WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020
THE OBSERVER — 3A
LOCAL
Cook Memorial Library launches new website, services
Observer staff
LA GRANDE — Cook Memo-
rial Library has launched a new
website at www.CookMemorial-
Library.org along
with a number of
other services that will
benefi t library patrons
and members of the
community.
The website’s home
Roberson
page welcomes visitors
with bold new colors, a clean design
and moving images featuring
content that library staff created.
Major features of the new site
include:
•Automaticadaptationtoany
computer, tablet or mobile device
for the best user experience. The
site meets ADA accessibility stan-
dards as well.
•Tabsonthehomepagetolead
visitors to new content highlighting
library resources, materials and
programs.
•Easieraccesstothelibrary
catalog and digital services such
as Freegal Music and the Kanopy
movie streaming service.
In addition, the Adult and
Family Literacy Center has its
own webpages with easier access
to information about the Library
Commission and the La Grande
Community Library Founda-
tion. And online forms now can
be submitted with the click of a
button.
Library director Kip Roberson in
a news release explained that, with
changes in technology and con-
tinued user demands, it was time
to revamp online portal to library
services.
WOWBRARY
Cook Memorial Library also
implemented the free “Wowbrary”
email alerts to showcase the
library’s newest items each week.
The alerts feature the latest best-
sellers, movies, audio books and
more at the library.
“This is a great new way to enjoy
and use your public library more,”
according to Roberson. “People are
truly amazed when they see in one
place just how many great new ti-
tles we purchase each week, which
they can reserve and borrow at no
cost. And we cover all age groups
and many diverse interests.”
Roberson noted in a news
release the Wowbrary alerts are
convenient and show what’s new,
whether the item is checked out
or not. The alerts also help those
interested in specifi c topics.
“It only takes a mouse click to
see the newest arrivals appropriate
for your child or teen,” according
to Carrie Bushman, the children’s
librarian. “Here is a separate sec-
tion on parenting. Teachers can
quickly spot new resources for their
classes.”
Wowbrary alerts are free and
do not require a library card. Go to
www.wowbrary.org to sign up or
learn more.
to bolster library services to hard-
to-count communities and help
achieve a complete count in the
2020 Census.
According to Roberson, Cook
Memorial is working with the
Elgin, North Powder and Union
public libraries plus other commu-
nity partners across Union County
to achieve a complete count of
everyone in the county. More than
$1.5 trillion in federal funds are al-
located each year to state and local
governments based on census data,
according to the American Library
Association.
“When residents are missed in
the census, their communities miss
out on needed funding for services
such as libraries, schools, health
care and transportation,” Roberson
said.
LIBRARY CENSUS EQUITY
FUND GRANT
2020 CENSUS JOB RECRUIT-
MENT FAIR
The Cook Memorial Library also
was among 59 libraries nation-
wide to receive a $2,000 Library
Census Equity Fund grant from
the American Library Association
As part of that effort, the
library is hosting a 2020 Census
job recruitment fair from 2-4 p.m.
Jan. 7. The U.S. Census Bureau
is recruiting applicants to assist
with the count in La Grande
and Union County. Jobs provide
paid training, fl exible hours and
weekly pay. The recruitment fair
is a drop-in, fi rst-come, fi rst-
served event. No appointment is
necessary.
To be eligible for a 2020 Cen-
sus job, you must be at least 18
years old and a U.S. citizen, have
a valid email address and Social
Security number, be registered
with the Selective Service System
or have a qualifying exemption (if
you are a male born after Dec. 31,
1959), pass a background check,
commit to completing training
and be available to work fl exible
hours. For more information, go to
www.2020census.gov, call 1-855-
562-2020 or call the library at
541-962-1339.
For information about why
participating in the 2020 Census is
important and to understand the
unique challenges in rural areas
like Eastern Oregon, visit https://
carsey.unh.edu/publication/2020-
census.
L OCAL B RIEFING
From staff reports
Gunfi re leads to
RV fi re
LA GRANDE — Firing a
shotgun inside the bedroom
of a recreational vehicle in
La Grande started a fi re.
