Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Tuesday, March 8, 2016 FRUPeU ¿UVW OaG\ NaQF\ ReagaQ GLeV aW NUDE: Took a group of LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nancy Reagan, the helpmate, EDFNVWDJH DGYLVHU DQG ¿HUFH protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor WR SUHVLGHQW ² DQG ¿QDOO\ during his 10-year battle with $O]KHLPHU¶V GLVHDVH ² KDV died. She was 94. 7KH IRUPHU ¿UVW ODG\ died Sunday at her home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, assistant Allison Borio told The Associated Press. Her best-known project as ¿UVW ODG\ ZDV WKH ³-XVW 6D\ No” campaign to help kids and teens stay off drugs. When she swept into the White House in 1981, the former Hollywood actress partial to designer gowns and pricey china was widely dismissed as a pre-feminist throwback, concerned only with fashion, decorating and entertaining. By the time she moved out eight years later, Mrs. Reagan was fending off accusations that she was a behind-the-scenes “dragon lady” wielding unchecked power over the Reagan administration — and doing it based on astrology to boot. All along she maintained that her only mission was to back her “Ronnie” and strengthen his presidency. Mrs. Reagan carried that charge through the rest of her days. She served as a full- WLPHFDUHWDNHUDV$O]KHLPHU¶V melted away her husband’s memory. After his death in -XQH VKH GHGLFDWHG herself to tending his legacy, especially at his presidential library in California, where he had served as governor. She also championed $O]KHLPHU¶V SDWLHQWV raising millions of dollars for research and breaking with fellow conservative Republicans to advocate for stem cell studies. Her dignity and perseverance in these post-White House roles helped smooth over the SXEOLF¶V¿FNOHSHUFHSWLRQVRI WKHIRUPHU¿UVWODG\ The Reagans’ mutual devotion over 52 years of marriage was legendary. They were forever holding hands. She watched his polit- ical speeches with a look of such steady adoration it was GXEEHG³WKHJD]H´ BIKE: 5HJLRQ¶V¿UVWPDMRUUDFHRIWKHVHDVRQ Continued from 1A a way to improve his health and has been riding in Red 2 Red for the past four years. While he used to start with the rest of the pack, the laborious nature of municy- cling meant he was forced to leave the course before he FRXOG¿QLVK So this year, he started at 6:10 a.m. and spent the next seven hours going over a course that winded many seasoned two-wheel riders. Myers is the uncle of Shayne Myers, who helped build the course and co-owns Echo Bike & Board with his wife, Stephanie. Although the shop has since moved to Pendleton, Echo Bike & Board returned to its namesake town to help RUJDQL]HWKHUDFH Stephanie said Red 2 5HG LV WKH 1RUWKZHVW¶V ¿UVW major mountain bike race of the season, given that most other bike trails are covered in snow or bogged down in mud. 7KH ¿HOG ZDV GLYLGHG into several groups based on skill level, age, gender and duration of ride, with options to bike 12 miles, 25 PLOHV RU WKH HQWLUH PLOH course. 6WHSKDQLHVDLGRUJDQL]HUV change the layout of the course each year, meaning there are no Red 2 Red records to be set or broken. By noon every group was on the course, which takes cyclists through the heart of Lloyd Piercy’s Echo West vineyards. In return for the physical punishment sustained from the winding course, race participants are given scenic views of the Umatilla River and the high desert. Driving through the rows of Zinfandel and Pinot Noir Saturday, Piercy said he views himself as a steward of the land, which is one of the reasons he allowed orga- QL]HUV 6KD\QH 0\HUV DQG Brian Cimmiyotti to build Photo by Antonio Sierra Two Red 2 Red competitors bike down the track through Echo West Vineyards Saturday. Photo by Antonio Sierra Racers travel down Main Street at the Echo Red 2 Red Cross Country Mountain Bike Race Saturday. the course 10 years ago. Before then, Piercy used the area as a cattle pasture, but he has since removed the cows to give cyclists a sense of the high desert’s natural beauty. Before returning to Echo, Piercy stopped by an area looking over the Umatilla River, where Kenji Sugahara ZDVÀ\LQJDGURQHWKDWZDV taking video of the race. Sugahara, executive director of the Oregon Bike Racing Association and a member of the state’s tourism commission, said Eastern Oregon was one of his favorite parts of the state and was an ideal place for a bike race. While operating drones was more of a hobby, Suga- hara said he was happy to use video footage that could draw tourism to the area. “Rural Oregon needs as much economic help as it can get,” he said. Piercy agreed with Suga- hara’s assessment, saying events like Red 2 Red and businesses like his own Sno Road Winery bring much- needed economic develop- ment to a city that’s been hit KDUG E\ WKH PHFKDQL]DWLRQ of the agriculture industry. 7DNLQJ KRPH ¿UVW SODFH IRU ¿QLVKLQJ WKH HQWLUH course was Red 2 Red QHZFRPHU -DPH\