NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
A2
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Loso Hall renovation work nearing completion
Bonds paid for
the $5.5 million
renovation that
began in July
By DICK MASON
La Grande Observer
LA GRANDE — East-
ern Oregon University’s
Loso Hall has been closed to
the public since mid-March
2020 due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
When the university later
reopens the 31-year-old build-
ing, community residents
will fi nd a renovated struc-
ture with technology adding
a touch of theater magic —
and a place where people with
mobility issues will enjoy new
freedom.
Both will show the
evidence of $5.5 million
of renovation work to the
performing arts building,
which began in July 2020 and
is nearing its fi nal act.
“Most of the work will
be completed by April,” said
Jon Fowler, project superin-
tendent for Kirby Nagelhout
Construction, the general
contractor for the Loso Hall
remodeling, which is funded
by the sale of state bonds.
Many of the renovations
focus on boosting accessibil-
ity to Loso Hall’s two theaters
— McKenzie and Schwarz.
Alex Wittwer/La Grande Observer
Brody Kincade, a contractor with Kirby Nagelhout Construction, removes protective paper
covering the carpet on Feb. 23, 2021, at Loso Hall during the ongoing renovation of the build-
ing on the campus of Eastern Oregon University.
McKenzie Theatre will
have an elevator the phys-
ically challenged can take
to the upper level of its fi rst
tier of seating. This will give
people who normally only get
to see performances at stage
level a chance to view produc-
tions from a higher perspec-
tive, Fowler said.
Those with mobility issues
will be able to watch perfor-
mances at one of six sites that
accommodate wheelchair
users and their companions.
Creating space for viewing
sites within the theater’s regu-
lar seating area was a heavy-
weight task.
“We had to remove 40,000
pounds of concrete,” Fowler
said.
Another McKenzie acces-
sibility addition involved the
installation of wide pathways
leading to the stage at the two
fi rst-fl oor side entrances. The
wider paths make it easier for
people with mobility issues to
get to the stage.
Forecast for Pendleton Area
TODAY
WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
At Schwarz Theatre,
accessibility also is getting
a dramatic boost, where the
stage now is level with the
fl oor. Previously the seating
area was sloped and above the
stage.
Renovation work in
Schwarz also includes the
addition of a motorized turn-
table stage that can rotate
to alter sets during perfor-
mances.
“It will make it possible to
change scenes quickly,” said
EOU theater professor Mike
Heather.
The turntable can allow
actors to appear to trek long
distances as sets representing
different regions circle past.
Heather said he believes
Schwarz Theatre may be the
only one in Eastern Oregon
with a turntable stage. Such
turntables are normally only
in theaters in much larger
areas.
Other renovation work
includes the installation of
cameras and viewing screens
for people to see productions
throughout Loso Hall. For
example, if a performance
at McKenzie Theatre is sold
out, people will be able to
view it live on a large screen
in Schwarz Theatre.
Operating the lighting and
curtains at McKenzie Theatre
also will be easier because
of technological upgrades.
Previously, all the theater’s
curtains had to be lowered
and raised by hand, a chal-
lenging process because of
their weight. Now, this can be
done electronically with the
push of a button, Fowler said,
in just 24 seconds.
And new heat sensors
mean curtains drop automat-
ically in case of a fi re, prevent-
ing it from spreading.
Other electronic upgrades
will make it easier to alter
sound and lighting during
productions. Making this
Eastern Oregon tourism gets a boost
La Grande Observer
Milder with
periods of sun
Partly sunny
57° 30°
55° 33°
Plenty of sunshine
Plenty of sunshine
Mostly sunny
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
53° 31°
61° 38°
59° 34°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
60° 29°
59° 32°
58° 30°
65° 39°
61° 32°
OREGON FORECAST
ALMANAC
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yest.
HIGH
LOW
TEMP.
Seattle
Olympia
48/34
46/30
53/31
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
55/33
Lewiston
52/37
60/29
Astoria
50/36
Pullman
Yakima 56/30
52/32
52/32
Portland
Hermiston
53/39
The Dalles 60/29
Salem
Corvallis
50/34
Yesterday
Normals
Records
La Grande
45/24
Eugene
Bend
50/34
48/28
Ontario
53/27
Caldwell
Burns
0.00"
0.04"
0.26"
1.12"
0.38"
2.50"
WINDS (in mph)
54/27
45/23
PORTLAND — The Oregon Tourism
Commission, which does business as Travel
Oregon, awarded $913,000 to 34 projects
across the state. More than $125,000 went to
fi ve projects in Eastern Oregon.
