NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Family disputes OHA report that COVID-19
was a cause of Wallowa County woman’s death
defeated breast cancer before
the unexpected liver cancer
diagnosis — did indeed have
SALEM — The family of a COVID-19 in early August,
Wallowa County woman who but healed up only a couple
died in December is disput- days after receiving treatment.
ing an Oregon Health Author-
“She got ivermectin and the
ity report that COVID-19 had (monoclonal antibody) infu-
anything to do with her death.
sion therapy. She was tired for
³'H¿QLWHO\ QRW D &29,' a couple, three days,” he said.
death,” said Josh Barnett, a
Unprompted,
Barnett
Salem resident, of his mother, also said Malec had not been
Theresa Malec, a former resi- vaccinated.
dent of Wallowa.
“She didn’t want to be vac-
Malec died at Barnett’s FLQDWHGEXWVKHGLG¿JKWLWQDW
home in Salem on Dec. 15, urally. She pulled through,” he
about two weeks after being said.
diagnosed with liver cancer,
After overcoming COVID,
Barnett said.
Barnett said his mom had
Barnett said there was a returned to much of her normal
delay in the processing of her activities, and had been driv-
GHDWKFHUWL¿FDWHDQGZKHQKH ing weekly to Walla Walla for
received it, he had some sus- treatment of her breast cancer
picion that her death might be before defeating it.
called a COVID-19-related
“They had given her the all-
death.
clear on the breast cancer,” he
On Jan. 27, OHA reported said.
the death of a 70-year-old Wal-
A new diagnosis
lowa County woman in its
He said his mom sounded
daily COVID-19 report. It said
the woman died on Dec. 15 “really tired, winded,” in a
phone conversation with her
after a positive test on Aug. 4.
While OHA does not pro- on Nov. 29.
The next day, she was in
vide names on its report —
DQG GHFOLQHG WR FRQ¿UP WR the emergency room in Enter-
the Chieftain if the death it prise, originally given a diag-
reported was indeed Malec — nosis of pancreatic cancer,
%DUQHWW VDLG LW¶V QRW WRR GL൶
Barnett said. She was Life-
cult to make the assumption Flighted that night to Walla
that the death in the report was Walla, where it was deter-
mined, instead, the diagnosis
his mother.
COVID-19, though, was was liver cancer.
She also initially tested
not what killed her, he said,
DQGKHUGHDWKFHUWL¿FDWHZKLFK positive for COVID while at
he provided to the Chieftain, Walla Walla, Barnett said, but
that positive test was followed
shows that.
by two negative tests for the
Contracted COVID, but coronavirus — the second
defeated it
about a week later — which
Barnett said his mother — enabled Barnett to get into the
who earlier in the year had hospital to visit her.
By RONALD BOND
Wallowa County Chieftain
His feeling was con-
¿UPHGRQ-DQZKHQ2+$
reported the 70-year-old Wal-
lowa County woman’s death,
which the Chieftain reported
later that day. Barnett reached
out the following day seeking
to clarify the details.
COVID-19-related death:
³'HDWK RI D FRQ¿UPHG
or probable COVID-19 case
within 60 days of the earliest
available date among expo-
VXUHWRDFRQ¿UPHGFDVHRQVHW
of symptoms, or date of speci-
PHQFROOHFWLRQIRUWKH¿UVWSRV
itive test;
Seeking answers
• “Death from any cause in
Barnett said OHA was not a hospitalized person during
forthcoming on details in an their hospital stay or in the 60
email response to his brother, days following discharge and
Ty, who also had been seeking a COVID-19-positive labora-
Josh Barnett/Contributed Photo
answers.
tory diagnostic test at any time
Theresa Malec, a former Wal-
The OHA told the Chief- since 14 days prior to hospital-
lowa resident, died Dec. 15. Her tain it could not comment spe- ization; or
family believes she is listed as a FL¿FDOO\ RQ ZKHWKHU 0DOHF
• “Death of someone with
COVID-19-related death in Wal- was listed as a COVID-19-re- D &29,'VSHFL¿F ,&'
lowa County, and is refuting the lated death, and that it “cannot code listed as a primary or con-
Oregon Health Authority’s report. SURYLGHDQ\VSHFL¿FLQIRUPD tributing to it.”
tion related to a person’s death
Josh Barnett believes the
Barnett eventually took RU GHDWK FHUWL¿FDWH´ DFFRUG QXPEHUV DUH LQÀDWHG DQG
Malec to his Salem home, ing to Tim Heider, OHA pub- points to the fact that indi-
FHU
where she was put on hospice OLFLQIRUPDWLRQR൶
viduals who die directly from
7KH 2+$ GLG FRQ¿UP WR &29,' RU GLH RI D GL൵HUHQW
and died about a week later.
