LOCAL
2A — THE OBSERVER
TODAY
Today is Tuesday, June 8, the
159th day of 2021. There are 206
days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
IN HISTORY:
On June 8, 1968, authori-
ties announced the capture in
London of James Earl Ray, the
suspected assassin of civil rights
leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
ON THIS DATE:
In 1864, Abraham Lincoln
was nominated for another
term as president during the
National Union (Republican)
Party’s convention in Baltimore.
In 1915, U.S. Secretary of
State William Jennings Bryan
resigned over what he viewed
as President Woodrow Wilson’s
overly bellicose attitude toward
Germany following the sinking
of the RMS Lusitania.
In 1953, the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled unanimously that
restaurants in the District of
Columbia could not refuse to
serve Blacks. Eight tornadoes
struck Michigan’s Lower Penin-
sula, killing 126 people.
In 1962, 20th Century Fox
fired Marilyn Monroe from its
production “Something’s Got
to Give,” saying she was unre-
liable. (Fox later changed its
mind, but Monroe died before
filming could resume, and the
movie was abandoned.)
In 1966, a merger was
announced between the
National and American Football
Leagues, to take effect in 1970.
In 1967, during the six-day
Middle East war, 34 American
servicemen were killed when
Israel attacked the USS Liberty,
a Navy intelligence-gathering
ship in the Mediterranean Sea.
(Israel later said the Liberty had
been mistaken for an Egyptian
vessel.)
In 1972, during the Vietnam
War, an Associated Press pho-
tographer took a picture of a
screaming 9-year-old girl, Phan
Thi Kim Phuc, as she ran naked
and severely burned from the
scene of a South Vietnamese
napalm attack.
In 1978, a jury in Clark
County, Nevada, ruled the
so-called “Mormon will,” pur-
portedly written by the late bil-
lionaire Howard Hughes, was
a forgery.
In 1995, U.S. Marines rescued
Capt. Scott O’Grady, whose
F-16C fighter jet had been shot
down by Bosnian Serbs on June
2. Mickey Mantle received a liver
transplant at a Dallas hospital;
however, the baseball great
died two months later.
In 1998, the National Rifle
Association elected actor
Charlton Heston to be its
president.
In 2009, North Korea’s
highest court sentenced Amer-
ican journalists Laura Ling and
Euna Lee to 12 years’ hard labor
for trespassing and “hostile
acts.” (The women were par-
doned in early August 2009
after a trip to Pyongyang by
former President Bill Clinton.)
In 2015, siding with the White
House in a foreign-policy power
struggle with Congress, the
Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that
Americans born in the disputed
city of Jerusalem could not list
Israel as their birthplace on
passports.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor Mil-
licent Martin is 87. Singer Nancy
Sinatra is 81. Actor Kathy Baker
is 71. Country musician Tony
Rice is 70. Rock singer Bonnie
Tyler is 70. Actor-director
Keenen Ivory Wayans is 63.
Musician Nick Rhodes (Duran
Duran) is 59. Former U.S. Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., is 51.
LOTTERY
Friday, June 4, 2021
Megamillions
04-30-34-41-64
Megaball: 8
Megaplier: 3
Jackpot: $56 million
Lucky Lines
03-06-09-14-19-22-26-30
Jackpot: $51,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 7-0-0-3
4 p.m.: 0-8-1-6
7 p.m.: 0-2-4-2
10 p.m.: 1-6-0-2
Saturday, June 5, 2021
Powerball
44-52-54-64-69
Powerball: 26
Power Play: 3
Jackpot: $20 million
Megabucks
12-18-33-40-41-45
Jackpot: $3.7 million
Lucky Lines
04-07-09-16-19-24-25-29
Jackpot: $52,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 5-5-3-6
4 p.m.: 4-8-3-7
7 p.m.: 2-0-1-7
10 p.m.: 3-4-4-2
Win for Life
11-23-53-65
Sunday, June 6, 2021
Lucky Lines
01-08-09-14-18-23-28-31
Estimated jackpot: $53,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 5-7-4-6
4 p.m.: 6-7-6-9
7 p.m.: 1-6-2-8
10 p.m.: 5-7-2-1
TuESday, JunE 8, 2021
Apartments project ahead of schedule
By CARLOS FUENTES
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Prog-
ress on a new apartment
complex previously home
to The Observer is nearing
completion more quickly
than expected, according
to CB Development Group
project manager Jason
Pennington.
“Everything’s been
going pretty smooth,” he
said. “There’s some covered
parking and other stuff on
the outside that still has to
be done, but I’m guessing by
the end of July we can head
inside and finish developing
the interior.”
The 20-unit apartment
complex, situated at 1406
Fifth St., La Grande, likely
will be finished before its
original November deadline.
Pennington said he believes
it might be completed as
early as August. Partially as
a result of this quicker time-
line, the costs of the project
are lower than the $2.2
million budget originally
estimated.
“It’ll be under that,” the
contractor said. “I think just
because of good luck and
trying to be as efficient as we
can with materials and sup-
plies. Hopefully it comes in
underneath that estimate,
but we won’t know until the
end.”
