NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
A5
OSAA dismisses La Grande racism claim
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
LA GRANDE — The Ore-
gon School Activities Associa-
tion concluded its investigation
into the alleged racist remarks
made during a state play-
off football game between La
Grande and Gladstone, which
determined that use of racial
slurs throughout the game could
not be confi rmed.
OSAA released its fi ndings
in a statement on Tuesday, Jan.
11, which stated that the alle-
gations made by Gladstone
football players against the La
Grande team could not be ver-
ifi ed. After a lengthy process
involving a third-party inves-
tigator, allegations of a soli-
tary use of a racial slur during
the game came back inconclu-
sive. Allegations regarding an
offi cial identifying a Gladstone
coach by his ethnicity were con-
fi rmed — the investigation also
confi rmed that the offi cial apol-
ogized to the coach during the
game.
The OSAA Class 4A state
playoff matchup between La
Grande and Gladstone on Nov.
5, 2021, at Community Sta-
dium in La Grande ended in tur-
moil, as the fi nal minutes of the
game resulted in a major dis-
pute on the Gladstone sideline.
Gladstone players and parents
followed up with allegations
of racism in the days after the
34-12 La Grande victory in the
4A fi rst-round matchup.
The
ensuing
months
involved a deep dive into the
game by OSAA’s third-party
investigator, interviews with
players and staff from both
schools and a joint statement
between the La Grande and
Gladstone school districts.
“Although the evidence of a
racial slur being used was ulti-
mately inconclusive through
the third-party investigation,
the OSAA recognizes that stu-
dents, coaches, and families
were negatively impacted,”
OSAA Executive Director Peter
Weber wrote in the statement.
“The OSAA stands fi rm with
the expectation that all involved
in interscholastic activities can
do so in an environment that
is free from discrimination or
harassment.”
La Grande School District
Andrew Cutler/The Observer, File
La Grande quarterback Logan Williams follows running back Bro-
dy MacMillan during an OSAA 4A state playoff matchup against
Gladstone at Community Stadium on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Glad-
stone players and coaches accused La Grande players of making
racist remarks against opposing players during the game.
Superintendent George Men-
doza released a statement on
behalf of the district, stating that
La Grande accepts the fi ndings
of the investigation and is grate-
ful for the willing collaboration
of coaches, staff , students, offi -
cials and community during the
investigation process.
“From the beginning of this
process, La Grande and Glad-
stone have been strong in our
intent toward solidarity and rec-
iprocity in resolving a diffi cult
situation in order to build trust
and strength in the relationship
between our districts,” the state-
ment read.
According to OSAA, the
organization is working with
the offi cials’ association that
called the playoff game in order
to implement implicit bias train-
ing and OSAA’s racial equity
training. The statement also
indicated that OSAA is work-
ing with all its offi cials’ associ-
ations on protocols involved in
reporting any potential acts of
discrimination during athletic
competitions.
La Grande and Gladstone
both conducted elements of
the OSAA’s S.T.A.R. Initiative,
which promotes sportsman-
ship and equality within athletic
events. Prior to any outcome of
the investigation, both school
districts took steps to rebuild
relations for future sporting
events.
“We participated and did
everything they needed us to
do. I was always confi dent in
our kids and our coaches,” La
Grande Athletic Director Dar-
ren Goodman said. “We have
great kids, great coaches and
great families.”
Other outcomes of the inves-
tigation included the implemen-
tation of OSAA’s Racial Equity
Training at La Grande, conver-
sations between La Grande and
other league members about
expected behavior at future ath-
letic competitions, creating a
point of contact at La Grande
and Gladstone to welcome vis-
iting teams to their venues,
reviewing the language in the
student codes of conduct at both
school districts and a meeting
between both teams’ captains,
athletic directors and coaches to
ensure positive relations mov-
ing forward.
According to OSAA, the
La Grande and Gladstone
boys basketball teams planned
a shared meal and shaking of
hands at halfcourt on the day of
the scheduled matchup on Dec.
20. The game was canceled due
to inclement weather, but the
plans represented a fi rst step in
healing the relations between
schools.
