Remote Surveillance Trailer in La Grande, OR

The Baker football team, coming off a dramatic rally to beat Pendleton 27-21 in overtime on Oct. 3, returned to Baker Bulldog Memorial Stadium Friday, Oct. 10, to take on La Grande in the homecoming game.

Both teams were 1-0 in Greater Oregon League play, and with the league lead on the line the Tigers dominated nearly from the start, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter and going on to a 49-9 win.

La Grande, ranked 11th in Class 4A, improved to 3-3. Baker, ranked 12th entering the game, dropped to 1-5.

Baker had by far its best offensive performance of the season at Pendleton, scoring 27 straight points after falling behind 21-0 at halftime. Senior wide receiver Eli Long, who joined the team after the first three games, had three of Baker’s four touchdowns, including the game winning catch from quarterback Quin Wellman in overtime.

But the Bulldogs didn’t fare as well against the Tigers, who gave Wellman little time to throw and thwarted Baker’s running game for the most part.

Long had an 80-yard kickoff return for Baker’s lone touchdown.

The top three teams in the GOL qualify for the 16-team Class 4A playoffs.

Baker had to punt on its opening drive, and La Grande took advantage of good field position.

Tiger quarterback Jack Musgrove ran 10 yards for a touchdown, and the extra point made it 7-0 La Grande with 8 minutes left in the quarter.

Baker got its running game going early in its second possession. Quarterback Quin Wellman ran for eight yards on first down, and Trent Luschen followed with a 13-yard ramble for a first down at the Baker 49.

But a false start penalty left Baker with a 4th and 17, and on the ensuing punt, Landon Hood slipped past the first tackler and then raced down the right sideline for a 75-yard touchdown. The extra point boosted the Tigers’ lead to 14-0 with 4:55 left.

On Baker’s next possession, Long’s 40-yard run on an end around was called back due to a holding penalty, although the hold was far enough downfield that Long still gained a first down to the Baker 44.

On 3rd and 2, Wellman passed to Ryder Nimmo for a first down to the La Grande 42.

The Tigers forced a 4th and 9 from their own 42, and Wellman’s pass fell incomplete, giving La Grande the ball back with 1:28 left in the quarter.

La Grande continued to roll offensively, as Musgrove lofted a long pass to Ryder McIlmoil for another touchdown on the final play of the first quarter, and the Tigers led 21-0.

After another Baker punt, the Bulldogs’ defense exerted itself. Wellman and Otis Young pulled down Hood for a 4-yard loss on first down, and Baker held on 3rd and 9 to force La Grande’s first punt.

It was a booming punt, though, driving Baker back to its own 11. Three incompletions forced a Baker punt, and La Grande took over on the Baker 37 with 8:52 left in the first half.

La Grande took advantage of the short field. Hood ran for 24 yards on a counter play to the Baker 7. A fumbled snap made it 2nd and 12, and a 4-yard run gave Baker a chance to hold on 3rd and goal from the 8. But Musgrove followed a wall of blockers over the right side and tumbled into the end zone. The extra point made it 28-0 with 6:21 left in the first half.

That lead didn’t last long.

Long picked up the squib kick on the ensuing kickoff, beat the coverage team to the left sideline and then outran everyone for an 80-yard touchdown. The extra point cut the La Grande lead to 28-7 with 6:07 left.

On the next possession, Baker’s Logan Crawford leaped to intercept a pass intended for Hood, and Baker had the ball back at its own 32.

Baker gained one first down, on runs by Long and Wellman, but a La Grande rusher went unblocked and forced Wellman to throw a pass that McIlmoil intercepted and ran to the Baker 27.

The Tigers kept the ball on the ground, advancing on four runs to the Baker 1. After a false start penalty and a La Grande timeout, Sovann Chab ran 6 yards for the touchdown with 50 seconds left in the half. The 2-point conversion extended the Tigers’ lead to 36-7. That’s where it remained at halftime.

At halftime, the 2025 homecoming queen, Kara Regan, was honored, along with princesses Gracie Spike, Mary Schwartz, Marley Barrett, Stella Carlson, Jocelyn Bork, Gwen Rasmussen, Meren Jesenko, Andie Jo Craigmile, Paige Anderson, Madi Rudi and Claire Bachman.

La Grande didn’t slow down after the longer-than-usual intermission due to the homecoming court introductions.

The Tigers went 58 yards in three plays, the last 8 yards for the touchdown by Dean Fenley. The extra point made it 43-7 with 10:17 left in the third quarter.

After Baker’s punt was blocked on the next possession, Hood added another touchdown on an end around from the 2, and La Grande led 49-7 with 3:10 left in the quarter.

