IN GO!MAGA2INE
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Nain Street earns honor, 18 Tigers roll past Pendleton, 8A SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA CO U N T IES SINCE 1896
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• Deterio ratingbridges expected tocosttheeconomy 100,000 jobs and S180 million per year to maintain By George Plaven
Inside
East Oregonian
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PENDLETON — Oregon's bridgesare getting older,and unless lawmakers can come up with a long-term funding fix, state highway workers worry they won't be able to keep up with construction and maintenance. That's not only a nuisance fortravelers,butaburden on industry. Deteriorating bridgesareexpected to cost the economy 100,000 jobs and
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$180 million per year simply to maintain highway bridges at their current condition. Legislators failed to passa
Oregon ranchers reacted with jubilation Tuesdayto the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's decision not to list the sage grouse under the federal Endangered Species Act. Page 7A
$1.3 billion bill allocated by
CTE revitalization grants from the Oregon Department of Education for their programs ENTERPRISE — Brad Avakian, commis- in welding, agriculture, computer-assisted sioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and drafting and other subjects. Industries, periodically deals with state isAvakian was impressed by how the grant sues around which sparks of controversy fly. funding is being used by Wallowa County Sparksfl ew around Avakian on Monday high schools to put them on the cutting edge during his visit to Wallowa County, not those ofvocational technicaleducation. ofcontroversybut sparks worth celebrating. "Schools in your part of the state are way Avakian toured Enterprise, Joseph and ahead of the curve. There is so much innovaWallowa high schools to observe the status tion,"Avakian told educators and students oftheircareer technicaleducation programs. at Enterprise High School. All three high schools have received big He said this after observing how students boostsover the pasttwo years afterreceiving are using their improved equipment in lab a totalofm ore than $800,000 since 2013 in settings. At Enterprise High School, Avakian By Dick Mason
The Observer
went into a welding booth with student Brett Greenshields. Sparks flew as Greenshields skillfully cut a piece of metal. Cutting-edge welding equipment is among many items EHS purchased after receiving a $250,000statecareertechnicaleducation grant in 2014. EHS has also purchased computer-assisted drafling equipment, laser cutters, a 3-D printer and metal and woodcutting equipment. Avakian takes a personal interest in how CTE grant money is spent because his office plays a role in landing the money and determining how it is distributed. Charlie Burr, See Visit / Page5A
LA GRANDE
Ci ex lorin a ossi le asolinetax • Library user fee taken OA'the table
they wanted to find ways to increase revenue through several means, one of which has now been nixed. An idea to implement a library user fee is now off the table after the state librarian notified city staff that the measure would not be permissible under Oregon law. Implementing a gas tax, another idea explored by the
By Kelly Ducote The Observer
La Grande's revenue raising options may be even more limited than the city's ad hoc fiscal committee first realized. At the committee's August meeting, members indicated
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group, would require a vote of the citizens, a hurdle in the group's effortto address the city's general fund ending cash balance shortfall. A three-cent gas tax would
bringan estim ated $438,000 a year to the city, with the funds earmarkedforuseon streets. The city is about $3 million behind in street maintenance,
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Street and Storm Sewer Superintendent Ray Crapo said at a Monday night work session. "It's ongoing,"Crapo said of that figure. Fiscal committee members noted that gas tax revenue would make only a dent in terms of maintenance needs but that it would help. SeeCity / Page5A
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Pot issue may gobefore voters in 2016 • Commissioners remain undecided on opt out issue By Dick Mason The Observer
It is an unlikely scenario, but there is a chance that the UnionCounty Board of Commissioners will let the county's voters have the last word on a local hot button marijuana issue. Commissioner Jack Howard plansto propose thatthe Union County Commission let voters determine whether See County / Page5A
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Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to news@lagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
Issue 112 3 sections, 36 pages La Grande, Oregon
RIDAY IN OUTDOORS TROPHY ELK HUNT TICKETS GOING FAST •
the 2003 Oregon Transportation Investment Act. The program, which wrapped up lastyear,repaired 122 state highway bridges and replaced another 149, although ODOT says it won't be able to keep up that momentum. As a region, Eastern See Bridges / Page5A
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The last holdout Most towns in Union County have already chosen to opt out of Measure 91. Union County is one ofthe last entities in the county to decide.
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