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Sign up now for July 'Smart Driver' class
LA GRANDE — The next AARP Smart Driver class in Union County is planned for July 27 at Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande. The Saturday course will run from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with a break for lunch. Participants will refresh their driving skills, get up-to-date information on new rules of the road and learn research-based strategies to increase safety while behind the wheel. There is not a ...
2024 Union County Fair Talent Show
Elkhorn Media Group’s Union County Fair Talent Show is coming July 31st. This year’s winners will advance to the State Fair where none other than the judges from American Idol will be watching your performance. Print your registration form and drop it off at 1704 Adams Ave in...
UC Board of Commissioners adopts 2024-25 budget
LA GRANDE — It is official: Union County’s budget picture for the next year is set. The Union County Board of Commissioners commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday, June 26 to adopt a fiscal year 2024-25 total budget of $64.49 million. The budget is about 5% more than its current 2023-24 budget. The fiscal year starts July 1. The budget will allow Union County to retain all of its staff and its ...
Registered sex offender from Hermiston arrested after traffic stop in Union County
IMBLER — A traffic stop in Union County led to the arrest of a Hermiston man for multiple offenses, including failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, according to Oregon State Police. A Trooper stopped a black Ford pickup at milepost 11 on westbound Highway 82 on June...
Community dance features live music on June 29
LA GRANDE — The BlueMountaineers will provide the music for a community dance at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande, on Saturday, June 29. The band hosts a dance on the last Saturday of each month, from 6-9 p.m. All ages are welcome. Admission is $5, free for ages 12 and younger. The evening includes a finger food potluck. ___ (c)2024 The Observer (La Grande, Ore.) ...
Creative Laureate of Bend to share vision with Union County
LA GRANDE — Jason Graham, aka MOsley WOtta, a slam poet, writer, artist and the Creative Laureate for Bend, will be at Cook Memorial Library in the Community Room on Saturday, June 29, at 11 a.m. This free event is part of the library’s adult programs. Graham (MOsley...
Fairgrounds water and sewer project remains short of funding goals
LA GRANDE — The Union County Fair Association’s proposed water and sewage project is still far from becoming a reality. Despite successful recent fundraisers, the money generated for the project is still $2.7 million short of the $4.3 million total needed for it to be completed, according to Deb Cornford, a member of the Union County Fair Board. The good news is that $1.6 million has been ...
From my corner: The Observer's legacy will live on
The Observer has a rich history, but sadly, we have made the decision to suspend print publication of the newspaper. Beginning July 1, The Observer will be an online publication, with news of La Grande and Union County printed in the East Oregonian and mailed to Observer subscribers. The new EO will be published once a week on Wednesdays, and will be a regional publication, covering Umatilla, Morrow, Union, Wallowa, Baker and Grant counties.
Union County radio club makes 866 contacts on Field Day
LA GRANDE— A fishing rod, a car battery and state-of-the-art radio equipment served members of the Grande Ronde Radio Amateur Association this past weekend. All were used by club members to help make radio contacts while participating in American Radio Relay League Field Day, an annual international event, at Bird Track Springs Campground about 5 miles southwest of Hilgard State Park. Club ...
Two fallen law enforcement officers honored in Elgin
ELGIN — Almost 43 years have passed since these Union County law enforcement officers fell in the line of duty, but today their presence burns brighter than ever. Union Boy Scout Kelton Shoemaker is making sure of it.
New memorial in Elgin honors fallen Union County deputies
ELGIN — A new memorial has been unveiled in Elgin to honor two fallen deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO). Sheriff Cody Bowen and UCSO deputies gathered to celebrate the installation of the Fallen Deputy memorial, a project spearheaded by local Eagle Scout Kelton Shoemaker. The...
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