RECORDS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021
A year of record-breaking weather in Oregon
monoxide poisoning after
running a generator too
close to their home. Two of
them ended up in critical
condition, but ultimately
survived. Others weren’t so
lucky. At least four people
and a dog died in separate
incidents of carbon mon-
oxide poisoning in Clack-
amas County, according to
the sheriff ’s offi ce.
By KALE WILLIAMS
The Oregonian
SALEM — Oregon saw
a number of weather records
fall in 2021, and none of
them were good.
There was an ice storm
in February that caused
the biggest power outage
the state has ever seen.
There was a fi re season
that started early and saw
one of the biggest blazes
in Oregon history. There
was an unprecedented heat
dome that shattered tem-
perature records around the
state and killed hundreds
people across the Pacifi c
Northwest.
And through it all, there
was drought, which dried up
wells, spawned confl ict over
water rights and shortened
growing seasons in some of
the state’s key agricultural
regions.
Larry O’Neill, Oregon’s
State Climatologist, said
this year’s bouts of extreme
weather might feel like out-
liers, but they signaled shifts
in the climate that we might
have to get used to.
“Looking at historical
records, what we see is that
these events are occurring
more often than they have
in the past,” O’Neill told
The Oregonian. “The cli-
mate has changed and it will
change some more. We can
see it in the data records
and we’re highly confi dent
that it’s because of human
activities.”
Valentine’s
weekend freeze
Anytime there is snow
in the forecast for the lowest
elevations in Northwestern
Oregon, there is cause for
concern.
Residents of the Portland
metro area have not exactly
Long and hot
wildfi re season
InciWeb/Contributed Photo, File
Flames from the enormous Bootleg Fire in Klamath and Lake coun-
ties silhouette a fi refi ghter in July 2021. It was one of the country’s
largest fi res this year.
shown great resiliency in the
face of moderate snowfalls
of just a few inches. Still, no
one was quite ready for the
freeze that settled over the
area in mid-February.
Temperatures dropped to
28 degrees on Feb. 11 and
wouldn’t rise above freezing
for four days. Somewhere
between 4 inches and a foot
of snow fell in the Willa-
mette Valley, depending on
your location, but on Feb. 14
the snow turned to ice.
Up to 2.5 inches accu-
mulated on roadways, trees
and powerlines across the
region. First hundreds, then
thousands, then hundreds
of thousands of people all
across Northwestern Oregon
lost power.
At the peak, roughly
300,000 customers were
without electricity, the
largest outage in state his-
tory, and Gov. Kate Brown
quickly declared a state of
emergency. While some
customers had their power
restored relatively quickly,
others waited days or longer
for the lights and heat to
come back on.
Among the worst-hit
areas was rural Clackamas
County, where some res-
idents went without elec-
tricity for more than a week.
Hotels in and around Port-
land went from nearly
empty, because of the
COVID pandemic, to com-
pletely booked, and the gov-
ernor warned against price
gouging as thousands of
desperate people looked for
a warm place to stay.
For most, the extended
outage was an inconve-
nience, albeit a major one.
For others, it was a serious
impact to life and safety.
Oregon Health & Sci-
ence University said the
Oregon Poison Center got
nearly 20 calls about carbon
monoxide exposure during
the three-day ice storm,
up from about one call per
week. Most were related to
portable generators being
used improperly and people
trying to burn wood or coal
indoors to heat their homes.
In Gladstone, six people
were treated for carbon
While 2021 did not pack
the widespread destruction
or death toll of 2020’s cata-
strophic fi re storms, many
fi re districts in Oregon saw
their earliest and longest fi re
season on record.
The state’s fi rst named
wildfi re started in April with
a lightning-sparked blaze in
Klamath County and, unlike
the massive infernos of
Labor Day 2020, which laid
waste to entire communities,
the season would be marked
by smaller fi res, with one
notable exception.
