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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2021)
INSIDE MAKING HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS IS EASY AND FUN | HOME & LIVING, 1B $1.50 TUESDAY EDITION May 4, 2021 5 candidates race to serve on Imbler school board By DICK MASON The Observer Editor’s Note This article contains informa- tion about the candidates run- ning for Position 5 on the Imbler School Board. The Observer’s May 6 edition will have informa- tion about Position 3 candidates. IMBLER — The Imbler School Board election is the hot- test in Union County. Two of its three races this year are contested, those for positions 3 and 5. No other Union County school board has more than than one contested race. Three candidates are running for Position 3, and two are vying for Position 5. Neither incum- bent for those seats is running for reelection. Position 3 candidates are Bud Whitcomb, the owner and oper- ator of a custom body and paint shop; Tim Phelps, a sales and marketing director; and Joseph “Joe” Fisher Jr., a building offi cial. The race for Position 5 is between Jason Beck, a rancher, and LaVar Bowles, a project manager for a construction company. Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain Nez Perce drummers perform during ceremonies Thursday, April 29, 2021, surrounding the turning over of the ownership of the now-closed Wallowa Methodist Church to the tribe. About 60 people, both from the tribe and the church, were on hand for the ceremony. ‘We are here forever’ Nez Perce Tribe takes title of Wallowa church See, Election/Page 5A Fog remains over Joseph City Council By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain WALLOWA — The Nez Perce Tribe took another step toward reestablishing itself in its traditional Wallowa County homeland on Thursday, April 29, when the tribe received the title to the now-former Wallowa Meth- odist Church. The ceremony on the lawn behind the church included about 60 people, most of whom were Nez Perce tribal members from the Lapwai, Idaho-based reservation. Also in attendance were members of the United Methodist Church’s Oregon-Idaho Confer- ence, which has held title to the land and building since it closed. “It’s the transfer of deeds so this church is going back to the Nez Perce Tribe. We’re very honored to be able to be here today for this,” said Casey Mitchell, vice chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee. “Any land that comes back to the tribe is a blessing for us, considering this is originally our homeland that we were pushed out of.” Mary Jane Miles, a NPTEC member who was tabbed at the last moment to hostess the event, spoke of the gratitude the Nimiipuu — Nez Perce in their own language meaning “the people” — for receiving the land. “The bishop of the Oregon-Idaho annual By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain JOSEPH — The Joseph City Council recently made progress toward replacing Larry Braden, who resigned as city admin- istrator/recorder, but failed to answer the question of whether there will be an investigation into Braden’s claim of harassment. The council went into exec- utive session Wednesday, April 21, to seek advice from Wyatt Baum, attorney for the city, but he declined to discuss in open ses- sion any advice he gave on a pos- sible investigation. The question was at the fore- front of the minds of several councilors April 16 when Mayor Belinda Buswell read aloud Bra- den’s resignation letter in which he stated, “the stress of the job as it is today and constant harass- ment from members of the current city council has become too much for me to handle and is aff ecting Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman Shannon Wheeler, center, receives the title to the former Wallowa Methodist Church from Allen Buck, of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church, as NPTEC Vice Chairman Casey Mitchell, left, and NPTEC member Mary Jane Miles watch Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Wallowa. conference of the United Methodist Church has indicated this is an opportunity to join in a partnership with the tribe,” she said. “This came to me this morning. I opened up my book and there it was, Luke 1:78-79 (she paraphrased): ‘Our God will bring the rising sun to visit us, to guide our feet into the way of friendship, love, strength and peace.’” At this, Miles looked to the sunny sky and seemed to acknowledge the fulfi llment of prophecy. “The Nimiipuu — the people — are tied to this land,” she said. “I heard one of the ladies say this morning, ‘We are here for- ever.’ It just seemed to warm my heart with what is happening today, how favored we are to be getting this land back to our home- land. And the Nimiipuu are here to stay, and I thank you for your drums that just bring in the spirit of the Nimiipuu. ... The Creator is See, Church/Page 5A Step back in time on Mother’s Day in Elgin See, Joseph/Page 5A Elgin Museum begins third year at town’s former city hall By DICK MASON The Observer ELGIN — Locals can revive memories of an old grocery store and lumber mill on Sunday, May 9, when the Elgin Museum opens for its spring and summer season. New features at the museum include a small wooden shopping basket for the old Model Grocery Store in Elgin and a collection of photos from the town’s old Han- INDEX Classified ...............3B Comics ....................7B Crossword .............3B Dear Abby .............8B Home ......................1B ford F. Reed Lumber Co. All are items people have provided to the project during the past six months. “We are so thankful for all the help we have received from the community,” said Gerald Hopkins, president of the board of directors of the Elgin Museum and Historical Society. The Model Grocery Store basket is empty, but next to it are the prices of groceries from the store, which is believed to have operated in the 1920s and 1930s. They included: 10 pounds of sweet potatoes for 42 cents, See, Museum/Page 5A WEATHER Horoscope .............4B Letters ....................4A Local........................2A Lottery ....................3A Nation.....................7A THURSDAY Obituaries ..............3A Opinion ..................4A Sports .....................8A State ........................6A Sudoku ...................7B Alex Wittwer/The Observer Gerald Hopkins (left) and Charlie Horn inspect a painting in the main lobby of the Elgin Museum Saturday, May 1, 2021. The Elgin Historical Society’s museum opens for its spring and summer season Sunday, May 9, on Mother’s Day. Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Wednesday 37 LOW 76/55 Mainly clear Some sun; warmer JOHN HANLEY’S POLITICAL CARTOONS CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 51 2 sections, 16 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com