LOCAL
A2 — THE OBSERVER
SaTuRday, May 14, 2022
Future
VA town
hall
planned
TODAY
In 1643, Louis XIV became King
of France at age 4 upon the death
of his father, Louis XIII.
In 1796, English physician
Edward Jenner inoculated
8-year-old James Phipps against
smallpox by using cowpox matter.
In 1804, the Lewis and Clark
expedition to explore the Loui-
siana Territory as well as the Pacific
Northwest left camp near pres-
ent-day Hartford, Illinois.
In 1940, the Netherlands surren-
dered to invading German forces
during World War II.
In 1948, according to the cur-
rent-era calendar, the independent
state of Israel was proclaimed in
Tel Aviv by David Ben-Gurion, who
became its first prime minister; U.S.
President Harry S. Truman immedi-
ately recognized the new nation.
In 1955, representatives from
eight Communist bloc countries,
including the Soviet Union, signed
the Warsaw Pact in Poland. (The
Pact was dissolved in 1991.)
In 1961, Freedom Riders
were attacked by violent mobs
in Anniston and Birmingham,
Alabama.
In 1988, 27 people, mostly
teens, were killed when their
church bus collided with a pickup
truck going the wrong direction
on a highway near Carrollton, Ken-
tucky. (Truck driver Larry Mahoney
served 9-1/2 years in prison for
manslaughter.)
In 1998, singer-actor Frank
Sinatra died at a Los Angeles hos-
pital at age 82. The hit sitcom
“Seinfeld” aired its final episode
after nine years on NBC.
In 2001, the Supreme Court
ruled 8-0 that there is no exception
in federal law for people to use
marijuana for medical purposes.
In 2003, more than 100 immi-
grants were abandoned in a locked
trailer at a Texas truck stop; 19 of
them died. (Truck driver Tyrone
Williams was later sentenced to
nearly 34 years in prison for his role
in the deaths.)
In 2008, the Interior Department
declared the polar bear a threat-
ened species because of the loss of
Arctic sea ice.
In 2020, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention warned
doctors about a serious rare
inflammatory condition in children
linked with the coronavirus.
Ten years ago: President Barack
Obama sought to tarnish Repub-
lican Mitt Romney as a corporate
titan who got rich by cutting rather
than creating jobs; Romney’s cam-
paign responded that the former
Massachusetts governor alone
helped spur more public and pri-
vate jobs than Obama had.
Five years ago: Emmanuel
Macron swept into office as
France’s new president, pledging
to fortify the European Union,
redesign French politics and glue
together his divided nation.
One year ago: Demonstrating
allegiance to Donald Trump,
Republicans elected Rep. Elise Ste-
fanik of New York, a Trump stal-
wart, to a House leadership post
that had been held by Trump critic
Liz Cheney until she was tossed
from that post days earlier.
Today’s Birthdays: Photo-re-
alist artist Richard Estes is 90. Actor
Dame Sian Phillips is 89. Movie pro-
ducer George Lucas is 78. Actor
Meg Foster is 74. Movie director
Robert Zemeckis is 71. Rock singer
David Byrne is 70. Actor Tim Roth
is 61. Rock singer Ian Astbury (The
Cult) is 60. Rock musician C.C. (aka
Cecil) DeVille is 60. Actor Danny
Huston is 60. Rock musician Mike
Inez (Alice In Chains) is 56. Fabrice
Morvan (ex-Milli Vanilli) is 56. R&B
singer Raphael Saadiq is 56. Actor
Cate Blanchett is 53. Singer Danny
Wood (New Kids on the Block) is
53. Movie writer-director Sofia
Coppola is 51. Actor Gabriel Mann
is 50. Singer Natalie Appleton (All
Saints) is 49. Singer Shanice is 49.
Actor Carla Jimenez is 48. Rock
musician Henry Garza (Los Lonely
Boys) is 44. Rock musician Mike
Retondo (Plain White T’s) is 41.
Actor Amber Tamblyn is 39. Face-
book co-founder Mark Zuckerberg
is 38. Actor Lina Esco is 37. NFL
player Rob Gronkowski is 33. Actor
Miranda Cosgrove is 29.
CORRECTIONS
The Observer works hard to be
accurate and sincerely regrets
any errors. If you notice a
mistake in the paper, please call
541-963-3161.
Ian Crawford/Baker City Herald
Students from North Powder Elementary rush to be the first to try the new equipment on North Powder’s renovated playground on
Thursday, May 12, 2022. The children ran through the crepe paper ribbon to officially open the newly named G.M. Huckleberry Park
Playground. The equipment cost $67,000 and was purchased with money raised from donations and grants.
Community, students celebrate
restored, updated playground
Play area with
all-new equipment
officially opened
in North Powder
By DICK MASON
The Observer
NORTH POWDER —
The restored playground at
North Powder’s city park is
now formally open thanks to
about 60 energetic children.
Students from nearby
North Powder Elemen-
tary School participated
in a grand opening rib-
bon-cutting ceremony on
Thursday, May 12. The chil-
dren cut through a crepe
paper ribbon on the edge of
the playground by running
through it.
