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repealed, DoMA was effectively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.