LOCAL
A2 — THE OBSERVER
TODAY
On Dec. 18, 2019, the U.S.
House impeached Presi-
dent Donald Trump on two
charges, sending his case to
the Senate for trial; the articles
of impeachment accused him
of abusing the power of the
presidency to investigate rival
Joe Biden ahead of the 2020
election and then obstructing
Congress’ investigation. (The
trial would end in acquittal by
the Senate.)
In 1787, New Jersey became
the third state to ratify the U.S.
Constitution.
In 1863, in a speech to the
Prussian Parliament, Prime
Minister Otto von Bismarck
declared, “Politics is not an
exact science.”
In 1865, the 13th Amend-
ment to the Constitution, abol-
ishing slavery, was declared
in effect by Secretary of State
William H. Seward.
In 1892, Peter Ilyich
Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nut-
cracker” publicly premiered
in St. Petersburg, Russia;
although now considered a
classic, it received a gener-
ally negative reception from
critics.
In 1917, Congress passed the
18th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution prohibiting “the
manufacture, sale, or transpor-
tation of intoxicating liquors”
and sent it to the states for
ratification.
In 1940, Adolf Hitler signed
a secret directive ordering
preparations for a Nazi inva-
sion of the Soviet Union.
(Operation Barbarossa was
launched in June 1941.)
In 1944, the U.S. Supreme
Court upheld the govern-
ment’s wartime evacuation of
people of Japanese descent
from the West Coast while at
the same time ruling that “con-
cededly loyal” Americans of
Japanese ancestry could not
continue to be detained.
In 1956, Japan was admitted
to the United Nations.
In 1957, the Shippingport
Atomic Power Station in Penn-
sylvania, the first nuclear
facility to generate electricity
in the United States, went on
line. (It was taken out of ser-
vice in 1982.)
In 1958, the world’s first com-
munications satellite, SCORE (Signal
Communication by Orbiting Relay
Equipment), nicknamed “Chat-
terbox,” was launched by the
United States aboard an Atlas
rocket.
In 2000, the Electoral Col-
lege cast its ballots, with Pres-
ident-elect George W. Bush
receiving the expected 271;
Al Gore, however, received
266, one fewer than expected,
because of a District of
Columbia Democrat who’d left
her ballot blank to protest the
district’s lack of representation
in Congress.
In 2003, two federal appeals
courts ruled the U.S. military
could not indefinitely hold pris-
oners without access to lawyers
or American courts.
Ten years ago: The last
convoy of heavily armored
U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing
into Kuwait in darkness in the
final moments of a nine-year
war. Vaclav Havel, 75, the dissi-
dent playwright who became
Czechoslovakia’s first democrat-
ically elected president, died in
the northern Czech Republic.
Five years ago: A suicide
bomber blew himself up out-
side a military camp in the
southern Yemeni city of Aden,
killing at least 52 soldiers; the
Islamic State group’s Yemen-
based affiliate claimed respon-
sibility. Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor
died at her Los Angeles home
at age 99.
One year ago: The U.S. added
a second COVID-19 vaccine to its
arsenal, as the Food and Drug
Administration authorized an
emergency rollout of the vac-
cine developed by Moderna Inc.
and the National Institutes of
Health; a vaccine from Pfizer Inc.
and Germany’s BioNTech was
already being dispensed. Vice
President Mike Pence became
the highest ranking U.S. official
to receive the first dose of the
COVID-19 vaccine in a live-tele-
vision event aimed at reassuring
Americans the shot was safe.
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SaTuRday, dEcEmBER 18, 2021
NEWS
BRIEFS
Rallying to help
Friends, family
aid Elgin couple
badly injured in
winter crash
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
ELGIN — Commu-
nity members are rallying
to help a couple who were
badly injured in a recent car
accident.
Michael Whitten and his
girlfriend, Suzanne Hoffman,
were hurt in a winter-re-
lated crash outside of Elgin
on Monday, Dec. 6, and are
facing hefty medical bills.
Friends and family have
come together in helping the
two overcome the injuries
and afford their bills ahead of
the holiday season.
“We’re super apprecia-
tive,” Whitten said. “There’s
so many emotions to describe
the support we’ve received.”
