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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2019)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 3A LOCAL L OCAL B RIEFING Granada and LG merchants sponsor free movies LA GRANDE — In La Grande every year, the Granada Theatre and local merchants team up to present free movies during the holidays. This year free show- ings of “Abominable,” “Trolls” and “The Secret Life of Pets 2” will be offered at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Dec. 22-24. Admission tickets may be picked up at the Union County Chamber of Commerce, The Observer and other participating merchants. Storytime features Mrs. Onjukka LA GRANDE — Wendy Onjukka, well known to Heidi-Ho families, will read Christmas stories, along with her daughter Misty, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 23 at Nature’s Pantry, 1907 Fourth St., La Grande. Parents are welcome to shop while their children are entertained with stories, crafts and treats. BlueMountaineers perform before senior center’s holiday lunch LA GRANDE — The Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande, is having a special holiday meal and celebration Dec. 23. The BlueMountaineers (who usually perform on Tues- days) will entertain at 11 a.m., and a meal follows at 11:30 a.m., featuring “sin- galong Christmas carols, great food and good fel- lowship.” All are welcome. The music and fun are free. The meal is served for a $3 suggested donation for those age 60 and older, or $6 for the younger set. The senior center will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday for Christmas. Community Kindness offers Christmas lunch LA GRANDE — Com- munity Kindness of Eastern Oregon is hosting a free light buffet lunch on Christmas Day from noon to 2 p.m. at the organiza- tion’s store, 1315 Adams Ave., La Grande. Anyone who would like to share a meal is welcome. Call the store at 541-805-1410 for more information. Guests may sign up ahead of time but this is not required. sky: In 2019, the solstice happens at 8:19 p.m. Dec. 21. Pleasant Grove Grange invites all to celebrate the transition into winter, with brighter days ahead, UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER MENU 1504 ALBANY ST., LA GRANDE Dec. 23-27; lunch served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. age 60+ $3 suggested donation; others $6 Monday: pork roast, baked apples, mashed potatoes and gravy, Harvard beets, cashew-pea salad, rolls, dessert. Tuesday & Wednesday: closed for the holidays Thursday: fi sh and chips, baked beans, coleslaw, fresh fruit, cookies; alternative meal available. Friday: sweet & sour meatballs over rice pilaf, steamed vegetables, tomato-cucumber salad, rolls, dessert; alternative meal available. Welcome winter at solstice party SUMMERVILLE — The winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the O BITUARIES Charles ‘Ehrman’ Bates La Grande Charles “Ehrman” Bates, 94, of La Grande, died Dec. 17 at Grande Ronde Hospital. An obituary is forthcoming. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. David J. Hyde Formerly of La Grande 1949-2019 David John Hyde, 70, of Eugene and formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 12 at his home. A memo- rial gathering will be held at the Cove Cemetery in the spring or summer. David was born May 21, 1949, in La Grande, to Burleigh R. and Mildred (Wardell) Hyde. He attended Island City Grade School and La Grande High School, where he was a four-sport let- terman and graduated with the class of 1967. He then moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon and was a member of the 1969 Oregon Ducks football team until a medical ailment side- lined his football career. David worked for the Coca- Cola Company in Eugene for 14 years, becoming the vice president and divisional man- ager for the Southern District of Oregon the last fi ve years. He returned to La Grande in 1988 and rebuilt Hyde’s Mar- ket in Island City on the site of the original store founded by his grandfather Sheldon Hyde in the 1930s, reviving the name of the store he had worked at as a young man when his uncle Gene owned it. He later moved back to Eugene where he owned and operated a building con- struction company until his retirement. David spoke often of his Eastern Oregon roots and had a lifelong love for the beauty of the Blue Moun- tains and Grande Ronde