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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2021)
INSIDE HADDOCK, CHICKEN FOR SPRING MEAL SUGGESTIONS | HOME & LIVING, 1B $1.50 TUESDAY EDITION May 18, 2021 Oregon Legislature Rarely used House rule saves Bailey’s Bill By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian SALEM — Members of the House Judiciary Committee dusted off a seldom-used rule last week to force a hearing for Bailey’s Bill. Offi cially named Senate Bill 649, Bailey’s Bill increases pen- alties for criminal sexual con- tact with an underage victim if the off ender is the victim’s teacher. Currently, a coach con- victed of sexual abuse in the third degree receives harsher penalties than a teacher who commits the exact same crime. The legislation is named for Weston-McEwen High School student Bailey Munck, who testifi ed on March 25 to the Oregon Senate’s judiciary com- mittee, telling of sexual abuse in 2019 during a volleyball road trip by Andrew DeYoe, an English teacher and scorekeeper for the volleyball team. Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Milwaukie, introduced and shepherded the bill through the Senate. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the full Senate, where it was passed without opposition. The bill then headed to the House, where it seemed a legislative slam dunk. But last week, committee chair Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, indicated she likely wouldn’t be scheduling a hearing for the bill, essentially stopping its progress. The dead- line was Friday, May 14. So on Wednesday, May 12, Hansell feared the worst. But by the end of the day his worry whipsawed to jubilation. Rep. Ron Noble, R-McMinnville, called to say the nine mem- bers of the judicial committee invoked House Rule 8.20 that says if a majority of committee members request a hearing in writing, the chair must schedule a hearing within fi ve days. “Every single Republican and Democrat on the com- mittee signed a letter requesting a hearing,” Hansell said. “It’s scheduled for (Tuesday, May 18).” Chief House Clerk Tim Sekerak mused he had never seen the rule invoked in his almost 10 years at the Oregon Capitol. He said Deputy Chief Clerk Obie Rutledge has worked there since the early 2000s and Alex Wittwer/The Observer Young bug catcher Walker Barnes leads the charge Friday, May 14, 2021, at Pete’s Pond, La Grande, to collect some insects as part of a STEM Week event. Catching on to STEM Local youths engage with science, technology, engineering and math By DAVIS CARBAUGH The Observer LA GRANDE — Local youths tuned up their interest in science, technology, engineering and math with participation in STEM Week, May 8-16. The Greater Oregon STEM Hub at Eastern Oregon University put together local events as part of the statewide sev- enth annual STEM Week to provide rural families with learning opportuni- ties. Executive Director David Melville leads the GO STEM Hub after years of experience with educational outreach projects through environmental educa- tion centers and grant-funded projects. The GO STEM hub worked with a net- work of 13 other hubs across the state to put on STEM Week. “We’re able to pull resources and support from STEM hubs in the western part of the state as well as central and here in Eastern Oregon,” Melville said. “It’s a great way to spread statewide awareness and to celebrate all things engaged,” Rainboth said. “It was lunch- STEM.” time and nobody wanted to stop.” Through events such as STEM Week, Third-grade students in Jenn Forrest- GO STEM carries out its mission of er’s class at Central Elementary in La fostering value in science, technology, Grande presented their results and fi nd- engineering and ings in a slide show math among the at the end of the youth in the com- week. munity and creating According to avenues for careers Forrester, the in the fi eld. classes are prac- GO STEM Hub ticing COVID-19 Program Coordi- protocols by having — Donna Rainboth, GO STEM Hub nator Donna Rain- the children work program coordinator both described an individually or in-person event in socially distanced, which children in as opposed to the the La Grande School District worked group work of previous years. “It prepares them for jobs that on a reverse engineering project. might not even exist yet,” Forrester From taking apart sewing machines to gaming controllers, the activity encour- said. “They can use these skills aged students to think outside the box in across all subjects.” a number of ways. See, STEM/Page 5A “It’s just great to watch the kids be “It’s just great to watch the kids be engaged.” Filmmakers find local inspiration Inaugural residency brings six to La Grande with their eyes set on scenery, production By DAVIS CARBAUGH The Observer See, Bill/Page 5A LA GRANDE — For the fi rst time in the 12-year history of the Eastern Oregon Film Fes- tival, fi lmmakers from across the United States are partaking in the Eastern Oregon Filmmaker Residency Program. The cohort of six fi lmmakers came to La Grande with the ambition of cre- ating screenplays inspired by their time in the region. While staying at The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs from April 30 to May 26, the fi lmmakers are enjoying a retreat-like experi- ence in Eastern Oregon. The res- idency program encourages them to focus on their writing with ample individual time, while also collaborating with similar minds. Through the online “Feed a Filmmaker” program, locals donate meals at local restaurants for the cohort. One of the ultimate goals of the residency in La Grande is opening the door for the pos- WEATHER INDEX Classified ...............3B Comics ....................7B Crossword .............3B Dear Abby .............8B Home ......................1B Davis Carbaugh/The Observer At HQ in downtown La Grande, Alexander Craven (left) and Natalie Metzger discuss the potential for fi lmmaking in Eastern Oregon on Saturday, May 15, 2021. They are among the six fi lmmakers in the Eastern Oregon Film Festival’s fi rst fi lmmaker residen- cy program. Horoscope .............4B Letters ....................4A Lottery ....................3A Local/Region ........2A Nation.....................7A THURSDAY Obituaries ..............3A Opinion ..................4A Sports .....................8A State ........................6A Sudoku ...................7B sibility of fi lm production in Eastern Oregon. “Bringing them in here is an opportunity for them to scout locations and really see what this valley has to off er,” said Chris Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Wednesday 39 LOW 56/33 Plenty of clouds A shower MEETING FOSTER CARE NEEDS Jennings, EOFF director and co-founder. “It’s an experiment in itself, a really good case study in terms of economic impact See, Residency/Page 5A CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 57 2 sections, 16 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com
