LOCAL/REGION
2A — THE OBSERVER
THuRSday, May 6, 2021
Today in Home destroyed, but no one hurt in Elgin fire
History
By DICK MASON
The Observer
Today is Thursday, May 6, the
126th day of 2021. There are 239
days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN
HISTORY:
On May 6, 1954, medical student
Roger Bannister broke the four-min-
ute mile during a track meet in
Oxford, England, in 3:59.4.
ON THIS DATE:
In 1527, unpaid troops loyal to
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at-
tacked Rome, forcing Pope Clement
VII to flee to safety; some scholars
mark the ensuing sack of the city as
the end of the Renaissance in Italy.
In 1882, President Chester alan
arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion
act, which barred Chinese immi-
grants from the u.S. for 10 years
(arthur had opposed an earlier
version with a 20-year ban).
In 1910, Britain’s Edwardian
era ended with the death of King
Edward VII; he was succeeded by
George V.
In 1915, Babe Ruth hit his first
major-league home run as a player
for the Boston Red Sox.
In 1937, the hydrogen-filled
German airship Hindenburg caught
fire and crashed while attempting
to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey;
35 of the 97 people on board were
killed along with a crewman on the
ground.
In 1941, comedian Bob Hope did
his first uSO show before an audi-
ence of servicemen as he broadcast
his radio program from California.
In 1942, during World War II,
some 15,000 american and Filipino
troops on Corregidor island surren-
dered to Japanese forces.
In 1957, Eugene O’Neill’s play
“Long day’s Journey into Night”
won the Pulitzer Prize for drama;
John F. Kennedy’s “Profiles in Cour-
age” won the Pulitzer for biography
or autobiography.
In 2004, President George W.
Bush apologized for the abuse of
Iraqi prisoners by american soldiers,
calling it “a stain on our country’s
honor.”
In 2013, kidnap-rape victims
amanda Berry, Gina deJesus
and Michelle Knight, who went
missing separately about a decade
earlier while in their teens or early
20s, were rescued from a house
in Cleveland. (Their captor, ariel
Castro, hanged himself in prison in
September 2013 at the beginning
of a life sentence plus 1,000 years.)
In 2015, the NFL released a
243-report on “deflategate” that
stopped short of calling Patriots
quarterback Tom Brady a cheater,
but did call some of his claims “im-
plausible” and left little doubt that
he’d had a role in having footballs
deflated before New England’s aFC
title game against Indianapolis and
probably in previous games.
ELGIN — Nobody
was injured in a house
fire at the corner of 11th
and Birch streets in south
Elgin late on Tuesday,
May 4.
The fire, reported at
11:23 p.m., destroyed a
one-story single-family
home, said Kevin Silver-
nail, chief of the Elgin
Rural Fire Department.
The married couple
who live in the home
were there when the fire
started.
The Elgin Rural, Imbler
Rural and La Grande
Elgin Rural Fire Protection district/Screenshot
The Elgin Rural Fire Protection district and other fire departments in
union County respond late Tuesday, May 4, 2021, to a house fire at 196
S. 11th ave., Elgin.
Rural fire departments
responded, sending a
total of 16 firefighters to
the blaze. The Elgin and
Imbler rural fire depart-
ments sent two engines
and La Grande Rural sent
one engine plus a com-
mand vehicle.
The Union County
Sheriff’s Office also
responded and secured the
scene.
No pets are believed to
have been hurt in the fire,
Silvernail said.
La Grande Rural Fire
Chief Craig Kretschmer
said the fire was difficult
for firefighters to extin-
guish because it was in the
home’s attic.
“It was hard to get to,”
Kretschmer said.
Silvernail said the
Oregon State Fire Mar-
shal Office and the Oregon
State Police are attempting
to determine the cause of
the blaze.
Kretschmer said the
presence of the OSP does
not mean this could be
arson. He explained state
police investigate many
fires in which arson is not
suspected.
Firefighters were at
the site mopping up until
7:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Wallowa County honored for early school success
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — Wal-
lowa County’s Building
Healthy Families received
national recognition by the
Campaign for Grade-Level
Reading as a “2021 Bright
Spot” for its responses to
the coronavirus crisis last
year, according to a press
release.
The campaign is high-
lighting communities that
developed exemplary or
innovative responses to
the coronavirus crisis.
The campaign is recog-
nizing communities for
crafting solutions that
seem especially effec-
tive, replication-worthy
and/or deserving of being
sustained during the
post-coronavirus period.
“This has been a very
challenging time to serve
families and children in
Wallowa County,” said
Maria Weer, BHF execu-
tive director. “Many of our
usual activities have had to
be reformatted because of
COVID-19. We’re thankful
that our community part-
ners have partnered with
us to make our ‘to-go’
activities so successful.”
