Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2019)
LOCAL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 3A L OCAL B RIEFING Walden won’t seek re-election From staff reports By Gary A. Warner EO Media Group HOOD RIVER — U. S. Rep. Greg Walden, the only Republican in Oregon’s congressio- nal delegation, announced Monday he will not run again in 2020. Walden’s departure means the 2nd Congressional District seat will be up for grabs for the fi rst time in a generation. Walden was fi rst elected in 1998 and won 10 re-election bids. Walden beat Democratic opponents by more than 60% of the vote in his heavily Republican district until Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebone held him to 56% in 2018. “Greg Walden has done a great job of representing Northeast Oregon. He has worked hard to do what is best for Oregon. I appreciate his service,’’ said Union County Commissioner Donna Beverage. Walden said he was not retiring out of any concern that he could lose re-election or fail to regain the House majority, where he had served as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee before Democrats took control in 2018. He is now a ranking member of the committee. “I am confi dent I could earn the support of 2nd District voters for another term,” he said. “I’m also optimistic that a path exists for Republicans to recapture a majority in the House.” Walden, whose background is in radio, gave no specifi cs about what he will do after he retires from Congress. “For me, the time has come to pursue new challenges and opportunities,” he said. Commissioner Beverage said Walden has a strong interest in Union County and an intuitive understanding of it. “He understands what is important to Union County,’’ Beverage said. Former Union County Commissioner Steve McClure echoes Beverage’s senti- ments about the congressman. “Greg was always a champion for rural Oregon, especially Northeast Oregon,’’ said McClure, who retired in January after a three decade career as a county commissioner. Walden’s statement would appear to rule out running for any other political offi ce next year. Merkley is running for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Oregon’s secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer po- sitions are also on the ballot. As the state’s most high-profi le Republican, Walden could be pressured to run for governor in 2022 when Gov. Kate Brown is ineligible for re- election due to term limits. While the overwhelming majority of his votes were solidly in line with the Repub- lican agenda in the House, Walden has not been in lock-step with President Trump on issues. As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he supported Trump’s position on repealing the Afford- able Care Act, to relax net neutrality rules, and has backed Trump on the current Ukrainian scandal. — Dick Mason of The Observer contributed to this report. Bazaar begins with coffee, ends with soup lunch LA GRANDE — The La Grande First Christian Church is hosting its Fall Harvest and Holiday Bazaar Nov. 2 at 901 Penn Ave. Doors open at 9 a.m. Coffee, tea and sweet rolls will be available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and a lunch of homemade noodle and turkey soup will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost of the lunch is $5, $3 for age 6 and younger. The bazaar will be selling hand crafts, holiday crafts, homemade noodles, baked goods, candies and canned goods, produce and plants, gift baskets, and Granny’s Attic fi ne used items. Proceeds from the bazaar help organizations such as Friday Backpack, J House, Cove Christian Camp, La Grande Shop with a Cop and Medical Teams Interna- tional. Lower Valley Farmers Market shifts hours WALLOWA — The Lower Valley Farmers Market’s winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The indoor market, located in the Old Telephone Build- ing in Wallowa, will continue to sell produce and crafts until Christmas Eve. Homemade donuts, baskets and books featured at holiday bazaar Bookstore), 315 Fir St., La Grande. There is a one- time $20 membership fee. Kids will be supervised and checked in and out. No mature-rated (M) games will be played. Call 541-962-1352 or go to www.lagrandeparks. org to register. American Legion serves potato bar LA GRANDE — The La Grande Presbyterian Church dinner Holiday Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 2 in the Presbyterian Friend- ship Center, 1308 Washing- ton Ave. Items for sale will include homemade donuts, themed baskets, produce, baked goodies, crafts, books and more. LA GRANDE — The La Grande American Legion Post 43, 301 Fir St., is serving a baked potato bar dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2. There will be a potato bar with all the fi xings and dessert. Members and guests are welcome. Video Game Club fall session is underway Meat shoot held in Union Sunday LA GRANDE — Orga- nized by La Grande Parks and Recreation, the fourth season of the Video Game Club began in early October. The season will have two more meetings: Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. The club meets for play from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Clanktronics (Archives UNION — A meat shoot is set for Nov. 3 at the Union Sportsmen’s Club, one-fourth mile east of Union on Highway 203. All are welcome. The event begins at 9 a.m. Lunch will be available. For more information, call Dave at 541-910-5728. daughter, Charlotte; and granddaughter, Amy. Memorial donations may be made to Gideon Inter- national at www.Gideons. org or by mail to Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, D.C., 20090- 7251, or to the American Stroke Association at www. stroke.org or by mail to American Stroke Associa- tion, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231. obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be han- dling the arrangements. O BITUARIES Tyler J. Kahut La Grande 1994-2019 Tyler Jay Kahut, 25, of La Grande, died Oct. 24 at his residence. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 2 at the Island City Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, followed by a potluck. Nicknamed “Ty Ty,” Tyler was born June 6, 1994, in Portland, to Raymond and Sarah (Thompson) Kahut. He resided in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School. Tyler enjoyed football, playing video games and hanging out with friends. He was a good friend to UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by everyone and was always there for his mom. Surviving relatives in- clude his parents, Raymond and Sarah Kahut of La Grande; brothers, Justin Kahut, Jacob Kahut, Kyle Kahut, Ben Sidel, Peter Lomwe, and Court and Jordon Wickham, all of La Grande; aunts and uncles, Tom Weir, Rosalie Gibbson, Russell Kahut, Doreana More and Carla Baker; stepfather, Clarke Dal- rymple; stepmother, Annita Kahut; step-grandmother, Pam Kahut; 11 nieces and nephews; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Susan Weir Thompson, and grand- father, Lenord Kahut. