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Saturday, February 26, 2022
East Oregonian
Masks:
Fire:
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mending that people at high-
risk from the coronavirus
continue to wear masks in
public settings.
“We are able to take this
important step, earlier than
anticipated, because of the
collective diligence and the
shared sacrifi ce that people
in Oregon have demonstrated
in getting vaccinated, wear-
ing masks and limiting their
gatherings,” state epidemi-
ologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger
said in a statement.
In the last month, new
reported COVID-19 infec-
tions have dropped by more
than 80%, according to the
state health agency. More
important for Oregon’s over-
taxed health care system,
hospitalizations are down
nearly 50% since peaking
last month, the agency said.
In Union County, the
average rate of COVID-19
cases per day stood at just
under 15 through from the
start of the month to Feb. 23.
Case numbers in January
reach upwards of 85 in one
single day.
“Today, we’re just work-
ing on tearing down these
walls and trying to get what
we can on the outside,” he
said, motioning to twisted
remains at the scene.
The one fi retruck on the
scene followed the excavator,
as fi refi ghters put water on
remaining hot spots. Davis
said they would not be able
to put out the fi res entirely.
“It’s not going anywhere,”
he said. “At this point, we’re
just trying to get to some of
the stuff that’s producing the
darker, nastier smoke and put
it out.”
He said he was looking
forward to being able to
leave the site and go home
at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the state fi re
marshal and police were
investigating the cause of
the explosion, Davis said,
and interviews were taking
place that day.
After fi refi ghters cleared
enough of the site to make it
safe, investigators would be
able to enter the grounds, he
stated.
“That’s where it’s at,”
Davis said. “I think we still
have a good idea that it was a
boiler explosion.”
He also expressed relief
that people escaped the fi re
with few injuries. He cred-
ited Shearer’s for a success-
ful evacuation, as well as a
full account of personnel.
Because Shearer’s was able
to account for their workers,
fi refi ghters did not have to
search the fi re for victims.
“That took a huge weight
off our shoulders,” he said.
IMESD thrilled, EOU
holding steady
Mark Mulvihill, superin-
tendent of the InterMountain
Education Service District,
whose service area includes
Umatilla and Morrow coun-
ties, expressed pleasure at
the earlier date.
“I am very excited. It has
been a very, very diffi cult
period. Many are exhausted
from the pandemic. Now we
can return to a sense of opti-
mism,’’ Mulvihill said.
Mulvihill said it is fi tting
the mandate will be lifted
when many students are
beginning their spring
break, one they will be
able to enter with a sense
of renewal because of the
Feb. 24 announcement.
“Rebirth is what spring is
all about,’’ Mulvihill said.
At Easter n O regon
University, La Grande, it is
not known when the mask
Principal :
Continued from Page A1
become the Pendleton Early
Learning Center’s fi rst prin-
cipal.
The center was consid-
ered a novel concept in its
fi rst years, and Hale recalled
how the school often hosted
visitors from other districts
interested in implement-
ing similar ideas in their
own communities. In 2016,
Gov. Kate Brown toured
the center’s facilities while
classes were in session and
then signed a solar energy
bill on the playground.
Hale said she agonized
over her decision because she
loved her job and the people
she worked with.
“I really, truly think
I have the best job in the
district,” she said.
Hale was appointed to
the early learning center a
few years before Fritsch was
hired, but the superintendent
was eff usive in praising her.
“She’s leaving a big hole
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Elementary students wear masks and sit in alternating
desks on Feb. 2, 2021, during in-person instruction at the
Echo School. Oregon Health Authority now will lift require-
ments for masks in indoor public spaces and schools on
March 19, 2022.
Many of the same trends
are playing out nationwide,
and a growing list of state
and local governments have
announced an end to mask-
ing rules in recent days. A
mask requirement in Wash-
ington state is scheduled to
lapse on March 21.
In Oregon, restrictions
Brown and health offi cials put
in place have been among the
strictest in the nation, but also
helped Oregon record fewer
deaths per capita than many
other states. Nevertheless, the
restrictions have been deeply
controversial in many more
rural parts of the state.
Union County Sher-
iff Cody Bowen previously
wrote a letter addressed to
Brown on Aug. 13, opposing
mask mandates in schools
statewide.
“I’m glad common sense
has prevailed,” Bowen said.
“I’m excited to see it, espe-
cially for our kids.”
In a videotaped message
released Feb. 24, Colt Gill,
director of the Oregon
Department of Education
and deputy superintendent
of public instruction, said
schools would be included in
the move based on feedback
from school districts.
“Based on the feed-
back from local leaders
and communities, OHA
and ODE are partnering to
develop practical updates
to safety protocols for quar-
antine, contact tracing and
testing that meet the current
conditions of the pandemic,”
he said. “These guidelines
will continue to support our
North Star goal of providing
in-person learning for every
student, all day, every school
day and will focus on specifi c
supports for students, staff
and families that may be at
more risk from COVID-19
than others in the school
population.”
— EO Media Group
contributed to this report.
in our administration,” he
said.
Fritsch said Hale was
a great leader who could
balance collaborating with
staff and tasking herself
with making big decisions.
