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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2021)
LOCAL A2 — THE OBSERVER TODAY On Sept. 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into Charleston, South Carolina (the storm was blamed for 56 deaths in the Caribbean and 29 in the United States). Twenty-one students in Alton, Texas, died when their school bus, hit by a soft-drink delivery truck, careened into a water-filled pit. In 1792, the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy. In 1912, magician Harry Hou- dini first publicly performed his “Water Torture Cell” trick at the Circus Busch in Berlin. In 1938, a hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700 lives. In 1948, Milton Berle made his debut as permanent host of “The Texaco Star Theater” on NBC-TV. In 1961, the first Boeing CH-47 Chinook military heli- copter made its first hovering flight. In 1981, the Senate unani- mously confirmed the nomina- tion of Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first female justice on the Supreme Court. In 1982, Amin Gemayel, brother of Lebanon’s assassi- nated president-elect, Bashir Gemayel, was himself elected president. National Football League players began a 57-day strike, their first regular-season walkout ever. In 1985, in North Korea and South Korea, family members who had been separated for decades were allowed to visit each other as both countries opened their borders in an unprecedented family-reunion program. In 1987, NFL players called a strike, mainly over the issue of free agency. (The 24-day walkout prompted football owners to hire replacement players.) In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act denying federal recognition of same-sex marriages, a day after saying the law should not be used as an excuse for dis- crimination, violence or intim- idation against gays and les- bians. (Although never formally repealed, DoMA was effectively overturned by U.S. Supreme Court decisions in 2013 and 2015.) In 2001, Congress again opened the federal coffers to those harmed by terrorism, pro- viding $15 billion to the airline industry, which was suffering mounting economic losses since the Sept. 11 attacks. In 2008, baseball said fare- well to the original Yankee Sta- dium as the Bronx Bombers defeated the Baltimore Ori- oles 7-3. Today’s Birthdays: Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 80. Producer Jerry Bruck- heimer is 78. Author Stephen King is 74. Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore is 72. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 71. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is 64. Movie producer-writer Ethan Coen is 64. Actor-comedian Dave Cou- lier is 62. Actor David James Elliott is 61. Actor Serena Scott Thomas is 60. Actor Nancy Travis is 60. Actor Rob Morrow is 59. Actor Angus Macfadyen is 58. Retired MLB All-Star Cecil Fielder is 58. Actor Cheryl Hines is 56. Country singer Faith Hill is 54. Rock musician Tyler Stewart (Barenaked Ladies) is 54. Country singer Ronna Reeves is 53. Actor-talk show host Ricki Lake is 53. Rapper Dave (De La Soul) is 53. Actor Billy Porter is 52. Actor Rob Benedict is 51. LOTTERY Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 Megamillions 17-32-40-59-61 megaball: 18 megaplier: 3 Jackpot: $432 million Lucky Lines 5-8-9-15-20-21-27-32 Jackpot: $23,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 5-9-6-0 4 p.m.: 2-2-3-7 7 p.m.: 9-4-0-6 10 p.m.: 4-2-9-8 Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 Powerball 5-36-39-45-57 powerball: 11 power play: 2 Jackpot: $472 million Megabucks 3-5-9-17-23-42 Jackpot: $3.3 million Lucky Lines 1-7-10-15-17-24-28-30 Jackpot: $24,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 5-9-6-9 4 p.m.: 8-4-5-1 7 p.m.: 9-3-1-0 10 p.m.: 2-2-4-4 Win for Life 25-26-32-44 Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021 Lucky Lines 1-8-9-16-17-21-26-30 Estimated jackpot: $25,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 2-7-1-8 4 p.m.: 2-7-6-8 7 p.m.: 6-3-6-9 10 p.m.: 3-1-9-0 TuESday, SEpTEmBER 21, 2021 Bowling is back in La Grande Brickyard Lanes opens in former Eagles Lodge Woody Wolfe appointed to Water Resources Commission By DAVIS CARBAUGH The Observer LA GRANDE — Local residents got their first taste of bowling at the new Brickyard Lanes on Sat- urday, Sept. 18. The renovation project that turned a historic building on Jefferson Avenue into a state-of- the-art bowling alley took roughly seven years, and owners Darrin and Michelle Kiesecker were eager to open the doors and create a new commu- nity space in downtown La Grande. “The outreach has been so positive,” Michelle Kiesecker said. The former Eagles Lodge now features 12 lanes bowling lanes, an arcade area and limited dining. The Kieseckers are working to finish renova- tions to the restaurant and bar area in the near future, which they hope will draw a crowd of all ages. The opening day cel- ebration took place from 1-9 p.m., as members of the community came out to take part. A steady crowd participated throughout the first day of business. Patrons were encouraged to dress up along with the early 1900s theme that is echoed throughout the bowling alley. The staff sold bottled drinks and By RONALD BOND Wallowa County Chieftain alex Wittwer/The Observer Jorja Culley sets her sights on the pins Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Brickyard Lanes in La Grande during its grand opening. The former Eagles Lodge has been fully renovated into a downtown gathering spot. snacks, while Local Har- vest made pizzas and Benchwarmer’s Pub & Grill served drinks outside. Lanes are sold at a min- imum of half