FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019
THE OBSERVER — 3A
LOCAL
L OCAL B RIEFING
From staff reports
Local housing
authority receives
federal $130K to aid
disabled
LA GRANDE — The
Northeast Oregon Housing
Authority in La Grande was
one of 22 public housing
authorities in Idaho, Oregon
and Washington to receive
federal funding for housing
vouchers.
The local organization
received 25 mainstream
vouchers totaling $130,659
to assist very-low income
households of persons with
disabilities, according to
Wednesday’s announcement
from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban De-
velopment. Jeff McMorris,
HUD northwest regional
administrator, called the
vouchers a “critical tool in
reducing the risk that people
with disabilities might be in-
stitutionalized or experience
homelessness and enable
them to live independently
in the communities they
choose to call home.”
The 1,313 vouchers for
the organizations across the
three Northwest states total
$12,514,410, according to
the announcement. Nation-
wide, Housing and Urban
Development distributed
$131.3 million to 325 local
public housing authorities to
provide affordable housing
to approximately 15,363 ad-
ditional non-elderly persons
with disabilities.
Free tai chi classes
are on holiday
schedule
LA GRANDE — The
free tai chi classes taught
at the Presbyterian Friend-
ship Center in La Grande
will not meet Thanksgiving
week. Classes will resume
the week after Thanksgiving
until mid-December, after
which they will be on hiatus
until Jan. 14.
EOU music
ensembles perform
fall concert
LA GRANDE — The
Eastern Oregon University
African Drumming Ensem-
ble, the Creative Ensemble,
and 45th Parallel present
their fall concert Friday at
7:30 p.m. in the McKenzie
Theatre.
Directors Luke McKern
and Greg Johnson lead
their groups in performing
traditional and contempo-
rary works from around the
world, featuring composers
such as Horace Silver, Woody
Shaw and EOU’s own John
McKinnon.
The nine-piece 45th
Parallel, featuring horns
and a rhythm section, plays
tunes from the blues and
jazz tradition, arranged by
director Johnson specifi cally
for the band. 45th Parallel’s
set this fall includes a set-
ting of “Basin Street Blues,”
featuring a transcription of
an improvisation by Sidney
Bechet, Horace Silver’s hard
bop classic “Nica’s Dream”
and the world premiere of
a new composition by John
McKinnon entitled, “I Never
Met a Cliche I Didn’t Like!”
Admission to the concert
is free, but donations toward
music scholarships are
always accepted. For more
information, call Johnson at
541-962-3559.
UC Cattlemen
dinner tickets must
be purchased by
Monday
LA GRANDE — The an-
nual Union County Cattle-
men’s Association dinner
will be held Nov. 30. Tickets
— $27 each and available at
the Extension Offi ce — must
be purchased by Monday.
The event will include a
speaker and a drawing for
a Cabela gift card. For more
information, call Darren
Hansen at 541-805-1569 or
Pat Larson at 541-963-9387.
The event is open to the pub-
lic. UC Cattlemen will not
have a December meeting.
Run with the turkeys
before Thanksgiving
dinner
LA GRANDE — Grande
Ronde Road Runners is
hosting the annual Run-
ning of the Turkeys on
Thanksgiving Day. The
event, which is open to the
community, will begin at
EONI, 216 Chestnut St., La
Grande. Registration opens
at 8 a.m. The 10K begins
at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at
9 a.m. The registration fee
is by donation. Maps will
be available at registration
time. The run/walk features
numbered bibs, stopwatch
timing and refreshments at
the fi nish. For more infor-
mation, call or text Jeff at
541-786-3069.
Volunteers welcome
at community
Thanksgiving dinner
LA GRANDE — Neigh-
bors Together of Union
County will be serving a
community Thanksgiving
dinner at the Presbyterian
Friendship Center, 1204
Spring Ave., La Grande,
Thanksgiving Day. The
Spring Street doors will open
at noon, and the meal will be
served beginning at 1 p.m.
The meal is free (donations
will be accepted), and all are
welcome. Anyone who would
like to volunteer to help with
the meal is asked to call 541-
963-9126.
Not too late to join
tomorrow’s Turkey
Trot
LA GRANDE — Benefi t-
ing the Friday Backpack
program, the eighth annual
5K Mountain Valley Turkey
Trot is Nov. 23. Registra-
tion begins at 9 a.m. at
Mountain Valley at 2519
Cove Ave., La Grande, and
costs $25. The race begins
at 9:30 a.m. and is pet and
family friendly. There will
P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT
THURSDAY
La Grande fi re and police
at 6:48 a.m. responded to a
fi re call on the 100 block of Fir
Street. Firefi ghters responded
to seven calls for medical as-
sistance Thursday, the same as
Wednesday.
