The Observer 09-28-15

Page 1

— INSIDE

Inside

Imbler teacher honored, 7A Nounties fall in double OT,1C

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SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA CO U N T IES SINCE 1896

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REAL PEOPLE

• Dylanie Petersohn of Island City reaching top speed during her first season of racing

• Mercury scrubbers lowering many coal plant pollutants on Cabbage Hill Plant

By George Plaven

Ronald Bond/TheObserver

Nine-year-old Dylanie Petersohn has only been involved in drag racing for a few months but is quickly improving in the sport. She won her first race back in August and can already hit speeds too fast for the 8- and 9-year-old age group in her division. By Ronald Bond The Observer

She won't be able to get her driver's license until 2022. But 9-year-old Dylanie Petersohn of Island City is already burning up the race track as a junior dragster. Petersohn recently obtained her National Hot Rod Association license tocompete in junior drag racesand is already posting times that could have her on the path to a bright racing future. In fact, she hasalready reached speeds above the limitfor her 8- and 9-year-old age group, topping out in a recent race at more than 71 miles per hour. "In the age 4racketl of 8 and 9 she can run 11.70, which is about 60 mph top speed," her father, Jeff, said."Next year when she goes to the 10-year-old bracket, she can run 8.90, which is around 72 to 76 imphl.n Dylanie's fascination with racing is new. She went with her parents, Jeff and Crystal Petersohn, to a race at Firebird Raceway just outside of Boise, Idaho, earlier this summer. awe have always liked going to Boise. We always go to the races iandl we used to go faithfully every year to a few select races,"Crystalsaid. Deciding she was old enough to go, they brought Dylanie along, and she got the opportunity to meet female racer See Racer / Page5A

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Ronald Bond/TheObserver

Petersohn stands next to the People's Choice trophy she won ata carshow in July.

About the series Real People stories are about people volunteering, doing good deeds, achieving, performing, enjoying the outdoors ... making the most of life in Union and Wallowa counties. Do you have a story idea or photo for this feature? Email acutler@lagrandeobserver.com.

SmarterSalancedtestgrouidesiIaseline • School oficials outside La Grande reflect on new test and how their districts fared By Dick Mason The Observer

North Powder School District Superintendent Lance Dixon has reason to have an added spring in his step.

School District. The results indicate the school district is on track in terms of meeting its The results of the state's new goal of having students in posiSmarter Balanced assessment tion to succeed at a most critical t e st were recently released by juncture — third grade. t he O regon Department of EduThe Smarter Balanced test cati o n, and they contained some results indicate North Powder good news for the North Powder Elementary School's third-grad-

INDEX Classified.......4B Home.............1B Obituaries......3A Comics... ........3B Horoscope.....BB Opinion..........4A Community...BA Letters............4A Outskirts ........7A Crossword.....5B Lottery............2A Sports ............1C DearAbby.....BB Record ...........3A Sudoku ..........3B

WE A T H E R

F ull forecast on the back of B section

36 rorN ~

Tuesday 79/39

Mainly clear

Partly sunny

Tonight

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ersareatthe state average in languageartsand have almost reached it in math. The results also indicate that many Powder Valley High School students are meeting the essential skills standard they need to graduate. SeeResults / Page5A

East Oregonian

upgrades

PENDLETON—Research conducted on Cabbage Hill shows emission controls for mercury at the Boardman Coal Plant are also helping to curb other cancer-causing pollutants in the area. Oregon State University found mercury scrubbers installed at the plant in 2011 led to an unexpected decline in tiny soot-like compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which have been linked to lung cancer and developmental problems in young children. The study, published in July, was led by Staci Sim onich, a professorof SeeStudy / Page5A

The Boardman Coal Plantlocated about 60 miles west of Cabbage Hillinstalled $60 million worth of emissions controls in 2011 designed to reduce mercury and nitrogen oxide at the plant, as PGE sought to comply with new regional haze rules.

State decides to move forward on complaint • Oregon Ethics Commission will investigate complaint filed against golfcourseprofessional The Oregon Ethics Commission will move ahead with an investigation of Buffalo Peak Golf Course golf pro Scott Marcum in the wake of a complaint filed by Union County Commissioner Jack Howard. Howard filed the complaint in May and asserted that Marcum admitted he "pockets all the money from the i Junior Kids) camp," an event held during the summer at the course. The ethics commission decision to proceed with an See Complaint / Page5A

CONTACT US

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

541-963-3161

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

Issue 114 4 sections, 46 pages La Grande, Oregon

WEDNESDAY IN GO! HQMECOMING EXHIBITION OPENS FRIDAY

At issue

By Cherise Kaechele The Observer

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51 1 5 3 0 0 1 0 0

"Best Tire Value Promise" I

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A key piece of the latest Buffalo Peak Golf Course saga revolves around a county resolution that outlines the conduct ofthe facility's employees.

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The Observer 09-28-15 by NorthEast Oregon News - Issuu