June 12, 2009 02:56 pm
|
La Grande teachers have long shown a commitment to excellence. Now they have also shown a commitment to common sense by agreeing to take a pay cut in 2009-10. Their support of a one-year contract calls for them to work four fewer days, accept a salary freeze and also accept a freeze in money paid by the district for health insurance. The contract was ratified this week by the school board.
It’s sad that the pay cut was necessary. But with the La Grande School District still facing about $2 million in cuts, the fact is that it is just a small part in righting the budget ship.
|
June 11, 2009 04:07 pm
|
It’s time to put on the blue jeans and boots and head on out to take part in a local tradition. The 102nd annual Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, the oldest continuously running show and rodeo in the Northwest, is under way in Union.
The livestock show began earlier this week. The queen’s coronation is tonight at 7, the parade is Friday at 2 p.m. and the livestock auction is Saturday at 8 a.m. Rodeo and parimutuel horse racing get under way Friday at 4 p.m. Additional performances are Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
|
June 10, 2009 03:07 pm
“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting
emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably
by burning.’’
— U.S. Code
The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will join
forces with the La Grande American Legion post to hold a flag disposal
ceremony Friday the American Legion Hall, 301 Fir St.
|
June 09, 2009 03:20 pm
|
The La Grande Main Street program has been in full swing for nearly six months, but this week it shifts into high gear.
Groups of volunteers have been meeting regularly since late January to lay out a course of action for the program, which is the cornerstone of La Grande’s downtown revitalization efforts. Come Wednesday the public will have a chance to hear what the four committees have been working on and, hopefully, sign up to take part in future activities. A public meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Cook Memorial Library. Anyone interested in helping reinvigorate downtown should plan on attending.
|
June 03, 2009 04:58 pm
The vandalism that has occurred and continues to occur up and above Fox
Hill Road, as illustrated in a story in last week’s Observer, is
senseless and needs to stop. It’s a mess up there, from illegal dumping
along the road and wreckless shooting to tearing up the land with
four-wheel drives. Stopping the illegal activity is going to require
people who use the area to play a part.
The sheriff’s department can boost its patrols from time to time. But
it has a large county to cover, all the way from North Powder to north
of Elgin. And with limited resources, it simply can’t provide
round-the-clock coverage to make sure the vandalism stops. All of us
who head to the mountains by way of Fox Hill need to keep an eye out
for vandals, for illegal dumping and for vehicles mudding off the roads
and trails. See something suspicious, take down license numbers,
descriptions and report them to the sheriff’s office.
|
June 01, 2009 03:11 pm
The Observer will be compiling a Northeast Oregon history scrapbook
this summer to coincide with Oregon’s 150th anniversary year.
We’re looking for contributions in the form of photographs and recollections from anyone who has called this region home.
|
May 28, 2009 03:41 pm
|
The economy has dealt everyone a blow. The private sector has been hit hard. The public sector is soon to follow. And while things seem to be slowly turning around, the state is faced with making projections for the next two years that are bound to take a bite out of state-funded services, from public schools and higher education to social services and public safety.
The Legislature is faced with an ominous task. It has to divvy up the dollars in a way that has the least negative impact on Oregon’s well-being. Schools will feel the hit. So will higher education. Cuts to K-12 funding and higher education will be felt, especially in areas like ours where the unemployment rates have been above the state average for some time.
|
May 21, 2009 04:05 pm
|
Economic anxiety has been running rampant due to hundreds of local manufacturing and wood products industry jobs vanishing. Although the former Fleetwood plant will be reopening under Northwood ownership and creating new jobs, it’s not known if some of the other jobs that have been lost will ever return. But thanks to help from the Training and Employment Consortium and Eastern Oregon University, there is some hope on the horizon.
That’s good, because laid-off workers can become very frustrated. They face bureaucracies that tend to be slow and inflexible when they need speed and flexibility to expedite the process of retraining and finding new employment. They also need hope.
|
May 20, 2009 04:18 pm
For the past year or so the news has been filled with economic doom and
gloom — nationally, statewide and locally. But in the past few weeks,
and amid more doom and gloom, are snippets of some positive events,
especially locally.
Grande Ronde Hospital’s new clinic, the Regional Medical Center, will
eventually employ about 70 people. Sun Storage will be opening a
manufacturing facility in the airport industrial park with plans to
eventually employ a “couple dozen’’ people. And Northwood Manufacturing
has purchased and will reopen the former Fleetwood Plant.
|
May 19, 2009 03:07 pm
|
The La Grande High School a cappella choir has hit a high note by becoming the 2009 Class 4A state champion.
The program has a long history of commitment to excellence. Credit goes to director Kevin Durfee for guiding this year’s program to the pinnacle of success, and enjoying the journey along the way. The victory proves that high expectations of students can pay dividends. Such demanding and yet at the same time fun programs help reveal to students their capabilities, which are often much greater than the students had first imagined.
|
|
|
<< Start < Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next page > End >>
|
| Results 106 - 120 of 1559 |