FROM PAGE ONE A6 — THE OBSERVER TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022 VIGIL Continued from Page A1 Today, Devin is responding to the dev- astating loss by starting a series of prayer vigils named “Shine A Light” aimed at rallying Union County residents to stand up against opioid use and get more people to sup- port those fi ghting opioid addiction. “This problem aff ects all of us,” he said. “We want to raise awareness of it.” The fi rst of these prayer vigils was conducted Sat- urday, March 5, early in the evening at Max Square. The prayer vigil was the fi rst of about six Devin hopes to help to put on through April. Devin told the 25 people who attended the vigil that if his actions can save one life it would ease at least a small portion of the guilt he feels. SKIER Continued from Page A1 Rescue Coordinator Nick Vora. Search and rescue teams from the Union and Baker county sheriff ’s offi ces, plus crews from the La Grande and North Powder Rural fi re depart- ments, U.S. Forest Ser- vice law enforcement and the Anthony Lakes Ski Patrol all responded to the accident. In addition to the responding ground resources, a Life Flight medevac helicopter was ordered, along with a hoist-capable medevac helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard due to the steep terrain and reported severity of injuries. The helicopter’s hoist equipment would have allowed Carr to be pulled into the aircraft while it was hovering. Vora said it would have been impos- HISTORY Continued from Page A1 The Bobcats relied on a strong showing from their seniors to defeat Salem Academy. Senior guard Callie Glenn led all scorers with 20 points, while senior forward Kaylin Nowak scored 16. “It was extreme bliss, like living out a dream that I’ve had since I was a little girl,” Nowak said. “Every single person on the team wanted it equally as bad. It’s a feeling of being so proud of the team and being able to represent the community.” The Bobcats capped off an immaculate season, fi nishing the year 25-3. Despite entering the state tournament as the No. 3 seed and facing the top- ranked Crusaders, Union found itself cutting down the nets. Union head coach Jordan Klebaum-Johnston did not mince words before the start of the season, expressing confi dence in the team’s potential. In fact, the Bobcats’ coach saw the vision well before this year’s senior class even entered high school. “I told their parents in seventh grade that there is a state championship in this room,” she said. “Thank God I wasn’t wrong.” Throughout the season, Union has leaned on the senior group of Glenn, Wells, Nowak and Audrey Hill to lead the way. Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group Jay Devin, organizer of the Shine a Light prayer group, hands out printed song sheets of “Amazing Grace” at a gathering in Max Square, La Grande, on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Devin plans a series of prayer vigils with the aim of raising awareness of opioid addiction. Devin, who has lived in La Grande since the 1980s, said the prayer vigils are needed because people in Union County are dying as a result of opioid overdoses. “Opioids are killers, they take over your mind and body,” he said. Devin believes the key sible for a helicopter to land at the site. About one hour and 20 minutes after the ini- tial call of the accident was received, a ski patrol and Anthony Lakes staff managed to climb up the approximately 38-degree slope and reach Carr. They assessed the situation, and then initiated trans- port down to the base of the peak where arriving La Grande Fire Depart- ment paramedics, search and rescue teams from the Baker and Union County sheriff ’s offi ces, USFS law enforcement and addi- tional ski patrol personnel had begun accessing the area. Tracked utility vehi- cles and snowmobiles were used to reach the base of the peak, but the slope of the peak itself was acces- sible only by foot due to hazards and the steepness of the terrain. The team of ski patrol and Anthony Lakes staff navigated down the steep slope and met with incoming SAR and medical personnel. It was confi rmed by para- medics that Carr had died at the scene from inju- ries sustained in the ski accident. Glenn, Wells and Nowak combined for 45 of Union’s 52 points, providing a big spark to overcome an early defi cit and closing out the game in the fi nal minutes. The Bobcats trailed 8-2 early in the game, with a heavy dose of Salem Acad- emy’s defensive pressure focused on Glenn. The Blue Mountain Confer- ence fi rst-team player aver- aged just under 20 points per game in the state tour- nament and has been the focal point of the team’s off ense. Trailing early in front of a packed house at the Pend- leton Convention Center, Union’s mindset was to stick to its game plan. “It was just about taking a deep breath and realizing that we can do it,” Wells said. “We’ve been playing basketball for a long time and we know how to do it. We just took a deep breath and knew that we were there for a reason.” Despite going score- less in the fi rst half, Glenn managed to get teammates involved to overcome the defi cit. “I have confi dence in every single player on our team,” Glenn said. “We all have that confi dence that anybody can step up at any given time. Our whole entire team played a strong game in the state champion- ship and everybody contrib- uted in one way or another.” Nowak in the fi rst half hit four three-pointers to help Union go on a 23-7 run to take a 25-15 lead into halftime. “I