La Grande Observer Paper 07-23-14

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NORTH OREGON BABE RUTH STATETOURNAMENT PREVIEW INSPORTS, 8A

BABE RUTH SQUAD CONFIDENT INCHANCES OF BRINGING HOMETITLE FROM STATETOURNAMENTTHISWEEKEND IN ONTARIO IN WEATHER,12B

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SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA CO U N T IES SINCE 1896

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What compels the area's citizen-soldiers to take up their part-time service when it is becoming more like a full-time job?

LA GRANDE

• Councilors, residents get chance to tour La Grande Public Works facilities

• Oregon senators ask for vote on bill that would treat biggest wildfires as natural disasters

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By Kelly Ducote The Observer

ByAndrew Clevenger

Upon waking up,many La Grande residentsmay head to thebathroom orgrab a glass of water from the tap. Probably not on their minds, though, is where that water comes from and where the watergoesafterit'sused. La Grande city councilors and interested citizens got a full-day, behind the scenes tour of La Grande's public works facilities Tuesday, including an in-depth look at its water and sewer systems. 'Thingshave really changed,"said Councilor Jerry Sebestyen, who last toured the facilities in the early 1990s."It's nice to go out and see what I've been buying." The city estimates the total public works infrastructure and motor pool value at more than $225 million. Those on the tour got a chance to see much of that infrastructure, includingwater storage reservoirson the southwest end of town and several of six wells used for drinking water. They also got a detailed tour of the city's wastewater SeeTour / Page 5A

WesCom News Service

WASHINGTON — As wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, Sens. JefF Merkley and Ron Wyden wrote to Senate leaders Tuesday, urging them to give a vote to the Obama administration's Merkley s upplementary budget request, which includes

$615 million in

Chris Baxter/The Observer Chris Baxter/The Observer

The La GrandeWatershed sits in a natural state in unlogged forest. It was used as the city's water source until 1991.

Lee Mannor, left, talks with La Grande Mayor Dan Pokorney out at the La GrandeWatershedTuesday afternoon.The PublicWorks Department hopes to get a fish ladder installed at the lake, which is no longer used for a drinking water source but is open for fishing.

ISLAND CITY

visitors, dollars ie

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By Dick Mason

City. It also has some people The Observer questioning the expense of Construction of the 38-unit t h e government subsidized

• Businesses see i,"

WE A T H E R

revenue during busy week

Fu ll forecast on the back of 6 section

Tonight 46 Low A thunderstorm possible

< Tuesday 72/42

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traffic into Wallowa County started last weekend, evidence that the thousands

CONTACT US

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Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to newsllagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A.

Issue 88 4 sections, 42 pages La Grande, Oregon

Cooler

The Observer

JOSEPH — The line of

The BuckingHorse Stampede down Joseph's Main Street kicks off the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo week, when Joseph's population grows significantly and businesses prepare for the influx of visitors.

who come for the 69th annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeoare making theirway toward Joseph. According to a report com-

piled by Silje ChristofFersen, 2011 Chief Joseph Days

By Katy Nesbitt Katy Nesbitt/The Observer

RIDAY IN HEALTH UNIQN, ELGIN CLiNiCS MAKE PERSONNELCHANGES • 0

Increase In

pro j ect.

Crossing low-income housing Th e cost is more than what complex is set to begin in late i t might be to build a similar Auymt or early September. p r i v ately funded apartment The project has many comp l ex, but the higher expeople excited about the pens e is unavoidable and will prospect of the addition of res u l t in several long-term affordable housing in Island SeeCost / Page5A

Business........1B Horoscope.....7B Sports ............8A Classified .......SB Lottery............2A State...............7A Comics...........4B Obituaries......3A Sudoku ..........4B Crossword.....9B Opinion..........4A Wallowa Life.. 6A Dear Abby ...12B Record ...........3A Wonderword...4B

ACROSS THE STATE • Lightning rolled through much of Eastern Oregon on Tuesday, leaving in its wake several dozen reports of new wildfire starts, fire officials said. Page 7A

C brings in

K OKcial: Low-income housing costs more but shouldsave on major maintenance

INDEX

emergency wildfire suppression funds. Wyden The O regon Democrats were joined by 10 other Democrats, mostly from Western states, in signing letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and ranking memberRichard Shelby, R-Ala., also received copies of the letter. 'There are large active fires in many western states, and new fires starting daily. Both Oregonand Washington have declared states of emergency, acknowledging that the scope, breadth, and SeeFunding / Page 5A

LOCALLY • Fire crews onthe Cougar Fire are making progress with mop-up duties, and were aided by some rain in the area Tuesday night. Page 2A

WALLOWA COUNTY

Agartmentswill hehuilt to last $8.2 million Blue Springs

More fim coverage

Court queen, approximately 15,000 visitors swell the population of the Wallowa Upper Valley the week of the rodeo. The Eastern Oregon SeeCJD / Page 5A

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