The unusual ribbon cut-
ting ceremony officially
opened a renovated play-
ground that features a swing
set with six swings, two
designed for small children
and four for older children;
a double teeter-totter; a mer-
ry-go-round; and a jungle
gym with a double slide and
a curly slide attached.
All of the items replaced
the previous equipment
that was in poor condition
because of age, according to
Beth Wendt, North Powder
city recorder.
Almost all of the chil-
dren who participated in
the ribbon-cutting event
were kindergarten, first and
second grade students at
North Powder Elementary
School and were brought
to the playground by their
teachers.
The grand opening was
conducted at what is now
G.M. Huckleberry Park
Playground. The name
reflects the fact that the
North Powder area is known
for its huckleberries and
that there is an annual huck-
leberry festival in the city
each summer, Wendt said.
The city park, until now, did
not have a formal name.
The new playground
equipment at the park cost
$67,000 and was purchased
with money raised from
donations and grants.
The new equipment was
installed last fall and since
then finishing work has
been conducted. Children
began using the new play-
ground once the new items
were put in.
“Some children were
even using them when there
was snow on the ground,”
Wendt said.
Today, many more chil-
dren are coming to the play-
ground than before the new
equipment was installed,
Wendt said. Sometimes the
playground almost seems
too popular.
“Hardly a day goes by
when I don’t look at that
playground and wonder if
the children there are skip-
ping school,” she said.
Willow Creek Bridge to be restored
UC Commissioners
give project the
green light
By DICK MASON
The Observer
LA GRANDE — A
bridge built when Lyndon
Johnson was president is
set to be restored.
The Union County
Board of Commissioners
voted on Wednesday, May
11, to enter into an agree-
ment with the Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion to restore the Willow
Creek Bridge on Courtney
Lane about 3 miles north-
west of Imbler.
The total project will
cost an estimated $508,000,
dick Mason/The Observer
A vehicle passes over Willow Creek Bridge on Wednesday, May
11, 2022, on Courtney Lane a few miles northwest of Imbler. The
bridge is deteriorating and Union County and ODOT will begin a
restoration project in about two years.
with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation
picking up $456,000 of the
tab and Union County han-
dling the other $52,000.
ODOT’s funding for the
replacement will be pro-
vided by the Federal
Highway Bridge Replace-
ment Program, according to
Union County Public Works
Director Doug Wright.
The Willow Creek
Bridge was built in 1965
and age has taken a toll on
the structure, which was
selected by the ODOT
Bridge Selection Committee
for replacement. Wright
said the bridge is supported
by timber piles that are
showing signs of decay. The
timber piles will be replaced
by steel piles during the res-
toration process.
The restoration work
will not begin for about
two years, Wright said.
This is because of the
time needed to get envi-
ronmental permits and to
complete the design.
The Willow Creek
Bridge serves an important
role because Courtney
Lane is used by agricul-
tural vehicles and local
residents. Courtney Lane
is also used as a detour
route when Highway 82 is
closed, Wright said.
Brown submits appointments for Senate confirmation
The Observer
SALEM — Gov. Kate
Brown submitted a list of
state board and commis-
sion appointments to the
Oregon Senate for confir-
mation — and four Union
County residents are up for
consideration.
Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity President Tom Insko
is up for reappointment
for a four-year term on the
Oregon Business Develop-
ment Commission.
“I am committed to
ensuring that all boards and
commissions represent the
growing racial, gender, and
age diversity of our state,”
Brown said
in a press
release. “State
board and
commis-
sion mem-
bers bring a
Insko
diverse set
of life expe-
riences and
backgrounds
to address the
wide range
of ongoing
issues facing
Cavinato
Oregon. I
appreciate the willingness
of all these nominees to help
us build a safer, stronger,
just and equitable Oregon
for all.”
Brown’s
appointments
fill some
holes on
the Eastern
Oregon Uni-
Mendoza
versity Board
of Trustees.
Anna Cav-
inato, of La
Grande, was
appointed
to a two-
year-term
Martin
to replace
Karyn Gomez. Cavinato
is currently a professor of
chemistry at Eastern.
Current board members
Cheryl Martin and George
Mendoza have both been
reappointed for four-year
terms. Martin is currently the
vice chair of the board and is
a rancher/owner of VP Ranch
in North Powder. Mendoza
is the La Grande School Dis-
trict’s superintendent.
Richard Chaves, presi-
dent of Chaves Consulting
in Baker City, has also been
reappointed to a four-year
term on the EOU Board of
Trustees. Chaves is cur-
rently the chair of the board.
The Senate Committee
on Rules is scheduled to
consider the nominations
in June.
NEWS BRIEFS
LOTTERY
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
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Powerball: 18
Power Play: 2
Jackpot: $83 million
Win for Life
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4 p.m.: 2-5-7-6
7 p.m.: 3-9-0-6
10 p.m.: 5-4-2-1
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Lucky Lines
3-5-9-14-18-21-28-31
Jackpot: $30,000
Pick 4
1 p.m.: 1-8-3-2
4 p.m.: 3-1-4-2
7 p.m.: 3-3-1-7
10 p.m.: 4-3-2-0
Budget meeting planned
in Joseph on May 24
JOSEPH — An online budget
meeting will be held by the Joseph
City Council at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May
24. The public is welcome to attend
via Zoom or by telephone.
