COMMUNITY
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• COVE — The city of Cove
will hold its regular council
meeting today, July 7, at
7 p.m. Attendance of the
meeting will be available vir-
tually. To attend using your
smartphone, tablet or com-
puter, go to www.goto-
meet.me/CityofCove. To call
in, dial 1-877-309-2073 (toll
free) or 1-312-757-3129. The
Access Code is 566-891-733.
For more instructions, go to
www.cityofcove.org or email
cityadmin@cityofcove.org for
a link.
• ISLAND CITY — The Union
Soil and Water Conserva-
tion District Board will have
a call-in meeting beginning
at 7 p.m. July 8. Go to union-
swcd.org to view the call-in
details. Principal subjects to
be discussed are monthly
fi nancial statements, staff
reports and partner agency
reports. Call Christopher
Moats, natural resources con-
servationist, at 541-963-1313
or go to www.unionswcd.org
for more information.
• UNION — The Union School
Board will meet July 8 at
6 p.m. for its regular monthly
meeting. The public will be
able to watch and participate
in the meeting virtually. For
information on watching or
participating in the meeting
via Zoom, call the Union
School District at 541-562-6115
or go to www.union.k12.or.us.
• LA GRANDE — The La
Grande School District’s
board of directors will con-
vene for a special board
meeting along with a superin-
tendent and board retreat Sat-
urday, July 11, from 7:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. in the AV Auditorium
at La Grande High School, 708
K Ave. Due to COVID-19, phys-
ical distancing protocols will
be in place.
OBITUARIES
Donald J. ‘Joe’ Prett i
1954-2020 • Cove
Donald Joseph “Joe”
Pretti, 65, of Cove, died June
29 at his residence. At his
request there will not be a
service.
Known as
Joe, he was
born July 3,
1954, in Rifl e,
Colorado, to
Donald and
Donna (Hatton) Pretti. He
graduated from Rifl e High
School.
Joe was employed as a
master mechanic in the auto-
mobile industry. If it had a
motor, he could fi x it. He
enjoyed hunting and playing
with his dogs. Football and
baseball were his favorite
sports. He would say his
greatest accomplishments
were his children and grand-
children, and he especially
loved watching them play
sports.
Surviving relatives
include his daughters and
sons-in-law, Melissa and
Chad Jensen of Huntington
Beach, California, and
Nicole and Doug Worsech of
Union; son, Dylan Pretti of
Cove; sisters, Linda Hansen
and Sharon Fazzi, both
of Silt, Colorado; brother
and sister-in-law, Paul and
Linda Pretti of Elizabeth,
Colorado; three grandchil-
dren; and many nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Don and
Donna Pretti, and broth-
er-in-law, Alvin Hansen.
Online condolences may
be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.
com.
Paul D. Wagoner
1935-2020 • La Grande
Paul Duane Wagoner, 85,
of La Grande, died June 25
at his residence. A celebra-
tion of his life will be held at
Indian Rock at a later date.
Paul was born Feb. 10,
1935, in La
Grande, to
James and
Leva (Street)
Wagoner.
He attended
Imbler High School. On
Sept. 27, 1952, he married
Barbara Loy Newcomb of
Summerville. Paul lived in
Summerville from 1965 to
2016, when he moved to La
Grande.
Paul was a conductor
with the Union Pacifi c Rail-
road for 41 years. He enjoyed
hunting, fi shing, spending
time at the family’s Sumpter
property and gambling at
Wildhorse Casino. He was a
wonderful provider, husband
and father whose greatest joy
was spending time with the
love of his life, his children
and grandchildren.
Surviving relatives
include his wife, Barbara;
children and their spouses,
Orrin Duane and Lucy Wag-
oner of Elgin, Larry Lee and
Lorna Wagoner of Cove,
Michael Ray and Marcie
Wagoner of Union, and Dar-
lene and Jim Arritola of La
Grande; brothers and sis-
ters-in-law, Bill and Roma
Wagoner of Hawaii, Lennie
and Connie Wagoner of La
Grande, Myron and Judy
Wagoner of Alaska, and
John Wagoner of California;
sisters and brothers-in-law,
Trula and Wayne Wallace
of Summerville, Becky and
John Weygandt of Oregon,
Raylene and Ted Wagner of
Washington, and Jane and
Gary Stroud of Utah; and
15 grandchildren and 32
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, James and
Leva Wagoner; stepmother,
Essie Wagoner; brother, Leo
Wagoner; son, Terry L. Wag-
oner; and grandchild, Isa-
bella Smith.
Online condolences may
be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.
com.
Frances Guenert
La Grande
Frances Guenert, 77,
of La Grande, died July
2 at a local care facility.
Arrangements are by Love-
land Funeral Chapel &
Crematory.
Kimberly A.
(McConnell) Eldridge
1992-2020 • La Grande
Kimberly Ann Eldridge,
27, of La Grande, died June
30 after fi ghting a valiant
battle with brain cancer.
Her family will hold a pri-
vate memorial service at a
later time. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory.
