Elgin Stampede canceled In Sports Paid for by committee to Re-elect Boyd Rasmussen. Russel & Patty Bingaman, Dave & Zee Koza, Brent & Donna Huntsman Follow us on the web THURSDAY • May 14, 2020 • $1.50 Good day to our valued subscriber Sara Williamson of La Grande Cemetery upgrades almost fi nished in La Grande By Dick Mason The Observer LA GRANDE — A La Grande Cemetery District project half a decade in the making is less than six weeks from becoming a striking reality. The cemetery district is com- pleting signifi cant additions to Hill- crest and Grandview cemeteries. Two columbariums for ash niches have been installed at Hillcrest Cemetery and the district is in the process of creating a columbarium center at Grandview Cemetery, which should be fi nished in June, said Sue Anderson, manager of the La Grande Cemetery District. “This is very exciting,” said Anderson, who said she has been working on the project for fi ve years. The new center at Grandview will have two columbariums and a gazebo on the south side of the cemetery. One columbarium was installed Monday and the second will be put in next month. Each is made of granite, weighs 10,300 pounds and has 72 niches for cre- mains. The center has concrete pads for both columbariums, which are being installed by Memorial Monuments, based in Meridian, Idaho, and with a La Grande offi ce. The gazebo, which will have a roof and be 12 feet by 18 feet, is being built by M.L. Construction of Sherwood and should be completed in a week. The gazebo will pro- vide a place for small services and a site for people to sit and refl ect, Anderson said. The columbariums at Hillcrest are on the western edge of the cem- etery. Each has 48 niches, weigh 7,800 pounds and both are accom- panied by new metal benches on concrete pads. Anderson said the columbar- iums fi ll an important need at Hill- crest because no cemetery plots are available there. This is a concern to many people who want to be buried with their families. The new columbariums make it possible for people to reserve space and ensure their cremains will be interred in the same cemetery as their family members. The columbarium center at Grandview will complement a mausoleum about 300 feet to the east. The mausoleum has niches for ashes and crypt chambers. The mausoleum, built in the 1970s, has See, Cemetery/Page 5A COVID-19 by the numbers* Worldwide cases: 4,179,479 Worldwide deaths: 287,525 U.S. cases: 1,364,061 U.S. deaths: 82,246 Oregon cases: 3,416 Oregon deaths: 134 Total Oregon tests: 83,909 Union County cases: 4 Union County active cases: 1 Union County deaths: 0 Total Union County nega- tive tests: 180 Wallowa County cases: 1 Wallowa County active cases: 0 Wallowa County deaths: 0 Total Wallowa County negative tests: 55 *As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 13. Sources: World Health Organization, Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention, Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Mili- tary Department Virtual sports gain traction at EOU New esports team has 27 members and is under the oversight of student organizations Staff photo by Dick Mason La Grande Drive-in manager Patty Johnson works Wednesday morning to prepare the venue for its opening this weekend. The drive-in will adhere to strict social distancing rules, including prohibiting viewing the movie from lawn chairs or the beds of pickups. La Grande Drive-in opens Friday with social distancing rules and vehicle limit at 125 per show By Dick Mason The Observer LA GRANDE — A time- less symbol of a bygone era will have a starring role on the La Grande entertainment scene this weekend. The La Grande Drive-in the- ater will provide movie fans their fi rst opportunity in two months to see a fi lm in a social venue when it opens for its 2020 season Friday. There have been no public ally, grossing about $100 million before theaters were shut down due to the COVID-19 crisis. Johnson described “Onward” as a family friendly movie. “We always try to start with a kids’ fi lm to get families to come,” said Johnson, who said all showings will begin at dusk. See, Drive-in/Page 5A See, Esports/Page 5A “People have been calling us since mid-April asking us when are we going to open.” showings of movies in Union County since Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-home order in March in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Patty Johnson, manager of the La Grande Drive-in, said interest in the venue’s opening has been higher than in recent years. “People have been calling us since mid-April asking us when are we going to open,” said Johnson, noting that such calls don’t usually start until a number Patty Johnson, manager of the La Grande Drive-in of weeks later. The La Grande Drive-in will be open at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for one showing each evening of “Onward,” a computer-animated urban fantasy adventure fi lm pro- duced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios. The fi lm was released in late Feb- ruary and was popular nation- The Observer LA GRANDE — They don’t use a bat, a glove or a hoop. They don’t kick balls into goals, throw them into endzones, or sprint to a fi nish line. But members of the Eastern Oregon University esports team, which offi - cially formed over the last year, are able to have some of the same experiences — victory, defeat and learning to overcome — that tradi- tional athletics provides, according to esports assis- tant coach Ethan Melville. “More than winning, it’s these moments that make sports as benefi cial to per- sonal development as they are,” Melville said in an email. “And though they Coming soon — real soon By Ronald Bond Stay-home order means more time for hobbies By Sabrina Thompson The Observer LA GRANDE — Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order to stay home to curb the spread of the COVID-19 is giving folks the opportunity to pick up new hobbies. Joyce Hoke, owner of Joyful Sounds Studio, La Grande, was doing online classes before the iso- lation orders began, so it hasn’t been as diffi cult of a transition. However, Hoke said there are chal- lenges to teaching music online. “We have to listen to each other even more,” Hoke said. “I can’t point to the notes, but I can still play the piano for them and help them fi nd it that way.” Several new students have joined her in virtual music lessons, and INDEX Business ...... 1B Classified ..... 3B Comics ......... 7B Crossword ... 5B those who were already taking classes told her having music con- tinue to be a part of their life has helped them during this time of isolation. See, Hobbies/Page 5A CONTACT US Dear Abby .... 8B Horoscope ... 5B Lottery.......... 2A Obituaries .... 3A SATURDAY 541-963-3161 Opinion ........ 4A Sports .......... 7A Sudoku ........ 7B Weather ....... 8B Issue 58 3 sections, 20 pages La Grande, Oregon REOPENING DEVELOPMENTS Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com “Better Relationships for Safer Communities” 3 Please remember to check your registration VOTE status and vote Paid for by committee to elect Cody Bowen.