La Grande police reported
offi cers and fi refi ghters at
5:35 a.m. Tuesday responded
to the Sundowner Mobile
Park, 1806 26th St., for a fi re
in the 32-foot long 1987 fi fth
wheel at space 16.
The La Grande Rural Fire
District soon extinguished
the fi re, according to the
report, but the RV sustained
heavy damage, leaving it
uninhabitable. The vehicle’s
lone resident, Jacob S. Abra-
hams, 69, was home when
the fi re started and got out
uninjured.
La Grande police also
reported the preliminary
investigation indicated Abra-
hams caused the fi re when
he intentionally discharged
a 12-gauge shotgun through
the bed and into the fl oor.
“The proximity of the
muzzle of the fi rearm to
combustible materials,
including loose papers, lying
on the bed enabled the fi re
to start,” according to police.
“No one was injured when
the shotgun was discharged.”
Offi cers arrested Abra-
hams and booked him into
the Union County Jail, La
Grande, for unlawful use of a
weapon. Police also reported
the investigation is ongoing
and Abrahams could face
more charges.
Funeral service
Saturday for
Slodowski
LA GRANDE — A funeral
for Stephen Slodowski will
be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the
United Methodist Church,
1612 Fourth St., La Grande
with reception after.
Slodowski’s body was
found Dec. 3 in a La Grande
storage unit. He started
using the unit as his home
in March 2018 after facing
fi nancial diffi culties. He fre-
quented Starbucks and the
music store and developing
friendships with locals.
Larry Miller, a friend from
Beaverton who moved to
Cove shortly before Slodows-
ki’s move to La Grande, led
the efforts for remembering
his friend.
“He was a man who
kept to himself, but he was
friendly,” Miller said in a pre-
vious Observer article about
Slodowski.
Miller, with help from
United Methodist Church
pastor Taylor Gould,
organized the funeral and
reception as a way to honor
Slodowski and gather those
who knew him to share
stories.
The reception after the
service includes hamburgers.
Organizers asked for dona-
tions for the food or to the
Union County Warming Sta-
tion. Gould, a board member
of the warming station, said
Slodowski never stayed the
night there but came to play
games, talk and eat a hot
meal.
“Since people have been
hearing about his passing,
we are seeing they have so
many stories to tell,” Gould
said. “There is clearly a need
to share these memories
and he does not have to die
in silence, but rather have
his memory fostered in our
hearts.”
Cove City Council
hears speed study
report
COVE — The city of Cove
will hold its regular council
meeting Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at
Cove City Hall, 504 Alder
St. The council will consider
a speed study report from
Rick Stanton of the Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion. The council also will
hold a public hearing begin-
ning at 7:30 p.m. regarding
the conditional use and site
plan review for the Bear and
Lavender company.
Cove senior meal
served Jan. 7
COVE — The Jan. 7 senior
meal in Cove will begin at
noon with coffee and tea,
followed by lunch at 12:15
p.m. in Founders Hall on the
grounds of the Ascension
School Camp and Confer-
ence Center, 1104 Church
St. On the menu is meatloaf,
mashed potatoes and gravy,
green beans, salad bar and
rolls with applesauce cake for
dessert. There is a $5 charge
per meal. RSVP by Thursday
by calling Imie Bristow at
541-568-4545 or Betsy Arn-
son at 541-568-4902.
OReGO drivers can
avoid registration
fee hikes
SALEM — Owners of an
electric vehicle or a vehicle
that gets more than 40 miles
per gallon face higher
registration fees effective
Wednesday. But the Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion announced those owners
can avoid the higher fees
if they enroll in OReGO at
www.myorego.org, Oregon’s
road usage charge program.
Users of the program pay
the base registration fee of
$43 per year plus the road
charge.
As a result of 2017 legisla-
tion, the state bases its pas-
senger vehicle registration
fees largely on the vehicle’s
fuel effi ciency rating. Drivers
of more effi cient vehicles
will pay more to register
and renew their tags so
they contribute to use of the
roads because they pay less
in fuel tax, and in the case
of all-electric vehicles pay no
fuel tax.
