LOCAL
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019
L OCAL B RIEFING
From staff reports
Cove Booster Club meets
tonight
COVE — The Cove Booster Club will
meet this evening at 7 p.m. at Cove
High School. For more information, call
541-561-1602.
Trail Life offers Christian
outdoor program for boys
ISLAND CITY — Trail Life USA is a
Christian outdoor adventure program
for boys from kindergarten through
12th grade that emphasizes and
teaches biblical moral values. For those
who have more questions and would
like to participate, a Join the Trail Open
House will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at
the Faith Center, 10300 S. D St., Island
City. Go to www.traillifeusa.com for
more information.
stop in participating stores — Blue
Mountain Outfi tters, Community
Merchants, Bella, Fitzgerald Flowers
and Rosewood Cottage — to receive
a stamp for a chance to win a $50 gift
certifi cate from each store. Stop by
the stores between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Friday, and between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturday.
Volunteers welcome at
emergency woodlot Saturday
LA GRANDE — A workday at the
Neighbors Together emergency woodlot
is planned for Nov. 9. Volunteers are
needed to help cut and split fi rewood
between 9 a.m. and noon at 3309 N.
Umatilla St., La Grande. The wood will
be distributed Nov. 16. For more infor-
mation call 541-963-9126.
City Landmarks Commission
holds work session
Get ready for holidays with
clay ornaments workshop
LA GRANDE — The City of La
Grande Landmarks Commission will
meet for a work session at 6 p.m.
Nov. 7 in Council Chambers of La
Grande City Hall, 1000 Adams Ave.
The purpose of a Landmarks work
session is to provide the commission
an opportunity to informally dis-
cuss topics of common concern and
interest and to exchange ideas, not to
make decisions or to direct the staff
toward a specifi c action or conclusion.
As no decisions are made, there will
be no voting by the commission at
the work session. In accordance with
Oregon Public Meeting Law, commis-
sion work sessions are open to the
public. Time may be designated for
public comments at the conclusions
of the discussions at the discretion of
the commission.
LA GRANDE — All are invited to drop
in and make clay ornaments between
10 a.m. and noon Nov. 9 at Underground
Clay Studio, 1101 Washington Ave., La
Grande. The workshop will repeat Dec. 7.
The kiln-fi red, glazed ornaments will be
ready in time for Christmas. Cost is $10
for one, $17 for two, $25 for four, then $5
for each after that.
Shop Hop offers chance to
win $50 gift certifi cates
LA GRANDE — A “Downtown Shop
Hop” is happening Nov. 8-9 on Adams
Avenue in La Grande. Shoppers may
Oregon Club Volleyball open
to area girls
BAKER CITY — Tryouts for the
Oregon Club volleyball 2020 season,
open to girls from fi fth through 12th
grades in Baker and Union counties,
are planned for Nov. 9-10 in the main
gym at Baker High School, 2500 E St.,
Baker City. The tryout schedule is as
follows (girls are encouraged, but not
required, to attend both sessions):
12U and 14U
• Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
16U and 18U
• Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to noon
• Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
There is no fee to try out. Girls who
are picked for a team and choose to play
are required to pay dues. The season for
the 16U and 18U levels starts in early
February, and the 12U and 14U levels
start in mid-February. More informa-
tion is available by calling Stephanie at
541-518-9284.
American Legion celebrates
Marine Corps birthday
Sunday
LA GRANDE — Nov. 10 marks the
244th birthday of the United States
Marine Corps. A local celebration will
begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. at the
American Legion Post #43 at 301 Fir St.
in La Grande. There will be a message
from the Commandant of the Marine
Corps, a cutting of the cake ceremony
and birthday cake for all, followed by sea
stories. Marines and families of Marines
are invited. Bring a fi nger food dish to
share. For more information contact
Lonnie Myers at 541-910-1061.
Smart Driver class open to all
ENTERPRISE — An AARP “Smart
Driver” class will be offered Nov. 13
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wallowa
County Senior Center, 702 NW First
St., Enterprise. The new and enhanced
driving refresher course will be taught
by Frances Buckles, a certifi ed volun-
teer instructor. Course participants will
learn valuable defensive driving skills,
proven safety strategies, how to stay
current with the latest driving tech-
nologies, the current rules of the road
specifi c to their community, and how
to manage and accommodate common
age-related changes in vision, hearing
and reaction time.
Participants may be eligible for a
multi-year insurance discount after
taking the course. There are no tests
required. The class is open to drivers of
all ages. Cost is $15 for AARP members
(bring card) and $20 for non-members.
To register call 541-426-3840.
O BITUARIES
Phillip A. Mendiguren
Formerly of La Grande
1950-2019
Phillip A. Mendiguren, 69,
of Roseburg and formerly of
La Grande, died Sept. 20 at
his residence.
