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

There has been so much newspaper coverage of the proposed purchase of the Mount Emily property being considered by the Union County commissioners that it would seem no opposition prevails. Wrong! There are a great number of citizens of our county who do not favor such an endeavor on the part of Union County officials.

In simple and direct language, there are a number of reasons why there is opposition to involving the county in this supposedly beneficial endeavor:

Union County voters are fortunate to have five good candidates vying for the one open county commissioner seat being vacated by Colleen MacLeod. After much discussion, the Observer editorial board recommends voters choose Mark Davidson in the Republican race and Jim Mollerstrom in the Democratic race.

The editorial board believes Davidson will work better with the other commissioners, and because of less friction, will get more accomplished. And in these times of uncertain federal timber receipts, a logjam in decision making could be harmful to the county. Davidson’s fiscal conservatism should pay dividends as the county figures the best path into an uncertain future.

The chance for Union County to own a piece of Mount Emily and control what happens there is simply too good to pass up. The Observer urges local residents to vote yes on the upcoming Mount Emily Recreation Area advisory referendum.

The story by now is very familiar to local residents. Union County, at the behest of the Mt. Emily Recreation Coalition, has worked out a deal to buy 3,700 acres of land on Mount Emily from Forest Capital Partners.

The plan is to manage the parcel for motorized and non-motorized recreation, and for natural resource use. But it is by no means a done deal. The county has referred the question of whether it should proceed with the purchase to voters.

My mom is a dear, dear woman. And a phone call from her is like manna from heaven. But getting her off the line can be as hard as dressing a bull in a mini-skirt.

She’ll say, “I gotta go now.”

I’ll get up from the couch in the living room and walk toward the kitchen, ready to hang up the phone. Just as I’m about to say goodbye, she says, “Oh, and one more thing. Did you hear my locked mailbox got broken into?”

One of the toughest choices The Observer editorial board has had to make involves the decision on who to endorse for District 10 circuit court judge. Incumbent Phil Mendiguren, who has served two terms, is being challenged by Dan Ousley, former Wallowa County district attorney. The editorial board sees positives — and negatives — with both candidates. But after lengthy discussion, the board has decided to endorse Judge Mendiguren.

The race for circuit judge has become a hotly contested one, with  accusations being tossed around from both sides. Both men have made enemies in their careers, which is not unexpected considering the fact Mendiguren has served two terms as judge and Ousley served three terms as district attorney before losing re-election in 2006.

For a number of years George was concerned that when he died no one would come to his funeral. On Thursday morning, April 30, it looked like he needn’t have worried.

The sea of faces that surrounded the family in love and concern as we left the First Christian Church sanctuary was a never-to-be forgotten tribute to the man who loved everyone on a one-to-one basis without anger or rancor.

Had I not known and loved George on such a personal level, I may have been amazed at such an outpouring of love by the whole community and from afar

When the Oregon Transportation Commission holds a public hearing May 13 and convenes for a final decision June 19 to determine funding for Connect Oregon II funds, it will be hard-pressed to find a project that will have more regional economic impact than the Alicel grain storage expansion.

The proposed $2.7 million Alicel project would provide for the purchase of 4 1/2 acres of land, construction of a 755,000-bushel grain storage facility and extension of rail siding in order to make the Alicel terminal a top-notch, competitive grain shipping center. The proposal is a concept that would help move local products to a worldwide market. It deserves serious consideration.

Oregon Democrats have three state senators to choose from for their nomination for secretary of state in the May 20 primary. Sens. Kate Brown of Portland, Rick Metsger of Sandy and Vicki Walker of Eugene are competing for their party’s nomination. Rick Dancer, a Eugene television anchor, is unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Democrats would do well by nominating Metsger. He has demonstrated, through 10 years in the Oregon Senate, that he is a fair-minded person who makes decisions based on what is best for Oregon, not just his party.

The Union County Board of Commissioners is asking Union County voters whether they support pursuing the purchase of 3,669 acres commonly referred to as the Mount Emily Recreation Area (MERA). As part of the continuing effort to explain the proposed purchase, the following information is provided to educate county voters on what the purchase includes and how the property is proposed to be managed if purchased.