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• Your guide to area activities and attractions
8' 84WAYSTODISCOVERNEOREGON LA GRANDE
• Change in way poverty rate is calculated will help the La Grande School District By Dick Mason The Observer
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Phil Bullock/The Observer
Shawn McKay, president of the La Grande-based medical marijuana testing company Eastern Oregon Analytical, holds a sample of cannabis flower extract that will be placed in the company's high-performance liquid chromatograph, left, for analysis.
• La Grande City Council votes down moratorium on marijuana dispensaries By Bill Rautenstrauch ForThe Observer
The La Grande City Council bucked a trend Monday night, voting against a proposed moratorium on medical marijuana dispensing facilities. So far, more than 100 Oregon cities have taken advantage of a provision in Oregon Senate Bill 1531 that empowers local governments enact one-year moratoriums on the dispensaries, which the state allows under recently passed House Bill 3460. By a 3-2 vote, the
La Grande council decided against joining the pack. The moratorium would have given the city a year to decide on local regulations regardingzoning,locations of dispensaries and the hours of operation. Mayor Daniel Pokorney and Councilor Mary Ann Miesner favored it, but three other councilors, Gary Lillard, Jerry Sebestyen and John Lackey, decided the extra time wasn't necessary. Councilor John Bozarth was absent-excused from SeeVote / Page 5A
• Testing facility, dispensary owners pleased with outcome of city council vote By Bill Rautenstrauch For The Observer
So far in La Grande, there's a medical marijuana testing facility up and running, and a dispensary set to open in June. One dayafter the La Grande City Council's vote against a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries, owners of those businesses were feeling jubilant. "I am pleasantly surprised," said Randy Lindsey, who is lining out the final plans for Green Apothecary, the dispensary he will open
at 1406 Jefferson Ave."As a medical marijuana patient myself I am compassionateforothers.W e'vewaited many years to get access to high quality medication, and it's high time it came about." The testing facility, Eastern Oregon Analytical, opened in office space on the third floor of the Sac Annex downtown in January. Shawn McKay, a student at Eastern Oregon University, is the company president, and Jeremy Riggle, an assistant professorofchemistry atthe SeeOutcome / Page 5A
How they voted The La Grande City Council voted 3-2 Monday night to not impose a moratorium on medical marijuana within the city limits. Here is how the council voted and where each councilor stood on the issue: DANIEL POKORNEY Said he favored the pot moratorium for a number of reasons, including the simple fact that marijuana use is against federal law. VOTE: FOR
GARY LILLARD Said the only part ofthe proposalthat resonated
MARYANN MIESNER Noted a moratorium wouldn't affect a medical with marijuana '9 M card, him is addressing holder's siting ability issues as to obtain part of the city's landthe drug under use planning. current laws. VOTE: AGAINST VOTE: FOR
INDEX Business........1B Horoscope.....9B Classified.......7B Lottery............3A Comics...........5B Obituaries......3A Crossword.....9B Opinion..........4A Dear Abby ...12B Record ...........3A
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WE A T H E R Sports ............9A State...............BA Sudoku ..........5B Wallovva Life.. BA Wondervvord... 5B
JERRY SEBESTYEN Said he likes the idea of a well-monitored medical marijuana pharmacy, giving patients an option instead of going to a pioducei.
VOTE: AGAINST
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JOHN LACKEY Was mostly silent, but later said he favors straight local control in accordance with state regulations of medical marijuana dispensaries. VOTE: AGAINST
UNION COUNTY
Pleahearin setfor No
Powder couple • Millers arraigned for sex crimesthat allegedlyoccurred between 2011 and 2013 By Kelly Ducote The Observer
A North Powder couple charged with numerous sex crimes will next appear in court May 19. Joe Miller, 69, and Faith Miller, 55, were arraigned Monday afternoon on 32 counts of alleged sex crimes. Charges include first-degree rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, sexual abuse, contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor and criminal mistreatment. Judge Russ West on Monday raised bail for SeeCouple / Page 5A
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Issue 52 3 sections, 40 pages La Grande, Oregon
BIG GAMECHANGERFORHEARING AID WEARERS •000
The news is giving La Grande School District officials reason for optimism, but it is alsoraising aredflag. Oregon Department of Education figures indicate that the La Grande School District will receive $449,000 in additional state money in 2014-15 for students from lowincome families. The money will provide a big boostto aschooldistrictthathas struggled financially in recent years. The state is using a new system to calculate how many students within the state's school districts are from families below the poverty line. cThe state had been using outdated data before," said La Grande School District Superintendent Larry Glaze. The education department's old formula indicated that the La Grande School District had about 232 students from families below the poverty line. The new formula indicates that the number is about 480. The new calculation will have a big impact on the school district's budget since districts receiveabout $1,700 in additional money for each student from a family below the poverty line, leading the district to project an additional $449,000 in poverty funding. "I think it is a positive change. It is much closer to realizing our expectations. I have SeeDistrict / Page 5A
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