Ty Barnett in an email Josh cause (but have COVID) are
7KHGHDWKFHUWL¿FDWH
Barnett shared with the Chief- counted together.
The text on the death certif- tain that it does use the phrase
“They’ve already admitted
icate made Barnett wonder if “COVID-19-related deaths” WKHUHLVDGL൵HUHQFHEHWZHHQ
0DOHFZRXOGEHFODVVL¿HGDVD and that it could mean a per- dying from COVID and dying
COVID death.
son who had COVID-19 died, with COVID,” he said. “I think
7KH FHUWL¿FDWH ² %DUQHWW but that it wasn’t necessarily WKH\¶YHEHHQFRQÀDWLQJWKHWZR
shared the document with the the cause.
on purpose to make the num-
Chieftain and gave permission
“The deaths we report bers look as bad as they can.
to publish the information in it each day include people who
“I don’t believe the state has
— lists cardiac arrest, respira- died with COVID-like symp- been giving the right answers
tory arrest and liver cell carci- toms, which in some cases for a long time.”
noma as the causes of death.
means that a person did not
As for his family, he said he
Below that, it lists anxiety necessarily die as a result of wants the truth — whatever it
DQG EUHDVW FDQFHU DV VLJQL¿ COVID-19. Sometimes pub- ends up being.
cant conditions contributing lic health cannot determine
³, MXVW ZDQW WKH UHFRUG
to death.
(the) exact cause of death, so straight in terms of being hon-
Next to those, it states “his- our data focuses on people est,” he said. “...I don’t want
tory of covid 19 (2 negative ZKR PRVW OLNHO\ RU GH¿QLWHO\ my family or anybody else’s
tests).”
had COVID-19 and died, to be used, not as a pawn, but
The funeral home that based on local reports,” the as ‘chalk up another line to it.’
worked with Barnett said email stated.
… I know that OHA is saying
it had “never seen this on a
The OHA’s Investigative it’s a COVID death when I was
GHDWK FHUWL¿FDWH HYHU´ KH Guidelines state that any of there the whole time. I know
said. “I had that feeling.”
the following are considered a that’s 100% false.”
Downtown projects move forward
nesses, which could include
fresh paint, new signs, exte-
rior lighting, façade enhance-
JOHN DAY — The city
ments, awnings, streetlight
of John Day is moving ahead
upgrades and murals. The
on several initiatives aimed
city is preparing to apply for
at sprucing up the downtown
an Oregon Main Street grant
business district and strength-
worth up to $200,000; if
ening the connection between
approved, it could double the
downtown and the Kam Wah
value of the city’s investment.
Chung State Heritage Site.
• $50,000 would go
Blue Mountain Eagle, File
In November, the City
toward the cost of demolish-
Council approved the sale of Plans are being developed ing Gleason Pool and com-
Gleason Park on North Can- for the Pit Stop, a parking lot pacting the soil on the site.
ton Street to the Oregon Parks with public restrooms and (The city set aside $22,000
and Recreation Department other amenities, on the for- from the sale of Gleason Park
for $222,000. The department mer Wright Chevrolet lot at to cover the remainder of the
plans to expand the Kam Wah Southwest Canton Street and estimated demolition cost;
Chung State Heritage Site on West Main Street in John Day. the other $200,000 from the
the 3-acre park property and
sale will go toward the cost of
add a number of improve- SURMHFWWKHFLW\UHFHLYHGD the proposed aquatic center
PHQWVDPLOOLRQSURMHFW million state grant for infra- at the Seventh Street Sports
that will include a new inter- structure improvements.
Complex.)
pretive center highlighting
At the Feb. 8 City Council
“We’ll be able to stretch
the history of Chinese immi- meeting, City Manager Nick the value of the sidewalk
JUDQWV ZKR ÀRFNHG WR -RKQ Green outlined a detailed pro- improvements by doing the
Day during the city’s days as posal for how to spend that SURMHFW FRQFXUUHQW ZLWK WKH
a mining boomtown.
money:
97 curb ramps that (the Ore-
The Kam Wah Chung
• $500,000 would go to gon Department of Transpor-
expansion is expected to sidewalk
improvements, tation) is replacing,” Green
SURYLGH D VLJQL¿FDQW ERRVW SDUNLQJVLJQDJHDQGZD\¿Q told the Eagle in an email.
to tourism, and city leaders ding markers along Canton
“It will likely push us into
want to take advantage of and Main streets.
