LOCAL
A2 — THE OBSERVER
TODAY
In 1693, a charter was
granted for the College of
William and Mary in Wil-
liamsburg in the Virginia
Colony.
In 1910, the Boy Scouts of
America was incorporated.
In 1922, President
Warren G. Harding had a
radio installed in the White
House.
In 1924, the first execu-
tion by gas in the United
States took place at the
Nevada State Prison in
Carson City as Gee Jon, a
Chinese immigrant con-
victed of murder, was put
to death.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth
II proclaimed her acces-
sion to the British throne
following the death of her
father, King George VI.
In 1960, work began on
the Hollywood Walk of
Fame, located on Holly-
wood Boulevard and Vine
Street in Los Angeles.
In 1965, Eastern Air Lines
Flight 663, a DC-7, crashed
shortly after takeoff from
New York’s John F. Ken-
nedy International Airport;
all 84 people on board
were killed. The Supremes’
record “Stop! In the Name
of Love!” was released by
Motown.
In 1973, Senate leaders
named seven members of a
select committee to investi-
gate the Watergate scandal,
including its chairman,
Democrat Sam J. Ervin of
North Carolina.
In 2007, model, actor
and tabloid sensation Anna
Nicole Smith died in Hol-
lywood, Florida, at age
39 of an accidental drug
overdose.
In 2020, the U.S. Embassy
in Beijing said a 60-year-old
U.S. citizen who’d been
diagnosed with the corona-
virus had died on Feb. 5 in
Wuhan; it was apparently
the first American fatality
from the virus.
Five years ago: The
Senate confirmed Sen. Jeff
Sessions to be attorney
general, 52-47, despite
fierce Democratic opposi-
tion to the Alabama Repub-
lican over his record on civil
rights and immigration.
Britain’s House of Com-
mons gave its final approval
to a bill authorizing the
government to start exit
talks with the European
Union, despite fears by
opposition lawmakers that
the U.K. was setting out on
a rocky path to Brexit with
a sketchy roadmap.
Today’s Birthdays:
Broadcast journalist Ted
Koppel is 82. Actor Nick
Nolte is 81. Comedian
Robert Klein is 80. Actor
Mary Steenburgen is 69.
Author John Grisham is
67. Rock singer Vince Neil
(Motley Crue) is 61. Actor
Missy Yager is 54. Actor
Seth Green is 48. Hip-hop
artist Anderson.Paak is 36.
Actor Ryan Pinkston is 34.
NBA star Klay Thompson
is 32. Professional surfer
Bethany Hamilton is 32.
Actor Karle Warren is 30.
LOTTERY
Friday, Feb. 4, 2022
Megamillions
7-16-34-44-61
Megaball: 24
Megaplier: 4
Jackpot: $31 million
Lucky Lines
4-5-12-16-18-23-26-32
Jackpot: $16,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 6-3-2-2
4 p.m.: 7-4-6-3
7 p.m.: 7-4-2-7
10 p.m.: 3-0-3-3
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022
Powerball
5-16-27-39-61
Powerball: 24
Power Play: 2
Jackpot: $147 million
Megabucks
5-20-27-31-34-43
Jackpot: $1.3 million
Lucky Lines
2-5-9-15-19-22-28-29
Jackpot: $17,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 1-7-5-5
4 p.m.: 0-2-7-5
7 p.m.: 9-2-0-8
10 p.m.: 8-2-1-6
Win for Life
10-27-39-68
Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022
Lucky Lines
3-8-11-15-20-22-25-32
Estimated jackpot: $18,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 7-4-0-3
4 p.m.: 8-6-7-5
7 p.m.: 7-0-2-9
10 p.m.: 2-3-3-0
TuESday, FEBRuaRy 8, 2022
Resident
Rodeo likely to get back in the black asks for
Despite shortfall in
apology
profits, attendance
from
in 2021 seemed
to be strong
county
leader
CHIEF JOSEPH DAYS
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
JOSEPH — Atten-
dance was good in 2021
and plans are underway
for this year’s Chief Joseph
Days Rodeo, but last year’s
rodeo coming after a year-
long hiatus because of the
COVID-19 pandemic left
the organization in the red,
said CJD President Terry
Jones.
Asked if the 2021 CJD
was profitable, Jones said,
simply, “It wasn’t.”
He declined to say how
unprofitable it was, but he
said the take was down “a
ways.”
But last year’s rodeo had
to cope with the special cir-
cumstances of profits for
one year having to cover
the expenses of two.
“We still have our
expenses even though we
didn’t have a rodeo,” in
2020, Jones said. “We had
to cover two years with one
year. It’s been a long 2-1/2
years.”
Attendance strong
Despite the shortfall in
profits, attendance seemed
to be strong.
“It was good, I’ll put
it that way,” Jones said.
“We had a good turnout.
Saturday night probably
a record crowd. The Sat-
urday night crowd was
the biggest night I’ve ever
seen.”