“In our school district, we
will continue to actively teach,
model and reinforce that words
matter,” Mendoza’s statement
read. “Our focus going forward
will be to repair and restore our
relationship with Gladstone
as well as proactively create
healthy environments and expe-
riences for all stakeholders.”
Highway 19 near Kimberly for
a civil issue.
Jan. 20: Responded to
Highway 26 near Highway 19
for a public assist.
Jan. 20: Took a report of
someone in John Day illegally
giving a juvenile a tattoo.
Jan. 20: Advised of a sin-
gle-vehicle rollover on High-
way 26 near milepost 163.
• John Day Ambulance
Jan. 15: Dispatched to Can-
yon Creek Apartments, John
Day, for a 56-year-old male
with diffi culty breathing.
Jan. 15: Patient transport
from Blue Mountain Care
Center, Prairie City.
Jan. 16: Dispatched to Cot-
tonwood Street, Mt. Vernon,
for a 97-year-old female with
breathing diffi culty.
Jan. 16: Dispatched to West
bench Road for a male with a
medical issue.
Jan. 16: Dispatched to East
Main Street for a female hav-
ing seizures.
Jan. 18: Patient transport
to St. Charles Medical Cen-
ter, Bend.
Jan. 18: Dispatched to East
Main Street for a female having
seizures.
Jan. 19: Patient transfer at
the airport.
Jan. 19: Patient transport to
Redmond.
Jan. 20: Dispatched to Val-
ley View Assisted Living for
a female with a possible fall
injury.
Jan. 21: Dispatched to North
Johnson Street, Prairie City, for
a 62-year-old female with a pos-
sible dislocated knee.
Jan. 21: Dispatched to Val-
ley View Assisted Living for a
78-year-old female having diffi -
culty moving after several falls.
• Long Creek Ambulance
Jan. 17: Dispatched with
John Day Ambulance to North
Eagle Street, Long Creek, for an
elderly man with chest pains.
• John Day Fire
Jan. 17: Dispatched to Pat-
terson Bridge Road for a fi re
alarm.
COPS AND COURTS
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce reported the following
for the week ending Jan. 19:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 5
Average inmates: 11
Bookings: 5
Releases: 7
Arrests: 0
Citations: 1
Fingerprints: 3
Civil papers: 11
Warrants processed: 2
Asst./welfare check: 2
Search and rescue: 0
Oregon State Police
Jan. 7: Trooper responded
to Highway 26 near milepost
154 for a non-injury accident.
A 68-year-old Mt. Vernon man
driving a 2001 Dodge pickup
swerved to avoid a dog and
went into a ditch. The driver
tried to back out of the ditch,
damaging a fence and knock-
ing down a street sign. The
vehicle was towed.
Jan. 11: Trooper stopped
a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee
on Highway 26 near milepost
162 for a traffi c violation. The
driver claimed not to need a
driver’s license, insurance or
license plates for the vehicle.
Jacob Clarence Brown, 32, of
Dayville was cited for failure
to carry or present a driver’s
license, having no operator’s
license, driving uninsured
and failure to display license
plates.
Jan. 13: A trooper
responded to a single-vehi-
cle crash on Highway 395
North near milepost 107B. A
1974 Ford pickup spun out
on a curve and landed on its
side, blocking the northbound
lane. The driver, a 55-year-
old woman from Long Creek,
declined medical attention.
The truck was towed. ODOT
assisted with traffi c control.
Jan. 14: A trooper
responded to the Subway
restaurant on South Canyon
Boulevard in John Day for a
report of a woman who left
her two minor children unat-
tended in her car while she
went in the restaurant to order
a sandwich. Chantal Marie
Desjardin, 28, of John Day
was cited for second-degree
child neglect.
Jan. 15: A trooper received
a call from a Grant County
sheriff ’s deputy about a sick
or injured bull elk reported by
snowmobilers on Forest Ser-
vice Road 1530. At the troop-
er’s request, the deputy dis-
patched the elk.
Jan. 15: A trooper
responded to Highway 395
North near milepost 93B for a
single-vehicle rollover crash.
A Mitsubishi Raider pickup
started sliding on a curve, hit
a deep snow berm on the side
of the road and rolled over.
coming to rest on its top. The
driver, a 76-year-old man from
Long Creek, was not injured.
