A poor economy is not preventing people in Union County from stepping up to promote drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles.

Leaders of the Drug-Free Relay have announced that this year’s relay raised a net of $10,200, the highest in the event’s history.

“I think it is phenomenal that we had a record-breaking year in the middle of a recession,’’ said Jan Harris, one of the Drug-Free Relay’s organizers.

Union County residents have a shining opportunity to help their neighbors Saturday, as the Union County Community Action Network — or CAN — launches its second annual food drive at various local locations.

Collection bins will be set out and manned by volunteers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Grocery Outlet, Wal-Mart, Safeway, Albertsons and at Eastern Oregon University’s Community Stadium during Saturday’s football game with Carroll College. Those bringing a donation to the game will get a dollar off the price of admission.

BOBBIE DALGLIESH OF WOMEN MILITARY VETERANS OF UNION COUNTY receives a hug from Sgt. Rick Payne of La Grande’s 3/116th National Guard Unit Wednesday. Payne had just given the keynote address at the 12th anniversary celebration of Women Military Veterans of Union County. Julie Colton of Union, a member of the veterans group, is looking on. - CHRIS BAXTER

Still, they are sometimes conspicuous by their absence — an absence addressed Wednesday at the 12th anniversary celebration of the Women Military Veterans of Union County.

Women veterans are heroines in the eyes of Americans, but they often do not step into the spotlight at events recognizing those who have served in the Armed Forces. This reflects humility but also a misunderstanding, said Julie Colton of Union. She believes women who have stepped up for their nation need to give themselves more credit, pointing out that everyone who served in the military is a veteran.

I’ve chosen the Evening Grosbeak as my bird of the month due to its mysterious behavior. I can’t think of any species of birds that is more unpredictable as to when or where they might show up.

Like all of the finch family, they feed on seeds, buds, small fruits and berries. Also, like other finches, they tend to gather in flocks of varying sizes in winter. But their main habitat where they nest is mostly beyond any human habitation in northern California.

“Horses have been our companions all our lives,” say Sharon Gibson, left, and her twin sister Sherry VanLeuven. - Submitted photo

They work.

That’s not to say they don’t enjoy themselves. The pair just happen to take their pleasure seriously.

“If a person needs help, you can’t go wrong with those gals,” said Wes Patton, longtime cattleman. “They’re top quality.”

With a chuckle, he adds, “Before I retired, they worked circles around me. It made me feel ashamed of myself.”

‘It is a difference maker. It allowed us to fund programs more adequately.’ — Bob Reese

The past nine years in Pendleton represent proof.

This is the belief of Bob Reese of Pendleton. Reese has witnessed first hand how a local option tax can make a difference during difficult financial times. He was the Pendleton School District’s director of business services when its voters approved a local option tax in 2000, one it has retained since then.

Island City Elementary School’s new north sidewalk was completed Saturday. - DICK MASON

Make Island City Elementary a safer place immediately before and after school.

Island City children face a far reduced risk of colliding with vehicles while going to or leaving school today because of recent work done at no cost to the district by RD Mac Inc. and GCT Land Management, both of La Grande. The two firms worked together to improve a parking lot site at Island City Elementary, making conditions much safer for children getting rides from their parents to and from school.

In comparison to last year's Halloween night, Oregon State Police troopers doubled the number of DUII arrests during a 12-hour period between 6 p.m., Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday.

OSP troopers were involved in a statewide and national cooperative law enforcement campaign called “Drunk Driving Over the Limit. Under Arrest” that started Oct. 25 and ran through Halloween night. 

This year during the 12-hour period, OSP troopers reported 31 DUII arrests.  Last year, troopers reported 15 DUII arrests. The arrests included two in the La Grande area.

Greenwood Elementary student Debra Houston reads a book while attending a new after school program run by the Union-Baker Education Service District. DICK MASON

The Greenwood Elementary School student was greeting his mother at 5:30 p.m. earlier this fall. His mom was picking him up in La Grande following a three-hour session that is part of a new after-school program run by the Union-Baker Education Service District.

“We didn’t do any work today,’’ the boy told his mom.

ABOVE: This 1944 photo shows the seventh-grade class at Pondosa school. Photo courtesy “50th Anniversary, Pondosa Oregon Pictorial History’’

So when its mill closed in 1959, Pondosa began a slow, sliding descent into oblivion.

Today, echoes of the past still emanate from the town, almost totally abandoned 35 miles southeast of La Grande, and reverberate across the Grande Ronde Valley.