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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2021)
LOCAL A2 — THE OBSERVER TODAY On Oct. 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, known as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” to regain his world heavyweight title. In 1912, Vice President James S. Sherman, running for a second term of office with President William Howard Taft, died six days before Election Day. (Sherman was replaced with Nicholas Murray Butler, but Taft, the Republican candidate, ended up losing in an Electoral College landslide to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.) In 1921, the silent film classic “The Sheik,” starring Rudolph Valentino, premiered in Los Angeles. In 1938, the radio play “The War of the Worlds,” starring Orson Welles, aired on CBS. In 1945, the U.S. government announced the end of shoe rationing, effective at midnight. In 1961, the Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb, the “Tsar Bomba,” with a force esti- mated at about 50 megatons. The Soviet Party Congress unanimously approved a reso- lution ordering the removal of Josef Stalin’s body from Lenin’s tomb. In 1972, 45 people were killed when an Illinois Central Gulf commuter train was struck from behind by another train on Chicago’s South Side. In 1975, the New York Daily News ran the headline “Ford to City: Drop Dead” a day after President Gerald R. Ford said he would veto any proposed fed- eral bailout of New York City. In 1984, police in Poland found the body of kidnapped pro-Solidarity priest Father Jerzy Popieluszko, whose death was blamed on security officers. In 1995, by a razor-thin vote of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, Federalists prevailed over sep- aratists in a Quebec secession referendum. In 2001, Ukraine destroyed its last nuclear missile silo, fulfilling a pledge to give up the vast nuclear arsenal it had inherited after the breakup of the former Soviet Union. In 2002, Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell), a rapper with the hip-hop group Run-DMC, was killed in a shooting in New York. He was 37. In 2005, the body of Rosa Parks arrived at the U.S. Cap- itol, where the civil rights icon became the first woman to lie in honor in the Rotunda; Presi- dent George W. Bush and con- gressional leaders paused to lay wreaths by her casket. Today’s Birthdays: Movie director Claude Lelouch is 84. Rock singer Grace Slick is 82. Songwriter Eddie Holland is 82. R&B singer Otis Williams (The Temptations) is 80. Actor Joanna Shimkus is 78. Actor Henry Winkler is 76. Broadcast journalist Andrea Mitchell is 75. Rock musician Chris Slade (Asia) is 75. Country/rock musi- cian Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles) is 74. Actor Leon Rippy is 72. Actor Harry Hamlin is 70. Actor Charles Martin Smith is 68. Country singer T. Graham Brown is 67. Actor Kevin Pollak is 64. Rock singer-musician Jerry De Borg (Jesus Jones) is 61. Actor Michael Beach is 58. Rock singer-musician Gavin Rossdale (Bush) is 56. Actor Jack Plotnick is 53. Comedian Ben Bailey is 51. Actor Billy Brown is 51. Actor Nia Long is 51. Country singer Kas- sidy Osborn (SHeDAISY) is 45. Actor Gael Garcia Bernal is 43. Actor Matthew Morrison is 43. Business executive and former presidential adviser Ivanka Trump is 40. Actor Fiona Dourif is 40. Actor Shaun Sipos is 40. Actor Tasso Feldman is 38. Actor Janel Parrish is 33. Actor Tequan Richmond is 29. Actor Kennedy McMann is 25. LOTTERY Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 Megabucks 13-17-18-21-23-47 Jackpot: $5 million Lucky Lines 1-5-12-15-19-24-28-30 Estimated jackpot: $23,000 Powerball 3-6-26-35-51 Powerball: 17 Power Play: 4x Jackpot: $116 million Win for Life 2-15-30-51 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 2-8-7-3 4 p.m.: 4-2-9-1 7 p.m.: 9-5-8-6 10 p.m.: 4-8-5-0 Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 Lucky Lines 1-7-9-14-18-21-27-31 Estimated jackpot: $24,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 0-2-6-0 4 p.m.: 1-5-9-4 7 p.m.: 6-2-6-2 10 p.m.: 3-0-1-1 SaTuRday, OcTOBER 30, 2021 Dispatcher honored for going above and beyond Brooke Langerman honored at Trail Blazers game By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain PORTLAND — Brooke Langerman, one of the Wallowa County 911 dis- patchers, was celebrated Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Portland Trail Blazers game as “our hometown hero.” Supervisor Tammy Shaver nominated Lan- german for the award for her hard work when most of the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office 911 staff was down with corona- virus. Shaver wanted to recognize her dedi- cation during a difficult time, according to Brenda Micka, administrative services director for the county. Without Langerman, Shaver would not have been able to keep the 911 dispatch center up and run- ning, Micka said. She will- ingly gave up time with her family to work extra hours when she could have suc- cumbed to the pressure and fear of the COVID-19 outbreak in the center and requested to remain quar- antined or sequestered at home. “Thanks to Brooke, our Mandi Strohm/Contributed Photo Brooke Langerman stands outside Portland’s Moda Center. A 911 dispatcher for Wallowa County, Langerman was honored as a “hometown hero” at a Portland Trail Blazers game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, for her work keeping the dispatch center going during the COVID-19 pandemic. level of service did not waver and we continued to provide help and succor to the members of the county and our responders,” Micka said. “We want to recognize those who go above and beyond. Brooke did.” This wasn’t the first time Langerman was hon- ored for going above and beyond as a dispatcher. On Aug. 18 at their regular meeting, she was awarded the second-ever Golden Feather of Achievement award by the Wallowa County commissioners. “We really appreciate the above and beyond and your willingness to hang in there and keep a vital part of Wallowa County operating at the 911 station there,” Com- missioner Todd Nash said at the time. “You gave up family time in a time of trepidation where you could’ve said, ‘It’s just too dangerous and I’m not coming in.’ But you kept that operation going and we really appreciate your service and we want to recognize that. There’s a lot of extra people who came here today just to make sure you are rec- ognized for your duties here, so thank you very much.” Langerman said after the presentation that four of the six 911 dispatchers were out sick with coro- navirus and it was just her and Shaver keeping the operation going. “We were working 12-hour shifts,” Lan- german said. The mother of three, ages 3, 5 and 6, said that the long shifts and short- handed situation lasted about two weeks. State approves lethal removal of one OR30 wolf The Observer LA GRANDE — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on Thursday, Oct. 28, autho- rized the lethal removal of one wolf from the OR30 wolves in the Mount Emily Unit, according to a press release. The state granted autho- rized the lethal action and will provide a kill permit to a livestock producer who requested the option after the state confirmed an additional depredation by wolves on a calf in a private land pasture last week. The state has confirmed that since early June, OR30 wolves have depre- dated six times on private land pastures, resulting in the death or injury of five sheep and five calves. A previous removal permit for these wolves to a dif- ferent producer expired on Aug. 31 with no wolves taken. The permit allows the producer or their agent to kill one wolf on the private land they are using within the wolves’ known area of activity. The permit expires Nov. 22, when the one wolf is killed, or when the producer’s livestock are removed from the area, whichever comes first. The producer’s method of take under the permit is restricted to shooting the wolf from the ground. According to the state’s wolf management plan, ODFW can issue a kill permit only if the affected ranchers have used, and documented, nonlethal methods to try to avoid wolf attacks. Also, there can be no identified cir- cumstances on the prop- erty, such as bone piles or carcasses, that could be attracting wolves. OR30 was first observed with another wolf in the Mount Emily Unit within the present known area of activity in spring 2020. The new pair bred but only one pup sur- vived through the end of the year. The group was not designated as a pack during the 2020-21 winter count because there were only three wolves. A pack is four or more wolves. NEWS BRIEFS Latest OHA update shows 10 new COVID-19 cases in Union County SALEM — The Oregon Health Authority released its daily COVID-19 report on Thursday, Oct. 28, showing 10 new cases in Union County and four in Wallowa County. The newly reported cases bring Union County’s total to 3,239 since the start of the pandemic, while Wallowa County stands at 699. Across the state, 1,116 new con- firmed and presumptive cases were reported. The Oct. 28 report brings Ore- gon’s total case count to 363,648 since the start of the pandemic. The update showed 24 new deaths across Oregon, bringing the state death toll to 4,358. OHA revealed its weekly break- through case report, which tracks breakthrough cases between Oct. 17 and Oct. 23. There were 2,156 breakthrough cases out of the 7,723 reported COVID-19 cases. There are currently 518 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, which is a decrease of 36 patients from the Oct. 27 report. Out of 697 adult ICU beds, there are 52 open beds. There are currently 272 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,139. Employee conflicts resurface in Joseph JOSEPH — Employee disputes that were believed to have been laid to rest resurfaced recently and were the subject of an emergency execu- tive session held by the Joseph City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The session was to address “pri- marily a procedural issue,” pro-tem city Administrator Brock Eckstein said the following day. “As pro-tem, I can’t issue certain levels of discipline that might be necessary to address certain issues we’re having,” Eckstein said. He confirmed that the issues were ongoing conflicts between Public Works Lead Levi Tickner and Parks Lead Dennis Welch. Earlier this year, Welch made complaints during an executive session against Tickner, who later exercised his option to respond in open session. On Aug. 5, the council approved a resolution that said both Welch and Tickner are valued by the city and part of the problem was a lack of proper supervision by former city Administrator/Recorder Larry Braden, who resigned in April citing “harassment” by members of the council. The resolution turned the matter over to Eckstein. But now it’s all come to a boil again and Eckstein believed he needed to get the council’s approval to take any disciplinary actions. “We didn’t discuss any of the issues,” Eckstein said. “I asked if they wanted talk to (Welch and Tickner) or have me handle it. They felt comfortable enough to let me handle it at my level.” He said he