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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2019)
LOCAL MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 3A L ocaL B riefing From staff reports LG Rural Fire Protection Board meets Tuesday ISLAND CITY — The La Grande Rural Fire Protection Board will meet Oct. 8. The board meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the La Grande Rural Fire Hall, 10200 S. McAlister Road. The La Grande Rural Fire Protection District Board oversees the operation of the La Grande Ru- ral Fire Department. The depart- ment, based in Island City, provides emergency medical and fire service throughout Union County. Parks & Rec announces commission meetings LA GRANDE — The City of La Grande Community Landscape and Forestry Commission will meet Oct. 8, the Arts Commission convenes Oct. 9, and the Parks & Rec Advisory Commission meet- ing is set for Oct. 10. Each meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the City of La Grande Parks & Recreation office, 2402 Cedar St. (inside Pioneer Park). Volunteers commissioners are needed for the Arts Commis- sion and the Community Land- scape & Forestry Commission. Contact Parks & Recreation Direc- tor Stu Spence at 541-962-1348 if interested in volunteering. Guest speaker tells of tribal life in Vietnam LA GRANDE — The Union County Retired Educators will meet at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at the Flying J Restaurant. The guest speaker will be Phil Hassinger, who will present “A Glimpse of Tribal Life in Vietnam.” Parks & Rec leads excursion to Boise Zoo LA GRANDE — The City of La Grande Parks & Recreation’s next excursion will be an Oct. 12 trip to the Boise Zoo. Participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Parks & Recre- ation Department 2402 Cedar St. (in Pioneer Park next to the outdoor basketball courts). The $36 tickets includes transportation and en- trance to the zoo. Children younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult. To reserve a seat, go to www.lagrandeparks.org, stop by the Parks & Rec office, or contact Rec- reation Supervisor McKayla Nitz at mckayla.nitz@cityoflagrande.org or 541-962-1352 by Oct. 9. Wallowa Resources Pub Talk set for Wednesday ENTERPRISE — In collabora- tion with Energy Trust of Oregon, Wallowa Resources is hosting an interactive energy Pub Talk for Wallowa County commercial busi- nesses from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 9. “A Framework for Commercial Energy Decision Making” will re- view costs of different fuel sources, discuss strengths and barriers of each resource, and look at efficiency and financial assistance vehicles through the experience of local recipients. The free event will take place at the Range Rider, 107 NW First St., Enterprise. Union SWCD Board meets in Island City ISLAND CITY — The Union Soil and Water Conservation District Board will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Union County Extension Office, 10507 N. McAlister Road, Island City. Principal subjects to be discussed are monthly finan- cial statements, staff reports and partner agency reports. Call Chris- topher Moats, natural resources conservationist, at 541-963-1313 or go to www.unionswcd.org or more information. No Wednesday community dinner this week LA GRANDE — The Oct. 9 Wednesday Night Community Din- ner at the Presbyterian Friendship Center, 1204 Spring Ave., La Grande, has been cancelled be- cause new carpet is being installed. The dinners will resume Oct. 16. All are welcome at the dinners, which are prepared by Merlyn’s Catering and are served at 6 p.m. for a $3 suggested donation. RSVP for next senior lunch in Cove COVE — The Oct. 15 senior meal in Cove, held in Founders Hall at the Ascension School, will feature baked chicken, mac and cheese, peas and carrots, salad bar and rolls, with peach cobbler for dessert. There is a $5 charge per meal. Coffee and tea are available at noon, and the meal is served at 12:15 p.m. RSVP by calling Imie Bristow at 541-568-4545 or Betsy Arnson at 541-568-4902 by Oct. 10. Wyden holds town hall in Wallowa County ENTERPRISE — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden will hold a town hall in Wal- lowa County Oct. 12. In fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of the state’s 36 counties, Wyden has held 950 town halls statewide – includ- ing 37 so far this year. “Listening to people in every nook and cranny of our state is essential to putting democracy into action locally and finding solutions that work for Eastern Oregon and nationwide,” he said. After town halls in Wheeler, Grant and Harney counties, Wyden will travel to Enterprise for a 1:30 p.m. gathering at Community Connection, 702 NW First St. LivFit classes move off-site LA GRANDE — Art Center East announced that beginning this fall, all LivFit classes have moved off- site, including yoga refresh, zumba, pilates, barre and sweat classes). ACE’s former LivFit and other movement classes are now being held at Peak Lifestyle Studio on Adams Avenue in La Grande. COVE FFA hosts Fall Fun Run COVE — The Cove FFA’s Fall Fun Run will be on Oct. 12. Par- ticipants may run a downhill 5K race or 1-mile fun run. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Cove FFA Ag House, 803 Main St. Downhill runners will be bussed up Millcreek to the start and run back to the ag house. The 1-mile run will begin and end at the ag house. The entry fee is $10; age 6 and younger participate for free. T-shirts will be available for purchase on site. The Fall Fun Run is being hosted by Katie Rowell Fox and Brendan Kelley. Have ‘Soup with the Superintendent’ LA GRANDE — Community members are invited to a Soup with the Superintendent gathering Oct. 15 at La Grande Middle School, 1108 Fourth St. Those who at- tend will share a soup supper with George Mendoza and visit about what student success looks like in the La Grande School District based on its Strategic Plan, including an overview of programs, services and needs. The event will conclude with a discussion on how best to spend Student Success Act funds. Child care will be provided. RSVP to gaye.young@lagrandesd.org. o Bituaries John R. Stebbins La Grande 1934-2019 John Rowland Stebbins, 85, of La Grande and Walla Walla, Washington, died Oct. 2 at his home as a result of complications due to multiple myeloma blood cancer. He was diagnosed with myeloma in early 2005. