Small-business Happenings for October 24, 2012

David, Taylor Moore
offering signage services

Grande Ronde Sign Company, a longtime business in La Grande, recently closed down, but its legacy lives on.

Mat Barber, owner of the company since 1998, decided to go out of business earlier this month, but David Moore and Taylor Moore, a pair of artists with family ties to the company, say they plan to fill the void. 

They are the son and grandson, respectively, of Ralph Moore Sr., the owner of Grande Ronde Sign from 1984 to 1998.

Taylor Moore is the owner of Taylinn Signs in Walla Walla, Wash. David Moore owns Moore signs in Union. 

Their businesses remain separate, but together they plan to work together to provide signage services for Union County and beyond.

“We are building a team of qualified personnel in order to better serve the community,” Taylor Moore said. “Bringing in a creative team frees up my dad, Ralph, my uncle David and and I to bring a better sign purchase experience to our customers.”

La Grande resident Mel Elder started Grande Ronde Sign in 1948. Ralph Moore Sr. went to work at the company at age 16. Moore Sr. served in the armed forces and later earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts. He bought Grande Ronde Sign from Elder in 1984.

Reach Taylor Moore at 541-805-5921, or by email at www.taylinnsigns.com. David Moore’s phone number is 541-975-1486, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

OTEC announces date
for annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative will occur on April 27, 2013, at the Blue Mountain Conference Center in La Grande.

Cooperative members will vote for three Board of Directors positions – two in Union County currently held by David Baum and Greg Howard, and one in Baker County currently held by Peggy Timm.  

Members will also hear from General Manager Werner Buehler and other OTEC employees about the state of the cooperative.

For more information, contact Jim Horan, OTEC’s government affairs and communications specialist, at 541-524-2858.