BHF has been active
by partnering with local
libraries to provide “Story
Time To-Go” bags at
Wallowa County Chieftain, File
Enterprise Public Library librarian denine Rautenstrauch says goodbye to library patron Kim McGriff, exiting
with a bag of books in hand on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Building Healthy Families was recently recognized for its
“To-Go” activities at libraries in Enterprise and Wallowa during the coronavirus pandemic.
the Enterprise and Wal-
lowa libraries. New bags
are provided each week
— and are available for
pickup in the lobbies of the
libraries — where preor-
dered library books also
are available. Each bag
has a new book for kids to
keep, and an early literacy
activity to go with it.
“Story Time To-Go
is still happening in the
county as libraries are
opening back up,” said
Autumn Wilburn, special
projects coordinator for
BHF.
The Washington, D.C.-
based campaign recog-
nized similar programs
across the country, Wil-
burn said.
She said that although
the recognition comes with
no tangible award, it has
its value.
“It earns us ‘bragging
rights’ and will help us
with grants we apply for,”
Wilburn said.
The campaign is a
collaborative effort by
funders, nonprofit part-
ners, business leaders,
government agencies,
states and communities
to ensure that more chil-
dren in low-income fami-
lies succeed in school and
graduate prepared for col-
lege, a career and active
citizenship.
The campaign focuses
on promoting early school
success as an important
building block of more-
hopeful futures for chil-
dren in economically
challenged families and
communities, the press
release stated.
While Building Healthy
Families is known for its
alternative high school,
most of its work is with
younger children, Wilburn
said, including early lit-
eracy, Head Start, kinder-
garten readiness and K-3
family STEM (science,
technology, engineering
and math).
“The majority of our
work is focused on the
younger set,” she said.
Crystal Apple Awards honor Union County educators
Union County school employees receive
‘Excellence’ and ‘Legacy’ awards
By DICK MASON
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Many
of the brightest lights in
Union County education
were saluted Monday, May
3, at La Grande Middle
School at a Crystal Apple
Awards ceremony.
The InterMountain Edu-
cation Service District con-
ducted the ceremony hon-
oring 14 Union County
public school employees
with “Excellence in
Education.”
It was the ninth annual
Crystal Apple Awards
for Union County. Due to
COVID-19 restrictions, the
ceremony could not have an
audience in attendance.
The 14 Union County
school district Crystal
Apple Awards presented
were among 44 being given
out this year. The others
will be presented to school
district employees from
Umatilla and Morrow coun-
ties later this month in
Pendleton and Echo.
Each year, the IMESD
partners with its school dis-
tricts to hold the Crystal
Apple Awards to recognize
outstanding administra-
tors, teachers, educational
assistants and office and
building staff for their ded-
ication and commitment to
students and for their will-
ingness to go above and
beyond their regular duties.
Administrators, coworkers,
parents, students and com-
munity members submit
nominations during a two-
month period, and school
district administrations
select winners from among
the nominations.
The following are the
Union County winners.
Cove School District
Kim McBride: McBride
has worked for the school
district for 12 years, the
last three as the high
school’s attendance secre-
tary. McBride is the first
face people see when they
enter the school, and her
positive attitude uplifts stu-
dents, parents and staff,
said Michele Madril, the
IMESD’s communications
director, who before each
presentation read aloud a
synthesis of what nomina-
tors wrote about the award
winner.
Madril said despite
the work McBride had to
do while pursuing tru-
ancy cases and sometimes
having to be the bearer of
bad news, she is one of the
most beloved employees in
the Cove School District.
Russel Olmsted: Olm-
sted, a high school shop
teacher, has taught in the
Cove School District for 20
years.
“He is an educator who
goes above and beyond to
connect with students and
help them with their aca-
demic journeys,” Madril
said. “Russel’s enthusiasm
for teaching is amazing and
makes both students and
their parents thankful he is
their teacher.”
Elgin School District
Denise Ludwig: Ludwig
has been the district’s
deputy clerk for nearly 30
years.
Ludwig has played an
important role in helping
keep the Elgin School Dis-
trict financially stable and
putting it in a position to
take advantage of many
financial opportunities,
Madril said.
Madril said one nom-
inator praised Ludwig
for being able to provide
a wealth of information
to people while wearing
many hats.
Imbler School District
Barry Bowers: Bowers
is a high school math
teacher who has worked in
the school district for 13
years.
“He is always avail-
able to help students who
need extra help in math or
any other subject, and even
former students who are in
college sometimes ask for
his help,” Madril said.
Bowers has coached
multiple sports for boys and
girls at the middle and high
school levels and is also
the Imbler School District’s
testing coordinator.
