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

ENTERPRISE — Twenty-six Wallowa County residents attended a recent meeting to implement a regional food security plan.

An equal number expressed interest in participating though they could not attend, said the plan’s creator, Angela Black

“Food security means taking control over the food we eat on a daily basis. But more importantly, it means ensuring that our communities can survive minor or major supply and infrastructure disruptions,” Black said.

The distillery’s 6,000-square-foot building is taking shape. The Observer/GARY FLETCHER

Stein Distillery at the north end of Joseph, adjacent to Aspen Grove Gallery, hopes to market beverages such as vodka, gin and fruit cordials by August, first to Wallowa County residents and tourists, then across the state.

The OLCC controls production, sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages, said Austin Stein of Portland. He and his wife, Heather, are the business owners.

Delbert Pratt stands in front of Ira Pratt Road, named for Delbert’s grandfather. Delbert’s great-grandfather, Charles Pratt, donated the three acres for Pratt School, which is now the private residence seen in the background. The first Pratt School was built in 1902, the second one in 1938. The Observer/GARY FLETCHER

On Upper Prairie Creek, snow was 4 feet deep and the strong winds had blown the heavy, wet snow into drifts 35 to 40 feet deep.

The temperature was 20 below and remained below zero for two weeks.

James Bright, the La Grande man accused of robbing the Union-Wallowa-Baker Federal Credit Union in January, will face federal prosecution in the case.

A federal indictment, charging armed bank robbery and use of a firearm during a violent crime, was returned March 12.

Bright, 51, appeared before a federal magistrate Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office in Portland. He was released pending trial.

Brandon Taylor, left, and Arden Yundt celebrate their team’s correct answer at the La Grande Invitational Academic Bowl. Taylor and Yundt were members of La Grande High School’s Nu team. - The Observer/DICK MASON

Still, youths with the potential to ace auditions for Trebek’s popular TV quiz show were everywhere.

They were among the 80 Northeast Oregon high school students participating in the La Grande Invitational Academic Bowl Tuesday.

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative has announced that consumers in northwest La Grande, Perry, Hilgard and Starkey will be without power for approximately 30 minutes on Monday.

The planned power outage will begin at approximately 10 a.m. in order to move a house at 1407 S Ave. to its destination at 607 Palmer Ave.

ELGIN — The Elgin Chamber of Commerce banquet held Wednesday evening applauded five citizens for leadership and extraordinary community contributions.

Mayor Carmen Gentry, the keynote speaker, acknowledged the leadership that has contributed to Elgin’s economic growth and progress.

MOVING DAY: This lovely, 108-year old Victorian home on S Avenue will be moved to Palmer Avenue on Monday, causing street closures along the route between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. - The Observer/MARDI FORD

The lady — a five-bedroom, two-story Victorian house — will be moved from its current location on S Avenue all the way to Palmer Avenue.

The entire planning commission of the City of Elgin resigned Thursday night rather than consent to new ethics requirements taking effect this year.

“As volunteers in a small community, they all resigned rather than have the state post their personal and financial information on the Internet, and further having the state threaten them with fines and a Class C felony for protecting their privacy,” said Elgin City Administrator Joe Garlitz.

A 2007 amendment to Chapter 244 of the Oregon Revised Statutes means that all public officials in Union and Wallowa counties, for the first time, will need to submit a Statement of Economic Interest to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.

SWEET CELEBRATION: Central Elementary School fourth-grader Brittni Ball eats a piece of pie while talking with classmate Sarah Clark as they celebrate International Pi Day on Friday. - The Observer/DICK MASON

A riddle of infinite proportions.

It is the mystery of pi, the most famous ratio in mathematics. One which the 25 students in Leslie Graham’s fourth-grade class at Central Elementary celebrated Friday during International Pi Day.

Pi, as everyone who has taken geometry knows, is approximately 3.14, the number of times that a circle’s diameter will fit around the circle.