Following the first snow-
fall of the season in Union
County, a truck collided with
Whitten and Hoffman as the
two vehicles were driving
over a bridge near Elgin.
Whitten was hospitalized
locally for his injuries, while
Hoffman was transported via
Life Flight to Boise.
Whitten stated that he
was driving when they were
crossing the bridge into Elgin
just before Timber’s Feedery
around 10 a.m. With the
recent snowfall, the vehicle
slid on a slab of ice as the
truck was passing. The truck
hit Hoffman’s side, leaving
her severely injured.
“My list of injuries is
almost too long to list,”
Hoffman said.
Hoffman has undergone
a number of medical proce-
dures due to injuries to her
knee, ribs, hip and brain.
Whitten had surgery for a
fractured foot on Dec. 14 and
is now going back and forth
between Boise and Elgin to
look out for the couple’s kids,
who are ages 13, 10 and 8.
As the medical bills
stacked up and the holi-
days approached, the couple
found themselves without
their only vehicle and
looking to still take care of
three children. Friends and
family showed their concern
by creating an online fund-
raiser to help the couple get
through their recovery.
“I started the fundraiser
in attempts to help them
bridge the gaps for their
medical care, help their
family with the three chil-
dren and help the family
who has been in Boise
with Suzanne,” said Nicole
Billman, who organized the
fundraiser.
Billman grew up with
Hoffman and the two have
been friends since the sev-
enth grade. Hoffman works
for Oregon Family Support
Network and Michael works
at Walmart. The couple has
resided in Elgin for the past
four years.
“We will get through this
stronger than ever, especially
with the village we have
behind us,” Hoffman said.
As of Dec. 16, the
OSP conducts
search warrant
on dispensary
Suzanne Hoffman/
contributed Photo
Suzanne Hoffman and Michael
Whitten pose for a photo to-
gether. The Elgin couple were
badly injured in an automobile
crash on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021,
prompting friends and family
to come together to help with
medical bills and care for their
three children.
GoFundMe for the couple
had raised just under $3,000
from 34 donors. The goal
of the fundraiser is listed at
$15,000. The online fund-
raiser can be accessed by
going to www.gofundme.
com and searching for “Help
Michael After Car Accident.”
“We’re doing better,”
Whitten said. “We’re getting
there.”
County to pay
off $300K loan
Union County
received loan nearly
a decade ago to
purchase Baum
Industrial Park
By DICK MASON
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Union
County will soon pay off a
$300,000 loan it received
from the Union County Eco-
nomic Development Corpo-
ration about 10 years ago to
purchase the Baum Indus-
trial Park.
The Union County Board
of Commissioners voted
3-0 on Wednesday, Dec. 15,
to pay off the loan plus the
remaining interest, which is
about $4,300.
“This is a huge mile-
stone,” said Union County
Commissioner Donna
Beverage.
Union County received
the loan about a decade ago
and had been making annual
interest payments but not
not payments on the prin-
cipal amount. The county
is now able to pay off the
loan because of the sale of
four lots at the Baum Indus-
trial Park, 62500 Com-
merce Road, over the past 18
months, Beverage said. The
lots at the park range in size
from 1-5 acres.
The businesses pur-
chasing the lots are all Union
County firms that needed
land to expand. Beverage
said the recent sales reflect
the strength of a portion
of Northeastern Oregon’s
economy.
“Some businesses are
really thriving and others are
having difficulty,” she said.
Beverage said it is a relief
knowing the loan is set to be
paid off.
“We are free and clear,”
she said.
Matt Scarfo, chair of the
board of commissioners, is
also pleased with the move.
“It always feels good to
get a loan paid off,” he said.
Commissioner Paul
Anderes agrees.
“Anytime you can retire
a debt, it is a good thing,”
he said.
Anderes said the fact
that the Baum Industrial
Park is drawing in more
businesses means that there
will be future job growth in
Union County.
Ten businesses are now
operating at Baum Indus-
trial Park and employ
between 250 and 300
people. There are about five
other businesses at Baum
Industrial Park, already
operating in other parts of
Union County, which have
purchased lots for the pur-
pose of expanding in the
future.
Companies purchasing
land at Baum Industrial
Park must adhere to rules
of operation set by Union
County.
