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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 2020)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 Island City church remains silent about big coronavirus outbreak B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR TUESDAY, JUNE 23 ■ Baker City Council: 7 p.m., City Hall, 1655 First St.; some councilors will attend in person while others will participate via Zoom video conferencing; members of the public may attend as social distancing limits allow. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 ■ Baker County Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m., Baker County Courthouse, 1995 Third St. The meeting will be streamed live. Due to occupancy limits, the public is encouraged to attend using the link on the county’s website, www.bakercounty.org/webex. Written testimony is encouraged and can be emailed to Heidi Martin at hmartin@bakercounty.org prior to the meeting. T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald June 23, 1970 PORTLAND — The Oregon Game Commission made one important change in the arms and ammunition regu- lations, a change which liberalized the use of certain rifl es for big game hunting. For elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats, the com- mission changed the minimum rifl e caliber legal to use on these big game animals from .25-inch to a new minimum of .24-inch. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald June 23, 1995 The U.S. Forest Service has hired a Boise company to apply liquid magnesium chloride to keep dust down on three roads near Phillips Reservoir. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald June 23, 2010 Richard Chaves and his partners are investing $1 million to launch Synergy Data Center and Services in the historic Baker Tower building, with hopes of eventually bringing 100 high-tech jobs to Baker City. Chaves said three Oregon companies, including his own, Chaves Consulting of Baker City, along with Arikan Inc. of Salem, and Sace Inc. of Bend, are forming Synergy Data Center and Services (Synergy DNS). ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald June 24, 2019 A group of Baker City residents has created an online petition gauging local interest in trying to establish a “quiet zone” in which freight trains wouldn’t sound their horns at crossings within the city except when the train operator sees a vehicle on the tracks or other dangerous situation. Cities can apply for a quiet zone designation, although they must also pay to install concrete medians on streets at railroad crossings to prevent drivers from trying to drive around a crossing gate arm. According to a press release from the Baker City group, its effort was inspired in part by La Grande. In April the Federal Railroad Administration granted La Grande’s request for a quiet zone, culminating a campaign that began in that city about 20 years ago, according to a story in The Observer newspaper. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, June 20 6 — 12 — 18 — 40 — 44 — 47 Next jackpot: $3 million POWERBALL, June 20 10 — 31 — 41 — 63 — 67 PB 5 Next jackpot: $33 million MEGA MILLIONS, June 19 11 —34 — 36 — 52 — 66 Mega 7 Next jackpot: $35 million WIN FOR LIFE, June 20 1 — 12 — 13 — 69 PICK 4, June 21 • 1 p.m.: 9 — 8 — 1 — 8 • 4 p.m.: 0 — 1 — 1 — 8 • 7 p.m.: 6 — 3 — 9 — 5 • 10 p.m.: 8 — 9 — 9 — 1 LUCKY LINES, June 21 Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by The Oregonian/OregonLive, one of more than a dozen news organizations throughout the state sharing their coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak to help inform Oregonians about this evolving heath issue. By Celina Tebor The Oregonian/OregonLive LA GRANDE — A church in a small Eastern Oregon county linked to the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak held worship services in the weeks before hundreds fell ill. At least 236 coronavirus cases are tied to Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, near La Grande in Union County. The number of cases in Union County increased tenfold, from 22 to 240, in three days after the outbreak came to light. The outbreak led Union County to voluntarily return to Phase 1 of Gov. Kate Brown’s phased reopening plan — the county had been at Phase 2 when the outbreak happened. There are now 263 coronavirus cases in the county of 27,000 people. Leaders of Lighthouse Pentecostal Church have re- mained silent for the most part about the outbreak. Yet social media posts and interviews with other faith leaders shed light on how the church came to be at the center of Oregon’s largest coronavirus outbreak, and how it has responded since. Church held graduation, religious services before the outbreak The church, which operates in Island City near La Grande, has held several gatherings since May that appear to have violated Brown’s restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus. In