LOCAL
A2 — THE OBSERVER
TODAY
In 1789, George Washington
took the oath of offi ce in New York
as the fi rst president of the United
States.
In 1803, the United States pur-
chased the Louisiana Territory
from France for 60 million francs,
the equivalent of about $15
million.
In 1812, Louisiana became the
18th state of the Union.
In 1900, engineer John Luther
“Casey” Jones of the Illinois Central
Railroad died in a train wreck near
Vaughan, Mississippi, after staying
at the controls in a successful eff ort
to save the passengers.
In 1945, as Soviet troops
approached his Berlin bunker,
Adolf Hitler took his own life along
with that of his wife of one day,
Eva Braun.
In 1947, President Harry S.
Truman signed a resolution offi -
cially confi rming the name of
Hoover Dam, which had also come
to be known as “Boulder Dam.”
In 1958, Britain’s Life Peer-
ages Act 1958 allowed women to
become members of the House
of Lords.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon
announced the U.S. was sending
troops into Cambodia, an action
that sparked widespread protest.
In 1973, President Richard Nixon
announced the resignations of
top aides H.R. Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman, Attorney General
Richard G. Kleindienst and White
House counsel John Dean, who
was actually fi red.
In 1975, the Vietnam War ended
as the South Vietnamese capital of
Saigon fell to Communist forces.
In 1983, blues singer and gui-
tarist Muddy Waters died in West-
mont, Illinois, at age 68.
In 1993, top-ranked wom-
en’s tennis player Monica Seles
was stabbed in the back during a
match in Hamburg, Germany, by
a man who described himself as
a fan of second-ranked German
player Steffi Graf. (The man, con-
victed of causing grievous bodily
harm, was given a suspended
sentence.)
In 2004, Arabs expressed out-
rage at graphic photographs of
naked Iraqi prisoners being humil-
iated by U.S. military police; Presi-
dent George W. Bush condemned
the mistreatment of prisoners,
saying “that’s not the way we do
things in America.”
Ten years ago: President Barack
Obama and Japanese Prime Min-
ister Yoshihiko Noda, meeting at
the White House, decried aggres-
sive acts from North Korea,
including a recent failed rocket
launch, and vowed to main-
tain a unifi ed front against such
provocations.
Five years ago: President
Donald Trump said after North
Korea’s latest failed rocket launch
that communist leader Kim Jong
Un would eventually develop
better missiles, and that “we can’t
allow it to happen”; in a taped
interview broadcast on CBS’ “Face
the Nation,” the president would
not discuss the possibility of mili-
tary action.
One year ago: The Transporta-
tion Security Administration said
it was keeping in place a require-
ment that people wear masks
on planes and all other forms of
public transit because of COVID-
19. Disneyland in Southern Cali-
fornia reopened its gates after a
13-month closure caused by the
coronavirus; capacity was limited
for the reopening, and only Cali-
fornia residents were allowed in.
Today’s Birthdays: Singer Willie
Nelson is 89. Actor Burt Young is
82. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
is 76. Singer Merrill Osmond is 69.
Movie director Jane Campion is
68. Movie director Lars von Trier is
66. Former Canadian Prime Min-
ister Stephen Harper is 63. Actor
Paul Gross is 63. Basketball Hall of
Famer Isiah Thomas is 61. Actor
Adrian Pasdar is 57. Rock singer J.R.
Richards (Dishwalla) is 55. Rapper
Turbo B (Snap) is 55. Rock musi-
cian Clark Vogeler is 53. R&B singer
Chris “Choc” Dalyrimple (Soul For
Real) is 51. Rock musician Chris
Henderson (3 Doors Down) is 51.
Country singer Carolyn Dawn
Johnson is 51. Actor Lisa Dean
Ryan is 50. R&B singer Akon is
49. R&B singer Jeff Timmons (98
Degrees) is 49. Actor Johnny Gal-
ecki is 47. Rapper Lloyd Banks is
40. Actor Kirsten Dunst is 40. Actor
Dianna Agron is 36. Country singer
Brandon Lancaster is 33.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
McCloud makes campaign stop in La Grande
Former EOU
student believes
uniqueness
increases his
chances in May
primary election
By DICK MASON
The Observer
LA GRANDE —
Oregon gubernatorial can-
didate Tim McCloud, a
former Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity student, believes
he has a fi ghting chance to
win the Republican Oregon
primary.
“Even though I entered
the race just 60 days ago,
I’m coming out hot and I am
coming on fast,” McCloud
said during a campaign stop
in La Grande on Thursday,
April 28.
McCloud, who grew
up in Tucson, Arizona,
and now lives in Marion
County, said one reason for
his optimism is that he is
campaigning hard to get the
Hispanic vote.
“Nobody else running
for governor is going after
the Hispanic vote,” he said.
The candidate noted that
as a part of this eff ort he has
a page about his candidacy
in Spanish in the voters
pamphlet.