Land at the Baum Indus-
trial Park costs $19,900 an
acre. Infrastructure avail-
able to businesses at the
site includes water service,
sewer service, fire hydrants,
electrical power and fiber
optic service. This infra-
structure was paid for with
a $400,000 loan Union
County received from Busi-
ness Oregon, a state agency
that promotes business
development. The loan from
Business Oregon was paid off
by Union County two years
ago.
The Union County
Board of Commissioners’
future plans for Baum
Industrial Park include the
installation of a truck-to-
railroad spur, connected to
Idaho Northern Railroad.
Truck drivers would be
able to load items onto rail
cars at the site. Beverage
said this would make it
easier for companies to ship
items. throughout the United
States.
alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
Christmas decorations sit on the shelves at the People Helping Peo-
ple second-hand store in La Grande on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Thrift
stores have seen an increase in customers as supply chain issues
hamper large chain retailers’ stock of Christmas goods.
Second-hand Christmas
Demand for holiday
decorations increases
at thrift stores
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
LA GRANDE — Santa
is getting a little help this year
decorating the town with the
help of second-hand stores.
Local thrift stores are
seeing an uptick in Christmas
shoppers, especially new ones,
as supply chain issues dim
prospects for artificial trees,
decorations and lighting at big
box retail stores.
“The amount of people
buying Christmas (decora-
tions) has been a lot bigger in
the second-hand stores this
year,” said Randi Stauffer, a
manager at People Helping
People, 2635 Bearco Loop,
La Grande. “The cool thing
about second-hand stores is
you’re able to find that vin-
tage Christmas, that antique
Christmas and that retro
Christmas.”
The second-hand store’s
warehouse has aisles and
boxes full of ornaments and
Christmas supplies, including
retro-looking bulbs and orna-
ments. A discerning eye might
catch a personalized snowman
ornament engraved with the
name John in its base, or a red
bulb decoration emblazoned
with a family photo from
decades past.
Walmarts in La Grande
and Pendleton had sold out of
artificial trees as of Thursday,
Dec. 16. Christmas lights and
decorations that once lined
the shelves in Pendleton also
took a tremendous hit, with
very little supplies remaining.
In Hermiston, the stock of
Christmas supplies remains
relatively healthy, though the
supply of artificial trees are
dwindling.
The price for consumer
goods — like Christmas dec-
orations — also has increased
due to global problems with
shipping costs, labor shortages
and fuel prices, according to
numerous reports from the
New York Times, Washington
Post and Reuters.
Those self-same supply
chain woes haven’t done
much to hurt the supply of
Christmas supplies at sec-
ond-hand stores, however,
which stock their shelves pri-
marily through donations
by individuals and estates.
That means that as supplies
dwindle at the box chain
retail stores, customers of all
ages flock to the second-hand
stores in search of Christmas
goods.
“There are new faces
we’ve never seen before,”
Stauffer said. “We’re having
the younger generations come
in and get more Christmas
stuff too.”
A manager with People
Helping People in Pendleton
corroborated the increase in
businesses as seen at the La
Grande store, stating that the
staff has also seen an influx
of customers filling the store
looking for Christmas deals.
That trend has only increased
in the run-up toward the
holiday.
“And still — people are
still getting Christmas trees,
they’re still getting the sup-
plies — the Christmas lights
(sales) have not stopped,”
Stauffer said. “We’ve probably
sold the most Christmas lights
we’ve ever had over the year,
this year.”
Fire officials warn of Christmas tree dangers
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
LA GRANDE — It’s that time of year
again when snowfall fills the valley, lights
twinkle from decorated homes and fire-
fighters urge residents to place fire
safety at the top of their Christmas lists.
“Although Christmas tree fires are
not common, when they do occur,
they’re more likely to be serious,” La
Grande Fire Department Capt. Merle
Laci said in a public service announce-
ment video.
In a video from the National Fire
Protection Agency, a test environment
shows a dry Christmas tree quickly
turning into a raging inferno, devouring
a room in less than 30 seconds and
turning everything, including the pres-
ents wrapped under the tree, into black-
ened charcoal.
“If people keep their trees up too
long, they can get super dry. If you
have an actual tree, water it on a reg-
ular basis,” La Grande Fire Department
Chief Emmitt Cornford said.