Wendy Clerget: Clerget
has taught 23 years in the
school district. She started
as a kindergarten teacher
and now teaches third
grade. Clerget is cred-
ited with helping develop
a strong solar system cur-
riculum and effectively
teaching students the
lesson of the book “Stone
Soup,” Madril said. Clerget
also was recognized for
her work in organizing
eighth-grade field trips to
Camp Hancock in Wheeler
County to search for fossils.
La Grande School District
Kevin Cahill: Cahill has
taught in the district for 43
years. The language arts
teacher at La Grande High
School was praised for the
connections he makes with
students.
“In class or out of class,
all of his students know
they are respected and there
is a genuine concern for
them as a person and their
developing skills with the
English language,” Madril
said, quoting a nominator.
Linda Sweet: Sweet is a
paraeducator at Greenwood
Elementary School and has
worked in the district for 24
years. She was credited for
always stepping up to help
when needed .
“Linda is a leader who
leads by example by being
patient, kind, caring,
knowledgeable and yet firm
and steady,” Madril said.
Leslie Graham:
Graham is a fourth-grade
teacher at Central Ele-
mentary School who has
worked 25 years in the
school district.
“She has mastered
building a positive class-
room community where
students value citizenship
and take risks to improve
learning,” Madril said.
Graham is credited with
being an outstanding math
and science teacher who
has increased science, tech-
nology and math opportu-
nities for all students in the
school district.
Dena Tams: Tams has
worked in the school dis-
trict for 20 years as a sec-
retary and now works at
Island City Elementary
School. Madril said Tams
helps all school staff serve
and nurture students.
“Dena is the back-
bone and foundation that
makes Island City such a
wonderful place to work,”
Madril said, quoting a
nominator.
North Powder School
District
Sandy Colton: Colton
has taught 32 years for the
North Powder School Dis-
trict, instructing a wide
range of classes at the high
school and middle school
levels.
“Her love of school spirit
and setting the bar high are
always evident,” Madril
said.
She noted Colton has
taken steps such as getting
an upper math endorsement
to fulfill a district need and
is dedicated to providing
opportunities for seniors.
Madril said nominators
wrote that Colton’s passion
for teaching never wavers.
Geneva Olson: Olson is
a third-grade grade teacher
who has worked six years
in the North Powder School
District.
“Her classroom is
described as a positive,
upbeat and ‘buzzing with
engagement,’” Madril said.
Whether mentoring stu-
dent teachers, coaching
or volunteering, Olson is
regarded as an excellent
leader, noted Madril, who
added that a former third-
grade student said Olson’s
unique lessons “helped
me learn to think, but I
didn’t know I was actually
working that hard.”
Union School District
Julie Baxter: Baxter
has worked for the school
district for 10 years and
is the high school’s secre-
tary. Madril said Baxter
has a broad skill set that
makes her an expert trou-
bleshooter and helps navi-
gate the student information
system and improve parent
communication.
Her efforts, Madril
said, have contributed to
increased enrollment, better
morale and high student
participation.
“Julie has been a vital
part of the Union School
District’s goal to maintain a
high level of excellence and
ensure a positive environ-
ment for all,” Madril said,
quoting a nominator.
Shyanne Winters: Win-
ters has been the Union
School District’s music
teacher for three years. Stu-
dents, parents and staff feel
her dedication and can-do
attitude, Madril said. She
also has a willingness to go
the extra mile for students.
“Most people think she
is a magician because of
the way she makes children
want to learn,” Madril said,
quoting a nominator.
Intermountain Education
Service District
Deb Jones: Jones is a
speech language patholo-
gist in Union County who
has worked for the IMESD
for 13 years. Madril said
Jones goes above and
beyond to ensure students
receive needed services.
She added Jones’ knowl-
edge and expertise make a
her a strong mentor to many
incoming colleagues.
“She is very kind,
thoughtful, generous and
a rock-star SLP who will
help out others any way she
can,” Madril said, quoting a
nominator.
Legacy Awards
Chris Panike, La
Grande School District:
Panike has been the La
Grande School District’s
business director for 14
years and will retire at the
end of June. Panike was
praised for the work he
has done while leading the
fiscal, nutrition and organi-
zational sides of the school
district’s operations.
“The La Grande School
District is deeply thankful
for the work of Chris
Panike — he has been a
mentor, leader and source
of strength to many in our
organization, and he also
also been a loyal friend to
many of us. His impact on
our organization will be felt
for many years to come,”
said Madril, quoting a
nominator.
John Frieboes, North
Powder School District:
Frieboes, the district’s
maintenance supervisor, is
completing his 43rd year
with the North Powder
School District. Madril
said Frieboes’s dedication
and pursuit of perfection
have ensured safe build-
ings for students and future
students.
“The pride John takes in
providing for the safety and
well-being of students and
staff is reflected throughout
all the facilities (in the
school district),” Madril said,
“from the 1937 gym to the
2019 middle/high school.”