Opinion
A4
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
OUR VIEW
Coach leaves a
lasting legacy
L
ongevity in just about any profession usu-
ally says a whole lot about an individu-
al’s focus and integrity, and the Enterprise
High School sports community can look back on
coach Mike Crawford’s tenure at the helm of the
Outlaw girls basketball program with pride.
Crawford, a longtime fi xture on the bench for
the girls program, coached his last game this
season for the Outlaws. He steps away from the
program after 33 years, a state championship
crown and a record of 520 wins in 795 games.
Crawford was in a way the last of a group
of coaches from the now long defunct Wapiti
League, a conference steeped in a tradition of
competitiveness and prep hardwood glory. His
long tenure is not only a testament to his own tal-
ents but to a single-minded devotion to the bene-
fi ts of prep sports.
Fans and patrons of school districts often take
such long stints as Crawford’s for granted. We
see the well-known coach on the sidelines or the
bench or next to the wrestling mat and expect
— and count on — their participation into the
future. The years run by, and the same face
remains in a coaching position, securing a sense
of longevity.
Crawford’s three decades of experience and
success personifi es this sense of security every
season, where we know who the coach will be.
In the world big picture that may not seem like
much, but in our little piece of the heartland it is
important.
Crawford didn’t walk away with a string of
state championships, but he should depart with
the knowledge that his time, his and his family’s
sacrifi ces were worth it.
Coaches and their families at rural schools
make major sacrifi ces every season. They endure
long hours and often experience criticism along
with praise. They are often caught in the middle
of a terrible paradox where they must teach their
players the fundamentals of a game and fi eld crit-
icism from parents and fans.
Most of all, though, Crawford’s departure
marks the fi nal chapter of an era that began
in the days of the Wapiti League, before cell-
phones and internet on lonely bus rides across the
Blue Mountains to small, secluded gyms where,
during every game, the stakes were high and the
chance at prep glory just a play away.
EDITORIALS
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opinion of The Observer editorial
board. Other columns, letters and
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opinions of the authors and not
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CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
STATE SENATOR
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford offi ce: 541-776-4646
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
YOUR VIEWS
Quality schools are the foundation
of thriving communities
The community of La Grande has the unique opportu-
nity to invest in our youth without encumbering taxpayers
with more than what we have already committed to sup-
port our school district. Let’s make it happen by voting
Yes for Measure 31-105.
Our community has generously supported invest-
ment in education facilities in the La Grande School Dis-
trict, but additional investment is needed. The La Grande
Middle School Annex is in desperate need of replace-
ment. Nearly a century old, the building has limited acces-
sibility, lacks the versatility needed to support both the
classroom and extracurricular needs of our students and is
an ineffi cient building.
I am pleased the district had the fi nancial acumen to
refi nance the existing bond to attain a lower interest rate,
a responsible and principled use of taxpayer dollars. By
doing so, the district created the opportunity to use nearly
$4.5 million for our schools without raising our tax rate
from 2021 and without extending the bond payoff date.
Additionally, the district qualifi ed for an additional $4 mil-
lion matching grant.
Quality schools are the foundation of thriving com-
munities. We are blessed with talented educators who are
committed to the growth and development of our students.
With a Yes vote we can enhance facilities to further sup-
port active and engaged teaching and learning.
I hope you join me in voting Yes for Measure 31-105.
Tom Insko
La Grande
It is time for an Eastern Oregon governor
Fifty years is too long. It is time for an Eastern Oregon
governor.
With only weeks separating Oregonians from replacing
one of the most oppressive, dictatorial governors in our
state’s history, the choices are, unfortunately, many. Nar-
rowing down the right candidate is confusing, with nearly
20 choices on the Republican side, a Democrat who was
aide-de-camp to the current disaster and a fence-sitting
Democrat turned Independent.
Kerry McQuisten has been an obvious choice on the
Republican ticket. Proving her fi ghting spirit early on, as
mayor of Baker City she stood with her community to defy
the oppressive dictates of Gov. Brown and declared her
community a “common sense sanctuary” from the non-
sense that was destroying their businesses and community.