Police at 7:26 a.m. took a
report for a sex crime in La
Grande.
La Grande police at 10:43
a.m. received a set of keys
someone lost on the 1100 block
of K Avenue.
An Elgin resident at 12:33
p.m. reported the theft of a
horse. A Union County sheriff’s
deputy talked to the person
about civil action options.
A barking dog on the
2900 block of Misty Avenue,
La Grande, prompted a
neighbor to call police. An
offi cer explained options to
the caller to deal with the
problem.
La Grande police at 2:23 p.m.
responded to a fi ght on the 700
block of K Avenue.
A resident on the 1500 block
of X Avenue of La Grande
called police about a suspicious
vehicle in the driveway. Police
found the driver parked there to
avoid the street sweeper.
A La Grande offi cer at 9:27
p.m. responded to the 400 block
of 18th Street in a report of
suspicious activity. The offi cer
talked to a person who was in
the process of moving.
be a tent in the fi tness
park for everyone to enjoy
turkey chowder catered by
Bud Jackson’s and stay out
of the weather. Thanks to
sponsors Barreto Manufac-
turing, Nature’s Pantry, Red
Cross Drug Store and Valley
Insurance Group, there
is no registration fee for
participants younger than
12 and older than 65, who
also will receive a free T-
shirt. This year’s event also
includes a raffl e with prizes
donated by Blue Mountain
Outfi tters, Apple Eye Care,
La Grande Grocery Outlet,
Hines Meat Co., Joe & Sug-
ars, Le Bebe Cakes Coffee
Shop & Bakery, and R&C
Family Store.
UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER MENU
1504 ALBANY ST., LA GRANDE
Nov. 25-Nov. 29; lunch served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
age 60+ $3 suggested donation; others $6
Monday: fi sh and chips, baked beans, coleslaw, fruit
salad, cookies (alternate meal available).
Tuesday: chicken strips, steak fries, sweet cucumber
salad, fresh fruit slices, sherbet.
Wednesday: Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, dressing,
cranberry sauce, steamed Harvard beets, potatoes and
gravy, Jell-O, rolls, pie.
Thursday and Friday: CLOSED for Thanksgiving holiday
Donna May Rose
August 3, 1958 - November 16, 2019
Donna May Rose, 61, of La Grande, passed away
on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at St. Alphonsus Re-
gional Medical Center, Nampa, Idaho. A Celebration
of Life will be held at Ten Depot Street on Sunday,
December 1, 2019 at 2:00pm.
Donna was born on August 3, 1958 in Kellogg,
Idaho to Gerald and Donna Doud. She was married to
her one true love, Raymond Earl Rose.
Donna was employed at Ten Depot Street for 31
years, fulfilling many different roles. A truly dedicated
asset for Sandy. When she wasn’t working at Ten
Depot, Donna loved to embroider, gardening, canning and reading. She also loved
having her grandchildren and nieces and nephews over for games and just hanging out.
She was a very spiritual and steadfast in her faith. She was admired for her strength and
her ability to carry on in the face of adversity. She was the best sister and friend ever
and touched the hearts of so many. Donna was the love of Ray’s life and they enjoyed
camping, playing cribbage, bumper pool and just being with each other even if it was
only watching tennis or Nascar.
Donna is survived by her husband, Ray; son, Colyn Robinson and wife Kelsey
of La Grande, OR; mother, Donna Doud of Island City, OR; brothers, Lee Doud and
wife Judy of Elgin, OR and Jerry Doud and wife Melinda of Humptulips, WA; sister,
Edna Carpenter and husband Tom of La Grande, OR; step daughter, Toni Reynolds
and husband Justin of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren, Seth and Kenley Ada; niece,
Samantha Hosford and many other nieces and nephews, beloved friends including her
dog Sadie. She was preceded in death by her son, Seth Wayman Robinson and father,
Gerald Lewis Doud.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
O BITUARIES
Rollie H. Mattson
Elgin
1938-2019
Rollie Henry Mattson, 81,
of Elgin, died Nov. 17 at his
residence. At his request,
there will not
be a service.
