There’s a small county in Oregon. It’s called Jackson, which has a population 225,170. So far they’ve been quite fortunate when it comes to the China Virus pandemic. As of this writing there have been 447 confirmed cases and two deaths. So given the rarity of cases and indeed, the extremely low number of deaths, you’d be inclined to think any time someone died of this virus it would definitely make the news. I’d imagine this would be especially true when said individual worked at a somewhat famous and hugely liberal cheese manufacturer, Rogue Creamery.
Not so. The first death went unmentioned. Someone who was involved in the manufacture of food products died of China Virus and somehow this company managed to cover it up. Another grocer and food manufacturer in the same area, Harry and David, had 19 employees stricken with the virus and that made headlines in the local paper, The Mail Tribune.
To be sure, 19 cases is a lot more than one, but this man DIED of it and was also involved in food manufacturing, and not a peep from the local papers at all. All I could find was his obituary:
Mark Jensen Easton
MAY 19, 1966 – AUGUST 4, 2020
Mark Jensen Easton died at his home in Medford, Oregon on August 4, 2020 from complications of the coronavirus infection. Mark was born on May 19, 1966 in Ogden, Utah and was 54 years old. He graduated from Terre Haute North Vigo High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Indiana State University as well as a Master’s Degree in education from Southern Oregon University. He is survived by his daughters, Emma and Ava Easton and his son Jack Rains; his father Richard Easton (Linda); his brother Brad Easton (Sarah); his sister Holly Easton; his grandson, Grayson Lawson; his nephew Tommy Hulick and his nieces Ashley and Alyssa Easton. He was preceded in death by his mother, Susie O’Connor. He was a loved and valued team leader at the Rogue Creamery in Central Point Oregon. He will always be remembered for his infectious smile, compassionate spirit and positive leadership style.
And despite all those family members listed above, one of which is a Doctor, and an employer that claimed to love him So much, I’m told he died alone.
So I talked to some employees who knew the “inside dirt” about this. First off, someone there found out he had passed away and that although there was gossip about this among the staff, no one in the “upper-echelon” had said a word about it. Until the “freak out” as someone there referred to it, became to big to ignore.
Mr. Easton passed on August 4th. So how long was he off the job with this virus and how long did his employers know about it? Had to be weeks.
I gained access to a “team wide” email sent August 6th. by the President of Rogue Creamery, David Gremmels.
Here it is in its entirety.
Dear Team,
I want you know [sic] that I share your pain and sadness regarding Mark’s passing. As many of you know Mark had been dealing with complex health issues for some time.
Who knew that? No one that I interviewed. They all told me that Mr. Easton was a well-mannered, healthy-looking individual. This is deflecting. The implication here is that they want this team to believe that the virus didn’t kill him, something else did. Although you can clearly see in his obit that COVID was the cause.
When we learned that Mark was not feeling well the team members who worked with him quarantined for three weeks as a precaution not knowing if his illness was COVID related or not. This included [cheese] make and cheese shop team members.
That is a lie, right there. I spoke several of the above employees and they claim that no such quarantine was ever enacted. He’s just trying to cover his ass in case another COVID case happens along. [Edit: After this article was published one employee said they thought that there was a quarantine. So pick a side.]
Everyone returned to work healthy and safely, except of course Mark. I appreciate that many of you reached out to Mark over the last four months and checked in on him. I also appreciate everyone stepping up to safeguard our work environment. If you think we can make further improvements in the work environment, please do not hesitate to contact Emily and I so we can address your concerns immediately.
It is critical to stay vigilant in providing a safe, healthy and positive work environment. Please wear a mask at all times making sure it covers your nose and mouth, wash your hands frequently, do not touch your face, physically distance and sanitize work and common surfaces frequently.
It is my hope that the pandemic does not distract us from holding memories of Mark Easton, Chris McKay [note: the latter individual was apparently an ex-employee of Rogue Creamery who committed suicide several months ago after leaving the company for reasons no one was able to inform me of] their families and others who have suffered during this pandemic.
Please know that Rogue Creamery is taking care of Mark’s arrangements for the Easton family and will contribute to the Maslow Project in his name. Under the circumstances it is not recommended we gather for a memorial but instead hold Mark and his family in your thoughts and prayers.Keep the faith,
David
I find that last bit EXTREMELY odd. “Under the circumstances it is not recommended we gather for a memorial.” Why not? They’ve found it acceptable to keep their employees working together to make cheese, and an environment that’s even more threatening to their team members is in the cheese shop that, as a B-Corporation, are supposed to be oh so important to them. Yet they have to interact with the general public every day. And these are not just residents from the local area, I’m told that most of their customers come from China Virus infested states, California and Washington being the most obvious, but people even travel from the East Coast to visit the place. God knows why. Tourists just passing through to spread the disease. But I guess this company will do anything for a buck.
I’m not going to besmirch Mr. Easton here, but it was reported to me via many sources that Mr. Gremmels stated that Easton was suffering from a disease that I will not mention, and THAT was the REAL cause of his death, not COVID. Yet I read the obituary and how can one NOT think that what is said there is not true.
From what I’m told this would be just one in a long history of lies emanating from the higher ups in this place. When they were failing so terribly financially that they could no longer fix it, they sold the place to a huge French company called Savencia. But what they told their employees was that it was a “partnership.” So explain this?
Savencia Fromage & Dairy Acquires Rogue Creamery
Oregon-based Rogue Creamery, which specializes in blue cheeses, has been acquired by France’s Savencia Fromage & Dairy, which claims to be the number four cheese group in the world, reports Just Food.
Acquired. To acquire means to get or come to own something, not a partnership as Gremmels insists. They are OWNED.
As being part of a B-Corporation, their employees are supposed to matter to them. Yet they are among the lowest paid employees in their respective lines of work. I’m told they did not even merit a raise last year. Not a dime. Not a nickle. Nothing. And their benefits? That seemed to raise their ire even more.
This company is probably most well-known for creating the “World’s Best Cheese.” This would be “Rogue River Blue.” It did indeed win that title at the World Cheese Awards, but I’m told there’s a catch to that. Apparently, their cheese is made in separate batches, or “lots,” as they call them. The “lot” that was sent to the competition was not the same one they sell in the store, online, and to distributors, etc. Again, people that work or used to work there informed me that the Rogue River Blue they are selling in the store is not up to par and definitely not worthy of the moniker “World’s Best.” And further, that the store manager routinely forces them to sell cheese that is expired or well past it’s prime.
One last lie that Gremmels has perpetrated on the media and buyers of his cheese, his marriage and subsequent divorce to his husband. TOGETHER, they bought Rogue Creamery and created Rogue River Blue and other cheeses. But they divorced for reasons unknown and now Gremmels is claiming sole credit for all of their creations and insisting that his ex not be mentioned or referred to in any manner. It is reported he even went so far as to have some of his employees remove his exes’ picture from a post card set they sell in their store.
Finally, I have been informed by several people that they employ illegal aliens. Ultra-Liberal company, totally believable by itself, but here’s what they told me if you need more proof. After Trump was elected, suddenly posters were placed on the walls in Spanish telling employees, who I logically assume cannot speak English, what to do if they were confronted by ICE.
This is not to mention Gremmels allegedly once had “no guns allowed” signs on the cheese shop’s doors.
Shame, shame. SO much shame to be handed out here, where do I begin? I mean, I didn’t even present some even WORST things I learned in order to protect my sources!
I’ll let you guys start. 😉
