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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 2020)
Community Scrapbook BIRTHS 3A Thursday, April 9, 2020 Elgin Lions make big deposit at food bank GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL BALES: To Krista Rose Bales and Christopher John Bales, of La Grande, a son, Isaac John Bales, 8 pounds, March 12 at 8:56 a.m. Grandparents are John and Angie Shurtleff and John and Tanna Bales. COMPTON: To Ranelle Elise Compton and Kit Nathan Compton, of La Grande, a daughter, Juniper Asher Compton, 7 pounds 8 ounces, March 17 at 8:16 a.m. CROY: To Hannah Joelle Croy and Kevin Matthew Mitts, of La Grande, a daughter, Miah Tracy Mitts Croy, 6 pounds 2 ounces, March 18 at 7:48 p.m. MARTIN: To Sandra Lucille Martin and Dillon Mathew Martin, of La Grande, a son, Dash Angel Martin, 6 pounds 13 ounces, March 15 at 2:57 p.m. Grandparents are Robert and Cindy Kohler, Kevin Kunzler, and Renee and Raul Rios. VANCE: To Janice Marie Vance and Jesse James Vance, of La Grande, a daughter, Serenity Ann Myrna Vance, 7 pounds, March 21 at 8:26 p.m. Before the “stay home, save lives” mandate, the Elgin Lions set up a collection drive at Food Town Grocery and, in a fi ve-hour period, collect- ed more than 275 pounds of food and personal hygiene products for the Elgin Food Bank. Left to right are Darlene Garver, Gerald Hopkins, Mary Hopkins, Barbara Hawes and Daryl Hawes. Contributed photo Column: Local youth council urges peers to avoid alcohol April is Alcohol Aware- ness Month. Organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence since 1987, this public health movement is designed to draw attention to the causes and effects of alcoholism. The Union County Safe Communities Coalition is pleased to sup- port this initiative in our continued efforts to build a safe, healthy and drug-free community. According to the Oregon Health Authority, alcohol is the most commonly used drug among youth in Oregon. Data show individ- uals ages 12-20 drink 11% of all alcohol in the United States. However, Union County youth are above this norm. The 2019 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey indi- cated approximately 88% of Union County respondents in the eighth grade reported they had not consumed alcohol in the last 30 days, and 68% of junior respon- dents indicated the same. While progress is underway it is clear much work remains to turn the tide of underage drinking. The UCSCC Youth Council aims to help close Photo contributed by the Union County Safe Communities Coalition Members of the Union County Safe Communities Coali- tion Youth Council at a recent meeting. this gap. This dynamic vol- unteer group consists of more than a dozen teen- agers from schools in Union County who work to curb youth substance use. Youth council members would like their fellow teens to know why they actively choose to say “no” to alcohol when faced with peer pressure. Take a look at several of their responses below: Imbler junior In my opinion, alcohol can ruin a person’s life. For me, it could ruin my social life as well as the obvious physical disadvantages. I fi nd myself often refl ecting on what I am involved in, the promises I have made to those organizations, and also the dedication I have to my family and friends to stay alcohol-free. Whether it be FFA, NHS, ASB or sports, I am a leader. A leader has morals, guide- lines and a positive aura that makes people want to be like them or follow in their footsteps. Leaders make this world what it is, and that is why I stay alcohol free. stay away from alcohol. Elgin junior La Grande sophomore As an athlete, Christian and FFA member who holds a chapter and district offi ce, alcohol confl icts with my morals and responsibilities. I’ve chosen to stay away from alcohol so I can focus on what’s important to me, like staying in better shape during sports and main- taining my grades. When I refl ect on the leadership roles that I hold, alcohol would diminish my reputa- tion. Being alcohol free has allowed me to follow my passions and stay focused without restrictions. Cove eighth-grader I think consuming alcohol at my age is a bad idea because it would affect my future and the organiza- tions I’m involved in now. It would also be completely devastating to my family and friends if I were to be consuming alcohol. There- fore, I will stay alcohol free and will encourage my friends to do so as well. I want to have a good educa- tion and get good grades, and I know that consuming alcohol would make that very hard, so that’s why I Drinking alcohol, in my opinion, could mess up any- one’s future. In some situ- ations, alcohol could be a gateway drug to much more dangerous substances like marijuana and other bad drugs. I’d rather not risk my future because I have big plans. I also want to focus on school and not let my grades fall. The members of the UCSCC Youth Council believe each teen is invalu- able and asks their peers to refuse to let alcohol inter- fere with their journey to make a positive mark in the world. The council also shares the following resources: •Parents, teachers and other trusted adults are great fi rst lines of contact for teens who are struggling with substance use. •Center for Human Development, La Grande, One solution for oxygen at home, away, and for travel Introducing the INOGEN ONE – It’s oxygen therapy on your terms No more tanks to refi ll. No more deliveries. No more hassles with travel. The INOGEN ONE portable oxygen concentrator is designed to provide unparalleled freedom for oxygen therapy users. It’s small, lightweight, clinically proven for stationary and portable use, during the day and at night, and can go virtually anywhere — even on most airlines. Inogen accepts Medicare and many private insurances! PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT MONDAY 8:51 a.m. — A North Powder caller reported possible animal neglect on the 100 block of C Street. 1:06 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1500 block of Adams Avenue on a report of a person causing a disturbance. Police arrested a 36-year-old woman for second-degree disorderly conduct, a misde- meanor. 1:18 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about a stalker and took a report. 2:30 p.m. — A caller on the 700 block of Miller Drive, La Grande, reported a dog attack. An animal enforcement offi cer contacted the caller and gave a warning to the dog’s owner. 