LADD MARSH BIRD FESTIVAL PREVIEW IN OUTDOORS 5. REC, 1B
PHOTOGRAPHYWORKSHOP, FIELDTRIPS ONTAP FORANNUAL UNION COUNTY BIRDWATCHING EVENT IN HEALTH 5. FITNESS, 1C IN LOCAL, 2A
FQLL QWINGSIMPLERULES ENSU RESHAPPYTRAILS
ENTERP RISEHIGHSCHQQL EARNSNATIQNALRECQGNITIQN
THE SERVING UNION ANO W LO
CO U N T IES SINCE 1896 I I I
I r
I
I
r
I
I
I
r
I
I
r
r
I
ELECTION 2014 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
• As ballot deadline nears, candidates lodge criticisms in efforttogarnersupport
"»
For
By Kelly Ducote
The
The Observer
Things are heating up between House District 58 candidates John Turner and Greg Barreto. With ballots out, the two men vying for the Republican nomination for the seat have amped up campaign messages in an effort to differentiate themselves. In the past week, the candidates' socialm edia pages show an increasingly antagonistic
' f',»
Batreto
Tumer
fight.
lt Ifttgk~
Barreto's Facebook page asks ''Why can't John Turner just be honest?" while Turner's page says Barreto's "half-truths have forced my hand." Turner has been under fire from his opponent for accepting publicunion money. Turner,who previouslyserved as president of Blue Mountain Community See Race / Page6A
)7 >»e
URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
Agency OKs Phil Bullock /The Observer
Students and faculty share their thoughts and concerns Monday about proposed cuts at Eastern Oregon University. Clockwise, from top left, are student Chane Nelson, Assistant Education Professor Ray Brown, student Daniel Wagner, instructor of English and writing Jim Benton, student Clarissa Talbott, student Kendra Hackwith and Student Body President Evan Bryan.
• Eastern Oregon University students, faculty voice concerns about impending budget cuts By Dick Mason The Observer
The news did not come as a surprise. Still it rocked Eastern Oregon University's world last week. President Bob Davies announced on April 30 that Eastern must make $4 million in cutsdue to a budgetshortfall caused by falling enrollment and reducedfunding from the state. A draft financial sustainability plan released by Davies calls forabout25faculty positions and seven administrative staff positions to be cut in the process of making the $4 million in budget reductions. Students and faculty at Easternarelooking for answers and venting feelings of frustration with the state in
the wake of the news. Susan Whitlock, an English and writing instructor at Eastern, said the reason for Eastern's budget problems can betraced to lack ofsupport from the Legislature. "They are saying that students don't matter. It is the legislators' choice,"Whitlock sald. Whitlock said it is obvious to her that the Legislature is overlooking higher education in Eastern Oregon. "It feels like the west side has abandoned us," she said. Whitlock said that jeopardizing EOU is unfortunate because if something happens to the university, many of its students, who come from low-income families and have
INDEX Calendar........7A Classified.......4B Comics...........3B Crossword..... 7B Dear Abby ... 10B
WE A T H E Health ............1C Opinion..........4A Horoscope.....7B Outdoors .......1B Lottery............3A Spiritual Life14A Record ...........3A Sports ............SA Obituaries......3A Television ......3C
ON Y •000
country roots likely would not go on to another university. 'They are accustomed to rural living. They don't want to live in metropolitan areas and go to a large university," Whitlock said."They have a devotionto place." EOU senior Daniel Wagner is so disturbed by thebudget news that he said he would support a tuition increase. "It would help keep the programs students come here for,"Wagner said.'This is the irsttime I've advocated raisf ing the price on anything. In this case it would be worth it." The student said that there is room to raise tuition. He noted that tuition at Eastern is much lower than it is at many other universities.
Presently, EOU has the lowest tuition of any school in the Oregon University System. Jake Kuwahara, a senior from Halfway, is also rattled by the sobering budget news. "As a graduating senior it doesn't affectme ,butIdo fear for the school itself," Kuwahara said. He hates to see Eastern lose professors, individuals who have so much to offer students. "A lot of knowledge is going out the door," Kuwahara said. Jim Benton, an English and writing instructor, does not mince words when discussing the budget situation. "I'm angry about it," Benton sard. See Concerns / Page6A
Saturday
39 LOW
57/35
Mostly cloudy
Showers/ t hunderstorms
'~
• District manager Inside The La to enter talks for Grande City Council agreement By Kelly Ducote The Observer
The Urban Renewal Agency approved moving to the next step in the process to aidapplicants wanting to establishagrocery store on the corner of Fourth Street and Adams Avenue. On a 4-3 vote Wednesday night, agency members authorized District ManagerRobertStrope to enter negotiati ons with partiesof Market Place Family Foods. Developer Al Adelsberger and grocer Troy Berglund seek to establish the store in the building previously occupied by Blockbuster and have SeeURA / Page6A
adopted an ordinance Wednesday night that will vacate KAvenue between Fifth and Sixth streets. Page 2A
CONTACT US
R F u ll forecast on the back of B section
Friday
next step for grocery store
• Sunday
'
.
65/34 Warmer
541-963-3161 Issue 56 3 sections, 32 pages La Grande, Oregon
UNI ON COUNTYAIRPORT' RUNWAY S GETTING REVAMPED •000
•
Email story ideas to newsC~tagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
•
•
s I
•
51 1 5 3 0 0 1 0 0 I
•000
s