COMMUNITY
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2020
Cook Memorial Library hosts
virtual summer reading programs
THE OBSERVER — 3A
OBITUARIES
Elna J. (Welsh)
Hendricks
By Sabrina Thompson
1930-2020 • La Grande
The Observer
Elna Jeanette Hendricks,
90, of La Grande and for-
merly a longtime resident
of Elgin, died June 22 at
her home. A
viewing is
planned for
July 2 from
6-7:30 p.m.
at Loveland
Funeral Chapel.
Masks are required, and no
more than fi ve people at a
time will be permitted in
the chapel. A graveside ser-
vice will begin at 10 a.m.
July 3 at the Summerville
Cemetery. Social distancing
and masks are strongly
encouraged.
Elna was born June 16,
1930, in Rockport, Utah, to
David Hartwell and Amanda
Tilley (Larson) Welsh.
During her life she lived in
Coalville, Peoa and Provo,
Utah, and in Spray, Elgin
and La Grande. She grad-
uated from South Summit
High School in Kamas,
Utah, in 1948.
On Aug. 22, 1950, Elna
married Donald Ray Hen-
dricks at the LDS Temple
in Logan, Utah. The couple
settled in Elgin where Don
became the shop teacher at
Elgin High School. They
had fi ve children: Craig,
Gary, Debbie, Dave and
Karyl.
Elna was well known in
the Elgin community as an
employee of Elgin Hardware
and later as the longtime
librarian at the Elgin City
Library, where she advo-
cated for literacy, promoted
children’s literature and con-
nected the library with the
state interlibrary system.
She also was known for her
magnifi cent bread baking
and for knitting white baby
sweaters for family, friends
and neighbors.
A lifelong member of
the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, Elna
served many years at the
Elgin LDS church as Pri-
mary president and Relief
Society president and
was involved in indexing
and digitizing family his-
tory records. In addition
to family history, Elna
enjoyed sewing, quilting
and ceramics, and she was
an avid reader. She was a
charter member of the Elgin
Museum and Historical
LA GRANDE — La
Grande’s Cook Memorial
Library has created three
summer reading programs
to reach children, teens
and adults. The programs
last until Aug. 14 and are
open to anyone, regard-
less of whether or not they
have a library card.
This year’s reading pro-
gram theme is “Imagine
Your Story,” and works by
logging into Beanstack to
track reading time, com-
plete badges and write
book reviews. For each of
these activities, readers
can redeem points for
weekly raffl es for prizes
and gift certifi cates.
Children
The children’s summer
reading program is for
youth up to age 12. Activ-
ities include nature walks
and establishing a family
book club, which provides
the opportunity to join
other families throughout
La Grande in reading
the same books and con-
necting children to each
other even when they
cannot connect in person.
The program focuses not
just on reading.
“I’ve also included sev-
eral activities to get fam-
ilies outside together,”
Carrie Bushman, chil-
dren’s services coordi-
nator, said.
La Grande resident
Photo contributed by Julie Carpenter
Sisters Londyn, 9, Megan, 16 and Elizabeth Carpenter,
12, are participating in La Grande’s Cook Memorial Li-
brary’s summer reading program.
Julie Carpenter’s four
daughters are participating
in the summer reading
program.
“We love to read
and it’s a great summer
activity for them to keep
them reading. They enjoy
the incentive of prizes
too,” Carpenter said. “It’s a
good matched program for
their ages.”
Teens
For ages 13-18, the teen
summer reading program
offers a variety of activi-
ties. A Teen Bingo Chal-
lenge provides them with
activities while giving a
sense of a challenge.
“We also eliminated
program completion
requirements, so that
people can simply partici-
pate, read, and enjoy their
summer break,” Celine
Vandervlugt, teen ser-
vices coordinator, said.
Teens also can create
their own zine and partici-
pate in a virtual book club.
Adults
The adult reading pro-
gram is for anyone over
the age of 18 and encour-
ages exploration, creativity
and relaxation. The adult
program offers sugges-
tions for activities beyond
reading. This includes
redesigning book covers,
writing reviews and nature
walks.
“A program for adults
is important to encourage
people to take time for
their own creative expres-
sion and reading for enjoy-
ment,” said Rose Peacock,
adult services coordinator.
MILESTONE
Reggie Gipson’s ‘virtual’ 99th birthday party
Reggie Gipson of Union
was born June 27, 1921. To
celebrate his 99th birthday,
his family is having a
“virtual” birthday party.
