Monday, October 13, 2014 I
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As UnionCounty celebrates 150 years, it is important to remember that there was atime when Grande Ronde Valley residents did not have their fingers on the pulse ofbreaking national and international news. UnionCounty was farfiom the cutting edge of communications technology when it was founded Oct. 14, 1864. It had no telegraph service and would not foratleastanotherfouryears. Had there been telegraph service in the Grande Ronde Valley 150 years ago residents likely would have discussing a variety ofhot news topics in October 1864. Some of the topics of the day included: • The creation of Grant County on Oct. 14, the same day Union County came into being. • A proposed bill in the state Legislature, reported in the Oct. 15 edition of The Oregonian, would not allow people to vote unless they had paid their taxes. • A Oct. 1 cyclone which killed 70,000 people in India, according to the website www.
Historyorb.com. • The statehood Nevada was granted on Oct.4. Nevada became the 36th state in the Union. • The abolishment of slavery in Maryland on Oct. 4, according to www.Historyorb.com. • A bill signed by President Abraham Lincoln on Oct. 20 establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
DICIC MASON
• The latest news on the presidential campaign front. The race matched Republican President Abraham Lincoln and his vice presidential running mate Andrew Johnson against Democratic nominee George McClellan and his running mateGeorge Pendleton, a U.S. Congressman from Ohio. McClellan and Pendleton were peace candidates, opposed to the Civil War. Pendleton, Oreo then named Marshall, would be named in honor of George Pendleton four years later, according to "Oregon Geographic Names" by Lewis A. McArthur. The Lincoln-Johnson ticket went on to win the 1864 electionby 10 percentage points and carried Oregon in the process. Lincoln received 9,888 votes in Oregon to McClellan's 8,457 according to www.uselectionsatlas.com. The close Oregon vote likely reflec ted how divided people See Mason / Page7A
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W.R. Gekeler photo
Citizens of the town of Cove put up light posts in this early 20th Century photograph. Union County celebrates its 150th anniversary Tuesday.
STATE SCENIC WATERWAYS
Kitihader, Richardson dedatehasa real ditetoit By Taylor W. Anderson PORTLAND — A debate Friday that focused on how the state's next governor would address racial and gender equity issues turned into the most biting joint appearance yet between Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber and his challenger, state Rep. Dennis Richardson. The debate was the first
time Kitzhaberappeared publicly since reports alleged his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, used her relationship with the governor to further her private environmental consulting work. Hayes on Thursday also admitted takingmoney to marry an Ethiopian man who was seeking citizenship in 1997, which Kitzhaber said he See Debate / Page 5A
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EDNESDAY •000
On Oct. 14, 1864, the Oregon Legislature split Union County from Baker County. Read our special section dedicated to the 150 years of Union County inside today's paper. INSIDE • A letter of congratulations from Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber. • Not all pioneers settled in OldTown La Grande. Plenty made their way to neighboring communities, some of which no longer exist. • Few disputes, if any, raged as long or sparked as much bluster between two communities as the four-decade long battle for the countyseatbetween La Grande and Union. • No one can take a crystal ball and predict what the next150 years will bring for Union County, but seeing where a county has been can help show where it's headed.
THE ANSWER MAN
NOV. 4 ELECTION: GOVERNOR
WesCom News Service
Union County celebrating 150 years of existence
Waterl/vay comments
ctue by Wednesday • Grande Ronde River being evaluated for designation
LECTION 014
Our View The choice this election season for governor may appear on the surface to be a difficult one, but, in the end, it really isn't. Page 4A
TheAssociated Press
Gov. John Kitzhaber, left, shakes hands with Republican challenger Dennis Richardson after their gubernatorial debate in Portland Friday.
R F u ll forecast on the back of B section
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The Observer
Members of the public have until Wednesday to complete a survey for the Oregon Parks and Recreation
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Issue 123 3 sections, 22 pages La Grande, Oregon
WRITERS GEAR UPFORREADING SERIES •000
By Kelly Ducote
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Department as it considersadding a portion ofthe Grande Ronde River to its State Scenic Waterways. The state hasn't added any State Scenic Waterways since 1988,but under a directive from the Legislature, the stateparks department is required to study new waterways for potential inclusion in theprogram. Gov.John See Comments / Page5A
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