He said he believed
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain, File
A customer buys a ticket to the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo at the rodeo office in Joseph on Saturday, July
31, 2021, the last day of last year’s rodeo.
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Mod-
erately higher tempera-
tures and no snow or rain
is in the forecast for La
Grande and Enterprise
from Tuesday, Feb. 8,
through at least the rest of
the week, according to the
National Weather Service.
“A high-pressure
system is expected to be
Jones said he doesn’t
have the actual attendance
numbers, but about 25,000
rodeo tickets were printed,
some of which were com-
plimentary tickets.
“Between the sponsored
tickets and ones that we
sold, it was 21,000-22,000
tickets that were passed
out, which was a good year
for us,” he said.
Jones said the rodeo
usually operates in the
black, and he expects
this year will be no dif-
ferent, with 2020 being the
anomaly because of the
pandemic.
“I would hope so, but
how do you know? It might
rain, COVID might come
back with a vengeance,” he
said. “But we’re going to
plan on making it through
next year.”
A boon to the county
Still, the mere fact that
the rodeo happens is a
boon to the economy of
Joseph and all of Wallowa
County.
Jones said that studies
done in the past have
shown that the rodeo and
accompanying events typ-
ically bring in 18%-25% of
the total tourist dollars for
the summer.
“When we bring 25,000
people to town, that brings
money in for the com-
munity,” he said. “When
people come to town, it’s
got to be a boost to the
economy.”
Work on this year’s
rodeo, which is July
27-30, is already well
underway. This year’s
rodeo court was named
last fall, and consists
of Bailey Vernam, Mia
Salerno and Maggie Zach-
arias. One will be named
queen this spring. Tickets
for season pass holders
also are going out.
“We hoped to entertain
people, and it seemed that
was the case,” Jones said of
last year’s rodeo. “And we
hope people enjoy it.”
over the Pacific North-
west. It will result in dry
conditions and mild tem-
peratures,” said Marilyn
Lohmann, a meteorologist
with the National Weather
Service, Pendleton.
The high-pressure
system is keeping storms
from coming into the
region. Lohmann said it
is expected to remain in
place through about Feb.
14 when a storm system
is expected to enter the
Pacific Northwest.
Lohmann said there is
a small chance that Union
County will experience
high winds this week,
likely in Ladd and Pyles
canyons.
Temperatures are pro-
jected to be cooler in
Enterprise than in La
Grande. La Grande’s high
temperatures will range
between 42-48 degrees,
according to the National
Weather Service.
The high temperatures
in Enterprise are expected
to be between 37-45
degrees.
La Grande’s low tem-
peratures are projected to
be between 23-25 degrees,
while Enterprise’s low
temperatures will range
between 22-25 degrees, the
National Weather Service
said.
EOU grad named permanent CEO at Yellowhawk
East Oregonian
MISSION — Yellow-
hawk Tribal Health Center
turned to a familiar face for
its open CEO position.
On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Yel-
lowhawk announced it was
removing the interim tag
from CEO Aaron Hines and
was naming him the perma-
nent chief executive of the
clinic.
“Aaron has served as the
Interim for the past several
months and proved to be
an asset and leader for Yel-
lowhawk,” Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla of
Indian Reservation Health
By SAMANTHA O’CONNER
Baker City Herald
attendance at the rodeo’s
Wednesday and Friday
performances also may
have broken records.
Thursday is normally a bit
down, and last year was no
exception.
“There were a lot of
people, a lot of people,” he
said.
Jones said that the
rodeo, run by a non-
profit organization, is not
intended to be a great
moneymaker.
“I know a lot of people’s
misconception is that we
just roll in the bucks, but
that’s not how it works,”
he said.
The CJD organiza-
tion has to cover the cost
of its office, insurance, the
rodeo grounds and other
expenses, he said.
“All those things have
to be generated from our
rodeo. Normally, we’re
able to do that,” he said.
“But when you’re trying to
cover two years of all those
things, it’s a little harder.”
No snow or rain in forecast for this week
By DICK MASON
Man objects to
Bruce Nichols’
request for deputy’s
presence during
Feb. 2 meeting
Commission Chair Shawna
Gavin said in a statement.
“We (the Commission) are
excited and looking forward
to the outlook that Aaron
brings, he has a fresh take
on our vision and work,
and we are excited to have
the opportunity to continue
working with him directly.”
Hines is a longtime tribal
official, having served six
years on the CTUIR Board
of Trustees as the Gen-
eral Council chair and trea-
surer. He’s also served on
the boards for the Affili-
ated Tribes of Northwest
Indians, the National Con-
gress of American Indians
and Nixyaawii Community
Financial Services.
Hines holds a bachelor’s
degree in business adminis-
tration from Eastern Oregon
University and is pursuing
a master’s degree in health
care business administration
from Oregon Health & Sci-
ence University and Port-
land State University.
Hines had been
serving as interim CEO
since May 2021, when
his predecessor, Lisa
Guzman, resigned. Hines
had been working as
Yellowhawk’s human
resources director prior
to his appointment.