Valley. He fondly remem- bered ski trips to Anthony Lakes, pack trips into the Minam and pheasant hunt- ing the swales and wheat- fi elds of the valley. One of his fi nal wishes was to go home and fi sh the Wallowa River. He loved the Oregon Ducks, his springer Span- iels, the countless friends he made along the way, and his family. Surviving relatives include his wife Charlotte Washburn of Eugene; daughters, Dana Hyde and husband, Jon Chambers,. of Cabin John, Maryland, Hilary Brinkman, Ashley Horton and Meagan Hyde; sister, Barbara Hyde of Seaside; cousins and wives, Bill and Lee Ann Young and Ray and Betty Hyde of La Grande; and six grandchil- dren. Edna Landers La Grande 1927-2019 Edna Landers, 92, of La Grande, died Nov. 29 at a local care facility. A memo- rial service will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 20 at Daniels- Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. (the day of the service has been changed since a previ- ous announcement.) Edna was born Aug. 15, 1927, in Wallowa, to Jesse Edward and Nancy Leona (Hilton) Landers. She enjoyed animals, shopping, fl owers and going to senior meals. Surviving relatives include her sister, Lois McLaren of Pendleton. She was preceded in death by her sister, Doro- thy Hamlin. Memorial contributions may be made to Uniting Together. Ray G. Murphy Island City 1932-2019 Ray Gene Murphy, 87, of Island City, died Dec. 17 at his residence. A private service will be held in the spring. Ray was born Sept. 1, 1932, in Flora, to William and Elizabeth (Wakefi eld) Murphy. He was married to Phyllis Bowman. Ray is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children and their spouses, Jay Dean Murphy of La Grande, Howard Thomas and Becky Murphy of Umatilla, and Marilyn Fae and Randy Fleshman of Scio; and three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Robert D. Miller La Grande 1938-2019 Robert Dean Miller, 81, of La Grande, died Dec. 13 at his residence. A memo- rial service will be held next spring. Robert was born Oct. 1, 1938, in Jerome, Idaho, to Ivan and Opal (Lee) Miller. He served in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart. Robert married Brenda Behrend on July 10, 1965, in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Blackfoot, Idaho. Robert was employed with the Union Pacifi c Railroad for 36-1/2 years. He enjoyed hunting, fi sh- ing and cutting fi rewood. He also enjoyed carpentry and remodeled several houses. He was a member of National Association of Retired Veterans Railway Employees. Surviving relatives Union County sees increase in flu activity By Sabrina Thompson The Observer LA GRANDE — State and local authorities reported Union County is seeing an increase in fl u activity. The Center for Human Development and Grande Ronde Hospital, both in La Grande, are urg- ing people to get the latest fl u vaccine to help prevent the spread of the illness. According to the data in the Flu Bites report from the Oregon Health Author- ity, there has been a steady increase over the last sev- eral weeks of emergency room and urgent care visits regarding the fl u. Eastern Oregon has the highest percentage of all of the re- gions at nearly 7% of visits being fl u-related. Elizabeth Sieders is the immunization coordinator and communicable disease nurse at the Center for Human Development. She reported Amy Miles, the infection prevention nurse at Grande Ronde Hospital, alerted the center about the increase in fl u cases. Sieders said the virus, for example, caused students to miss school in the Imbler School District, and anecdotal re- ports in other districts have indicated similar situations across Union County. “It’s important that people do not take chances, and protect themselves and their loved ones by not only getting vaccinated but reducing transmission by staying home and good hand hygiene,” Sieders said. Sieders in a news re- lease from the center also reported it is not too late for anyone to get the fl u vaccine, and children older than 6 months, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with a weak immune systems or a chronic medical condition should not wait. “For these groups,” ac- cording to Sieders, “fl u can cause severe illness and even death.” Grande Ronde Hospital has not implemented visi- tor restrictions due to the illness, but Miles stated the hospital is tracking new cases daily and may restrict visitors should