Watering regularly can keep the tree
from getting too dry. Fire officials also
urge residents to use only UL approved
lighting for their trees, and to keep them
away from any potential heat source.
More than one third of Christmas tree
fires are started due to an electrical
issue, according to the NFPA.
“Christmas trees, once they dry out
in your home, they can become a fire
hazard. And if they do catch on fire they
can grow very quickly in your home.”
Laci said.
Laci said residents should turn off
their Christmas lights when they go to
bed for the night, or when they leave
for extended periods of time. As well,
keeping electrical sockets from over-
loading is also vitally important.
But when it comes time to discard of
the jolly pine, firefighters urge residents
to use recycling services instead of
taking matters into their own hands.
“They are not something you want
to burn in the house,” Cornford said.
“Years ago, we had a fire that turned
into a house fire because a gentleman
tried to burn his old, dry Christmas tree
in the fireplace. It goes a lot faster than
people understand. Best to get rid of it.”
Laci urged residents not to toss away
the tree out of sight, allowing the tree to
dry even further, but to properly dispose
of the tree through a recycling program.
“After Christmas, get rid of the tree,”
she said. “Don’t leave the tree in the
garage or in the home. They’re a fire
hazard, and you’ve just moved the fire
hazard from one place to another.”
UNION COUNTY —
The Oregon State Police
Drug Enforcement Sec-
tion recently conducted a
search warrant on an unli-
censed marijuana dispen-
sary in Union County.
On Thursday, Dec.
16, OSP and other local
law enforcement served
a search warrant at
Highway 30 Cannabis
on Adams Avenue in La
Grande after receiving
tips about unlawful dis-
tribution of marijuana
products at the store.
Law enforcement also
served a secondary search
at a storefront operation
located on Stackland Road
in Cove.
Through a long-
term investigation, law
enforcement reported
that Highway 30 was not
operating as a licensed
dispensary through the
State of Oregon and was
reportedly distributing
marijauana unlawfully.
Investigators sought a
warrant for Unlawful
Possession of Mari-
juana, Unlawful Manu-
facturing of Marijuana
Items, Unlawful Delivery
of Marijuana Items, Laun-
dering a Monetary Instru-
ment and Engaging in a
Financial Transaction in
Property from Unlawful
Activity.
During the search, law
enforcement seized evi-
dence from the locations
and no arrests were made.
According to OSP’s
press release, arrests and
charges are to be expected
in the near future.
The investigation into
the unlicensed mari-
juana dispensaries is still
under investigation by law
enforcement.
OSP was aided by
the La Grande Police
Department, Baker City
Police Department and
Homeland Security
Investigations.
Police identify
driver in fatal
Interstate 84 crash
NORTH POWDER
— An early morning
single-vehicle accident
near North Powder left
the driver of a Dodge
3500 pickup deceased on
Wednesday, Dec. 15.
The individual driving
the vehicle was identi-
fied by the Oregon State
Police as Robert Miller, a
54-year-old from Shelton,
Washington. Miller was
fatally injured and pro-
nounced dead at the scene
of the accident.
Miller’s vehicle, which
was pulling a 20-foot
trailer, left the westbound
lane of Interstate 84 near
the North Powder exit
and descended into the
median. The truck went
down a steep embank-
ment and flipped over on
the Union Pacific Rail-
road tracks. The accident
was reported to the Baker
County 911 dispatch
center at 6:29 a.m.
OSP Sgt. Dave
Aydelotte stated that
the driver was deceased
by the time that first
responders arrived at the
crash site. Life Flight was
called in for the incident,
but turned around after
hearing that Miller did
not survive the crash.
Miller was the only
passenger of the vehicle
and no other cars were
involved in the accident.
According to OSP Senior
Trooper Greg Retherford,
the driver was wearing a
seatbelt and did not eject
out of the vehicle upon
impact. I-84 was not
blocked off following the
accident.
The incident delayed
Union Pacific Railroad
trains throughout the
morning until the scene
was fully cleared. OSP
was aided by the La
Grande Fire Department,
the Union County Sher-
iff’s Office and Union
Pacific Railroad.
—The Observer