A Rosary and
Mass of Chris-
tian Burial will
begin at 2 p.m.
Nov. 12 at Our
Lady of the
Valley Catholic
Church.
Known
as Phil, he
was born Jan. 25, 1950, in
Ontario, to John and Serafi na
(Uberuaga) Mendiguren. He
resided in Ontario; Boise,
Idaho; Spokane, Washington;
and La Grande and Roseburg.
Phil graduated from Ontario
High School in 1968 and the
University of Oregon in 1972.
He was drafted by the U.S.
Army and was stationed in
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
Nov. 8
Thomas Hiatt:
1-1:45 p.m. viewing,
followed by 2 p.m.
funeral, Loveland
Funeral Chapel, La
Grande.
Nov. 9
Wendy Cox
Booth:
12:30-1:45 p.m. viewing,
followed by 2 p.m.
funeral, La Grande First
Christian Church.
Germany from 1972 to 1974.
In 1974, Phil married Delores
Shelby. He graduated from
Gonzaga University Law
School in 1978.
Phil was an attorney with
Gooding & Mendiguren
Attorneys at Law and Carey,
Joseph & Mendiguren At-
torneys at Law, and he was
a Circuit Court Judge for
Union and Wallowa counties.
He enjoyed golf, hunting, fi sh-
ing, billiards and watching
U of O sports. He belonged
to the Optimists, Elks,
American Legion, Knights of
Columbus, Toastmasters,
U of O Alumni Association
and Delta Tau Delta.
Surviving relatives include
his wife, Delores; children
and their spouses, Shelby
and Loren Shaw of Rose-
burg, Julia Mendiguren
of Eugene, Nicholas and
Amanda Mendiguren of
La Grande, and Andrew
and Sarah Mendiguren of
Wenatchee, Washington;
sister and brother-in-law,
Faye and Don Sadowsky of
Eugene; brothers and sisters-
in-law, Jim and Theresa
Mendiguren of Boise, Idaho,
and Tom and Debi Mendig-
uren of Payette, Idaho; four
grandchildren; aunt, Julia
Uberuaga Coleman; and
sister-in-law, Gloria Herd.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, John and Se-
rafi na; brother, John Michael
Mendiguren; and uncle, Joe
P. Uberuaga.
In lieu of fl owers, memo-
rial contributions may be
made to the La Grande High
School Mock Trial Team, 708
K Ave., La Grande 97850,
or the Special Olympics Or-
egon, Attn: Tristin Ross, 8313
SW Cirrus Drive, Beaverton
97708.
Online condolences may
be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.
com.
Thomas G. Steele
La Grande
1941-2019
Thomas Glenn Steele, 78,
of La Grande, died Oct. 16 at
his home. A family memorial
gathering will
be held in the
spring/summer
of 2020.
Known as
Tom, he was
born Sept. 4,
1941, in Alma,
Missouri.
Tom attended
Riverside
Elementary School in Elwell,
Michigan, and graduated in
1959 from Alma High School
in Alma, Michigan.
Tom met his future wife,
Pauline “Ann” Gillikin,
through friends. He and Ann
were married on May 19,
1961, and together they had
four children: Billy, David,
Connie and Patti.
Tom served in the U.S.
Navy from 1959 to 1963. He
then went to work for Sears,
Roebuck and Company in
service repair and did so
for 20-plus years. He also
worked for Chuck Colvin
Ford as an auto mechanic,
and in Alaska he did repairs
for John Deere and numer-
ous others.
Tom was a member of
the American Legion. He
enjoyed repairing tractors,
hunting, fi shing and wood-
working. Tom’s philosophy
in life was: “stay busy.” He
believed that taking care of
his family was the top prior-
ity, as was always treating
others right. Memorable
times include his marriage,
the births of his children,
fi shing on the Snake River
and hunting up in the woods.
Surviving relatives include
his wife, Ann; daughters,
Connie Carter of Arnegard,
North Dakota, and Patti
Steele of Portland; sons, Billy
Steele of Haines and David
Steele of Kenai, Alaska;
brother, Ronald Steele of
Elwell, Michigan; and eight
grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Thomas
and Violet; sister, Joyce;
and grandsons, Adrian and
Austin.
Memorial donations may
be made to the La Grande
American Legion or VFW
in care of Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home & Crema-
tion Services, P.O. Box 543,
Halfway 97834.
Online condolences may
be shared at www.tamispine-
valleyfuneralhome.com.
THE OBSERVER — 3A
Dog Attack brings
Baker ordinance
into question
EO Media Group
BAKER — A leisurely
walk through south Baker
City neighborhoods with her
dog turned into a nightmare
for Karen Spencer Sunday
afternoon.
