RECORDS AND MORE
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• LA GRANDE — A special board
meeting and work session of the La
Grande School District Board of Direc-
tors begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday,
March 31, in the Central Elemen-
tary School library. On the agenda is
a review of state updates to Ready
Schools, Safe Learners and imple-
menting the new 3-feet physical dis-
tance option in the district’s schools.
Due to physical distancing require-
ments, the meeting will be accessible
to the public online and by phone. For
access information, see the agenda
posted at www.lagrandesd.org or call
541-663-3200.
Briefs
Walk-ins welcome at
community blood drive
LA GRANDE — A community
Red Cross blood drive March 30-31
is open to walk-ins. The drive is
taking place at the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1802
Gekeler Lane, La Grande, from noon
to 6 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. Wednesday. Appointments
also are being taken; call Linda
Strand at 541-963-4261.
Calling potters with
extra inventory
LA GRANDE — Shelter From the
Storm is seeking bowls to support
its annual Soup Supper fundraiser,
which will occur in April. The funds
go toward outreach programs and
supplies that help the agency in
turn to help survivors of domestic
abuse. Potters who would like to
donate bowls to the event can call
the shelter at 541-963-7226.
Master Excel with free
online classes
LA GRANDE — Training & Em-
ployment Consortium, La Grande,
is off ering free computer classes,
with online interactive Excel courses
available in April. Intro to Excel will
be taught Tuesday, April 6. Students
may then move on to the fi ve-day
Intermediate Excel course, held April
7-8 and 13-15. All classes are 8:30-
11:30 a.m., and preregistration is
required. Call Lynn at 541-963-7942,
ext. 4, or email lynn@tecteam.org
for more information and to register.
— The Observer
Menus
Children’s free takeout break-
fast and lunch menu
Free breakfast and lunch for
anyone age 18 and younger,
available on days school is in session.
Pick up 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
Central, Greenwood or Island City
elementary schools, La Grande.
Fresh vegetables, seasonal fruit and
1% milk are off ered daily in addition
to the menu items. Meals are served
at La Grande schools for on-campus
students.
MARCH 31-APRIL 2
Central and Island City elementary
schools
Wednesday — BREAKFAST:
strawberry toaster pastry, cheese
stick, fruit or juice; LUNCH: Italian
meatball sub, celery sticks.
Thursday — BREAKFAST:
mini-cinnis, canned fruit; LUNCH:
chicken Caesar wrap, roll, dark green
veggies.
Friday — BREAKFAST: cocoa
cereal bar, orange juice; LUNCH: corn
dog, tator tots, red/orange veggies.
Greenwood Elementary School
Wednesday — BREAKFAST:
strawberry toaster pastry, cheese
stick, fruit or juice; LUNCH: Italian
meatball sub, celery sticks
Thursday — BREAKFAST:
mini-cinnis, fruit or juice; LUNCH:
crispy chicken sandwich, coleslaw,
dark green veggies.
Friday — mini waffl e dog, fruit
or juice; LUNCH: pizza, red/orange
veggies.
La Grande high and middle schools
Wednesday — BREAKFAST:
strawberry toaster pastry, cheese
stick, canned fruit; LUNCH: chicken
quesadilla, salsa with black beans
and corn.
Thursday — BREAKFAST:
oatmeal chocolate chip bar, canned
fruit; LUNCH: chicken-bacon-ranch
wrap, dark green veggies.
Friday — BREAKFAST: straw-
berry-cream-cheese-fi lled bagel,
orange juice; LUNCH: hot dog, fi sh
crackers, red/orange veggies.
OBITUARY
Gene L. Bolin
1932-2021 • La Grande
Gene L. Bolin, 88, of La
Grande, died March 16. At
his request, there will not
be a service.
Gene was born April
23, 1932, in
Elmwood,
Oklahoma, to
Everett and
Mary Bolin.
He attended
grade school
at Dry Creek
School in
Summerville
and graduated
from Imbler
High School in 1948. In the
fall of 1951, Gene joined
the U.S.Coast Guard. He
was granted a 30-day
leave in 1952 and hurried
home to marry Shirley L.
McDaniel of Imbler.