The Bootleg Fire started
on July 6 in the Fre-
mont-Winema National
Forest, about 15 miles north-
west of the town of Beatty,
also in Klamath County.
Six days later, the Log Fire
started, and by July 20 the
two fi res had merged into
one and soon became the
largest wildfi re burning in
the nation.
By the time the fi re was
contained, 39 days later,
413,000 acres were scorched
along with 382 vehicles and
more than 400 structures
in the rugged hills north
and east of Klamath Falls.
It was the third-largest fi re
in Oregon since 1900, when
the Oregon Department of
Forestry’s records begin. At
least 20 people were injured,
but no one was killed.
Fishtrap plans writers workshops for January
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — Fish-
trap has two writers who
focus on the West scheduled
for workshops in January.
Corinna Cook will
present a workshop called
“Writer as Mapmaker” on
four Tuesdays beginning Jan.
4 from 6-8 p.m.
Cook’s workshop focuses
on how maps, like litera-
ture, tell us where we are and
where we might go. Litera-
ture, like a good map, tells us
what’s adjacent though just
out of sight, what lies under-
foot, where the fi rm bound-
aries lie and where they give
way. The contemporary cre-
ative nonfi ction essay serves
as this workshop’s lens.
Participants in the work-
shop will sample essays that
treat maps as art, essays that
expand maps into metaphor
and essays that make maps
out of language. Participants
will compile a class resource
bank of chosen maps, engage
with them via writing
Cook
Daly
prompts and discussion, and
develop an original piece of
writing that dialogues with
a map of their choice. This
workshop is suitable for pub-
lished authors, practicing
students, writers who simply
dabble and all thinkers inter-
ested in exploring nonfi c-
tion’s literary-cartographic
lay of the land.
Cook is the author of
“Leavetakings,” a lyric essay
collection (University of
Alaska Press, 2020). She is
a former Fulbright Fellow,
an Alaska Literary Award
recipient and a Rasmuson
Foundation awardee. She
holds a PhD in English and
creative writing from the
University of Missouri. Her
next book project explores
Alaska-Yukon art, ecology
and history.
Registration for the
month-long workshop is
$240, or $215 for Fishtrap-
pers. Register at www.fi sh-
trap.org.
On four consecutive Sat-
urdays beginning Jan. 8,
Matt Daly will lead a virtual
workshop titled “The Lean
Season: Winter Writing
with Space and Stillness.”
The workshops run from
10-11:30 a.m.
The course invites partic-
ipants to consider spareness,
quiet and the power of indi-
vidual objects and actions to
punctuate a snowy expanse.
Participating writers will
get outside and take their
time to notice how cold, low
light and snow still the noise
and the bustle of perception.
From a quieter place, they
will engage in writing activ-
ities that honor the expanse
of the open page and place
words and phrases with
quiet attention across that
expanse.
The weekly online gath-
erings will allow the sharing
of refl ections and writing
from the week, to explore
writing that navigates still-
ness skillfully and to prac-
tice the craft of quiet compo-
sition together.
Daly is the author of
the book-length collection
“Between Here and Home
and the Chapbook Red
State.” He is the recipient of
a Neltje Blanchan Award for
writing inspired by the nat-
ural world and a Creative
Writing Fellowship in Poetry
from the Wyoming Arts
Council. His poems have
appeared in various publi-
cations. Daly teaches refl ec-
tive and creative writing in a
variety of settings and with
a range of audiences. He
is the co-founder of Write
to Thrive, a business that
brings writing practices to
individuals and professional
groups to cultivate creativity
and well-being.
Registration is $180, or
$160 for Fishtrappers, for the
month-long workshop. Reg-
ister at www.fi shtrap.org.
