La Grande Observer RSS feed http://www.lagrandeobserver.com Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:51:46 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/images/M_images/pubLogoSmall.gif http://www.lagrandeobserver.com La Grande Observer RSS feed http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Public-Notices/Public-notices-for-the-day-of-March-17-2010 News - Public Notices Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:59:48 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Business/WC-Construction-wins-bid-for-Phase-II-opera-house-renovation ELGIN — Bids for Phase II of the Elgin Opera House renovation were opened at City Hall last Thursday, and the work was awarded to WC Construction of Elgin. The City received bids from four area contractors. WC Construction came in with the lowest bid of $203,782; Wellens Farwell of Enterprise bid $237,000; Sid Johnson & Co. of Baker City bid $269,479 and GCT Land Management of La Grande had the highest bid of $404,586. “We’re really excited to get a job in Elgin, especially on a building like the opera house,” said Dennis Cross of Elgin-based WC Construction. “We’re anxious to work with the city and improve the building and make it a nice place to visit.” News - Business Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:53:29 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Business/Room-tax-hike-worries-motel-owners With the City of La Grande contemplating a hike in the transient room tax, there’s a ripple of discontent running through the local lodging industry. Public discussion on the proposal is coming up, but for now, some of La Grande’s motel owners aren’t happy with the idea of bumping the tax by 2 percent. “I’m trying to keep the same rates I had three years ago,” said Sushil Kamar, owner of the Quail Run Motor Inn at the east end of Adams Avenue. “Believe it or not, if I raise my rates by one dollar, my guests will stop coming.” News - Business Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:49:00 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Obituaries/Obituaries-for-the-day-of-March-17-2010 Lenon, Hermann, Jackson, Zollman, Kennedy, Kratochvil, Meyers, Rudman News - Obituaries Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:45:39 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/Opinion/Editorials/Elgin-students-are-making-a-difference Headlines in newspapers and soundbites on television have a big tendency to make people believe the world is a worse place to live than it really is. Bad things, scary things, make the news, every time. Everyday good things, thousands of them, go largely unnoticed. The City of Elgin has been a victim of such. Last summer, a self-admitted meth addict murdered three people there, and, to make the crime more spectacular, dismembered one of them. For many long weeks, the little town on the banks of the Grande Ronde was in the news in a way it never deserved. People who didn’t know better jumped to the conclusion that Elgin is the methamphetamine and murder capital of the world. Opinion - Editorials Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:41:47 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/Eastern-drive-nets-more-than-6-tons-of-food The Union County Food Bank has received a multi-ton assist from Eastern Oregon University. EOU has donated 12,994 pounds of food to the Union County Food Bank. “It is amazing, absolutely amazing,’’ said Carmen Gentry, Union County assistant manager for Community Connection of Northeast Oregon and its food bank manager. News - Local News Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:39:18 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/Baby-found-at-Minam-park-stillborn ENTERPRISE — The near full-term infant found dead at Minam State Park March 8 was stillborn, the state medical examiner’s office has determined. On Tuesday a Wallowa County grand jury issued an indictment charging Olivia Lorraine Soares with second-degree abuse of a corpse and concealing the birth of an infant. Soares, 21, is from La Grande but her parents live in Wallowa. She is currently not in custody. News - Local News Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:37:43 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/Former-NBA-player-Dudley-campaigns-in-Enterprise ENTERPRISE — Chris Dudley says he is increasingly frustrated and concerned about Oregon. He hopes to do something about it. Dudley is running for governor. Last week he brought his campaign to Enterprise. “I am of the belief Oregon is not reaching its potential,” said Dudley, a former Portland Trail Blazer who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. News - Local News Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:36:29 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/Being-a-parent-is-heavy-responsibility Becoming a parent is a major life transition. A good friend of mine told me right after my first child was born that, over time, I would receive the blessing of forgetting what life was like before children. Back when I could sleep the whole night through. Back when going on a date with my husband could be a spur of the moment decision. Back when uninterrupted work time was a given, rather than a carefully orchestrated event. She was right, of course — that old life does seem so long ago now. News - Local News Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:14:40 +0100 http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/Sports/Sports/EOU-softball-continues-hot-play-in-sweep-of-Wolves COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. — The Eastern Oregon University softball team continues its great start to the 2010 season after sweeping Walla Walla University Sunday, 5-3 and 4-3. The Mountaineers (6-0) were led by Jen McDonnell in both victories. The freshman ended her day with nine strikeouts and only four walks after facing 43 batters. McDonnell is now 5-0 on the mound for EOU. Eastern jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings in Game 1. Iris Woodhead hit a home run and a double during the Mountaineer scoring. The senior was 2 for 2 at the plate and was walked twice. Sports - Sports Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:13:06 +0100