After Gene was honor-
ably discharged from the
Coast Guard in 1954, he
moved back to the Grande
Ronde Valley, where his
son, Mark, was born. The
Lots of news for the library this
month. The building is open for
browsing, checkout and computer
use. For those who aren’t able
to make it in during open hours,
we now have exterior lockers for
after hours and weekend pick-up.
ROSE
PEACOCK
OFF THE SHELF
The six lockers are located at the
library’s Fourth Street entrance.
Call for details.
The library is now fi ne free.
You will no longer be charged
overdue fi nes if you don’t return
items on time. Better yet, all past
overdue fi nes are also forgiven
from your account. While we
won’t charge you late fees, patrons
are still responsible for lost and
damaged items. Items will also
automatically renew on their
due date, as long as renewals are
friendships he made with
many friends and neigh-
bors along with all the
hunters who came from
far and wide to experience
the packing trips. He heard
from many that he had
the most impressive mule
team they had ever seen.
It was breathtaking to see
all of them moving across
the mountain. His proudest
moment was when they
packed into Idaho and he
shot his six -point bull elk.
Gene served for three
years in the La Grande
Auxiliary Police, and in
2007 he hired on with PTI
as a shuttle driver for the
railroad. He enjoyed the
camaraderie with the rail-
road engineers. In January
2021, he decided it was
time to retire.
Gene was admired for
his amazing work ethic
by those who knew him
and worked with him.
He always gave a helping
hand when needed. In the
summer of 2016, he was
Upcoming local services
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
April 2 — JIM
ROMINE: 1 p.m. memo-
rial service, Pine Valley
Presbyterian Church,
Halfway.
April 9-10 —
DOUGLAS CARPER:
5-7 p.m. April 9 viewing,
Loveland Funeral Chapel;
baptized and accepted
Christ as his savior.
Surviving relatives
include his daughter,
Vel Donna Blanton, and
son-in-law, Chris, of La
Grande; sister-in-law,
Maryanne Bolin La
Grande; and seven
grandchildren and fi ve
2 p.m. April 10 grave-
side service, Cove Ceme-
tery (view the livestream
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com).
April 10 — BRUCE
ARBOGAST: 11 a.m.
graveside service,
Cove Cemetery; recep-
tion follows at the Cove
Sportsman Club.
April 24 — BECKY
ROBERSON: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Elgin
Community Center.
— calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his wife, Shirley;
son, Mark; brother, Ralph;
sister, Lola; and parents,
Everett and Mary.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
remaining and no other patron has
a hold on the item.
Wednesday, April 7, is Library
Giving Day. In times of uncer-
tainty, Cook Memorial Library is
a community anchor, responding
to the needs of our neighbors and
friends through enhanced ser-
vices, robust resources and inno-
vative programming for all.
People continue to turn to us for
eBooks, virtual storytimes and
assistance with fi nding basic
necessities. The library is here
for everyone and we hope on
April 7 you’ll be there for Cook
Memorial Library. Donations are
accepted at any time; for options
of how to support the library, go
to www.cookmemoriallibrary.
org, click on the “About Us”
then choose “Libraries of Union
County Foundation.”
Craft kits for April are an Ore-
gon’s Dino-Story kit from the
Museum of Natural and Cultural
History for kids and Coloring
Page Sun Catchers for teens and
adults. Kits will be available for
pick up starting Monday, April 5,
while supplies last.
We now have three adorable
coding robots available for check
out: Dash, Botley and Code-a-
Pillar. These robots allow kids to
learn STEM concepts in a fun and
interactive way. Dash is controlled
through free apps and you need a
supported Android or iOS device.
Kids of all ages are invited to
play an online, four-week Dun-
geons & Dragons campaign with
Ryan on Saturday mornings. Con-
tact the library for details; space is
limited.
Virtual Storytime is on our
website and YouTube channel.
Dial-a-Story for all ages continues
with new selections and can be
accessed by calling 541-624-6339.
Genre Book Club for adults
meets online Thursday, April 22,
at 2 p.m. This month the club will
read or listen to a poetry collec-
tion to discuss at the gathering.
Join at anytime. Email rpeacock@
cookmemoriallibrary.org for the
meeting login.