Gizmo, Spencer’s 13-year-
old schnauzer, was enjoying
Sunday’s sunshine as much
as she was as the two strolled
south on Foothill Drive about
2 p.m. A man was playing
catch with his son while
another was working on his
car in the driveway.
The nightmare began a
few moments later when a
large pit bull ran out from
the driveway and gripped
Gizmo in his massive jaws.
“As soon as the dog saw us
he attacked,” Spencer said.
“There was no stopping him.”
And she had no opportu-
nity to even try.
“The dog ripped the leash
and my dog out of my hand,”
Spencer said.
The dog’s owner, Branden
Baltzell, 24, of Lakewood,
Washington, and his friend
did their best to separate the
two dogs, she said. Baltzell
was over the top of his dog
trying to pull him off Gizmo,
and his friend was pulling the
dog’s jaws apart to get him to
loosen his grip on her dog.
The schnauzer had no
chance to even try to fi ght if
he’d have wanted to, Spencer
said.
The larger dog bit through
Gizmo’s left shoulder, and
then grabbed him by the
throat, belly and neck.
“It was horrifi c,” Spencer
said. “I turned away when
the dog grabbed Gizmo by
the belly.”
She said the dog owner’s
friend was bitten in the abdo-
men and on the arm in trying
to wrestle the pit bull, which
she estimated to weigh about
100 pounds, away from her
18-pound schnauzer.
Neighbors from across the
street helped Spencer tend to
her dog. She used the man’s
phone to dial 9-1-1 to sum-
P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT
UNION COUNTY SHERIFF
Arrested: Jessey James Thomas O’Quinn, 23, unknown ad-
dress, was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass.
Cited: Two Union County juveniles were cited on charges of
unlawful possession of marijuana.
Arrested: Mark Casch II, 44, unknown address, was arrested by
the Washington State Patrol on a Union County warrant charging
failure to appear in court. The warrant was connected to original
charges of possession of methamphetamine and driving under
the infl uence of intoxicants.
Arrested: Trey Garret Rubin, 26, a Union County resident, was
arrested on a Union County warrant charging failure to ap-
pear in court. The warrant was connected to original charges of
second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and possession of
a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
LA GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Judy Keeling
North Powder
Judy Keeling, 71, of
North Powder, died Oct. 4.
An obituary is forthcoming.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services. Online
condolences may be shared
at www.tamispinevalleyfu-
neralhome.com.
Arrested: Ryan Alan Nelson, 28, La Grande, was arrested on a
parole and probation detainer and on a charge of possession of a
controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Accident: Nobody was injured in a traffi c accident on Fourth
Street Tuesday. The accident was reported at 10:41 a.m.
Arrested: Angella Thamert, 42, Elgin, was arrested on a parole
and probation detainer and on a charge of possession of a con-
trolled substance.
LA GRANDE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Firefi ghters responded to 11 calls for medical assistance on
Monday and seven on Tuesday.
Week of Nov. 6 - 13
Dorla V. Hodge
BEST
Dorla V. Hodge, 89, of
La Grande, passed away
Nov. 5 at Grande Ronde
Retirement Residence. An
obituary is forthcoming.
Loveland Funeral Chapel &
Crematory will be handling
the arrangements.
• NOV 7TH AT 6 PM FAMILY BINGO
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• NOV 8TH - 9TH DOWNTOWN
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mon police and the woman
drove her home so she could
get Gizmo to the veterinar-
ian’s offi ce, she said.
Dr. Matt Kerns at the
Baker Animal Clinic treated
Gizmo Sunday afternoon to
make him comfortable and
then operated on him Mon-
day morning. The dog was
stitched up and was able to go
home Monday night accom-
panied by prescriptions for
pain medication and a two-
week supply of antibiotics.
Offi cers who responded
— Sgt. Mike Reagan and
John Parsons — initially
told Spencer that there was
no enforcement action that
could be taken against the
dog’s owner because he lives
in Washington. Spencer
could, however, consider
fi ling a civil suit against the
dog owner, they said.
Spencer couldn’t believe
that the responsibility for
any resolution to the harm
another’s person’s dog had
done to her family pet fell
solely to her.
“I was on a city street in
the city limits with my dog
on a leash and my dog was
attacked,” she said. “I think it
is a public safety issue.”
She took her concerns
to Police Chief Ray Du-
man Monday morning and
though he offered to do
what he could, he didn’t give
her much more hope for a
good resolution than she’d
received from the offi cers.
She said Duman advised
her to speak to the city
council about developing a
revised ordinance to address
how to handle cases involv-
ing dogs that are brought
into the community as
visitors and then return to
their homes even though
complaints have been made
about them.
Duman, who has been in
the role of chief since July
1, said Tuesday that upon
taking a second look at the
ordinance he believes it can
be used to address Spencer’s
concerns after all.
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