THE OBSERVER — A3
OBITUARIES
Patricia M. (Westrich) Prell
1937-2021
Formerly of Union
Patricia “Patty” Mary
Patty was a loving
Prell, 84, of Bullhead City, and intelligent woman, a
Arizona, and formerly of
mother, grandmother and
Union, died Nov. 27, 2021.
great-grandmother who
will be deeply missed and
A celebration of life will
aff ectionately
be held at a later
remembered.
date in honor
Survivors
of both Patricia
include her sons
and her husband,
and daughters-
Gerald Prell.
in-laws, Mark
Also known
and Debbra
as Patty, she
Prell of Oregon
was born Nov.
and Kent and
2, 1937, in Med-
Debra Prell
ford, Wisconsin,
of Virginia;
to Herbert
Prell
daughters and
Westrich and
sons-in-law,
Mary Westrich.
Debra and Dan War-
She moved to Oregon in
nock of Oregon, DeAnne
1978 for her work in the
and Dale Young of Vir-
U.S. Forest Service, living
ginia, and Jeryl Prell of
in Union and working out
Oregon; brother; Kenneth
of La Grande. Her hus-
band, Gerald “Jerry” Prell, Westrich of Minnesota;
11 grandchildren; and 25
was a supervisor at the
great-grandchildren, with
La Grande Bi-Mart. Patty
retired from the Forest Ser- another on the way in
April 2022.
vice in 1999, and in 2005
She was preceded in
she and Jerry moved to
death by her husband,
Bullhead City, Arizona.
Gerald, in 2017, and a
Patty’s interests were
varied. She loved spending daughter, Barbara.
Arrangements are by
time with her large family
Dimond & Sons Silver
and enjoyed keeping up
with current events, singing Bell Chapel, Bullhead
City, Arizona.
and attending shows.
Teresa ‘Terri’ E. (Fisher) Hocker
1951-2021
La Grande
Teresa “Terri” Elaine
occasion possible with all.
Hocker, 70, of La Grande,
She loved spending time
died Dec. 13, 2021. A
with her husband, chil-
funeral service will be held dren, grandchildren and
Jan. 7, 2022, at 2:30 p.m.
great-granddaughter.
at the Wal-
Terri enjoyed
lowa Christian
fi shing, riding
Church. Burial
four-wheelers,
will be at the
mushrooming,
practice shooting,
Wallowa Ceme-
listening to
tery, and a recep-
music and going
tion will follow
to Wildhorse
at the church.
Casino with
Also known
family members.
as Terri, she was
Survivors
born Feb. 10,
Hocker
include her hus-
1951, in Enter-
band of 51 years,
prise, to Leon
Gayle Hocker; daughters
Norman “Bill” Fisher and
and sons-in-law, Danyelle
Macel Mae (Moys) Fisher.
and Josh Glendenning and
She attended school in
Kari and Cody Ford; sister,
Wallowa, graduating in
1969. She also attended col- Patty Atkinson; brother and
lege at what is now Eastern sister-in-law, Charles and
Mardell Fisher; four grand-
Oregon University in La
children; one great-grand-
Grande. Terri married
daughter; and numerous
Gayle Hocker on Sept. 4,
nieces and nephews.
1970.
She was preceded in
Terri spent her life
death by her parents; sister,
as a businesswoman,
Larae Hocker; and brother,
showing her two daugh-
Michael Fisher.
ters a strong work ethic
In lieu of fl owers,
until she was forced to
memorial donations may
retire due to medical rea-
be made to the ALS
sons. Her priority was
foundation.
family, celebrating every
SERVICE NOTICE
Judith A. Hunt
La Grande
Judith “Judy” Ann Hunt, 80, of La Grande, died Dec.
10, 2021, at her home. A celebration of her life will be
held March 26, 2022, at 3 p.m. at the La Grande Sev-
enth-day Adventist Church. Arrangements are by Love-
land Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
UPCOMING LOCAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
BRIEFS
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, from 6-9 p.m.
The class is led by Mary Lu Pierce and
sponsored by the Union County Family
Law Advisory Committee. The class
is free but pre-registration is required.
