La Pine Park & Recreation District FaceTough Decisions
12/2/08
Tough issues were on the agenda at La Pine Park and Recreation District’s regular meeting on Monday, December 1, 2008.
Decisions such as what buildings and programs to close and how to pay the outstanding insurance bill were among the tasks.
The district has faced many issues over the past five months; each one has been handled carefully as the district does not have stable funding.
The board struggled with the decision to cancel the 2009 Basketball program for kids age 5-12 years old. The decision was also made to close both the White School Park Building and the Finley Butte Building at least for the winter. Tenants such as Weight Watchers and AA will be moved to the John C Johnson Building as of January 1, 2009. At the November 17, 2008 meeting, decisions were made to turn off the telephone and internet service.
The District was, however, able to secure a substantial donation toward the balance of the insurance bill (approximately $8,600) thanks to SCOOTR (South Central Oregon Outreach Toy Run) an organization based in La Pine formed solely for the purpose of providing assistance to children and benefiting the community. Members graciously made a donation to La Pine Park & Recreation District of $2,000 on behalf of the children of the La Pine area. SCOOTR spends $20,000 each Christmas for clothes and toys for needy kids in the South County area.
Other organizations have made contributions to LPRD to fund such items as improvements to the White School Park Building, programs, and insurance payments. In 2008, the Board of County Commissioners donated over $18,000. La Pine Frontier Days chairwoman Ann Gawith challenges other organizations to match LFDA’s donation of $2,000 to help with operating costs until sustainable funding can be secured.
Donations may be made at Community First Bank. LPRD recommends a donation of $30 per family, which is what the annual tax rate would have cost if it had passed in November.
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LA PINE RODEO QUEEN 2009
Congratulations to Jenna Jacobsen!!! On November 8, 2008 we held the 2009 La Pine Rodeo Queen tryouts at Ghost Rock Ranch in La Pine. There were five applicants, two local and three out-of-area girls. All I have to say is TOUGH COMPETITION. All of these young ladies did their absolute best and all worked hard to be crowned and called the 2009 La Pine Rodeo Queen.
Jenna Jacobsen is from Sisters, Oregon. She attends Sisters High School as a sophomore. She is very active with her horse in OHSET, drill team, CTPA, CCC, RRR and when she is not on her horse, Jenna is on the high school tennis team and is a student ambassador.
On the applicant’s registration I asked the girls, “Who do you look up to? And why?” Jenna said both her mom and dad. She comes from a very supportive family and they are ready to do whatever LRA asks of them. Jenna is a past Rodeo Princess so she knows the “ropes.” I am very excited and honored to have known Jenna for the past seven years from other local horse groups, and I myself watching Jenna, her horse and her family, know that they will not let La Pine Rodeo Association down.
Thank you to everybody for their support!
Bobbie Bashian
La Pine Rodeo Association
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