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• Special Olympics offers support and camaraderie to local athletes with disabilities
• One passenger airlifted out of area, others sustained minor injuries in rollover crash By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
A teenisdead aftera rollover crash occurred Thursday night near Ladd Canyon. At approximately 7 p.m., a Blue 2000 Ford Excursion pulling a toy-hauler type trailer operated by Todd Schroeder, 54, of MiltonFreewater, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 and descending Ladd Canyon when he lost control of the vehicle and rolled intothe center median, according to a press release from the Oregon State Police. The vehicle had two adult and three juvenile passengers. Fisher Schroeder, 14, who was sitting in the middle passenger seat,wasejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they are investigating the use of seatbelts. 'This crash is an obvious sign of the importanceofseatbelts,"said La Grande Rural Fire Chief Larry Wooldridge, who responded to the scene. Jerry Schroeder, 73, Milton-Freewater, who SeeCrash / Page 5A
Courtesy photo
DaniThorne, left, of the Union County Special Olympics team, competes against another team at the 100-meter dash during the winter season Special Olympics. By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
Remy Spangler was quiet and reserved before joining the Special Olympics. His mom, Ellie Spangler, said it took Remy some time to warm up to his group. However,10yearslater,hefeels accepted,is having the time ofhis life and is making friendships that will last a lifetime. It's not about the disability — it's about the encouragement and support of teammates. It's not about who wins the games — it's about inclusion and equality, said Doug Trice, Special Olympics Oregon Union County program co-coordinator. Special Olympics gives the athletes a chance to shine. Trice has been involved with Special Olympics for 18 years. He wants athletes with disabilities to join because ofhow much the program offers and wants parents to know their child can have that feeling of inclusion they get when on a team. Special Olympics is a national program available to individuals with disabilities who want to participate in athletics. The program is offered throughout the year with different events for each season. The winter season just wrapped up, Trice said. The athletes went to Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort over the weekend to practice snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding. Union County has its own program and competes with other regional teams in SeeOlympics / Pbge 5A
4schoolboard races contested • Clerk's ofIice gets late rash of school board filings Thursday By Dick Mason The Observer
The Union County Clerk's Office was a busy place on the school board election front Thursday. About eight candidates filed for open school board positions on Thursday, beating the 5 p.m. the deadline for filing for the May 19 election. Of the 19 schoolboard positionsup forelection in Union County, four will be contested and two have no candidates. Following is a look at filings for school board positions in each Union County school district. See Filings / Page 5A
Courtesy photos
Above: The winners of the events are awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals at the Special Olympics regional and state tournaments. Left: Remy Spangler, center, has been in the Union County Special Olympics for 10 years. He's made strong friendships through the program.
"It's afe-changing li situation. He'smaking lifelongjiendships." — EHie Spangler, mother of Remy, who has been involved with Special Olympics 10 years
CommissionersOKCatholicchurchnarkingagreement • Zone change also missioners on Wednesday approved an agreement approved in with Our Lady of the Valley meeting Wednesday Catholic Church for 15 park-
ing spacesadjacent to the church pending the vacation of KAvenue and Fifth Street. Union County Planning
By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
Union County Com-
INDEX Calendar........7A Classified.......1B Comics...........7B Community...7A Crossword.....3B
WE A T H E R Dear Abby ...10B Obituaries......3A Health ............6C Opinion..........4A Horoscope.....3B Outdoors .......1C Lottery............2A Sports ............SA Record ...........3A Television ......3C
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Director Hanley Jenkins presented the two-page agreement to commissioners, saying it is contingent on Fifth Street being vacated — a decisio n expected to be made by the La Grande City Council at its next meeting.
"Right now, the church is required to purchase parking permits, and they have to compete with everyone else for spaces," Jenkins said. "This would be a real benefit to the Catholic church." The agreement, dated
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541-963-3161 Issue 34 3 sections, 28 pages La Grande, Oregon
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be available for daytime funerals. The agreement also says that"all County Law Enforcement Block off-street parking" will be available for the church's use after hours. Otheraspectsofthe agreeSeeCounty / Page 5A
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Feb. 10 and signed by Father Abraham Manthuruhill March 11, will allocate 15 spots to the church, for Marian Academy and church statf. Other parking on Fifth Streetto be designated "Public 2 Hour" parking will
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