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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2020)
NEWS WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 COVID-19 numbers continue to climb New workplaces added to outbreak list as Umatilla County announces seventh death By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Umatilla County’s sev- enth COVID-19 death came just two days after its sixth, according to Umatilla County Public Health. The department announced that an 83-year- old COVID-19 patient died at his residence on July 3. On July 1, a 93-year-old Umatilla County man with COVID-19 died at his resi- dence. Both had underlying health conditions, according to the news release. The county continues to see double-digit increases of new confi rmed COVID- 19 cases daily. As of July 7, Umatilla County had announced a total of 788 confi rmed cases and on that date had 46 presump- tive cases that were awaiting confi rmation. According to the health department, 332 people had recovered from the virus and there were 495 active cases when counting presumptive and confi rmed. A presump- tive case is defi ned as a per- son who has been in close contact with a confi rmed case and is now show- ing symptoms, but has not received a test result to con- fi rm or deny the diagnosis. Twelve Umatilla County residents were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of July 7, down one from the record of 13 announced July 6. The Oregon Health Authority announces an updated list of workplace outbreaks of COVID-19 in the state each Wednesday. On July 1, a few new Uma- tilla and Morrow county worksites made the list, which only names worksites with at least 30 employees that have at least fi ve cases linked to them. Lamb Weston’s Hermis- ton facility had the third-larg- est outbreak in the state, according to the list, with 73 cases that were linked to it, either through an employee getting sick or a close con- tact of a COVID-positive employee testing positive. Spokeswoman Shelby Stoolman said in an email on July 2 that after Lamb Weston’s fi rst cases had emerged, the company con- ducted a testing event for their employees after clos- ing down the plant. She said they were awaiting the remainder of the test results before determining when it would be safe to restart operations. “All of our facilities oper- ate under safety protocols that include health screen- ing on arrival, required mask use on-site, and social distancing,” she said. “We consistently review these protocols to ensure we’re providing a safe work environment for our team members.” Hill Meat in Pendle- ton was added to OHA’s list, as was Oregon Potato Company in Boardman and Columbia River Processing, a subsidiary of Tillamook Cheese in Boardman. According to a statement by Tillamook, the cases are Staff photo by Ben Lonergan A sign outside of Lamb Weston’s Hermiston processing facility thanks the plant’s employees. The potato processing facility has been linked to 73 COVID-19 cases. related to employees who tested positive for COVID- 19 between June 16 and June 28. The company stated that three of those employees have already recovered and been cleared to return to work, while the rest are recovering at home. Those who are recovering at home or are quarantin- ing after being identifi ed as a close contact are receiving full pay and benefi ts. The company indicated that employees have already been wearing masks and social distancing as much as possible, and will continue to do so. The factory has not been shut down. “We are working closely with state and county health offi cials to keep them apprised of these devel- opments and they have affi rmed that the protocols we have in place to pre- vent the spread of the virus refl ect best industry prac- tices,” the company stated. “On June 17, OSHA, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Agriculture completed an on-site inspection at our Boardman facility and gave us their top rating and high praise for the measures we have in place to protect our workers. We have and will continue to put the health and safety of our employ- ees, and the communities where (we) operate, as our highest priority.” Shearer’s Foods was not listed on OHA’s worksite outbreaks for the week, but the company voluntarily sent out a news release on June 29 that six employees of its Hermiston plant had tested positive for COVID- 19 and that all of those employees and close con- tacts of those employees had been sent home to quar- antine with full pay. Umatilla County’s rising case numbers, and in partic- ular its quickly rising hos- pitalizations, have landed the county, along with Mor- row County, on the state’s watchlist for counties that may have to go back under more stringent restrictions if things do not improve. In his regular update to public offi cials in the county, Umatilla County Commissioner George Murdock noted the coun- ty’s contact tracers con- tinue to trace a large num- ber of cases back to people who went to work while sick. He stated that many of those people work in low wage jobs without much of a safety net to help them feel able to take several days off of work to quarantine if they are only experiencing mild symptoms. The county health depart- ment continues to urge peo- ple to stay home from work if they are experiencing any symptoms of illness includ- ing a cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, runny nose or a new loss of the sense of taste or smell. Hermiston residents respond to Lopez letter bility and intentions as red to the election. Edmiston alleged that fl ags began to arise during “THE TIME SPENT ON THIS FICTITIOUS CLAIM HPD has learned that Lopez his candidacy. The trust he MEANS TIME LOST ON OTHER MATTERS, NOT TO Revelations this week that was attempting to build was never served in the U.S. a viral, racist letter wasn’t questionable from the begin- Coast Guard as stated, which MENTION IT NEEDLESSLY ADDS TO THE what it seemed have mem- ning, and the news about this would be a violation of the 2013 Stolen Valor Act. bers of Hermiston’s Latino letter confi rms what some of INCREDIBLE TENSION THAT EXISTS IN “This investigation is par- community concerned about us believed to be true: Lopez OUR NATION TODAY.” ticularly frustrating as we are the repercussions. was never fi t to represent the On Monday, July in the midst of multiple major Latinx community.” 