The library’s hours on Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
are 10-11 a.m. for at-risk and
older individuals and 11 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. for all patrons; and
Wednesday noon to 7:30 p.m. for
all patrons.
Library visitors are limited
to half an hour for browsing and
checkout, or one hour for library
computer use. Masks are required.
If you created an eCard during our
closure, you may come in with your
current ID and update your account.
The library’s Wi-Fi (LGPLWiFi)
is on from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The
signal reaches to the building’s
entrances and the parking lot and
does not require a password. Find
out more at www.cookmemorialli-
brary.org, call 541-962-1339 or stop
by 2006 Fourth St., La Grande.
— — —
Rose Peacock oversees
adult services at Cook Memorial
Library, La Grande.
Local students win trade and lineman school scholarships
The Observer
BAKER CITY —
Oregon Trail Elec-
tric Cooperative in a
press release announced
the recipients of this
year’s trade and lineman
scholarships.
Aidan Patton of
Imbler was awarded a
$5,000 OTEC scholar-
ship to pursue a career as a
lineman, and Riley Young-
blood of North Powder
received a $2,500 scholar-
ship to attend trade school.
“We are pleased to
award these scholar-
ships to help sup-
support the educa-
port these students
tional goals of local
as they pursue their
students and give
career paths and gain
back to the commu-
the valuable skills
nities in our service
needed for in-de-
territory.”
mand jobs in the
Scholarship win-
Patton
trades or in the elec-
ners are selected
tric utility industry,”
from a pool of candi-
said Joe Hathaway,
dates from OTEC’s
OTEC communi-
service territory in
cations manager, in
Baker, Grant, Harney
the release. “Mem-
and Union coun-
ber-owned coopera-
Youngblood ties. Scholarship
tives like OTEC are,
funds come from
by their very nature, com-
unclaimed capital credits.
munity partners and we
Other regional stu-
have always been proud to
dents who earned awards
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
FRIDAY, MARCH 26
Megabucks: $3.6 million
5-6-25-37-44-47
Powerball: $238 million
6-14-38-39-65 — PB 6 x3
Mega Millions: $137 million
4-25-37-46-67— MB 15 x3
Win for Life: March 27
18-28-35-40
Pick 4: March 28
• 1 p.m.: 7-2-8-9; • 4 p.m.: 5-9-6-9
• 7 p.m.: 9-5-4-6; • 10 p.m.: 5-2-6-1
Pick 4: March 27
• 1 p.m.: 3-7-1-7; • 4 p.m.: 5-8-8-1
• 7 p.m.: 6-8-9-9; • 10 p.m.: 9-9-5-8
Pick 4: March 26
• 1 p.m.: 7-2-5-3; • 4 p.m.: 0-5-3-8
• 7 p.m.: 7-4-6-1; • 10 p.m.: 2-8-7-1
DELIVERY ISSUES?
SATURDAY, MARCH 27
If you have any problems receiving
your Observer, call 541-963-3161.
family in 1957 moved
to Baker City, where he
was a manager for Stan-
dard Oil and his daughter,
Vel Donna, was born. In
1959, Gene and his family
returned to La Grande,
where he managed and
later became owner of the
Standard Oil station.
Over the course of his
life, Gene farmed many
crops, including strawber-
ries, raspberries, alfalfa and
grass hay. He loved ani-
mals and also raised cattle,
horses and mules. He had
a natural talent for han-
dling mules. He knew how
they thought and moved.
In 1978, he and his brother,
Ralph, brought the fi rst
mammoth jacks into the
Grande Ronde Valley and
began producing “Bolin
Mules.” He was known
as the “mule man” in this
valley.
Gene enjoyed packing
in hunters every winter
with his 23 pack-string
mules. He cherished the
Robots, craft kits and after-hours lockers at the library
5:23 a.m. — La Grande
police arrested Vonell Lenn
Edwards, 43, for unautho-
rized use of a motor vehicle.
11 a.m. — A caller on
the 700 block of South
Second Street, Union,
made a complaint about an
animal. An animal enforce-
ment offi cer responded and
issued a warning.
