RECORDS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022
THE OBSERVER — A5
HONORS
Nothing but smiles at 2022 Chief Joseph Days Grand Parade
Eastern Oregon students
win scholarships from
Women for Agriculture
The Observer
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
Kids scramble for candy thrown from fl oats in the 76th Chief Joseph Days Grand Parade on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Right: Destiny
Wecks, a Chief
Joseph Days queen
from 2020-21, is
now Miss Teen
Rodeo Oregon and
participated in the
2022 Chief Joseph
Days Grand Parade
on Saturday,
July 30, 2022.
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
Diane Sweek, a member of the 1949 Chief Joseph Days Court,
rides in a 1923 Ford Model T Roadster during the 2022 Chief
Joseph Days Grand Parade on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa
County Chieftain
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
MEETINGS
• PENDLETON — The Inter-
Mountain Education Service District
Board of Directors meets for a regular
session at noon on Wednesday, Aug.
10, at the IMESD building, 2001 SW
Nye Ave., Pendleton. The agenda and
Zoom access information is available
on the InterMountain ESD website,
www.imesd.k12.or.us.
• LA GRANDE — A regular ses-
sion of the La Grande School District
Board of Directors begins at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the Dis-
trict Offi ce Board Room at 1305 N.
Willow. The meeting will be available
in person, online and via phone. See
the agenda at www.lagrandesd.org for
meeting access information.
BRIEFS
Parks and Recreation’s last
camp of the summer features
favorite activities for youth
LA GRANDE — The city of La
Grande Parks and Recreation Depart-
ment’s fi nal summer day camp is
called “Summer’s Greatest Hits,” held
Aug. 15-19 at the Rotary Pavilion in
Pioneer Park. Throughout the summer
campers voted on favorite activities,
and these will be featured throughout
the week.
The camp is open to children who
have fi nished kindergarten and older.
Full-day camp is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
$60 for the week. Half-day camp is
8 a.m. to noon, $100 for the week.
Both half-day and full-day campers
will be provided lunch at the Riveria
Activity Center. Campers will walk
or commute from Pioneer Park to
Riveria at 11:15 a.m., have lunch, then
return to Pioneer Park by 12:15 p.m.
Check on availability and reg-
ister at https://secure.rec1.com/
OR/la-grande-or/catalog or call
541-962-1352.
Catch an outdoor concert
Aug. 11 at Riverside Park
LA GRANDE — A free concert
by Russ Kofoed will be held from
6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Riv-
erside Park, corner of North Spruce
Street and Fruitdale Lane, La Grande.
If the weather is bad, the music will
happen inside the pavilion. The Riv-
erside Concert Series off ers concerts
on Thursdays during the summer. The
last concert of the season will be Aug.
18, featuring Brian Mandella.
EOU climbing wall open by
appointment
LA GRANDE — The climbing
wall at Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity, La Grande, is open to the public
by appointment. Summer hours are
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from
5-8 p.m. The wall is on the second-fl oor
east balcony of the gym in Quinn Col-
iseum. Schedule an appointment at
www.eououtdoor.youcanbook.me.
The facility is open to the gen-
eral public, including reservations
for birthday parties, church groups,
nonprofi t organizations and school
groups. All climbers must sign a doc-
ument stating they will adhere to all
EOU and OAP infectious disease
guidelines and protocols.
Visit the Union County
Museum this summer
For information on the senior
center’s meal programs, including
having lunches delivered by
Meals on Wheels, call the kitchen
541-605-5556.
The menu for Aug. 8-12:
Monday: BLT sandwich, pasta
salad, apple Waldorf salad, chocolate
chip cookie.
Tuesday: cabbage rolls over rice,
DEATH NOTICE
John ‘Mike’ McDowell
Elgin
UNION — The Union County
Museum, 331 S. Main St., Union,
is open Thursdays through Satur-
days, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located in the
center of Union’s historic district, the
museum has expanded some exhibits
and continues to feature longtime col-
lections. This year, the museum is cel-
ebrating 25 years of being home to
the “Cowboys Then & Now” exhibit.
Also, visitors may access photos and
archived books for research on family
history.
General admission is $5, seniors
are $4, students are $3, and children
younger than 6 are free. Membership
and season passes start at $10.