a May 22 Instagram post, Lighthouse Pentecostal Church said it would begin in-person services Memorial Day weekend “in accordance” with President Donald Trump’s demands that states allow churches to open. At the time, Union County was still in Phase 1 of reopening, in which religious groups are not allowed to convene in large groups. The governor allowed faith groups to meet in gather- ings of 25 people if congregants stayed a certain distance apart. A Facebook video uploaded May 24 by the church showed Ronald Bond / The (La Grande) Observer Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Island City is tied to most COVID-19 cases in Union County. hundreds of worshipers in the church dancing, singing and moving around in close proximity. The video was later deleted. A faith leader at the church wrote in a Memorial Day Face- book post that he was proud to be an American, listing one of the reasons as being “able to attend church in our building.” One day later, May 26, the church held a graduation ceremony for some Lighthouse Academy students. Facebook photos posted by church members show the front row seats of the church fi lled as the church’s leader, Bishop Jesse Parker, shakes hands with graduates as they walk across the stage. The school is a part of the church and uses Abeka curriculum, a Christian educational program for Pre-K through 12th grade students, according to a video on the church’s website. The school’s principal, Robin Parker, said the school has between 100 students and 120 students in the video. by women and insist on main- taining distinctions between males and females. According to the articles of faith, one way this can be accomplished is by only allowing sexual relations between men and women. The Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship emphasizes these beliefs should be viewed as modern. “These guidelines clearly cannot be dismissed as local cultural biases of days gone by. Nor can they be classifi ed as parochial issues germane only to a certain day or time. They are, instead, connected to the permanent ground and order of Creation and should not be abrogated due to whim and fancy of a worldly society,” the articles of faith read. tians to have personal contact with each other in order to live out the faith they proclaim, Satterwhite said. It tells be- lievers how to help each other move toward love and good deeds, “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourag- ing one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Satterwhite also said his peers in Union County exer- cised their First Amendment rights when they decided to reopen, citing the freedom of religion. Another pastor associated with the Worldwide Pentecos- tal Fellowship drew nation- wide attention for refusing to stop holding church services. A San Diego church in the Church’s theological Worldwide Pentecostal Fellow- beliefs may also have ship has also faced scrutiny for infl uenced decision to hold a video in which its members services seem not to be social distanc- Pastor James Parker, the ing. son of Jesse Parker, explained The leaders of the church key parts of the church’s doc- trine in a welcome video on the are father and son Bishop Jesse Parker, 65, church’s website. The church There’s a larger leads Lighthouse Pentecostal is Pentecostal, meaning its organization behind the members believe in what was Church with help from his Union County church preached on the day of Pente- son Pastor James Parker, Lighthouse Pentecostal cost, and apostolic, meaning 30. Both preach often during Church is part of a larger it follows what Jesus’ apostles weekly services and in daily organization called the World- preached. devotional messages posted to wide Pentecostal Fellowship, “We believe that Jesus Facebook. based in Oklahoma. The fel- Court documents show Christ gave (the apostles) the lowship is linked to six other James Parker served two commission, he gave them churches in Oregon, including the keys, he told them what years of probation that ended in Pendleton and The Dalles. he wanted them to preach,” in April 2018 after he was Parker, the head pastor Parker said in the video. “And arrested in late 2015 with the of the Island City church, so that’s what we preach, possession of methamphet- is listed as the fellowship’s that’s what we believe, that’s amine. A note in the Union regional director for Oregon, what we try to live, that’s what County Circuit Court fi les said Washington, Montana, Idaho, we promote — that’s what he was uncooperative at the Wyoming and Alaska. jail and under the infl uence. the Lighthouse Church is all Ministers must apply to be about.” Parker pleaded guilty to part of the organization by resisting arrest and unlawful Pastor Dan Satterwhite, answering questions such as who leads an affi liated Light- possession, but court records “Do you have a television?” house Church in Pendleton, show