The Observer Paper 04-23-14

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ISLAND MAGIC LU'AU AND SHOW INGO!, INSIDE

POLYNESIAN AND NAVIGATOR CLUBS AT EASTERN COMBINETO PRESENT 27TH ANNUAL EVENT IN SPORTS, 8A

IN STATE, 7A

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LA GR ANDENAMES NEWF OOTBALLCOACH

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BAN DIMDESSOUTHERN, '. OREG ONFARMERS, '

SERVING UNION AND WALL Follow us on the web

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UNION COUNTY LA GRANDE

• Chamber director encouraged that negative trend in TRT revenue is reversing Inside

By Kelly Ducote The Observer

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Chris Baxter /The Observer

John Lamoreau holds his recently purchased plaque, which honors Dr. William Francis Norman O'Loughlin, one of the heroes of the Titanic. The plaque will be added to his collection of at least 150 artifacts related to the Titanic.

By Dick Mason, The Observer

John Lamoreau, a noted collectorof Titanic memorabilia, has a weighty new problem. It is a dilemma he is ecstatic to have. Lamoreau's long wait for a coveted artifact ended Sunday, when a crate containing a large bronze plaque honoring Dr. William Francis Norman OLoughlin, one of the heroes of the Titanic, which sank in the Atlantic on April 15, 1912, arrived on his doorstep. The plaque is one Lamoreau and other Titanic collectors have been searching years for. 'This is considered a major piece. Major Titanic museums have asked me about it," Lamoreau said. He discovered its location and ownersafterreceiving a tip thatagroup of Catholic sisters had it in New York and

were interested in sellingit. Lamoreau immediately made a phone call from La Grande to the Catholic sisters, purchased it and had it shipped to his home. The plaque arrived on Easter in a specially made crate after a monthlong journey across the United States. Lamoreau wasted no time disassembling the crate and pulling off the layers of Styrofoam coveringthe bronze artifact. "I was getting chills when I opened it up," Lamoreau said. The La Grande High School social studies teacher was relieved to find the bronze plaque is in good condition.

"I had a lot of anxiety iabout how the plaque had survived the tripl but it was fine," Lamoreau said."It was just like I imagined it." Lamoreau is known for the 'Titanic Evening" dinners he puts on almost every year. Lamoreau's collection of at least150 Titanicartifacts,oneofthe largest in the Northwest, is displayed at each dinner. The bronze plaque honoring O'Loughlin will be prominently displayed at his next Titanic dinner. Moving the 200-pound bronze plaque to the dinner site will be a challenge. SeePlaque / Prtge 5A

OREGON

Dispensaries in limbo as moratoriUjms sweep state The Associated Press

SALEM — Medical marijuana cardholders in some parts of Oregon will have to look harder than they expected fordispensariesascitiesand counties throughout the state enact ordinances to keep the pot shops from opening within their borders. A total of 13 Oregon counties and more than 100 towns and cities have passed moratoriums

banning the pot shops since a law allowing the dispensaries took effect March 1. More than 30 otherlocalgovernments are considering similar measures. The state's dispensary law was intendedtomove dispensaries out of a legalgray area.Butafter a number of communities voiced a desireto keep dispensariesout locally, the Legislature in early March passed a law that would give them until May to adopt

INDEX Business................. 1B Classified................ 7B Comics.................... 4B Crossword.............. 9B Dear Abby ............ 12B

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WE A T H E R Horoscope.............. 9B Lottery..................... 3A Obituaries............... 3A Opinion................... 4A Sports ..................... BA

moratoriums of up to a year. The bill took effect days after Oregon had already begun accepting applications from dispensaries seeking state approval oftheiroperations. More than half of the 340 applicati ons thestatehasreceived so farhave come from places like Portland and Eugene, where local authorities are not looking to impose moratoriums. But many dispensary owners are still wait-

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ing to see if their communities will let them open or stay. At least six citieshave enacted permanent bans or modified other ordinances, such as land use codes, to block the shops from opening. Medical marijuana cardholdersareable togetthe drug by growing the allowed amount for themselves, or having an authorizedperson grow itforthem. SeeLimbo / Page 5A

Union County and La Grandeofficials say they areoptimisti cabout the directionoftransient room tax revenue and tourism for the region. The county was one of only three in the state that showed decreases in TRT revenue from 2004 to 2011, but those working on boosting tourism say the past few yearsindicate apositive trend for the area. Data shows an increase in total direct travel spending in 2011 and 2012, said Kristen Dollarhide, executive director of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. 'That's promising to me," Dollarhide said. Numbers from a Dean Runyan Associates report shows spending increased in 2011 over 2010 and predicted that2012 spending increased SeeTRT / Page5A

UNION COUNTY

Impact 100 reaches out to commUnl • Group donates Looking ahead tl17,500 to help the Fundraising is now less fortunate By Dick Mason The Observer

Sixty women can do extraordinary things for a community in 60 minutes. For proof look no further than the recent 11th annual meeting of Impact 100, an organizationcomprised of local women, which has become one of the leading charitable organizations in Union County. About 60women attended the meeting, and they again SeeDonate / Page5A

CONTACT US

CORRECTION

541-963-3161

In the death notice for Alexandra "Sandy" Lund, published Monday, April 21, Lund was incorrectly identified as Alexandra "Sandy"Young.

Issue 49 3 sections, 34 pages La Grande, Oregon

ANNUAL SPRINGHEALTH FAIR SET FORSATURDAY •000

Don't expect any immediate changes to downtown parking. Page 2A

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beginning forthe 2015 Impact 100 meeting. For information on contributing, call Susie Harris at 541-910-3090.

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