis team from
the united States arrived in China
at the invitation of the communist
government for a goodwill visit that
came to be known as “ping-pong
diplomacy.”
in 1972, the united States and
the Soviet union joined some 70
nations in signing an agreement
banning biological warfare.
in 1981, imprisoned iRa hunger
striker Bobby Sands was declared
the winner of a by-election to the
British parliament.
in 1992, comedian Sam Kinison
was killed in a car crash outside
Needles, California, at age 38.
in 1998, the Northern ireland
peace talks concluded as negotia-
tors reached a landmark settlement
to end 30 years of bitter rivalries and
bloody attacks.
in 2005, Tiger Woods won his
fourth Masters with a spectacular
finish of birdies and bogeys.
in 2010, polish president lech
Kaczynski, 60, was killed in a plane
crash in western Russia that also
claimed the lives of his wife and top
polish political, military and church
officials. “designing Women” co-star
dixie Carter, 70, died in Houston.
in 2015, the apple Watch made
its debut.
in 2019, scientists released the
first image ever made of a black
hole, revealing a fiery, dough-
nut-shaped object in a galaxy 53
million light-years from earth.
Ten years ago: The House
Homeland Security Committee
examined Muslim extremism in
america during a hearing punctu-
ated by tearful testimony and angry
recriminations. (Chairman peter
King, R-N.y., accused u.S. Muslims of
doing too little to help fight terror
in america; democrats warned of
inflaming anti-Muslim sentiment.)
Five years ago: donald Trump
and his Republican rivals turned
their presidential debate in Miami
into a mostly respectful but still
pointed discussion of Social Securi-
ty, islam, trade and more. Canadian
prime Minister Justin Trudeau made
an official visit to the White House.
Sir Ken adam, the British film
production designer behind the
sets for some of the James Bond
movies and “dr. Strangelove,” died in
london at age 95.
alex Wittwer/The Observer
Firefighters with la Grande Fire department battle a long-smoldering blaze at Woodgrain lumber, 1917 Jackson
ave., la Grande, on Wednesday, april 7, 2021. The fire started at 2:37 p.m. The situation challenged firefighters
due to the difficulty of accessing the interior of the machinery where the fire was burning.
Car kills adult male wolf from
Cornucopia Pack near Richland
By JAYSON JACOBY
Baker City Herald
BAKER COUNTY
— An adult wolf from
the Cornucopia Pack in
eastern Baker County was
hit and killed by a car on
Highway 86 near Rich-
land either late Wednesday
night or early Thursday,
April 8.
Several motorists
reported the dead wolf,
starting around 6:30 a.m.
Thursday, said Brian Rat-
liff, district wildlife biolo-
gist at the Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife
office in Baker City.
The wolf was hit near
Milepost 36, about five
miles west of Richland.
Ratliff said he doesn’t
know who hit the wolf. No
one has reported doing so.
The dead wolf, a male
weighing 95 pounds, was
born in the spring of 2019
along with two other pups,
Ratliff said. That litter ele-
vated the group of wolves
to pack status.
Although the wolf did
not have a tracking collar,
Ratliff said a GPS signal
from a collar fitted to a
female wolf in the Cornu-
copia pack, also part of the
pack’s spring 2019 litter,
showed that that wolf,
early Thursday morning,
was near the point on the
highway where the male
wolf was killed.
Also, during a wolf
census flight this winter,
ODFW biologists saw a
gray wolf with the Cor-
nucopia Pack with colors
similar to those of the wolf
hit on the highway, Ratliff
said.
Based on previous
GPS signals, that pack has
crossed Highway 86 in that
area, he said.
The Cornucopia Pack’s
breeding male and female
produced their first litter,
consisting of three pups, in
2019, and another litter in
the spring of 2020. At the
end of 2020 the pack con-
sisted of seven wolves, Rat-
liff said.
Someone shot and
killed the Cornucopia
Pack’s breeding male in
late September 2020 in
the Skull Creek area of
the Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest, about one
mile east of Eagle Forks
Campground.
Oregon State Police
investigated the case but
no suspects have been
arrested.
Based on this winter’s
aerial survey, the Cornu-
copia Pack doesn’t have a
new breeding male, Ratliff
said.
If another male had
taken over that role, the
two breeding wolves would
have been running very
close together, and that
wasn’t the case, he said.
It’s possible, however,
the pack’s breeding female
did mate, and if that hap-
pened the female will move
soon into a den to have her
pups, Ratliff said.
Biologists will be able to
determine that she’s gone
to a den based on data from
her tracking collar, which
emits radio signals rather
than GPS signals.