Typically, drivers pay two
to four years’ worth of regis-
tration fees when purchas-
ing a car or renewing their
registration. Those fees are
increasing in 2020 and 2022
for electric and high-mpg
vehicles. The cost of four-
years registration in Oregon
P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT
SATURDAY
Oregon State Police arrested
Steven Edward Norris, 53, of
North Powder, for felony failure
to register as a sex offender.
Oregon State Police arrested
Isaac Thomas Van Tassel, 18, for
driving under the infl uence of
intoxicants (cannabis).
SUNDAY
Oregon State Police reported
a speeding driver in a Pontiac
Sunfi re passed two eastbound
semis on Interstate 84 near La
Grande, swerved to make the
exit at milepost 265, lost control
of the car and struck a metal
sign post. An ambulance took
the driver, Henry A. Smith, 32, of
Laredo, Texas, to Grande Ronde
Hospital, La Grande. State po-
lice released Smith to the care
of the hospital’s emergency de-
partment but cited him for DUII
O BITUARIES
Alidean (Chadwick)
McMaster
Formerly of La Grande
Alidean McMaster, 97,
of Utah and formerly of
La Grande, died Dec. 29,
2019. A memorial service
will be held at 4 p.m. Jan.
11 at Sonrise Baptist
Church in West Valley
City, Utah. An obituary is
forthcoming.
Virginia Linkenhoker
La Grande
Virginia Linkenhoker,
79, of La Grande, died
Dec. 28 at Grande Ronde
Hospital. An obituary is
forthcoming. Arrange-
ments are under the di-
rection of Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation &
Life Celebration Center.
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
Jan. 3
Nellie Lathrop:
11 a.m. memorial service,
Joseph Baptist Church.
Jan. 4
Delpha Hamann:
11 a.m. memorial
service, La Grande First
Presbyterian Church.
Evelyn McFetridge:
11 a.m. funeral, St.
Katherine’s Catholic
Church, Enterprise; burial
follows.
(controlled substances), reckless
driving and driving uninsured.
MONDAY
La Grande police at about
9:35 a.m. responded to the 2000
block of Gekeler Lane for an
attempted burglary.
A caller in Elgin at 3:39 p.m.
reported a dog fi ght on the
fi rst block of 14th Avenue. A
Union County sheriff’s deputy
responded and took a report.
The Union County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce at about 9:45 p.m.
responded to the 63200 block of
Highway 203, La Grande, on a
report of an assault.
Charles ‘Ehrman’ Bates
November 27, 1925 - December 17, 2019
Charles ‘Ehrman’ Bates, age 94, of La
Grande, died December 17, 2019 at the
Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial
service will be held on Saturday, January
4, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist
Church in La Grande. Private burial was
held at the Grandview Cemetery. Arrange-
ments are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration
Center.
Ehrman was born on November
27, 1925, the son of Thomas and Laura Emma (Elmer) Bates in La
Grande. He graduated from Union High School. He served with the
United States Army during the Korean War. After his honorable dis-
charge he returned to La Grande and farmed the rest of his life as well
as being a clerk for the Union Pacific Railroad. He married Lorraine
Punches in 1949. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and
the Blue Mtn. Grange. He enjoyed collecting coins and stamps. He
was an avid reader, wood worker and fisherman. He collected train
sets and clocks and enjoyed antique shopping with his wife. He and
Lorraine were married 69 years before her death.
Survivors include his sister, Anna Brown of La Grande; numerous
nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Bates of Condon and
Jacque Punches of La Grande. special family friend, Sandy Franks and
other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by brothers,
Elmer, Edward and Ernest. Those who wish may make contributions
in his memory to Camp Elkanah in care of the First Baptist Church.
for a vehicle with 40+ mpg
is $304, and registering an
electric vehicle in Oregon for
that span will costs $612.
