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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2020)
RECORDS AND MORE Tuesday, OcTOber 13, 2020 Community Drive-thru flu shot Briefs Firewood available Saturday to people who need it LA GRANDE — The Neighbors Together emer- gency woodlot will be giving wood-burning households in financial need up to a cord of firewood Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. Dona- tions will be accepted but not required. The lot is at 3309 N. Umatilla St., La Grande. For more information visit www. neighborstogetherofunion- county.org or call 541-963- 9126. All welcome at Cove Turkey Shoot COVE — The Cove Sportsman Club is hosting its annual Turkey Shoot Sunday, Oct. 18. The event is open to the public and both shooters and non-shooters are welcome. The shooting begins at 9 a.m., and lunch will be served starting at 11 a.m. There also will be non-shooting games. The Cove Sportsman Club is on the highway on the south edge of town. Please bring your mask for when social distancing is not possible. clinics for vets Wednesday, Oct. 14 The Observer LA GRANDE — The Walla Walla VA Medical Center is holding a second drive-thru flu shot event for veterans at the La Grande facility. The drive-thru clinic will run Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 8-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. in the La Grande VA Clinic parking lot at 202 12th St. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release from the Walla Walla VA Medical Center, it is especially important this year for veterans to get a flu shot to stay healthy. Flu vaccinations reduce the risk of getting the flu and spreading it to others. Eligible veterans can get their flu shot for free without having to get out of their cars. Veterans must wear a mask (vented masks are not allowed). The press release encour- aged vets who are unable to attend the flu shot clinics to get the shot from their primary care team or at a Veterans Administration in-network pharmacy or urgent care facility (to find the nearest facility, go to www.va.gov/find-locations, enter your ZIP code and select “community pharma- cies” or “urgent care” under “Facility Type”). More information on the Walla Walla VA’s scheduled drive-thru flu shot clinics at all sites is available at www. wallawalla.va.gov/features/ Flu_Season_2020.asp as well as the medical center’s Facebook page under the “Events” tab. Chalk one up for social justice message THe ObserVer — 3A Public Safety Report FRIDAY, OCT. 9 7:42 a.m. — La Grande police received a report of theft of a vehicle on the 1600 block of Cedar Street. 10:25 a.m. — A caller reported a disturbance on the 800 block of North 15th Ave- nue, Elgin. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and resolved the situation. 5:01 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of menacing on the 1600 block of Sixth Street. Officers re- sponded and determined the report was unfounded. 9:02 p.m. — A caller reported possible fireworks in the area of Seventh Street and O Avenue, La Grande. An officer responded but did not locate anyone. 9:52 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of vandalism on the 700 block of N Avenue. responded and took a report. 10:25 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about a loud party in the area of Jakob Avenue and 16th Street. An officer spoke to the people involved, who agreed to keep the noise down. 10:57 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 600 block of Caddie Street, Cove, on a complaint about a loud party. The deputy counseled the people involved. SUNDAY, OCT. 11 12:08 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of an intoxicated driver at Den- ny’s restaurant, 2604 Island Ave. Officers responded but did not find the driver. 2:04 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 2000 block of Gekeler Lane on a report of harassment. Officers made contact and referred a person to the nonprofit Shelter From the Storm. 6:17 p.m. — A caller re- ported cows on the loose in the area of Gekeler Lane and McAlister Road, La Grande. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded, and the owner arrived to get the cows back inside the fence. 11:46 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about someone going through a trash can on the 2300 block of Q Avenue. An officer responded and found the subject was cleaning up the mess. William “Bill” Murrill July 2, 1937 - October 1, 2020 SATURDAY, OCT. 10 9:40 a.m. — A caller reported criminal mischief on the 69400 block of Dean Road, Cove. A Union County sheriff’s deputy made con- tact. The sheriff’s office will provide extra patrols. 12:04 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a traffic hazard at Jackson Avenue and Depot Street. Officers responded and counseled juveniles at the scene. 3:57 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about two intoxicated people on the 1600 block of Albany Street. An officer contacted the pair and they agreed to leave. 8:03 p.m. — An Elgin caller reported harassment on the 69000 block of Merritt Lane. A Union County sheriff’s deputy made contact and separated the parties. 