Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2021)
INSIDE DOLLAR GENERAL OPENS TO POSITIVE REVIEWS IN ELGIN | September 30, 2021 BUSINESS & AG LIFE, B1 THURSDAY EDITION SEP TEM BER 29– OC TOBER 6, 202 1 WW Lea S rn H AGE rv Fe a sti est G E val 3 INSIDE AFRICAN ANIMALS ON PARADE, IN PA GE W.G OEAS TER NO REG ON .CO M PA Exp Pe lore U ndle co n m derg ton es roun GE 17 to life d PA 8 A gir aff e sc ulp tur e gu Campsite program gets good reviews $1.50 Liste n J Fo o s nath ter an Term at PA G E inal 12 Gra vit y Af par rican Ba ade anim al City ker in COVID-19 ard s Ma in Str eet in Ba ker Cit y. A voice for vaccine Forest management company still processing feedback on fee campsites By RONALD BOND Wallowa County Chieftain WALLOWA — A pilot pro- gram by Hancock Forest Man- agement on some of its North- eastern Oregon campsites is receiving an overall positive response. The natural resource group started researching fee camping in 2019, and in that summer and the spring of 2020 began charging rental fees on a handful of its sites for overnight use, according to region manager Joe Justice. Currently, there are 22 sites enrolled through the camping reservation company Hip Camp. Justice said in an email that since 2017, “Hancock Natural Resource Group’s NE Oregon forests have been a part of the Access and Habitat Program through Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). This has allowed Hancock to main- tain open recreational access to the public while still maintaining safety protocols on our prop- erty and meeting our fi duciary responsibility to our clients.” Justice said that in 2019, Hancock began researching fee-use camping “with the idea that they would be primarily used by hunters during archery season starting in September through rifl e season ending in November.” “The original pilot program’s goal was to gain a better under- standing of what hunters desired in a campsite, what the price point should be, and the ameni- ties we would want to provide,” Justice said. “The intent of this program is to enhance a hunt- er’s experience by providing the opportunity to drive into and park their vehicle in an area that has no drive-in access for day use, and allow hunters to take better advantage of early hours See, Hancock/Page A5 Alex Wittwer/The Observer Sharon Porter, a retired educator and cancer survivor, wears a mask outside her La Grande home on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. As someone with a compro- mised immune system, Porter shared her story in “Vaccine Voices,” an Oregon Health Authority series, in hopes that it would encourage more people to get vaccinated. Retired educator is encouraging others to get vaccinated for COVID-19 By DICK MASON The Observer LA GRANDE — Sharon Porter has a story to share. The inspiring tale touches upon her successful battle against cancer. It is also a story of lost freedom and vulnerability during the COVD-19 pandemic and how this is driving her to speak out on behalf of others like herself. A retired La Grande educator, Porter shared her story in a “Vaccine Voices” series the Oregon Health Authority is car- rying on its COVID-19 blog. The article was written based on answers to a ques- tionnaire Porter completed for the series, which is meant to encourage more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. She said she did not hesitate at all to get the COVID-19 vaccine, comparing the process to the steps taken early in her life to get vaccinated for smallpox, polio, shingles, measles and many diseases chil- dren are vulnerable to. She said she expe- rienced a sense of relief after receiving shots of the COVID-19 vaccine last winter. “I felt a load off my shoulders,” she said. Porter later received a third dose in August, which people with weakened immune systems can now receive. “I got it the fi rst day it was allowed,” she said. Porter said her immune system is com- promised because of her cancer treatments and thus “that extra measure of protec- tion” from the booster shot is welcome. Despite the booster shot, Porter is not letting her guard down. “When I am in close proximity to an unmasked person, I get a bit panicked. I will not enter a store where masks are not worn. I feel sad about that because I want to support local business,” Porter wrote in her “Vaccine Voices” story. To further protect herself, she buys her groceries only from local supermarkets that provide curbside pickup options. Regardless of where she is, Porter said she is grateful when people “care enough for people like me to mask up.” She wishes, however, that more people followed her lead. “I care about others and want to get past all this. We will not get to freedom until we all cooperate and get vaccinated, if medically able,” she wrote. Porter said until that point is reached, people who are not vaccinated are rob- bing those like herself with compromised immune systems. “Your freedom should not to take away my freedom to walk around the commu- nity,” she said. The freedom Porter said she has lost See, Porter/Page A5 Cases tied to Round-Up continue to climb COVID-19 spike from event has governor ‘gravely concerned’ By BRYCE DOLE and GARY A. WARNER EO Media Group SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown said Tuesday, Sept. 28, she was “gravely concerned” about an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases across Eastern Oregon with a common factor — the Pend- leton Round-Up. During a morning press call, Brown and state health offi - INDEX Business .................B1 Classified ...............B2 Comics ....................B5 Crossword .............B3 Dear Abby .............B6 cials gave an upbeat update on the state’s eff orts against the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19. Statewide, the COVID-19 surge of late summer and early fall “appears to have reached its peak,” said deputy state epidemiologist Dr. Tom Jeanne. Brown hailed the state’s eff orts in curbing new infections and hospitalizations as the state appeared to descend from a two- month spike in cases that set new pandemic records in Oregon. It was only during a ques- tion and answer period at the end of the presentation that the Pendleton Round-Up spike was WEATHER Horoscope .............B3 Letters ....................A4 Local........................A2 Lottery ....................A2 Obituaries ..............A3 SATURDAY Opinion ..................A4 Records ..................A3 Spiritual life ...........A6 Sports .....................A7 Sudoku ...................B5 addressed as a sour point in the state’s progress. County and tribal health offi - cials reported Sept. 27 the spike in COVID-19 cases in Uma- tilla County had been tied to the annual rodeo event held Sept. 15-18. At least 95 COVID-19 cases have been traced back to the event and all its venues, up from 49 Sept. 27 and 68 Sept. 28, according to Umatilla County Public Health Director Joe Fiu- mara. And health offi cials across Eastern Oregon are reporting a surge in cases. “That was a very large out- door event,” Jeanne said of the Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Friday 44 LOW 66/35 Partly cloudy Partly sunny WELCOMING AUTUMN AT ELEPHANT ROCKK Round-Up. “And there may not have been great compliance with masking there. We do expect to see some impact on cases from that, but it’s still too early to know the full extent of that.” Umatilla County reported 167 COVID-19 cases on Sept. 28, more than any other county in Oregon. The county’s total set a new pandemic record for cases reported in a single day and brought average daily cases to the highest levels since the pandemic started. When pressed for her level of alarm amid the outbreak, Brown See, Round-Up/Page A5 CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 115 3 sections, 34 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com
