The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current, June 24, 2020, Image 3

Historic Oregon Newspapers

The Blue Mountain eagle., June 24, 2020, Page 3, Image 3

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2020)

Prev Page of 16 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (1.4 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 16 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page TextNEWS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, June 24, 2020 A3 Eagle file photo Sen. Ron Wyden speaks during a town hall meeting in the Prairie City School gym in 2018. EO Media Group/Ronald Bond The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, Island City, is the source of the COVID-19 outbreak in Union County, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The county’s total number of cases was 282 Tuesday, giving it the most per capita in Oregon. Union County commissioners recommend going back to phase one after church-linked COVID-19 outbreak By Sabrina Thompson EO Media Group Union County commissioners voted June 17 to recommend rolling back to phase one COVID-19 reopening guidelines. The move comes as the county is the state’s hotspot for the coronavirus with 240 confirmed cases as of June 16, according to the Oregon Health Author- ity, and at least 236 of those stemming from members of the Lighthouse Pente- costal Church, Island City. In the week since, the Oregon Health Authority has confirmed another 42 cases to bring the county total to 282 cases as of June 23. The board of commissioners met via an internet call to address the communi- ty’s concerns about the outbreak. Mem- bers of the Center for Human Develop- ment, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, La Grande Police Department and the Incident Management Team’s J.B. Brock sat in on the meeting to provide further information and recommendations. In addition to recommending the roll back to phase one, commissioners voted to recommend wearing masks. The two motions are only recommen- dations. Commissioner Matt Scarfo said the board is looking into what power it has to enforce and regulate the more restrictive reopening guidelines and mask use. Commissioner Donna Bever- age said she would rather trust residents to voluntary enact phase one guidelines. The county, like most of Oregon, had moved into phase two reopening earlier this month. The state’s phase one guidelines generally call for facilities like the- aters, public pools and bowling alleys to remain closed, bars and restaurants to end on-site consumption at 10 p.m., and limit gatherings of people to 25. La Grande Police Chief Gary Bell and Sheriff Boyd Rasmussen confirmed there will be no formal enforcement of guidelines. “I know some would like to see us take more heavy handed enforce- ment action, but it is really difficult at this time,” Bell said. “These are good people.” The two top local law enforcement officers said their agencies will continue to look into complaints about people not following guidelines and make recom- mendations to those who don’t to recon- sider their actions to keep the commu- nity safe. “I think we are prepared as any com- munity to deal with this,” Rasmussen said. “We were put on the map with how this has happened, and we are on the map on how we are going to handle this.” Public Health Administrator Carrie Brogoitti said what happens next in the county depends on every member of the community stepping up. “We don’t have a reliable treatment or vaccine,” she said. “So the tools we have to use are the preventative measures.” Eastern Oregon leaders talk about state deficit and frustrations on special session By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle State Reps. Mark Owens, R-Crane, and Daniel Bon- ham, R-The Dalles, and state Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, gathered together for their fifth town hall to talk about developments that have happened in phase two of reopening, their thoughts on the upcoming special ses- sion and education. During the virtual town hall, Findley shared his thoughts on the $2.7 billion deficit the state budget is facing and the growing need to address the hole. “We continue to ignore, for the most part, the state budget and the hole that we’re in, and the co-chairs of the joint committees and ways of means have done some work, but we’ve yet to put it in font of the legisla- tors,” Findley said. Findley added that a spe- cial session will take place this week and focus primar- ily on policy bills. Owens said he was frus- trated that the session will not deal with bud- get issues as the deficit grows. Rep. Mark “I know Owens, the call to R-Crane action from the gov- ernor was to talk about police accountability and COVID-19,” Owens said. “With police accountabil- ity, there’s a lot of things there that have been tried through the Senate and the House before like arbitra- tion that are very positive, but I do have a little concern that what came out today on police accountability was a big, ominous bill.” Owens said the bill asks for everything when the conversation should be directed to individual aspects of police account- ability. It has things people will and won’t support and things that are questionable that convolutes the conver- sation, according to Owens. Owens said he believes that most school districts in House District 60 will work toward in-class sessions. “I believe the over- whelming majority of par- ents and students want kids to go back to brick and mortar. That’s where most excel,” Owens said. “COVID-19 is not affecting children near as much as it affects our elderly.” Owens added that clubs and choirs will be under the same guidelines as