Development News:

Meetings will be the first Monday of each month, at 6:30 pm, at 915 Emison Avenue (Thompsons), unless you are notified of changes (here or by e-mail).

• It will be called the Oregon Trail Skatepark -- parks with a theme attract tourists and are fun to skate. Ask us about the things that will be there!

• As long as we're writing grants, we're going to budget enough to re-do the kids' playground and probably re-do the bathrooms -- sort of a gift from the skaters to the community.

• Chris Ragus will head up the design committee and is now looking for a company that will make a model for us.

• Debbie Thompson will go to Bend Feb. 25th for a meeting with Oregon Parks and Recreation, who we hope will give us some money.

• We still need people to get involved, both kids and adults. Right now we especially need a person to push a very BIG yard sale -- Pendleton made $36,000 for their park at their sale.

The Nyssa City Council designated the same space we've been using as a permanent (cement) park. We have to make sure there's nothing under it (like water) or over it (like electricity) that would cause a problem. After looking at the other location options, moving to a Main Street location would probably not be best for either the skaters or the community.

We will make up for the out-of-the-way location by putting several signs on Main Street. We'll probably make up for picnickers and skaters bothering each other by positioning the park in a way that creates a visual barrier.