12:45 p.m. — Law
enforcement responded to
a report of a fi ght between
relatives on the 100 block
of South 20th Avenue,
Elgin. Oregon State Police
resolved the situation.
3:18 p.m. — A caller
complained about noise
on the 1400 block of Balm
Street, La Grande. An
offi cer responded and told
the occupant to keep down
the noise.
Lottery
THE OBSERVER — 3A
12:30 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to the
2200 block of Adams
Avenue on a noise com-
plaint and warned the sub-
jects about the volume.
8:38 a.m. — La Grande
police received a complaint
about an ongoing problem
with a vehicle parked the
wrong way at Third Street
and X Avenue. An offi cer
cited the vehicle.
11:13 a.m. — A caller
reported vandalism on the
1500 block of X Avenue,
La Grande. An offi cer
responded and took a
report.
12:26 p.m. — A caller
reported vandalism to a
vehicle on the 500 block of
North Main Street, Union.
A Union County sheriff ’s
deputy took a report.
1:03 p.m. — A caller
reported the theft of a dirt
bike from the 54700 block
of Highway 237, Union.
A Union County sheriff ’s
deputy responded and took
a report.
9:07 p.m. — Union
County sheriff ’s deputies
responded to the 66000
block of Gekeler Lane, La
Grande, for a domestic dis-
turbance. This also did not
rise to the level of a manda-
tory arrest.
SUNDAY, MARCH 28
2:22 p.m. — A caller
reported a juvenile causing
a disturbance on the 69000
block of Pumpkin Ridge
Road, Summerville. A
Union County sheriff ’s
deputy made contact, and
the caller would seek coun-
seling for the juvenile.
6:08 p.m. — A caller
reported a power line was
sparking on Fruitdale Lane,
La Grande.
9:06 p.m. — Local law
enforcement continued to
receive calls related to the
storm that blew through the
region, including a report
from the 2900 block of
Misty Avenue, La Grande,
of a possible burglary that
turned out to be noise from
the weather.
are Nolan Scheen of Burns
($5,000 lineman scholar-
ship), and Katie Hire of John
Day and Jacob Swindle-
hurst of Burns ($2,500 trade
scholarship each).
“Lineman schools and
trade schools provide excel-
lent opportunities for those
who don’t want to pursue
college, but want to learn
marketable skills, work in
an interesting living-wage
job and carry little or no
student debt,” Hathaway
added.
Applications for both
trade and lineman school
scholarships are open
year-round. You can
apply at www.otec.coop/
scholarships.
OTEC also off ers aca-
demic scholarship. The
2021 recipients will be
announced this spring.
Oregon Trail Electric
Cooperative is a not-for-
profi t, member-owned
electric cooperative that
serves more than 60,000
residents in Eastern
Oregon. With headquarters
in Baker City, OTEC has
district offi ces in Burns,
John Day and La Grande.
Kristine McNair
May 18, 1957 - March 17, 2021
Wednesday, March 17, Kristine Mc-
Nair, mother of two sons, passed away
at the age of 63. Kris was born in La
Grande, Oregon, May 18, 1957 to Nor-
man and Bonnie Lindsey of Pondosa,
Oregon. Kris relocated to Livermore,
California, where she graduated high
school, relocated again to Lakeview,
Oregon, where she married her hus-
band, James McNair. Kris moved back to La Grande
after James’ death where she raised her two sons, Jason
and Michael. Kris had many interests. She enjoyed
family, being surrounded by family and friends, quilt-
ing blankets for friends and volunteering for the local
Special Olympics. Kris found great comfort with her
church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Kathy Thimmes and Sandra Morehead were special
friends and were at Kris’ side.
Kris was preceded in death by her husband, Jim
McNair; her father, Norman Lindsey; her mother
and step-father, Bonnie Hartwig-Coffman and Bud
Hartwig.
Kris is survived by her sons; Jason and wife Katie
(Forester) Franks, and Michael McNair; her grand-
daughter and love of her life, Brooklyn; and brother, Ed
Lindsey and wife Jean. Kris also has many local aunts,
uncles and cousins.
Internment was private at Hillcrest Cemetery and a
celebration of life will be scheduled post COVID-19.