Thursday, OcTOber 1, 2020
The ObserVer & baKer cITy heraLd— 3B
BUSINESS & AG LIFE
DAM
SCHWAB
Continued from Page 1B
Continued from Page 1B
reliable water rights from Wal-
lowa Lake.
The agreement was signed in
August by the Wallowa Lake Irri-
gation District, ODFW, the Con-
federated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation and Nez Perce
Tribe.
“I think it’s kind of a historical
agreement to show people we can
all get along on this, and make
this work, if we can get the dam
fixed,” Butterfield said. “This is a
great project. It helps everyone.”
Kat Brigham, chairwoman of
the tribes, said it has long been
a goal of the tribes to restore
sockeye to Wallowa Lake, and
secure passage for other fish
species.
“Many of our members rely on
sockeye salmon for cultural and
subsistence purposes,” Brigham
said in a statement. “We appre-
ciate that this agreement is a step
in the right direction in these dif-
ficult times and will work for
more progress when our economy
improves.”
Shannon Wheeler, chairman
of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive
Committee, said the project will
“ecologically reconnect Wallowa
Lake to its river and protect flows
in a basin critical to the many
resources the Nez Perce people
have used and relied upon in this
area since time immemorial.”
Gov. Kate Brown, who toured
Wallowa Lake Dam in 2018, said
the agreement is a big step for-
ward in rehabilitating the dam and
seeing the return of sockeye to
Wallowa Lake.
“Wallowa Lake is a special
place for my family and all Ore-
gonians,” Brown said. “I was
pleased to support this project
and look forward to seeing it
complete.”
clear how Les Schwab fits into his
investment thesis or what the deal
will mean to the company’s oper-
ations and employees.
Meritage manages more than
$10 billion in assets. It has large
holdings in Google, Charter
Communications, Microsoft,
Salesforce and Sherwin Williams
Co., among others. It also owns
Portland beverage distributor
Columbia Distributing.
“Meritage Group has a history
of preserving culture and values
while growing its companies
with investment over time. This
is a great fit, and aligns well with
Les’ vision and all we have built
together,” Les Schwab CEO Jack
Cuniff said.
Les Schwab Tire’s sale is the
latest in a succession of large,
Oregon-based businesses to sell.
Precision Castparts, Mentor
Graphics and Vigor Industrial,
among many others, have found
new owners in the past few
years.
Oregon now has few large,
locally owned companies based
here. It’s a trend that has wor-
ried economists for years,
fearful that out-of-state owners
would cut satellite operations
in a downturn before trimming
HOSPITALS
Continued from Page 1B
more money coming in than
going out.
Mark Snider, spokesman for
St. Alphonsus Medical Center,
said the lack of revenue and
increase in expenses is due to the
pandemic, and the hospital has
made changes to help resolve the
Jarod Opperman/Bend Bulletin, File
Les Schwab employees install tires at the Franklin Avenue location in
Bend on Thursday, June 16, 2016. Les Schwab Tire Centers reached
a deal to sell the company to Meritage Group, a San Francisco-based
investment firm.
their headquarters.
When it announced sale
plans, though, Les Schwab
maintained any new owner
would keep the company
together and retain its Bend
headquarters and Prineville dis-
tribution center.
“As our family grows and
ages, it has been very important
to us to remain committed and
aligned behind our grandfather’s
vision,” the Schwab family said
in a statement. “While it was
hard to make the decision to
sell the Company, we are very
confident Meritage Group will
continue that commitment and
alignment, and will build on all
we have accomplished over the
past 68 years.”
Les Schwab Tire suspended
its sale plans in June, citing the
coronavirus pandemic. And
though the virus still rages,
financial markets have been
unexpectedly strong and corpo-
rate dealmaking has continued
apace.
Even as his tire business
grew, Les Schwab adhered to
his old-school business prac-
discrepancy.
“Naturally this is going to
happen in a pandemic,” Snider
said. “Other hospitals in Oregon,
and across the nation I would
guess, are facing this. But we
are taking steps by reevaluating
staffing needs.”
Snider said the hospital has
furloughed some employees and
moved others to different depart-
ments. He said the hospital also is
looking at its processes and pro-
cedures to see if there are other
ways to decrease expenses.
“We are in the midst of a
global pandemic, but we are
starting to rebound,” Snider said.
tices. The company returns half
the profits from each store to its
employees and only hired man-
agers from within the company.
The company has expanded into
southern California and as far
east as Wyoming, but all its tires
still pass through its Prineville
warehouse.
Tire jockeys still race out
from service bays when cars
pull into the parking lot to greet
customers. The company often
fixes flats for free, anticipating
people will return when it’s time
for their new tires.
Schwab himself vowed
he would never sell the busi-
ness and hoped his successors
wouldn’t, either.
“The company isn’t for sale,’’
Schwab told The Oregonian in
1997. “It will go on, bigger and
better than ever, and continue to
provide opportunities for young
people to be successful. All the
stock will remain in our family.”
However, Schwab’s two chil-
dren both died before he did.
And though some of his heirs
serve on the privately held com-
pany’s board, none hold execu-
tive positions with the company
and none of his four grandchil-
dren live in Oregon.
When his widow, Dorothy
Schwab, died in 2016 at age 98,
her obituary listed 17 direct
descendants.
counties to be operating in the
black.
The Enterprise hospital
reported almost $7.1 million in
revenue while spending about
$6.3 million. It was in a similar
situation in at the end of 2019,
with around $575,000 left after
covering expenses.
Wallowa Memorial Hos-
pital did not return a request for
comment by deadline.