Friends who are in the area
on Saturday are encour-
aged to drive by his home
at 57958 Godley Road in
Union and wave to Reggie.
Birthday wishes also may
be sent through Wythel
Gipson’s Facebook page.
UNION COUNTY KIDS
SUMMER FREE GRAB & GO
LUNCH MENU
UNION COUNTY SENIOR
CENTER TAKEOUT LUNCH
MENU
Pickup is 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.
Pickup is 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 29-30
JUNE 29-30
Monday: sloppy Joe sliders, tater tots,
fresh veggies, fresh fruit, Jell-O.
Tuesday: chicken pot pie, cottage
cheese, fresh fruit, veggie sticks, dessert.
Monday: pork fried rice, sweet and sour pork,
egg rolls, oriental salad, fortune cookies.
Tuesday: sausages, breakfast casserole, fresh
fruit, muffi ns.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
WEDNESDAY
7:46 a.m. — Law enforce-
ment responded to the 20 block
of Highway 204, Elgin, for a
possible assault or threat, but
any suspects were gone before
offi cers arrived.
12:51 p.m. — A La Grande
caller on the 300 block of K
Avenue reported vandalism.
An offi cer contacted the caller
and arranged for extra patrols
through the neighborhood.
3:20 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of a dog bite victim on
the 62300 block of Leffel Road,
La Grande. A deputy took a
report.
4:23 p.m. — A caller reported
a cow on the road at Hunter
Road and Standley Lane, La
Grande.
6:46 p.m. — A La Grande
offi cer responded to the 60200
block of Foothill Road to
remove an abandoned bicycle
from the road.
9:20 p.m. — A caller reported
a suspicious male on the 2000
block of Adams Avenue, La
Grande, but no one suspicious
was there when police arrived.
The situation repeated at about
10:30 p.m. on the 1700 block of
Adams Avenue.
10:35 p.m. — A caller
reported property damage on
the 2400 block of Riddle Road,
La Grande. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded and
took a report.
THURSDAY
8:01 a.m. — A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded to
the 11200 block of Keltz Lane,
La Grande, to help with a horse
stuck in a fence.
12:43 p.m. — La Grande
police received a complaint of
a motorhome causing a traffi c
hazard at Walnut Street and
U Avenue. Police previously
warned the owner to move the
vehicle within 48 hours.
4:01 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of property damage on
the 69000 block of Merritt Lane,
Elgin. A deputy will follow up.
5:48 p.m. — A caller reported
an unattended child on the 800
block of North 15th Avenue,
Elgin. A deputy responded, and
the sheriff’s offi ce contacted
child welfare services.
8:35 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 1100 block of
Jefferson Avenue for a person
causing a scene. The person
was gone before police arrived.
9:21 p.m. — Another night,
another complaint about people
setting off fi reworks, this time in
the area of Second Street and Y
Avenue, La Grande.
10:58 p.m. — A caller report-
ed vandalism on the 800 block
of Spring Avenue, La Grande.
An offi cer took a report.
11:21 p.m. — A caller report-
ed seeing a cougar near Fruit-
dale Lane and Hunter Road,
Island City. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded but
did not spot a cougar.
11:28 p.m. — A La Grande
caller reported a possible sex
crime.
The Observer
will not be publishing a newspaper on
Saturday, July 4th.
Our office will be closed on Friday, July 3rd
in observance of Independence Day.
Society, for which she loved
volunteering.
In 2005, Elna moved to
La Grande. She was diag-
nosed with inoperable and
terminal cancer on her 90th
birthday and succumbed
to the disease just six days
later.
Surviving relatives
include her children and
their spouses, Craig and
Charlene Hendricks of Phi-
lomath, Gary and Cathy
Hendricks of Kennewick,
Washington, Debbie Waite
of Centerville, Utah, Dave
and Eileen Hendricks of
Boardman, and Karyl and
Ted Kramer of La Grande;
brothers and sisters-in-law,
Stanley and Stella of Orem,
Utah, and Richard and Artie
of Anchorage, Alaska; and
11 grandchildren and 21
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in
death by her husband, Don;
brothers, Dave, Don and
Floyd; son-in-law, Reed
Waite; and her parents.
Condolences may be
made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
Dorothy ‘Dott ie’ B.
(Hughart) Pope
1930-2020 • Elgin
Dorothy Boughton Pope,
90, of Elgin, died June 10
at her daughter’s home in
Elgin. At her request, there
will not be a service.
