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.