The grants are for “the development,
enhancement and stewardship of key visitor
experiences that are COVID-19 appropriate,”
according to the press release from Travel
Oregon, “will aid in economic recovery,
enhance local livability and provide access
to a diversity of explorers through the Desti-
nation Ready program.”
Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon,
in the release stated the projects are crucial
in ensuring visitors and Oregonians have
access to safe and enjoyable experiences as
the commission rebuilds Oregon’s tourism
economy while navigating the pandemic.
In Eastern Oregon, the following are
the amounts, recipients and purpose of the
awards:
Today
Medford
Wed.
E 3-6
S 6-12
Boardman
Pendleton
52/33
WSW 4-8
W 6-12
SUN AND MOON
Klamath Falls
42/25
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
6:19 a.m.
5:53 p.m.
4:54 a.m.
1:50 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
Mar 13
Mar 21
Mar 28
Apr 4
NATIONAL EXTREMES
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 86° in Phoenix, Ariz. Low -18° in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
IN BRIEF
Couple accused of stealing
truck from state police
compound in Baker City
BAKER CITY — Oregon State Police
arrested a Yakima, Washington, couple on
Wednesday, March 3, on multiple charges,
including the theft last month of a truck
containing drugs and stolen property that had
been kept as evidence at the OSP compound
in Baker City.
The two are accused of trying to destroy
the vehicle after driving it through the locked
fence at the OSP compound and continuing to
the residential area of Baker City, where they
allegedly set fi re to the truck early on Feb. 22.
Mark Timmy Caoile, 44, and Carole Daniel
DeRoche, 45, who identifi ed herself to police
as Caoile’s fi ancee, were arraigned on Thurs-
day, March 4, in Baker County Circuit Court
by visiting Judge Daniel J. Hill, who serves
Umatilla and Morrow counties, on charges
related to the investigation.
Caoile is accused of six crimes: fi rst-de-
gree criminal mischief, unauthorized use of
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
-10s
-0s
0s
showers t-storms
10s
rain
20s
flurries
30s
snow
40s
ice
50s
60s
cold front
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a motor vehicle and second-degree arson, all
Class C felonies; tampering with physical
evidence and unlawful possession of a canna-
binoid extract, both Class A misdemeanors;
and second-degree criminal trespassing, a
Class C misdemeanor.
Hill ordered Caoile held in lieu of $61,500
bail, to be released upon posting 10% ($6,150).
DeRoche was charged with four crimes:
unauthorized use of a vehicle, a Class C felony;
and the Class A misdemeanors of possession
of a burglary tool or theft device (two counts)
and tampering with physical evidence.
Hill ordered DeRoche held in lieu of
$25,000 bail, to be released upon posting 10%
($2,500).
Michael Spaulding, chief deputy district
attorney for Baker County, said the case is
still under review and will be presented to a
grand jury this week for consideration of other
charges.
Caoile and DeRoche are scheduled to
return to court at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March
11, for a probable cause preliminary hearing,
court records state.
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•••
In the Page A5 public safety report, published Tuesday, March 2, 2021, Oregon State
Police referred information to the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Offi ce to
consider charging Avery Bell with driving under the infl uence of intoxicants. State
police also referred information to the district attorney to consider charging Jaden Lee
Bell, 20, with hindering prosecution.
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possible has involved the
installation of an extensive
amount of new wiring in
protective pipes.
“We added miles and miles
of conduit,” Fowler said.
Keeping the conduit out of
sight while maintaining the
integrity of Loso Hall was an
enormous challenge. Fowler
called it the hardest part of
the renovation process and
said determining how to best
install the wiring kept him up
at night.
Upgrading Loso Hall’s
aging infrastructure, includ-
ing its heating, cooling and
ventilation systems, also has
been part of the renovation
project.
Much of the remodeling
has been accomplished while
classes were in session at
EOU. David Moore, EOU’s
capital projects manager,
credited Nagelhout Construc-
tion with doing a good job of
working in an unobtrusive
manner that did not have an
effect on classes during fall
and winter terms.
“We never received any
complaints from professors,”
he said.
The capital projects
manager said many on
campus and in the commu-
nity are eager to see the Loso
Hall upgrades.
“There is some excitement
building for sure,” Moore
said.
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