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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2020)
BUSINESS Wednesday, december 9, 2020 HermIsTOnHeraLd.cOm • A7 OHA expands weekly reports UEC to return Workplace outbreak lists include active outbreaks in Umatilla and morrow counties By JADE MCDOWELL neWs edITOr The Oregon Health Authority has expanded its weekly reports on COVID- 19, including its workplace outbreaks list. The department previ- ously sent out a single doc- ument on Wednesdays, summing up COVID-19 sta- tistics for the week prior and listing outbreaks at work- places and nursing homes. Last week, it began pub- lishing three documents — a more in-depth look at COVID-19 statistics in the state, a report of the number of cases per ZIP code, and an outbreaks report. The new outbreaks report lists outbreaks of COVID- 19 in workplaces, in nursing homes and other congregate care facilities, in child care facilities and cases among K-12 students and staff. The workplace outbreak list reports jobsites with at least 30 employees and at least five cases linked to the site, whether through employees testing positive or close contacts of those employees testing positive. The outbreaks report published on Wednesday, Dec. 2, shows 11 Umatilla County and Morrow County workplaces that were pre- viously on the list of active outbreaks, including Lamb Weston Hermiston, Hermis- ton Walmart and Two Riv- ers Correctional Institution, have recently been moved to the “resolved” category after going more than 30 days Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald, File Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton represents the largest workplace outbreak of COVID-19 in Umatilla County, according to Oregon Health Authority. with no new cases among employees or their close contacts. It also shows few new outbreaks in the area, leav- ing Umatilla and Morrow counties with 12 jobsites currently on the list of active outbreaks. Some have never moved off the list after ini- tial outbreaks over the sum- mer, while others have returned after previously being moved to the resolved category, and then seeing new cases. Those workplaces are: • Eastern Oregon Cor- rectional Institution in Pendleton, 520 cases (first case reported July 8) • Lamb Weston East in Boardman, 90 cases since July 13 • Walmart Distribution Center in Hermiston, 87 cases since June 30 • Good Shepherd Health Care System in Hermis- ton, 73 cases since July 16 • Lamb Weston Pac Center in Boardman, 59 cases since July 1 • Home Depot in Herm- iston, 18 cases since July 24 • Marlette Homes, 12 cases since Nov. 16 • Shearer’s Foods in Hermiston, 12 cases since Nov. 16 • Keystone RV in Pend- leton, 10 cases since Nov. 16 • Lamb Weston West in Boardman, 10 cases since Nov. 9 • Smith Frozen Foods in Weston, 10 cases since Nov. 17 • Earl Brown & Sons in Milton-Freewater, nine cases since Oct. 28 The senior care report lists all senior care facili- ties, such as nursing homes and assisted living options, where at least three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past 28 days. The Dec. 2 report lists: • Avamere at Hermiston with 45 cases and three deaths of residents with COVID-19 • Regency Hermiston Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, with 5 new cases of COVID-19 since Nov. 11 • Guardian Angel Homes in Hermiston with 4 cases The child care section of the report shows child care facilities with capacity for at least 16 children with at least two cases of COVID- 19 in the past 28 days among children, staff or close con- tacts of children or staff. The Dec. 2 report shows: • Room to Bloom Day Care in Pendleton, six cases • Good Shepherd Chil- dren’s Center in Hermis- ton, two cases The school section of the report includes schools that have offered some form of in-person instruction this year, such as the limited in-person instruction for special education students. It lists all staff and students that have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 28 days, regardless of whether they have been in the school building at all. In west Umatilla County and Morrow County the Dec. 2 report shows: • Stanfield Elementary School, two students and one employee • Heppner High School, one student • Riverside High School in Boardman, one student and one employee • AC Houghton Ele- mentary School in Board- man, one employee • Armand Larive Mid- dle School in Hermiston, two employees • Hermiston High School, one student and one employee • Sam Boardman Ele- mentary School in Board- man, one student For more reports from OHA, including hospital- izations, testing, and cases broken down by demo- graphics and ZIP codes, visit govstatus.egov.com/ OR-OHA-COVID-19. Club 24 closes at request of OSHA Fitness center owners say they complied to avoid ‘crippling fines’ By JADE MCDOWELL neWs edITOr Club 24’s Oregon loca- tions and the Hermiston Ath- letic Club are closed at the request of Oregon’s Occu- pational Health and Safety Administration. The locations, where people sign up for a monthly membership in exchange for use of workout equip- ment, fitness classes and other exercise, initially stated they were staying open as “wellness centers” after Gov. Kate Brown ini- tially ordered gyms and fit- ness centers to close as part of the state’s latest COVID- 19 restrictions. But on Nov. 30, Club 24’s Oregon loca- tions and Hermiston Ath- letic Club posted identical messages to their Facebook pages, stating they would close effective immediately “as per Oregon OSHA.” The message stated that member accounts would be frozen and staff would be furloughed during the holi- days as a result. In response to a pub- lic records request, OSHA responded that there had not been fines or other offi- cial enforcement actions taken against the businesses because the owner had vol- untarily complied with shut- ting down after being con- tacted by OSHA. Customers reacted with Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald Hermiston’s Club 24 is shown on Nov. 22, 2020. disappointment on social media at the announcement. In an email to the East Ore- gonian and Hermiston Her- ald, Hermiston Club 24 member Chris Waine said he joined Club 24 about 15 years ago after exiting the military. His membership helped him transition back into civilian life and work through inju- ries he suffered as a result of his service, he said. “Over these years, I came to understand many members suffer from past physical injury,” he said. “It would not be untrue to say that a large majority of people go because motion begets motion. Over the years, we’ve motivated each other and offered words of encouragement as we strug- gle to find balance in pain management through fitness. “In other words, the state views these facilities as rec- reational. They failed to realize these facilities pro- vide a place and equipment for those of us who gradu- ate from out patient physical therapy. These facilities are as much a necessity as any outpatient physical therapy clinic. Let’s not forget also the mental benefit of physi- cal fitness.” In an emailed statement, Club 24 said they com- plied with OSHA’s request in order to avoid “crippling fines” as they appeal OSHA’s decision that they fall under a category that must be shut down under current COVID- 19 restrictions. The business cited a study by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Asso- ciation of 50 million check- ins at exercised-based busi- nesses in the United States compared to self-reported COVID-19 infection rates of those members, conclud- ing that safety measures at gyms and fitness centers around COVID-19 have been “incredibly effective” at keeping members safe from the virus. “We are confident that we are meeting, if not surpass- ing, the safety measures of clubs in this study and look forward to working with OSHA and the State of Ore- gon on safely and responsi- bly operating our business that so many Oregonians are dependent upon for their physical and mental health,” Club 24’s statement said. They added that they appreciate members who have offered to keep pay- ing their dues even while the club is shut down, in order to help the club sup- port employees that are being furloughed during the closure. JOSH GOLLER 125 SE 7th St., Hermiston, OR 541-289-7261 www.simmonshealthinsurance.partners $5.1 million to its customers By JADE MCDOWELL neWs edITOr Umatilla Electric Coop- erative will be returning $5.1 million in profits to its members in December as part of the cooperative’s Capital Credits program. About 8,700 current and former UEC customers, who purchased electric- ity from UEC in 2006 and 2007, will receive a refund, according to a news release by UEC. Checks are scheduled to be mailed in the sec- ond week of December, and the amount is based on the customer’s elec- tricity usage during those years. Amounts under $10 will not be mailed out, but will be saved and added on to future refunds until the total reaches at least $10. UEC is a not-for-profit cooperative owned by all of its members, designed to operate at cost. When UEC makes profits above what it needs to continue running, it returns money to its members through the Capital Credits program. According to UEC, since it began issuing refunds in 1960 the cooperative has returned $85 million to members. Robert Echenrode, UEC general manager and CEO, said in a statement that the cooperative’s strong finan- cial position and ongo- ing efforts to control costs and maximize efficiencies make such distributions possible. “The Board is pleased to help make a positive impact in the commu- nity around the holidays, when it may be needed the most,” he said. “We know this has been a difficult year for many people.” For questions about the Capital Credits program, call UEC at 541-567-6414. Dollar General considering store in Umatilla By JADE MCDOWELL neWs edITOr Dollar General could be coming to Umatilla. Dollar General spokes- person Angela Petkovic said in an email that the company is still in the “due diligence” phase and has not made a final commit- ment yet. The national chain of variety stores has been working with the city’s planning commission, however, and meeting min- utes from the commission’s Oct. 27 meeting shows the committee has reviewed a site plan for the possi- ble store and unanimously approved a plat for Dollar General to combine five tax lots into one. At that meeting, the minutes state, a representative from the company described Uma- tilla as a “great regional location” for a store. Petkovic said the com- pany anticipates making a final decision by summer 2021. “Our customers are at the center of all that we do, and meeting custom- ers’ needs is Dollar Gen- eral’s top priority when choosing store locations,” she wrote. “In selecting store sites, we take a num- ber of factors into consid- eration, carefully evalu- ating each potential new store location to ensure we can continue to meet our customers’ price, value and selection needs. We further strive to provide conve- nience for customers who may not have affordable nearby retail options.” The approximately 7,500-square-foot store would be located at the corner of Sixth Street and Yerxa Avenue, according to information submitted to the planning commis- sion, and Petkovic said it would employ six to 10 people. Dollar General sells food, household goods, health and beauty items, seasonal decorations and other merchandise. Not to be confused with Dol- lar Tree, the store’s prices vary by item. Accord- ing to information pro- vided by the store, it offers grants each year to schools, libraries and non- profits within a 15-mile radius of its stores and distribution centers. Located at Space Age Travel Center & Comfort Suites, Exit 182 on I-84 According to the CDC, spending some time in the sun and taking a daily supplement helps keep you healthy & your bones strong!
