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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2022)
RECORDS Tuesday, February 1, 2022 DEATH & SERVICE NOTICES PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FRIDAY, JAN. 28 8:35 a.m. — La Grande police received a report of a sex crime. An officer responded and took a report. 3:24 p.m. — La Grande police during a traffic stop at Y Avenue and Ash Street arrested Truman Joseph Bemis, 23, on an Idaho warrant for original changes of unlawful discharge of a weapon at a house, occupied building, vehicle, etc., and deadly weapon enhancement. 5:27 p.m. — An Elgin resident on the 300 block of North 16th Avenue reported telephonic harassment. A Union County sheriff’s deputy made contact and explained options. 5:34 p.m. — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle on the 69500 block of Clark Creek Road, Elgin. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and recovered a stolen vehicle. 7:40 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about two suspicious people at Clover Glen Apartments, 2212 Cove Ave. Local law enforcement responded and arrested a 17-year-old male on a warrant out of the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Woodburn, charging assault on a public safety officer. Police also returned two runaways to guardians. 7:44 p.m. — A La Grande resident on the 2400 block of Riddle Road reported telephonic harassment. A Union County sheriff’s deputy made contact and explained options. SATURDAY, JAN. 29 8:29 a.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about a restraining order violation on the 1000 block of Lake Avenue. An officer made contact and took a report. 10:15 a.m. — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle on the 2500 block of Adams Avenue, La Grande. An officer responded and tres- passed two people from the property. 4:59 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1700 block of Spruce Street on a report of a domestic disturbance and separated the parties. 5:35 p.m. — A caller reported a juvenile involved in a distur- THe ObserVer — A3 bance at a residence on the 1900 block of Cove Avenue, La Grande. An officer responded and resolved the situation. 6:08 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to the 10200 block of South Valley Avenue, La Grande, on a report of a domestic disturbance and separated the parties. 6:09 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to the 500 block of North 13th Avenue, Elgin, on a report of a disturbance. The deputy instead found children were playing, 7:10 p.m. — A caller reported a trespasser on the 69200 block of Highway 237, Cove. Union County sheriff’s deputies responded and determined this was a misunderstanding between neighbors. 11 p.m. — A caller complained about a loud party at a res- idence on the 1600 block of Seventh Street, La Grande. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded because city police were busy. The deputy found people were leaving the party. 11:59 p.m. — A caller complained about a loud party at a res- idence on the 800 block of 16th Street, La Grande. An officer responded and the occupants said they would keep down the volume. SUNDAY, JAN. 30 6:44 a.m. — La Grande police responded to the 200 block of H Avenue on a call about a domestic disturbance. Officers, however, took a report for criminal mischief. 3:35 p.m. — A caller reported a restraining order violation on the 1100 block of Alder Street, Elgin. A Union County sheriff’s dep- uty made contact and provided options. 8:25 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office received a com- plaint about child neglect at Walmart, 11619 Island Ave., Island City. A deputy responded and took information. 10 p.m. — A resident on the 1500 block of 21st Street, La Grande, reported harassment. An officer made contact and explained options. 11:54 p.m. — A resident on the 1200 block of Benton Avenue, La Grande, reported a theft but did not want to pursue charges. COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD David J. Baxter La Grande David J Baxter, 77, of La Grande, died Jan. 30, 2022, at his home. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande. Dianna Bray Cove Dianna Bray, 62, of Cove, died Jan. 29, 2022, at her home. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande. Garret W. Crawford La Grande Garret W. Crawford, 68, of La Grande, died Jan. 25, 2022, at his home. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande. Phyllis M. Murphy Island City Phyllis M. Murphy, 86, of Island City, died Jan. 25, 2022, at her residence. