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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2019)
Inside in Go! EOU men’s wrestling takes to the mat, 7A New location for JaxDog, 1B Dia de los Muertos Celebrate Día de los Muertos Nov. 1 at ACE page 6 Also inside: ‘An Inspector Calls’: page 3 ‘The Addams Family’: page 7 Halloween events for kids in Baker, Union & Wallowa counties: page 5 Follow us on the web WEDNESDAY • October 23, 2019 • $1.50 Elgin shelter now in place ■ City-owned facility was 18 months in the making By Dick Mason The Observer A light rain was falling when a small structure ar- rived in Elgin late Monday morning, but that did not ap- pear to dampen the spirits of those welcoming its arrival, one at least 18 months in the making. A structure that may seem heaven-sent for those using it in the months and years ahead. It was a shelter delivered to the city-owned Hu-Na-Ha RV Park from Island City that will provide temporary ac- commodations for transients, domestic violence victims, travelers stranded in Elgin because they ran out of gas and others. “I’m excited. I think this will show the compassion the community has,” Elgin Mayor Allan Duffy said on Tuesday. The shelter is an 8-by-12- foot shed with an electrical hookup and vinyl fl oor, outfi t- ted to serve as a cabin. It has an electrical heater, fi ve win- dows, a light and a porch. Fur- nishings will be installed later including three or four beds, one of which will be a bunk, plus a small refrigerator, a microwave oven, curtains and a table and chairs. It is on a concrete pad that vehicles will be able to park on. The structure, which cost $7,436 to build and install, is the result of work done by the Elgin Ministerial Association and the City of Elgin. The two entered into an agreement on Aug. 26 for providing a temporary shel- ter at Hu-Na-Ha RV Park. Duffy said he was im- pressed with how the city and the Elgin Ministerial Association worked together to bring this project to near completion. The ability of groups in Elgin to work collaboratively, Duffy said, is why the community is con- tinuing to move forward. See Shelter / Page 5A Good day to our valued subscriber Robert Bork of La Grande Arson plea hearing delayed Sweating for SETH ■ Fundraising event scheduled for Reser Stadium in Corvallis to benefit La Grande native Stephanie Raleigh and her husband, Seth, who was diagnosed in 2015 with stage three anaplastic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor with cancerous cells ■ Kael Knight hearing postponed to November By Sabrina Thompson The Observer Tish Battaro of Powers Photography The Raleigh family has remained strong during Seth’s battle with cancer through communication. Seth, Stephanie and their two sons, Sawyer and Finn, are shown here. The plea hearing for Im- bler resident Kael C. Knight, 19, on the charges of arson and evidence tampering has been pushed to Nov. 19 to al- low for further investigation and the possibility of mental evaluation, according to the initial hearing Tuesday. Knight was arrested Sept. 25 by the Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce and charged with four counts of arson and one count of tampering with evidence. He has remained in custody of UCSO with bail set at $250,000. Knight attended his plea hearing Tuesday via video call from Union County Jail and was represented by his lawyer, Rick Dall. Ryan Rodighiero from the Union County District Attor- ney’s offi ce represented the state, and Judge John Kelly from Hood River presided via video call for the proceed- ings. See Hearing / Page 5A Tish Battaro of Powers Photography Seth and Stephanie Raleigh have been married for 11 years. Four years ago Seth was diagnosed with cancer. After four years of fi ghting cancer Seth and Stephanie are now fi nding ways to have the best quality of life in the time he has left. By Sabrina Thompson, The Observer “Cancer sucks.” This has been Stephanie and Seth Raleigh’s sentiment since September 2015 when Seth was diagnosed with Stage III anaplastic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor with cancerous cells. After four years of fi ghting cancer, Seth and Stephanie are now fi nding ways to have the best quality of life in the time he has left. To celebrate Seth’s life, and raise money for medical expenses, Burn Boot Camp in Corvallis will be hosting a fundraising event called Sweat for Seth on Oct. 26 at Reser Stadium. Seth was diagnosed with cancer after he had a seizure while at home in Corvallis June 2015. Later that year his doctors did a biopsy and found evidence of cancer in the tumor located near his occipital lobe. After two surgeries to remove some of the tumor, then radiation and chemo- therapy to hopefully destroy the rest, a second tumor was found in his left temporal lobe. The third surgery, which happened in July of 2019, to remove that tumor took away some of Seth’s mobility and speech functions. Test- ing revealed it was a now a Stage IV glioblastoma, and Seth was terminal. The most recent testing has shown continued growth of the tumors. “With initial Stage III diagnosis, it was all so over- whelming,” Stephanie, who was born and raised in La Grande, said. “I spent about a year where it felt like I was fl oating. I was in shock.” After the fi rst year of treatment, things began to normalize for the Raleighs, according to Stephanie. The family found a new sense of normal, and there were many good days. Stephanie said the key to getting through all of this has been talking things out and living every day and every hour in the present. “We all have a long road ahead of us. Seth’s just might INDEX Business ...... 1B Classified ..... 3B Comics ......... 7B Crossword ... 4B Dear Abby .... 8B Horoscope ... 4B Lottery.......... 2A Obituaries .... 3A FRIDAY Opinion ........ 4A Sports .......... 7A Sudoku ........ 7B Weather ....... 8B By Claire Withycombe Oregon Capital Bureau be shorter,” Stephanie said. The couple has two young boys, Sawyer and Finn, who were 2 years old and 3 months old, respectively, when their father was diagnosed. Stephanie said that while it has been diffi cult raising her sons and helping care for her husband, having the support of family and the community makes things so much easier. She said that because of the kids’ ages not much has changed for them. However as they are getting older, with Sawyer turning 7 in Novem- ber and Finn turning 5 in March, they are beginning to understand more about what is happening. She also said that being open and honest with her children, and getting them counseling, is important. “Before July, we never used the word ‘cancer,’” Stepha- nie said. “They’ve had family and people they’ve known who died of cancer, and before July we were not at that point yet. But now we are open with them, talking to them about the changes they may see.” SALEM — An attempt to repeal a new state law allow- ing undocumented immi- grants to get Oregon driver’s licenses has hit a snag. Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno on Tuesday halt- ed a proposed ballot initiative to walk back House Bill 2015, saying it doesn’t comply with requirements stated in the Oregon Constitution. The bill, passed earlier this year, allows Oregonians to present forms of ID that don’t prove a person’s legal immigration status in order to get a driver’s license. The licenses will not be available until Jan. 1, 2021. Undocumented immigrants — or others without docu- ments proving U.S. citizenship or that they are in the country legally — have been barred from getting driver’s licenses in Oregon since 2007. Supporters of the petition want to prevent people who are here illegally from getting state driver’s licenses. The campaign to repeal See Seth / Page 5A See Proposal / Page 5A “ WEATHER Clarno rejects ballot proposal With initial Stage III diagnosis, it was all so overwhelming. I spent about a year where it felt like I was fl oating. I was in shock.” — Stephanie Raleigh Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Thursday 26 LOW 58/37 Clear Mostly sunny LONGTIME MAILMAN RETIRES CONTACT US HAVE A STORY IDEA? 541-963-3161 Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to news@lagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Issue 126 3 sections, 24 pages La Grande, Oregon Online at lagrandeobserver.com