5:39 p.m. — A La Grande call- er reported gunshots in the area of Terrace and Adams avenues. Police determined the shots came from an address outside the city limits. 8:26 p.m. — La Grande police responded to a report of a possible gun law violation on the 2000 block of Gekeler Lane. An offi cer counseled the subject of the complaint. 9:02 p.m. — The La Grande Fire Department responded to a fi re in a garage on the 2200 block of Jakob Avenue. Clothing caught fi re and spread through the garage. One occupant suffered injuries trying to ex- tinguish the fl ames. The cause remains under investigation. 10:49 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce received a complaint about vandalism on the 100 block of South Main Street, Union. A deputy took a report. TUESDAY 1:52 a.m. — A La Grande resident reported telephonic ha- rassment. An offi cer contacted the caller and will follow up. 8:12 a.m. — A La Grande caller on the 700 block of O Avenue asked police for options for dealing with a stray cat. 8:44 a.m. — La Grande police responded to a call about identi- ty theft and took a report. 1:54 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1100 block of Lake Avenue on a distress sig- nal from a vehicle. That person was fi ne. 3:55 p.m. — Emergency ser- vices responded to the 66900 block of Miller Lane, Union, for a crash with injuries. Union County sheriff’s deputies took a report. Reclaim Your Freedom And Independence NOW! 4:17 p.m. — An Island City caller on the 10200 block of White Birch Lane reported an aggressive dog. 5:18 p.m. — A caller on Summerville Road reported an ongoing situation with an aggressive dog on the loose. 5:51 p.m. — A caller on the 2200 block of Island City, La Grande, reported an aggressive dog on the loose. An offi cer was not able to fi nd the dog. 9:18 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Offi ce received a report of people in a vehicle shining a spotlight in the area of the 73200 block of Gordon Creek Road, Elgin. 9:56 p.m. — The Union Coun- ty Sheriff’s Offi ce responded to the 700 block of North 10th Avenue, Elgin, for a loud party. A deputy resolved the problem. Douglas K. Spiegel Douglas Kay Spiegel, 87, of La Grande, died March 31 at a local care facility. Interment will take place at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Known as Doug, he was born March 10, 1933, in Kewanee, Illi- nois, to For- rest and Dor- othy (Douglas) Spiegel. After graduating from high school, Doug and a friend saved up money to buy bicycles to ride to Mexico, where they spent a few weeks before returning home. He attended Black Mountain College for a semester, then worked for several months before he was drafted. While serving in Hawaii during the Korean War, Doug met his future wife, Hazel Sachie Kishi- mori. In Doug, Sachie found a compassionate heart and someone she could truly talk with. He was a real listener and will be missed. They married in Hawaii in 1955. Doug earned a bach- elor’s degree in mathe- matics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa under the GI bill. A lifelong jazz enthusiast, he hosted his own show at KUOH, the student radio station. Doug later earned a doctorate degree from the University of North Carolina in psy- chology with a specializa- tion in psychometrics. Doug taught at the Uni- versity of South Dakota for many years, where he rode the same bike to work almost every day. He pub- lished key contributions in his areas of research and was particularly productive working with colleagues at Texas Christian University. After his career in academia, he worked in applied human factors research at the U.S. Army Upcoming local services are pending due to efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Research Institute at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Doug enjoyed hunting, fi shing and camping, passing on his love of the outdoors and the Great Plains to his daughters. The family spent many summer vacations camping throughout the West and exploring National Forests and National Parks. Throughout their lives together, Doug and Sachie enjoyed traveling, playing bridge with friends and Call Inogen Today To Request Your FREE Info Kit 1-855-839-0752 © 2020 Inogen, Inc. All rights reserved. MKT-P0108 Tax Problems: RESOLVED There are many ways we can tackle IRS or State tax relief together: ✔Tax Levies & Liens Release ✔Resolve Back Taxes ✔Wage Garnishment Release ✔Payroll Tax Negotiation ✔Stop Penalties and Interest ✔Tax Preparation & Bookkeeping Services ✔Tax Debt Negotiation & Settlement ACCREDITED BUSINESS ® A+ Rating Call us now for your FREE tax consultation & evaluation: 844-945-2056 Anthem offers a money-back guarantee designed to help you avoid wasting money on ineffective tax services. We will gather as much information from you as necessary and work with tax authorities to give you the best chance of reducing your tax debt. 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About the Author Union County Safe Com- munities Coalition works to increase community aware- ness of youth substance abuse and promote preven- tion in Union County. To learn more about the Youth Council’s work in our com- munity, visit ucsafecom- munities.org or follow the Union County Safe Com- munities Coalition on Facebook. EATERY AND PUB savoring many delicious meals together. In retire- ment, they moved to La Grande to be closer to family. Surviving relatives include his wife of 64 years, Sachie; daughters and sons-in-law, Sara and Chuck of Bellingham, Washington, Lia and Dave of La Grande and Amy and Mike of Lincoln, Nebraska; eight grandchil- dren and fi ve great-grand- children; and nine nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, For- rest and Dorothy, and sister, Sally Ann Seven. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneral- chapel.com. Esther L. Hurst Summerville Esther L. Hurst, 82, of Summerville, died April 7 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Arrangements by Love- land Funeral Chapel & Crematory. www.VisitUnionCounty.org 541-786-8984 Alliance Self Storage 2105 E L Ave., La Grande • allianceselfstorage123@gmail.com Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY! 877-557-1912 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! Off er valid March 16, 2020 - June 30, 2020 Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval *Terms & Conditions Apply