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande. Rose Marie Reese Formerly of Union Rose Marie Ash Fallow Reese, 73, of Nampa, Idaho, and formerly of Union, died Jan. 17, 2022, in Nampa. A graveside service under the direction of the family will be held Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Cove Cemetery. Arrange- ments are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande. BRIEFS UPCOMING LOCAL SERVICES Online gardening class offered COVE — Nella Mae Parks, of Nella Mae’s Farm in Cove, is offering an online gardening class on the first Wednesday of the month this winter. The next class, “Starting Seeds Indoors & Transplanting,” is on Feb. 2 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and will be held via Zoom. Parks will cover topics such as: • Best tips for successful, robust starts • How to increase germination rates and avoid disease • Making a plan and schedule • The best time to start and transplant • Best practices for transplanting The class includes time for asking questions. Pre-register at www. nellamaesfarm.com. If you can afford it, the class is $8 per person. If you can’t, come anyway. Payment options and process, as well as the Zoom link and other offerings at the farm, are also available on Nella Mae’s website. The next classes will be “Growing Nut Trees” on March 2 and “No/Low- till Gardening” on April 6. Cove senior lunch served twice a month COVE — Cove senior lunches are served at Founders Hall on the Ascen- sion School grounds on the first and Please follow guide- lines regarding face coverings and social distancing at gatherings. Feb. 4 — CECILIA CAMPBELL: 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, La Grande. Feb. 4 — DONNA dick Mason/The Observer, File Nella Mae Parks, owner of Nella Mae’s Farm in Cove, poses for a photo on March 3, 2021. Parks teaches gardening classes online and, when the pandemic and weather allows, in person at her farm. third Tuesdays of the month. Coffee and tea are available at 11:30 a.m., and lunch is at noon. The menu for the next meal, on Tuesday, Feb. 15, is chicken fettuc- cine alfredo, roasted vegetables, salad bar, French bread and molasses ginger cookies. The price is $5 per meal and reser- vations are requested. If you haven’t been contacted or wish to participate, call Betsy Arnson at 541-568-4902 or Virginia Fischer at 1-907-299-6072 by Feb. 8. Senior center resumes chair exercise classes LA GRANDE — The Union County Senior Center, which is now open for weekday in-person dining as well as pinochle and bingo games on Tuesdays, is again offering its Chair Exercise Class. The class is free and open to all ages. It is held on Mon- days, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10-11 a.m. at the senior center, 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande. — The Observer Song and dance show has ‘Got Your Number’ The Observer LA GRANDE — An upcoming performance on the Eastern Oregon Uni- versity campus features “a cacophony of choreography and classic popular music tracks from all over the musical map,” according to a press release. “We’ve Got Your Number,” a multi-genre musical performance and EOU Chamber Choir’s first live show of 2022, runs Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, in McKenzie Theatre in EOU’s Loso Hall, under the direction of Peter Wordelman, music professor and chamber choir director. The show features 22 songs. This one-of-a-kind pro- duction is sponsored by Red Cross Drug. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission alex Wittwer/EO Media Group The cast of “We’ve Got Your Number” rehearses on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Tickets are on sale now for the Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 shows. is $8 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at Red Cross Drug, in the EOU Bookstore and online at eou.edu/music/ weve-got-your-number. Explore Wallowology on Fridays and Saturdays JOSEPH — The Wal- lowology Discovery Center is open this winter, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The center, 508 N. Main St., Joseph, offers hands-on exhibits and activities about ecosystems and landscapes. Exhibits include Ecosys- tems of Northeast Oregon, Ancient Forests in the Blue Mountains, Moraines and Geology of the Wallowas, The Pollinator Room, The BROWN: noon cel- ebration of life, Dan- iels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Cel- ebration Center, La Grande; graveside service follows at 2 p.m. at Hill- crest East Cemetery. Feb. 5 — ROSE MARIE REESE: 1 p.m. graveside service, Cove Cemetery. — calendar cour- tesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel Discovery Room and Birds of Prey Exhibit. All guests age 5 and older must wear a mask while in the center. Wallowology is also offering free winter hikes in the Wallowa Valley with a naturalist. These fami- ly-friendly light hikes are available Friday-Sunday by appointment only. Call 509- 923-1965 to book a walk. For more information about the center, visit www. wallowology.org. Donna Jean (Hurd) Brown February 19, 1932 - January 12, 2022 Donna Jean Brown, age 89, of La Grande and for- merly of Elgin, Pendleton and Seal Rock, died Jan. 12, 2022, at her home. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, at noon at Daniels-Knopp Fu- neral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. A viewing will be held prior to the service starting at 10 a.m. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Hillcrest East Cemetery. Donna was born on Feb. 19, 1932, the daughter of Charles and Helen (Wendell) Hurd in Greentown, Ohio. Donna stayed at home and raised four children. She did a lot of babysitting, was a leader of 4-H clubs and Girl Scouts. On Aug. 14, 1948, she married Kermit Robert Brown. They were married 68 years until his death on Jan. 11, 2017. She enjoyed her family and friends, camping, fishing and her large flower and vegetable garden. Survivors include her children, Charlie and Bill; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by daughter, Sherrie; son, Fred; parents; and three sisters. Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, La Grande. Kaye R. (Abbott) Rogers May 10, 1934 - January 13, 2022 Kaye R. Rogers, age 87, passed away peacefully Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. A private family service will take place at a later time. Kaye was born May 10, 1934, to Robert Wade and Muriel Ruth (Greenslade) Abbott in Hunting- ton. She moved with her family to La Grande in 1948 where her father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. She graduated from La Grande High School with the class of 1952. She remained in contact with many classmates through the years, attending monthly lunch dates with those still liv- ing in La Grande until 2020. Kaye married Harold Mahlon Rogers on Feb. 18, 1954, in her parents’ home in La Grande. As a child Kaye roamed the hills around Huntington where she developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. Af- ter moving to La Grande she continued her exploration of the world around her. Kaye had a sense of humor and dry wit that frequently brought smiles to those around her. She was a lifelong learner who enjoyed reading, solving puzzles of many kinds and studying maps. As an employee of Radio Shack she expanded her knowledge of electronics to provide service to her customers. For several years Kaye played volleyball in the winter and softball in the summer on a community league team, forging many close friendships. The softball team helped construct a cabin that is popular with friends and family to this day. She enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter, and looking for mushrooms, four-wheeling, camping and hiking in the warmer months. Family was always important to Kaye. Visits from her oldest child to her youngest great-great-grandchild would bring a smile to her face. She would take the time to listen to their opinions and encourage them in their dreams. Charter members of Union County Search and Res- cue, Harold and Kaye were granted lifetime membership for their many years of volunteer service. She is survived by her husband, Harold Rogers of La Grande; sons, Steven (Shelly) Rogers of Joseph and Kevin (Jean) Rogers of La Grande; daughter, Kristine Rogers (Cliff) Scott of Kuna, Idaho; grandchildren, Lin- da Rogers (Jerimiah) Perkins of Middleton, Idaho, Lisa Rogers (Craig) Roberts of Lewiston, Idaho, Tai Rogers of The Dalles, Oregon, Heath (Sarah) Curtis of Silverton, Oregon, Amber Perkowski and Shawn Poole of Joseph, Oregon, Heather Rogers (Peirce) Richardson of Mari- on, Iowa, Jennifer Rogers (Aaron) Lutke and Stephanie Rogers of Meridian, Idaho, Timothy (Brittney) Rogers of Portland, Oregon, Jeanette Rogers Schmidt of Jack- son, Georgia, Tanner (Holly) Scott of Nampa, Idaho, and Nathan Scott of Kuna, Idaho; 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; siblings, Nancy Sergeant of Baker City, Oregon, and James (Mary) Abbott of Hanah- an, South Carolina; and numerous nieces, nephews, cous- ins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Wade Abbott, Victor Abbott and Karol Abbott. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contri- butions be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital (online at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html) or a charity of your choice. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of the intensive care unit at Grande Ronde Hospital for their exceptional care of Kaye during her stay there. Your kindness to the family and Kaye will always be re- membered.