For more information, go to www.
ucmuseumoregon.com or call 541-
562-6003. Anyone interested in volun-
teering at the museum can email Raye
Clark, volunteer coordinator, at his-
tory@ucmuseumoregon.com.
— The Observer
UNION COUNTY SENIOR LUNCH MENU
LA GRANDE — Lunch is served
at the Union County Senior Center,
1504 N. Albany St., La Grande, on
weekdays. The meal is open to the
public.
Dine-in meals are served from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; suggested
donation is $4 for age 60+, $7 for all
others. Takeout meals are picked up
from noon to 1 p.m. at the kitchen’s
back door; cost is $7 for all.
EASTERN OREGON
— The Eastern Oregon
Chapter of Oregon
Women for Agriculture
awarded its 2022 scholar-
ships to three outstanding
students pursuing a degree
in agriculture. Each schol-
arship applicant wrote a
500- to 1,000-word essay
about one of the biggest
challenges facing agricul-
ture today and how she
plans to be a part of the
solution.
“Reading
through the
essays gives
hope to the
future of
agriculture,”
stated a press
Hanson
release from
the chapter’s
president,
Bethany
Woodall.
“The EOWA
is proud to
support this
Yates
next gen-
eration of
Women in
Agricul-
ture through
these schol-
arships.”
Ellie
Morgan
Hanson, of
La Grande,
won the fi rst place schol-
arship of $1,000. She
plans to major in busi-
ness administration and
agricultural sciences at
Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity/Oregon State
University.
Alyson Yates, of La
Grande, the second place
winner, was awarded a
scholarship of $750. She
plans to major in agricul-
tural sciences at Eastern
Oregon University/
Oregon State University.
Madison Morgan, of
Halfway, was the third
place winner and awarded
a scholarship of $500. She
plans to study molecular
biology at Eastern Oregon
University.
The Eastern Oregon
Chapter of Oregon
Women for Agriculture
(www.owaonline.org/
chapters/eastern-oregon-
chapter/)is a nonprofi t
organization made up
of individuals from all
walks of life who realize
the importance of agri-
culture and work together
to communicate the story
of today’s agriculture.
This is the fourth year
the group has been able
to award scholarships.
These scholarships
are possible through the
group’s fundraising Echo
Sage Trail 5K/10K Run.
The run is the only fall
Eastern Oregon trail race.
For more information
visit www.echosage-
trailrun.com.
tomato-cucumber salad, cottage
cheese, fresh fruit.
Wednesday: fried chicken, mashed
potatoes and gravy, steamed vegeta-
bles, garden salad, fresh fruit, cake.
Thursday: curry chicken stuff ed
tomatoes, asparagus, fresh fruit, berry
pie.
Friday: bacon cheeseburger, sea-
soned steak fries, fresh fruit, double
fudge ice cream.
John Michael “Mike” McDowell, 79, of Elgin, died
July 23, 2022, at his residence. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
UPCOMING
LOCAL
SERVICES
Aug. 10 — LELAND FRIES: 11 a.m. graveside
service, Summerville Cemetery (casual dress
preferred).
Aug. 12 — SCOTT CHARON: 1 p.m. graveside
service, Island City Cemetery.
Aug. 13 — BILLY NORMAN: 10 a.m. military
graveside service, Enterprise Cemetery.
Aug. 13 — ED BOTZ: 1 p.m. celebration of life
and potluck, Rockwall Grange, Elgin.
Aug. 20 — DORIAN ‘DORN’ COX: 2 p.m.
graveside service, Union Cemetery (casual dress
preferred); a barbecue follows at Georgia Cox’s home.
Sept. 3 — NYLE ROLLINS: 1 p.m. celebration of
life, Fred Beeman Park, Island City.
Sept. 4 — JEFF BOND: 1 p.m. celebration of life,
Lone Hawk Ranch, 57899 Highway 237, Union.
Sept. 10 — THORVAL BURROWS: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Wallowa Senior Center.
— Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande
WWW.LAGRANDEOBSERVER.COM
Vanessa Louise Durfee
February 2, 1996 - July 24, 2022
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3
8:15 a.m. — A caller reported vandalism on the 6300 block
of Hunter Road, La Grande. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy
responded and took information.
