Leslie Thompson, Argus Observer Journalist Profile

Articles

Yvontey Castillo's family turns to community for help in hiring private investigator

3 days ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

ONTARIO — Friends and family of the late Yvontey Castillo, whose cause of death at age 31 remains unknown, gathered at Lions Park on May 26 for a fundraiser and candlelight vigil three months after her death. Castillo is a mother of four, who died Feb. 26. An autopsy has been done but results are still pending. Oregon State Police, which is leading the investigation, are awaiting those results before they determine if her death requires a criminal investigation.
Opinion: Council should revise budget to add 3 firefighters

3 days ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

If the Ontario City Council doesn't adjust the proposed budget to include funding for two more full-time firefighters, it will continue to leave the community and its first responders at risk. During budget meetings last month, a proposal to add three full-time firefighters quickly dwindled to one. The plan to add three in the 2025-26 fiscal year stemmed from results of a months-long study, which the city helped pay for.
32 graduates from Ontario High School earn biliteracy seal

4 days ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

ONTARIO — Of the 125 graduates in Ontario High School’s Class of 2025, 25% are fully proficient in two languages. Those graduates received the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy. According to the Office of English Language Acquisition, there are multiple benefits to being multilingual, multiliterate and multicultural. These include such benefits as a delay in cognitive signs of aging, better job offers, higher levels of abstract thought and reasoning, reduced discrimination and more. kAmx?
16 locals get first-place wins at state track and field

5 days ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

MALHEUR COUNTY — Students from throughout Malheur County were in Eugene this past weekend to take part in the OSAA State Championships for their respective division. In Malheur County, that is 4A (Ontario), 3A (Nyssa and Vale) and 1A (Adrian, Four Rivers, Harper and Jordan Valley). There were 16 individuals and teams who got first-place wins in their respective competitions and division. Also, there were two local athletes who got prestigious Athlete of the Meet awards.
A celebration of cultural diversity returns to Lions Park

5 days ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

ONTARIO — A festival where attendees can celebrate a variety of cultures that have ties to the region unfolds at Lions Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 7. There will be nine cultural villages this year. kAmQ%96 3:8 492?86D 2C6 E92E E96 }2E:G6 p>6C:42? G:==286 :D 8C@H:?8 H:E9 E96 DFAA@CE @7 E96 qFC?D\!2:FE6 %C:36 4@>:?8 @G6C 7C@> qFC?D[ 2?5 E92E E96C6 H:== 36 2 ?6H G:==286 7C@> E96 $42?5:?2G:2? $@4:6EJ @FE @7 q@:D6[Q D2:5 ~?E2C:@ pC62 r92>36C rt~ y@9?
Vikings memorialize late classmate during commencement

6 days ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

VALE — The fact that Wyatt Cannon would have been graduating with Vale High School’s Class of 2025 was not forgotten during commencement ceremonies on May 25. A seat was saved for him among the graduates, scholarships were given in his name, he was listed in the program and every student wore a button featuring a photo of their late classmate. The Vale student, who lived in Harper, died in a car crash on April 23, 2024. kAmsFC:?8 96C DA6649[ '2=65:4E@C:2?
Vikings shut out Hilanders in 2nd round of playoffs

1 week ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

VALE — The No. 6 Vikings softball team blanked their first opponents in the state playoffs. Vale won 10-0 in a home game against No. 11 Burns / Crane on May 28. According to stats provided by Head Coach Cirbi Morrison, the game was over by the fifth inning. Vale put up one run in the second, another in the third, five in the fourth and three in the fifth. kAmsFC:?8 E96 82>6[ '2=6 8@E `` 9:ED 2?5 @?6 6CC@C] qC26=J? z6==6C 2?5 %6282? $E@<6D 925 @?6 9@>6 CF?
Early morning fire destroys housing units under construction, damages house next door

1 week ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

ONTARIO — A duplex and accessory dwelling that were under construction and about 60 days from being move-in ready burnt to the ground early this morning in a fire that also damaged a neighboring house and three of its vehicles. The fire was in the 600 block of Southwest Third Avenue. “It was vandalism, arson, somebody burned them down,” said James Grissett, owner of the housing units that were under construction.
Dozens from Nyssa, Vale head to state track and field

1 week ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

MALHEUR COUNTY — Although seniors graduated from Nyssa and Vale high schools on May 25, there are 11 who will continue on their high school athletic journey past graduation. These include Mason Ballantyne, Julianna Bowns, Faustino Gutierrez, Jose Neri and Jazmin Pascacio, of Nyssa; and Skyler Cade, Jake Devos, Brady Jacobs, Bella Johnson, Brynlee Hartley and Kase Schaffeld, of Vale.
Plane races and mud obstacle run are back

1 week ago | argusobserver.com | Leslie Thompson

ONTARIO — The Ontario Municipal Airport and former municipal golf course will be a hub of excitement on May 30-31. They will be home to the return of the short takeoff and landing competition and the Big Nasty Adventure at the Ontario Speedway. kAm~?E2C:@VD 2:CA@CE[ 2=D@ <?@H? 2D z~}~[ H:== 36 9@>6 E@ E96 ~C68@? %C2:= $%~{ C246D @?46 >@C6[ :?4=F5:?8 2? 2G:2E:@? 7=J] %96 6G6?E :D 2? “6I4:E:?8 D9@H42D6 @7 D<:== 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46[” :?