Guard officials tour facility
Thursday, October 8, 2009 4:34 PM PDT
Pat Caldwell
Argus Observer
PatC@argusobserverOntario — The Ontario Readiness Center is nearly into its final phase of construction, and Wednesday National Guard officials were on hand to tour the facility and secure an update on its progress.
The multi-million, dual-use facility that will house Ontario’s Army Guard unit exceeded expectation in terms of construction time, and that can be traced right back to cooperation, Gary Oliver, project superintendent said.
“The nice thing about this is that it has been a team effort,” Oliver said. “I’m really proud of it.”
The new Ontario Readiness Center will be the centerpiece of an ambitious, mulit-pronged construction effort in Eastern Oregon started by the Oregon National Guard more than a decade ago.
Along with a new armory in Hermiston, the Guard has overseen the construction of new readiness centers in La Grande and Baker City in the past 10 years.
The commander of Ontario’s Guard unit — Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard — said he was impressed with the progress on the building so far.
“You are starting to see it come together,” Capt. Seth Musgrove said.
The 3rd Battalion consists of units from across Eastern Oregon, including citizen-soldier outfits from Hood River, The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, Prineville and Ontario.
For the entire story, see Friday's Argus Observer.
