BABE RUTH REGIONALTOURNAMENT PREVIEW INSPORTS, 9A
UNIONCOUNTY BABE RUTHTEAM LOOKSFORWARDTO EXPERIEN CE OF REGIONALSAFTER SECOND-PLACEFINISH AT STATE INOUTDOORS 5. E RC,1C INSPIRITUAL LIFE,6A
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• OSP announces possible closure of Pendleton lab due to budgetary issues Coming Monday
By Kelly Ducote and Cherise Kaechele The Observer
Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver
Shelter From the Storm Executive DirectorTeresa Crouser, left, and Fiscal Manager Laura Morgan listenThursday night as town hall audience members ask questions. The shelter and concerned citizens propose construction of a multiphased family justice center as an alternative to demolishing the Shelter From the Storm advocacy building in order to site a new courthouse.
• Supporters advocate multi-disciplinary approach as alternative to demolition of shelter By Kelly Ducote
Safe Center, local law enforcem ent agencies, the districtattorney's ofFtce, courts, community corrections and mental health services. Crouser said the center w ould act asa sortof"one-stop shop"forvictims. Family justice center advocatesrecognize thatthe project is an ambitious one. Crouser roughly estimates the total cost would be between
The Observer
Concerned Union County residentsare hoping to garner support for a family justice center following a town hall on the subject Thursday night. Members of the ad hoc groups Concerned Community Members for a Family Justice Center and Save Our Shelter partnered with stafF from Shelter From the Storm to proposethejusticecenter, the co-location of a multi-disciplinaryteam ofprofessionals who work together under one roofto providecoordinated services to victims of family violence. "I want to reassure everyone that we're not trying to reinvent the wheel," said Teresa Crouser,executive director of Shelter From the Storm.
$25 million and $30 million,
Cherise Kaechele/The Observer
People sign a petition in support of a family justice center concept for Union County. Clackamas County is the only county in the state that has such a center. ''Whatyou'regoing to hear tonight is a considerably more holistic approach, one that includes all aspects of services
to address family violence." In the proposal, the justice center would house Shelter From the Storm, Mount Emily
but is proposing a phased approach. 'That number doesn't frighten me," she said.'When you believe in something, it's amazing what can happen." Due to national media coverage,Crouser said the shelter has been contacted by funders expressing an interest in this SeeShelter / Page 5A
LA GRANDE
Bislriclselsgushforhemerattendance • La Grande School District to seeks to reach 96 percent attendance mark in 2014-15 By Dick Mason The Observer
Alarm clocks and the addition of two new positions may help the La Grande School District
reach a noteworthy attendance objective during the upcoming school year. The school district is aiming fora 96 percent attendance rate
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in 2014-15, a goal itsschoolboard set for itrecently. The goal is an ambitious one since the school district's 2013-14 atGlaze tendance rate was a solid 94.31 percent. La Grande School District
Superintendent Larry Glaze is optimistic the objective can be reached,sincethe districthas added new resource officer and carecoordinatorpositions and has faculty, stafFand administratorscommitted to boosting attendance. SeeDistrict / Page 5A
Local law enforcement agencies talk about what could happen if the Oregon State Police forensics lab were to close.
WASHINGTON, D.C
House GOP weighs new border bills The Associated Press
More info
WASHINGTON — House Republicans pushed legislation on Friday that would clear the way for eventual deportation of more than 500,000 immigrants brought here illegally as kids and addressthe surge ofim migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. After more than a year of inaction on the contentious issue of immigration, House GOP leaders were optimistic about securing tea party and otherconservativesupport for two bills that Republicans can highlight when they return home to voters during Congress' fi ve-week summer break. SeeBill / Page 5A
The Senate blocked a $3.5 billion border package that also included money for Western wildfires and Israel, with Republicans and two DemocratsLouisiana's Mary Landrieu and Joe Manchin ofWest Virginiaopposed.
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The future of the Eastern Oregon crime lab is up in the air. Employees at the Oregon State Police's Pendleton crime lab were told Wednesday that the OSP is considering all options for its forensic labs — including closing the Pendleton location — because ofbudgetary concerns. While nothing has been decided yet, one of the most viable options is to close the nearest forensicslab to numerous law enforcement agencies in Eastern Oregon and transfer the workload to Bend, Clackamas or the Portlandforensicslabs. 'There's nothing confirmed at this point," Oregon State Police spokesperson Lt. Gregg Hastings said.'They are still trying to decide where to relocate.Itdoesn't mean, though, that it's going SeeLab / Page 5A
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G A LL HAIL THE HUCKLEBERRY •000
541-963-3161 Issue 92 3 sections, 26 pages La Grande, Oregon
Email story ideas to newsC~lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
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