SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
L OCAL B RIEFING
Community Connection has money
available for food and shelter programs
Legislators not satisfied with
Employment Dept. answers
■ Agency has been criticized for sluggish response to more than 400,000 claims filed
By Peter Wong
Oregon Capital Bureau
Oregon lawmakers will
get a new chance to question
offi cials about the much-
criticized performance of the
Employment Department in
handling a record number of
claims during the shutdown
of business activity in the
coronavirus pandemic.
The House Business and
Labor Committee scheduled a
session this morning.
Members on Wednesday,
May 28, heard from two
agency offi cials, who did
virtually all the speaking
during an hourlong presenta-
tion that allowed no time for
questions.
House Speaker Tina Kotek,
D-Portland, released a state-
ment Thursday:
“Chair Paul Holvey was un-
satisfi ed with what the com-
mittee heard from Oregon
Employment Department
Director Kay Erickson and
her deputy David Gersten-
feld and asked the speaker
(Kotek) yesterday afternoon
to provide an additional op-
portunity to hear from them
to further answer the com-
mittee’s questions.”
In addition to processing a
record 400,000-plus regular
unemployment claims since
Gov. Kate Brown’s executive
orders took effect in mid-
March, the agency has had to
handle three new programs
passed by Congress that ex-
tended benefi ts and expanded
eligibility.
Also, 38,000 of the 400,000
claims still remain unpro-
cessed. A processed claim,
however, does not mean
that the person is receiving
benefi ts.
“I appreciate the new
programs you are having to
manage, which is diffi cult,”
Holvey said when he closed
the meeting Wednesday. “But
we still have a lot of people in
need ... and we need to help
people as quickly as possible.”
Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis,
R-Albany, protested the lack
of time for direct questioning
of the offi cials in a statement
she issued after Wednesday’s
meeting. She said she has
heard from many who have
been unable to get through to
10% and 60%.
“It has made it more
appealing for reimbursing
employers to use WorkShare
than it ever has been in the
past,” Gerstenfeld said. “Be-
cause of that and the general
— State Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany
economic crisis we are in, we
are seeing a huge increase
in the number of WorkShare
at once.”
someone at the agency.
plans.”
“The horror stories are
New programs
Until mid-March, 168
endless and have been well
The new effort takes in two employer plans affecting
documented by the press,” she
other programs passed by
3,018 people were processed.
said. “I am incredibly frus-
trated that lawmakers were Congress in the CARES Act, during the past year. Since
which was signed March 27. then,1,009 plans and 10,195
not given an opportunity to
The Employment Depart- claims have been processed.
ask questions of the depart-
ment is one month into
Gerstenfeld said WorkShare
ment’s leadership.”
processing claims from a
requires more data entries
Public apology
newly eligible group of work- into the system.
In her opening statement
ers — self-employed people,
Other issues
Wednesday, Erickson offered independent contractors,
On other issues:
a public apology.
part-time and gig workers
• Antiquated computers:
“We have done a lot. We
— but also required states
have accomplished a lot. And to determine whether they
The Employment Depart-
yet there is still much more to qualify for regular benefi ts.
ment has a mainframe com-
do,” she said.
puter system that dates back
So far about 50,000 people
“To our customers, I know have applied. They qualify for three decades, and depends
in these uncertain times,
on COBOL, a computer lan-
a minimum benefi t of $205
waiting for confi rmation of
per week, for up to 39 weeks, guage fi rst unveiled in 1959.
your unemployment benefi ts and some may eventually get The agency has developed
can be agonizing. For the
workarounds, but Erickson
more.
said, “They are not fully inte-
thousands of Oregonians who
The department started
are still waiting, I do apolo-
May 21 to process claims for grated with each other and
gize. In the coming weeks,
have limited compatibility
13 weeks of extended pay-
we will be doubling down on ments to people who have
with today’s technology.”
our efforts to get to a better
• Waiting week: Gov. Kate
already exhausted their stan-
place.”
Brown said she wanted the
dard 26 weeks of benefi ts.
