RECORDS AND MORE
TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021
COMMUNITY
Briefs
RSVP for next takeout Cove
senior meal
COVE — The Cove senior meal
program is off ering takeout lunches
on the fi rst and third Tuesday of
the month. Due to restrictions in
place caused by the coronavirus
pandemic, meals are picked up in
front of Founders Hall instead of be-
ing served inside. The lunch will be
handed out from noon to 12:30 p.m.
Enter the driveway in front of the
Ascension Founders Hall on Church
Street from the north.
The menu for April 6 is turkey,
creamed peas and potatoes, cooked
carrots, green salad, roll and a
cupcake. There is a $5 charge per
meal. If you haven’t been contacted,
call Imie Bristow at 541-568-4545
by Wednesday, March 21, to order
your meal.
Work day at Flora School
planned Saturday
FLORA — The next work party
at the Flora School will be Saturday,
March 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Earlier work days in March were
canceled due to the amount of snow
and ice in the area. There are tasks
for all a variety of skills and everyone
is welcome. Dress in layers and bring
a sack lunch. Masks and gloves or
sanitizer are required to be used and
will be provided by the school if you
do bring them. For more information
call 541-828-7010 or email fl ora-
school@tds.net.
This summer’s Flora School Days
will once again be virtual instead of
in person. Demonstrations of old-
time skills will be presented online
June 1-5, and an auction of items
made by the craftspeople will be
held during each demonstration.
Honors
Wallowa County student earns
academic honors and degree
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Johnelle
P. Suto, of Wallowa County, was
named to Mount Mary University’s
fall dean’s list. The distinction honors
full-time students who have earned
a 3.6 GPA or better.
Suto, a biology major, was
among the students who completed
their degree requirements at Mount
Mary University and graduated
at the conclusion of the fall 2020
semester.
Lottery
Megabucks: $3.3 million
3-12-14-31-39-44
Powerball: $200 million
1-6-22-42-61— PB 4 x3
Mega Millions: $105 million
9-14-40-58-69 — MB 8 x3
Win for Life: March 20
11-23-37-59
Pick 4: March 21
• 1 p.m.: 9-2-3-7
• 4 p.m.: 2-2-2-7
• 7 p.m.: 1-2-0-6
• 10 p.m.: 5-3-7-0
Pick 4: March 20
• 1 p.m.: 4-5-2-5
• 4 p.m.: 0-2-2-3
• 7 p.m.: 2-4-9-4
• 10 p.m.: 3-8-3-0
Pick 4: March 19
• 1 p.m.: 9-2-4-8
• 4 p.m.: 8-2-4-1
• 7 p.m.: 0-3-0-5
• 10 p.m.: 4-0-1-1
DELIVERY ISSUES?
If you have any problems receiv-
ing your Observer, call 541-963-3161
Jimmie L. Ruth
1940-2021 • Formerly of Perry and
La Grande
Jimmie LeRoy Ruth,
80, of Lincoln City and
formerly of Perry and La
Grande, died March 14.
His ashes will
be spread at
sea by imme-
diate family at
a later date.
Known
as Jim, he
was born
March 23,
1940, in Cald-
well, Idaho,
to James and
Gusta (Fowler)
Ruth. He spent his youth
in Perry just outside of La
Grande and divided his
time as a teenager between
La Grande and Crescent
City, California. He grad-
THE OBSERVER — 3A
OBITUARIES
uated simultaneously from
La Grande High School
and Del Norte High School
in Crescent City in 1958.
He entered the U.S. Army
just after graduation and
spent part of that time
serving in Korea.
Jim was many things
to many people and would
likely be described a little
diff erently by each. He was
independent, straightfor-
ward, opinionated, stub-
born, kind, calming, intel-
ligent, caring, generous of
heart and so much more.
He lived his life exactly
the way he wanted and had
no regrets.
He did not want a fuss.
He felt that memories
were enough, and so they
are. All of us who were
touched by his life have
rich memories. Hopefully,
this will bring some to
mind now. They may bring
a grin to your face, invoke
a few tears, raise an eye-
brow, or simply make you
close your eyes and slowly
shake your head with a
chuckle. And that is a good
thing. He wanted nothing
more.
Surviving relatives
include his wife of 27 years,
Ginger; daughters, Tamah,
Hali and Shalem; and step-
children, grandchildren,
siblings, nephews, nieces
and cousins.
Upcoming local services
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
March 23 — GARY
GASTON: 2 p.m.
livestreamed funeral;
view at www.lovelandfu-
neralchapel.com.
March 24 —
TOMMY WEST: 2 p.m.
graveside service with
military honors, Mount
Hope Cemetery, Baker
City.
April 24 — BECKY
ROBERSON: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Elgin
Community Center.
— calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
Virginia R. Anderson
Fauna L. Ollis
Rebecca E. Harper
Union
Elgin
La Grande
Virginia R. Anderson,
89, of Union, died March 21
at her home. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory,
La Grande.
