RECORDS
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
THe OBseRVeR — A5
Rotary: From grilled onions to worldwide service
Rotary’s longtime
connection to Chief
Joseph Days aids many
May. All of the food comes from
local vendors. Fields said the
club will grill about 100 pounds
of onions and about 1,000 ham-
burger patties weighing in at one-
third pound each.
Each day the grill is restocked
and the process starts all over
again. The long days lead to tired
bodies, but Fields said it is all
worth it in the end.
Rotary members work in shifts
across the days and are often
greeted by the smiles of returning
customers throughout the years. It
allows the club to showcase itself
to people that come far and wide
to Chief Joseph Days.
“It is a great community part-
nership and a great way to show-
case the service reason behind
Rotary,” Fields said. “The motto
of Rotary is ‘a life of service.’”
Fields said it also allows rot-
aractors (those 18 through their
20s) and interactors (high school
rotary clubs) to see their club in
action and build connections with
other members.
“I think it is important for
people of all ages to have exam-
ples,” Field said. “To have
people and those in their 20s is
a great example of when people
By JEFF BUDLONG
Wallowa County Chieftain
JOSEPH — The sweet smell
of fried onions is set to fill the air
around Chief Joseph Days once
again.
For more than 25 years, the
Rotary Club of Wallowa County
has been a fixture at Chief Joseph
Days selling food as its pri-
mary fundraiser for the year.
The cheeseburgers, hot dogs and
drinks are popular enough that the
club grew from a cramped trailer
to a more permanent structure
where the grill and wok are able
to satisfy the happy customers.
“We run the Bronc Buster Grill
out of that space, and it is the
only time of the year it is open,”
club president-elect Jeff Fields
said. “Our big draw is that we
grill up a bunch of Walla Walla
sweet onions and that aroma floats
across the rodeo grounds. It is our
biggest advertisement.”
Seven rotary members work
Contributed Photo
Rotarian John McColgan takes an order at the Bronc Buster Grill during the 2019
Chief Joseph Days celebration.
shifts throughout the four days of
the event with Fields often man-
ning the grill with another person
at the two-foot wok tending to the
onions. Two people take orders at
a time, someone preps the food, a
floater helps where needed and a
cashier collects money.
It comes across as a well-oiled
machine, but planning begins in
April to get the wheels in motion,
and food vendors are lined up in
Foundation awards grant to Cook Memorial Library
Funds will be used to purchase new books
for club members and all patrons
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Cook
Memorial Library, La
Grande, has been awarded
a $1,500 grant by the
Libraries of Union County
Foundation. The funds will
be used to purchase six
months of
books for
the Mystery
Book Club’s
members
and books to
create Book
Club Kits for
Peacock
all library
patrons.
Rose Peacock, adult ser-
vices librarian, in a press
release said, “We’re so
grateful to the Library Foun-
dation for this grant. It will
allow our book club more
flexibility in their choices
and provide book club kits
for our community.”
The Libraries of Union
County Foundation is dedi-
cated to promoting lifelong
literacy by providing grants
to the public libraries in
Union County.
Check out Cook Memo-
rial Library’s many offer-
ings and programs at www.
cookmemoriallibrary.org,
call 541-962-1339 or stop by
2006 Fourth St.
• LA GRANDE — The Inter-
Mountain Education Service District
Board of Directors meets for a board
retreat and regular board meeting on
Wednesday, July 27, 1604 27th St., in
La Grande. The retreat will be from
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the reg-
ular meeting. To access the agenda
and Zoom information, go to www.
imesd.k12.or.us.
BRIEFS
Visit Cook Memorial Library
this week for storytime
LA GRANDE — Cook Memorial
Library, 2006 Fourth St., La Grande
invites children to the Thursday, July
28, storytime in the library’s Story
Circle at 10:30 a.m. for songs, stories
and a craft. Older kids can get crafty
at the weekly Kid Craft Friday from
3- 4 p.m. The Friday, July 29 activity,
for ages 7-10, is painting rocks. On
Saturdays, join the Campfire Sing-
Along at 10:30 a.m. in the Story
Circle.
For more information on upcoming
events, go to www.cookmemorial-
Richard “Dick” Wood, 88, of Elgin, died July 22,
2022, at his home. Arrangements are by Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, La
Grande.
The Observer, File
A clear blue sky outlines the main entrance to Cook Memorial
Library, 2006 Fourth St., La Grande, in this 2016 photo. In July 2022
the library announced it was awarded a $1,500 grant by the Libraries
of Union County Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase six
months of books for the library’s book clubs.
Sign up now for free
QuickBooks class
LA GRANDE — Training &
Employment Consortium, 1901
Adams, La Grande, is offering free
hands-on QuickBooks training Aug.
2-4. During the three-day course,
8:30-11:30 a.m. each day, partici-
pants will build a sample company
by developing and using accounts
to make daily transactions, receive
and maintain inventory, pay bills,
record payments and then review
income and expense and balance sheet
reports. Register by calling Coral at
541-633-2084.
Watch a movie under the stars
LA GRANDE — The city of La
Grande Parks and Recreation Depart-
ment and Union County Safe Commu-
nities Coalition are hosting movie nights
at Pioneer Park this summer. Watch
“Raya and the Lost Dragon” on July 29
and “Detective Pikachu” on Aug. 19.
Come to the park by 9 p.m., and the free
movies begin at dusk. Bring snacks and
lawn chairs or blankets.
