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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2022)
RECORDS Thursday, February 24, 2022 The ObserVer — A5 Literary event celebrates Women’s History Month The Observer ENTERPRISE — Fishtrap Fireside celebrates Women’s His- tory Month with featured read- ings from Wallowa County writers Debbie Carson, Talia Filipek and Toni Marie Jones. The virtual lit- erary event will be released on Friday, March 4, at www.fishtrap. org and on Fishtrap’s YouTube channel. The monthly literary gath- ering typically includes three writers reading from their works. The stream may be watched at any time after it’s released. The March episode of Fishtrap Fire- side is sponsored by Alder Slope Nursery. Carson, a native of Philadel- Carson Filipek Jones phia, also lived as a child in then- rural Connecticut, where sur- rounding dairy farms gave way to insurance company campuses. She acquired an art degree and held a variety of jobs before heading West. While living in Eugene, she joined Hoedads Reforestation Co-op, making lifelong friends, while earning very little planting trees. She fared better working as a U.S. Forest Service temp, but eventually returned to college. Now retired from school librarian- ship and teaching art, she has two adult children, an itchy foot and a love for being on the water. Filipek lives in Enterprise, ogling at the mountains with a cup of cocoa in one hand and a baby in the other arm. Growing up, she visited here with her Eastern Oregon-based family many sum- mers to camp and explore, and then returned as a young adult to work for the USFS as a ranger in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Her professional career has taken her to Corvallis, Culver, Estacada, Bend and tall buildings for work in design, editorial, pho- tography, outdoor ed and social sciences. Though she loves variety in her adventures, she always knew that near the Wallowas would be her base camp one day. Jones is a Wallowa County native whose Irish immigrant great-great-grandparents home- steaded on the Zumwalt Prairie in 1880. Her direct Indian lineage includes Cayuse, Assiniboine, Northern Cree and Muskego Cree. Two of her third great-grand- fathers were interpreters for the Nez Perce and the Cayuse during the 1855 Treaty negotia- tions. She holds a liberal studies degree with an anthropology minor specializing in Oregon Indians. After a career working for the Oregon University System as a secretary, program man- ager and then graphic artist, and another working as a marketing director and consultant for non- profit air ambulance companies, she is happily retired and grateful to have more time for writing and making. Jones is the co-ed- itor of the Frenchtown Historical Foundation newsletter, a publica- tion focusing on the Native Amer- ican, French-Canadian and Metis families’ history of the area. Her work has appeared in two Fish- trap Outpost chapbooks, and she is a member of the Write Women and Sheep Creek Word Herders, local writing groups headed up by author and rancher Janie Tippett. Multitasking on the sidelines alex Wittwer/EO Media Group Members of the North Powder girls basketball team and other North Powder students pretend to read Go! Magazine (a publication of EO Media Group) during a match between North Powder and Condon at North Powder High School on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. The Powder Valley Badgers won 80-63 against the Condon Blue Devils in the OSAA 1A State Championship playoff. COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD BRIEFS Inaugural ‘Last Fridays’ market set for Feb. 25 UNION — Catherine Creek Community Center, housed in the former Methodist Church build- ings on Main Street in Union, is launching a new monthly program called “Last Fridays.” Beginning Feb. 25, on the last Friday of the month the center will be open from 4-8:30 p.m. for vendors to sell their wares. Spaces are open to artists, crafters, farmers, foodies, home- based businesses, etc. Vendor spaces start at $20. The center’s commercial kitchen may be used with advance reservations, and the stage will be open for musicians. The goal is to give local makers and home businesses a storefront, and to create a farmers market-type program with a variety of products, services and activities. To sign up or for more informa- tion, email ccc667@gmail.com, visit the center’s Facebook page or call 541-562-2038. for Saturday, Feb. 26, from 6-9 p.m. This is their first gathering in two years, said Denny Langford, one of the organizers. There will be a finger-food pot- luck and door prizes in addition to the live music and dancing. Admission is $5 per person, or free for ages 12 and younger. BlueMountaineers bring live music back to the senior center Seeking Meals on Wheels volunteers LA GRANDE — With the COVID-19 pandemic waning, events are returning to the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande — including the end- of-the-month dances featuring live music by The BlueMountaineers. The community dance is scheduled LA GRANDE — Community Connection is seeking volunteers to help with the Meals on Wheels pro- gram in Union County. For more information, call Sydney Gleeson at 541-963-7532, ext. 1104, or stop by 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande. — The Observer PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT MONDAY, FEB. 21 8:40 a.