UNION — The Union County Museum invites the public to come see its completed Livery Station on Main Street in Union.

A special open house and ribbon cutting is planned for Saturday. The Union County Ambassadors will have the honor of cutting the ribbon at 11 a.m. The open house runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Val Stockhoff, member of the museum’s board of directors, said the purpose of the event is to “celebrate the Livery Station and be able to let everybody see what’s been going on over the past couple of years and thank everyone who made it possible.”

Five individuals were arrested this week in Union and Baker counties on outstanding Union County warrants charging failure to pay child support.

The Union County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday that the five men were taken into custody as part of a coordinated statewide sweep. Parents allegedly delinquent in child support payments were targeted, with a total of 21 arrested.

“Union County had by far the highest success rate of any other county involved in the sweep, as it accounted for nearly a quarter of all the arrests statewide,” said Union County District Attorney Tim Thompson.

Everything about this year’s Crossing the Blues Festival in downtown La Grande this weekend is bigger and better than the inaugural event last summer.

That means more fun for everybody, including the kids.

The CTB Children’s Carnival, slated Saturday on Chestnut Street between Adams and Jefferson avenues, features a variety of returning activities and enough new ones to keep youngsters happily entertained all day.

WALLOWA LAKE — The Wallowa Valley Photo Club will host a gathering of former and current members at Wallowa Lake State Park Saturday to celebrate 20 years of photography.

Current and former club members will bring pictures to share with one another, and to reminisce.

The club came into being Oct. 8, 1988, at a meeting among nine people who had an interest in photography and a wish to band together to help one another to grow in their knowledge of photography. Some of the original nine still live in the area and some have been continuously active with photography, such as Linda Eytchison. She took advantage of the photography classes that Doris Wompner offered from a small business inside the Art Angle in Joseph to learn the art and science of photography.

Working at the Wallowa County Visitors Center in Enterprise gave Jessica Mendez of Wallowa confidence, people skills and knowledge of Wallowa County. Submitted photos

With the coordination of several funding streams, TEC was able to hire two five-person crews to work predominantly in natural resource, conservation and historically or culturally significant projects in Wallowa County. TEC was also able to place nine other students in businesses and non-profit agencies for approximately eight weeks of employment at minimum wage.

ELGIN — High school senior Beija Robbins was sworn in Tuesday evening by Mayor John Stover as an honorary student member of the city council.

Robbins is the daughter of Larry and Billie Jo Robbins of Elgin. She will attend Elgin High School and serve her senior year as student council president. She became interested in the possibility of joining the city council last April.

“Our school librarian had encouraged me to use this experience as a senior project,” said Robbins, “and I’m glad I did.”

SHOOTING THE TARGET: Dennis Fuller of La Grande fires at a target during a recent practical pistol shoot at the La Grande Rifle and Pistol Club. The observer/DICK MASON

Spangler was traveling hundreds of miles on weekends in the spring, summer and fall to compete in practical pistol shooting events in Union County and other Northwest locations.

Then a novice, Spangler was finishing behind many veteran competitors.

“I was not doing well. I wondered why I kept coming back.’’

Then it hit him — he was having the time of his life.

WALLOWA — Wallowa Union Railroad Authority has renegotiated its debt with Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and $900,000 in interest has been forgiven, directors of the railway announced Tuesday at a meeting in Wallowa.

The authority’s debt is now locked in at $1.1 million.

Now that the $900,000 in interest has been eliminated from the total bill, the debt will be paid off in two years. WURA has recently paid the first of 24 equal payments.

TEACHING LANGUAGE: Thomas Stratton, left, a 2007 Union High School graduate, was approached by many young people in South Korea who wanted to practice their English speaking skills. Submitted photo

“I did not want to make any sudden movements,’’ Stratton, a 2007 graduate of Union High School, said.

Still, Stratton saw evidence of someone who hours earlier had made many defiant steps without suffering a consequence.

Parachutes fill the sky during a jump commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Christopher McKaig of La Grande took part in the jump along with fellow Rangers, U.S. Navy Seals, French and British Commandos and German paratroopers. - Submitted photo

A sergeant with an action-filled tour of Afghanistan behind him, McKaig is training in Italy for possible deployment to Iraq later this year. In June, he got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pay homage to the heroes of World War II.