CB Development Group,
a real estate company that
specializes in commercial
and residential sites, bought
the property from Western
Communications, former
owner of The Observer, on
Jan. 8 for $450,000. CB Con-
struction is the contracting
company leading the devel-
Written
complaints
against
council
lacking
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
Carlos Fuentes/The Observer
Construction workers with CB Development Group work outside of the soon-to-be apartment building
on Fourth Street in La Grande on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The former Observer office will become
apartments upon completion, which may finish ahead of the November deadline, according to the de-
velopers.
opment of the building.
According to Pennington,
there are many individ-
uals hoping to secure one of
the units in the apartment
complex, which will have
two three-bedroom apart-
ments, 10 studio singles, six
two-bedroom units and two
one-bedroom units. Each
unit offers keypad entrances,
complete laundry sets and
covered parking. Sizes will
range from 650 square feet
in a studio to 1,400 square
feet in the three-bedroom
units.
According to Derek
Howard, president of CB
Construction, this location is
ideal for an apartment com-
plex for several reasons.
“The location of it is
prime to live in, because it’s
close to downtown, it’s close
to the hospital, it’s close to
EOU,” he said. “It’s going to
enhance the overall look and
feel of that area of La Grande
and it’s going to be a benefit
to the whole community.”
Along with location,
Howard cites a shortage of
housing in the area for the
high demand. According
to a 2019 Housing Needs
Analysis, La Grande must
increase its housing units by
800 over the next 20 years to
meet growing demand.
“The upscale sector of
multi-family housing really
hasn’t seen a whole lot come
in,” Howard said. “Nice
working professional apart-
ments just aren’t really avail-
able here, so I think it’s a
market that’s attracting quite
a bit of business.”
Prior to being home to
The Observer, the lot was
occupied by the first LDS
Church in La Grande until
its move in the 1970s to its
current location on Gekeler
Lane. The church was torn
down in 1984, a year before
The Observer office was
built on the site.
The Observer spent 35
years in the building before
moving to its new location
on Jefferson Avenue, and
Pennington said he is glad
that it will be put to good
use.
“I am very excited to see
this project be finished and
put to use,” he said.
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of deputy
Jason Post, 34, dies
while recreating in
Wallowa County
East Oregonian
UMATILLA COUNTY
— The Umatilla County
Sheriff’s Office identi-
fied Jason Post as the
deputy who drowned Sat-
urday, June 5, in Wallowa
County.
Post, 34, leaves behind
a wife and baby girl.
The sheriff’s office
reported Post and three
other adults entered a
craft on the water near the
Minam Store at Minam
State Park and an accident
threw them into the water.
“Deputy Jason Post did
not reach shore and his
body was found shortly
afterward,” according to
a press release from the
sheriff’s office.
Post began his career
in 2010 as a reserve officer
for the Umatilla County
Sheriff’s Office and in
2013 was hired as a full-
time patrol deputy. He was
a field training officer and
a mentor to many officers.
“He was well respected
and loved throughout the
entire law enforcement
community,” the press
release stated.
Umatilla County Parole
and Probation in mid-April
WALLOWA COUNTY
Phil Wright/East Oregonian/East Oregonian
A Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office vehicle drives Saturday, June 5, 2021, along Adams Avenue, La
Grande, in a procession with state and local law enforcement to escort the body of Umatilla County
Parole and Probation deputy Jason Post to the county line. Post drowned earlier that day in Wallowa
County.
hired Post as a probation
“Thank you for the over-
whelming support that was
officer.
demonstrated by so many of
“He was known for his
our extended law enforce-
devotion to his family,”
ment family yesterday as
according to the press
we brought him home,” the
release, “and he was very
sheriff’s office stated.
open about making
“We express our
the career change so
deepest condolences
he could focus on
to his entire family.
family and spend
We are your family
more time with
and our hearts are
them.”
broken.”
Umatilla County
Umatilla County
sheriff’s deputies and
Post
sheriff’s Lt. Sterrin
other law enforcement
Ward on June 7 reported
agencies escorted Post’s
staff from the sheriff’s
body from the Loveland
Funeral Chapel, La Grande, office and parole and proba-
to home in Pendleton, where tion met that morning for a
debrief of the events from
local law enforcement and
the weekend.
first responders gathered to
“The family and agency
honor him.
are beginning the process
of planning for a ceremony,
but at this time no finalized
announcements have been
made,” Ward reported. “We
will have further informa-
tion shortly as arrangements
are made.”
The Wallowa County
Sheriff’s Office Umatilla
County Sheriff’s Office or
other law enforcement agen-
cies have yet to provide
details on the accident that
led to Post’s death.
Ashly Lehman, wife of
Pendleton police Sgt. Jon
Lehman, set up a fundraiser
at www.gofundme.com for
the benefit of Post’s wife,
Rosana, and their baby,
Dalilah.