Fauna L. Ollis, 89, of
Elgin, died March 20 at a
local care facility. Arrange-
ments are by Loveland
Funeral Chapel & Crema-
tory, La Grande.
Rebecca E. Harper, 64,
of La Grande, died March
21 at Grande Ronde Hos-
pital. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel &
Crematory, La Grande.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
FRIDAY, MARCH 19
12:24 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of a domestic
disturbance at a residence on the
100 block of Fir Street. Offi cers
responded, found the parties were
arguing and separated them.
1 p.m. — A caller reported
vandalism to a trailer on the
76600 block of Bowman Loop,
Elgin. A Union County sheriff ’s
deputy responded and took down
information.
1:15 p.m. — La Grande police
received a complaint about iden-
tity theft. An offi cer took a report.
A second identity theft com-
plaint came into La Grande PD at
3:37 p.m. An offi cer made contact.
4:39 p.m. — A caller reported
a disturbance on the 2200 block of
Penn Avenue, La Grande. Offi cers
responded and counseled one male.
5:20 p.m. — A caller reported
a dead calf on the 71700 block
of Highway 82, Elgin. A Union
County sheriff ’s deputy responded
and had the calf removed.
9:22 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of a possible sex
crime. An offi cer made contact and
took down information.
9:51 p.m. — La Grander police
responded to the 400 block of
Grandy Avenue for an assault. Offi -
cers separated the parties.
SATURDAY, MARCH 20
11:07 a.m. — A caller reported
a juvenile on the side of the road
on the 71000 block of Highway 82,
Elgin. A Union County sheriff ’s
deputy responded and counseled
the juvenile and parent.
12:19 p.m. — A caller reported
the theft of a vehicle from the 1200
block of Eighth Street, La Grande.
An offi cer responded and deter-
mined this was a civil issue and not
criminal.
4:34 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 2200 block of
Penn Avenue for a possible assault.
No one wanted to pursue charges.
Police counseled one person.
9:32 p.m. — A caller reported
a person was fi ring a gun into the
air on the 200 block of West Arch
Street, Union. A Union County
sheriff ’s deputy responded and
warned the subjects.
10:30 p.m. — A caller com-
plained about litter on the side
of Standley Road, La Grande. A
Union County sheriff ’s deputy
found the garbage and took a
report.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
1:50 a.m. — A caller reported
a disturbance on the 2900 block of
Third Street, La Grande. Local law
enforcement responded and found
the subjects resolved the situation
for now. Police took a report.
4:59 a.m. — An offi cer with the
La Grande Police Department saw
a couple arguing on the 1900 block
of H Street. The offi cer advised
them to keep down the noise.
10:27 a.m. — A caller reported
a burglary on the 64400 block of
Wolf Creek Lane, North Powder.
A Union County sheriff ’s deputy
responded and took a report.
4:38 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 2400 block of
Riddle Road on a report of a suspi-
cious male. The subject left before
an offi cer arrived.
6:54 p.m. — A Union County
sheriff ’s deputy responded to
Walmart, 11619 Island Ave., Island
City, for a a male causing a dis-
turbance. The subject left the
property.
7:18 p.m. — A Union County
sheriff ’s deputy questioned a male
at Walmart, 11619 Island Ave.,
Island City, for causing a dis-
turbance and warned him for
trespassing.
9:28 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to a residence on the
1800 block of 26th Street for a
person having a mental breakdown.
The person went to Grande Ronde
Hospital, La Grande.
10:19 p.m. — A caller reported
the theft of a vehicle from the 1900
block of Cedar Street, La Grande.
An offi cer took a report.
Scholarships available for specialized areas of study
The Observer
HERMISTON — The
Northeast Oregon Home
Builders Association and
Oregon Music Hall of Fame
announced the availability
of college scholarships for
local students.
The Northeast Oregon
Home Builders Associa-
tion is off ering two $1,500
scholarships to help edu-
cate and train individuals
in a profession related to
the building industry. The
scholarship recipients will
be selected on the basis of
their potential to succeed.
Applicants must be a
senior enrolled in high
school, enrolled as a col-
lege student or enrolled
in a qualifi ed apprentice-
ship program. The stu-
dents must be a resident of
Umatilla, Morrow, Union,
Baker, or Wallowa County
and have an interest in or
intend to pursue a career in
the construction industry.
These professions include,
but are not limited to:
welding, heating and ven-
tilation, heavy equipment
operator, carpentry, elec-
trical, plumbing, con-
crete, construction man-
agement or architecture/
engineering. To learn more
about building trade career
opportunities, go online to
the Oregon State Building
and Construction Trades
Council.
Scholarship applica-
tion forms are available at
www.neohba.com, www.
columbiabasinstudenth-
omes.org and local high
school counseling offi ces.
The deadline for appli-
cation is April 16. For
more information, email
adming@NEOHBA.com.
