BOSTON MARATHON INLOCAL, 2A
JOHN COMBE PREPARINGTO RUN BOSTON MARATHONTO RAISE $20,000 FOR MASSAGETHERAPY FOUNDATION IN OUTDOORS 5.REC, 1B
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UNION COUNTY
• K-12 budget advances in Salem; GOP,school districts say amount is not enough By Taylor W. Anderson
enough
WesCom News Service
Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver
Union County Commissioner Jack Howard has been assigned to the county-owned Buffalo Peak Golf Course, a project he is taking to heart. Howard said he hopes to revamp the course to make it more attractive to local residents and tourists alike.
• New commissioner looking to increase play, revenue at Buffalo Peak Golf Course By Kelly Ducote The Observer
Since its inception Buffalo Peak Golf Course has run a deficit. As county commissioners before him have tried, Jack Howard is now taking a swing at Buffalo Peak, with hopes that it one day will be self-sufftcient. Howard, fresh ofFa successful November election, last week held an informal meeting for potential golf committee members, reviving a county advisory board that has been dormant for some time.
'They were all enthusiastic about what can happen out here," he said. About a dozen people turned out for the meeting, where they had preliminary discussionsabout organization and goals for Buffalo Peak. Primarily, Howard said, he wants to implement a 10yearplan forthegolfcourse, something he said has not previously been done. Scott Marcum, Buffalo Peak's golf professional who has been on stafF for 14 years, saidplay has been stable over See Golf / Page5A
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School district lands ant Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver
Buffalo Peak Golf Course was transferred from the City of Union to Union County in 2001. The 18-hole course is considered unique but also a challenge.
Committee info added to coun website By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
The Union County website was recently updated with information the community might find helpful, but it is still not enough for others. A list of Union County's
boards and committees was recently updated by administrationstafFbecause ofa comment made by community member Teresa Brain, of La Grande, at a commissioner meeting in early February. Brain said there should be
INDEX
WE A T H E
Calendar........7A Classified.......1B Comics...........7B Crossword.....3B Dear Abby ... 10B
Health ............6C Outdoors .......1C Horoscope.....3B Record ...........3A Lottery............2A Spiritual Life..6A Obituaries......3A Sports ............SA Opinion..........4A Television ......3C
SALEM — A bill to fund Re p ublicans K-12 education took another s ay the step Thursday through the min i mum OregonLegislature despite amount opposition from Republicans t h ey'll and local school districts who support is say the amount is too small. $ 7 .5 billion, Lawmakers passed the saying $7.255 billion bill along they agree party lines through the joint w i t h school committee that handles grou p s and budgeting. The committee's te a chers vote puts the K-12 education u n ions that budget in line to become the t h e budget irstbudget passed thisses- doesn't keep f sion. Legislative leaders have up with rising said it's a priority. costs. But in a session-long fight for more K-12 money that has createdan alliance between school groups, teachers unions and Republican legislators, Republicans accuse See Budget / Page5A
more information made available to those who might wish to attend. "In the last several months, I have seen individuals traumatized and our small community torn apart by an issue that likely could have
been avoided if government were more transparent and if citizens participated more actively in it," Brain wrote in a letter addressed to the commissioners."The wound inflicted by the [Shelter From See Web / Page 5A
~ Saturday •
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• Funds will help school district save about tl1,600 a year By Dick Mason The Observer
La Grande School District schools will soon be brighter places at night thanks to the Oregon Department of Energy and Oregon Trail Electric Co-Op. The Oregon Department of Energy announced Thursday thatthe La Grande School District will receive See Grant / Page5A
Lucky 6 The La Grande School District was one of six in Oregon to receive grants from the Oregon Department of Energy ranging from $12,830 to $112,542.
CONTACT US
R F u ll forecast on the back of B section
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65/33 Sunny and nice
MONDAY IN OUTSKIRTS COVE STORE IS ONE OF MANY TRADES
Save the bate. Zolnthe Fun.
541-963-3161 Issue 37 3 sections, 28 pages La Grande, Oregon
Email story ideas to newsC~lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
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This freeevent is sponsored annually by Grande Ronde Hospital, Inc. for promoting health, w ellness...and just for the fun ofi t ! •
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Includesthe 17th Grande Ronde Rehab Run. More info at www.grh.org
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