COMMUNITY CORNER
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY
Meetings
Alice J. (Taylor) Gipson
• ISLAND CITY — The Union
Soil and Water Conservation
District Board will meet via
phone Wednesday, June 10 at
7 p.m. Go to www.unionswcd.
org for call-in details. Principal
subjects to be discussed are
monthly fi nancial statements,
staff reports and partner
agency reports.
Briefs
Fish for free this weekend
SALEM — No fi shing
licenses or tags are required
to fi sh Saturday and Sunday
in Oregon. Due to concerns
and restrictions related
to the coronavirus, the
Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife is not hosting
or sponsoring any events
for the annual free fi shing
weekend, and all anglers
are reminded to follow the
ongoing precautions.
All other fi shing regu-
lations apply, including
closures, bag limits and size
restrictions.
See the Oregon Sport
Fishing Regulations to fi nd
out more and remember to
check for any in season reg-
ulation changes at https://
myodfw.com/recreation-re-
port/fi shing-report.
Landmarks Commission
considers historical appro-
priateness
LA GRANDE — The city
of La Grande Landmarks
Commission will meet via
phone Thursday, June 11
at 6 p.m. The commission
will discuss the historical
appropriateness of details
regarding Brickyard Lanes,
1526 Jefferson Ave., and
Oregon Rural Action, occu-
pants of the Peare Building,
11112 1/2 Adams Ave.
Due to coronavirus pan-
demic guidelines, this meet-
ing is for the sole purpose
of conducting business on
the agenda.
The commission will
not take public comments
at this meeting related to
non-agenda items. The call-
in option will be the only
opportunity for citizens to
engage in the meeting.
To listen to the meeting
or participate in the public
comment opportunity, call
253-215-8782 or 669-900-
9128 and enter meeting ID
number 875 7269 7289; then
enter password 850648. To
provide public comment in
writing, email it to mbo-
quist@cityofl agrande.or or
mail it to P.O. Box 670, La
Grande.
Union County
Senior Center
takeout lunch
menu, June 8-12
Pickup 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. at 1504 N. Albany
St., La Grande.
For delivery, call 541-963-
7532 before 10 a.m.
Age 60+, $3 suggested
donation; all others, $5.
JUNE 8-12
Monday: Swedish meat-
balls topped with cheese,
salad greens, steamed Italian
blend vegetables, garlic
bread, fresh fruit.
Tuesday: mac and cheese
with ham, garden salad,
sliced melon, bread, ice
cream.
Wednesday: fried chick-
en, mashed potatoes and
gravy, spinach salad, rolls,
dessert.
Thursday: spaghetti, salad
greens, garlic bread, fruit,
dessert.
Friday: foot-long hot dog
or hamburger, potato salad,
cabbage slaw, chips, fresh
fruit.
Union County
Summer Food
Program grab &
go lunch menu,
June 8-12
Pickup 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. at Riveria Activity
Center, 2609 Second St., La
Grande.
Free for age 1-18; all
others, $4.
JUNE 8-12
Monday: pork sliders,
steak fries, coleslaw, fresh
fruit, cookies.
Tuesday: spaghetti, salad,
rolls, fresh fruit, dessert.
Wednesday: fried chicken,
macaroni salad, carrot sticks,
fresh fruit, Jell-O.
Thursday: mac and
cheese, garden salad, melon,
sherbet cups.
Friday: super dogs, chips,
apple slaw, orange slices,
sherbet cups.
1944-2020 • Formerly of Cove
Alice Joyce Gipson, 75,
of Ontario and formerly of
Cove, died May 13 after a
short triumphant battle with
cancer. A celebration of
her life will be held July 25
at 2 p.m. at the Ascension
School on Church Street
in Cove (pending lifting of
restrictions).
Alice was born Dec.