Kerry is known nationally for that spirit and message
of common sense and adherence to American values and
freedoms. She is tireless in getting that message out.
The overpopulated slate of gubernatorial candidates
has become contentious and bordering dangerous. Kerry
has kept her calm determination amid the infi ghting.
We urge you to visit kerrymcquistenfororegon.com and
get to know her better. You will want one of her signs. We
have them.
Alan and Colleen MacLeod
Summerville
Our children and community members
deserve access to all school facilities
I am writing this letter in support of Measure 31-105.
As a La Grande resident, taxpayer and parent of two La
Grande School District students, I urge you to vote Yes on
the proposed bond. This is a tremendous opportunity for
our community and surrounding areas. Passing this mea-
sure will allow LGSD to secure a $4 million grant to help
improve facilities that are in dire condition.
This measure will not create any additional taxes or
extend the length of the original 2014 school bond; the
existing tax rates will be the same. The fi scal responsibility
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‘Anything is possible’ attitude ensures
best opportunities for school district
Union County has been our home for 44 years. Both of us
have worked for La Grande School District, our sons gradu-
ated from La Grande High School, and our third generation
is now in school here. Decades of support from people and
businesses in the LGSD community have demonstrated an
“anything is possible” attitude ensuring the best opportuni-
ties for our children and our community. We thank you.
The bond measure on the May ballot is a very rare
opportunity for three reasons: 1) LGSD has refi nanced
the bond passed by voters in 2014 and reduced the appli-
cable interest rate from 4.75% to 1.68%, generating sig-
nifi cant savings in the annual debt service requirements;
2) It has been determined that by utilizing these savings,
the district can sell an additional $4.845 million in bonds
without increasing the current tax rate or extending the
life of the current loan; and 3) LGSD has qualifi ed for a $4
million match grant. The combined amount would provide
the school district with a total of $8.845 million to make
vital improvements for our students and community. The
$4 million capital improvement grant is just sitting there
waiting to be claimed, but it won’t happen unless the bond
passes. The time is now. We can’t aff ord not to.
The bond levy is designed to replace the 98-year-old LMS
Annex with a multipurpose academic/athletic and com-
munity event center. We are grateful for a century of great
memories at the LMS Annex. PE, health and STEM (sci-
ence, technology, engineering and math) programs will be
housed in the new building, providing solid stepping stones
to career and technical programs at LHS. The handicap-ac-
cessible facility will benefi t participants and spectators. Let’s
get more for the community by making the same investment.
Our circumstances vary, from young adults with no
children and parents of LGSD students to great-grand-
parents and friends of our community’s children. This
includes aspiring incomes and fi xed incomes. Join us in
voting Yes on LGSD Bond Levy 31-105.
“Anything is possible” for the generations of LGSD in
this 21st century.
Jerry and Suzy Mayes
La Grande
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of LGSD has provided our community and surrounding
area with a tremendous opportunity to receive a grant from
the state of Oregon for $4 million. How can we as a com-
munity walk away from this tremendous opportunity?
Voting Yes will help students by providing increased
academic and club activities because of the additional
space. It will allow the district to replace two of the dis-
trict’s oldest buildings. If any community member has
ever visited the middle school Annex, they are aware of
the dilapidated state of this 98-year-old facility.
The proposed bond measure would pay to replace the
Annex with a new facility that would be used for physical
education, health, STEM and vocational classes, athletics
and community events. It would house classrooms, two bas-
ketball courts that could be converted to four sport courts,
restroom facilities and two drop-down dividers that would
facilitate softball and baseball pitching and hitting practices.
Additionally, the district’s maintenance facilities
would move to another site. The district has a lease/pur-
chase agreement to relocate maintenance operations to the
Adams Professional Center.
Most important, this new facility would eliminate ADA
barriers that exist in the Annex. Currently, anyone with
disabilities cannot use the Annex, and this is not accept-
able. Our children and community members deserve
access to all school facilities.
Please vote Yes on Measure 31-105. Visit www.
citizensforschoolrenovations.com if you have any ques-
tions or concerns.
Ruthie Becker-Peters
La Grande
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