FROM PAGE ONE A6 — THE OBSERVER BENTZ Continued from Page A1 an Ontario attorney spe- cializing in water law, had been in offi ce just a few days when Congress took the formal step of counting electoral votes in the pres- idential election. The counting was disrupted by rioters, and more than 700 people have been charged with federal crimes since then. Republicans joined in Trump’s eff ort to overturn the election results showing Joe Biden won. Pennsylvania was a key to the strategy to deliver the election to Trump by dis- puting results in several states. In a statement after his vote opposing the Penn- sylvania numbers, Bentz explained he didn’t think the election process in that state passed consti- tutional muster. He said he concluded that after he and his staff researched the matter. He was trou- bled that state offi cials, including the Pennsyl- vania Supreme Court, were allowing mail-in ballots to be counted. He said that process “contributed to a wide- spread loss of faith by many Americans in the integ- rity of the 2020 election — including many in my dis- trict. Such a violation of our Constitution must be dis- couraged in the strongest terms possible.” According to the Phil- adelphia Inquirer, 10,000 ballots postmarked by Elec- tion Day but received after- ward were set aside and not included in Pennsylvania’s vote count. In a later interview with the Malheur Enterprise, Bentz said he didn’t realize that those 10,000 votes had not in fact been included in the Pennsylvania results. Litigation contesting the Pennsylvania results ended when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider an appeal. Bentz said on June 24 he stands by his statement given after his Pennsylvania vote. He had said then that he shared the frustrations of his constituents over the 2020 election, and “I will do my best to address their concerns.” He didn’t share what steps he had taken in the past 18 months. Instead, he said, “We are awaiting proposals from the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.” Bentz represents Ore- gon’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers all or part of 20 counties including Baker, Union and Wallowa counties. Follow us on Facebook! rural students are coming from tight-knit, small communities and might have diff erent experiences than stu- dents from larger cities. “We want to just basi- cally have this smooth transition from all these loving people that have put an inordinate amount of time into you, and this is going to be the next group of people that do the same thing,” she said. “So, we want to be able to have that same feel, and I think that Eastern is primed for that because we are a small institution and we have small classrooms.” EOU President Tom Insko said the grant funding will help the school fulfi ll its mission. “EOU’s work as Ore- gon’s Rural University will be greatly enhanced through this grant,” he said. “Our strategic goal is to intensify rural stu- dent recruitment and outreach, and providing access and support for educational and career pathways will help build and sustain our commu- nities. We are grateful for the support of Ore- gon’s U.S. senators.” █ Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter Meerah Powell contributed to this report. VETERANS Continued from Page A1 former commander of American Legion Post 43 Lonnie Myers, who served in the U.S. Marines for 27 years. Upon returning to La Grande, Myers worked as a middle school social studies teacher. He began the ceremony by defi ning what it means to be a veteran. “They join whatever ser- vice they choose and serve their country. The good ones become Marines,” he joked, getting a laugh from the crowd. “The rest chose those four letter organizations.” While Myers read through the names of vet- erans, Matott presented cer- tifi cates to those present. The commemoration began with the veterans of World War II. Robert “Bob” Goss, Wayne Jones, James Leitch and John Turner, who all served in the Navy, received certifi - cates. Goss is 97 years old and has been a Legionnaire for 75 years. “He loves events like this,” said Lisa Goss, daughter of Bob Goss. Following a video show- casing the homefront during World War II, the ceremony turned to the Korean War vets. Only Isabella Crowley/The Observer James Leitch receives his certifi cate from Dave Matott — commander of La Grande Post 43 — at a ceremony held to honor World War II and Korean War veterans at the La Grande American Legion annex building on Saturday, June 25, 2022. During WWII, Leitch served in the Navy. two Korean War veterans were in attendance, but four were presented cer- tifi cates. Beverly Moody and Alden Thornton were able to attend the ceremony and received their certifi - cates from Matott. Shorty Hutchinson received his commemoration earlier that morning, and Lester War- ner’s certifi cate was being brought to his house later. After the ceremony came to a close, La Grande local George Barrow asked to say a few words on the importance of the Union Pacifi c Railroad during World War II. Barrow’s father worked for Union Pacifi c, and the railroad supported the war eff ort at home. During the war, rail- roads moved 90% of mil- itary freight and 97% of all military passengers, according to Union Pacifi c. From 1941 to 1945, almost 44 million troops rode the nation’s railroads. Veterans and family min- gled after the event. John Craig, fi nance offi cer of American Legion Post 43, said it is important for these veterans to come out and spend time together, espe- cially after the isolation due to the pandemic. Our Quality Is Timeless. This Price Isn’t! Miracle-Ear Quality For $895. Why Wait? Hearing is believing! Right now, for a very limited time, you can get a fully digital, genuine Miracle-Ear ® hearing aid for less than $900. This is one of our smallest, most discreet hearing solutions. 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Main St. Enterprise, OR 97828 541-239-3877 LIM Good only from participating Miracle-Ear ® representatives. One coupon per purchase. No other offers or discounts apply. Discount does not apply to prior sales. Offer valid on ME-5, ME-4, ME-3, ME-2 Solutions. Cannot combine with any other offers. Cash value 1/20 cent. Offer expires 7/1/22 (Exp. Date) 7/1/22. IT TY online and in-person dual- credit off erings for rural Continued from Page A1 high school students. Brown said the idea is to “It’ll expedite their col- provide off erings to help stu- lege completion because dents “not just take random they would be able to come dual credits but be able to in as, essentially, a soph- really focus and see what omore if they do it all,” they can do so they can be he said. “And that successful here.” But can fast track them Brown said EOU is into career path- still in the process ways within the of mapping out what workforce.” exactly those off er- Kathleen Brown, ings will be. Eastern’s associate “Diff erent things director of early Insko such as econ or college initiatives, music or what- told Oregon Public ever the major is — Broadcasting that grab one or two of the funding will their really dynamic help the univer- classes and be able sity hire two college to allow students to engagement spe- take those here or Brown cialists to support online,” Brown said. the ACROSS pro- “You always have gram as it gets off classes that have a the ground. Brown few extra spots in said she and the new them, so why don’t hires will be able we allow our high to travel to schools school students to go throughout the in those?” Seydel region to meet stu- High school stu- dents in person and dents who pass talk to them about EOU. classes through those dual “We have some obvious credit pathways would be places where we get stu- able to apply the credits to dents. We get people from a degree at EOU, Brown Pendleton. We get people said. And for students who from La Grande High. We enroll at EOU, a big focus get people from Baker,” will still be making sure Brown said. “But there are that students are acclimated some small schools where to college and have the sup- they’ve reached out to us, port they’re used to coming so, let’s go out there.” from smaller communities. EOU will begin imple- “One of the things that menting the program in we have is a bunch of stu- October, when it can offi - dents will take these dual cially access the grant credits, but then they come money. 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