just fell in a rhythm and let it fl y,” Nowak said. “In my mind I just had to believe it’s going in, instead of hoping not to miss.” It was only a matter of time for Glenn to fi nd her way onto the score sheet, making a huge impact in the second half. The senior scored fi ve points in the third quarter and converted 12 out of 15 attempts at the free-throw line as the Bob- cats looked to hold off any late comeback attempts. There is no better end to a basketball season than to cut down the nets, which is exactly how things trans- pired for the Bobcats. Union’s core of seniors ended their careers on top, while Klebaum-Johnston coached the Bobcats to his- tory in just her second year as head coach. “It just felt so good to end it that way with my best friends,” Glenn said. “It feels good to do some- thing great for our commu- nity. It’s amazing to be a part of something that will be history forever.” After breaking a his- toric championship drought, the Union girls basketball team’s accom- plishment will not soon be forgotten by those involved. “Every time I walk back in that gym, our banner is going to be hanging up there,” Nowak said. “Hope- fully one day I can show my children and they can be proud of me. I’ll always remember these memories for the rest of my life.” to stop opioid overdose deaths is education. Devin said that if laws were in place that required people to attend classes on opioid abuse each time they over- dosed on them, the problem would be improved. “You have to educate it out,” he said. Devin said people who want to tackle the opioid overdose and addiction problem must be pre- pared to address the issue tirelessly. “There can be no quit- ting,” he said. Zoe Cleveland of La Grande, who also spoke at the prayer vigil, urged people to reach out to those battling drug addictions. “We have to be there for each other,” she said. “All we really have is each other.” Cleveland said the Shine A Light prayer vigils have the potential to make a diff erence. “I think if people are genuine about making a change, then change will happen,” she said. Julie Bean, a drug abuse counselor, also spoke at the Baker City Herald, File Anthony Lake refl ects (left to right) Gunsight Mountain, Lees Peak and the Lakes Lookout in this 2006 pho- to. A 20-year-old woman died following a ski accident on the northwest slope of Gunsight Peak, southwest of the Anthony Lakes Ski Area, on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Carr had gone up to Gunsight Mountain by using backcountry ski equipment, including skis with a fabric that allows skiers to go uphill, Vora said. “Gunsight Mountain is a fairly popular place for people to ski,” Vora said. “It is not uncommon for people to traverse up the mountain.” Vora said many places prayer vigil. Bean said it is critical that people who want to help recovering addicts understand what they are going through. She said, all recovering addicts are just a moment away from falling back in the abyss of drug addiction. Bean said there is a core of people those struggling with addiction can turn to in Union County for help. “We will fi ght for you when nobody else will,” she said. The next Shine the Light Prayer Vigils set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Devin said that if the turnout increases, the vigils may be moved to the Union County Fairgrounds. The First Presbyterian Church was represented at the March 5 prayer vigil. Devin said he will be inviting all churches in La Grande to send delegations to upcoming Shine A Light prayer vigils. in the Anthony Lakes area do not have cell cov- erage. He said Carr’s companion was likely able to get cellphone ser- vice because of the height of Gunsight Mountain, which has a top elevation of 8,342 feet. “If he had been lower he might not have been able to get cellphone ser- vice,” he said. Vora said weather in the area at the accident site was cold but good overall for rescue opera- tions because no snow was falling. “Overall there was good visibility,” he said. Vora credits mem- bers of the Anthony Lakes Ski Patrol and the Anthony Lakes Moun- tain Resort staff with getting to the accident site quickly. He said without their help it would have taken at least an hour longer for rescue personnel to reach Carr. “I can’t thank them enough,” he said. Union County Business Grants Available The 2022 Union County Business Assistance Grant Program is currently accepting applications from small businesses financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible applicants may receive up to $10,000. Applications, eligibility requirements, and additional information is available on the Union County website at www.union-county.org or by calling 541-963- 1001. Completed and signed applications packets must be received via email at bizgrant@union-county.org or hand delivered to 1106 K Avenue by 12:00 noon on Friday, April 1, 2022. This grant program is being made available due to federal funding received from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. Hosted by the Island City Lions Club Locked & Loaded 2022 Gunshow La Grande La Grande Sat. March 12 • 9 to 5 & Sun. March 13 • 9 to 1 @ the Blue Mountain Conference Center • 404 12th Street Background checks will run and ATM on site. Breakfast and lunch to be served Saturday. In Memory of Shelia Evans who did so much for our community. Sponsors & Vendors call Kayla at 541.786.7210 Charles & Eileen Stewart 10304 A 1st St. Island City, OR cstewartpc@gmail.com 541.910.5435 Pay cash or Rent to own Authorized Dealer