2023/2024, but we’ll still
those extra visitors by mak-
• $250,000 would be used have them completed before
ing it easier and more inviting for landscaping and site the new (Kam Wah Chung)
for them to explore John Day EHDXWL¿FDWLRQ
facility is operational.”
– and spend money at local
• $200,000 would be
Meanwhile, the John
businesses – during their stay. spent on aesthetic improve- Day Community Develop-
In connection with that ments to Main Street busi- ment Committee is gathering
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
comment on several related
issues through an online sur-
vey that went out to local
merchants and other stake-
holder groups, including
members of the Friends of
Kam Wah Chung and lead-
ership of the Blue Mountain
Hospital District.
Among other things, the
survey asks how the Pit Stop
should be developed. The
city-owned lot at the north-
west corner of Canton and
Main, the site of a former
car dealership, already has a
small building housing pub-
lic restrooms.
Other uses under con-
sideration for the prop-
erty include parking, lock-
ers where bicyclists and
motorcyclists could store
their belongings while walk-
ing around town, a public
gathering space with picnic
WDEOHV DQG ¿UHSLWV DQG YHQ
dor stalls for selling food,
beverages or retail goods.
The survey presents three
options for using the rest
of the space: parking only;
parking in the back half with
a public gathering space in
front; or parking in the back
with a public gathering space
and vendor stalls along Main
Street.
The second survey ques-
A3
W HAT’S
HAPPENING
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16
Grant County Republi-
can Central Committee
• 3 to 5 p.m., the Outpost
Pizza Pub and Grill, 201 W.
Main St., John Day
Grant County Commis-
sioner Sam Palmer, who is
seeking the GOP nomina-
tion to run for the U.S. Sen-
ate seat held by Ron Wyden,
will talk about his cam-
paign and answer questions
from voters. The public is
welcome.
WEDNESDAY
& THURSDAY,
FEB. 16 & 17
CyberMill open house
• 4 to 8 p.m., CyberMill,
300 Barnes Ave. (Highway
395), Seneca
Located in the heart of
Seneca, the CyberMill is
a free-to-use internet cafe
with broadband access.
With three computer termi-
nals, big-screen video mon-
itors, a conference room and
other amenities, the facility
is available for remote work-
ers, entrepreneurs or any-
one who needs a high-speed
internet connection. Visitors
can tour the CyberMill, learn
ZKDWLWKDVWRR൵HUDQGHQMR\
free refreshments. For more
information, go to gccyber-
mill.com.
SATURDAY, FEB. 26
Bingo night
• 5 p.m., John Day Elks
Lodge, 140 NE Dayton St.
Fundraiser for the Grant
Union High School Class of
2026 eight-grade class trip
to the coast. Bingo $5 a card.
Pizza and snacks available
IRUSXUFKDVH5D൷
HGUDZIRU
a gun safe, smoker and other
prizes. For more informa-
tion, call 541-390-5790.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
tion gauges attitudes about
oversize vehicle parking on
Main Street. Is it a problem?
If so, could it be solved with
measures such as “No Over-
size Parking” signs and signs
SRLQWLQJWKHZD\WRR൵VWUHHW
parking areas? Should the
city look for space to build
one or more parking lots for
oversize vehicles?
Finally, in connection
with potential improvements
to Main Street businesses,
the survey asks if people
would be interested in work-
ing with a city-provided con-
sultant on design services.
The results of the survey,
along with Green’s spending
proposal, will be presented
at the next meeting of the
City Council, scheduled for
6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at
the John Day Fire Hall, 316
S. Canyon Blvd.
Lake Creek Youth
Camp Gala
• 5 p.m., Trowbridge
Pavilion, Grant County Fair-
grounds, 411 NW Bridge St.,
John Day
7KLV WKLUG DQQXDO EHQH¿W
IRU WKH QRQSUR¿W \RXWK DQG
family camp in Logan Val-
ley features a tri-tip dinner,
games, live music, drinks
E\ 6SLW¿UH &RFNWDLOV DQG
live, silent and dessert auc-
tions. Tickets are $25 at
the door or $20 in advance,
available at several loca-
tions in John Day and Can-
yon City. For more infor-
mation, call Aimee Rude at
541-206-2421.
Do you have a community
event in Grant County you’d
like to publicize? Email infor-
mation to editor@bmeagle.
com. The deadline is noon
Friday for publication the fol-
lowing Wednesday.
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