FROM PAGE ONE
Thursday, March 10, 2022
ThE OBsErVEr — A7
they come in,” Rennie said.
“Many people have gotten
their vaccines and have
the antibodies. People who
are still concerned I think
should continue to wear the
masks.”
MASKS
Continued from Page A1
while trusting in attendees
to make responsible
decisions.
“If you still want to
bring your mask because
that’s comfortable, that’s
fine,” Jennings said. “We’re
at that point where people
need to start taking care of
each other and be conscien-
tious, while still enjoying
those things that keep us
sane.”
HQ does not plan to
require mask usage at con-
certs, but will update its
policies if any changes
occur in the future.
“I’m hoping that
everyone has a vaccine or
at least has taken the steps
to protect themselves and
others, not coming to the
shows if they’re sick and
those types of things,” Jen-
nings said. “I’m relying on
some sound-minded judg-
ment calls by people that
care about each other and
want to get together.”
Bella Mercantile on
Adams Avenue was stout in
their enforcement of mask
usage during the man-
date, but will refrain from
enforcing masks in its La
Grande location moving
forward. Manager Erin
EOU
Continued from Page A1
others less difficult.
“I’ll enjoy not having to
wear a mask in class. It will
make it much easier to com-
municate,” Millington said.
EOU women’s soccer
coach Jake Plocher said
EOU’s students have been
good about following the
mask mandate rule, but he
senses they are ready to start
going mask free.
“I can tell they are ready
to get back to normal,” he
said.
Brian Avila, EOU’s head
athletic equipment man-
ager, is eagerly anticipating
the lifting of the mask man-
date because it will make it
easier to communicate. He
explained that when he is in
an environment where it is
hard to hear people talking
Employee burden
alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
Zaquarie Mendenhall, an employee at La Grande Liquor and Smoke Shoppe, La Grande, stocks shelves on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. A common
theme among local businesses is that many employees are tired of being tasked with policing mask mandates.
Pierce said that business
has stayed steady during
the last two years, with the
store experiencing one of
its most successful years in
2021.
Pierce noted that a siz-
able portion of local cus-
tomers were drawn to the
store because of its mask
enforcement.
“I think that the bigger
effect is going to be on
the people who came to
our store because we still
required the masks, feeling
safe coming here,” Pierce
said. “We’re just going
he likes to read lips, some-
thing masks of course make
impossible.
Avila noted that when he
first started wearing masks
the strings made the skin
around his ears sore. Today,
though, he feels no sore-
ness because of calluses that
have developed. While he
has become accustomed to
wearing masks indoors, he is
happy the mandate is being
lifted.
“It will be good to be
back to normalcy,” he said.
Eastern will continue to
monitor COVID-19 cases
and will remain in contact
with local and state health
officials as it moves through
changes in other safety and
health protocols.
State and federal require-
ments for wearing masks
in health care settings,
within public transit and
in other specialized set-
tings will remain in place
after March 12, according
to a press release from the
school. Masks will still have
to be worn at EOU’s stu-
dent health center, said EOU
Public Information Repre-
sentative Vicky Hart.
Ron Wheeler, EOU’s food
services general manager,
is particularly looking for-
ward to not wearing a mask.
He noted that he came to
Eastern two years ago, which
means he has never been on
campus when masks were
not required. He feels good
about Eastern’s COVID-19
status because he said a high
percentage of its students are
vaccinated for COVID-19.
Wheeler said that masks
and sanitizing supplies will
still be available to students.
“We have raised sani-
tizing to a new level,” he
said. “Sanitizing stations are
now everywhere you go.”
Marco Rennie noted that
employees and customers
will not be required to wear
masks, but that each person
can choose to do what they
feel is appropriate.
“If people still feel the
need, then we encourage
them to wear a mask when
to reassure them that we
can still do curbside ser-
vice and deliver and take
precautions.”
Market Place Fresh
Foods in La Grande is fol-
lowing a similar model,
encouraging customers to
be conscientious. Owner
One common theme
among local businesses
was fatigue among
employees, who were
tasked with policing the
mandate.
“I think everybody is
going to be really appre-
ciative of not having to
enforce it,” O’Dell said. “I
feel like that burden was
put on essential workers
to enforce this mask man-
date. It added to the essen-
tial workers’ burden of
responsibility.”
Tasked with labor short-
ages and supply chain
issues, employees policing
the mandate added to the
stress of working during a
pandemic.
“I think it will help take
some of the pressure off
employees,” Rennie said.
“For them to be in a place
where they have to police
it is difficult.”
Bella’s Pierce agreed:
“I think there’s going to
be a sense of relief in not
having to deal with any
confrontation.”
, MBA
alex Wittwer/EO Media Group, File
Dr. Lau Vargas studies in the campus library at Eastern Oregon University on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021.
Eastern Oregon University has announced that it will lift its mandate for wearing masks indoors
beginning Saturday, March 12, in accordance with the state’s plan. The requirement has been in place
for two years at EOU.
NAVIGATING A CHANGING
TIME AND MEETING
CUSTOMER NEEDS
Pacific Power remains dedicated to delivering safe, reliable, affordable
power now and for years to come.
We recognize the impact that price increases have on our customers. As we
make needed investments in our system and navigate economic trends, we
will continue to take measures to keep our rates low and to capture savings
for our customers.
On March 1, 2022, Pacific Power filed a general rate case requesting an
overall rate change of $82.2 million, or 6.6 percent, to become effective
January 1, 2023. The company’s requested change will be reviewed by the
Public Utility Commission of Oregon and if approved, the expected impact
on the average monthly bill for an average residential customer using 900
kWh per month would be $13.01 per month. The primary reason for
this filing is to support our wildfire mitigation efforts, including vegetation
management, as part of our larger commitment to providing resilient, safe,
reliable electricity for our customers.
We understand the impact that price increases have on our customers
and will work to mitigate that impact as much as possible. Customers can
visit pacificpower.net/wattsmart for energy- and money-saving tips and
information. Energy Trust of Oregon also offers energy efficiency programs
and information to Oregon residents and businesses. Contact Energy Trust
of Oregon at energytrust.org or 1-866-368-7878 for more information.
Copies of Pacific Power’s rate request application are available at our main
office, located at 825 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, Oregon 97232 and on
our website at pacificpower.net/rates. Customers may contact Pacific Power
for additional information about the filing by mail to Pacific Power’s main office
at the address above, or by calling 1-888-221-7070. TDD/TTY users can call
the National Relay Service or 1-888-221-7070. Para un representante que
habla español, llame al 1-888-225-2611.
Requests to receive notice of the time and place of any hearing on this application
may be directed to the Public Utility Commission of Oregon at 201 High Street SE,
Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301-3398 or by calling 1-800-522-2404.
©2022 Pacific Power
The purpose of this announcement is to provide our customers with general
information regarding the company’s price increase application and the expected
effect on customers. Calculations and statements contained in this notice are not
binding on the Public Utility Commission of Oregon.
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PUBLIC NOTICE DOCUMENT
OREGON PRICE CHANGE APPLICATION