the number of cases continue to escalate. To receive the fl u vac- cine, contact your primary care provider, your local pharmacy or the Center for Human Development at 541-962-8800. The center also can provide informa- tion on reduced cost or free vaccinations. beginning at 4 p.m. at the grange, 67812 Hunter Road in Summerville. The free holiday gathering will include games, a potluck and Yule log fi re. P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT include his wife, Brenda; children and their spouses, Annet and Tom Enter of La Grande, Phillip and Pam Miller of North Carolina, and Cheryl and Brad Ben- net of Killeen, Texas; broth- er and sister-in-law, Roy and Judy Miller of Burley; sisters and brothers-in- law, Linda Lighter of Ash Fork, Arizona, Susan and Don Baird of Twin Falls, Idaho, Kathrine and Bob Berg of Twin Falls, Idaho, Vicki Coss of Mancos, Colorado, Teresa and Tony Kissinger of Buhl, Idaho, and Sharon and Norris Enloe of Gilbert, Arizona; fi ve grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Opal; brother, Donald Miller; and sisters, Donna Miller and Diane Parsons. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel. com. Marilyn R. Roberts TUESDAY Law enforcement at 10:23 a.m. responded to a burglary alarm at a home on the 1800 block of 26th Street, La Grande. Offi ces determined this was a false alarm. A caller at 12:58 p.m. reported a possibly aggres- sive dog on the 400 block of F Street, North Powder. The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce at 2:07 p.m. received a report of suspicious circum- stances on the 800 block of Palmer Junction Road, Elgin. A deputy checked it out and found everything was fi ne. La Grande police at 6:05 p.m. received a report of an ongoing dispute between neighbors on the 2500 block of Fourth Street, La Grande. A caller at 10:32 p.m. reported a tree was across the street on the 2800 block of Minam Court, La Grande. Dispatch notifi ed city public works. WEDNESDAY La Grande’s code enforce- ment offi cer at about 8:30 a.m. placed a vehicle boot on a car near the 100 block of Adams Avenue. A caller in La Grande at 11:27 a.m. reported harass- ment. An offi cer responded and determined there was nothing criminal. The Union County Sher- iff’s Offi ce arrested Koben K. Opie, 27, of Union, for second-degree sexual abuse. La Grande police at 2:30 p.m. responded to a non-in- jury traffi c crash on the 2500 block of Adams Avenue. A caller asked law enforce- ment to check on the welfare of a resident on the 61800 block of Blackhawk Trail Lane, La Grande. An offi cer responded but no one was home. La Grande police noted a report of a malfunctioning railroad signal at Greenwood Street. THURSDAY Emergency services in La Grande at 10:15 a.m. re- sponded to a vehicle crash at Cherry Street and N Avenue. There were no injuries. A caller at 10:27 a.m. com- plained about a dog running in the area of the 1600 block of Gekeler Lane. The dog was gone by the time an offi cer arrived. La Grande police at about 11:50 a.m. responded a back lot on the 2400 block of R Avenue to check if an aban- doned vehicle was stolen. It was not. Union residence on the 500 block of East Center Street reported a burglary. A caller at 6:53 p.m. re- ported an injured deer on the 11200 block of Island Avenue, La Grande. Union Marilyn R. Roberts, 71, of Union, died Dec. 18 at her residence. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crema- tory will be handling the arrangements. La Grande Observer Holiday Hours UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by Christmas Eve: CLOSE at 3 PM Dec. 20 Edna Landers: Christmas Day: CLOSED 3 p.m. memorial service, Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, La Grande. Dec. 28 Nellie Lathrop: 11 a.m. memorial service, Joseph Baptist Church. There will be NO PAPER published on Wednesday, December 25th We will reopen for business Thursday, December 26th • 7:30 AM - 5 PM New Years Day: OFFICE CLOSED There WILL BE a paper published January 1st This offer won’t hang around long. Subscribe today! THE OBSERVER’S SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT TO YOU Buy a three month subscription to T HE O BSERVER and get one month free! Offer for new and existing subscribers Act fast - offer valid through December 31, 2019 To take advantage of this special offer please call the office at 541-963-3161 or our call center at 1-800-781-3214