6, Hermiston Police Jason Edmiston, Hermiston police chief investigations while battling They called on Chief Jason Edmis- a resource shortage due to the him to issue an apol- ton said former Uma- ogy and step down who shared the East Orego- tutions. Hermiston is one the May 2020 primary and current pandemic,” Edmis- tilla County com- ton said. “The time spent on from any lead- nian’s article on Facebook of several Eastern Oregon placed fourth. missioner candidate ership positions. used it to cast doubt on pre- communities that saw Black Edmiston said his depart- this fi ctitious claim means Jonathan Lopez had Lopez has been vious statements by area res- Lives Matter protests in ment was also forwarding time lost on other matters, admitted that he had serving as a mem- idents participating in the June. information to the district not to mention it needlessly Lopez penned the anony- ber of Hermiston’s Black Lives Matter move- In their response to attorney’s offi ce about pos- adds to the incredible tension mous letter, which Hispanic Advisory ment that racism is a prob- the letter, Yajaira Avalos, sibly fraudulent statements that exists in our nation today. went viral on social media Committee. lem in Umatilla County. Leon-Guerrero and de la in Lopez’s entry in the May As a lifelong resident of this after Lopez claimed he had When contacted July 6, When asked whether he Cruz talked about the diver- 2020 voter’s guide about diverse community, I’m dis- found it in his mailbox. Lopez initially stated the was concerned about the sity of Umatilla Coun- his background and educa- gusted someone would try to The letter stated in part issue was a big misunder- incident causing people to ty’s communities of color, tion. Some of those claims carelessly advance their per- that Lopez and other “Mex- standing. He said he just not believe other stories of including Black and indig- were repeated in a Hermis- sonal ambitions at the risk of icans” were “not welcome meant to speak with Edmis- racism in the future, Lopez enous residents and immi- ton Herald article leading up others.” here” and that “America is ton about racism in Uma- responded that “many peo- grants from a long list of for the God fearing, pro gun, tilla County and use the let- ple in many places are countries. They talked about pro life humans who refuse ter as an example of the type always going to have their the struggles those commu- to be controlled by the gov- of racism people experience, opinion.” nities have faced and the ernment.” It included sev- but often don’t speak out He said during his cam- integral ways they have con- eral racist, misogynistic and about publicly. paign for county commis- tributed to the county. homophobic slurs. “I never meant to fi le a sioner he had experienced “This is an opportunity “From the onset, this report, it just kind of spiraled racist comments, includ- for us to turn to the people alleged incident has been out,” he said. ing people accusing him and organizations doing the thoroughly investigated,” He also said he “never of being an undocumented years of dedicated work, Barcelona/ Edmiston wrote in an email. meant to mislead” the immigrant, and he had heard and empower our Latinx Loft “Our investigation has public. from other people who were youth to continue this work shown that Mr. Lopez wrote When questioned fur- afraid to speak up about rac- that helps create a sense the letter himself and made ther about his statements ism they had experienced. of belonging,” they wrote. false statements to the police on Facebook that he had He said thinking about “Through authentic commu- and on social media. The end received the letter anony- those things was what had nity engagement and empa- result is a verbal and written mously, and the fact he told inspired him to write the let- thy, we are all involved in PHASE 2 admission by Mr. Lopez that a Hermiston Herald reporter ter to show what people in the process of envisioning the letter was fabricated.” on June 24 that he had found the area were experiencing. a future that inspires contin- He said the case would the letter in his mailbox *Similar Rendition of the Home The incident comes ued collaboration, commu- be forwarded to the Umatilla when he got home, he con- during a broader national nity, and economic develop- Richmond County District Attorney’s fi rmed he had told a police discussion about racism, ment for all.” offi ce for review for initiat- offi cer the same story. brought to light as peo- Before the letter inci- ing a false report, a Class A After the story about ple around the country pro- dent, Lopez ran for a seat on misdemeanor in Oregon. Lopez’s confession was test systemic racism in law the Umatilla County Board Jazmin Yajaira Avalos, posted online, a few people enforcement and other insti- of Commissioners during Anesat Leon-Guerrero and Excellent builder Heldáy de la Cruz, who that takes care described themselves as of details. “members of Hermiston’s Latinx community,” penned *Similar Rendition of the Home a response to the revela- tions after the East Orego- nian broke the news on July 6. In their response, they said they were “appalled” at Lopez’s actions. PROPERTIES “We want to make it clear that a lot of our local ART KEGLER and hometown voices have PRINCIPAL BROKER, GRI, OWNER never stood with Lopez’s Phone: (541) 289-3000 541-720-2020 politics and stances on Email: uecbrc@gmail.com 541-481-2888 issues within our commu- We’re here to assist your 2 Marine Drive, Suite #104 nity,” they wrote. “In fact, farm or small businesses 1475 N. First St. in Hermiston Boardman, OR 97818 a number of organizers and Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Oregon Licensed Realtor with Covid-19 relief. leaders began asking ques- with a lunch closure from 1-2 p.m. tions about Lopez’s credi- FIRST-CLASS SERVICE & LOCAL EXPERTISE By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR UNDER N O I T C U R T S N CO TUSCANY OF BOARDMAN DESIRABLE LOCATION