Tucker Reid came in at quarterback, and his screen pass to Luschen yielded a first down to the La Grande 41 late in the quarter. Long’s runback gave Baker good field position.

On 4th and 9, Reid launched a pass that Long bobbled and then pulled down between two Tiger defenders for a 24-yard gain to the La Grande 17.

But on the next play, Reid’s slant pass was tipped and intercepted by La Grande’s Urijah Gatliff.

Baker picked up two points on a safety when Hood, who moved to quarterback, had to fall on the ball in the end zone after a high snap.

After the La Grande kickoff, Reid fired a pass to Long on a deep slant for a long gain to the La Grande 21.

Project involves elementary school students reading for seniors

LA GRANDE — Maylie Eby is building bridges across generations while earning the highest honor in Girl Scouting — her Gold Award.

Eby, a senior at La Grande High School and a member of Girl Scouts Troop No. 50145, spent the last three years working on a project that aimed to help several generations. Her project promoted children’s literacy and created connections for older adults living in retirement homes.

“My favorite part is probably seeing the reactions of both the retirement home management and the residents,” Eby said.

The 17-year-old partnered with two local organizations important to her own life — Island City Elementary School and Grande Ronde Retirement Residence, where her grandfather lived until his death in 2024.

Fourth and fifth graders were filmed reading books out loud, she said, with the goal of building confidence and excitement around reading. The recordings are stored on tablets at the retirement home, which residents can check out.

“They really enjoyed hearing the voices of the kids and seeing different books,” Eby said. “They always had a positive expression.”

Eby worked with Rachel Robinson, reading teacher at Island City Elementary, on the project. She created permission forms that went out to the families, so parents could decide if they wanted their students involved and whether or not videos could show their faces. In the end, the project generated about 30 videos.

“They were able to choose their own book and read whatever length or style of book they chose,” Eby said.

Her initial inspiration for the project? Her grandfather — Dennis Rosecrans.

Eby loved going to see her grandpa at Grande Ronde Retirement, however, she said during the coronavirus pandemic her family was unable to visit. She wanted to create something accessible virtually “knowing he was cooped up there with no one really to see family wise” and “not getting any outside connections.”

So, Eby started brainstorming and landed on children reading. Her grandfather was the inspiration for this as well.

“My grandpa was a huge reader,” she said. “So bringing a younger generation to read and connect virtually through methods, even when they’re not allowed to see people from outside the home, it really meant a lot to me.”

During her seven years with the Girl Scouts, Eby said she learned many skills and lessons. The Girl Scouts taught her leadership, independence, how to treat others and the importance of leaving any place you go better than you found it.

This project, however, taught her the value and challenges of communication given her coordination with the retirement home and elementary school.

“When something didn’t work with one, you’d have to switch with the other,” Eby said.

Changes in management at Grande Ronde Retirement Residence during the course of the project was another complication.

“There were three changes in management at the nursing home before I had finished my project,” she said. “So I learned through that challenge and was able to keep communicating.”

Eby urges any Girl Scouts just starting out on their projects for their Gold Award to have patience, focus on good communication and be open to their circumstances.

“Get excited,” she said, “and stay motivated in your ideas.”

LA GRANDE – In early 2024, the City of La Grande began work to add its original Carnegie Library building to the National Register of Historic Places, beginning a more concerted effort in April 2025. In a recent update from the September 2025 La Grande City Manager’s report, the city reaffirmed its plan to submit a historic registry application, with the consultant working on the project anticipating it to be completed this month.

Once submitted to Oregon State Parks, it is further anticipated that the iconic building will officially be added to the National Register of Historic Places by spring of 2026, potentially making it eligible for historic preservation grants.

In the latest city manager’s update, the project’s budget (the bulk of which covers consulting work, application prep, research, etc.) also reportedly decreased again. The original 2024 budget was listed at $20,000 dollars, reduced to $12,460 dollars last summer, and finally updated to $9,300 in the latest report. The costs will be split 50/50 between the City of La Grande and a state Historic Preservation Office grant.

For those unfamiliar with its history and the project, the La Grande Carnegie building was originally constructed in 1913. One of 1,689 such Carnegie Libraries built in the United States between 1816 and 1919 (according to the U.S. National Parks Service), including 31 in Oregon, it served as the La Grande Public Library all the way through September 2006, retiring in this capacity with the construction of the current Cook Memorial Library. Currently, the building is one of only a handful of Carnegie Libraries remaining in the United States that have not been listed as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information on the project, see our original article at: https://elkhornmediagroup.com/la-grande-works-to-have-its-old-carnegie-library-building-added-to-the-national-register-of-historic-places/

Formerly the hunting lodge of Napoleon III, La Grande Cascade became an exceptional restaurant in 1900. A refined setting in the heart of the woods, dedicated to haute cuisine and the art of French entertaining.

