AUGUST 2007: DISPATCHES
JOSEPH
Two years after the Wallowa Valley stagecoach shuttle of 30
years stopped running because of slow business, Jeff Benecke
took it upon himself to resurrect the shuttle service on a
smaller scale. Benecke, 57, is the president, secretary and
driver of his one-man business, Wallowa Valley-La Grande Shuttle
Inc., which provides transportation between Joseph and
La Grande three days a week. After the previous shuttle service
stopped running in 2005, Benecke sought the help of its
previous owners and started up his own service, using his own
eight-passenger Toyota van, which proved more economical than
the former large bus. Many of those who use the shuttle service
are people who shop in La Grande or need to catch the morning
Greyhound bus. Benecke also shuttles freight from farmers or
contractors, which he says is the more lucrative side of his
business. The 70-mile trip costs $15 oneway or $25
roundtrip.
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