NEWS BRIEFS
COVID-19 vaccination
events move to CHD
LA GRANDE — The COVID-19
vaccination events at the Riveria
Activity Center are being moved to
the Center for Human Development
in La Grande starting Friday, June 11,
according to a press release.
The vaccines will be available
on a first-come, first-served basis at
a walk-in clinic every Friday from
2-4 p.m. The reason for the move
is the decreasing demand for vac-
cines, according to CHD’s COVID-19
tracker Erin Elder.
“Now that we don’t have as many
people coming in, there isn’t that same
need for the large vaccination site that
was running before,” she said.
For those with scheduled appoint-
ments past June 11, appointment times
will be kept at the Center for Human
Development, 2301 Cove Ave., the
release said. The clinic is offering
the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna
and Johnson & Johnson vaccines,
according to Elder.
Prior registration is not required,
according to the release, but online
registration is available for a shorter
in-person wait time. Children younger
than 15 need in-person parental con-
sent, while those ages 15 to 17 are able
to sign their own consent form. No
insurance information is necessary.
For more information, go to chdinc.
org/covid19-vaccine or call CHD at
541-962-8800.
ODOT holding curb ramp
upgrade online open house
WALLOWA COUNTY — People
with mobility issues soon will have a
much easier time getting to and from
sidewalks in Eastern Oregon, according
to an Oregon Department of Transpor-
tation press release.
Starting in 2022, ODOT will repair
and upgrade hundreds of sidewalk curb
ramps along state highways in sev-
eral communities in Umatilla, Morrow,
Wallowa and Baker counties.
The work is part of a statewide
effort to bring curb ramps into compli-
ance with Americans with Disabilities
Act standards to improve mobility and
safety.
To provide updated information and
collect feedback, ODOT is currently
holding an online open house through
Friday, June 18. During this time, resi-
dents can visit https://tinyurl.com/East-
ernOregonADA2022 to review project
information, maps, photos and videos
or submit questions and feedback after
reviewing the information.
Most projects are being designed
this year, with construction beginning
in 2022. Eastern Oregon communi-
ties that are part of this 2022 construc-
tion project include Pendleton, Pilot
Rock, Ukiah, Milton-Freewater, Helix,
Athena, Wallowa, Lostine, Joseph,
Heppner, Ione, Lexington and Baker
City.
— The Observer
JOSEPH — The can
got kicked down the road
again, but without as much
force as might have been
expected, Thursday, June 3,
as the Joseph City Council
heard Pro-Tem Adminis-
trator/Recorder Brock Eck-
stein say he has no docu-
mented claims of harassment
by council members.
This came in open ses-
sion after an executive ses-
sion in which he explained
to the approximately 40 res-
idents in the audience on
behalf of the council.
“I know a lot of you are
frustrated over potential alle-
gations of harassment from
council members to city
staff,” Eckstein said. “I can
assure you these are being
handled in the proper way.”
He explained that the
“proper way” means that
people are given due pro-
cess when accused. He said
when a written complaint —
not just hearsay — is filed
against anybody, the defen-
dant is allowed two weeks to
respond.
“The council receives
the same correspondence.
They’ll get two weeks to
think about it,” Eckstein
said. “Once that two weeks
has passed, both parties will
get 15 minutes in execu-
tive session with the council
to pitch their side, whether
they’re the accuser or the
defendant. Once both of
those 15-minute sessions
expire, they’ll each get five
minutes rebuttal and then
they’ll both be excused and
the council will come to a
consensus, and their official
conclusion must be done in
open session.”
He said the process might
not satisfy all, but it’s “the
right and legal way to do it.”
At present, it’s all
hearsay, he said.
“Right now, all of this
harassment stuff is ‘he-said,
she-said’ stuff. That’s not
how we operate. That’s not
how anyone should operate,”
he said. “It’s got to be a
written complaint from a
citizen, a councilor or an
employee. As of right now, I
haven’t received any of that.”
In addressing the audi-
ence, he empathized with
those feeling frustrated.
“I realize some of you
are feeling that frustra-
tion because nothing’s hap-
pening,” Eckstein said.
“Well, no one’s stepping for-
ward, to be quite honest.”
The harassment concerns
arose when Parks Director
Dennis Welch made such
allegations that led to his
having to take sick time
off from March to May.
That was followed April 1
by former Administrator/
Recorder Larry Braden
alerting the council of
harassment violations during
a council meeting, and then
he submitted his resigna-
tion April 16 for those same
reasons.
Since then, Welch has
returned to work after
talking with Eckstein.
Braden has declined to
specify the type of harass-
ment or from whom.
But it appears disputes
are occurring among city
staff, Eckstein said.
“There have been allega-
tions at the city level among
city staff, and those are
being handled in the exact
same way I just explained,”
he said. “So once those time
frames have expired, a deci-
sion will be made and you’ll
know what that decision is.”
He asked for the citizen-
ry’s indulgence.
“I would just ask you
to exercise patience as
we make sure that every-
body — the accuser and the
defendants in any case —
are given their fair chance
to speak and respond to
issues,” Eckstein said. “If
you were in that situation,
I guarantee you’d want the
same thing.”