The Oregon Music Hall
of Fame also is off ering
college scholarships to
students studying music
and graduating in spring
2021 from an Oregon high
school and continuing to
college in the fall of 2021
with a major or minor in
music. OMHA strives
to inspire the continuing
higher musical education
by off ering assistance with
college expenses, so that
these music students may
aspire to a higher level of
performance and success in
their fi eld of interest.
A total of four $2,500
scholarships are available.
Application deadline is
May 15. Any questions may
be emailed to info@omhof.
org. For more information
and to access an online ver-
sion of the application, visit
www.omhof.org.
Performances may be
viewed on the Oregon
Music Hall of Fame You-
Tube channel of last year’s
winners: Taylor Yoon, cello,
Lakeridge High School,
Lake Oswego; Nicholas
Weathers, clarinet, McNary
High School, Keizer; Avery
Hsieh, violin, Corvallis
High School; and Isabella
Morill, piano/French horn/
composition, Warrenton
High School.
Baker City man barely avoids wrong-way driver in close call on the freeway
By JAYSON JACOBY
Baker City Herald
BAKER CITY — When
Terry Benge saw the silver
car speeding straight at
him, he scarcely had time
to react.
Benge, who was driving
a tow truck, swerved to the
shoulder of Interstate 84.
Maybe a second later,
the car whizzed past.
Benge estimates the dis-
tance between the car and
his truck was a couple feet.
“It was close enough
I could tell he was clean-
shaven,” Benge said.
A few miles farther
along the freeway, the
driver of the silver car,
Logan Raye Deuel-Clinken-
beard, 28, collided with an
Oregon State Police SUV
driven by Senior Trooper
Andrew McClay.
Neither was seriously
hurt in the crash, which
happened about 2:10 p.m.
Friday, March 12, near
Milepost 327, about 23
miles east of Baker City
near Durkee.
Deuel-Clinkenbeard,
whose address was listed as
Missoula, Montana, by the
Baker County Jail but who
also has a Camas, Wash-
ington, address, according
to court records, was
arrested and charged with
second-degree attempted
assault, reckless driving
and recklessly endangering
another person.
Baker County Circuit
Court Judge Matt Shirt-
cliff on Tuesday, March 16,
granted Deuel-Clinken-
beard a conditional release.
He is required to stay with
his father in Montana and
to attend a status check
hearing, by phone, April 1.
Benge, who has worked
for Superior Towing in
Baker City for about seven
months, was driving east-
bound, toward Ontario, on
the afternoon of March 12.
He said he had just
picked up a couple whose
car had hit a deer near
Milepost 327. He was
towing their car to Ontario,
and they were riding with
him in the tow truck.
Benge said he was near
Ash Grove Cement, where
the freeway enters a series
of curves in the Burnt River
Canyon, when he saw the
Oregon State Police/Contributed Photo
This 2011 Toyota Camry sits on the side of Interstate 84 near milepost 327
on Friday, March 12, 2021, after Logan Deuel-Clinkenbeard drove it the
wrong way on the freeway and collided with an Oregon State Police vehi-
cle, the law enforcement agency reported.
silver car, traveling west in
the eastbound lanes.
The car was rounding a
corner when Benge saw it.
He estimated its speed at
more than 90 mph.
“The whole car was
lifting to one side from the
force,” Benge said.
After the near colli-
sion, Benge continued east
to Ontario to drop off the
couple, who are from Wash-
ington, and their vehicle.
Benge said his boss,
having heard over a
police scanner about
Deuel-Clinkenbeard’s col-
lision with McClay’s patrol
SUV, radioed him to tell
him what had happened.
Benge ended up towing
the OSP vehicle, which suf-
fered major damage, to
Baker City.
Benge said it was his
fi rst encounter with a
wrong-way driver on the
freeway.
Sgt. Craig Rilee of the
Baker County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce, who investigated the
case and interviewed both
McClay and Benge, wrote
in his report that the Baker
County Dispatch Center
received more than 35 calls
to 911 about the wrong-way
driver.
It’s not clear where
Deuel-Clinkenbeard started
driving the wrong way, but
callers reported the silver
car driving west in the east-
bound lanes starting around
Milepost 342 near the Lime
exit.
Deuel-Clinkenbeard then
drove through the Burnt
River Canyon, which is
one of the curviest sections
of Interstate 84 in Eastern
Oregon, and continued
through the Durkee Valley
toward Baker City.
According to Rilee’s
report, McClay was driving
eastbound near Milepost
327 when he saw, about a
half mile ahead, a vehicle
swerve to avoid colliding
with a silver car traveling
west. McClay had his emer-
gency lights fl ashing and
his siren blaring.
In his report, Rilee
wrote McClay “was unable
to safely maneuver out of
the path of the oncoming
vehicle so he made the deci-
sion to stop the wrong way
vehicle from continuing the
wrong way. The left front
of (McClay’s) patrol vehicle
collided with the left front
of the wrong way vehicle.”
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