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralcha- pel.com. Twila M. (Moon) Roper La Grande 1926-2019 Nov. 2 Virginia “Tobie” Williams: 2 p.m., celebration of life, Elgin Stampede Hall; casual dress preferred. Nov. 12 Phillip Mendiguren: 2 p.m., Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, La Grande. Twila Marie Roper, 93, of La Grande, died Oct. 28 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at Daniels- Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Cen- ter. A lunch will follow at the Union County Senior Center. Private interment will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Twila was born Aug. 21, 1926, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Dave and Irene Pearl (Brown) Moon. She attended school in P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT UNION COUNTY SHERIFF Accident: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident Tuesday on Walton Road in Island City. The accident was reported at 8:42 p.m. Accident: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident on Godley Road in the Union area this morning. The accident was reported at 5:11 p.m. LA GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT Arrested: Amber Darlene Garcia, 37, unknown address, was arrested by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Offi ce on a Union County warrant sus- pending post-prison supervi- sion. The warrant was con- nected to an original charge of delivery of methamphetamine. LA GRANDE FIRE DEPARTMENT Firefi ghters responded to six calls for medical assistance on Tuesday and nine on Monday. Wisconsin and Kansas and graduated from high school in Salem. Twila worked for Woolworth’s and became assistant manager of the fountain in Salem before being transferred to the Woolworth’s in Medford. While in Medford, Twila met Curtis Roper. She went with him for two weeks and then he traveled to Fort Lewis and was discharged from the Army. Once discharged, he returned to Medford and a week later, on Nov. 16, 1945, Twila and Curtis were married in Grants Pass. They had one son, James P. Roper. Twila worked for Mont- gomery Wards, Moon Drug Store and also for Bill and Jack when they bought Moon Drug Store. She also worked for the La Grande Livestock Commission at the lunch counter and for Payless Drug Store in the sporting goods and in the pharmacy for 17 years until she retired. Following her retirement she and Curtis volunteered at the Union County Senior Center for many years and they were active in the VFW and VFW Auxiliary. Twila enjoyed her family, playing cards and doing crafts. She and Curtis enjoyed going to Canada to go fi shing and the many friends they made there, and she kept in contact with them until her death. Surviving relatives in- clude her son, James Roper, and his partner, Mary Ellen Taal; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and fi ve great-great-grandchil- dren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Curtis, in 2012; granddaughter, Tonya Roper; and six brothers and two sisters. Gwendolyn E. (Hudson) Baca Formerly of Union 1933-2019 Gwendolyn Elaine Baca, formerly of Union, died on her 86th birthday, Oct. 25, in Albany. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Canby Funeral Chapel, followed by a reception. Known as Gwen, she was born Oct. 25, 1933, in Union, to Howard Hastings and Eva Marie Hudson. She was the ninth of nine children and was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Gwen married Onesimo “Bill” Ju- lian Baca on May 7, 1953. They had three daughters: Charlotte, Patty and Julie. Gwen was a wonderful homemaker and day care provider. She was so happy to say it was God who provided her day care for 36 years, six months and four days. Gwen loved the Lord, her Bible, singing, playing the piano and writing poetry. She loved her family, her day care children and their families. Gwen was a mem- ber of the La Grande First Christian Church. Surviving relatives include her daughters and sons-in-law, Patty and Larry Glaze and Julie and Dean Bundy; seven grand- children and 11 great- grandchildren; and numer- ous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; FAMILY OWNED www.lagrandeautorepair.com ACDelcoTSS 10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City Jesse F. Snively Enterprise Thomas G. Hiatt Jesse F. Snively, 88, of Enterprise, died Oct. 27 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements. La Grande Rosemary Gustavson Pendleton Rosemary Gustavson, 93, of Pendleton, died Oct. 27 at a local care facility. An 541-786-8984 Thomas G. Hiatt, 83, of La Grande, died Oct. 25 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A viewing will be held from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Nov. 8 at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A funeral will follow at 2 p.m. An obituary is forth- coming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrange- ments. Alliance Self Storage 2105 E L Ave., La Grande • allianceselfstorage123@gmail.com Happy Retirement Deborah (Deb) Morrill has announced her retirement after 8 years as a Financial Specialist for Northwest Farm Credit Services. Deb will be dearly missed by her co-workers and the many customers she has interacted with. Her last day will be 215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440 northwestfurnitureandmattress.com An Independent Insurance Agency Reed & Associates for excellent service LOCALLY! Nicole Cathey Carol Ann Laumen, 78, of Summerville, died Oct. 27 at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo- ming. An obituary is forth- coming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrange- ments. Please stop by the Northwest Farm Credit Services office in Baker City to wish her good luck on her new adventure. There will be doughnuts and coffee available from 8-11 AM on November 1. 975-2000 Joe Horst Summerville November 1, 2019 La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE Carol A. Laumen 541-975-1364 Medicare, Auto, Home insurance and Annuities Toll Free 1-866-282-1925 www.reed-insurance.net Kevin Reed
