COMMUNITY
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2020
THE OBSERVER — 3A
OBITUARIES
Cliff ord L. ‘Ike’ Snell
Formerly of La Grande
Clifford LaVerne “Ike”
Snell, 85, formerly of La
Grande, died July 10 at his
home in Dale. Arrange-
ments are by Burns Mor-
tuary, Hermiston.
A grave-
side service
with military
honors will
be held July
18 at 11 a.m.
at the Island
City Ceme-
tery. Everyone
in attendance
must wear a
mask.
Known as
Ike, he was
raised and attended school
in La Grande before serving
in the U.S. Air Force until
his honorable discharge. He
married Elizabeth “Betty”
Wilson on May 23, 1975, in
La Grande. They lived in
Hermiston before moving
to Dale in 1994.
Ike retired from the
Oregon State Highway
Department. He was a
member of the Elks Club,
the Blue Mt. Paint Horse
Club and the Over the Hills
trail riding club.
An avid hunter, Ike
loved the outdoors. He also
enjoyed watching sports
and, most of all, spending
time with his family.
Surviving relatives
include his wife of 45
years, Betty Snell; sons,
Ron Snell of Bend and
Rusty Smith of Prineville;
daughters, Denise Lini of
Colorado Springs, Colo-
rado, and Wendie Rogers
of St. Helens; and 13
grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, Clif-
ford and LaVere Snell;
sister, Ilene; sister, Jacky
Hiatt; and grandson Kyle
Cruz.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Amer-
ican Cancer Society.
Memories of Ike may be
shared with his family at
www.burnsmortuaryherm-
iston.com.
Mickey (Stringham)
Courtney
1925-2020 • Perry
Mickey Courtney, 95, of
Perry, died June 26 at her
home. At her request, there
will not be a gathering or
ceremony. Arrangements
are by Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life
Celebration Center, La
Grande.
Mickey was born May
10, 1925, in La Grande,
to Edgar and Opal Ruth
(Bradshaw) Stringham. She
graduated from Union High
School in 1944. She mar-
ried Jack Courtney in 1952
in La Grande. She lived
in La Grande, Union and
Enterprise before settling
on the ranch above Upper
Perry.
Micky was a bookkeeper
and worked for La Grande
Fruit and the Keith O’Brien
department store before
Upcoming
local
services
Reeder Road, Klamath Falls
97603.
Online condolences may
be shared at www.danielsk-
nopp.com.
July 18 — DONNA EMMONS: 11 a.m. graveside service,
Wallowa Cemetery; followed by a celebration of life at the
home of Elsie and Red Evans.
July 18 — CLIFFORD “IKE” SNELL: 11 a.m. graveside
service with military honors, Island City Cemetery; masks
are required.
Bett y Gulzow
La Grande
July 24 — IRMA ROGERS: noon graveside service, Hill-
crest East Cemetery, La Grande; please wear a mask.
Betty Gulzow, 95, of
La Grande, died July 11
at a local care facility.
Arrangements are by Dan-
iels-Knopp Funeral, Cre-
mation & Life Celebration
Center.
— Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel,
La Grande
Matt hew C. Coote
La Grande
fi nishing her career at
Valley Chemical. She was
a member of the La Grande
First Christian Church. She
was past president of Credit
Women and a member of
the Oregon CattleWomen,
the Eagles Auxiliary and
the Emblem Club.
Surviving relatives
include her daughter and
son-in-law, Sherry and
Kevin Ludviksen of Upper
Perry; sisters, Aloha
Bothelo of Island City and
Pat Baird of Pendleton; and
two granddaughters and
three great-grandsons.
She was preceded in
death by her parents and her
husband.
Memorial donations
may be made to the Oregon
CattleWomen at OCW
Scholarship Committee,
c/o Melissa Ladner, 4550
Matthew C. Coote,
31, of La Grande, died
July 10 at his residence.
Arrangements are by Love-
land Funeral Chapel &
Crematory.
Lyle Marshall
La Grande
Lyle Marshall, 71, of La
Grande, died July 10 at his
residence. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory.
Column
Safe Communities: The connection between exercise and personal well-being
It’s a cool summer
When I pull into the
morning, temperatures in
MERA Owsley Canyon
the high 40s, and the trails
parking lot, there is a single
at Mount Emily Recre-
car, so physical distancing
ation Area beckon … or the
isn’t a problem. I check my
roads before
watch,
the traffi c
consider
STEVE
picks up, or
my trail
CLEMENTS
sidewalks
options,
LA GRANDE MAYOR
for a stroll
then kick
through
into a
summer landscapes in full
slow, easy pace. I’ve been
bloom. Whether you run or
running at MERA for fi ve
walk, exercise is a sure way
or six years, and before that
to strengthen the body, clear the roads around La Grande
the mind and soothe the
and elsewhere for more than
soul. And summers in the
40 years. Running is an effi -
Grande Ronde Valley pro-
cient way to stay in shape,
vide multiple opportunities
and a path to setting and
for these activities, including achieving goals and chal-
virtual competitions like
lenging your abilities. But
the Drug-Free Run, histor-
running isn’t for everyone. I
ically held at the MERA in
recently read an article about
August.
the benefi ts of walking,
and how 20-30 minutes of
walking a day can improve
your physical and mental
well-being. So, on days
when the weather isn’t coop-
erating, or I’m feeling less
energetic, a walk around
town is a viable alternative.
In either case, run or walk,
physical exercise of some
sort can give you a daily
focus that contributes to an
overall healthy lifestyle.