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Private burial will be at Grandview Cemetery. Ar- rangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebra- tion Center. UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by Oct. 12 William Knight: 10 a.m., celebration of life, Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande; casual dress preferred. Oct. 26 Violet Malone: 2 p.m., memorial service, Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, La Grande; interment follows at the Cove Cemetery. Oct. 27 Jerry Johnson: 1 p.m., memorial service, Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Clubhouse, Union. John was born April 24, 1934, in Gothenburg, Ne- braska, to Virge W. and Flor- ence (Brooks) Stebbins. He graduated from Gothenburg High in 1952 and earned a business degree from the University of Nebraska. He married Barbara Farnsworth of Santa Barbara, California, in 1955, and they had five children: John W., Steven, Barbara, Susanne and Tim. Barbara died in 1980, and in 1981 John married Ruth Er- ickson Gifford of Walla Walla. Ruth brought two children into the marriage, Eric Allan Gifford and Karen Louise Gifford. John returned to Gothen- burg after college and in 1958 joined with J.B. Dean, his brother-in-law, in start- ing Stebbins Implement Co., an International Harvester sales and service dealership. While in Gothenburg and in college, he participated in the following organizations: Kiwanis Club, Masonic Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine and the United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Pastor Rela- tions Committee. He served on the Gothenburg City Coun- cil, the Airport Board and did various jobs for the Gothen- burg Chamber of Commerce. At the university he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and served as the chapter chaplain. In 1968, John sold his interest in Stebbins Imple- ment and moved to Hawaii. In 1970, he moved to La Grande, where he joined with Bob Goss in starting S & G Machinery Co. S & G was the John Deere sales and service dealer in the Union County area. While in La Grande, John was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and served that church by being on the vestry and for many years was stewardship chair- man. He also served as a trustee of St. Peter’s Homan Trust. John was a charter member of the Island City Lions Club, the Elks Club and a member of the Union County Museum. John enjoyed his business and his customers. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, camp- ing, skiing, fishing, rafting, exploring the surrounding countryside and hunting with family and friends. He spent many weekends teaching his children and their friends how to enjoy the things available in this area. John felt fortunate that he found two good women to help him enjoy life, Barbara and Ruth. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital or Multiple My- eloma Research Foundation. Annie S. Richmond La Grande Annie Sterling Richmond, 72, of La Grande, died Sept. 7 at a local care facility. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Island City Lighthouse Pentecostal Church. LeRoy ‘Roy’ O. Papenfuhs La Grande LeRoy “Roy” O. Papenfuhs, 90, La Grande, died Oct. 4 at a local care facility. An obituary is forthcoming. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Nancy A. Gulden Formerly of Cove and La Grande 1935-2019 Nancy Ann Gulden, 83, of Gresham and formerly of Cove and La Grande, died April 26. At her request there will not be a public service. Her children and extended family held a private gather- ing May 30 in La Grande. Nancy was born Dec. 12, 1935, in Fairplay, Colorado, to Arthur C. and Opal E. Gul- den.When she was a young child, her family moved to Eastern Oregon, living in Cove and later La Grande. During her high school years, Nancy attended and gradu- ated from Canyonville Bible Academy Boarding School. On Aug. 5, 1955, Nancy married Alvin D. Madsen of La Grande, and they had five children together before divorcing in 1970. While married they lived in La Grande, Brookings, Gold Beach and Portland. She later married Earl Alvestad. They lived in Springfield, and later divorced. In 1975, Nancy moved to California and settled in Campbell, where she lived the next 21 years. In 1997, she moved to Renton, Wash- ington, to help raise her granddaughter Lily Cason. In 2009, Nancy moved to Gresham, where she resided until her death. Nancy loved animals, especially dogs. She had a dry sense of humor and was an avid reader. Nancy loved the ocean and was a great cook, often catering parties for her family and employ- ers in the Bay Area. An experienced and talented seamstress, Nancy spent the bulk of her adult career working in and coor- dinating jobs for a custom drapery and upholstery shop in Campbell and later Atherton, California. Some of her amazing work was featured in an issue of Ar- chitectural Digest. In addition to her family, Nancy’s extended family included her longtime and dear friend Lynne Swan- son, and she was Auntie Nancy to Lynne’s children, Jollyn and John Green. Survivors include her children and their spouses, Mitch and Nancy Madsen of Ridgefield, Washington, Jeff and Cindy Madsen of La Grande, Kristi Madsen and Kenny Cason of San National PA Week: October 6-12, 2019 ucmuseumoregon.com Little White Church, 366 S. Main Street, Union Mon-Fri Blue Plate $12: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie with a Nella Mae Salad! Elwood and Henry on their Blue Mountain Byway Tour Tuesday, October 8th 8pm-10pm 541-963-8766 tendepotstreet.com La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR 975-2000 www.lagrandeautorepair.com MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE Joe Horst ACDelcoTSS We honor them for all they do to benefit their patients and improve our quality of life. UNION COUNTY MUSEUM Museum Society Annual Meeting 7 p.m., Friday, October 11 Local History Through the Lens of School Sports presented by Scott Schroeder Antonio, Texas, Teresa and David Hall of Gresham, and Eric and Jeannie Madsen of Elgin; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and sister, Bonnie (Tam) Lange Butler. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Jack Gulden and John Green. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Humane Society or the Multnomah County Animal Shelter in Troutdale. Learn more about Physician Assistants in our online Provider Directory at www.grh.org today!