>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Imbler High School’s FBLA chapter, whose members are shown here, recently won its fourth straight state Class 1A title. - Submitted photo

This is what Oregon’s Future Business Leaders of America judges are saying — for the fourth straight year.

The judges awarded Imbler the school’s fourth straight class 1A state FBLA Chapter of the Year title earlier this month.

La Grande High FBLA members, from left, Jenna Montgomery, Caitlin Lipscomb, Kala Grover and Jacey Childs pose for a photo at the Rose Garden in Portland. - Submitted photo

In more ways than one.

First, the LHS chapter took care of business in impressive fashion on the competitive end. LHS had four top-five finishes at state.

Beat the streak.

Such words percolated in the minds of many class 2A chapter leaders at this year’s state Future Business Leaders of America conference in Portland.

Their best efforts, though, could not topple the FBLA juggernaut that is Elgin High School.

Robert F. Kennedy waves to onlookers while riding in a motorcade in La Grande on May 22, 1968.

The sight compelled Kennedy to quote one of the best known of Ireland’s playwrights.

“In the words of George Bernard Shaw, ‘There has got to be a better way.’ ’’

Historical pictures from Jerry Gildemeister’s collection provide a glimpse into the lifestyles of regional tribes (the photographers are unknown). The Grande Ronde Valley was known as “Kup Kup-pa” — the place of the cottonwoods — and provided a setting for fishing, food gathering, horse pasturing, socializing and diplomacy. - Historical photographs courtesy of Gildemeister Restored Heritage Collection

Miniature replicas of tule-mat teepes, photographs of fishers and fruit-gatherers — this is a tribute to other worldviews, other lifestyles, playing out in what once was called “Kup Kup-pa,” the “place of the cottonwoods.”

Not that it’s all consigned to the annals of the history.

FAREWELL gathering: Marty Falk, the retiring manager of three communities for seniors and disabled adults in Union County, shares some memories with Clover Glen resident Pat Asper during a party in Falk’s honor March 7. - The Observer/Bill Rautenstrauch

In retirement, she plans to do some gardening, and some traveling with the her husband.  And wherever she goes, she’ll take with her the memories of the many friends she’s made.

DEEP COVE ROOTS: Richard Thew, a man of many hats, practices hymns with his wife, Kathy, at their Cove home. - The Observer/Ethan Schowalter-Hay

He’s likely to crack a joke during the proceedings with characteristic self-deprecation. When the issues demand it, he encourages lengthy discussion, valuing deliberation over rushed decision-making.

Such ease at City Hall isn’t all that surprising when one considers Thew’s been mayor for over two decades.

MIGHTY CLOUDS: Bill Ficken's snowblower sends a plume of snow off to the side of the Tollgate Highway. When the winds aren't favorable, snowblower operators often find themselves contending with whiteouts. - The Observer/Bill Rautenstrauch

Think about this: a lot of people put in a lot of grueling hours to make those roads passable.