the latter count was and “Do you allow women to pointed to a Bible verse that he discharged after he completed cut, trim or shorten their hair said may have guided the deci- the conditions of the county’s in any way?” sion to hold services in Union drug treatment court. The church’s articles of faith County: Hebrews 10:25. See Church/Page 3A require tithing and modesty The verse instructs Chris- 1-6-11-15-20-23-28-30 Next jackpot: $12,000 S ENIOR M ENUS ■ WEDNESDAY: Beef tips over fettuccine, carrots, bread, beet-and-onion salad, birthday cake ■ THURSDAY: Chicken Kiev with hollandaise sauce, parslied red potatoes, mixed vegetables, roll, gelatin with fruit, cookie ■ FRIDAY: Barbecued pork ribs, baked beans, corn, roll, coleslaw, tapioca ■ MONDAY (June 29): Swedish meatballs over fettuccini, mixed vegetables, biscuits, cottage cheese with fruit, cookies ■ TUESDAY (June 30): Old-fashioned steak, rice pilaf, corn, rolls, fruit ambrosia Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75 for those under 60. Due to the coronavirus crisis, meals must be picked up; there is no dining on site. C ONTACT THE H ERALD 1668 Resort St. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone: 541-523-3673 Copyright © 2020 Fax: 541-833-6414 Regional publisher Christopher Rush crush@eomediagroup.com Publisher Karrine Brogoitti kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver. com Jayson Jacoby, editor jjacoby@bakercityherald.com Advertising email ads@bakercityherald.com Classifi ed email classified@bakercityherald.com Circulation email circ@bakercityherald.com ■ At least 236 of the 263 infections in Union County tied to Lighthouse Pentecostal ISSN-8756-6419 Serving Baker County since 1870 Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays except Christmas Day by the Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807), Baker City, OR 97814. Subscription rates per month are: Baker City (97814), $10.80; all others, $12.50. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker City, OR 97814. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801 N EWS OF R ECORD DEATHS Marvin “Marv” Jensen: of Richland, died June 22, 2020, at his home with his wife at his side. Arrangements are under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Ser- vices. Online condolences may be made at www.tamispine valleyfuneralhome.com FUNERAL PENDING Betty Myers: Celebration of life, Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Betty, the family suggests Hil- ary’s Benevolent Fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences can be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneral home.com Maurice ‘Mac’ McKinnis: Private family service Tuesday, June 30, at Coles Tribute Center, with vault interment to follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. A celebration of life will take place later at the Baker City United Methodist Church for family and friends of Mac. To light a candle in memory of Mac, go to www. colestributecenter.com POLICE LOG Baker City Police Arrests, citations DOMESTIC MENACING and SECOND-DEGREE DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Jason Lloyd Dinger, 41, of Baker City, 6:43 p.m. Sat- urday, at 10th and Estes streets; booked at the Baker County Jail and released on bail. CONTEMPT OF COURT (Baker County Justice Court warrant): Juan Pablo Burgos, 59, transient, 8:25 p.m. Saturday, on East Street near the Fairgrounds; cited and released. FIRST-DEGREE THEFT: Kim- berly Holt, 52, of 2093 17th St., Saturday, cited and released. Po- lice Chief Ray Duman said Holt took a service dog belonging to Wendy Johnson, 48, of Baker City; the dog was recovered after police executed a search warrant at Holt’s home. Crime reports SECOND-DEGREE BUR- GLARY: Wilma Phegley, 76, of Baker City, reported Friday that her home was entered and a DVD player valued at $70 and four McDonald’s gift cards val- ued at $5 each were taken. Police said there was no sign of forced entry. Oregon State Police Arrests, citations DRIVING UNDER THE INFLU- ENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE, DRIVING WHILE OPERATOR’S LICENSE SUSPENDED and DRIVING UNINSURED: Gage Michael Nie- haus, 20, of Baker City, 5:23 p.m. Thursday, at Birch and D streets; cited and released. PROVIDING FALSE INFORMA- TION TO A POLICE OFFICER: Kenzie Renae Sherman, 19, of Baker City, 5:23 p.m. Thursday at Birch and D streets; cited and released. DRIVING WHILE OPERATOR’S LICENSE SUSPENDED, (Misde- meanor): Mayling Lariza Lozano Molina, 26, address unavailable by press time today, 3:44 p.m. Friday, in the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 near Durkee; cited and released. “You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com Still running unsupported Windows 7? We’ll help you avoid critical issues by installing Windows 10! Computer not running as fast as when it was new? 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