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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 2020)
FAMILY Blue Mountain Eagle A2 Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Settlement checks from BP class action lawsuit being sent Blue Mountain Eagle Over the next few weeks, more than 1 million Oregonians who used a debit card to buy gas at Ore- gon ARCO and am/pm gas stations between Jan. 1, 2011, and Aug. 30, 2013, will receive a check in the mail for $94.42. The nonprofit organization Ore- gon Consumer Justice, in partnership with Attorney General Ellen Rosen- blum of the Oregon Department of Justice, wants the public to know that the checks are not a scam; they are a settlement from a class action lawsuit against BP. According to OCJ, 27% of the checks from the first round of set- tlement checks distributed last year were not cashed before their expi- ration and the organization wants to ensure that doesn’t occur this time around. To assure recipients that the settlement checks are valid, they have launched a public awareness campaign and website: thischeckis- real.org. “We always encourage Orego- nians to be on the look out for scams and to know the signs that something could be a scam. But, in this case, the checks are real, and we want Orego- nians to know they are safe to cash this check at the bank,” said Oregon Attorney General Rosenblum. “If you used a debit card at an Oregon ARCO and am/pm gas station during this time period, you qualify for this class action settlement. This is your money, and we hope that all Orego- nians will help us spread the word.” The mass mailing of settlement checks is the result of a class action lawsuit known as Scharfstein v. BP West Coast Products LLC. The suit was brought against ARCO’s owner BP West Coast Products, on behalf of people who used a debit card to buy gas at Oregon ARCO and am/pm gas stations. In 2014, the jury and the court concluded that class members in this case were unfairly and ille- gally charged a $0.35 debit card fee in violation of Oregon regulations and the Oregon Unfair Trade Prac- tices Act. The jury verdict resulted in an award of damages of $409 million. Oregon residents who have infor- mation about or have fallen victim to a scam should contact the Ore- gon Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or online at OregonConsumer.gov. Last year, the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline received 36,000 phone calls, resulting in more than 6,500 written consumer complaints from Orego- nians, and the Oregon Department of Justice may be able to help. BUILDING BLOCKS Who is driving? Y ou may think you are in control driving your own vehicle in bumper to bumper traffic, but in real- ity the flow of traffic is con- trolling your speed and direc- tion whether you are in New York City traffic, I-205 or I-5. Unlike the car ride at Dis- neyland where the center cement directs your car on the single-lane road, you as a driver on the roads, streets, highways and freeways of America have choices. You can check traffic flow and select a different route, start out early or wait until later in the evening to avoid certain heavy traffic times, take back roads or not go at all. As a consumer, driving fluctuates between supply and demand. For example, if there is a housing shortage with a demand for housing, the driver is the seller; the seller is in the driver’s seat setting the sale price high and most likely get- ting it. On the other hand, if there are several houses for sale and not too many buy- ers, the buyer is in the driv- er’s seat, able to negotiate and get the property for less than the asking price. In either sit- uation, both the seller and the buyer can choose to not accept or make an offer. When COVID-19 first exploded in early March 2020, consumers panicked, creat- ing a high demand for cer- tain groceries such as toilet paper, eggs, bread, potatoes, rice, tomato sauce, dog food and other staples. Because of the high demand, consumers were driving as they forced sellers to ration these items, created a shortage in supply and increased the price as the demand was high and sup- ply low. Due to COVID-19 stay- home regulations, fewer peo- ple were driving, resulting in low demand of fuel and high supply — you guessed it, lower or stable prices at the pump. According to gasbuddy. com, the following states saw gas prices under $1: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Ken- tucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin. In con- trast, have you noticed gas prices rising just Dorothy before and Nestlerode during a holiday? Of course, this is another example of supply and demand. In fact, in the 1970s consumers were fed up with rising gas prices pushing to $1 per gallon, so citizens spread the word encouraging drivers to not purchase gas on specific days of the week, creating a decrease in demand. The high response of participation drove the prices down, sending a message to the oil companies. Then the supply flow changed in California in 1973 with the oil crisis when driver’s license plate numbers determined which day you could pur- chase gasoline (even numbers on even days, and odd num- bers on odd days), reducing the long lines at gas stations as panic buyers topped off their tanks in fear of not having gas. Is fear driving you during this COVID-19 season? Fear is driving when the President of the United States Donald Trump appears before the American people to assure them that, after speaking with leading grocery chain execu- tives, grocers would remain open and that the supply chain remained healthy. Speaking at the same White House news conference, Vice President Mike Pence urged Americans to only buy the groceries they need for the week ahead. Understanding basic eco- nomics — supply and demand — puts you as a consumer back in the driver’s seat. Panic buying will continue to drive prices high and supply low. Let’s together build blocks of knowledge and understand- ing of how supply and demand affects all of us, as a healthy community flows and doesn’t get bottlenecked in the traffic of panic. Dorothy Nestlerode is a Grant County resident, mother and local author. Contributed image No precipitation was recorded in July, which was colder than normal in John Day. July colder than normal in John Day Above-normal temperatures, below-normal precipitation expected in August Blue Mountain Eagle Temperatures at John Day averaged colder than normal during the month of July, according to preliminary data received by the National Weather Ser- vice in Pendleton. The average temperature was 65.9 degrees, which was 3 degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged 85 degrees, which was 3.2 degrees below normal. The highest was 100 degrees on July 31. Low temperatures averaged 46.7 degrees, which was 2.9 degrees below normal. The lowest was 38 degrees on July 2. On nine days, the temperature exceeded 90 degrees. It was at least 100 degrees on one day. Precipitation totaled 0 inches during July, which was 0.60 inches below normal. Precipitation this year has reached 8.86 inches, which is 0.54 inches above normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at John Day has been 9.60 inches, which is 2.30 inches below normal. The outlook for August from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation. Nor- mal highs for John Day during August are 88.2 degrees, and normal lows are 48.3 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 0.64 inches. Bank of Eastern Oregon collecting school supplies Blue Mountain Eagle Bank of Eastern Oregon is collecting school supplies for local elementary students at its 15 Oregon branches. These supplies will be distributed to local schools. “Students need supplies, whether they are at school or studying from home. We wel- come you to join with your local branch and celebrate the spirit of your hometown: bring your school supply donations to any branch of Bank of East- ern Oregon,” said Becky Kin- dle, chief banking officer. Each branch will feature a drawing for several backpacks filled with supplies for a local student. Community mem- bers with a grade school stu- dent are encouraged to stop in and fill out a ticket. If a branch lobby is temporarily closed, the drive-through window can be used. People do not have to be a Bank of Eastern Ore- gon customer to donate sup- plies or enter the drawing, and no purchase is necessary. BEO branches in Oregon are located in Arlington, Athena, Boardman, Burns, Condon, Enterprise, Fossil, Heppner, Hermiston, Ione, Irrigon, John Day, La Grande, Moro and Prairie City. Forest increases fire restrictions Blue Mountain Eagle The Malheur National Forest is enacting Phase C of public use restrictions and an Industrial Fire Pre- caution Level of III because of fire danger. The Emigrant Creek Ranger District in the south- ern zone enacted the new restrictions Thursday, and the northern zone will enact the restrictions Friday, according to a press release. Fire danger is extreme in the southern zone and high in the northern zone. Under Phase C, camp- fires, chainsaws and smok- ing outside are prohibited. Liquid and gas stoves and heaters are allowed. Operating a combus- tion engine without a spark arresting device is prohib- ited, as is being in a vehi- cle off of Forest Service roads, except when parking in an area devoid of vege- tation within 10 feet of the roadway. Generators are allowed if they are used in the cen- ter of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared Grant County Library to host story time outdoors of all flammable material, if they are fully contained within a pickup bed devoid of flammable material or if they are factory installed in a recreational vehicle if the exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diam- eter cleared of all flammable material. Under IFPL III, power saws are prohibited except at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., and cable yarding is gener- ally prohibited. Blue Mountain Eagle The Grant County Library will host summer story time at 10 a.m. Aug. 13, Aug. 18, Aug. 20 and Aug. 25. The event will take place outdoors. Participants may sit on benches or in the lawn. Anyone 5 or older should bring a mask. For more information, call 541-575-0435. Mary Lu Horton May 26, 1939 ~ July 23, 2020 Mary Lu Horton, 81, of John Day, slipped away peacefully Thursday, July 23, 2020. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Mary Lucille was born in Springfield, OR May 26, 1939 to parents Ralph and RoseAnn Sherman. She was raised and educated in the Portland area. In her youth, she attended Bull Run Grade School and graduated from Sandy Union High School in 1957. Mary Lu continued her education at the College of Beauty on a scholarship and graduated as a licensed hairdresser. Mary Lu met Leslie Horton on a blind date. They were married August 27, 1966 in Portland, OR. During her marriage they lived in Milwaukie, West Linn, and Oregon City until they settled down in John Day, OR. Mary Lu worked for Liz’s Palace for Beauty most of her career, which was over 30 years, before retiring. Upon retiring she and Les decided to sell their home in Oregon City and move to John Day 18 years ago. She was a member of the Blue Mountain Hospital Auxiliary for approximately 10 years. S202435-1 For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Mary Lu the family suggests the Blue Mountain Hospital Foundation Legacy Fund as she knew many of the employees and they took wonderful care of her. They loved and will miss her. Donations can be made through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com. Paid for by the family of Mary Lu Horton Last Week’s Temps John Day ...........................................................HI/LO Tuesday ........................................................... 93/55 Wednesday ..................................................... 97/58 Thursday .......................................................... 82/53 Friday ............................................................... 80/45 Saturday .......................................................... 86/49 Sunday ............................................................. 84/53 Monday............................................................ 90/50 24/7 F ORECAST A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122 R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY 162.500 MHz W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF A UG . 12 - 18 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Mostly sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny Hot Hot Mostly sunny 81 87 90 97 101 99 94 50 48 52 59 61 53 51 S202027-1 Mary Lu enjoyed reading, golfing, and bowling. She appreciated gardening, planting flowers, growing vegetables and looked forward to spring each year. She was a great cook and made wonderful brownies. Mary Lu will be remembered for all of her laughter, energy, love, and kindness she always had. She was supportive, easy to talk and listen to and loved her family deeply. Mary Lu was preceded in death by her husband Les Horton; parents Ralph and RoseAnn Sherman; sisters Barbara Marks and Lois Mertz. She is survived by her son Mark Horton of Portland, OR; daughter Kristi Horton of Portland, OR; sisters Virginia Miller of John Day, OR and Carol Calzada of Woodburn, OR.