Recently the Cornu-
copia Pack has been in
the area near Highway 86,
mostly private land used
for cattle grazing, Ratliff
said. He said that “gives
me concern” because the
wolves could be close
to cattle. Ratliff said he
has alerted ranchers in
the area to the wolves’
presence.
Data from the col-
lared wolves in the pack in
2019 showed they roamed
a 162-square-mile area
ranging from the southern
part of the Eagle Cap Wil-
derness near Cornucopia
(hence the pack’s name) to
the northern parts of the
Pine and Eagle valleys.
About 92% of the loca-
tion points were on public
land, according to ODFW.
ISLAND CITY — A
new contract with the
Union County Sheriff’s
Office for law enforcement
services in Island City is
set to take effect July 1.
The Union County
Board of Commis-
sioners Wednesday, April
7, ratified the pact that
Island City’s city council
approved Feb. 15.
The con-
tract is sim-
ilar to the one
now in place.
The con-
tract calls
Bowen
for Island
City to con-
tinue receiving 80 hours a
month of law enforcement
service from the Union
County Sheriff’s Office.
The contract, like the
present one, will automat-
ically increase 1.5% each
year on July 1 to allow
for cost-of-living pay
increases and will remain
in place indefinitely unless
one party pulls out or
negotiates for a change.
The cost of the contract
to Island City in the first
three years of the pact will
be $59,709.07 in 2021-22,
$60,604.71 in 2022-23 and
$61,513.78 in 2023-24.
The big difference
between the new con-
tact and the current one
is the city or the sher-
iff’s office must give a
120-day notice for any
changes to the deal. The
current contract requires
a one-year notice before
Island City can negotiate
changes or cancel the
contract, but the Union
County Sheriff’s Office
can do either on a much
shorter notice.
Sheriff Cody Bowen
said the change makes the
contract more just.
“It seems like a fairer
deal to me,” Bowen said.
Wallowa man held on
Utah sex charges
WALLOWA — A man
living in Wallowa faces
multiple counts of sex
abuse of a child in Utah.
Wallowa County
sheriff’s deputies on
Wednesday, March 31
arrested Michael Anthony
Alexis, 52, on a felony
warrant out of the federal
district court in Wash-
ington County, Utah,
for four counts of aggra-
vated sex abuse of a child,
according to a police
report.
Washington County
detective Sgt. Nate Abbott
said Thursday, April 8, the
alleged offenses took place
over about a year’s time
from 2019-20. Although
he couldn’t identify the
victim, Utah law indicates
anyone younger than 14 is
considered a child.
“The charge indicates it
was a child,” Abbott said.
The Washington
County Sheriff’s Office
learned of the allegations a
couple of months ago and
investigators sought out,
Alexis, who had appar-
ently relocated to Wallowa
County.
“We reached out to him
and he was uncoopera-
tive,” Abbott said.
As a result, the district
court in Utah issued an
arrest warrant, and Wal-
lowa County deputies
found and arrested Alexis.
Wallowa County
Sheriff Joel Fish said the
arrest took place without
incident and Alexis sur-
rendered willingly.
As of Thursday, Alexis
remained in the Umatilla
County Jail, Pendleton,
without bail.
Abbott said Wash-
ington County is in the
process of seeking extradi-
tion from Oregon to Utah
for Alexis to answer the
charges.
— EO Media Group
COVID-19 infections close two John Day restaurants
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — The
surge in COVID-19 cases
has closed two restaurants
in John Day.
In a Facebook post
Wednesday, April 7, 1188
Brewing Company posted
it would be closing tempo-
rarily due to exposure to
COVID-19.
On Thursday, April 8,
the Outpost Bar and Grill
stated on its Facebook
page it would close until
Monday, possibly longer:
“We are sorry to
announce that we are
closed until Monday the
12th, maybe longer due to
exposure. The safety of
our community and our
employees is #1. We are
going to spend this time
while closed cleaning and
hope to be back as soon
as possible.”
Blue Mountain Eagle, File
Shannon adair, owner of 1188
Brewing Company, John day, said
a to-go only model would not
work for her establishment be-
cause brew pubs are too social of
an environment.
The Blue Mountain
Eagle was unable to reach
the Outpost for comment.
Shannon Adair, the
owner of 1188, said “a
couple” of employees
tested positive and could
have spread the virus to
other staff members. If
others test positive, she
said, the restaurant could
be closed until roughly
April 17.
Adair said making the
decision was not hard and
she made the call within
15 minutes of hearing an
employee tested positive.
