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THEODORE JONES HAS HIGH HOPES FOR WALLOWA COUNTY BUSINESS | BUSINESS & AGLIFE, B1
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June 23, 2022
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Elgin,
county
agree on
new deal
Elgin City Council
unanimously accepts new
contract with sheriff’s office,
reversing prior decision
By ISABELLA CROWLEY
The Observer
ELGIN — Residents of Elgin and the sur-
rounding area packed themselves into city
hall Tuesday, June 21 — fi lling every seat
and overfl owing to standing room — for a
rowdy city council special session.
After listening to concerned citizens,
Elgin City Council and Mayor Risa Hall-
garth unanimously voted to move forward
with a new contract with the Union County
Sheriff ’s Offi ce.
“Please come to council meetings, not
just when there are big decisions, but all the
time. We are here for you,” Councilor Teresa
Hylton-Shaff er said.
After bringing the session
to order, Hallgarth outlined the
agenda for the meeting. First
the mayor shared the unfortu-
nate news that City Adminis-
trator Brock Eckstein resigned
due to illness. Eckstein will
work as much as possible with
Hallgarth
whoever fi lls the position, but
he is unable to continue in a
day-to-day capacity, she said.
Tyler Crook from the public
works department has been
asked to temporarily fi ll in
the position. However, he
has requested the position be
Bowen
opened to the public for two
weeks. Elgin’s city adminis-
trator is an elected position.
The individual who the council
appoints to the role will fi ll the
remaining time left on Eck-
stein’s term, which is up at the
Eckstein
end of the year.
Hallgarth then announced
the council would be making a decision on
how to move forward with the issue of law
enforcement: signing a new contract with the
Union County Sheriff ’s Offi ce or creating its
own police department.
Hylton-Shaff er brought forward the
motion to keep the sheriff ’s contract,
which Councilor Rocky Burgess seconded.
The meeting was then opened for public
comments.
THE
HEAT
IS ON?
One year aft er an oppressive heat wave, the region
hasn’t yet hit 90 degrees — but summer has just begun
highlighted by one of the most historic and unprece-
dented heat waves the area has ever experienced.
“Last year we had the heat wave at the end of June that
LA GRANDE — Last year’s scorching hot tempera-
was out of the ordinary,” Larry Nierenberg, a senior fore-
tures and lack of precipitation took a heavy toll on the
caster for the National Weather Service, said. “That was a
area, but thankfully this year spring and the beginning of record for a heat wave across the Northwest.”
summer have been much more pleasant.
During the height of the heat wave in 2021, La Grande
Eastern Oregon has yet to reach 90 degrees this year
broke fi ve consecutive daily record highs, from June 28
with the last triple-digit day coming on Aug. 3, 2021,
to July 2, and ultimately tied the daily record on July 3.
in Union County when it hit 101 and
For La Grande, the hottest temperature
While empty in this photo on Tuesday, recorded was 108 degrees on June 30
Aug. 15, 2021, in Wallowa County
June 21, 2022, the playground at La and July 1. The reading of 108 degrees
when it hit 101 as well, according to
Grande’s Pioneer Park will likely be a also broke the record for the highest
forecasters with the National Weather
busy place with the wet spring fi nally monthly temperature recorded in June
Service offi ce in Pendleton. The fi nal
yielding to warmer summer weather.
triple digit days last August came on
Isabella Crowley/The Observer
See, Summer/Page A8
the heels of an incredibly hot summer,
By JEFF BUDLONG
The Observer
See, Elgin/Page A8
Road repair projects planned in La Grande
City to spend $1.3 million on street repair projects
By DICK MASON
The Observer
LA GRANDE — A large por-
tion of one of La Grande’s busiest
roadways is set to receive a major
makeover this summer.
A 1,200-yard stretch of
C Avenue and Gekeler Lane, run-
ning from Fourth Street to Aries
Lane, will be repaired with funding
from the city of La Grande. It will
Dick Mason/The Observer be one of three street repair projects
A vehicle on Gekeler Lane in La Grande approaches the 12th Street intersection on that will cost a total of $1.3 million
Wednesday, June 15, 2022. This is a portion of the roadway that will be repaired in the city has planned for 2022 and
August or September. The work should take about one week.
2023.
WEATHER
INDEX
Business ........B1
Classified ......B2
Comics ...........B5
Crossword ....B2
Dear Abby ....B6
Horoscope ....B2
Lottery ...........A2
Obituaries .....A5
Opinion .........A4
Spiritual ........A6
Sudoku ..........B5
Weather ........B6
Full forecast on the back of B section
Tonight
Friday
48 LOW
74/46
Clear and cool
Sunny and nice
The work on C Avenue and
Gekeler will be done by a private
contractor.
“We are taking bids now,” said
Kyle Carpenter, the La Grande
public works director.
He said the stretch of roadway is
in serious need of repair because of
its age.
Carpenter said the work on
C Avenue and Gekeler Lane will
begin either in August or September
and will take about a week to com-
plete. The roadway will be closed
See, Streets/Page A8
CONTACT US
541-963-3161
Issue 75
3 sections, 34 pages
La Grande, Oregon
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