There is a lot going on across our region.

Even as Christmas looms just over the horizon one could be forgiven to believe the daily hustle and bustle of life would begin to wind down.

That’s not been the case.

Just a quick glance at our stories over the past week or so shows that our region is a busy place. Our congressman, Cliff Bentz, debated the impacts of the removal of the Snake River Dams in Congress while in Wallowa the city is searching for a candidate for a councilor seat.

A plea hearing is set for an embezzlement case centered on Elgin and a new city administrator will take the helm in Union.

Those are just some of the stories we’ve completed over the past week and, to tell you the truth, there are dozens more we are actively pursuing.

Yes, that’s our job, but I think it also shows that your newsroom in La Grande is working diligently to deliver to you the best news product as possible on a weekly basis. That isn’t an easy task, but it is one of our core commitments to our readers.

Even as the holidays deliver a much-needed pause for many of us, we’re focused on reporting the news in a prompt and precise manner.

Reviewing a rural area from afar it can be easy to fall into the perception trap that not much is going on. Our printed work, though, shows that is not the case. There is a lot going on and we are pleased to be able to cover the stories that matter and to deliver them to you.

Our focus on local news will continue as will our commitment to you, the reader.

I’m pleased we live in a great place to work, live and play. And there is a lot of news.