February 05, 2010 02:28 pm
What will you be known for? Will you leave a significant mark on the
world? One person can make a big difference, as a Union third grade
teacher proves.
The best legacies are self-perpetuating. Such is the case of the one
left by Union’s Judy Thomas, who taught at the elementary school for 30
years ending in 2001 and died in 2004. She believed all children should
know how to swim by third grade and left in a family trust money for
grade school swim lessons that are now providing Union third-graders
this opportunity.
|
February 04, 2010 06:04 pm
|
The governor has proposed, and many people are talking about, the need for the state to revamp its tax kicker program, which returns revenue in excess of what was budgeted to the taxpayers in the form of a rebate. In 2000, voters put the kicker into the state Constitution. Any changes proposed by the Legislature would need to be ratified by voters.
|
February 03, 2010 03:02 pm
In a key, closely observed U.S. Senate race recently, Massachusetts voters chose Republican Scott Brown over Democrat Martha Coakley. People say the balance of power is shifting in Washington. If so, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
There’s been a lot of debate on whether the GOP victory was a referendum on health care reform, or on the economy. Probably it was something of both, though it is a little hard to understand voters choosing a Republican based on the economic question. Our economy went to hell under a Republican administration, and is showing some signs of recovery under a Democratic one.
|
February 02, 2010 03:20 pm
|
Union has a lot going for it: low crime rate, natural beauty, Buffalo Peak Golf Course, the historic Union Hotel built in 1921, Victorian-era architecture, a Main Street commercial area that has acquired National Historic District status and many new businesses, and friendly and enterprising people.
The recent addition of a doctor to the Union Family Health Center helps the town build on its strengths. The announcement that family practitioner Kim Montee is giving up his private practice in La Grande in favor of public health work is good indeed. Dr. Montee already works as the medical director of the Elgin Family Clinic.
|
January 29, 2010 12:03 pm
Now that we are in the heart of flu season, it’s time for a friendly
reminder on what each of us can do to prevent the spread of the virus.
The first step is to get vaccinated. Get a flu shot and, especially if
you are in the target group, get vaccinated against H1N1, more
popularly known as swine flu. Target groups include children younger
than 5, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with
pre-existing medical conditions such as chronic lung disease, blood
disorders and diabetes.
|
January 28, 2010 03:10 pm
|
Oregon voters sent a message Tuesday night. It might not be something many of us on the east side want to hear, but it was an important message about public services in Oregon.
Voters, by about a 54 percent to 46 percent margin, said yes to higher taxes on Oregon’s richest citizens and on corporations. They endorsed tax increases approved by the 2009 Legislature that had been challenged by a group that called itself Oregonians against Job-Killing Taxes. A majority of voters said they are tired of larger and larger class sizes, shorter school years and cuts to social services.
|
January 26, 2010 03:24 pm
|
It’s interesting that many emergency medical service workers don’t use the word “accident” anymore when referring to vehicle wrecks. The more accepted word is “crash,” because the term accident implies that the wreck could not have been avoided. The realization has dawned that almost all wrecks can be avoided, if only people pay attention to what they’re doing.
And here’s something to think about, courtesy of the National Safety Council: Nationwide, 28 percent of crashes happen because people talk on cell phones or send text messages when they drive.
|
January 25, 2010 03:24 pm
The Eastern Oregon University enrollment gains and retraining initiatives provide hope in an uncertain time.
EOU’s commitment to excellence is paying dividends. Reaching 4,000
enrollment by the end of fall term, an almost 9 percent increase over a
year earlier and the largest in its 81-year history, is a tribute to
everyone associated with the university, but most notably to the
recruiting work of the admissions office. The enrollment gains show
that there is good access to higher education. It also reinforces the
idea that more people are going back to school, and staying in school,
because of the recession.
|
January 22, 2010 03:05 pm
|
For quite some time now the Wallowa Lake Fire District Board of Directors and the Joseph Fire Department have been at odds over the lake’s firefighting contract. The city fire department has a contract to provide the district’s fire coverage. But for the past two years at least, when the contract comes up for renewal, the two sides have struggled to settle their differences.
|
January 21, 2010 03:45 pm
|
In this age of pervasive sex and violence in popular culture, of divorce and decay of the family, of social problems and parental irresponsibility, of declining ethical standards and morality, it’s refreshing to see people doing the right thing. That was true in the case of the recent home fire on Ash Street. Doing the right thing meant racing into flames to rescue neighbors and loved ones. It meant risking lives to save others.
|
|
Opinion 
