INSIDE
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS BEGIN 2022 SPRING SEASON | SPORTS, A8
Book
provides
in-depth
look at area
history
Summerville
residents research
history of road names
in Union County
$1.50
TUESDAY EDITION
March 22, 2022
‘We’re always paying att ention’
Low COVID-19 numbers at Eastern Oregon University reflect county-wide trends
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Offi cials
at Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity are satisfi ed with recent
stagnant COVID-19 numbers,
which refl ect a country-wide
drop in cases.
The university has not
recorded a single COVID-19
case since Friday, Feb. 25.
Eastern has tallied 295 total
COVID-19 cases this academic
year, 157 of which are from off -
campus students. The recent
drop in cases mirrors Union
County’s recent trends, with
the county recording single
digit or no cases every day
since Feb. 23.
“I’m happy where we’re at,
but we’re always paying atten-
tion,” said Lacy Karpilo, vice
president of student aff airs.
“While we have lowered some
of the restrictions, we’re still
looking in the future as to what
could be on the horizon.”
The university dropped its
Karpilo
See, EOU/Page A6
By DICK MASON
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Trish
Yerges admits that the
fi nding took her breath
away.
The Summerville res-
ident was doing research
for a book about Union
County road names when
she began looking into the
history of Palmer Junction
Road. She knew that actor
Kevin Costner had once
lived there but then she dis-
covered that the road’s story
was illuminated by more
Hollywood star power than
she realized.
Yerges learned that
there was a timeshare home
on Palmer Junction Road
where Roy Rogers had once
lived.
“That was a big sur-
prise. It was really cool,”
said Yerges, co-author with
her husband, Dave, of the
new book “Historical Guide
to Union County, Oregon
Roads.”
Trish Yerges said Rogers
had a home along a sec-
tion of road known as “the
millionaire’s hill” because
the singer and actor lived
there. She also discovered
that Rogers rode a horse on
his Palmer Junction land,
one that was reportedly a
descendant of Trigger, the
famous palomino Rogers
rode in many movie appear-
ances. Yerges said that
when the horse died, Rogers
reportedly buried it at his
timeshare property on
Palmer Junction Road. She
said the owner of the prop-
erty today has looked for
where the horse was buried
but has not been able to
fi nd it.
Rogers is mentioned in
the new book along with
Costner, who lived on
Palmer Junction Road’s
Cabin Creek Ranch. It was
complete with a helicopter
pad and a backyard pool,
said Dave Yerges, who
See, History/Page A6
Calling it a season
Union County Warming Station wraps up 2022 campaign
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
Joe McGuire serves up a helping of broccoli salad at the warming station appreciation lunch at Zion Lutheran Church, La Grande, on Saturday, March 19, 2022.
The Union County Warming Station concluded its fourth year of operation on March 15, and saw a steady stream of individuals throughout the year — most
were from La Grande.
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
L
A GRANDE — When
cold weather strikes, the
Union County Warming
Station opens its doors to those in
need of shelter.
The warming station concluded its
fourth year of operation this March, pro-
viding temporary housing and services for
homeless individuals during the coldest
months of the year. With a number of
individuals and organizations combining
eff orts, the station’s board and volunteers
credit a community eff ort for keeping the
service up and running through 2022.
“It keeps people alive — that’s the main
reason we do it,” said Lisa Ladendorff ,
the shelter’s board treasurer. “It was prob-
ably one of our smoothest years ever. We
had very minimal law enforcement calls or
mental health calls.”
The Union County Warming Sta-
tion offi cially closed its 2022 season on
Tuesday, March 15, holding a lunch-in to
celebrate the eff orts of its numerous volun-
teers on March 19.
In its second year at the 3rd Street loca-
tion, the Union County Warming Station
experienced a busy year throughout the
2021-22 winter months. The space has a
maximum capacity of 20, which allows
18 individuals to join two volunteers on
a nightly basis throughout the winter
WEATHER
INDEX
Classified ......B4
Comics ...........B7
Crossword ....B4
Dear Abby ....B8
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
Fred Knape dishes up a plate of food at the warming shelter appreciation lunch at Zion Lutheran Church,
La Grande, on Saturday, March 19, 2022.
Home .............B1
Horoscope ....B4
Local...............A2
Lottery ...........A2
THURSDAY
Obituaries .....A5
Opinion .........A4
Sports ............A8
Sudoku ..........B7
— in the case of more than 18 individuals
seeking shelter, the station partners with
Community Connection to provide emer-
gency motel rooms for those in need. In
addition to the 18 individuals staying the
Full forecast on the back of B section
Tonight
Wednesday
41 LOW
66/39
Mainly clear
Partly sunny
GOL ANNOUNCES ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
See, Shelter/Page A6
CONTACT US
541-963-3161
Issue 35
2 sections, 16 pages
La Grande, Oregon
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to news@lagrande
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More contact info
on Page A4.
Online at lagrandeobserver.com