The vehicle was towed. Grant
County Sheriff ’s Offi ce and
ODOT assisted at the scene.
Jan. 20: A trooper
responded to Highway 26 near
milepost 163 for a single-ve-
hicle crash with injuries. The
vehicle lost traction on a patch
of ice and went off the shoul-
der and rolled. The driver was
transported by private vehi-
cle to Blue Mountain Hospi-
tal. John Robert Titus, 41, was
cited for driving uninsured.
Dispatch
Grant County dispatch
worked 127 calls during the
week ending Jan. 21, including:
• Oregon State Police
Jan. 14: Trooper advised
dispatch of found animals on
Roper Road in Mt. Vernon.
Jan. 17: Advised of two
cows and a goat in the road on
Highway 26 near milepost 152.
Jan. 19: Advised of a dead
animal in the road on Highway
26 east of John Day.
Jan. 20: Advised of an
injured deer on East Main
Street, John Day.
• Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce
Jan. 14: Responded to Can-
yon Mountain Trail Road near
Canyon City for an abandoned
vehicle.
Jan. 14: Responded to West
Sixth Street, Prairie City, for a
report of harassment.
Jan. 14: Responded to
North Cozart Street, Prairie
City, for a report of a dispute.
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Jan. 15: Responded to
South Washington Street,
Canyon City, for a noise
complaint.
Jan. 15: Responded to
Meadowbrook Apartments,
John Day, for a civil issue.
Jan. 15: Responded to
Chester’s Market, John Day,
for a hit-and-run report.
Jan. 15: Responded to
South Canyon Boulevard, John
Day, for a noise complaint.
Jan. 15: Deputy assisted
OSP with a sick elk on For-
est Service Road 1530 by dis-
patching the animal.
Jan. 16: Traffi c stop, High-
way 26 near milepost 127.
Driver warned for speeding.
Jan. 16: Traffi c stop, High-
way 26 near milepost 148.
Driver warned for speeding.
Jan. 16: Traffi c stop, High-
way 26 near milepost 148.
Driver warned for speeding.
Jan. 17: Advised of an over-
due motorist in the area of
Magone Lake.
Jan. 17: Dispatched to Riv-
erside Mobile Home Park for a
civil issue.
Jan. 17: Dispatched to
South Ingle Street, Mt. Vernon,
for a possible burglary.
Jan. 18: Responded to
Chester’s Market, John Day,
for a non-injury accident.
Jan. 18: Responded to Grant
County Library, John Day, for
a criminal mischief complaint.
Jan. 18: Responded to Front
Street, Prairie City, for a wel-
fare check.
Jan 18: Responded to East
Main Street, John Day, for
an animal complaint. Tabitha
Graves, 34, was cited for
allowing a dog to be a public
nuisance.
Jan. 18: Responded to
Southwest Council Drive, Mt.
Vernon, for a dispute.
Jan. 18: Responded to
Southwest Council Drive, Mt.
Vernon, for a disturbance.
Jan. 18: Responded to
Clyde Holliday State Park, Mt.
Vernon, for a public assist.
Jan. 18: Dispatched with
Oregon State Police to High-
way 26 east of Prairie City for
a mental subject.
Jan. 19: Responded to Brent
Lane, Canyon City, for a bur-
glary report.
Jan. 19: Responded to Coy-
ote Trail Lane near Mt. Vernon
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for a missing person report.
Jan. 19: Responded to
Northeast Dayton Street, John
Day, for a welfare check.
Jan. 19: Responded to Riv-
erside Mobile Home Park,
John day, for a civil issue.
Jan. 19: Responded to
Highway 26 east of Prairie City
for a juvenile problem.
Jan. 19: Responded to Sev-
enth Street, John Day, for a
public assist.
Jan. 19: Advised of suspi-
cious circumstances at River-
side Mobile Home Park, John
Day.
Jan. 20: Responded to Blue
Mountain Hospital, John Day,
for an assault.
Jan. 20: Responded to
McHaley Street, Prairie City,
for a welfare check.
Jan. 20: Responded to Best
Western Inn, John Day, for a
theft report.
Jan. 20: Responded to South
Washington Street, Canyon
City, for a vandalism report.
Jan. 20: Responded to
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