24, 1944, in Denver, Colo-
rado, to Clifford and Ber-
enice Taylor. She was raised
in Cove along with her sib-
lings, Stephen, Melody,
Marilee and Grant. She
graduated from high school
in 1963 from Cove Sec-
ondary School. Shortly
thereafter she married Gary
Gipson and gave birth to
her fi rst of four children,
Lisa.
Alice studied medical
transcription at Treasure
Valley Community College
in Ontario from 1987-1990.
She held many occupations
over the years and retired
from Holy Rosary Medical
Center in Ontario in 2011.
Alice loved gardening,
fi shing, camping and her
family. She was gifted at
knitting and crocheting
and passed many treasures
to her loved ones over the
years.
Surviving relatives
include her sister, Melody
Evans of Gold Canyon, Ari-
zona; brother, Grant Born
of Cove; daughters, Lisa
Cain, Christy Waggoner
and Marilee Gripton; son,
Wade Gipson; and seven
grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
William ‘Bill’ H. Nelson
Formerly of La Grande • 1968-2020
William “Bill” Harold
Nelson, 51, formerly of La
Grande, died unexpect-
edly Feb. 29 at his home
in Guthrie,
Oklahoma. A
memorial ser-
vice will be
held June 20
from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the
Mulhall Community Center
in Mulhall, Oklahoma.
Known as Bill, he was
born Nov. 11, 1968, in
Edmonds, Washington, and
spent his early years in La
Grande. He came to live in
Oklahoma at the age of 12.
Bill worked for almost
30 years at Ditch Witch in
Perry, Oklahoma. He loved
the many friends he met
during that time.
Bill was an avid out-
doorsman. Hunting, fi shing
and golf were some of his
favorite pastimes. He was
an OU fanatic and loved the
Oregon Ducks. If you ever
watched a football game
with him, you knew the
decibel level would exceed
the recommended limit.
Bill had a big personality
and was stubborn as the day
was long. He had a knack
for sarcasm and a love for
four-letter words. If Bill
called you a name with a
smile on his face, you knew
you were his friend. He was
a great cook and loved to
travel, especially if there
was sand and ice-cold beer.
Bill leaves behind a huge
family that he loved with
his whole heart.
Surviving relatives
include his mother, Ann
Patterson; son, Bryce
Nelson; bonus sons, Jared
and Logan; sisters, Steph-
anie Orner and husband,
Jonathan, Sarah Press-
grove and husband, Tommy,
Shanna Shoulders, and
Sandra Nelson; 20 nieces
and nephews; and many
aunts and uncles.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
EO Media Group
Union County Public
Health further expands
testing criteria
LA GRANDE — The Oregon
Health Authority further revised
coronavirus testing guide-
lines to prioritize underserved
populations and all frontline
workers. The new criteria also
has expanding symptom criteria
and testing for people without
symptoms.
The Center for Human Devel-
opment Inc., La Grande, in a
press release announced it will
offer free testing to individ-
uals who meet the revised OHA
criteria.
The center encourages you
to get tested if you have any of
the following symptoms: cough,
shortness of breath or diffi culty
breathing, fatigue, congestion
or runny nose, fever or chills,
nausea or vomiting, diarrhea,
repeated shaking with chills,
muscle pain or body aches, head-
ache, sore throat, or new loss of
taste or smell.
If you identify as Black,
African American, Latino,
Latina, Latinx, American Indian/
Alaska Native, Asian, Asian
American or Pacifi c Islander,
identify as having a disability
or if your fi rst language is not
English,
“We encourage individuals
who are interested in requesting
testing to call 541-624-2179
for more information. No out
of pocket cost or insurance
required,” according to the press
release.
Individuals who feel very ill
are encouraged to seek appro-
priate care. If it is an emergency,
call 911. If it is not an emergency
but you feel sick enough to need
a medical appointment, call your
primary care provider. If you
don’t have a doctor, call 211 for a
list of providers near you.
Lostine Post Offi ce to
move
LOSTINE — The Lostine
Post Offi ce is moving — not right
away and certainly not out of
Lostine.