East Oregonian, File
Aaron Hines speaks in 2011
during a candidates forum.
Yellowhawk Tribal Health Cen-
ter on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022,
announced Hines is its new CEO
after serving as interim CEO
since May 2021.
NEWS BRIEFS
Crane to stay on for another
year at Enterprise schools
ENTERPRISE — Tom Crane, the
interim superintendent for the Enter-
prise School District, has agreed to
stay on another year, he said Thursday,
Feb. 3.
The former Enterprise
teacher and coach who
returned last summer to
fill the post vacated by
Erika Pinkerton initially
came out of retirement to
Crane
take the job for a single
year. He said that school board mem-
bers met with a representative of the
Oregon State School Board Associa-
tion to talk with the search company
that is seeking a permanent super-
intendent and concluded that Enter-
prise’s best alternative is to keep Crane
on for another year.
“There is a large number of super-
intendent vacancies this year,” Crane
said.
He said there are at least 28 vacan-
cies throughout the state.
“It’s a tough job,” he said, with all
the added difficulties of the COVID-19
pandemic making it harder.
Replacing Crane with a newcomer
now would be all the more difficult
because of the ongoing projects within
the district, such as the construc-
tion work funded largely by the 2020
school bond.
“They spent a lot of time training
me about the bond and they’d have to
do it again,” he said.
There’s also the task of replacing
Enterprise High School Principal
Blake Carlsen, who resigned last fall.
Carlsen, who is leaving to be closer
to family in Texas, originally was
going to leave at the end of 2021 but
asked to stay on until the end of the
current school year, Crane said. He
said the school board approved that
request.
Although Crane was “happily
retired” when he took the interim post,
he’s content to stay on another year.
“I like what I’m doing and being
back,” he said. “The community has
really been welcoming.”
County commissioners to
meet about moving border
LA GRANDE — The Union
County Board of Commissioners
will meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday,
Feb. 9, to discuss ballot measure
31-101.
The measure, which Union
County voters approved in 2020,
requires the board of county com-
missioners to hold public meetings
to discuss a proposal to make the
county part of a new state, which
would be named Greater Idaho.
People will not be able to attend
the meeting in person.
To join the meeting via phone
dial 669-900-6833 or 253-215-8782.
The meeting ID number is 814 2000
6863. To access the Zoom link, go
to www.union-county.org/commis-
sioners/agendaminutes and click on
the meeting’s agenda.
Comments may be emailed to
amoore@unioncounty.org no later
than 5 p.m. on Feb. 8.
— EO Media Group
BAKER CITY — Curtis
Martin, of North Powder,
is asking for an apology
from Baker County Com-
missioner Bruce Nichols
after the commissioner
requested a sheriff’s deputy
at the courthouse be
present during a contentious
discussion between Martin
and the two other commis-
sioners at their Wednesday,
Feb. 2, meeting.
Martin chastised com-
missioners for failing to
reject Gov. Kate Brown’s
executive orders requiring
some employees to be vac-
cinated and mandating face
masks in indoor public
spaces, including the
courthouse.
Martin spoke during the
public comment period of
the Feb. 2 meeting, leading
to a sometimes heated dis-
cussion with the commis-
sion chairman, Bill Harvey,
and Commissioner Mark
Bennett.
In a Feb. 3 letter to the
commissioners calling
for Nichols to apologize,
Martin wrote that: “During
my public testimony, Com-
missioners Bennett, Harvey
and I engaged in dialogue.
All of us with a direct,
strong held positions of dis-
agreement, but respectful
of each other’s right of free
speech and expressing, pas-
sionately those opinions,
with possibly raised voices
to emphasize our points.
Unbeknownst to me at the
time, Nichols got up to ask
for court security personnel
to come to the commission
chamber, evidently wanting
to shut down the robust dis-
cussion we were having.”
Nichols said that shutting
down the discussion was not
his intention, nor was his
request for a security officer
directed at Martin.
“I’m sorry he felt that
way because it was not
directed at him,” he said. “It
was directed at the flaring
tempers in the room and I
thought, if we could get a
deputy down here to just
come in, just have a pres-
ence there. That’s all I
wanted is to calm things
down a little bit because I
was afraid of things esca-
lating and it wasn’t directed
at Curtis at all.”
Nichols said he requested
the deputy’s presence
because he wasn’t sure
whether other speakers
would continue the discus-
sion and whether the situ-
ation might become more
tense.
Martin had previously
written to Harvey to object
to wording that the county
added last month to its
public announcements about
commission meetings.
Martin said during the
Feb. 2 meeting that although
he understands Harvey’s
point that the county isn’t
enforcing the mask require-
ment, he objects to what
he called “acquiescence to
continue compliance with
these illegitimate agency
mandates.”
“It’s time to quit hun-
kering down and face this
tyranny head on and tell
these agencies Baker County
will not tolerate nor adhere
to their directives,” Martin
said. “A majority of cit-
izen constituents want less
oppression and leadership
that expresses true to local
representative government.
I can assure you, that is not
what we are getting now.”