hour incre- ments to provide a steady flow of bowlers across the 12 lanes. According to Michelle Kiesecker, the bowling alley will start by operating 10 lanes in case there are any troubles with operating the bowling technology. Community mem- bers gathered at the new bowling alley to celebrate the long-awaited opening. Kiesecker noted that the excitement among the community throughout the renovation process has been positive, with many in the area reaching out on social media. The goal is to become a regular gath- ering spot in downtown La Grande amid the several thriving businesses in close proximity to the bowling alley. “I think it’s a perfect location,” she said. “All of us are going to be right in a row and can support each other as a community.” Brickyard Lanes is operating with a new five- person bowling alley staff, but will likely expand when the restaurant and bar open. In addition, league play could expand business hours at the facility. Kiesecker noted that with the business now up and running, it will be less of a challenge to hire new employees. “It will be much easier when we’re open because when we were doing con- struction, it was tougher to have open houses and have potential employees come in here,” she said. The Kieseckers are excited to be fully opera- tional and for Brickyard Lanes to become a staple of downtown La Grande. The owners envision the bowling alley as a spot that caters to Eastern Oregon University students, fami- lies and all ages. “College kids want to be able to bar hop. An older crowd will love it here because there’s bowling and a chill envi- ronment. It’s going to be an all-age hangout,” Michelle Kiesecker said. “Younger kids can go play at the arcade while their parents hang out downstairs.” La Grande blood drive surpasses goal More than 200 units of blood donated during two-day drive By DICK MASON The Observer LA GRANDE — The Red Cross-operated La Grande Community Blood Drive is continuing its mission to help save lives. The blood drive col- lected a total of 206 units during draws on Sept. 14-15, six more than the goal set for it, according to Sheldon Strand, who coor- dinates the community blood drive with his wife, Local man named to state panel Linda Strand. To date 714 units have been donated in 2021 during four two-day drives, also held in Jan- uary, March and June. This is more than the total of 643 units drawn in 2020, with one more drive remaining in 2021. In 2019, 465 units were drawn at La Grande com- munity blood drives. A unit of blood is about a pint. One reason the rate is much higher than in the past is that the blood draw sessions in La Grande, all conducted at the Church of Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints on Gekeler Lane, are now two days instead of one. The extra day was added to accommodate the greater number of people who want to give blood in Union County. “The community has really stepped up. It is very supportive of our drive,” Sheldon Strand said. The extra day was added in September 2020. Despite the success of the La Grande blood drive, the Red Cross still needs blood. It is short of what it needs to serve the Greater Idaho Red Cross region La Grande is in, Strand said. The Greater Idaho Region is 94,000 square miles and includes much of Idaho plus all of Oregon’s Union, Wallowa, Baker and Mal- heur counties. The region has 1.4 million people and has offices in Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho. The next La Grande Community Blood Drive will be conducted Nov. 16-17 at the La Grande LDS Church. People can register for the blood drive at www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins who have not preregistered will also be welcome. Downloading the Red Cross blood donor app is another way to schedule and manage blood dona- tion appointments. The app also creates a digital donor card, tracks life- time donations and allows donors to follow their donation on its way to a hospital. NEWS BRIEFS Union County adds 75 more COVID-19 cases LA GRANDE — Union County has reported an additional 75 cases, according to the Oregon Health Authority, with the state’s health governing agency reporting eight on Friday, Sept. 17, and 67 from the weekend on Monday, Sept. 20. The county’s total number of cases during the pandemic is now at 2,727. Wallowa County reported seven cases on Friday — a number that pushed the county’s overall count past 500 — and seven more on Monday, to put the total at 508. The number of COVID-19 related deaths in Union County is 37, and in Wallowa County is 11. Liberty Theatre Foundation gets financial boost The Liberty Theatre Foundation has received a major financial boost to move it closer to completion of the the historic building’s renovation. The foundation recently was awarded a grant of $250,000 from the Washington-based MJ Mur- dock Charitable Trust, it announced Monday, Sept. 20. “The Liberty Theatre Foundation is very grateful to the Murdock Char- itable Trust for this generous grant award,’’ Ashley O’Toole, founda- tion chairman, said in a press release. “When an organization of their stature has such a high belief in our project and confidence in our abili- ties, it gives us all the more motiva- tion and confidence that we can get it done — despite the challenges we’ve been facing during the pandemic.” Receipt of the funds is anticipated in early October and the money is expected to help carry the project into early 2022. In the release, O’Toole said the renovation is about 80% complete. He added the grant will help bring the remaining funding cap within reach of closing. ODFW kills three Lookout Mountain wolves BAKER CITY — Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife employees killed three wolves from the Lookout Mountain Pack in eastern Baker County Friday, Sept. 17, including the pack’s breeding male. ODFW workers also took a year- ling male and a 5-month-old pup. Six wolves were seen during a flight, according to ODFW. The wolves were on private land near a dead calf, and ODFW is investigating what appears to be another attack by wolves on cattle. Wolves from the pack killed a 6-month-old calf four days ago about 8 miles away. Lookout Mountain wolves have killed at least six head of cattle, and injured two others, since mid-July. ODFW announced on Sept. 16 that agency workers intended to kill up to four wolves from pack, including the breeding male. ODFW is not targeting the pack’s breeding female. In addition, four ranchers who have lost cattle to the pack are authorized to kill up to two other wolves total. ODFW estimates the pack con- sisted of nine wolves, a count prior to the Sept. 17 killing of three wolves. By targeting the breeding male, ODFW hopes to still allow the breeding female to raise any remaining juveniles. Reducing the number of juveniles she will need to feed increases the likelihood that some will survive, according to a press release from the agency. Baker City man gets prison for misuse of COVID aid BAKER CITY — A 32-year-old Baker City man who pleaded guilty in June to receiving a $145,200 fed- eral COVID-19 relief loan on behalf of a fictitious company and then using the money for personal pur- poses, including buying a $49,000 car, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison on Thursday, Sept. 16. Jeremy Michael Clawson pleaded guilty on June 8 to one count of theft of public money. As part of the plea agreement, Clawson also agreed to pay $125,200 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury. Prosecutors and Clawson’s attorney stipulated a two-year prison term, but they recommended that U.S. District Court Chief Judge Marco A. Hernandez reduce Claw- son’s federal sentence to 10 months because he is serving a 19-month sentence at the Snake River Correc- tional Institution in Ontario. The state prison sentence came after Clawson pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2020, in Baker County Circuit Court to attempting to elude a police officer and driving under the influ- ence of intoxicants on Aug. 21, 2020. Clawson was driving the 2016 Dodge Challenger he bought with part of the federal COVID-19 loan. The fraud case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service in coop- eration with the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and Baker City Police Department. — EO Media Group WALLOWA — A Wal- lowa County man is set to join a state committee. Woody Wolfe, who owns a farm between Wallowa and Lostine, was recently appointed to the Water Resources Commission by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. The appointment awaits a final confirmation by the state senators, with a vote set for Wednesday, Sept. 22. “I guess it either means I was qualified or nobody else applied,” Wolfe said. “I had a couple friends hit me up about applying. They Wolfe felt I would be a good candidate. I’ve always been interested in water law and become fairly averse about how it applies to my property specifically. The resource of water is one of the most valuable. I have been diligent to understand how that works.” Wolfe is filling a vacancy in the seven-person com- mission left by Bruce Corn, according to Elizabeth Merah, press secretary for Brown. “He will represent the Eastern Region, con- sisting of the Owyhee, Mal- heur, Grande Ronde, Mal- heur Lake, Middle Snake and Powder drainage basins,” Merah said. “Mr. Wolfe will work with the other commission mem- bers in carrying out the duties of the commission. ... As he will represent the Eastern Region, he will bring his perspectives on that region to contribute to the statewide goals of the commission.” Merah said the commis- sion “sets statewide water resources policy and over- sees the work of the Water Resources Department. Five commission members each represent one of the regional river basins, and two mem- bers represent a portion of the state in an ‘at-large’ capacity.” Commission members are appointed to the position by the governor, confirmed by the Senate and serve four-year terms. Wolfe said he sees the appointment and subsequent service as a learning oppor- tunity and to be on the fore- front, he said, of the changes he believes are coming con- cerning water use. “As much water as there is flowing through Wal- lowa County, it is a scarce resource. As our regional and global population grows, it’s going to have to be regulated to a greater degree,” he said. “Exactly what that looks like, I don’t know. I felt like it was in my best interest to maybe, possibly, have a say in what that looks like and have a voice in the decisions that are made. If the rest of the commission doesn’t share my perspective on certain things, at least I will know what those changes are when it happens. “My perspective is that if changes are made, we need to try to gain efficien- cies in water use either from a consumptive standpoint or an evaporation stand- point. I don’t really have an opinion as far as we need to see more regulation. I would be more open to creative changes to water law that can increase efficiencies.” Wolfe has experience with water efficiency tasks on his own property, finding ways over the years to use the resource effectively. “I’ve been successfully awarded a grant for an irri- gation efficiency project, which was through the Water Resource Depart- ment,” he said.