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to Walmart, 11619 Island Ave., Island City, on a report of a trespass. The deputy cited a man for trespassing. 10:05 a.m. — A caller reported animal cruelty on the 600 block of Fourth Street, North Powder. 10:10 a.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to the 700 block of South Second Street, Union, on a report of a juve- nile disturbance. The deputy explained options. 1:51 p.m. — A caller on the 2500 block of Second Street, La Grande, reported a dog bit a person. An officer made contact and advised animal enforcement. 5:14 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to Walmart and gave a trespassing citation to the same man as earlier. 5:50 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to the 200 block of South 19th Avenue, Elgin, on a report of a burglary. The deputy took a report. 6:53 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 700 block of K Avenue on a report of a suspicious vehicle. An officer counseled juveniles. 8:04 p.m. — A resident on the 62700 block of Fruitdale Lane, La Grande, reported of a mail theft. A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded and took a report. 11 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 2600 block of Island Avenue on a report of a possible car prowl. Officers coun- seled two in the area. TUESDAY, FEB. 22 12:25 a.m. — La Grande police responded to the 200 block of Depot Street for a disturbance. Officers separated and counseled the parties and trespassed one person. 12:39 a.m. — Police responded the 2600 block of Island Ave- nue, La Grande, on a report of harassment and counseled the peo- ple involved. 7:49 a.m. — A caller reported animal neglect at a residence on the 600 block of Y Avenue, La Grande. 9:12 a.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a person who went out last night from the area of 58300 Grande Ronde Road, La Grande, to help vehicles stuck on U.S. Forest Ser- vice Road 51. A deputy located the subject and helped get several vehicles unstuck. 2:51 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about check fraud from Market Place Fresh Foods, 1912 Fourth St. An officer responded and took a report. 3:28 p.m. — A caller reported suspicious circumstances involv- ing burning dirt at a residence at Tamarack Courts Apartments, 1613 21st St., La Grande. An officer made contact and took information. 7:41 p.m. — La Grande police recovered a firearm that was out of Umatilla County. DEATH NOTICES Helen Cochrane La Grande Helen Cochrane, 98, of La Grande, died Feb. 19, 2022. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring. Arrangements are by Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, La Grande. UPCOMING LOCAL SERVICES Feb. 25 — RUBY WREN: 1 p.m. graveside ser- vice, Weston Cemetery. Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 — STEVE HAMBLIN: Friday, 5-7 p.m. viewing, Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande; Saturday 10 a.m. funeral, Loveland Funeral Chapel (casual dress preferred), followed by Summer- ville Cemetery graveside service and potluck. March 5 — DAVID KENNEDY: noon celebration of life, Elgin Community Center (dropped off potluck dishes at the center after 10 a.m.). March 11 — GEORGE RUSH: 10:30 a.m. memo- rial service, Catherine Creek Community Center, Union. March 26 — JUDY HUNT: 3 p.m. celebration of life, La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church. May 19 — ORVA MURRILL: 2 p.m. graveside service, Union Victorian Cemetery. Please follow guidelines regarding face coverings and social distancing at gatherings. Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Orva Lu (Loftus) Murrill May 21, 1931 – February 5, 2022 Orva Lu Murrill, 90, of Union, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at a local care facility. A graveside service will be held at the Union Victorian Cemetery on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 2 p.m. Orva was born on May 21, 1931, in Enterprise, Oregon, to James and Lucy (Baker) Loftus. She resided in Union, Enterprise, Imnaha and Lostine, Oregon. She attended schools in Imnaha and Enterprise, Oregon. She married Leonard Murrill. Orva was a devoted wife and mother. She also worked as a bartender and cook. She enjoyed playing cards, camping, fishing and crossword puzzles. Orva is survived by her husband, Leonard; children, Lennie Murrill (Donna) and Gayle Murrill (Debbie), both of Milton-Freewater, Oreon; daughter-in-law, De- nise Murrill; six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchil- dren. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lucy; sons, Eddie and Carl Murrill; sisters, Leona Whitmore and Francis Kangus; and brothers, Samuel Loftus and Paul Loftus. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.