RECORDS
TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022
THE OBSERVER — A5
Awakened dragon boats take to the water June 29
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
JOSEPH — The dragon
boats will take to the water
at the boat launch dock at
the Wallowa Lake Marina
for the fi rst time in a couple
of years on Wednesday,
June 29, from 6-7 p.m.,
according to Trudy Turner
of the Dragons on the Lake
Paddle Club.
“It will be an open
paddle,” Turner said in an
email. “We want to fi ll the
boat — make a reservation
to secure a seat or just come
down to the dock 15 min-
utes early.”
She recommended
wearing “light clothing that’s
OK to get wet and bring
water, eyewear, sunscreen
and a sunny disposition.”
She said the boats will
be available for three ses-
sions of paddling a week —
one at 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays
and two sessions on Satur-
days. The fi rst session on
Saturday is 8-9 a.m. and is
open to anyone by donation.
Reservations and additional
information are available at
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
Trudy Turner, a member of the Dragons on the Lake Paddle Club,
paints an eye on the head of a dragon boat Friday, June 24, 2022, in
Joseph, to offi cially wake it up for the season.
dragonsonthelakepaddle-
club@gmail.com.
The second Saturday
paddle, from 9:30-11 a.m.,
is for those members who
want to do race practice.
That session is a much
more intense workout and
timing and active partici-
pation are essential, as it is
strenuous exercise rather
than recreational paddling,
Turner said.
Newcomers to the sport
would fi rst have to paddle
the earlier session so that
they can learn the basics
before paddling the second,
race-practice session.
She said the club cur-
rently has only 12 personal
fl oatation devices available,
so bringing one will be very
helpful. The club can seat
only as many people as they
have safety equipment for.
“The donations will
help with buying more and
upgrade paddles and other
equipment, so the number
of PFDs will change as the
season progresses,” Turner
said.
Membership is expected
after three paddle sessions
for locals, though as a new
club it is fl exible.
Cost for this short,
July-September season is
$65. There are work hours
taking care of the boats and
equipment that can be done
to cover dues.
Paddlers must be age 18
and older. All ability levels
are welcomed.
“But we will assess phys-
ical concerns on a personal
basis for safety reasons,”
Turner added.
Turner said the Wal-
lowa Lake Lodge is having
a fundraising dinner for
the club on Aug. 14 with
music and fi re dancing on
the lawn after dinner and
a predinner cocktail hour.
Additional details will be
available later.
Beverage presenting water plan to Union County Progressives
The Observer
LA GRANDE —
Union County Com-
missioner Donna Bev-
erage will be presenting
the Union County-Upper
Grande Ronde River
Watershed Partnership
Place-Based Integrated
Water Resources Plan
during a virtual meeting
of the Union County
Progressives.
The meeting is sched-
uled for 7 p.m. Thursday,
June 30.
The plan seeks to
improve water quality
and quantity in the Upper
Grande Ronde River
Watershed. During her
presentation, Beverage
will highlight the plan’s
projects that are starting in
the next few months.
To attend the presenta-
tion, request Zoom access
from Randy Knop by
calling 541-562-6289 or
emailing rknop@eoni.com.
All are welcome.
Lunch for children served in Wallowa County this summer
By ANN BLOOM
For the Wallowa County Chieftain
WALLOWA COUNTY — The
summer months are a time of swim-
ming, hanging out with friends and
playing in the park for young people,
but for some it can be a time of food
insecurity as school lets out and their
regular school lunch goes away. This is
where the Summer Lunch in the Park
program, operated through Building
Healthy Families, can help.
“For many children, summer
lunch, like school lunches, is the
only complete meal a child receives
for that day. Summer lunches play
an important role in providing nutri-
tious meals for hungry children,” said
Susan Polumsky, BHF food program
coordinator.
The program serves free lunch to
children 18 and younger at three dif-
ferent locations in Wallowa County
from noon to 12:30 p.m., Monday
through Thursday. The program
started June 13 and runs through Aug.
4. Lunch is served at the Joseph City
Park, the Enterprise City Park and
Wallowa City Park.
One signifi cant change this year
is that the program requires that all
lunches be consumed on-site. During
the past two years, due to the COVID
pandemic, meals were “grab and go.”
Participants could pick up their meals
and eat them off site.
BHF has been coordinating the
program since 2016. The program
serves 400-500 meals per week to
county children. It is a federal program
off ered through the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
“The USDA reimburses us a pre-
determined price per meal served,”
Polumsky said. “However, that does
not cover all our costs including staff
wages to prepare and serve the food.
We do appreciate the donations we
receive from the community to help
support summer lunches.”
According to Polumsky, the meals
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
11:11 a.m. — La Grande police received a report of a civil distur-
bance. An offi cer responded and took information.
1:31 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a missing per-
son. An offi cer made contact and created a bulletin.
3:15 p.m. — A caller at Eastern Oregon University, 1 University
Blvd., La Grande, reported harassment. An offi cer responded and
took a report.
3:19 p.m. — A caller reported littering at Wolf Creek Reservoir,
North Powder. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy responded and
referred the matter to a marine deputy.
9:11 p.m. — A caller reported a dog on the 1300 block of X Ave-
nue, La Grande, bit someone. An offi cer responded and took a
report.
