HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL INSPORTS, 9A
DESPITE BROKEN FOOT,HANNAH HULSE EARNS PLACE ON ELITEUSA HIGH PERFORMANCE VOLLEYBALLTEAM INSTATE,12A
SAFET YWORKMEANSMORE QILTRA INSFQRQREGQNTQWN
'
"
P'
.
„
"' "
.
„
,
„
'
„
,
.
IN LOCAL,8A
ANNUALTOUR HIGHUGHTS UNION COUNTY'SDIVERSITY
THE SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTIES SINCE 1896 I
I
r
I
I
I
r
r
I
Substance
likely to
NATIONAL GUARD
WesCom News Service
La Grande resident Todd Gorham said he doesn't follow the news out of Iraq. At least not anymore. When Brian Cole, also a La Grande resident, talks about Iraq, he exudes an indifferent outlook, regarding the situation through a lens of complex geo-politics. Baker City Councilor and Vietnam War veteran Clair Button said he doesn't spend
I
LA GRANDE
News of b l i n gIraqhard to watch for local war veterans By Pat Caldwell
r
much time reading or viewing TV news about the current situation in Iraq either. The three men — though separated by age and distance — share a common link: All three participated in two of the most controversial American wars since the end of World War II. The Associated Press Button served as an infantryman in Vietnam, An armed convoy of the Kurdistan regional governwhile Cole and Gorham served in Iraq. ment proceeds on a street of Kirkuk amid an onslaught SeeIraq / Page 5A by the militant Islamic State in lraq and Syria group.
remain a
mystery • Suspicious material led to evacuation of Social Security building By Dick Mason
LA GRANDE
The Observer
What was the suspicious powdery substance which forced the La Grande Social Security office building to be evacuated on Tuesday? The answer will likely never be provided to the
public. eWe will not be releasing what the substance is. We do not want to encourage copy cats," said Beth Anne Steele public affairs specialist for the FBI's Portland office. The suspicious substance was received in the mail at the La Grande Social Security office building, 2205 Cove Ave. on Tuesday. The suspicious substance was reported to the La Grande Police Department shortly before 2:30 p.m. The police and other public safety officials then arrived at the scene. The individual who had been exposed to the See Mystery / Page 5A
LA GRANDE
URAto fund
$100K for business Chris Baxter/TheObserver
• Agency criticized before passing • Financial gift from former member transforms church in north La Grande neighborhood 2014-15 budget Crossroads Community Church Pastor Gary Hood shows off the exterior of his church at 601 Jefferson Ave. in La Grande. The church recently underwent a renovation that included a new roof, painting and exterior work.
By Jeff Petersen The Observer
Drive by the Crossroads Community Church, 601 Jefferson Ave., in north La Grande and you'll probably do a double take. "A few people have asked, 'Did we get a new building?"' said Gary Hood, who has been pastor at the church for about 16 years. The answer is no. But thanks to a gift &om Leola Miller, a former member of the church who at her
deathleftabout$20,000 forthe church to use, the old stucco building with a faded mission look has gottena facelift. "She was just like that," Hood said."Nobody knew she had set the money aside. She was forward
INDEX Calendar........7A Classified.......1B Comics...........7B Crossvvord.....2B Dear Abby .....BB
WE A T H E R Health ............BC Opinion..........4A Horoscope.....2B Outdoors .......1C Lottery............3A Spiritual Life..BA Record ...........3A Sports ............9A Obituaries......3A Television ......3C
ON Y •000
looking and wanted to give it to the church, and I think she would be pleased with how it was used." The work has taken about a year. The project started with the roof and then moved on to painting and stucco touch up, a new pocket park and rock work by Richard Muilenburg Masonry. Much of the work, however, was done by church members and, occasionally, neighbors and fiiends. On larger projects, such as painting, and on work days,m ore than 30 volunteers were enthusiastically lending their skills to the work, Hood said. 'You get enough hands involved in a project and it's surprising how fastsome ofthiscan go,"H ood said.
0L
The work has caught the attention of many people in the community and the neighborhood. "During the major phases of the work last fall and winter, hundreds ofpeoplepassed by offering encouragement and compliments," Hood said."Peoplestopped to speak to volunteers. Others honked, waved, gave a big thumbs-up and always highlighted their responses with a smile." The new look and design was created by Cyndi Villamor, a professional designer and member of Crossroads who was also the project manager. The changes include a new design to the rooflines, a new stone facade, window changes, paint
Friday
Saturday
S unday
42 bOW
76/42
81/48
Partly sunny
Sunny
A GRAND E AWARDS PRETTIEST YARDS •000
By Kelly Ducote The Observer
As urban renewal projects from the last fiscal year come to fiuition, the La Grande Urban Renewal Agency wants to see yet another project happen with the help of urban renewal dollars. The agency on Wednesday
voted to approve $80,000 in funding for Brickyard Lanes, a bowling alley set to be established in downtown La Grande in the old Eagles building. The funding approval also allows for up to
$20,000in funding forpublic right-of-way improvements. The URA earlier this spring had approved funding SeeURA / Page 5A
CONTACT US
Fu l l forecast on the back of B section
~ Mair ly clear
color enhancements, new signing and a garden area that invites people, especially those strolling through the neighborhood, to stop and sit for a while. Still to be finished are gutter work, more window dressing and shutters on some of the south side windows. A plaque also might be attachedto a stoneofthe blessing gardensayingitwasmade possible by Miller's gift. "I think the work has given the church more character," Hood said. "The neighbors have been excited and positive about it, and I think our goals have been achieved." Besides Richard Muilenburg Masonry, businesses and contractors SeeChurch / Page 5A
541-963-3161 Issue 74 3 sections, 28 pages La Grande, Oregon
Email story ideas to newsC~lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
s I
•
51 1 53 0 0 1 00 I
•000
6