1:49 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a person in
the road on the 1300 block of Willow Street. Police responded and
arrested a 39-year-old man for disorderly conduct.
4:03 p.m. — Union County Sheriff ’s Offi ce received a complaint
about a possible drug law violation at Union City Park, Union. A
deputy responded and counseled the parties involved.
8:25 p.m. — A caller reported a burglary on the 2400 block of
Riddle Road, La Grande. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy responded
and will provide an extra patrol.
11:17 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about
parking on the 2800 block of Athens Court. An offi cer responded
and gave the subjects a warning.
THURSDAY, AUG. 4
7:45 a.m. — A caller on the 1900 block of Adams Avenue, La
Grande, reported criminal mischief. An offi cer responded and will
follow up.
9:39 a.m. — A La Grande police offi cer responded to the 600
block of South 18th Street on a report of a disturbance. The offi cer
explained options to the parties involved.
11:03 a.m. — The Union County Sheriff ’s Offi ce received a
report of a missing person from the 600 block of Second Street,
North Powder. A deputy took a report.
2:30 p.m. — La Grande police at Spruce Street and Russell Ave-
nue arrested a 23-year-old woman for reckless driving.
5:02 p.m. — A Union County sheriff ’s deputy on the 2600 block
of Island Avenue, La Grande, noticed a male going through a
dumpster. The male left before the deputy returned.
8:31 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1700 block of
Gekeler Lane on a report of a disturbance. Offi cers trespassed one
male.
Follow us on
Facebook!
Audrie L. (Breshears) Chandler
January 10, 1938 - July 22, 2022
Audrie L. Chandler, of Elgin, died Friday, July 22, at
the age of 84 at her home. Private interment will be at the
Elgin Cemetery near her husband, Derril. Arrangements
are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life
Celebration Center of La Grande.
Audrie was born on Jan. 10, 1938, at the old Grande
Ronde Hospital in La Grande, the daughter of James “Bus”
and Edith (Prout) Breshears. She spent her lifetime living
in Elgin and worked as a clerk and stocker mostly at Elgin
Food Town, but briefly at a firearm store.
Audrie enjoyed embroidery, hunting, fishing and
camping. A very accomplished trapshooter, she was an
extreme competitor and received many trophies.
Audrie was married to Derrill Chandler on February
16, 1954 in Baker City. He preceded her in death on
November 18, 2009.
Surviving members of her family include her daughters,
Deborah Dyer of Elgin and Linda Dryden of Tri-Cities;
six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; a sister,
Mary Martin of Milton-Freewater; and other relatives.
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death
by her brothers, John and Jimmy Breshears; a daughter,
Gail Chaffee on October 30, 2009; and two grandsons.
Contributions in memory of Audrie Chandler may be
made to the La Grande Trap Club.
Born to this world as a
surprise on Feb. 2, 1996,
just as unexpected as her
birth, Vanessa Louise Durfee
passed away on July 24,
2022, from a cardiac arrest.
Our angel gave the gift of
organ donation and was able
to save and help more than
100 others.
Vanessa surprised her
parents with her presence the
day she came into this world.
She remained very close to her parents throughout her
life. She was the girl who talked to her mom every day.
She was a bright light to all who met her, especially her
two little girls, whom she cared for as a stay-at-home
mom. She had an infectious laugh and a beautiful smile.
Vanessa met Troy nine years ago and they dated for
six years. Vanessa and Troy had their lives planned out
together. They supported each other and were growing
in life together as a family. Troy took in Elaina as his
own, and then Vanessa and Troy had Addison together.
Vanessa was a very loving and accepting soul. She will
be missed immensely by many many people.
Vanessa, 26, of La Grande, is survived by her two
beautiful daughters, Elaina and Addison; parents, Ed
Durfee and Sharee Henderson; longtime boyfriend,
Troy Jones; Grandma Dodo; and many other aunts,
uncles, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her Pop James
Henderson, Gom Marie Plueard, Grandpa Dale and
Grandma Shirley Durfee, and many aunts and uncles.
There is no memorial service planned at this time but
family and friends will be notified when a date is set.