11:01 p.m. — A caller reported fi reworks on the 800 block of
Jackson Avenue, La Grande. An offi cer responded but did not fi nd
anyone setting off fi reworks.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
3:22 a.m. — La Grande police received a report of a runaway
juvenile. An offi cer responded and took a report.
9:33 a.m. — A caller reported possible trespassers at Mid Colum-
bia Bus Co., 1901 Jeff erson Ave., La Grande. Police responded and
warned two people for trespass. They moved along.
11:55 a.m. — Local law enforcement responded to a residence
on the 700 block of 12th Street, La Grande, for a domestic distur-
bance. Medics also responded.
12:37 p.m. — Medics and law enforcement responded to High-
way 244, La Grande, on a report of a crash involving an injury.
Union County sheriff ’s offi ce took a report.
8:48 p.m. — Union County sheriff ’s offi ce received a report from
the 300 block of Inverness Street, Summerville, of a dog biting
someone. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy responded and took a
report.
9:01 p.m. — A caller reported an intoxicated male near Island
City School, 10201 W. Fourth St. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy
responded and counseled juveniles.
9:59 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1700 block of
U Avenue for a disturbance. One male was taken to Grande Ronde
Hospital, La Grande.
11:36 p.m. — A caller reported a burglary on the 1900 block of
U Avenue, La Grande. An offi cer made contact and took a report.
are also required to meet certain nutri-
tional specifi cations or BHF cannot
receive reimbursement.
“Chicken strips, burritos and spa-
ghetti are some of the favorites, which
must have a whole-grain component
to be reimbursable. If we run out, we
can serve PBJ’s (peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches),” she said.
Volunteers are always needed and
all servers are trained to make sure
each child receives a nutritionally bal-
anced meal.
“When I asked a child what meals
he liked the best, he replied, ‘I like
everything you serve,’” Polumsky said.
A press release issued by BHF
stated that in 2019, 141 million meals
and snacks for kids were provided
through summer lunch programs when
kids were out of school. Research
shows that a lack of nutrition during
the summer months may set up a cycle
for poor performance once school
begins. Summer meal programs help
fi ll the gap.
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DEATH NOTICE
Richard Anderson
Summerville
Richard Anderson, 79, of Summerville, died June 25,
2022, at his residence. Arrangements are by Loveland
Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
UPCOMING
LOCAL
SERVICES
July 3 — JULIE BROWN: 2:30 p.m. celebration
of life, Faith Center, Island City (casual dress
preferred); reception follows 4-7 p.m. at Riverside Park
Pavilion, La Grande.
July 3 — LILYAN HALE: 4 p.m. memorial
service, Summerville Baptist Church.
July 9 — JANET ALLREAD: 10 a.m. celebration
of life, Riverside Park Pavilion, La Grande (casual
dress preferred).
July 9 — MYRNA JOURNOT: 1 p.m. celebration
of life, Wallowa Assembly of God Church; interment
follows at Promise Cemetery.
— Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande
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Richard “Dick” Lee O’Dell
July 22, 1934 – May 30, 2022
Richard “Dick” Lee O’Dell, 87, of
La Grande, passed away on Monday,
May 30, 2022 at his residence. A
Celebration of Life was held on June
7, 2022.
Dick was born on July 22, 1934,
in Mattoon, Illinois to Randall and
Zella (Boorom) O’Dell. He resided
in Mattoon, IL; Stewardson, IL; Cove,
OR and La Grande, OR. He was married to Patricia Elaine
Pfel.
Dick was employed with Borden Chemical. He enjoyed
archery shooting (tournaments), archery hunting, motorcycle
riding, highway and off-road dirt bike riding, snowmobiling,
camping and backpacking. He was a member and past
President of the Grand Ronde Bowmen and the Snowdrifters.
Dick is survived by his wife, Patricia “Pat”; children,
Shannon Wettlaufer of Michigan, Marty O’Dell (Marsha) of
Imbler, OR and Teresa Williams (Bob) of San Antonio, TX;
sister, Linda Lankow (Terry) of Stewardson, IL and their
children, Brian (Lori) Lankow and Jon (Sherri) Lankow;
nieces and nephews, Jon Tilford, Karen Davis, Dawn Busher
and Randal “Randy” Tilford and several great nieces and
nephews; 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He
was preceded in death by his parents, Randall and Zella and
sister and brother-in-law Carol and Ken Tilford.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
www.eomediagroup.com
Grande Ronde Hospital & Clinics proudly welcomes
Emma Peiris, MD
Dr. Emma Peiris is a Primary Care Internist joining us at the GRH Regional Medical Clinic. She is
board certified in Internal Medicine. Emma’s practice focuses on general internal medicine
with emphasis on older adults. She believes that building
relationships with her patients and their families allows her to
provide outstanding medical care. She enjoys guiding patients
through the medical system and making sure they understand her
recommendations and the recommendations made by their other
doctors. A passion for rural healthcare and love for the outdoors
brought Dr. Peiris to GRH. During her free time, she enjoys spend-
ing time with her family doing outdoor activities and playing
complicated board games.
Emma Peiris, MD
Please help us welcome
Dr. Peiris and her family to our community!!
GRH Regional Medical Clinic
GRH.org — 506 4th Street — 541.663.3138