FROM PAGE ONE
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021
THE OBSERVER — 5A
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
John Tristan Shields Maris steers his soap box car down Haefer Lane in Cove Saturday, May 29, 2021.
Maris competed in the stock division bracket at the Oregon Soap Box Derby’s Best of the West compe-
tition.
Alexis Lowe crosses the fi nish line during a super stock division race at the soap box derby in Cove on
Saturday, May 29, 2021. Lowe was a former runner-up at the 2019 All-American Soap Box Derby World
Championship and competed in the same car at the competition in Cove.
DERBY: ‘Just to see all these local kids try it out is great’
Continued from Page 1A
graduation taking place
down the street at the same
time, some locals mean-
dered over to check out the
races.
Nearly 20 racers took
part in the event, split into
two divisions. The stock
division included compet-
itors between the ages of
7 and 13 and less than 125
pounds, while the super
stock division was made up
of kids 9 to 18 and less than
150 pounds.
“I was really excited to
see the number of kids and
see the number of people in
the community that came to
watch,” said Oregon Soap
Box event coordinator Sam
Delaney.
The contestants com-
peted in a double-elimina-
tion tournament consisting
of two races per matchup.
After the fi rst race, drivers
switched lanes and wheels.
The participant with the
best combined time from
both races advanced to the
next round with the run-
ner-up relegated to the con-
solation bracket.
Before the racing started,
all contestants checked in
and weighed their cars. The
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
Cove hosted a soap box derby on Saturday, May 29, 2021, drawing competitors from across the state hoping to improve their point totals and
a chance at competing in Akron, Ohio — home of the fi rst and largest soap box derby.
overall weight of the driver
combined with the car had
to be exactly the same for
every driver to ensure fair
racing conditions. To secure
an even measurement,
weights were added to the
cars of the smaller drivers.
As part of the Super
Kids program, local racer
Sean Kuga teamed up with
Mikayla Saddler in a two-
person soap box car. Super
Kids allows physically and
mentally disabled kids to
compete in soap box derby
races. Sean’s dad, Mark
Kuga, remarked on the
impact that soap box derby
racing has had on Sean.
“He was afraid of a ball,
just afraid to do stuff , and
this totally took him out of
his shell,” Mark Kuga said.
Sean has competed
in basketball, soccer and
other sports through Spe-
cial Olympics and inte-
grated sports programs
in Cove. Although he is
too old to compete in the
soap box derby now, Sean
drove down the track a few
times to raise interest in
the Super Kids program
and encourage other kids
with special needs to get
involved.
“The community is very
supportive,” Mark Kuga
said.
The rest of the fi eld con-
sisted of a mostly even
split between experienced
drivers and fi rst-time
racers. The seeding for the
tournament bracket was
drawn randomly, but all the
competitors took part in
multiple races in the dou-
ble-elimination format.
“Just to see all these
local kids try it out is
great,” Youngers said. “It’s
a fun sport.”
BUDGETS: $2M from
American Rescue Plan
is included in proposal
Continued from Page 1A
department overall is losing
staff , as two offi cers are
retiring in the coming fi scal
year.
The city plans to shell
out funds in 2021-22 for
some new vehicles. Top-
ping that list is the fi re
department’s $195,000
capital outlay for a new
ambulance.
According to city budget
documents, the city has
four ambulances and needs
to replace its oldest, which
is from 2006 and now has
201,000 miles.
Likewise, the police
department plans to spend
$53,000 on a new vehicle
for fl eet rotation, the parks
department has a $28,000
expense for a 3/4-ton
pickup, and the city also
has budgeted $340,000 for
a street sweeper that could
replace one of its pickups.
The city’s budget pro-
posal includes $2 million
in funding from the federal
American Rescue Plan. The
city has yet to receive the
LA GRANDE
2021-22 BUDGETS
BREAKDOWN
Urban renewal budget
General fund: $1.8 million
Debt fund: $2.1 million
City budget
General fund: $14.55 million
Police department: $3.69 million
Fire/EMS department: $2.95
million
Public works: $3.28 million
Street fund: $1.61 million
Total city budget: $53.2 million
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
Homeowner Jenifer McCraw attempts to comfort her dog, Hunter,
while fi refi ghter Jerid Ployhar administers oxygen on Saturday,
May 29, 2021. The dog was trapped inside the family’s home when
fi re broke out and quickly fi lled the residence with smoke.
RESCUE: Cause of the fi re yet to be determined
Continued from Page 1A
MORE INFORMATION
The public meetings to approve
the budgets are virtual and begin
at 6 p.m. The public can view the
meetings on Charter Communica-
tions channel 180, the La Grande
Alive website at lagrandealive.tv
and on the Eastern Oregon Alive
TV Facebook page.
funds. Strope during the
budget hearings explained
the council can decide on
how to use the money later,
after the federal govern-
ment sets regulations for
the money.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.LaGrandeObserver.com
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
JD Little, of La Grande, embraces one of his family’s dogs, Hunter,
while La Grande fi refi ghter Jerid Ployhar administers oxygen on
Saturday, May 29, 2021.
“My youngest and
I were taking food to
our grandma and our
oldest son,” said Jenifer
McCraw, “We came back,
and we were two blocks
away and I said, ‘JD,
there’s fi retrucks and our
house is on fi re.’ I came
skidding on in.”
Little ran into the house
looking for Hunter, while
fi refi ghters raced to don
breathing equipment and
get the hoses ready. His
eff orts were to no avail.
However, fi refi ghter
Jerid Ployhar with the La
Grande Fire Department,
one of the fi rst on scene
with Engine 46, emerged
from the home holding the
limp frame of the dog that
had been trapped inside.
Hunter was breathing, but
seriously injured from
smoke inhalation.
It took fi refi ghters three
full bottles of oxygen, but
they were able to bring
Hunter back to his feet.
EASTERN OREGON
2021
PHOTO CONTEST
Official Rules:
Photo Contest open now and closes at
11:59 pm Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Staff will choose the top 10. The public can
vote online for People’s Choice from 12:01
am Monday, June 21 through 11:59 pm
Thursday, June 30.
Prepare for unexpected
power outages with a
Generac home standby
generator
Digital or scanned photos only, uploaded
to the online platform. No physical copies.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME
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The contest subject matter is wide open but
we’re looking for images that capture life
in Eastern Oregon.
Only photographers from Oregon may
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877-557-1912
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The dog was released to
the family, who took him
to receive veterinary care.
The cause of the fi re is
still unknown. No one was
inside the home at the time
of the fi re. Little received
medical care from fi re-
fi ghters for smoke inha-
lation, but no person was
injured in the blaze.
Entrants may crop, tone, adjust saturation
and make minor enhancements, but may
not add or remove objects within the
frame, or doctor images such that the final
product doesn’t represent what’s actually
before the camera.
The winners will appear in the July 8th
edition of Go Magazine; the top 25 will
appear online.
Gift cards to a restaurant of your choice
will be awarded for first, second and third
place.
7-Year Extended Warranty*
A $695 Value!
Off er valid March 16, 2020 - June 30, 2020
Special Financing Available
Subject to Credit Approval
*Terms & Conditions Apply
Submit all photos
online at:
lagrandeobserver.com/photocontest