schools. Owens and Findley sent a letter to Gov. Brown for the “Let Them Play” initia- tive. Owens said sports will be tougher and that non- contact sports are currently allowed, but the guidelines are difficult. He said there is a conversation going around to have baseball and track in fall while allowing foot- ball and volleyball in the spring. “We need to allow our kids to do our clubs, our athletics and get them back into that building,” Owens said. Tax Problems: RESOLVED Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator ✔Tax Levies & Liens Release ✔Resolve Back Taxes ✔Wage Garnishment Release ✔Payroll Tax Negotiation ✔Stop Penalties and Interest ✔Tax Preparation & Bookkeeping Services ✔Tax Debt Negotiation & Settlement 877-557-1912 Sen. Ron Wyden’s virtual town hall on June 22 provided an opportunity for residents from Grant, Baker, Harney and Malheur counties to ask questions on current events and their concerns. Beth Spell of John Day, a Democrat who is running for the Oregon House of Rep- resentatives for District 60, asked the first question. She began her question by telling Wyden that with the overwhelming polariza- tion on current topics, such as COVID-19, Black Lives Matter and political differ- ences, people cannot meet in the middle and talk about the issues weighing them down. She asked what people can do to bring the conversations back to middle ground. Wyden highlighted the importance of the “Oregon Way,” a history of bipartisan work from widely respected Republicans and Democrats. “We’re all in this together,” Wyden said. “Whether it’s my work for ranchers on (Pay- ments in Lieu of Taxes), for (Secure Rural School Act) for our communities that are heavily forested. Now what I’m trying to do in terms of the Justice Bill is to see if we can find some common ground. My goodness we ought to be able to find common ground on just saying choke holds are wrong.” Wyden concluded by say- ing that bipartisanship is about working together on good ideas, not working together with bad ideas. The example he provided is his work with Republi- can Sen. Mike Crapo from Idaho and trying to transform the PILT and SRS program that are important for rural communities. “When he and I get together to talk about priority business for the communities in South- east Oregon, we don’t talk about Democrats or Republi- cans. We talk about what it’s going to take to get urban leg- islators to support the ideas important for our rural com- munities,” Wyden said. Marietta Harrison expressed concerned about unemployment as a self-em- ployed musician. She asked what resources are available and when to expect to get sup- port for income losses due to coronavirus. Wyden said he wrote the legislation that made the $250 billion available for the extra unemployment benefits until July 31 and the expanded coverage. But the Oregon Employment Department, which is making changes, is responsible for getting bene- fits out. He added that he made sure at the federal level that the benefits are retroactive. “Despite the incredible frustration, and I can hear it in your voice, that you hav- en’t gotten the benefits yet, they are retroactive,” Wyden said. “You are gonna get them back to the date that the pro- gram began.” The discussion continued on the mentality of people receiving unemployment ben- efits during the pandemic. “There’s been some people who said, ‘You know, these folks who are getting these $600 a week, they really don’t want to work,’” Wyden said. He said he disagrees and knows Oregonians want to work and believe in the dig- nity of work. After July 31, Wyden wants to find an approach that works for the long term to tie unemployment benefits to the economic conditions on the ground. When unemployment is high, the benefits stay up, but if it goes down, the bene- fits go down with it. A Grant County resident said the switch to distance learning highlighted the dis- parity in broadband access between urban and rural areas. He asked if Wyden could share his thoughts on plans for federal legislation to provide broadband everywhere. Wyden said it is import- ant to avoid an information aristocracy where those who are well off have access to services where everybody in small towns feel like they are going back to dial-up days. “We can’t have rural Amer- icans and rural Oregonians in the dark, period,” Wyden said. The current programs available to help are the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Reconnect program and the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital program. “We are available to help with both of those, but my vision is exactly what our caller talked about,” Wyden said. “We really need to knit together a national strategy that interconnects all Amer- icans with access to decent quality broadband.” Introducing the INOGEN ONE – It’s oxygen therapy on your terms ACCREDITED BUSINESS ® A+ Rating No more tanks to reﬁ ll. No more deliveries. No more hassles with travel. The INOGEN ONE portable oxygen concentrator is designed to provide unparalleled freedom for oxygen therapy users. It’s small, lightweight, clinically proven for stationary and portable use, during the day and at night, and can go virtually anywhere — even on most airlines. Inogen accepts Medicare and many private insurances! Reclaim Your Freedom And Independence NOW! Call us now for your FREE tax consultation & evaluation: 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! 