Known as Kim, she was
born Sept. 5, 1992, in Pend-
leton, to Richard McConnell
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
WEDNESDAY
7:10 a.m. — La Grande police
received a report of possible
sex crime.
7:57 a.m. — A La Grande
resident reported a burglary on
the 100 block of 20th Street. An
offi cer responded.
12:38 p.m. — A La Grande
resident reported a case of pos-
sible fraud. Police took a report.
7:23 p.m. — La Grande police
received a complaint about fi re-
works on the 600 block of South
18th Street. Another caller at
9:24 p.m. complained about
fi reworks going off at O Avenue
and Walnut Street, La Grande.
THURSDAY
11:16 a.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s offi ce received
a report of a burglary on the
10400 block of East First Street,
Island City.
12:41 p.m. — A caller report-
ed the theft of a trailer from the
100 block of South 20th Avenue,
Elgin.
3:27 p.m. —The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
several complaints from the 800
block of Galveston Street, Elgin,
about fi reworks and excessive
traffi c occurring at night.
9:14 p.m. — A La Grande
caller complained about loud
fi reworks on the 2600 block of
Fourth Street. Another com-
plaint about fi reworks came in
at 10:08 p.m. from the 800 block
of North First Street, Union.
11:06 p.m. — Law enforce-
ment responded to Walton
Road and Buchanan Lane,
Island City, for a horse on the
loose and helped return it to a
pen.
fi nd the culprits.
9:54 p.m. — The La Grande
Police Department and Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce began
receiving noise complaints
about illegal fi reworks going
off. At least seven calls came
in during several hours from
North Powder, Elgin and areas
in La Grande.
SATURDAY
7:28 a.m. — La Grande police
stopped a vehicle at O Avenue
and Hall Street and discovered
a stolen handgun in the vehicle.
Police cited Catlin James
Gunung, 54, for theft.
8:51 a.m. — Beehives fell
from a vehicle onto Highway
237 in Union. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy helped place
the hives onto the vehicle.
2:42 p.m. — Juveniles at Pio-
neer Park, La Grande, involved
in a disturbance prompted a re-
port to police. An offi cer arrived
and separated the parties.
8:53 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to a report of a
burglary on the 2200 block of
Gekeler Lane and took a report
for burglary and theft.
8:49 p.m. — Callers began
reporting illegal fi reworks. Com-
plaints came in from La Grande,
Island City, Union, Elgin and
Cove. La Grande police and
Union County sheriff’s deputies
counseled several people
during the span of a few hours,
but often they found no one at
the scene.
SUNDAY
3:02 a.m. — La Grande police
arrested Kenyon Davidson, 18,
of La Grande, on an accusation
of driving under the infl uence of
intoxicants.
6:42 a.m. — Local law
enforcement received four calls
about lost dogs. One call came
from Cove and the rest from
New Name.
Same Great Team.
Same Exceptional
Service.
Travis T. Hampton, D.P.M.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
FRIDAY
10:28 a.m. — A caller on the
800 block of West Arch Street,
Union, reported a dog killed
chickens.
11:56 a.m. — A caller reported
possible animal neglect on the
65300 block of Crescent Road,
Imbler.
8:26 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of unattended
children on the 2000 block of
Washington Avenue. Police
found the children were fi ne
and with their grandparents.
9:34 p.m. — A caller reported
an assault 4 miles north of
La Grande. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded, but
no one on the scene wanted to
report a crime.
9:38 p.m. — A caller reported
juveniles breaking bottles on
the 1500 block of Monroe Ave-
nue, La Grande. Police did not
UNION COUNTY
SENIOR CENTER
TAKEOUT LUNCH
MENU
Pickup 11:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m. at 1504 N. Albany
St., La Grande. For delivery,
call 541-963-7532 before
10 a.m. Age 60+, $3 suggest-
ed donation; all others, $5.
La Grande
1408 N Hall Street
Enterprise
601 Medical Parkway
Baker
3175 Pocahontas Rd.
541-963-0265
888-843-9090
www.GVfoot.com
LESS STRESS
MORE FUN!
JULY 7-10
Tuesday: calzone, salad
greens, fresh fruit, dessert.
Wednesday: fried chicken,
mashed potatoes and gravy,
spinach salad, rolls, dessert.
Thursday: beef bour-
guignon over noodles,
spinach salad, garlic bread,
fresh fruit.
Friday: soup, variety of
salads, bread, fruit, cookies.
THE OBSERVER — 3A
PROTECTING our
Residents during this
Pandemic
1809 Gekeler Ln.
La Grande
541-963-4700
La Grande. Two dogs returned
home, one person kept a dog
until someone could take it,
and in one case no one found
the dog.
2:56 p.m. — An intoxicated
person at Pioneer Park, La
Grande, called police. Dispatch
was unsure of what the com-
plaint was about, but offi cers
responded.
7:55 p.m. — A caller reported
people were throwing fi reworks
at vehicles on the 1100 block
of Adams Avenue, La Grande.
Police did not fi nd the people.