9:44 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from the area of Booth Lane and Lower Cove Road about the theft of pumpkins. A deputy William “Bill” Murrill took his last breath on October 1st, in his home in Middleton, Idaho, following a long ill- ness. Bill was born on July 2, 1937 and was raised, along with his brother Don Murrill and sister Nola (Murrill) Clarneau, by parents Cecil and Wilma (Austin) Murrill on their ranch on Buford Ridge, Flora, Oregon. Bill’s parents Cecil and Wilma preceded him in passing as did Rhonda, who loved him as a Dad, and Tony, the son of his best friend and younger brother, Don. Bill left behind his cherished wife of 38 years, Wilma “Willy” (Harrington) Murrill, Cindy, Chris and Judy, who loved Bill as their Dad. Bill was Grandpa Bill to 10 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Bill left behind his loving sister Nola, his brother Don and their families. Bill was a lifelong rancher, airforce veteran, mainte- nance man and locksmith, respected Wallowa County brand inspector, hunting and shooting partner, skilled wood worker, ammo loader, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, neighbor and good friend. To say that Bill’s leav- ing left a big hole would be an understatement. Bill, with his shared wisdom, calm demeanor, firm handshake, hugs and great stories told in that slow drawl brought many a smile to many a face. No formal services will be held. Bill’s ashes will be cast where his parent’s ashes lie, when the weather is good, and his family present – Bill would like that. Mary Louise (Owen) Brown February 12, 1928 - October 7, 2020 Kip Roberson/Cook Memorial Library Kip Roberson snapped this photo last week of the chalk writing he found adorning the concrete at the Cook Memorial Library, La Grande. Roberson, who is the Cook Memorial director, said while the library does not support graffiti, it does stand for racial equity and social justice for all people. Rain during the weekend washed away the display. Oregon temporarily increases SNAP benefits The Observer SALEM — The Oregon Department of Human Services is tem- porarily increasing Sup- plemental Nutrition Assis- tance Program benefits for the month of October. The department in a press release announced it made an additional $30 million available for eli- gible SNAP recipients statewide. The additional food assistance funds will go to households that are not already at the max- imum amount of their benefit. Households already enrolled in the SNAP pro- gram do not need to do anything. The depart- ment will allocate funds to recipients directly into their accounts starting Tuesday, Oct. 13. For those who join the benefit program after Tuesday, the extra benefits will be available Oct. 30. This allotment will bring all Oregon house- holds receiving Supple- mental Nutrition Assis- tance Program funds up to the maximum amount allowed. This is a temporary increase, according to the press release. Obituaries James W. Myers Donna C. Doud Formerly of La Grande La Grande James W. Myers, 86, of Diamond Bar, Cali- fornia, and formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 9 at his residence. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. Donna C. Doud, 86, of La Grande, died Oct, 12 at a local care facility. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. Pedestrian safety push PEDESTRIANS AFOOT ! ... PLEASE SL W YOUR ROLL! Drive, Walk & Ride Safely. The Way to Go. Transportation Safety – ODOT The Oregon Department of Transportation reminds drivers that October is Pedestrian Safe- ty Month. Learn more about that here: https://bit. ly/36YoYdh. ODOT/Contributed Graphic Computer Repair Fast & Reliable Chromebooks (starting @ $ 139) Windows 10 Laptops (starting @ $ 299) Desktops $ 399 • All in Ones $ 499 New gaming towers $ 935 New monitors - 24”/ $ 169 27”/ $ 199 New Printers (starting @ $ 159) TEXT TO REQUEST PHOTOS Dale Bogardus 541-297-5831 www.outstandingcomputerrepair.com Mary Brown passed away peacefully on October 7, 2020 from congestive heart failure and related complications. She was born Feb- ruary 12, 1928 in Jackson Hole, WY and was the youngest of William Jesse and Evelyn Mary Grant’s three children. Her mother passed away when Mary was about two years old. Her father later married Venice Richardson. Eventually Mary had two more siblings and was no longer the ‘baby of the family’. Mary had a heart full of love for God and every element of God’s creation. She grew up in a setting of astonishing natural beauty, at the foot of the Teton mountain range. Her childhood best friend and next door neighbor, Joanne Murie, was the daughter of Mardie Murie who would later become known as ‘the Grandmother of the Conservation Movement’. These two factors planted a seed that grew throughout Mary’s lifetime and filled her with great wonder, love and respect for the natural world. Many years ago, Mary wrote that the Murie family was “…very influential in my life…I believe they had a good deal to do in showing me how good and beautiful and fragile our world is — how to take care of God’s land and creatures — not in so many words, but just by the way they lived and treated all of us.” At the age of 17, Mary started taking flying lessons. She described flying as “…a beautiful and peaceful feeling to be up among the clouds — so free and close to God.” She eventually fell in love with and married her flight instructor - Merritt Owen. In 1949 Mary and Merritt moved to La Grande, OR, raised three children and loved each other as much as any two people can. Their marriage ended with Merritt’s death in 1982. In 1988 Mary and Ray “Red” Brown were married. Sadly, on Christmas Eve of that year she became a widow again when Red passed away unexpectedly. Mary was an active, dedicated and well- loved member of St Peter’s Episcopal Church for over 70 years. The community at St Peter’s played a huge role in her life during that entire time. She thrived on helping others, had a great imagination, wry sense of humor, a substantial dose of grit and made the best strawberry-rhu- barb pie imaginable. Her working career in- cluded 17 years as receptionist at the La Grande Clinic but her favorite working years were spent at McGlasson’s Stationary where she loved to put her artistic skills to work creating window displays. Mary is survived by brothers John and Robert Grant; her children Peggy Dennis, Pat Owen and John Owen; step-children Margaret “Mib” Kelly and Rusty Brown, as well as, her children’s spouses and several well-loved, loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have long been constant sources of joy for her. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at St Peter’s Episcopal church this coming spring. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.