On Tuesday, Erickson an-
waiting week abolished so
“These programs added
nounced a new effort, Project layers of complexity,” Erick-
that benefi ts can get paid
Focus 100, to process the
faster, but it would require
son said. “We were asking
remaining 38,039 claims of
people who worked for us for computer changes that Ger-
stenfeld said were deemed
more than 400,000 that have just weeks to quickly navi-
been fi led since March 15.
gate those systems using our less urgent than processing
The agency has processed
current technology.” Under a thousands of claims.
about 90% of the total, though third program, all recipients
• Fraud. The Washington
some people still await ben-
will get $600 per week on top State Employment Secu-
efi ts because of unresolved
rity Department recently
of their unemployment ben-
issues. The agency goal is to
disclosed that hundreds of
efi ts through July 31. There
process 90% of new claims
are no extra requirements for millions have been paid out
in fraudulent claims that are
within three weeks of fi ling.
people to qualify.
She said some of the most
The Employment Depart- believed to have originated
overseas, based on stolen per-
experienced claims processors ment presentation took an
— the total staff has jumped hour, and it was the fi rst time sonal information. “Oregon is
aware of these issues and is
from 100 to 700 in recent
offi cials faced a legislative
actively taking measures to
weeks — will be assigned to
committee.
prevent them,” Gerstenfeld
resolve what are often the
WorkShare
said.
most complex claims.
The offi cials also touched
During the Great Reces-
sion a decade ago, Oregon lost on WorkShare, a program
Link to Employment
147,000 jobs at its low point, started in 2016 to enable
businesses to tap unemploy- Department presentation to
which took a year to reach.
ment benefi ts to aid workers House Business and Labor
“We are doubling down
whose hours have been cut
Committee:
on the people who have
by 20% to 40%. Federal funds
https://olis.oregonlegisla-
been waiting the longest to
will pay all benefi ts through ture.gov/liz/2019I1/Down-
get them benefi ts quickly,”
loads/CommitteeMeeting-
Gerstenfeld said. “But it is not Dec. 26, and under a federal
possible to do all of the work law, the range is now between Document/222016
“The horror stories are endless and have
been well documented by the press. I am
incredibly frustrated that lawmakers
were not given an opportunity to ask
questions of the department’s leadership.”
Man who missed 2019
sentencing arrested
At The Library
Patrons can reserve materials
in advance online or by calling
541-523-6419. Drive-in hours are
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday
from noon to 4 p.m.
supplying contraband on March 3, 2017.
The second case accuses him of three
A Baker City man who failed to ap-
count of delivering methamphetamine on
pear for sentencing after forging a plea
Dec. 17, 2016, Dec. 21, 2016 and Feb. 20,
agreement with the District Attorney’s
FICTION
2017.
Offi ce last May is back in custody.
• “Truth and Justice,” Fern
Duman said four members of the Baker
Police Chief Ray Duman said Steven County Drug Task Force arrested Whitney
Michaels
• “To Wake the Giant,” Jeff
Lynn Whitney, 53, was arrested at 11:24 at a house where he was known to have
Shaara
a.m. Wednesday after investigators
been staying recently. The house at 2715
• “A Week at the Shore,” Barbara
learned that he was back in Baker City. Second St. was owned by Victoria McLean.
Delinsky
Whitney is being held at the Baker
“It has been known as kind of a trap
• “The Last Trial,” Scott Turow
County Jail in lieu of $50,000 each on
house where a lot of illegal activity has
• “The Talented Mr. Varg,” Alexan-
two drug cases and could be released
been going on over the course of the last
der McCall Smith
after posting 10% of that bail.
couple of years,” Duman said.
NONFICTION
He also is being held on a charge
Offi cers had received information
• “Janesville : An American
of failure to appear in Baker County
about activity at the house from some
Story,” Amy Goldstein
Circuit Court on May 24, 2019, as he
of the neighbors, and one of the offi cers
• “A Little Bit of Dirt,” Asia Citro
had agreed to for sentencing on multiple thought he had seenWhitney back in
• “Into the Garden,” Robert Hass
drug-related charges. Whitney would
town several weeks ago, Duman said.
• “Fringe-ology,” Steve Volk
have served 45 months in prison under
Duman said Lt. Ty Duby obtained a
• “Ancient Places,” Jack Nisbet
the plea agreement.
search warrant for the house and Whit-
• “Up in Smoke” (Comedy, 1978)
District Attorney Greg Baxter said
ney, who was in bed when police arrived,
DVDS
Friday that Whitney is not bound by
was arrested without incident.
