LA GRANDE — Several Union County graduating seniors and current college students received academic scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 from Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative.
1943-2020 ⢠Formerly of La Grande
Karen Rae Phifer, 77, formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 16, 2020, in Springfield, after a short illness. A quiet burial will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande May 22 at 2 p.m., followed by a gathering at the Riverside Park Pavilion at 3 p.m. Masks are requested.
Karen was born March 21, 1943, to Raymond and Frieda (Kennedy) Gray, in their family home on Cedar Street in La Grande. Karen was active in many clubs and activities. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1961. She continued her education at the University of Oregon, where she explored her love of art and dance and graduated with a bachelorâs degree in education.
LA GRANDE â With graduation only a short few weeks ahead, the La Grande High School graduation party is looking to offset some fears and leave grads feeling hopeful, safe and possibly in a car.
âItâs making this pretty special,â said Geoffrey Robinson, a La Grande High School parent and one of the lead organizers of the event to be held at the Union County Fairgrounds.
The 2011 Kia Soul, which Legacy Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Island City donated, comes on the heels of dozens of other donations from businesses, organizations and individuals for the graduation party.
Robinson said graduation is a huge milestone for seniors, and this can make youths take chances and do risky things, such as drinking and driving. The graduation party is one way to help prevent that.
UNION COUNTY â Union County voters approved a levy to control weeds and elected several new members to school boards.
Turnout in the county stands at 24.8% for the Tuesday, May 18, special elections, a return of 4,708 out of a total of 18,959 ballots, according to the unofficial results from the Oregon Secretary of State. That s is in line with the turnout statewide, which was a little better than 24.6%.Â
The Observer will update this as results become available.Â
Fisher wins, Beck lead in race for Imbler School Board
IMBLER â Joseph Joe Fisher is taking a seat on the Imbler School Board, and and Jason Beck is in the lead to join him. Both races tightened as the night wore on.
LA GRANDE â People who walk and bicycle in south La Grande may have a new reason to celebrate several years from now.
The city of La Grande has applied for a $134,595 grant from the state that would fund the planning work needed before starting on corridor projects that would make it possible for people to walk and bike safely and with ease.
The grant would come from the new Oregon Community Paths Program, which is dedicated to helping build off-road walking and biking paths that connect communities and destinations. House Bill 2017, known as Keep Oregon Moving, funds the Oregon Department of Transportation program.