To join the Zoom meeting, visit
https://bit.ly/38fDGiV. The webinar
ID is 881 3875 4137 and the passcode
is 269827.
To attend by phone, dial 253 215
8782.
The city council must approve the
budget by the end of June.
Joseph to hold hearing on
requested zoning change
JOSEPH — A public hearing
on a resident’s request for a zoning
change will be held during the
Joseph City Council meeting
Thursday, June 2, according to a
press release.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
at the Joseph Community Events
Center. The public is welcome to
attend in person or via Zoom.
To join the Zoom meeting, visit
https://bit.ly/38fDGiV. The webinar
ID is 881 3875 4137 and the passcode
is 269827. To attend by telephone,
call 253-215-8782.
The council will adjourn its reg-
ular session to go into the public
hearing to consider a request by
Andy McKee for a minor partition of
property at 201 E. Second St. and a
zoning change from R-2 (general res-
idential) to commercial.
A map showing the request is
available on the city’s website.
All residents who own property
within the 250-foot conditional use/
variance zone are allowed to voice
any concerns about the requested
changes. The council also urges
any residents with other concerns to
speak at the hearing.
Anyone wishing to provide input
before the meeting is asked to do
so before 4 p.m. May 25 at Joseph
City Hall or email the cityofjo-
sephoregon@gmail.com. For ques-
tions regarding this meeting, call city
hall at 541-432-3832.
May is Motorcycle Safety
Awareness Month
SALEM — As Oregon weather
turns warmer, drivers should expect
to see more motorcycle and moped
riders on the road. By intentionally
looking for riders, drivers can reduce
the potential of a “Looked But Failed
to See” crash, according to a press
release.
The governor has proclaimed the
month of May Motorcycle Safety
Awareness Month, urging all drivers
to “look twice” for riders.
The proclamation also encourages
riders to ride in a courteous, legally
compliant manner, which can reduce
some risks associated with riding
motorcycles and mopeds.
— EO Media Group
Wyden to gather
input on changes to
Walla Walla Clinic
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
SALEM — Following a
series of local virtual town
hall meetings in Eastern
Oregon, Oregon Sen. Ron
Wyden is looking to voice
the concerns of local veterans
regarding a proposed down-
grade to the Jonathan M.
Wainwright Memorial Vet-
erans Administration Med-
ical Center in Walla Walla.
Wyden fielded input from
local vet-
erans in Union
County and
surrounding
areas during a
string of vir-
tual town hall
meetings, sev-
Wyden
eral of which
were related to concerns over
the potential plan to limit the
scope of physical and mental
health services at the medical
center.
The proposal would move
services such as a 31-bed res-
idential rehabilitation treat-
ment program to Spokane,
Washington, increasing travel
time and complications for
veterans in Eastern Oregon
who currently utilize the
Walla Walla clinic’s current
services.
In a letter addressed to Dr.
Teresa Boyd of the VA North-
west Health Network Office
and Walla Walla VAMC
Director Scott Kelter, Wyden
forwarded the comments of
local veterans and called for
more input from veterans in
the decision-making process.
The letter came in the wake
of a call with the VA offi-
cials to discuss the apprehen-
sion expressed by veterans in
Eastern Oregon.
“I have been hearing
throughout Eastern Oregon
from veterans that the phys-
ical and mental health ser-
vices at the Walla Walla
VAMC are critical to their
well-being,” Wyden wrote in
the letter. “Simply put, they
have well-founded fears that
the proposed facility down-
grade will reduce the access
to vital services they’re
earned.”
The VA already has a
community-based outpatient
clinic in La Grande, which is
frequently used by veterans
in the rural region. The pro-
posed changes to the Walla
Walla center would make
it similar to the La Grande
clinic, and local veterans who
need services beyond the out-
patient clinic would have to
travel to Spokane instead.
Wyden cited winter condi-
tions, lack of public transit
and weather-related highway
closures as reasons for con-
cern over the proposed lim-
itations of the Walla Walla
clinic.
In his letter Wyden wrote
that he finds these changes
“particularly troubling to my
constituents in Oregon, who
often trek across state lines
to receive crucial care from
the VA,” he wrote. “Adding
180 miles to their com-
mute will effectively cut off
access to behavioral health
and substance use treatment
services.”
Wyden also included sev-
eral other points from the
local town halls in the letter,
such as delays in travel reim-
bursement and technical fail-
ures related to the electronic
health record system. The
letter included seven ques-
tions in regard to how the
proposed downgrade at the
Walla Walla Clinic would
negatively impact veterans in
Eastern Oregon.
Following the letter,
Wyden’s team reported that
the VA and senator are plan-
ning a town hall to gather
more input from local vet-
erans on the future plans
regarding their health care.
Dates and formats for the
town hall will be determined
in the near future.