“We’re not going away, we’re
just moving,” said Ashley Spaur,
the new postmaster.
Spaur, who took over as post-
master after the February retire-
ment of Lori Winslow-Ford, said
the owner of the building that
houses the post offi ce declined to
renew the lease because he wants
the building back for his own use.
The post offi ce’s lease runs
through August 2021 at 137A
Highway 82. A post offi ce has
existed there since before the city
was planted in 1884. The small
town had a population of 213 in
the 2010 Census.
“We’re going to fi nd some-
where for it to go in Lostine,”
Spaur said. “The community
really wants it here.”
She said there are a couple of
possible sites for the new post
offi ce, but nothing has been
decided. She said the new site
must have adequate parking and
a place for a mail truck to access
the back of the building. She said
the U.S. Postal Service is working
with the Lostine City Council to
fi nd a suitable site.
“Call the city if you have prop-
erty to lease,” Spaur said.
Baker County Fair to
open with changes
BAKER CITY — The Baker
County Fair will go on as sched-
uled, Aug. 3-7, but the annual
event will be different due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
“This fair won’t look like it
usually does, but it is important to
the fair board that our local youth
have the opportunity to show
their 4-H and FFA projects,” Ron
Rowan, chairman of the Baker
County Fair Board, said in a press
release. “They’ve put a lot of
effort into their exhibits, and we
want them to have the opportu-
nity to showcase their work.”
Rowan said the fair board is
working on logistics for how the
event will be adjusted to imple-
ment guidelines related to the
pandemic.
Events that will take place
include, in addition to the 4-H and
FFA market animal classes and
auction, the small animal exhibits,
horse show and static exhibits.
Each event will be modifi ed to
comply with social distancing and
other Oregon regulations.
Open class shows will not take
place, however, and premiums
will not be awarded to exhibitors.
WEDNESDAY
8:07 a.m. — La Grande police
responded to Riverside Park for
a male causing a disturbance.
Police trespassed the person
from the park.
9:28 a.m. — La Grande police
received a complaint about
harassment on the 1800 block
of 26th Street. An offi cer con-
tacted the two parties involved
and advised them to leave each
other alone.
12:33 p.m. — A caller
complained about dogs on the
loose on the 2900 block of Oak
Street, La Grande. The animal
enforcement offi cer responded
and warned two pet owners
for allowing their dogs to be
at large.
5:04 p.m. — A caller reported
someone left a pet in a hot
vehicle at Walmart, 11619 Island
Ave., Island City. The vehicle
was gone when law enforce-
ment arrived.
9:45 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to a report of a per-
son living under the overpass
on Island Avenue. The person
agreed to leave in the morning.
THURSDAY
9:23 a.m. — La Grande police
received a report of graffi ti at
May Lane and Cottonwood
Road. Someone also painted
over the vandalism.
1:19 p.m. — A caller asked to
speak to La Grande police about
10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City
Upcoming
local services
Ronald H. Caswell
La Grande
Ronald H. Caswell, 79,
of La Grande, died March
18 at Grande Ronde Hos-
pital. A memorial service
and potluck will be held
June 13 at 10 a.m. at the
Riverside Park Pavilion
(bring a dish to share).
Loveland Funeral Chapel is
handling the arrangements.
Martin U. Girrard
La Grande
Martin U. Girrard, 91, of
La Grande, died May 29. A
viewing will be held June
11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
followed by a funeral at
2 p.m., both at Loveland
Funeral Chapel (a max-
imum of 50 people are
allowed at one time).
Mary E. McKague
La Grande
Mary E. McKague, 89,
of La Grande, died April
12. A graveside service will
Calendar courtesy
of Loveland Funeral
Chapel
June 11 — MARTIN
GIRRARD: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
viewing, 2 p.m. funeral;
Loveland Funeral Chapel,
La Grande (a maximum
of 50 people are allowed
at a time).
June 12 — MARY
McKAGUE: 2 p.m. grave-
side service; Hillcrest
Cemetery, La Grande.