To sign up, email teala.sunderman@
ojd.state.or.us including your name,
mailing address, phone number and the
date of the class. Call Teala at 541-962-
9500, ext. 42, for more information.
Help children cope with
divorce, separation
Union County Senior
Center lunch menu
LA GRANDE — The next ses-
sion of “Helping Children Cope with
Divorce and Separation,” the court’s
mandatory parent education course,
will be off ered virtually via Zoom
Dine-in meals: Served from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; use front
entrance and observe social distancing.
Takeout meals: Pick up from noon
to 1 p.m. at kitchen’s back door.
MEETINGS
• UNION — The VFW High Valley
Post 4060, of Union, meets at 7 p.m.
on the fi rst and third Tuesdays of the
month. The next meeting is slated for
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the VFW
Hall, 518 Main St.
Cost: Age 60+, $3 suggested dona-
tion; all others, $6.
JAN. 3-7
Monday: pork fried rice, spring
rolls, oriental salad, fortune cookie.
Tuesday: beef curry with vege-
tables over rice, salad greens, baked
bread, fruit, dessert.
Wednesday: Reuben sandwich,
potato salad, fresh fruit, cabbage slaw,
cookie.
Thursday: meatloaf, mashed pota-
toes with gravy, salad greens, baked
rolls, dessert.
Friday: bacon and Swiss tartlets,
country potato casserole, fresh fruit,
yogurt.
— The Observer
Please follow guidelines
regarding face coverings
and social distancing at all
gatherings.
Dec. 31 — BILLY
DOTY: 10 a.m. viewing,
Bollman Funeral Home,
Enterprise; burial follows
at Prairie Creek Ceme-
tery, Joseph.
Jan. 5-6, 2022 —
MICHELLE CRE-
PEAU: Wednesday,
5-7 p.m. viewing;
Thursday, 2 p.m. funeral;
both at Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande.
Jan. 6-7, 2022 —
BRIAN SPENCER:
Thursday, 1 p.m. Mass
of Christian Burial, Our
Lady of the Valley Cath-
olic Church, La Grande;
Friday, 1 p.m. graveside
service, Burns Cemetery.
Jan. 7, 2022 —
TERRI HOCKER:
2:30 p.m. funeral, Wal-
lowa Christian Church;
burial follows at the Wal-
lowa Cemetery, then a
reception at the church.
Jan. 15, 2022 — JIM
LUNDY: 2 p.m. memo-
rial service, Gilbert
Center, Eastern Oregon
University, La Grande.
— calendar courtesy of
Loveland Funeral Chapel
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29
7:20 a.m. — La Grande police responded
to the 2300 block of Q Avenue on a report
of a disturbance and resolved the situation.
11:29 a.m. — The Union County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce received a report of a sex crime that
occurred in the county jail, La Grande.
12:14 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the fi rst block of Depot Street
on a report of a disturbance and cited a
57-year-old woman for trespassing.
12:45 p.m. — A resident at Clover Glen
Apartments, 2212 Cove Ave., La Grande,
reported harassment. An offi cer responded,
took information and tried to fi nd the other
party.
1:24 p.m. — La Grande police responded
to the Longbranch Bar & Eats, 208 Depot
St., on a report of a female causing a distur-
bance. Offi cers trespassed one person.
6:25 p.m. — A caller reported malfunc-
tioning railroad arms at Highway 203 and
Pierce Road, La Grande.
7:09 p.m. — A caller reported gunshots
on the 400 block of South Bellwood Street,
Union. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy
checked the area but did not fi nd anything
suspicious.
THURSDAY, DEC. 30
12:02 a.m. — A Union County sheriff ’s
deputy responded to the area of Momiji,
11627 Island Ave., Island City, on a report of
a fi ght. The deputy found people were only
arguing.
2:12 a.m. — A caller reported a suspi-
cious female was in front of The Local, 508
Adams Ave., La Grande. The situation was
resolved before police responded.
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