844-945-2056 Oﬀ er valid March 16, 2020 - June 30, 2020 Special Financing Available *Terms & Conditions Apply Subject to Credit Approval S194498-1 Anthem offers a money-back guarantee designed to help you avoid wasting money on ineffective tax services. We will gather as much information from you as necessary and work with tax authorities to give you the best chance of reducing your tax debt. If for any reason that does not work out, and the government notifies us they refuse to reduce your overall tax liability or monthly payments by any amount, we will gladly refund you the fees you paid for our services in trying to reduce that debt. Money Back Guarantee does not apply to Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Services. S194497-1 YOUR PERFECT BUNDLE BUNDLE NOW. SAVE ALL YEAR. Now save $ 30/mo. for a whole year on a bundle with DIRECTV and AT&T Internet. w/24-mo. TV & 12-mo. Internet agmts & combined bill. Savings based on extra $10/mo. oﬀ for 12 mos. compared to previous price, plus $10/mo. discount on internet and $10/mo. bill credit for 12 mos. on TV when you bundle. $ Blazing Fast Internet! 79 98 ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY 19 . 99 $ mo. /mo. For 12 mos. plus taxes & Internet equipment fee. w/ 24-mo. TV agmt & combined bill. Autopay & Paperless bill req’d. TV price higher in 2nd year. $ 10/mo. internet equip. fee applies.* Incl Unlimited data allowance ( $ 30 value) at no add’l charge. † *$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE, $20/MO. FOR TV FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON TV AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price incl. SELECT TV Pkg., monthly service & equip. fees for 1 HD DVR & is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill and $10/mo. bundle discounts for up to 12 mos each. Pay $54.99/mo. + taxes and fees for TV until discounts start w/in 3 bills. New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req'd). Credit card req'd. Restr’s apply. CALL your AT&T Dealer Today! By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle One solution for oxygen at home, away, and for travel There are many ways we can tackle IRS or State tax relief together: SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY! FREE Bonham added that the special session should address the deficit to make the adjustments now instead of making deeper cuts later. Bonham said he doesn’t feel like any of the sin- gle issues during the ses- sion will rise to the point to where lawmakers may walk out to deny a quorum as happened in previous ses- sions over cap and trade. Findley said the special session is closed to the pub- lic, and he believes that is wrong. A common question topic that was received over 42 times for the town hall was on the issue of educa- tion and the “let them play” initiative, an initiative to have the governor recon- sider the restrictions on high school sports. Owens said school dis- tricts will be able to build their own plan under some guidelines and recommen- dations. Schools will have the option to convene school for in-class and online, or online only. Sen. Wyden discusses unemployment and working together during virtual town hall where available 2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE America’s Top 120 Package Iv Support Holdings LLC 1-877-441-1933 MO. Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call or go to www.att.com/internet to see if you qualify. 1-YR BUNDLE PRICE: Ends 6/27/20. Pricing: $79.98/mo for ﬁrst 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rates apply (currently $85/mo. for SELECT TV Pkg.; $39.99/mo. for Internet), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Must maintain all qualifying services and service addresses must match to receive advertised pricing. Pricing subject to change. $5/mo. autopay/paperless billing discount for TV: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting oﬀer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. $10/mo. bundle discount for TV: Internet must be installed w/in 30 days of TV activation to receive credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting oﬀer requirements. Must maintain both qualifying svcs to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for bundled services. Includes: SELECT All-Included TV Pkg., Internet plans 768k to 100M, monthly service and equipment fees for one Genie HD DVR, and standard pro installation. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes $10/mo. internet equipment fee, applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. monthly fees for each extra receiver/DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. See att.com/fees for additional details. Diﬀerent oﬀers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit customers. † Must maintain a bundle of TV and Internet on a combined bill in order to receive unlimited data allowance at no add’l charge. Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo. For more info, go to www.att.com/internet-usage. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Some oﬀers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. The Addams Family: ©2019 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and BRON Creative MG1, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T aﬃliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. S194493-1 190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels! CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100 for 12 Mos. 1-866-373-9175 Oﬀer ends 7/15/20. All oﬀers require credit qualiﬁcation, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualiﬁcation. S194494-1 Call Inogen Today To Request Your FREE Info Kit 1-855-839-0752 © 2020 Inogen, Inc. All rights reserved. MKT-P0108 S194496-1 Imagine The Difference You Can Make DONATE YOUR CAR 1-844-533-9173 FREE TOWING TAX DEDUCTIBLE Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually Ask About A FREE 3 Day Vacation Voucher To Over 20 Destinations!!! S194495-1