• “By the Grace of God” (Drama)
the former agreement if he has changed
Whitney was arraigned Thursday in
• “Dark Waters” (Drama)
his mind in the interim. The District
Baker County Circuit Court. His next
• “Dolittle” (Family)
Attorney’s Offi ce will move forward with court appearance is set for 1:45 p.m. on
the charges.
June 19.
The first case accuses him
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
of unlawful delivery, manu-
facturing and possession of
methamphetamine, bribe
giving, felon in possession of a
firearm, first-degree theft and
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
Baker County will receive $6,792 from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and $9,683 from the
CARES Act’s emergency food and shelter program.
Organizations that provide those services to Baker
County residents can apply for some of the money
through Community Connection of Baker County.
To request an application, call Joe Hayes at 541-523-
6591, extension 11, or email to joe@ccno.org. Applica-
tion deadline is June 12 at 4 p.m.
Harvest Christian Academy has open
enrollment for all grades for the fall
Harvest Christian Academy in Baker City is enroll-
ing students in all grades for this fall. The school is
open for students age 3 through 12th grade. The school
uses the Abeka curriculum for all grades.
Costs and other information are available at www.
bakercityharvest.org
Baker County’s 4 soil and water
conservation districts plan meetings
Baker County’s soil and water conservation districts
have scheduled June meetings. All meetings will be
teleconferences. For call-in information call 541-519-
2496.
A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired
or for other accommodations for people with disabilities
should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting.
The meeting schedule:
• Burnt River — June 2 at 5:30 p.m.
• Baker Valley — June 4 at noon
• Eagle Valley — June 15 at noon
• Keating — June 16 at noon
Applications available for Baker County
Livestock Producers scholarship
Applications are available for the Baker County
Livestock Producers Foundation scholarship for the
2020-21 school year. Applicants must be residents of
Baker County and either attending or been accepted
for a second year or higher at an accredited college
or vocational school. Additionally, applicants must be
pursuing an agriculturally related course of study. Ap-
plications are available at the Baker County Extension
Offi ce, 2600 East St., and are due by July 15. More
information is available by calling the Extension Offi ce
at 541-523-6418 or Kay Markgraf at 541-519-2203.
Enterprise man
charged with
attempted
murder in attack
EO Media Group
ENTERPRISE — Phillip Milton Evans of Enterprise
faces second-degree attempted murder and related
charges stemming from an attack the night of May 24.
Enterprise police arrested Evans after his roommate,
Michael Zanello, reported Evans attacked him with an ax.
Passers-by about 9 p.m. on May 24 found
the injured Zanello on West North Street
and called 911. The witnesses said Zanello
was bleeding and collapsed onto the grass
but gave them his name and details of the
attack. His most obvious wounds, they said,
Evans
were to his head.
Enterprise police, Wallowa County sheriff
deputies and a Wallowa Memorial Hospital ambulance
arrived minutes later. Zanello, who was bleeding from
multiple wounds, according to police, said his roommate
attacked him with an ax.
An ambulance took Zanello to Wallowa Memorial
Hospital, where an air ambulance fl ew him to a Boise
hospital, according to Enterprise Chief Joel Fish.
Wallowa County District Attorney Rebecca Frolander
said Zanello remains in the hospital. She said Wednesday
afternoon she was waiting on confi rmation of his medical
condition.
Evans retreated to his residence at 509 W. North St.,
about 100 yards from the scene of the assault, where
Enterprise police and Wallowa County sheriff deputies
broke down the dead-bolt-locked front door, entered the
building and about 10 minutes later emerged with Evans
in handcuffs.
Frolander’s offi ce on Tuesday fi led preliminary charges
against Evans, 42, for attempted murder, assault, unlaw-
ful use of a weapon, all felonies; and menacing, a misde-
meanor. The charging documents refer to the weapon as
a hatchet.
Evans’ next court appearance is June 24.
State court records also show Evans has several crimi-
nal convictions in Wallowa County, including in 2016 and
2019 for felon in possession of a restricted weapon. He
remains in the Umatilla County Jail at Pendleton in lieu
of $165,000 bail.
The Baker County
Veteran Service
will be closed on
June 1-5 and open for
business on
Monday, June 8th