All ages invited to community
dance July 30 in La Grande
LA GRANDE — The BlueMoun-
taineers will provide live music for an
end-of-the-month community dance
on Saturday, July 30, from 6-9 p.m., at
the Union County Senior Center, 1504
N. Albany St., La Grande Admission is
$5, or free for ages 12 and younger. The
evening includes a finger food potluck.
— The Observer
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
SATURDAY, JULY 23
Richard Tittle
Elgin
LA GRANDE — The La Grande
Police Department has partnered with
the La Grande Parks Department’s
Safe Routes to School Program and
Cook Memorial Library to reward safe
bicycle riders July 18-29. Local officers
will be giving away free coupons peri-
odically to kids they see practicing safe
riding during the two-week event. For
more information on bicycle safety, visit
the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration website: www.nhtsa.
dot.gov.
2:53 a.m. — La Grande police responded to a complaint about
a loud party on the 1900 block of H Avenue. Police dispersed the
party.
1:28 p.m. — Union County Sheriff’s Office responded to Panda
Express, 11617 Island Ave., Island City, and cited Catlin James
Ganung, 35, for first-degree theft, second-degree criminal tres-
pass and second-degree criminal mischief.
3:50 p.m. — La Grande police responded to N Avenue and
Ninth Street on a complaint about a suspicious person selling jew-
elry. An officer counseled the subject, who then left.
5:55 p.m. — Union County Sheriff’s Office received a request
for assistance with a vehicle theft from the 63200 block of High-
way 203. A deputy responded and determined the vehicle was
towed.
10:34 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1600 block of
L Avenue on a complaint of a loud party. Police advised people to
keep it down.
10:41 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 2400 block of
R Avenue on a report of a disturbance. Police arrested a 26-year-
DEATH & SERVICE NOTICES
Richard ‘Dick’ Wood
Kids practicing safe bicycle
riding may be rewarded
FRIDAY, JULY 22
Although there are just four
nights of rodeo at Chief Joseph
Days, the proceeds that are raised
help sustain the Rotary Club of
Wallowa County’s general fund
throughout the year. The club
focuses on education, health and
the local environment.
“We do short- and long-term
high school student exchange,
there is a youth leader confer-
ence we send a person to and job
shadowing for high school stu-
dents,” Fields said. “We also sup-
port seven female students in El
Salvador.”
The club also aids a drinking
water project in Baja, Mexico, and
helps the local food bank and sev-
eral other projects out of its gen-
eral fund.
Fields said being able to help
others gets back to the core of the
Rotary Club of Wallowa County.
“It is a group that is really ani-
mated by this idea of a life of ser-
vice, and they are putting it into
practice,” he said. “It is just people
who want to get things done and
have a good time doing it.”
Richard Tittle, 70, of North Powder, died July 20,
2022. Arrangements are by Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral
Home & Cremation Services, Halfway.
library.org, stop by the library or call
541-962-1339.
5:03 a.m. — La Grande police responded to the 400 block
of Harrison Avenue for a disturbance and arrested a 44-year-old
woman for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
8:36 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1900 block
of H Avenue on a report of an assault. Officers took a report and
arrested one person.
9:21 p.m. — Emergency services responded to Greenwood
Street and Madison Avenue, La Grande, on a report of a fire.
10:35 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy responded to the
40 block of North 14th Avenue, Elgin, on report of a suspicious per-
son. The deputy warned the subject.
Lasting impact
North Powder
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
MEETING
work together, so much more
can get done.”
old man for second-degree disorderly conduct.
SUNDAY, JULY 24
3:25 a.m. — Local emergency services responded to Phys Road
and Highway 237, La Grande, on a report a vehicle that crashed
and rolled. A Union County sheriff’s deputy took a report.
9:43 a.m. — Law enforcement responded to the area of 69900
Hidden Valley Lane, Cove, on a domestic disturbance call and sep-
arated the parties involved.
3:08 p.m. — A Union County sheriff’s deputy and Oregon State
Police trooper responded to the 800 block of Third Street, North
Powder, on a report of a disturbance. Officers separated the par-
ties involved.
6:55 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1100 block of D
Avenue for a disturbance and made an arrest.
8:27 p.m. — A caller reported a suspicious motor home on the
1300 block of Ninth Street, La Grande. An officer checked into it
and found the friend of a resident in the neighborhood owned the
motor home.
La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR
975-2000
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE
Joe Horst
ACDelcoTSS
UPCOMING
LOCAL
SERVICES
July 30 — MILDRED McMURPHY: 10 a.m.
memorial service, La Grande Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints Stake Center.
July 30 — MIKE RUTH: 11 a.m. celebration
of life, Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life
Celebration Center, La Grande; food and fellowship
follows at Island City City Hall.
July 30 — TIFFANY GIRRARD: 1:30 p.m.
Rosary, 2 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial, Our Lady of
the Valley Catholic Church, La Grande.
July 30 — CLARENCE WILSON: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Lighthouse Pentecostal Church,
Island City (casual dress preferred).
Aug. 5 — JOHN CEDERHOLM: 2 p.m. funeral,
La Grande Church of the Nazarene (casual dress
preferred); graveside service immediately follows at
Hillcrest East Cemetery, La Grande, then a celebration
of life at the McIntosh Barn, 62576 Leffel Road.
— Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande
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Open Class Static Entries
Will only be accepted on the following dates & times.
All static entries need to be dropped off at the Courtright Building
Sunday, July 31st
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Monday, August 1st
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday, August 2nd
8:00 am to 10:00 am, Horticulture Only
Join us for the 150th Union County Fair!