Opinion
A4
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
OUR VIEW
Funds make
restoration
a reality
he fi rst-glance headlines will notify the
public that the Oregon Legislature fun-
neled $4 million to spearhead an eff ort
to restore Eastern Oregon University’s Grand
Staircase, and while the action by lawmakers
was essential, there is a bigger story behind the
20-year-long plan to upgrade what is an architec-
ture masterpiece.
The staircase was just one of a number of proj-
ects created from the imagination of architect
John V. Bennes, who decided to design the stair-
case in an Italian Renaissance Revival style. The
structure contains 178 steps, 418 stone balusters
and 17,470 square feet of concrete. Just its con-
struction was a big story.
The bigger story, though, centers on all the
people and organizations that began the eff ort to
restore the staircase years ago when such a ven-
ture may have seemed hopelessly optimistic. A
host of people and organizations — including
but not limited to the Union County Chamber of
Commerce, the city, Main Street Downtown, the
Oregon Historic Preservation Offi ce, the college
and the La Grande Landmarks Commission —
worked, at one point or another, to make the res-
toration a reality.
The staircase was and is more than just a
unique architecture structure. The staircase rep-
resents a link between the past and the future
of the town and the college. For many, the stair-
case symbolizes a memory from childhood or a
cherished attribute to time spent studying at the
college.
That’s why allowing it to crumble was never
really an option and that is again why the work
of so many for so long should be lauded. Now,
in a nation divided by sectional strife, the coop-
eration between diff erent people and organiza-
tions is a shining example showing that we can
work together to fi nd a solution to a diffi cult
challenge, that we can achieve great things with
determination.
The funding from the Legislature was critical
and every voter should feel proud that lawmakers
made such a wise decision. Often that isn’t the
case. Yet on this one, our lawmakers saw the ben-
efi t of doing what was right.
The money from the Legislature for the stair-
case isn’t pork barrel politics but instead a solid
investment in the future. The town and the
county owe those who helped make such an
endeavor a reality a big thanks.
T
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YOUR VIEWS
Passing school bond
would improve district’s
extracurricular activities
I am writing in support of the
school Bond Measure 31-105. I
am a dental hygienist at a local
dental office, married, with two
young boys, ages 7 and 11. I am a
member of the Island City Elemen-
tary PTO as well as La Grande
Little League.
As a parent, nothing is more
important to me than the education
of my children. In order for children
to be successful later in life, a strong
foundation and the best tools to build
upon that foundation are essential.
Extracurricular activities including
sports and clubs are a huge asset to
any child at any age but lack of ade-
quate facilities to hold such is a bar-
rier for our community. This is the
case with the 98-year-old Annex
adjacent to the La Grande Middle
School.
The bond from 2014 was recently
refi nanced, which enabled the
restructure of the bond debt. This
would give our school district $4.845
million to put toward replacing the
Annex and maintenance facility. If
voters pass the proposed $4.845 mil-
lion bond measure, the proposed
bond tax rate is estimated to remain
at the current rate without adding
years to the bond payoff schedule.
In addition, the school district will
receive a $4 million state matching
grant if the proposed bond mea-
sure passes from the Oregon School
Capital Improvement Matching
(OSCIM) program. If the proposed
bond measure does not pass, the
school district would not receive the
matching grant.
The new proposed facility at the
middle school would help our com-
munity and students with increased
academic and club activities, elim-
inate ADA barriers, replace two of
the district’s oldest buildings and
increase recreational opportuni-
ties for the community while main-
taining existing tax rates.
With your “Yes” vote, La Grande
School District will continue to pro-
vide adequate space, safety and
infrastructure for our students and
staff , now and in the future. Please
join me in voting “Yes” in the May
2022 election.
Amaya Adkins
La Grande
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande offi ce: 541-962-7691
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton offi ce: 541-278-1129
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford offi ce: 541-776-4646
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
STATE SENATOR
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
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Elgin
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