Whether as a coach, mentor
or educator, Fritsch said Hale
had an ability to connect
with whoever she worked
with.
While Fritsch will be
responsible for selecting
Hale’s successor, he won’t
have the ability to oversee
the Pendleton Early Learn-
ing Center’s next principal
because he himself will be
retiring at the end of June.
Although the timing is
awkward, Fritsch said it was
imperative for the district
to start the process because
it’s been more difficult to
fi nd candidates for building
principals in recent years.
Fritsch said the position was
already being advertised and
he expected to fi ll it before
the end of his tenure.
With the end now in
sight, Hale said she’s looking
forward to having more time
with her family and travel.
But she’s put most of her
focus into fi nishing out the
school year and stewarding
the center until her succes-
sor arrives.
mandate will be lifted.
EOU Vice President of
Student Aff airs Lacy Karpilo
stated last week the univer-
sity will make its decision on
mask mandates from within
campus leadership.
T he u n iversit y has
continued to consult with
the Oregon Health Author-
ity and local public health
offi cials when making deci-
sions related to COVID-19.
Karpilo noted the univer-
sity relies on evidence-
based processing to keep the
campus as safe and produc-
tive of an in-person experi-
ence as possible during the
pandemic.
Oregon in step with
what is happening
nationally
Shearer’s assesses next
steps
S h e a r e r ’s
Fo o d s
commented on the fi re with
an email and a press release.
“Currently, we do not
have a thorough understand-
ing of the extent of damages
to our facility or the impact
on our business. As a result,
we are still determining
the full package of support
for our teammates,” Joline
Manning, Shearer’s Foods
chief human resources
offi cer, stated in an email.
“Their wellbeing is import-
ant to us; we have created a
centralized location for our
employees to gather and
gain access to resources.
To assist them in process-
ing this event we have estab-
lished (Employee Assistance
Programs) services immedi-
ately.”
She stated Shearer’s 230
employees from the Hermis-
ton plant site were accounted
for and safe.
“We do intend to take care
of our Shearer’s family,” she
stated, adding “senior lead-
ers are present in Hermiston
supporting our teammates
and gaining an understand-
ing of the impact of the fi re
and planning our next steps.”
“We are committed to
providing assistance for all
impacted employees and
will do everything we can
to limit the impact of the
fi re on our team members
and the local community,”
Shearer’s stated Feb. 23 in
a press release. “We would
like to thank the emergency
responders and our local
team for their eff orts.”
Government
commits to help
Government officials
voiced their sympathy for
the situation and their opin-
ions on what this will mean
for those aff ected.
Hermiston Assistant City
Manager Mark Morgan said
the city has been in touch
with Shearer’s corporate
leadership.
“They’re still assessing
what they think they’ve got
here — what’s salvageable
and how they can proceed,”
he said. “They’re a good
business that has a need for
keeping things in operation,
so I think they’ll be doing
everything they can to have
things up and running as fast
as they possibly can.”
Morgan added the city
will fi nd what it can do and
expressed confidence that
other levels of government
— county, state and federal
— will be part of this eff ort,
too.
“It’s a primary job creator
in the sense, without them,
A7
there are other dominoes,”
he said.
The 230 employees at
Shearer’s in Hermiston,
then, are not the only people
affected. Also, there are
potato suppliers, planters,
harvesters, truckers and
marketers who are hurt.
“There are the people
inside the plant, but this has
a ripple eff ect,” Morgan said.
In addition to speaking
with Shearer’s corporate
employees, Morgan said
city offi cials have been in
touch with county commis-
sioners, state congressmen
and Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron
Wyden. All these govern-
ment officials, he said,
expressed their support for
returning Shearer’s to shape.
Umatilla Cou nt y
Commissioner John Shafer
in an email to EO Media
Group stated Shearer’s is a
large employer in the region
and an important business in
Umatilla County.
“Shearer’s Foods is a vital
part of Umatilla County,” he
said. “We are working with
the city of Hermiston, Shear-
er’s Foods, federal offi cials
and many community part-
ners to do everything we can
to make sure the workers are
taken care of. … We want to
do everything in our power
to make sure that Shearer’s
and their employees are back
working as soon as possible.”
A representative of
Wyden’s office stated the
senator met with Shafer and
tweeted a response.
“The impact from the
Shearer’s Foods explo-
sion cuts deeply in Herm-
iston,” Wyden tweeted.
“My thoughts are with the
victims, and I’m thankful
for the fi rst responders on the
scene. I’ve told @Umatilla-
County Chair John Shafer
that I stand ready to help in
any way I can to recover and
rebuild.”
Morgan expressed some
optimism about rebuilding.
“There may be some
salvageable core pieces out
there,” he said.
Shearer’s has a long road
ahead to get back to where it
was before the fi re, Morgan
said, but it is possible and the
city is committed to helping.
We’re closing our doors
FOREVER!
After serving Pendleton
for 20 years, it is
time to retire.
PRICES SLASHED FURTHER!
many items priced
at or below cost
EVERYTHING MUST GO !
including cases, furniture, displays,
even some tools and equipment
All sales are final!
Hurry in for great prices
before they're gone!