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• La Grande City C ouncil declines to allow potfacilities to sell recreational marijuana By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver
Workers cover the 500-foot-long plate arch culvert under Interstate 84 near milepost 270. The Ladd Creek fish passage project is nearing completion, and fish should be able to swim through the area toward the end of November.
A possible
es orin in a
third lane The Ladd Creek project to replace a 25-foot culvert will also give ODOT the option of constructing a third lane of travel on 1-84, said ODOT spokesperson Tom Strandberg. "This kind of all ties in and enables us to do that in the future," he said. A third lane is not currently funded, Strandberg said, but this project aligns with that vision for the future. The third lane would go in on the eastbound side, where trucks typically slow for the climb up the canyon.
B 1B
By Kelly Ducote
an on
The Observer
By Thanksgiving, fish are expectedtogain accessto more than 10 miles ofhabitat along Ladd Creek that has been shut off to them for decades. The state departments of transportation and fish and wildlife are nearing the completion of the long-await-
• Oregon Department of Transportation's Ladd Creek project will allow access to 12 miles ofhabitat
Firefighters continued to gain an upper hand Thursday on the 12,702-acre Eagle Complex fires. Page 2A
project, which will eliminate a 25-footverticaldrop along the creek where it crosses Interstate84,nearmilepost
270. "For me, this is one of those projects thatgivesyou goose
bumps," said Greg Apke,
48frr
ODFW fish passage coordinator.'You're witnessing a project that's taken many decades to come to fiuition.a When the interstate was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, the work drew people to Northeast Oregon, some of Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver whom stayed around. This new culvert will allow fish to travel up Ladd Creek, which they have not See Ladd / Page 5A been able to do for decades.
By Dick Mason
the containment level of the fires to 27 percent, up from 23 percent on Wednesday. Good weather was an ally of irefi f ghters. cWe had moderate temperatures and good shadow from the clouds," said Tom Lavagnino, a public infor-
The Observer
The sun did not shine brightly Thursday, helping firefighters to continue to shine in their efforts to fully contain the 74,709-acre Grizzly Bear Complexfi res. The firefighters' efforts raised
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The La Grande City Council will hold the second reading of an ordinance for opting out at next month's meeting with more public comment.
Union Coun recess hearing on HB 3400
ed Ladd Creek fish passage
Progress made wi Grizzly Bear 6res Inside
The La Grande City Council decided not to allow Hwy. 30 Cannabis and Eagle Cap Dispensary, the local two medical marijuana facilities, to sell recreational marijuana in less than a month. The Oregon Legislature came out with a measure that would allow medical marijuana facilities in the state to sell recreationally beginning Oct. 1, if the municipalities allowed it. At the meeting on Wednesday night, most of the objections forthepresale mentioned the fact that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has not passed regulations forrecreational marijuana, which creates a difficult situation for local police departments. La Grande Police Chief See Council / Page 5A
What's next?
WE A T H E R
mation officer for the Grizzly Bear Complex fires."Fire activity was very moderate ion Thursday)." The status of the Grizzly Bear Complex fires has improved to the point that the road closures in the area were reduced Thursday. The See Fires / Page 5A
44 rorN Periods ofrain
Saturday .
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. 60/38 ~ Alittle rain
Union County Commissionersasked for public comment on Oregon House Bill 3400, and they are getting it. The commissioners recessed Wednesday's public hearing until the next meeting because of the number of residents who asked to speak on the subject. The commissioners are faced with deciding whether to opt out of allowing the productionand sale of marijuana in unincorporated parts of the county. Community members came forward Wednesday asking the commissioners not to opt out and instead reap the benefits of the tax revenue from the See County / Page 5A
Joan Smith said during Wednesday's meeting that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has not passed its regulations regarding recreational marijuana and the community isn't equipped to have it available to sell.
CONTACT US
F ull forecast onthe backof B section
Friday
Objections
By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
Sunday
69/39 Warmer
541-963-3161 Issue 104 3 sections, 26 pages La Grande, Oregon
MON DAY IN HOME IN DEFENSE OF THE GARDEN PEST: ZUCCHINI
Email story ideas to newsC~/agrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
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