In the verdant setting of the Bois de Boulogne, hidden from view, La Grande Cascade embodies a rare and precious version of French luxury. This prestigious restaurant, which was once Napoleon III's hunting lodge, elegantly blendsimperial history, architectural refinement and authoritative gastronomy.

Between foliage, glass roofs and crystal chandeliers, a look back at the history of an exceptional table.

When Napoleon III commissioned Baron Haussmann, Adolphe Alphand and Gabriel Davioud to transform the Bois de Boulogne in the 1850s, he envisioned the area as a showcase for modern Paris. TheLongchamp racecourse and the famous Grand Cascade were among the works of art created for the imperial strollers. At the foot of this artificial waterfall, a rest pavilion was reserved for the Emperor. This charming, functional building quickly became a chic stopping-off point for the aristocracy. In 1900, on the occasion of theUniversal Exhibition, the pavilion was transformed into a restaurant in theBelle Époque spirit.

Today, La Grande Cascade retains the spectacular atmosphere of that era. The glass and metal structure, typical of the "Retro-Metro" style, unfurls around an impressive zenithal glass roof, topped by a trompe-l'œil painted sky. Inside, dark woodwork, gilding, crystal chandeliers and a terrace sheltered by a monumental marquee provide a timeless setting. The restaurant, set on the edge of the woods, seems suspended between two worlds: imperial memory and gastronomic modernity.

Over the decades, La Grande Cascade has become a major gastronomic institution. Numerous Michelin-starred chefs followed in their footsteps, each bringing their own touch to a refined cuisine inspired by the product, tradition and season. For more than 20 years, the restaurant was run by Frédéric Robert, who trained with Alain Senderens and developed a cuisine that was clear, delicate and rooted in the French terroir. Even today, the menu features revisited classics, elaborate sauces and festive dishes (poultry en croûte, soufflés, game...), served in sober but meticulous crockery.

The very location of the restaurant, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, contributes to its charm. Accessible by car or public transport, La Grande Cascade offers a bucolic and luxurious interlude, rare in inner Paris. A venue for private receptions, grand dinners and elegant lunches, it attracts lovers of fine dining as well as those in search of a suspended moment away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With its imperial origins, perfectly preserved Belle Époque décor and exacting culinary standards, La Grande Cascade embodies the refinement of French art de vivre.

What if we went to rediscover the Grande Cascade? This gastronomic restaurant, Michelin starred for 55 years, never ceases to delight us in its exceptional setting, nestled on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement. It renews itself with new delicacies for our greatest pleasure. [Read more]

Dates and Opening Time Next days Saturday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. Sunday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. Monday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. Tuesday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. Wednesday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. Thursday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m. Friday: from 12:30 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. - from 07:30 p.m. to 09:30 p.m.

LA GRANDE — Fall is officially here, so are the 2025 Fall Beautification Award winners.

Jean Redd won the residential award from the La Grande Community Landscape and Forestry Commission, Urban Forester Teresa Gustafson reported in a press release, while Dawn Guentert, with Roots-n-Stones, won the commercial award.

“The purpose of the Beautification Awards Program is to recognize residential and commercial properties that add to the beauty and diversity of La Grande’s environment,” Gustafson said.

The seasonal award gathers nominations from the commission, city employees and residents.

Redd’s yard at 1424 U Ave. was a blank slate when she purchased the home in 2017, Gustafson said, but now the landscape brings both color and variety to the Greenwood neighborhood. She transformed the area from gravel and lawn into an “inviting space” with the addition of shade trees, shrubs and perennials.

“I especially enjoy the wildlife that has moved in — bees, butterflies and birds,” Redd said. “I spend time in the garden just observing and listening,”

Prior to moving to La Grande, Redd worked as a plant purchaser for Lowe’s in Washington. She then worked at GrandScapes in La Grande until the nursery closed in 2023.

After working in education for 26 years, Guentert retired from her role as Elgin High School principal in 2024 and opened Roots-n-Stones, 109 Elm St., in downtown La Grande. The store is centered around her love of biology, plants and beautiful products of nature.

When creating Roots-n-Stones, Guentert aimed to make “a store that doesn’t look like a store. A space where people can reconnect with nature.”

Roots-n-Stones sells plants, crystals and therapeutics crafted by Guentert with plants from her garden and locally foraged. She invites people to visit the shop to slow down and enjoy a bit of nature.