expects whatever action he takes will be considered for approval by the council at its next meeting, Nov. 4. OTEC announces scholarship opportunities for youth and adults BAKER CITY — Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative announced in a press release it would begin accepting applications Monday, Nov. 1, for a number of academic scholarships to eligible students and adults in its service territory. The scholarships include $5,000 awards available to high school stu- dents, returning college students and adults entering educational or technical programs. For the third year, four aca- demic scholarships will be allocated to the OTEC-EOU Rural Schol- arship Program, an partnership between OTEC and Eastern Oregon University. Four incoming EOU freshman will have the opportunity to have their entire four years of tuition and fees paid for, if they commit to attend and graduate from Eastern Oregon University. In addition, the cooperative will award two scholarships to attend lineman school and four to attend trade school, for $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. Applications to the lineman and trade school scholarships are accepted year-round and will be awarded until funds are exhausted. Recipients will be selected based on their applications, including let- ters of recommendation, academic performance and community or club involvement. Applications for the scholar- ships are due Jan. 31, 2022. Addi- tional information and qualification criteria can be found at otec.coop/ scholarships. Baker City man sentenced to 75 months in prison in handgun theft BAKER CITY — A Baker City man was sentenced to 75 months in state prison after pleading guilty to breaking into a Baker City home in September and stealing a handgun. Alexander Prentice Griffin, 30, of Baker City, pleaded guilty on Oct. 14 to attempted first-de- gree robbery, a Class B felony. Griffin was initially charged with first-de- Griffin gree robbery, a Mea- sure 11 crime that on conviction carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 90 months. The 75-month sentence for attempted robbery is not a manda- tory minimum, and Griffin could potentially qualify for a reduction in the sentence. Griffin also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Several other counts were dis- missed in a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office. Those charges are first-degree bur- glary, first-degree theft, menacing, pointing a firearm at another and first-degree criminal trespassing. — EO Media Group Council set to consider new public art piece Memorandum would allow artist to develop public art outside library By DAVIS CARBAUGH The Observer LA GRANDE — The La Grande City Council is set to meet for its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 3, when it will con- sider two items on the con- sent agenda and six items of new business. In the new business sec- tion, the council will con- sider approving a memo- randum of understanding between La Grande Parks and Recreation Director Stu Spence and artist Jason Hogge. This will allow for Hogge to develop a public art piece outside of Cook Memorial Library in down- town La Grande. The La Grande Arts Commission recommended the memorandum after working with the city’s public art policy to bring in an artist for the public dis- play. Hogge’s sculpture will entail acrylic paintings on concrete tablets that form different images depending on the position of the viewer. The themes of the paintings are “honoring the past,” “celebrating the present” and “embracing the future.” The purpose of the mem- orandum with Hogge is to allow the arts commis- sion to finalize the design and acquire grant funding, which will go toward the $50,000 cost total. Also, the council will consider a memorandum of understanding between the city manager and the Fire Fighter Local 924, which will put into place new compensation rates for full-time employees for out-of-county ambulance transfers. The goal of the memorandum is to incen- tivize employees returning to work in order to cover a staff shortage needed for ambulance transfers out of the area. Council members will vote on the proposed amendment of resolution No. 4775, series 2019, which sets administrative fees for pavilion rentals in the city. The parks and recreation department created a new booking website, which led to the staff calling for an update of rental rates. The proposed resolution will establish new fee stan- dards for the Riverside Park Pavilion and its kitchen, Pioneer Park Rotary Pavilion and Max Square. The council will con- sider authorizing an agree- ment between the city and the La Grande Swim Club and the La Grande High School Swim Team, which will allow for continued usage of Veterans’ Memo- rial Pool. The current agree- ment expires at the end of 2021. Community Develop- ment Director Mike Boquist will present an item of new business regarding the annexation of a property on Second Street. The property owners requested annex- ation into the city of La Grande for water and sewer services for the construc- tion of a new dwelling. The final topic of new business will be consid- ering awarding a bid for the sanitary sewer rehabilita- tion to Planned Engineered Construction, Inc., in the amount of $192,000. The project will improve condi- tions of sewer mainlines in the city. IF YOU GO The La Grande City Council meeting will take place virtu- ally, with streaming options on the EO Alive website and Face- book page. Written public com- ments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Nov. 2.