The fi rst Black GOP
candidate in the state’s his-
tory to run for governor,
McCloud also believes
he has a fi ghting chance
because he has a uniqueness
that helps him stand out. His
race and a compelling life
story are two reasons for
this. McCloud, who today
works for an aerospace
and defense manufacturer
as a business analyst, was
homeless while studying
Dick Mason/The Observer
Tim McCloud speaks at Mamacita’s International Bar and Grill on Thursday, April 28, 2022, in La Grande.
at Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity as an online student.
McCloud, who attended
EOU from 2012-16, said
he is four credits shy of
graduating.
He said that his fi rsthand
understanding of homeless-
ness helps him make con-
nections better especially in
Western Oregon where the
problem is much greater.
“People going to work
in Portland see large num-
bers of homeless people
along the street every day,”
McCloud said.
McCloud did not speak
of homelessness in detail on
April 28, but he spoke fre-
quently about the need to
protect our liberty and how
he believes it is threatened
by creeping socialism.
“I wanted to take the
opportunity to fi ght for lib-
erty and fi ght socialism,” he
said. “That is what drew me
into this race.”
McCloud said he is
opposed to new taxes with
one exception. He would
like people from other states
to have to pay a small sales
MORE ELECTION
INFORMATION
Deadline: Election ballots for
Oregon’s May primary must
be returned to the Union
County Clerk’s Offi ce by 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17.
tax. He said it is not fair
that people from outside the
state come to Oregon to buy
items because there is no
sales tax here and then leave
the state. He does not think
it is fair that out-of state cus-
tomers get to buy things in
Oregon at a lower cost and
don’t have to deal with the
consequences Oregonians
get hammered with because
their state has no sales tax.
He also said he does not
like the way the government
infl uences whether compa-
nies fail or succeed by deter-
mining who gets large con-
tracts. He wants a free market
to determine who succeeds.
“The government doesn’t
pick good winners and
losers. Consumers do the
job of picking winners and
losers,” he said.
McCloud is also con-
cerned about the federal
land in Oregon. He pointed
to Alaska, which is suing
the federal government in
an eff ort to regain own-
ership of the federal land
within the state.
“I would like Oregon to
do the same thing,” he said.
The gubernatorial candi-
date also is not a fan of how
the federal government man-
ages federal lands for things
like wildfi re prevention.
McCloud said that too often
the government manages
land poorly, leaving people
in the area with unfortunate
consequences to deal with.
McCloud is one of 21
Republican candidates for
governor in the May 17
primary.
Cove City Council to discuss city hall expansion
City may also take
a step toward
creating a
municipal court
By DICK MASON
The Observer
COVE — The city of
Cove may soon be a step
closer to having a munic-
ipal court.
The Cove City Council
is set to have a fi rst reading
on Tuesday, May 3, of a
resolution that would estab-
lish fi nes for violations of
city ordinances. The public
will have an opportunity to
present input on Resolution
2022-2 before the council
votes on approving the fi rst
reading.
Approval of the fi rst
reading of
the resolu-
tion would
mean that
the council
would likely
conduct
a second
Haeger
reading at
a meeting
in June and then vote on
it. Approval of a second
reading would put the res-
olution in place, according
to Cove Mayor Sherry
Haeger, providing the
The Observer, File
The Cove City Council at its meeting on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, will discuss plans to expand its city hall
building, shown here in an undated photo.
city the fi rst piece needed
for the establishment of a
municipal court.
Haeger said Cove would
work in cooperation with
the city of Union’s munic-
ipal court. The mayor said
Cove and Union would
share the same municipal
judge.
A municipal court typ-
ically addresses violations
of city ordinances.
Copies of Resolution
2022-2 are available for
public inspection at Cove
City Hall from 8:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. each Monday
through Thursday.
Also at the May 3
IF YOU GO
What: Cove City Council
meeting
Where: 504 Alder St., Cove
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 3
Access: The meeting is open
to in-person attendance.
People can also attend virtu-
ally at www.gotomeet.me/
cityofcove or via phone by
dialing 1-877-309-2073 and
then using the access code:
566-891-2073.
meeting, the city council
will discuss plans to
expand its city hall
building. Expansion plans
call for a portion of city
hall to be moved into the
connected shop building.
The city council is set to
vote on the awarding of bid
for the expansion work.
Haeger said the expan-
sion project will be paid
for with funds from the
federal government for
helping cities to deal with
issues related to COVID-
19. She said that expanding
city hall will create a safer
site by providing extra
space, preventing people
from being packed closely
together at meetings.
“The expansion will
create a healthier environ-
ment,” Haeger said.
LOTTERY
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Megabucks
1-3-8-25-32-47
Jackpot: $4.8 million
Lucky Lines
4-7-10-16-18-24-26-32
Estimated jackpot: $15,000
Powerball
11-36-61-62-68
Powerball: 4
Power Play: 2
Jackpot: $20 million
Win for Life
10-19-54-68
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 5-9-7-5
4 p.m.: 9-5-2-3
7 p.m.: 7-6-2-2
10 p.m.: 6-6-4-3
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Lucky Lines
3-6-9-14-17-24-26-31
Jackpot: $16,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 0-9-1-0
4 p.m.: 9-4-2-5
7 p.m.: 9-6-6-3
10 p.m.: 5-8-6-4
Trail-with-rail project still on track despite opposition
May 7 gathering planned
to support the trail
Wallowa County Chieftain
WALLOWA — The Joseph Branch
Trail Consortium, the nonprofi t group
working to establish a trail-with-rail
alongside the existing railroad tracks
that run between Elgin and Joseph,
will hold its annual member gathering
Saturday, May 7, in Wallowa.
