>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

McCabe

Hats off to the Union County Fair Board and its sponsors for a successful county fair. Attendance at “Barn Appetit’’ shattered previous Union County Fair records, nearly doubling the normal attendance for the four-day event.

Free admission, of course, was the key to the huge increase in attendance. The fact that major sponsors such as Horizon Wind Energy and Banner Bank stepped up allowed the fair board to go ahead with the risky concept of letting everyone in for free.

Blanton

“A war veteran ... forever sacrificed his tranquility in order that they may have theirs,” writes David Guterson, “Snow Falling on Cedars.” Now it is time to repay veterans for their unselfish sacrifices, but they and their families face much frustration navigating through an overly complex and unweildy system. Some veterans, sadly, are falling through the cracks and not getting the services they need and deserve.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski has come up with a forward-thinking plan to help streamline veterans’ services. His executive order, which formed The Governor’s Task Force on Veterans Services last March, promises to be a guide through the bureaucratic mazes and help veterans from World War II through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars get the services they need.

Briggs

Last week’s announcement by Boise Cascade that it will be curtailing a shift at the La Grande sawmill and laying off 30 employees at the particleboard plant in Island City portends some tough times ahead for many local families.

Throw in layoffs, curtailments and overall uncertainties at our local RV plants, and you’ve got the makings for a what could be a very difficult fall and winter for a lot of families and the community.

Hunt

The La Grande City Council and Union County Tourism need to come to terms and find ways to work together.

The City of La Grande and UCT need each other — La Grande provides the bulk of funding, UCT provides the promotion. La Grande wants to make sure that it is getting a return for the dollars its transient room taxes provide. UCT’s mission is promoting Union County — all of Union County.

Fiorito

The sound of a big wolf howling in the woods is enough to send shivers down anyone’s back. For some people, a cry sent moonward by a little wolf pup is equally — if not more — terrifying.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists recently reported hearing a wolf pack raising a ruckus in the northeast corner of Union County. The biologists judged from the sound there were at least two pups present. That is welcome news for those supporting reintroduction of the species, on ecological or spiritual grounds, or both. Sheep and cattle ranchers likely take a dimmer view.