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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 30, 2022)
REGION SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2022 THE OBSERVER — A3 Eastern Oregon Regional Airport set for upgrades FAA $5M grant will fund runway reconfiguration By JOHN TILLMAN East Oregonian PENDLETON — The Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pend- leton is receiving almost $5 mil- lion in federal funds to reconfi gure a runway. The $4.96 million is part of the $17.5 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program for crucial safety improvements to runways in small airports in Oregon, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Monday, July 25. In addition to the airport in Pendleton, the Corvallis Munic- ipal Airport is receiving $2.79 mil- lion to reconstruct the runway and update lighting, and the Crater Lake/Klamath Regional Airport is getting $9.75 million for runway reconstruction. “Small airports’ reliable air service in rural areas is crucial for Oregonians and our state’s economy,” Wyden said. “I am grat- ifi ed to see these dollars go toward improving critical runway infra- structure that is often taken for granted when fl ying. Investing in airport infrastructure lays the groundwork for airports in Cor- vallis, Pendleton and Klamath Falls to continue to support jobs, our state’s economic growth and tourism.” Merkley concurred. “Regional airports are vital in connecting rural communities to economic opportunities across the state and beyond,” he said. “These improvements will not only support the airport, but local economies of these cities and Oregon as a whole.” Steve Chrisman, Pendleton eco- nomic development director and interim airport manager, in the announcement said the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport was grateful for the grant funding that will mitigate a hot spot area on Runway 29. “The airport has been expe- riencing unprecedented growth for the last several years, which requires safe and structurally sound runways and taxiways,” according to Chrisman. “Sens. Wyden and Merkley have been stalwart sup- porters of the airport and the Pend- leton Unmanned Aerial System Range, and this funding will help alleviate a longstanding problem for airfi eld users.” The city proposed an airport project to relocate Runway 29’s threshold, build new taxi lanes and rehabilitate aprons in March. The engineer’s cost estimate was $4.5 to $5.5 million. “We put together the pro- posal with the FAA,” Chrisman said, “and added it to the capital improvement plan list.” The Airport Improvement Pro- gram grant is funding upcoming East Oregonian, File Rollers compact the asphalt of the primary runway in April 2020 at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton. Oregon U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Monday, July 25, 2022, that the Pendleton airport is receiving almost $5 million in federal grant funds to reconfi gure a runway. projects, he added. “This was in the works for quite some time,” Chrisman said. “It’s a dangerous intersection. Now the grant is awarded, but it was on the list already.” Projects on the capital improve- ment project list receive grants on a fi ve-year plan, he said. “Our priority for the next round of funding is to extend the wildlife fence,” Chrisman said. 101-year-old Pilot Rock man weds on July 30 By JOHN TILLMAN East Oregonian PILOT ROCK — Elmer Jeff ers and Jerrie Gam- mond, of Pilot Rock, are to wed Saturday, July 30. Jeff ers turned 101 in April. “We met at the coff ee shop,” Jeff ers recalled. “We started talking, had a good time, then courted for about a year and a half. She’s a very fi ne lady.” The newlyweds plan a short honeymoon, he said. “We don’t even know where we’re going yet,” Jef- fers said. “Some people fi nanced it, and we look forward to it, wherever we may go together.” This will be Jeff ers’ third marriage. “I’ve outlived two wives,” he said. “The Lord has been good to me.” Jeff ers was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and lived there for 12 years. He served in the Navy during World War II and settled in California after the global confl ict ended. There, he was in the meat business for 35 years. Jeff ers retired at 62 and moved to Pilot Rock 12 years ago. Jeff ers had 12 siblings. “Just three of the 13 are left now,” he said, “a brother in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a sister in California. We’ve been blessed.” With his fi rst wife, Jef- fers had seven children. “Only the youngest daughter and eldest son still survive,” he said. “She lives in California and my son is in Tacoma.” Jeff ers is the great-uncle of Harley Jeff ers, who, with his wife, Dawn Jef- fers, are pastors at the Pilot Rock Life Church. A recep- tion follows the wedding at the Pilot Rock Community Center. “Elmer lives alone, at least for now, drives and shops for himself,” Dawn Jeff ers said. “It might take a few rings for him to answer the phone.” Gammond has lived in Pilot Rock since 1951. “I was born in Idaho, and met my husband there,” she said. “We had two daugh- ters and a son. He passed away in 2017, and Oromel (her husband) in 2019.” Oromel Gammond, named for an uncle, went by “Buster.” “We look forward to a few more years of good marriage