The Union County Safe
Communities Coalition
recognizes the connection
between exercise and per-
sonal well-being. Starting
with the Drug-Free Relay
and more recently the Drug-
Free Run, the coalition
sponsors events it believes
promote the benefi ts of
healthy bodies and minds.
Physical activity has the
ability to infl uence psycho-
logical, behavioral and neu-
rochemical processes that
contribute to substance use
disorders.
Broadly, health-pro-
moting behaviors, like
running and walking, are
related to other personal
behaviors that lead to a
healthy lifestyle and choices.
For example, physically
active people typically drink
alcohol only in moderation
and do not smoke cigarettes.
Exercise can lessen mental
health conditions such as
depression and anxiety,
which can contribute to sub-
stance abuse. Many forms
of exercise, even in these
times of physical distancing,
have a social component
You never know what you’ll find by the side of the road
ELGIN — Bob and Susie
Thomas hold up a pair of
pants they found while
volunteering with the Elgin
Lions to clean up a portion
of Highway 82 last month.
Under the chairmanship
of Barbara Hawes, the
Elgin Lions in early June
cleaned Highway 82 for 2
miles north and south of
Elgin.
Risa Hallgarth picked up
a dollar bill before she
noticed it was guarded by
several snakes in the area.
She quickly said she was
willing to give the dollar
back to them.
Also picked up by Bob and
Susie Thomas was a pair
of pants in good condition.
The pants will be cleaned
and donated back to per-
sons in need.
Following the clean-up
procedures, the Lions
enjoyed maple bars and
coffee supplied by Lions
David and Teri Fuhrman,
owners of Cowboys and
Angels Restaurant.
Submitted photo
that promotes societal inte-
gration and prevents loneli-
ness and isolation. Finally,
there is evidence that phys-
ical activity reduces the
rate of drug use acquisition
and escalation and the rate
of reinstatement of drug-
seeking. The most amazing
thing about these relation-
ships is that they apply to
people of all ages.
Physical activity also is
a way to spend time with
your family and friends. The
MERA trails accommo-
date fi tness levels from tod-
dlers to grandparents. Make
a trip to the Owsley Canyon
trailhead for an outing for
exercise and have a healthy
snack afterward.
Or, if you are the com-
petitive type, check out this
year’s virtual Drug-Free
Run sponsored by the Union
County Safe Communities
Coalition at https://drug-
freerun.itsyourrace.com.
You have all of August to
register a run or walk, so
there is time to train and aim
for a personal best or orga-
nize a family effort. In any
case, know that when you
do, you’ll be supporting the
efforts of the Safe Commu-
nities Coalition, and doing
yourself and your family a
huge benefi t by being physi-
cally active.
About the Author
Steve Clements is the
mayor of La Grande and
a member of the Union
County Safe Communities
Coalition.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
FRIDAY
11:11 a.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
possible animal abuse on the
2400 block of Riddle Road.
12:54 p.m. — A caller on the
2000 block of Cove Avenue, La
Grande, asked to speak to an
offi cer about vandalism.
2:20 p.m. — La Grande
police received a complaint
about vandalism on the 1400
block of Monroe Avenue.
5:43 p.m. — La Grande po-
lice responded to a report of a
burglary at a residence on the
1800 block of Second Street.
9:29 p.m. — A caller report-
ed an injured deer on the 2800
block of Adams Avenue, La
Grande.
11:50 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 2100
block of Oak Street on a com-
plaint about a loud party.
SATURDAY
6:55 a.m. — A caller report-
ed capturing two horses that
were loose on the 62000 block
of Fruitdale Lane, La Grande.
12:37 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 2100
block of Adams Avenue on
a complaint about fraud and
theft by deception. Police cited
one person.
5:30 p.m. — A caller report-
ed a suspicious person sitting
on the steps of La Grande City
Hall, 1000 Adams Ave.
5:46 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to O Avenue
and First Street on a report of
a domestic disturbance, but
the victim would not cooper-
ate with police.
6:20 p.m. — People racing
motorcycles on West Grande
Street, Union, prompted a
call for law enforcement. The
caller said this is an ongoing
problem. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded.
6:54 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of a
possible sex crime.
8:51 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to a noise
complaint about possible
illegal fi reworks on the 1200
block of U Avenue.
9:26 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce re-
sponded to a report of teens
shooting from the road at
Sandridge Road and Woodell
Lane, Imbler. A deputy did
not fi nd the teens. About 30
minutes later, a deputy took
a report for gunshots on the
54600 block of Sandridge
Road.
9:30 p.m. — Campers
caused a disturbance at
Pilcher Reservoir, North Pow-
der. Sheriff’s deputies from
Union and Baker counties
responded.
FAMILY
OWNED
Local students earn academic
recognition from George Fox University
NEWBERG — Local
students were among those
who earned dean’s list rec-
ognition at George Fox Uni-
versity for the spring 2020
semester.
These students from
Union and Wallowa coun-
ties made the dean’s list:
Ryan Chandler, Elgin,
sophomore, nursing
William Coston, Imbler,
sophomore, engineering
Whitney Evans, Joseph,
senior, biology
Kylin Collman, La
Grande, senior, manage-
ment and marketing
Gracie Carlsen, Lostine,
junior, economics
In addition, Collman
earned a bachelor of
arts in management and
marketing.
Got
Pets?
Relieving Hip and Promotes Heart Health
Joint Paint
Reduce Anexiety
Improves Appetite Reduce Imflamation
& Digestive
www.facebook.com/lagrandecbd | 541-304-9119
2108 Island Ave. La Grande, OR
215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440
northwestfurnitureandmattress.com