Known as
Dottie, she was
born Jan. 11,
1930, in Minne-
apolis, Minne-
sota, to Waldo
and Mary
(Smith) Hughart. She resided
in Traverse City, Michigan;
Fairbanks, Alaska; Boston,
Massachusetts; and Port-
land and Elgin. She grad-
uated from Traverse City
High School in 1947, then
attended college for two
years in Fairbanks. She mar-
ried Richard S. Pope, and
they later divorced.
Dottie was employed
with OHSU as a medical
records tech tumor regis-
trar. She enjoyed watercolor
painting, rug hooking and
gardening.
Surviving relatives
include her children, Gail
Pope of Elgin and Richard
W. Pope and his wife, Gil-
lian, of Gladstone; brother
and sister-in-law, Wally and
Mary Hughart of Moody,
Alabama; one grand-
Upcoming
local
services
June 27 — EUNICE
SKILLINGS: 11 a.m. fu-
neral, Bramlett Cemetery,
Wallowa; 1 p.m. potluck,
Wallowa Lions Park.
June 30 & July
1 — GLORIA HAASL:
9 a.m.-noon visitation,
June 30, Bollman Funeral
Home; 10:30 a.m. Mass
of Christian Burial, July
1, St. Katherine Cath-
olic Church, with vault
interment at Enterprise
Cemetery.
July 2 & 3 — ELNA
HENDRICKS: 6-7:30 p.m.
viewing, July 2, Love-
land Funeral Chapel,
La Grande; 10 a.m.
graveside service, July 3,
Summerville Cemetery.
July 25 — ALICE GIP-
SON: 2 p.m. celebration
of life; Ascension School,
Cove.
— Calendar
courtesy of Loveland
Funeral Chapel, La
Grande
child; and many nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in
death by her parents, Waldo
and Mary Hughart, and sis-
ters, Elizabeth Naab and
Helen Pratt.
In lieu of fl owers, memo-
rial contributions may be
made to Heart n’ Home Hos-
pice, 2104 Cove Ave., Suite
A, La Grande 97850, or the
Elgin Food Bank, 850 N.
Alder, Elgin 97827.
Condolences may be
made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
Gloria C. Haasl
Enterprise
Gloria C. Haasl, 80, of
Enterprise, died June 22.
Visitation will be June
30 from 9 a.m. to noon at
Bollman Funeral Home,
limited to fi ve people at
a time. A Mass of Chris-
tian Burial will be July 1 at
10:30 a.m. at St. Katherine
Catholic Church with vault
interment at the Enterprise
Cemetery. Arrangements are
by Bollman Funeral Home.
We are very grateful for the love, compassion and condolences
extended to us by so many caring individuals during our time
of loss. We appreciate all the staff at GRH, expecially Dr. Brynes in
the ER. We were treated with great respect and gentleness by Lowell
Knopp. All of the cards, gifts and delicious food have lifted our
spirits and blessed us tremendously during this time of sorrow.
With love & appreciation, The Family of
Betty Morse
Please visit our online open house to learn about
sidewalk curb ramp upgrades starting this summer in
Union County communities
We will be upgrading sidewalk curb ramps along state highways in the commu-
nities of La Grande, Island City, Imbler, Elgin and Cove. The work along sections
of OR 82, U.S. 30, OR 237 and OR 204 is needed to improve safety and bring
the sidewalks up to current Americans with Disability Act standards. Work is
expected to start late summer in some areas, with all work completed by the
end of next year. During construction, impacted sidewalk ramps will be closed
with ADA accessible pedestrian detours identified around the worksites. Our
goal is to work on only one ramp at a time per corner to limit the pedestrian
impacts as much as possible.
To find out more and to provide your feedback, visit our online open house
between June 24th and July 22, 2020 at…
http://openhouse.oregondot.org/union-county-curb-ramps
We greatly appreciate your feedback and comments about this project.
Questions can be directed to ODOT Project Leader Bryan Strasser 541-823-
4039, or by email at Bryan.e.strasser@odot.state.or.us.
Information can be made available in alternative formats upon request. Please
call Bryan Strasser (contact info above) or the statewide relay at 7-1-1.
ODOT is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action employer and does not dis-
criminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, ser-
vices, activities, hiring and employment practices.
For more information about the state’s work regarding
Questions:
1-877-336-6368 (EEO-ODOT) or
call statewide relay at 7-1-1
https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/About/Pages/ADA.aspx