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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2019)
➲➳➵➸➺➻ SPORTS State track preview ❡❢❢❣ ❣❤✐ ❥❢ ❢❦❧ ♠❤♣❦q❣ r❦srt❧✉sq❧ ✈qss✉q ✇q❣q❧sq❧① ❢③ ④❤ ❡❧❤⑤❣q FRIDAY-SUNDAY ❩ ❬❭② ❪❫❴❪❵❜ ❝❞❪❵ ❩ $1.50 North Powder superintendent saluted ➼➽ ➷ ➪➬✃➶ ❐❒❮ ❰ÏÐ❮ÑÒ❮Ñ ÝÜÚã ÝèâäÜ ïÙãÝÝÛ þÕÔÚÜÕÙÚ ïðåäÜÕ×Úä×âä×Ú Ó×Ùä þÕ Ý× ❇ ❂❃ ❄ ❅ ✆ ✁ ❆ asked himself a question sev- eral years ago that forced him to make a U-turn in a real and EAGLE CAP TRAIN REFUSES TO BE DERAILED ❈ ✆ ➎➏ ÚÝ ÝÜÚã ÝèâäÜ ñ ÔÓÕâ þÕ Ý×ñ who is completing his 14th year ÓÔ ÝÜÚã ÝèâäÜïðåäÜÕ×Úä×âä×Úò Years have passed since that âÓç Ó×â Úãä ÝÜÚã ÝèâäÜ ✆ ❉ ❋ ➐ ✆ School District is now in perhaps the best position in its history. And the education world is taking notice. Dixon recently was presented with the InterMountain Educa- tion Service District’s prestigious þÝðÖ æÛÓÚÚ ôäéÝÜÕÓÛ áèÓÜâò The honor is given annually to one education administrator in the IMESD’s service area, which primarily encompasses Union, Umatilla and Morrow counties. The award recognizes a num- ber of successful projects Dixon ãÓÔ Ûäâ Õ× Úãä ÝÜÚã ÝèâäÜ School District including the ÙÝ×ÔÚÜðÙÚÕÝ× Ýí Ó ü éÕÛÛÕÝ× ãÕÖã ❅ ✆ ● school classroom building and gym, a structure now virtually completed. The high school and gym were built with money from a state grant and a $3 million Ý×â óÝÚäÜÔ ÓååÜÝóäâ Õ× ö õ ò ❍ ✄ ❈ ❆ See Dixon / Page 5A ✁ ➑ ❈ Despite lack of federal funding, it chugs on ✆ place at all,’” the sophomore said. á ÝðÚ Øóä ÔäÙÝ×âÔ ÛÓÚäÜñ äÜê ❊✝ ✞✟✠✡☛✝☞✌✍✴✎r✏✈✑✒✓✒ ✔✕✏✖✏ ✆ ❈ ry’s fears were swept away by joy when it was announced that ❆ ✆ ❅ ÝÜóÓÛÛÕÔò ìãä ØíÚãñ íÝðÜÚãñ ÚãÕÜâ Ó×â ÔäÙÝ×â åÛÓÙä Ø×ÕÔãäÜÔ ãÓâ been read and the name of the èÕ××äÜ èÓÔ ðå ×ä Úò Ó úÜÓ×âä High School’s name had not ää× ÙÓÛÛäâñ èãÕÙã ÝÛÚäâ äÜÜçò “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. We äÕÚãäÜ åÛÓÙäâ ØÜÔÚ ÝÜ èä âÕâ×ýÚ ✆ ❅ ✁ ❈ high anxiety. The scene was the concluding ceremony of the recent class 4A OSAA Choir Championship in der’s superintendent for several years, was driving to Baker City to ap- ply for a position with the Baker School District when he realized just how deeply he loved his job, school district and community. “I said to myself, ‘What the heck are you doing?’ Then I turned around in Haines (and came back ❅ ❇ ❂❃ ❄ ØÖðÜÓÚÕóä Ôä×Ôäò Dixon, who had ää× ÝÜÚã Ýèê ➓✹➔✲✺ ❅ LHS A Cappella Choir wins state twice in a row ➼➽ ➷ ➪➬✃➶ ❐❒❮ ❰ÏÐ❮ÑÒ❮Ñ îééÓ äÜÜç Ó×â éÓ×ç Ýí Úãä ÝÚãäÜ éäé äÜÔ Ýí Ó úÜÓ×âä High School’s A Capella Choir ÜäÙä×ÚÛç ä×âðÜäâ Øóä ÔäÙÝ×âÔ Ýí ➼➽➾➚➪➶➹➪➘➴➷➬➮➱✃➹ ❐❒❮ ❰ÏÐ❮ÑÒ❮Ñ The Eagle Cap Excursion Train is running on a reduced schedule for the 2019 season due to a lack of funding from the federal government. This year, The Wallowa Union Railroad Authority was expecting $95,000 from The Railroad Track Maintenance Tax Credit, but did not receive it. Otherwise known as the 45G Tax Credit, this money helps short lines and general rail- roads across the country with maintenance costs through a federal income tax credit. The lack of this funding has put ï ãÓâ èÝ× ÕÚÔ ÔäÙÝ×â ÔÚÓÚä ✁➒ “We’re working hard to keep this going, and any way we can ÚÜç ÚÝ Ø×â ×äè éÝ×ÕäÔ ÕÔ ÖÝê ing to help,” said Matt Scarfo, Union County Commissioner and WURA general manager. “We do not want to see this go away at all.” ✗✘❡✙ ✚✛✜✢✣✛ ✤❡➆✥❡ ♠✦✧✧✦✙✣ ✣✥★✙✚ ♠✜✙❡② ✚✛✦✧ ②❡★✥✱ ✩ ✚✛✦✙✪ ✫✜✚✛ ✜✥✣★✙✦♦★✚✦✜✙✧ ✤✦✬✬ ✛★✘❡ ★ ✣✥❡★✚ ✭✛★✙✭❡ ✚✜ ✧✢✭✭❡❡t✮➈ ➋ ✯✰✲✳❦ ✵✳❦✶✷✸✹✺✻ ❲✼✽✾ ✿❀✺❀❁✸✰ title in as many years. “We ran onto the stage and keep the business building up.” The WURA board, com- posed of nine individuals, ap- proved the full 2019 schedule of 18 runs in January but had to scale that number down to six after realizing the tax credit would not come through in ÔÚÓÜÚäâ ãÕÖãêØóÕ×Ö Ó×â ãðÖÖÕ×Ö each other,” said choir member John VanderZanden. The members of the choir had gone into the state champion- ship competition relaxed and ÚÕéäò Þßàá ÖÓóä Úãä æÜÕä×âÔ ÙÝ×Øâä×Ú äÙÓðÔä Ýí Úãä íÝÙðÔ ❈ they had placed on preparation. “They went in not thinking of details but (of) making beauti- ful music,” said choir volunteer Kascie Durfee, the wife of direc- tor Kevin Durfee. of the Joseph Branch the op- tion to choose the six dates they thought would sell the most tickets. Including the Mother’s Day Brunch train, which ran on ôÓç õöñ Úãä æÜÕä×âÔ ÙãÝÔä Úãä ï Ø×ÕÔãäâ èÕÚã ö åÝÕ×ÚÔñ ôÙ ÝðÖãÛÕ× ÕÖã ïÙãÝÝÛñ èãÕÙã ✁➒ ÷ øð×ä õùñ úÝÛâ àðÔã ûÓ×âÕÚÔ Ó ÔÕÖ×ÕØÙÓ×Ú Ø×Ó×ÙÕÓÛ ÔÚÜÓÕ× Ý× ëìãä æÜÕä×âÔ íäÛÚ ÚãÓÚ ÙÓ×ê Robbery ÞßàáÓ×âÚãä×Ý×åÜÝØÚæÜÕä×âÔ celing this (season) would re- ÷ øð×ä õüñ æÓÚãäÜýÔ þÓç of the Joseph Branch, which runs ally impact our business next ÷ øð×ä öÿñ Ýóä áéäÜÕÙÓ the Eagle Cap Excursion Train in year and the year after,” said Veterans’ Train tandem, but representatives from îâ ïåÓðÛâÕ×Öñ æÜÕä×âÔ Ýí Úãä ÷ øðÛç ö ñ æÕ×âÕ×Ö ûÕÖ æÝÝÚ both organizations said they are Joseph Branch president. “We ÷ïäåÚòõ ñæÓÛÛæÝÛÕÓÖä ãÝÚÝàð× ✁ ✁ really think we should continue to run as much as we can to ➒ judges awarded 292 points. Cas- cade was third with 288 points, followed by Mololla with 284 Ó×â îÔÚÓÙÓâÓ èÕÚã ö ò Singing without accompaniment, Úãä ïÙãÝÕÜåäÜíÝÜéäâØóäÔÝ×ÖÔ ✄☎ ✂ ✁➒ ✄ The runs on May 25, June 1 at state: “A Maiden Is in a Ring,” “The Battle of Jericho,” “I Am Not See Train / Page 5A See Choir / Page 5A ☎ dedicated to keeping the train running this season. ➎➎ easily outdistancing runner-up following excursions to remain on the adjusted schedule: ✆ Ladd Marsh Bird Festival brings birders together ➼➽➾➚➪➶➹➪➘➴➷➬➮➱✃➹ ❐❒❮ ❰ÏÐ❮ÑÒ❮Ñ ✁ Bird lovers of all ages will gather for the 14th Ó××ðÓÛ Óââ ôÓÜÔã ûÕÜâ æäÔÚÕóÓÛ ÚãÕÔ èää ä×â ÚÝ ✁ ❶ spend some time outdoors and hopefully spot a rare species along the way. Óââ ôÓÜÔã Ý× ïÓÚðÜâÓç morning,” she said. “A lot of people, particularly novice birders, like to go to those stations that have volunteers who can help identify birds and talk about them a bit.” áÛÚãÝðÖã ØäÛâ ÚÜÕåÔ äê ÖÕ× ÓÚ ü Óòéò æÜÕâÓçñ Úãä íäÔÚÕóÓÛ Ý ÙÕÓÛÛç ÕÙ Ô Ý ÓÚ ü åòéò æÜÕâÓç ÓÚ Úãä ❈ ❷ ❶ ❶ ❺❻✦✥t ✤★✚✭✛✦✙✣ ★✧ ❸ ★ ✛✜✫✫②❼ ✭★✙ ✫❡ ✤✛★✚❡✘❡✥ ♠★✪❡✧ ②✜✢ Union County Senior Cen- ter, 1504 N. Albany St. in ✐❥✡❧♥q✉✇ ✟①❥♥❥ ✁ Ó úÜÓ×âäñ èÕÚã Ó ÔåäÙÕÓÛ presentation from keynote speaker Rob Taylor, who once worked with the Na- ture Conservancy in Wal- lowa County. Workshops, guided bird èÓÛ Ôñ ØäÛâ ÚÜÕåÔ Ó×â ÕâÔý ❶ ❶ activities are all facets of the festival, said Cathy Nowak, wildlife biologist ÓÚ Úãä Óââ ôÓÜÔã ÞÕÛâÛÕíä ✁ ③❧☞✠✌ ❊④ ✞⑤✠☛☛⑥⑦⑧⑨❊⑩ ❚❖■❏ ❑▲▼◆ P❛◗❘❤❙▼s ❛◗ ❛ ❯▼❙❱▲❳❨s ❩❛◆◆ ❬❛▼s❤ ❑▲▼◆ ❭❙s◗▲❱❛❪❫ ❑❖❚❚❖❬❏ ❴ ❵▼❙❛◗ ❵▼❛❜ ❳P❪❝ P❤▲❘❤ ❤❛s ❛ ◆❙❞s❙ ❞❙s◗▲❞❵ ❯❳❯❨❪❛◗▲❳❞ ▲❞ ◗❤❙ ♣❯▼▲❞❵ ❢▼❙❙❣ ❛▼❙❛❫ Area and the event’s pri- mary organizer. “One of the things that makes our festival unique ÕÔ Úãä ÔÚÓ äâ ÔÚÓÚÕÝ×Ô ÓÚ ❸ ◗✲❯❱❨ ⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩⑦❶ ❷❸❹❹ ❺❻❼❽❾❿➀➁❻➂➁➃❽➄❿❾➅❻❺➆➀❽❾➁➇❻➂ ❈✄ ❈☛☞✝ ☎✆✆✝ ✌ ✞ ✆✥ ✝✟ ✥ ✠✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✹✡ ✸✡ ✔☛✍☛✆✌☛✕✟✥ ✥ ✥ ✺✡ ❖✘♦✠☛☛✍✆✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✶✡ ➭➫➯➦➧➨ ➢➧➩➤➫➦➧➨ ▲☛♦ ✖✟✌☛✍✠✥ ♦✟✍✓✥✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✸ ✷ ✑ ✑ ✙✕✝ ✙✕☛✍♦✆✥ ✍✝♦✘☎✄✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥✼ ✻ ✑ ✑ ❈✍☛✆✆✎☛✍✠✥ ✥ ✥ ✺✡ ➝➞ ➟➠➡ ➙➝➛➜➝ ✏✟☎✍✑✒✒✓✥✥ ✥ ✽✡ ❖✕✝✗✝☛✗✥✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥✹✑ ➈➌➍➎➋➊➏➊↔➏➒➓ ➐➎➌➑➒➓ ➔➒➎→➣➓ MONDAY ✛★❽❽② ✦✙ ✚❡✥♠✧ ✜❾ ◆❊❲ ❘❚ ❊❳❍■❇■❚ ✁P❊◆❙ ■◆ ✂ ❆❘ ◆❉❊ ❡✙❿✜②✦✙✣ ✫✦✥t✧✮➈ ➋ ➀❀✷➁➂ ➃✲➄❀❦✻ ➄✹➅➇➅✹➉✸ ➊✹✲➅✲❁✹✶✷ ❀✷ ✷➁✸ ➌❀➇➇ ➍❀✰✶➁❲✹➅➇➅✹➉✸ ✾✰✸❀ The festival, which began as an Eastern Oregon Uni- versity biology club outing, eventually morphed into the large gathering it is to- day. Each year, the festival attracts about 350 regis- tered individuals to the ✁ Óââ ôÓÜÔã ÞÕÛâÛÕíä áÜäÓñ some of whom have trav- eled from as far as Alaska, according to Nowak. Nowak said many festival- ➢➤➥➦➧➨ ↕➙➛➜↕ ➈➉➊➋➌➍➎➋➊➏➌ ØäÛâ ÚÜÕåÔ Úãä éÝÔÚñ Óââê Õ×Ö ÚãÓÚ ÚãäÜäýÔ Ó ÔåäÙÕØÙ goers look forward to the bird that draws people to Northeast Oregon. ë äÝåÛä ÙÝéä íÜÝé ÓÛÛ ÝóäÜ ÚÝ Ôää ÚãäÕÜ óäÜç ØÜÔÚ ✆ great gray owl because they’re rare to see in other places,” she said. “We have a very high nesting density in the Spring Creek area compared to other areas.” The National Audubon Society gave this descrip- tion of the great gray owl on its website: “A big nightbird, haunting woods of the far north and cer- tain high mountains of the west. Its great size is partly illusion: it has very thick ð ç åÛðéÓÖäñ Ó×â ÕÚÔ ❹ ❸ body size is smaller than it would appear.” Trent Bray, owner of The Bobolink, a birding and outdoors supply store Õ× Ó úÜÓ×âäñ èÕÛÛ ä ÛäÓâê Õ×Ö ÚèÝ ïð×âÓç ØäÛâ ÚÜÕåÔ ✁ ❈ out to Rhinehart Canyon, See Birds / Page 5A ✰✱✲✴✵✰✴ ✾✿ ❀❁❂❃❄❅❋❃❋❂❅❂ ✆✆✘✟✺✽ ☛✗✆❏✶✻✕☎❛✟✆ ● ✷✆✟✌♦✝ ▲☎❑✍☎✗✠✟❏❖✍✟❛☛✗ ✠✟☎✆ ✚☞☎✝✄ ✆♦☛✍✓✝ ✦✧★✦♥✩✛ ♦☛♥✛✜✢✣✤ ✪✫✢✛★✬✛★✳ ✭✪✮✥ ✗✞☛ ▼☛✍✟✌☛✗♦☎✌♦✝ ☛✗✯☎❛✟✹✑✥ Online at lagrandeobserver.com