Rollie was
born July 26,
1938, in The
Dalles, to
Walter Wilbert
and Nora Mar-
garet (Cosner)
Mattson. In
1941, the fam-
ily moved to Elgin and lived
on a farm located just below
the Rockwall 5 miles north of
town. Rollie graduated from
Elgin High School in 1958.
In 1961, he was drafted
into the U.S. Army, where
he excelled in the biathlon,
winning numerous team and
individual competitions. He
was honorably discharged
from active duty in 1963.
Rollie met his future wife,
Lynda Weaver, from Wal-
lowa, on New Year’s Eve
1963. They were married
Nov. 25, 1964. Three children
were added to Rollie and
Lynda’s life: Curtis Lee, Me-
lissa Kaye and Marcey Evon.
Rollie was a cattle rancher
and a trapper, and worked at
the Boise Cascade studmill
for 35 years. He was an
avid hunter and had a true
passion for fi shing. If Rollie
wasn’t working, you could
fi nd him along the banks of
the Wallowa, Grande Ronde
or Imnaha rivers fi shing for
steelhead or salmon. Rollie’s
family enjoyed hiking into the
high mountain lakes, camp-
ing and fi shing, many times
with relatives and friends.
Surviving relatives include
his wife, Lynda; children and
their spouses, Curtis and
Donna Mattson of Elgin,
Melissa and Bryan Lea of
Albany, and Marcey and Kim
Monohan of Spokane, Wash-
ington; brother and sister-in-
law, Dale and Carol Mattson
of La Grande; sisters and
brothers-in-law, Margaret
and Norval Byron of La
Grande and Pearl and Ter-
rel Croghan of Elgin; eight
grandchildren; and numer-
ous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Walter and
Nora.
In lieu of fl owers, memorial
contributions may be made
to the Alzheimer’s Associa-
tion-Oregon Chapter, 1650
NW Naito Parkway, Suite
190, Portland 97209, or to
Rockwall Grange Hall, 71562
Middle Road, Elgin 97827.
Online condolences may
be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.
com.
Kay (Ruckman) Acuff
Formerly of Imbler
Kay (Ruckman) Acuff, 81,
formerly of Imbler, died Oct.
22 in Goodyear, Arizona.
A memorial service will be
held at 10 a.m. Nov. 27 at
Thompson Funeral Chapel
of Goodyear. Inurnment will
be at 10 a.m. Nov. 29 at the
National Memorial Cem-
etery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Patricia Patterson
Formerly of La Grande
Patricia “Pat” Patterson,
95, of Medford and formerly
of La Grande, died Nov.
14. A celebration of her life
will be held at 2 p.m. Dec.
5 at Rogue Valley Manor in
Medford. Arrangements are
under the direction of Rogue
Valley Funeral Alternatives.
Ruth S. McClure
La Grande
Ruth Sharlene McClure,
56, of La Grande, died Nov.
20 at Grande Ronde Hospi-
tal. A viewing will be held
from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29
and from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Nov. 30 at Loveland Funeral
Chapel. A funeral will follow
at 10 a.m. An obituary is
forthcoming.
Suellen ‘Sue’ W. Lambert
La Grande
Suellen “Sue” W. Lambert,
72, of La Grande, died Nov.
21 at Grande Ronde Hos-
pital. An obituary is forth-
coming. Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory will be
handling the arrangements.
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
Nov. 22
David Kirkland:
2 p.m. memorial service,
North Powder United
Methodist Church.
Nov. 23
Wade Brown:
11 a.m. celebration
of life, North Powder
Grange Hall.
Patricia Jenkins:
10 a.m. Mass of
Christian Burial, Our
Lady of the Valley
Catholic Church, La
Grande.
Benjamin Seidel:
Join Our Team
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking for compassionate,
friendly people to join our team of volunteers for the
upcoming tax season.
Tax-Aide is a free program that makes it easier for older
taxpayers to file their tax returns. Neighbors like you help
prepare tax returns or serve in other ways, like organizing
client paperwork, managing computer equipment, acting
3 p.m. memorial service,
Daniels-Knopp Funeral
Cremation & Life
Celebration Center, La
Grande.
as interpreters, or making sure everything runs smoothly.
Nov. 29-30
Ruth McClure:
Sign up at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide.
2-4 p.m. Nov. 29 viewing;
9-9:45 a.m. Nov. 30
viewing followed by
10 a.m. funeral; all
at Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande.
There’s a role for everyone.