“Even if I wanted to
open, I don’t have enough
staff, but I also don’t want
anyone else in our com-
munity or anyone in the
restaurant to get sick,” she
said.
She said she takes
COVID-19 seriously and
believes the virus can
have long-term effects
on those who become
infected and if she
Public safety report
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
7:54 a.m. — A caller
reported a suspicious
person on the 200 block of
North 17th Avenue, Elgin.
A Union County sheriff’s
deputy made contact and
took information.
9:42 a.m. — La
Grande police received a
non-communicative 911
call. An officer responded
and determined it was an
accidental call.
3:56 p.m. — A caller
asked police to check on
the welfare of a person
at Jefferson Avenue and
Third Street, La Grande.
An officer responded
and found the subject
was just resting.
4:41 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to
a report of a possible
vehicle theft and coun-
seled a juvenile and
parent.
6:29 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Office
received a report of a
burglary at a business at
Union City Park, Union.
A deputy responded.
7:49 p.m. — A caller
reported a car at the
parking lot of Walmart,
11619 Island Ave., Island
City, hit someone and left.
A Union County sheriff’s
deputy made contact. The
subject was not seriously
injured and did not want
to pursue charges.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
7:46 a.m. — La
Grande police responded
to the 2000 block of Q
Avenue on a report of a
fight in progress. Offi-
cers cited a 20-year-old
man for disorderly
conduct.
9:35 a.m. — A caller
reported possible
animal abuse on the
400 block of North 16th
Avenue, Elgin. A Union
County sheriff’s deputy
took a report for animal
abuse.
2:29 p.m. — A caller
made a complaint about
an aggressive dog on the
200 block of North 10th
Avenue, Elgin.
can reduce the risk of
spreading it in the com-
munity, she will.
Adair said that some
of her customers take the
virus seriously and others
do not.
For her part, as a busi-
ness owner serving the
public, she is making
what, in her opinion, is the
right decision.
Adair said regardless
of how people feel about
the virus, the breakneck
pace of infections will
ultimately close down the
county. Adair said the
people who tested positive
did not get a COVID-19
test for a “random”
reason.
“The people that I
know that got tested got
tested because they were
sick,” she said. “And so I
think we should be taking
it seriously.”
7:02 p.m. — La
Grande police responded
to the Pioneer SK8 Park
on a report of a distur-
bance. Officers warned
the subjects involved.
8:45 p.m. — A caller
reported a transient was
causing issues on the 800
block of Adams Avenue,
La Grande. An officer
responded and told the
person to move along.
9:11 p.m. — The
Union County Sher-
iff’s Office received a
report of a disturbance
in the area of 50200
Highway 203. A sheriff’s
deputy made contact and
referred the subject to
mental health providers.
Baker City Herald, File
The Rd Mac team gets dirty during a mud volleyball tournament at
the 2016 Huckleberry Festival in North powder. The festival returns
this year with socially distanced activities after going on hiatus in 2020
due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Getting ready for
a berry good time
The North Powder
Huckleberry
Festival revives
By DICK MASON
The Observer
NORTH POWDER —
A major North Powder
event is coming back this
summer.
North Powder’s
annual Huckleberry
Festival, which like
most events was can-
celed in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic,
will return in July due to
falling infection rates in
Union County.
The event, in keeping
with tradition, will be
July 31. This is the last
Saturday in July, the day
the festival has been con-
ducted in past years.
Activities at this year’s
festival again will include
a breakfast, a parade, a car
show and a street dance,
said Lindsey Thompson,
chair of the Huckleberry
Festival. Some events,
including a huckleberry
dessert contest, will not
be run this year to help
the festival conform to
social distancing stan-
dards. Thompson said
events such as the des-
sert contest will be added
back in future years once
the COVID-19 pandemic
ends.
Thompson is impressed
with how people are step-
ping forward to offer to
work as volunteers.
“We have a lot of
new people with lots of
energy,” Thompson said.
The Huckleberry Fes-
tival started in 2007.
The festival recognizes
the historical significance
in the North Powder area
of the popular fruit. Huck-
leberries were a staple
for American Indians
who summered in the
area and for the pioneers
who arrived in the mid-
1860s, according to a July
24, 2008, article in The
Observer.
The Huckleberry Fes-
tival joins the ranks of
other spring and summer
events rebounding this
year, including the
Eastern Oregon Livestock
Show, the Elgin Stam-
pede, the Union County
Fair, Union’s Grassroots
Festival, Elgin’s Riverfest
and the Eastern Oregon
Beer Festival.