Wallowa Memorial
Hospital
Wallowa Memorial Hospital
is the only one of the hospitals
in Union, Baker and Wallowa
C lassifieds
Published by The Observer & Baker City Herald - Serving Wallowa, Union and Baker Counties
PLACING YOUR AD IS EASY...Union, Wallowa, and Baker Counties
Phone La
DEADLINES:
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UNION
WALLOWA
BAKER
COUNTIES
To advertise in the Business
Directory call: 541-963-3161,
Union-Wallowa County or
541-523-3673, Baker County
ALTERATIONS
C & H Cleaning Industries
DRY CLEANING
C & H Cleaning Industries
We alter most any garment, specialize
in mens & womens formal wear.
Need it Cleaned • Pressed • Starched
We can do that!
M-Th 11-4:30 • F 11-5:30
208 Chestnut • La Grande
M-Th 11-4:30 • F 11-5:30
208 Chestnut • La Grande
541-963-9210
541-963-9210
APPLIANCES
EXCAVATION
541-523-6284
M ichael
541-786-8463
M. Curtiss PN-7077A CCB# 183649
A C ertified A rborist
ARBORIST
CCB 63504 LCB 6271
Tony's Tree Service
Free Evaluation for
• Proper Trimming • Safety • Removal
• Insect - Disease Control
• Stump Grinding • Tree Replacement
Licensed • Insured • 48 years experience
LOCAL Tree Service
Custom Upholstery
dtupholstery@outlook.com
541-903-0480
541-523-2859
Auto
Marine
Furniture
ATV
RV & Farm
2327 10th
Baker City
COMPUTERS - BAKER CITY/LA GRANDE
Stay Safe & Be Vigilant.
1431 Adams Ave. La Grande 541-663-0724
D AVID G ENTRY ' S
C USTOM P AINTING , LLC
NSTRUCTION, LLC
W CO Featuring:
A
• Roofing • Remodeling • Storage Sheds
PRINTING
Self Service Furniture
& Mattress
McELROY
PRINTING, INC.
“FAST, HIGH QUALITY PRINTING”
2216 Adams Ave., La Grande • 541-963-5851
Mon - Fri 9 am - 6 pm • Sat 10 am - 5 pm
UPDATE WE WILL BE RE-OPENING
but due to the safety of all concerned, we feel it necessary to delay
that action for a little while longer, look forward to seeing you again.
ROOFING
FURNITURE
Visit our showroom of bedroom, living room,
dining, decor and mattresses
RESALE CLOTHING
PAINTING
CCB#207675
All Kinds of Business and Personal Printing
Carbonless Forms • Business Cards
st” Envelopes & More
Fir
Us
y
“Tr
stitches@bmdw.com
1920 Court Avenue, Baker City, OR 97814
(541) 523-2621
• Fences • & General Construction
• Much More!
Andy Wolfer
541-910-6609
CCB# 186113
SEWING
THE SEWING LADY
Linda Foersterling
Sewing: Alterations • Mending • Zippers
Custom Made Clothing
1609 Tenth St. Baker City
541-523-5327
HARDWARE
PRINTING
TREE SERVICE
Thatcher's Ace Hardware & La Grande Ace Hardware
2200 Resort St. Baker
2212 Island Ave.
ALL OFFSET COMMERCIAL PRINTING
Executive Tree Care, Inc.
541-523-3371
541-605-0152
Paint-Plumbing-Tools & More!
INSURANCE
AUTO DETAILING
TERMAN’S
C H ES
CCB#80969
541-403-1967
Cell Phone 541-519-2255
CCB: 219615
ARBORIST
541-523-3708
Mike Voboril
Domestic
Water
System
W
Installation
& Repair
Motor
Rewinding
Irrigation
Pumps
Sales &
Service
• Interior • Exterior • Residential • Commercial • Special Finishes
2036 Main Street, Baker City
Jay and Kristin Wilson – Owners
www.appliancesandmorellc.com
MOTOR & PUMP REPAIR
Camera ready or we can set up for you.
• Tabs
Contact
• Broadsheet The Observer
• Full Color 541-963-3161
REAL ESTATE
ccb 202271
20 yrs of full service tree care
free estimates, hazardous removals, pruning & stump grinding
Brian Walker, Arborist 541-432-8733
VETERAN SERVICES
Anita Fager, Principal Broker
GREGG HINRICHSEN INSURANCE AGENCY INC.
See All RMLS Listings
at
GREGG HINRICHSEN, Agent
1722 Campbell Street Baker City, OR 97814-2148
Bus (541) 523-7778 Toll-free (800) 792-3276
541-963-4174 10201 W. 1st St., Suite 2
La Grande, OR
Cell 541-910-3393
LAWN EQUIPMENT
www.Valleyrealty.net
RENTALS & PROPERTY MGMT.
YARD CARE SERVICE
OUTSTANDING
COMPUTER REPAIR
541-297-5831
Text or Call 24/7
DALE BOGARDUS • MOBILE SERVICE
Walker and Gravely Lawn Mowers, Maruyama Trimmers,
BCS Tillers, Gravely Utility Vehicles, and more!
We service all makes and models. 541.963.4985
www.inlandturf.net • 10303 W 1st St. • Island City, OR 97850
CG Rentals & Property Mgmt., LLC
Cheryl A Guzman, Owner
541-519-5807
PO Box 538 - 1133 Madison
Baker City, OR 97814
cgrentalsbakercity@gmail.com
Mowing -N- More
s
Lawn d Servicing La Grande, Cove, Imbler & Union
d
O
&
Jobs
Marcus Wolfer
Over 15,000 potential customers, 3 days a week. To advertise in the Business Directory
call: 541-963-3161 Union-Wallowa County or 541-523-3673 - Baker County