La Grande Observer 03-02-15

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HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL IN SPORTS, 8A

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EDUCATION SHELTER FROM THE STORM

SHELTER'S FOOD BANK SET TO OPEN

• Northeastern Oregon school leaderssupportproposalfor largest K-12 amount What they want

By Taylor W. Anderson VVesCom News Service

Cherise Kaechere/TheObserver

Kris Cross and Debera White-Waters set up for Shelter From the Storm's soup supper on Saturday. Most of the ingredients in the soup are organic, and the food comes from many local businesses.

• Domesticviolence shelter gets approval &om Community Connections to open its food bank By Cherise Kaechele The Observer

W hat do you think?

Shelter From the Storm has been full steam ahead lately, and last week's food bank approval added to the organization's enthusiasm. Admittedly, the domestic violence nonprofit had a rough time over the last year. The nonprofit moved from its longtime home on the Union County campus out to Island City following a controversial decision made by county commissioners. But Shelter Interim Director Mindy Mowery and Debera White-Waters, who sitson theboard ofdirectors, emphasize one very important point: none of the services were down for the duration of the transition.

We want to hearyour thoughts. Email letters to the editor to news@ lagrandeobserver. com and join the conversation on The Observer Opinion

Fire season may come

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page. awe're functioning no matter where we are,"WhiteWaters said.'The staff rallied together and we're going I forward." The organization is in a Cherise Kaechere/TheObserver new building and that site The Soup Supper on Saturday night required tvvo days of locationwas approved last preparation by volunteers. The nonprofit sells 200 tickets See Shelter / Page 5A for the fundraising event every year.

Homesitesannrovelionlosenhfarmlanli By Katy Nesbitt The Observer

ENTERPRISE — After almost a decadeofattempts to subdivide Hayes Farm on Airport Lane west of Joseph, the Wallowa County Planning Commission at its Feb. 24 meeting gave approval forthe creation oftw o tw o-acre parcels.

INDEX Classified.......5B Comics...........4B Community...6A Crossword.....6B Dear Abby ... 10B

WE A T H E R Home.............1B Opinion..........4A Horoscope.....6B Record ...........3A Letters............4A Sports ............SA Lottery............2A State.............12A Obituaries......3A Sudoku ..........4B

EDNESDAY •000

The two Democrats in charge of writing the state's budget proposed spending $7.235 billion in the next two years. Schools are looking for $7875 billion.

WEATHER

WALLOWA COUNTY

• Commissioners approve application to subdivide Hayes Farm west of Joseph

SALEM — A top Oregon Democrat said last week that passing an education budget is now a priority he wants to move on early, setting up a showdown on the biggest pieceofthe state budget earlier than anticipated. What Republicans and Democrats agree on at this point is that schools would benefit if the Legislature passed a K-12 budget early so dist rictscan createtheir own budgets. What lawmakers don't agree on is how much theQ give K-12 schools. The two Democrats in chargeofw riting the state's SeeFunding / Page 5A

At the commission's January meeting, commissioners had two questions they wanted cleared up beforemaking a decision — one regarded access roads to the parcelsand possiblerequirements for setback along a ditch that runs through the property for maintenance and access. The planning department's

Fu l l forecast on the back of B section

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findings said that since the proposalisa M easure 49 claim that meets the Measure 49 final order criteria, the new parcelshave access from Ski Run Road and Airport Lane. A neighbor of the property, John Lenahan, particularly objectedto the accessfrom Airport SeeApproval / Page 5A

The Grande Ronde Valley has experienced highs in the upper 50s, rain and snow — and that's all within the past couple weeks. The area's precipitation is normal for this time of year, but Eastern Oregon is definitely falling short when it comes to snowpack. It may still be February, but the dry winter in Union County has already resulted in a grass fire. La Grande Rural Fire Department Chief Larry Wooldridge said the fire departmentresponded toa grass fire in February when afir ein abackyard gotaway from the resident. "It was just enough wind to SeeFire / Page 5A

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

541-963-3161

Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to news@lagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A.

Issue 26 2 sections, 22 pages La Grande, Oregon

At risk

By Cherise Kaechele The Observer

CONTACT US

SYMPHONYORCHESTRAPERFORMS CONCERT •000

• More than 1 million homes in state atrisk forwild6redamage

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According to CoreLogic's 2015Wildfire Hazard Risk Report, there are 28 properties in La Grande categorized as "very high" risk for wildfire damage, 118 "high" nsk, 21 "moderate" risk and 10 "low" risk properties.

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La Grande Observer 03-02-15 by NorthEast Oregon News - Issuu