The event will run from 4-6 p.m.
at the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland
Project and will include updates from
the consortium, a short hike along
the trail route in Wallowa and com-
plimentary food and beverages.
There also will be an announce-
ment of the winners in the group’s
spring drawing. Prizes include two
MORE INFORMATION
All are welcome to join the May 7 gathering
in Wallowa, but an RSVP is requested by
sending an email to info@josephbranch-
trail.org.
seats on a fi ve-day rafting trip on the
Snake River, two nights at the Wal-
lowa Lake Lodge, dinner and drinks
for two at the Gold Room in Joseph
and an echo fl y-fi shing rod.
A limited number of drawing
tickets are available until May 7 at
www.josephbranchtrail.org.
The consortium hopes to estab-
lish a 63-mile route along the tracks
from Elgin to Joseph, but objections
by landowners in Wallowa County
led to the Wallowa County Board of
Commissioners denying conditional
use permits for the project where it
runs through the county.
Wallowa County Commission
Chair Susan Roberts, who also is
co-chair of the Wallowa Union Rail-
road Authority, said Feb. 21 she isn’t
optimistic about the project.
“It’s doubtful it’ll ever go through
because people were vehemently
opposed to it,” Roberts said. “Wal-
lowa County Planning (Department)
at this time is not involved because
it’s not in our county.”
But Gregg Kleiner, project coor-
dinator for the consortium, said in an
email April 26 that he believes there
is reason to hope for the success of
the project.
“Momentum is building, our
membership is growing and we’re
attracting major funding and sup-
port,” Kleiner said.
IN BRIEF
Commissioners to
hear comments from
department heads
LA GRANDE — The
Union County Board of
Commissioners will meet in
regular session Wednesday,
May 4, to review comments
from county department
heads and discuss approval of
two consent agenda items.
The board will meet at
9 a.m. in person at 1106 K
Ave., La Grande, and there
will be an opportunity for
public comments.
Public Works Director
Doug Wright is scheduled to
present three talking points
during the meeting — a
motor grader lease for a Cat-
erpillar 150AWD, the Cath-
erine Creek Bridge on Wood-
ruff Lane and a right-of-way
easement at the airport. Weed
Supervisor Brian Clapp is
expected to speak on a used
vehicle purchase approval
and shop space lease.
The commissioners’ con-
sent agenda is light. The
board will vote on approval of
the meeting minutes from the
April 20 session and review
claims journals from April
20, 21, 27 and 28.
In the administrative mat-
ters section, the board is set
to discuss Title III funding
awards and appointment
to the 4-H and Extension
Service District Advisory
Committee.
Public comments for the
board can be submitted via
writing to the county offi ce,
via email to amoore@union-
county.org or in person
during the public comment
section. Participation via
Zoom videoconference also
is available. For access infor-
mation, go to www.union-
county.org/commissioners/
agendaminutes.
Hansell, Lively
appointed to board
of Cultural Trust
SALEM — State Sen. Bill
Hansell, R-Athena, has been
appointed to the Oregon Cul-
tural Trust’s board of direc-
tors by Senate President Peter
Courtney.
Hansell, a
third-term sen-
ator who rep-
resents District
29 in Eastern
Oregon, fi lls a
spot held previ-
ously by Cliff
Hansell
Bentz, who
now is the 2nd District Repre-
sentative in the U.S. House.
“It’s an honor to serve on
the Cultural Trust Board of
Directors,” Hansell said in a
press release. “I am excited
for the opportunity and
the work we will be able to
accomplish.”
A second appointee to
the board, Rep. John Lively,
D-Springfi eld, has ties to
Eastern Oregon. Lively was
born in La Grande and lived
in Wallowa County before
his family moved west in
1963. Lively, a former Spring-
fi eld mayor who has been in
the Legislature since 2012,
was appointed by former
House Speaker Tina Kotek,
replacing former Rep. Mar-
garet Doherty.
“Cultural arts are an
important part of the quality
of life in every Oregon com-
munity,” Lively said. “It is
an honor to serve on the Cul-
tural Trust Board, which sup-
ports eff orts to sustain and
enhance off erings throughout
our state.”
Hansell and Lively both
will “serve in an advisory, ex
offi cio non-voting capacity
per the Cultural Trust
statute,” according to the
release.
“We are extremely proud
that two such passionate
and dedicated Legislators
have committed their tal-
ents to the Cultural Trust,”
Niki Price, board chair, said
in the release. “We welcome
their breadth of experience
and expertise and know they
will make substantial contri-
butions to our work in pro-
tecting and strengthening
Oregon culture.”
The trust was established
in 2001 by the Oregon Legis-
lature as an “ongoing funding
engine” for arts and culture
in the state. Residents gave
a record $5.55 million to the
trust in 2021.
— EO Media Group