9:32 p.m. — A caller on the
1700 block of U Avenue, La
Grande, reported illegal fi re-
works going off.
and Mary Connor-More-
house. In 2011, she gradu-
ated from La Grande High
School, where she sang in
choir and participated in
many extracur-
ricular activ-
ities. Upon
graduating,
Kim lived on
the Oregon
Coast for a brief stint
before returning to Eastern
Oregon. It was during her
time away that she met her
husband, Nathan Eldridge.
The two married in October
2018.
Known for her gregar-
ious personality, hilarious
sense of humor and sincere
heart for others, Kim was
loved by all she came into
contact with. Some of her
favorite activities included
reading, watching movies
and quoting lines from
fi lms. Her family was con-
tinually awestruck by her
ability to strike up friend-
ships with others almost
instantaneously.
Kim was also known for
her spontaneous antics, such
as serenading her mom with
the song “You’re My Inspi-
ration” by Chicago and ran-
domly calling her sister,
Jessica, so they could sing
Panic at the Disco lyrics at
the top of their lungs. Her
brother, Jeff, also credits
her with helping him fi nd
the love of his life, Heather.
At an early age, Kim
approached her and said,
“You’re going to marry my
brother someday.”
Although her time on
Upcoming
local
services
July 25 — ALICE
GIPSON: 2 p.m. celebra-
tion of life; Ascension
School, Cove.
— Calendar
courtesy of Loveland
Funeral Chapel, La
Grande
Earth was short, Kim lived
a very full life. She was an
active member of the Awana
organization in her youth
and enjoyed attending both
Camp Elkanah and Young
Life’s Washington Family
Ranch.
Kim later worked for
Apple Eyecare in La Grande
and was training to fulfi ll
her dream of becoming an
optician. She cited her job
and coworkers as the source
of a great deal of pride and
joy in her life.
Surviving relatives
include her husband, Nathan
Eldridge; father, Richard
McConnell; mother, Mary
Connor-Morehouse and hus-
band, Robert; grandmother,
Lois Connor; brother and
sister-in-law, Jeffrey McCo-
nnell and Heather Thornton;
sister and brother-in-law,
Jessica and Robert Boz-
eman; two nieces and one
nephew; and many aunts,
uncles and cousins.
FAMILY
OWNED
215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440
northwestfurnitureandmattress.com
Paul Edwin Howard
July 13, 1957 - July 2, 2020
Paul Edwin Howard died Thurs-
day, July 2, in Boise, Idaho. He
was 62 years old.
Paul was born July 13, 1957 in
Portland, Oregon. The family sub-
sequently moved to Summerville,
Oregon, where Paul was baptized
in the Baptist church. He grew
up in Summerville and graduated
from Imbler High School in l975.
In his early years, he enjoyed the
best of the Eastern Oregon out-
doors, fishing and waterskiing. He
liked horseback riding and entered
his cows in 4-H competitions. In
high school, Paul showcased his
natural athletic talent as quarter-
back of the football squad and
a starter on the basketball team.
Like his father, Jay, Paul spent
quality time with automobiles,
especially his 1969 383 Magnum
Roadrunner. Paul’s car was well
known in the valley as one of the
fastest in the quarter mile. He took
on many challengers with fast cars,
but most could not beat his orange
Roadrunner with the black vinyl
top. In addition, he loved music and
always wanted the best stereo equip-
ment.
In his early 20s, Paul developed a
mental illness that altered the course
of his life. He coped with it as best he
could, following his medical regimen
carefully and carrying on strongly
and bravely in spite of the inevitable
complications. Living independently
was important to Paul, and he held
down a job for nearly 25 years at the
Center for Human Development
in La Grande. In his off hours, he
took great pride in looking after his
mom, Carolyn, as she grew older.
Paul tended her yard, walked Bella,
a dog they both loved, and cleaned
her house--a task in which he proved
fastidious and precise. Paul also en-
joyed spending time with, and taking
care of, his girlfriend Carol, who
shared with him a love of movies and
music. To the end, people who knew
him, including his doctor, praised his
caring nature and his integrity. His
cousin said Paul had a heart of gold.
Paul always loved family time. He
enjoyed several vacations on the
Oregon coast with his cousin Jack.
Recent trips to Yellowstone National
Park and Grand Canyon with sib-
lings Greg, Susan, sister-in-law Julie,
and niece Amica became highlights
of Paul’s life. All of his family ad-
mired his determination to persevere
in spite of his life challenges and his
brothers and sisters especially will
always remember him for having
modeled faith, courage and strength
for them. They said of their brother,
‘He played the hand he was dealt
and made the most of it. He never
complained.” Paul’s saintly name-
sake paid him a fitting tribute in the
King James Bible: “I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.”
Paul is survived by his mother,
Carolyn, his brothers Greg (Julie)
and John (Debbie), and sisters Susan
(Matt) Vogler and Holly (Brian)
Whitten, many nieces, nephews and
grands and his friend, Carol. His
family vows to honor his memory by
living the values he embodied. Me-
morial contributions in Paul’s mem-
ory encouraged to Brain & Behavior
Research Foundation.