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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 2022)
INSIDE PEAKS, PINES AND A PANORAMA: RETURNING TO POLE CREEK RIDGE | OUTDOORS & REC, B1 September 3, 2022 Financial good times may be ending State economists offer two possible scenarios: reduced economic growth or outright recession By DIRK VANDERHART Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — Oregon state economists on Wednesday, Aug. 31, delivered their most serious warning in years: The state’s surging revenue growth is about to end. Even if the state and country don’t experience a recession in the next year — a possibility econo- mists say is extremely plau- sible — recent tax receipts that offi cials have variously described as “shocking,” “unbelievable” and “stun- ning” are about to come back to earth, state econo- mist Mark McMullen told lawmakers. “Even if we don’t go into a recession, unfortunately not all of this revenue boom is sustainable,” McMullen said. “We are due for a hangover.” According to McMullen and another state econ- omist, Josh Lehner, that hangover has not yet arrived. In their quarterly pre- sentation, the pair diverged from their typical practice of off ering lawmakers only a “baseline” forecast that they feel is most likely to play out in coming years. On Aug. 31 they also deliv- ered a picture of what a recession might look like. McMullen told lawmakers it’s virtually a “coin fl ip” for which scenario comes to pass — and warned a recession, if it arrives, could be deeper than economists have supposed. But in either scenario, the state’s short-term rev- enue outlook is posi- tive. Taxes on business income and gains real- ized in the stock market have not slowed, and per- sonal income taxes are still strong. Under the more See, Economy/Page A3 lagrandeobserver.com | $1.50 WEEKEND EDITION UP IN FLAMES Wallowa County residents urged to evacuate Freezeout Road closed to allow fire resources to move into area to fight Double Creek Fire By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain I MNAHA — Resi- dents of Freezeout Road south of Imnaha were urged to evac- uate Friday, Sept. 2, because of danger from the Double Creek Fire, according to a notice texted by the Wallowa County Sheriff ’s Offi ce. The road closed at 9:14 a.m., according to a press release. A 7:17 a.m. text read had been sent out urging residents to evacuate. “There will be fi re units moving in,” the text read. The road, also known as National Forest Road 4230, runs southeast from the Upper Imnaha Creek Road along Freezeout Creek. The road was rec- ommended for evacua- tion in a notice issued by the sheriff ’s offi ce Sept. 1 and then reduced to the Level 2 “Get Set to Leave” later that day. Early Sept. 2 it was returned to the Level 3 “Evacuate Area.” This fi re, fi rst detected on Aug. 30 along Hat Point Road near Grizzly Ridge, was also likely sparked Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain A bulldozer prepares to offl oad on its way to battle the Double Creek Fire upriver from Imnaha on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain Emilie Wood, left, and Megan Ross of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest are tasked with ensuring nobody uses the road to Hat Point Summit on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. The road was closed at Imnaha because of trees felled by the Double Creek Fire. by lightning. The blaze exploded overnight, going from 50 acres Aug. 31 to 1,500 acres Sept. 1. As of early Sept. 2, the fi re was still listed as 1,500 acres with zero percent containment. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Public Aff airs Offi cer Matthew Burks called the blaze an “active fi re suppres- sion incident” and noted that full suppression eff orts are underway, including air tankers, helicopters, rappel crews and fi refi ghters. “It is growing and it’ll probably grow today,” Burkes noted of the fi re during a Thursday, Sept. 1, interview. “But we’re working with our part- ners to put that one out.” A briefi ng on the fi refi ghting eff orts is planned from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Joseph Community Events Center. Brian Anderson, district ranger for the Wallowa Moun- tains Offi ce of the See, Evacuate/Page A3 Wildfi res bring some benefi t to forests Sturgill, Nebo fires help ecosystem while Double Creek Fire receives full suppression effort CLOSURES DUE TO NEBO AND STURGILL FIRES By SHANNON GOLDEN The Observer L A GRANDE — Fire season is well underway, and as smoke-fi lled thun- derhead clouds loom, residents in Northeastern Oregon may see cause for concern. According to Wal- lowa-Whitman National Forest Public Aff airs Offi cer Matthew Burks, portions of the region’s forest fi res are doing what they need to be doing. “They’re wildfi res that are being used for resource benefi t,” Burks asserted. “They’ve started naturally and they’re in an area that has an overabundance of trees, so we need them to help clean up the forest and put some fi re breaks in.” Due to this year’s long, wet spring and minimal fi re activity U.S. Forest Service/Contributed Photo Smoke rises from the lightning-caused Nebo Fire, which was reported Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in the southeast part of the Eagle Cap Wilderness. in the area, Burks said letting these fi res burn will help prepare for the next hotter, drier season — and also create a more nat- ural habitat. He emphasized that they are continuing to burn as expected. Fire management The Sturgill Fire, in the North Minam Drainage, is burning through mixed conifer forests. WEATHER INDEX Classified ......B2 Comics ...........B5 Crossword ....B2 Dear Abby ....B6 Horoscope ....B2 Local...............A2 Lottery ...........A2 Obituaries .....A5 Opinion .........A4 Outdoors ......B1 Sports ............A6 Sudoku ..........B5 This naturally occurring blaze, started by lightning on Monday, Aug. 22, around noon, covered around 4,815 acres as of midday Sept. 1. The Nebo Fire, 21 miles southeast of Enterprise near Mount Nebo, is estimated to have started on Aug. 25 from lightning strikes earlier in the week. With a size estimated as 3,086 acres on Sept. 1, the fi re Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Sunday 49 LOW 89/51 Mainly clear Sunny; very warm • The Minam River Trail (1673) from the junction of Bear Mountain Trail (1655) heading south to the junction with the Rock Creek Trail (1905). • The North Minam Trail (1675) from the junction of the Minam Trail (1673) and North Minam Trail (1675) to the junction with the Bowman Trail (1651). • Green Lakes Trail (1666) from the junction of the North Minam Trail (1673) to the terminus of the trail at Green Lake. • Tenderfoot Trail (1819) from the trailhead to the 1828 and 1812 trail junctions. • Lick Creek Trail (1809) from the trail- head to the junction of the South Fork Imnaha Trail (1816). • Forest Service Road 3900100 from the junction of 39 Road to Tenderfoot Trailhead. • Forest Service Road 3925015 from the junction of Forest Service Road 3925 to Lick Creek Trailhead. • Forest Service Road 3900200 from the junction of 39 Road to Forest Ser- vice Road 3925015. has reached the Upper Lick Creek Drainage and is burning in subalpine fi r and grass. Burks noted that both the See, Benefi ts/Page A3 CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 106 2 sections, 12 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page A4.
