The old Lostine School is now Providence Academy. Lostine School closed in 1966, but some of the student who attended the Bowlby-stone structure will be holding a renunion at the school at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. File photo

Nuss and Myrla Zollman Clark, who graduated in 1961 with only one classmate, are organizing a Lostine School Reunion that will be held Saturday at the school in Lostine beginning at 10:30 a.m. with visiting and sharing old photos, which everyone is encouraged to bring. Old school year books and memorabilia will be on exhibit.

The event is open to anybody who ever attended Lostine School, including the most recent attendees, students of the Providence Academy, which opened in 2000.

The Imnaha Store & Tavern sits in the heart of Imnaha — population 14.

Ever since Dave and Sallie Tanzey began thinking about retiring some eight years ago, people began sticking dollar bills on the ceiling with their name and phone number, to be called for a big retirement party.

Today the ceiling is virtually covered with dollar bills. Most are folded around a quarter used for weight behind a thumb tack.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Boy Scout Michael Quebbeman installed this sign at the Lower Perry Swimming Hole while making a park at the site. Observer photos/DICK MASON

Then there are people like La Grande Boy Scout Michael Quebbeman.

He created a park.

Louise and John Van Schoonhoven love living in Cove and being involved in the community. They will be honored as grand marshals of the Cove Cherry Fair Saturday. Photo/AMBER GLAZE

In 1998 the Van Schoonhovens helped in the creation of the Cove Community Association, which restarted the historic Cherry Fair. This year the fair is celebrating its 10th annual anniversary.

When speaking about being selected grand marshals of the Cherry Fair, which takes place Saturday, John and Louise said they are honored.

Two birds collected by Union County Vector Control in the Summerville and Elgin areas have tested positive for the West Nile virus.

The birds are the first samples that have tested positive for West Nile virus this year, Kelly Beehler of vector control said.

Vector control has an ongoing surveillance program for West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases. Routine samples are collected from mosquito pools and dead birds, and are tested.

The proposed major reconstruction of South 12th Street was unveiled before the La Grande Planning Commission Wednesday night, with the commission giving approval of the design ahead of an upcoming public meeting to be held by the city and Union County.

La Grande Public Works Director Norm Paullus showed the commission a map that detailed the features of the project, which is a rebuild of a nearly mile-long stretch of road in a densely populated residential area.

Paullus said the design varies from city standards because of topography, width constraints and private property concerns. He said the plan can be fine-tuned as the public process continues.

Amtrak’s Pioneer might soon be back on track.

Amtrak is expected to issue a preliminary report any day on restoring the Pioneer route. A final report is due to Congress in October.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in Boise Monday that states and local communities may still be asked to help cover some of the costs of restoring the Pioneer Route. But those costs may not be as significant as some once thought, Crapo said.

Five school districts in Union and Wallowa counties met all of the federal adequate yearly progress (AYP) standards, according to new 2008-09 ratings released by the Oregon Department of Education.

On the other side of the ledger, four school districts in Union and Wallowa counties did not meet all AYP standards but many came within a hair’s breadth of doing so. The standards are part of the federal No Child Left Behind program.

The Cove, Union, Enterprise, Joseph and Wallowa districts met all AYP standards. The La Grande, Imbler, North Powder and Elgin districts fell short of meeting all standards.

SENIOR SERENADE: Jim-Bill Rasmussen will play his electronic keyboard at a free concert Saturday at the Union County Senior Center. - The Observer/DICK MASON

Rasmussen was told that he had been in an electrical accident weeks earlier, one which had cost him both his arms.

“A nurse told me. I took it pretty hard,’’ said the Island City resident, who was then 24 and lived in Great Falls, Mont.

Today Rasmussen, 62, has two hook-like prostheses, but when things are going well he feels like he has 13 fingers.

More on this later.