together,” Jef- fers said of his relationship with Gammond. “I’ve had an amazing life. My parents both lived to ripe old ages. My dad died at 98 and my mom at 95.” Dawn Jeff ers/Contributed Photo World War II U.S. Navy veteran Elmer Jeff ers celebrates his 100th birthday on April 16, 2021, in Pilot Rock. He is getting married on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the age of 101. Mondays & Tuesdays Bowl for 4.75 /game $ 2022 Union County Fair Schedule Wednesday, August 3 8:00 am Fair Opens 8:30 am FFA/4-H Swine Conformation - market followed by breeding Beef breeding immediately following swine show with ½ hour break FFA/4-H Beef Breeding & Dairy follows Swine Show 8:30 am FFA/4-H Sheep Conformation - market followed by breeding Goats immediately following sheep show with ½ hour break FFA/4-H Meat Goat Conformation – market followed by breeding 10:00 am Exhibit Booths Open 10:00 am - 11:00 am Lego Time (Small Stage) 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Countryfied (Large Stage) 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Carla’s Fiddle School (Small Stage) 4:00 pm FFA/4-H Market Steer Conformation 5:00 pm Open Class Sheep & Meat Goat Show Open Class Beef & Dairy Cattle Show (immediately following beef show) 5:30 pm Talent Show (Small Stage) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Countryfied (Large Stage) 10:00 pm Fair Closes Thursday, August 4 8:00 am Fair Opens 8:00 am Free Breakfast Sponsored by The Observer 8:30 am FFA Swine Showmanship followed by 4-H Swine Showmanship 8:30 am FFA Sheep Showmanship followed by 4-H Sheep Showmanship Goats immediately following sheep show with ½ break FFA Meat Goat Showmanship followed by 4-H Meat Goat Showmanship 9:00 am DeLong Applications due at Livestock Office 9:00 am Feed and Growth Records due at Livestock Office 10:00 am Exhibit Booths Open 10:00 am - 11:00 am Lego Time (Small Stage) 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Blue Plate Special (Small Stage) 2:00 pm ADGA Open Class Sanctioned Dairy Goat Show NO EARLY CHECK IN) 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Lynque Oveson (Small Stage) 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Tiller’s Folly (Large Stage) 4:00 pm -5:00 pm Alka Mahdi (Small Stage) 4:00 pm FFA Beef Showmanship followed by 4-H Beef Showmanship 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Becky’s Dance Studio (Small Stage) 6:30 pm 4-H Archery Competition – Fair Horse Arena 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Alka Mahdi (Small Stage) 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm Tiller’s Folly (Large Stage) 10:00 pm Fair Closes Friday August 5 8:00 am Fair Opens 8:00 am FFA/4-H Dairy Goat Showmanship followed by breeding – Sheep/goat arena 9:00 am 4-H Citizenship Award due at 4-H Office 9:00 am ADGA Open Class Sanctioned Dairy Goat Show 10:00 am Exhibit Booths Open 10:00 am 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest (beef/sheep ring bleachers) 10:00 am - 11:00 am Lego Time Championship (Small Stage) 11:30 am FFA Round Robin 1:00 pm Delong & Ruth Becker Award Interviews 1:30 pm 4-H Round Robin 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Ripple Effect (Large Stage) 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Wasteland Kings (Small Stage) 3:00 pm Pee Wee Show 4:00 pm Fair Parade Line Up 5:30 pm Fair Parade Downtown 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Parade (Downtown La Grande) 6:30 pm Mutton Busting & Stick Horse Race - Mavericks Arena 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wasteland Kings (Small Stage) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Mutton Busting, Goat Tying, Stick Horse Race (Mavericks Arena) 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm Ripple Effect (Large Stage) 7:30 pm 4-H Ice Cream Social – 4-H Exhibit Building 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm Teen Dance Sponsored by UCSCC & La Grande Wrestling 10:00 pm Fair Closes Saturday, August 6 8:00 am Fair Opens 10:00 am Exhibit Booths Open 10:00 am - 11:00 am FFA Awards (Small Stage) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 4-H Awards (Small Stage) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 4-H Revue Show (Small Stage) 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Sage & Stone (Small Stage) 3:30 – 5:00 pm Auction Buyers Appreciation Dinner & Check I 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Brewers Grade (Large Stage) 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Cory Peterson (Small Stage) 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm Jr. Livestock Auction (Livestock Barn) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Cory Peterson (Small Stage) 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm Teen Dance (Outside-Designated Location) 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm Brewers Grade (Large Stage) 10:00 pm Fair Closes Sunday, Aug 7 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Static Exhibit Pick up for Open Class & 4-H exhibits Restaurant & Sports Bar - NOW OPEN! 3 Happy Hour 3-6pm Daily 3 12 Lane Bowling Alley 3 Video Arcade & Pool Open Daily at 11:30am! BRICKYARD LANES 1212 Jefferson Avenue Downtown La Grande, Oregon Fall Leagues Forming Now! For more info visit: Brickyardlanes.com/leagues