June 13 — RONALD
CASWELL: 10 a.m.
memorial service and
potluck (bring a dish to
share); Riverside Park
Pavilion, La Grande.
be held June 12 at 2 p.m. at
Hillcrest Cemetery. Love-
land Funeral Chapel &
Crematory is handling the
arrangements.
EO Media Group
buyer options and upgrading the
ENTERPRISE — The Wallowa recycling facility.
County Board of Commissioners
If the year-long campaign is
on Monday unanimously approved successful, it will be a fi rst step
recommendations to expand the
toward expanding the lifespan of
recycling program in the county.
the Ant Flat Landfi ll, strength-
Wallowa
ening the eco-
County Recy-
nomic sustain-
“We are excited to
cling Task
ability of the
Force, a volun-
recycling pro-
get started and are
teer-led com-
gram, and
munity group,
increasing Wal-
getting the word
drafted the rec-
lowa Coun-
out to encourage
ommendations
ty’s recycling
and on May 20
rate from 21%
community
closer to the state
presented them
average of 41%.
to the county
involvement.”
The task
commissioners,
Shannon Wilson, task force
force now
according to a
member
will focus its
press release
efforts on tack-
from task force.
ling the facility
More than 30
community members attended the upgrades and outreach infrastruc-
meeting via Zoom to demonstrate ture that will be needed to facili-
tate the recycling center’s ability
support. After reviewing the rec-
ommendations, the commissioners to accommodate an expanded
recycling program in July. The
gave the green light for the task
task force will coordinate efforts
force to begin implementing ini-
with the county and provide vol-
tiatives to revitalize the commu-
unteer assistance on-site during
nity recycling program.
July to assist community members
“We are excited to get started
with recycling program guideline
and are getting the word out to
changes.
encourage community involve-
Although the task force is a new
ment,” Shannon Wilson, task
community organization, it has a
force member, said in an email.
long-term vision for supporting a
The pro-recycling organiza-
robust recycling program for Wal-
tion formed in March to address
lowa County residents. And for the
the negative impact that recycling
community effort to be successful,
market changes and other factors
were having on the local recycling the task force is looking for volun-
program. After expansive research teers and material donations to help
kick off the campaign.
and collaboration with county
Volunteers would help with
offi cials, the task force outlined
the task force’s education cam-
initiatives in several areas that
paign, digital outreach and facility
could increase the program’s eco-
upgrade projects. There also are a
nomic resiliency.
few open spots on the task force
“A substantial factor that
board for anyone interested in
affects the recycling program’s
effi cacy is contamination of mate- really diving into the recycling
rials through improper sorting and program, the press release stated,
Additionally, the task force is
garbage disposal,” according to
seeking large tarps, as a short-
the press release. “The task force
term solution, to cover outside
will focus efforts on increasing
bales. This prevents degrada-
the quality and quantity of recy-
tion of materials, which results in
clable materials accepted at
lower market prices. Locals inter-
the recycling facility through
ested in learning more or joining
improved signage and on-site
the efforts can contact the task
community outreach.”
force by email at wallowacoun-
Other initiatives include
tyrecycling@gmail.com.
expanding transportation and
a possible assault. A detective
replied and took information.
1:28 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce received a
report of a vehicle theft at North
Fifth Street and West Delta
Avenue, Union.
4:45 p.m. — La Grande po-
lice received a report of child
abuse.
4:54 p.m. — A caller report-
ed animal abuse on the 1500
block of Monroe Avenue, La
Grande.
7:04 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of a child
playing in the road on the 600
block of C Avenue. An offi cer
responded and talked to the
child and parent.
An Independent
Insurance Agency
541-975-1364
He was preceded in
death by his adoptive par-
ents, Keith and Mary Jane
Nelson; father, David
Bussard; sister, Michelle
Nelson; and stepfather,
Perry Patterson.
Wallowa County OKs
plan to improve recycling
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
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