The Observer 01-11-16

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IN HOME I I.MNG -

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SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA CO U N T IES SINCE 1896

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HARNEY COUNTY DOWNTOWN LA GRANDE

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By Kelly Ducote, The Observer

La Grande Economic Development Director Christine Jarski has been onthe jobsixmonths. In 2016, she hopes the city — and its Urban Renewal Agency — can help revitalize the downtown by filling some vacancies, specifically vacancies of city- or URA-owned property. cWe really have some treasures in our old buildings," Jarski said. One such vacancy is at 1106 Adams Ave., a building sitting on two lots that previously housed the State Theatre and the Odd Fellows. The building's prior owners approached the city/URA about a transfer of ownership that would allow for access to grant funding for environmental cleanup, said City and URA Manager Robert Strope.

Included in that agreement was aprovision thatallowed the URA to complete work at the property and then sell it to recover the agency's cost and share the proceeds with the prior owners. The agreement also allowed for the owners to eventually exercise their right to repurchase the property from the URA. In 2014, though, the investorsopted nottorepurchase the building,"leaving the property completely within the ownership of the agency," Strope said. The URA voted to list the property, which includes more than 15,000 square feet, not including its basement, said John Howard, the realtor who

• Wallowa County Sherif's Ofice sends two to assist with standoA'in Harney County Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver

La Grande Economic Development Director Christine Jarski leads a tour of 1106Adams Ave., a historic building currently owned bythe La Grande Urban Renewal Agency. Currently on the market, Jarski hopes the building will become a multi-use facility. has listed the building. Howard said the building has been on the market about a month. cWe've had a good number of showings on it," he said. Among its positives, said Howard, are a new roof and environmental cleanup-

including asbestos removalalreadycompleted. Because of work already done inside, Howard said, it will be easy to move walls or even change plumbing in the building. 'You have to use your SeeDowntown / Page5A

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By Katy Nesbitt ForThe Observer

ENTERPRISE — Two officers from the Wallowa County SherifFs Office left for Burns Friday in response to apotentially dangerous situation mounting in Harney County. ''When another sheriff asks for help, you Rogers go ," Wallowa County Sheriff Steve Rogers said. According to Fred Steen, Wallowa County chief deputy, the conflict in Harney County was discussed at the Oregon State SherifFs Association annual meeting in early December. 'There had already been some people there behaving in a threatening manner," SeeHelp / Page5A

The occupation of national wildlife area by a small, armed group upset over federal land policies stretched into its second week as the mother of the group's leaderasked supporters to send supplies — everything from warm blankets to coffee creamer. Page 8A

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TRAIN CRASH

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Oregon State Police photo Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver

La Grande lnterim Fire Chief Emmett Cornford inspects an old fire engine on display at the Eastern Oregon Fire Museum. Officials hope the building that houses the museum may soon have more to offer, potentially including a brewery, restaurant and other businesses.

OSP: Woman

REAL PEOPLE

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ManleyiIIggleS

family,wor sgorts By Ronald Bond The Observer

To say that La Grande resident Blake Manley is a busy individual would be a drastic understatement. Start with the fact that Manley, 34, is a third-generation logger, working in a family business that his father bought part of from his uncle in 1989 when the family moved to Cove. That alone ties him up anywhere from 30 to 40 hours

a week. Then last spring, he was approached by Cove School District Superintendent Bruce Neil about taking over as the Cove High School athletic director when Neil wanted to step away from the position. "I saw it as an opportunity to be apartofa schoolthatIfeel so deeply about," Manley said. "Igraduated from Cove in 2000. That fuels a bit of my fire. SeeManley / Page 5A

INDEX Classified.......4B Comics...........3B Community...SA Crossword..... 5B Dear Abby .....SB

WE A T H E R Home.............1B Opinion..........4A Horoscope..... 5B Outskirts ........7A Letters............4A Record ...........3A Lottery............2A Sports ............1C Obituaries......3A Sudoku ..........3B

EDNESDAY •000

Rescue personnel work the scene of a train versus car accident on Miller Lane and Curtis Road outside of Union, when the crash killed three people.

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By Cherise Kaechele The Observer

The train versus vehicle accidentthat claimed three lives two weeks ago is wrapping up without much more informationto add,according to Oregon State Police Sgt. Kyle Hove.

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Courtesy photo

Blake Manley, shown with his wife, Miranda, and two children, Abigail and Eleanor, juggles family and his work as a logger, Cove's athletic director, track coach and a basketball referee.

F ull forecast on the back of B section

Tonight 25 LOW Rather cloudy

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Tuesday

36/32 Mostly cloudy

CONTACT US

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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 5 3 sections, 20 pages La Grande, Oregon

A LOOKAT THEDAYS OF THE PIONEERS •000

iColpittsl was driving," Hove sald. OSP was able to obtain avideorecording from the trainofthe accident,he said. The video was "grainy," but SeeCrash / Page5A

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