But if they are enrolled in
OReGO, those drivers would
pay just the base registra-
tion — $172 for the full four
years — plus a monthly road
charge of 1.8 cents per mile.
“If you drive an electric
vehicle,”according to ODOT,
“the road charge may
amount to a few dollars per
month ($18 for 1,000 miles).
If you drive a fuel-powered
vehicle, you get credit for
fuels tax paid at the pump,
which reduces the road
charge.”
Some drivers, then, could
save money by joining OR-
eGO. But if a driver leaves
the OReGO program before
their registration period ex-
pires, the state will bill them
for the waived fees.
OReGO has more than
1,600 vehicles enrolled. To
learn more, visit www.my-
orego.org. If you need help
signing up, contact OReGO
customer service at 503-986-
7827 or myOReGO@odot.
state.or.us, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Monday through Friday.
Railroad employee
groups meet monthly
LA GRANDE — On
the second Wednesday
of the month, the local
N.A.R.V.R.E. (National As-
sociation of Retired Veterans
Railway Employees) meets
at 9 a.m., at Denny’s in La
Grande. The group will meet
this month on Jan. 8. The
Union Pacifi c Employees
Club #17 meets at 6 p.m. on
the second Tuesday of the
month, also at Denny’s. The
next gathering is planned for
Jan. 14.
Mary Alice Crowell
June 18, 1939 - December 21, 2019
Mary Alice Crowell, age 80
died December 21, 2019, at her
home. A funeral will be held
on Friday, January 3, 2020, at
9:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the
Valley Catholic Church in La
Grande. Burial will take place
at Olney Cemetery in Pendle-
ton, at 2:00 p.m. Those who
wish, may make contributions
in her memory to any diabetes
organization. Arrangements are
entrusted to Daniels~Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.
Mary was born on June 18, 1939, the daughter of Carl
and Marion (Vent) Kligel in Baker City, Oregon. She
attended Catholic School and after graduating high school
she attended Marylhurst College and earned an Associate’s
Degree. On November 22, 1958, she married Barry Crowell
in Pendleton, Oregon. They later moved to Tri-Cities until
August of 1971, when they moved to La Grande. She did
accounting for Waldrop Oil, Connie’s Moving and Storage
and for her husband’s meat plant, River Products, and later
became a partner at Automated Bookkeeping and Taxman.
In 2008, she opened her own business, Mar’s Adventures PC.
She was a member of the JCettes when in Pendleton, as
well as Women in Business and the Oregon Diabetes Asso-
ciation in La Grande. Having been diagnosed with diabetes
when she was only 6-years-old she was very involved with
diabetes organizations. She was honored by the American
Diabetes Association with the Joslin Award, for staying
healthy while both young and as an adult living with dia-
betes, traveling to Washington DC to receive it. Mary also
organized a Bike-A-Thon and Trail Ride for many years to
raise awareness and money for the American Diabetes Asso-
ciation. Even arranging for Actor Wildred Brimley to attend
a Trail Ride. She was still running her office, Mar’s Adven-
tures’s PC, at age 80 and took great pride and joy in going to
work every day. She enjoyed sewing and ceramics and loved
spending time with her grandchildren, never missing an
opportunity to attend a school function or athletic event.
Survivors include her husband, Barry Crowell of La
Grande; children, Steve and Jeanne Crowell of Cove and
Carlene and Mark Lester of La Grande; siblings, Connie
and Sherry Kligel of Mesa, Arizona, Robert and Mary Kligel
of Newberg, Tom Kligel of Pendleton, Or, Judy and Ernie
Parker of Pendleton, Or, and Danny and Maggie Kligel of
Central Point, Or; five Grandchildren Holli and Nathan
Needham, Cheyenne Lester, Delaney Lester, Cabel Adams
and Annie Adams; three great grandchildren Nolan Need-
ham, Hadlee Needham and Irie Adams; and many other
relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her par-
ents, Carl and Marion Kligel, her children, Nicholas at birth,
Timmy in 1961 and Brother James Kligel in 1993.