La Grande Observer

Founded in 1896, The Observer is a newspaper that caters to the communities of Union and Wallowa counties in Oregon. Its main office is located in La Grande, which is the county seat of Union County. The newspaper is published three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, reaching an audience of over 11,000 readers. The Observer is part of Western Communications, a family-run business based in Bend, which also owns other newspapers in Baker City, Brookings, and Redmond, as well as in Crescent City and Sonora, California.

Local

English

Newspaper

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#789222

United States

#197841

News and Media

#6414

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

La Grande City Council approves general fund budget - La Grande Observer

1 day ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 11:09 pm Friday, June 6, 2025 Union County sheriff, city officials trade jabs over sheriff’s letterLA GRANDE — The discontinuation of the Union County Drug Task Force took center stage at the La Grande City Council meeting to adopt the 2025-26 fiscal year budget. The council ultimately passed the $19 million general fund budget June 4 without any changes. The adopted budget includes a $5 million deficit.
Harney County to oversee onsite septic systems in Union County

3 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 11:29 am Thursday, June 5, 2025 UNION COUNTY — Harney County will oversee the onsite septic program in Union County. Earlier this year the county entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Harney County and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for onsite wastewater treatment systems management and permitting.
Union County commissioners to hold Greater Idaho meeting June 11 - La Grande Observer

3 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 6:00 am Thursday, June 5, 2025 UNION COUNTY — The Union County Board of Commissioners holds a special meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, for the purpose of complying with Ballot Measure 31-101, also known as the Greater Idaho measure. The measure, which Union County voters approved in 2020, requires the board of county commissioners to meet three times each year to discuss Union County’s interests relating to the county becoming part of Idaho.
EOU’s 45th Parallel, Fiddle Ensemble perform June 6 - La Grande Observer

4 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, June 4, 2025 LA GRANDE — The music department at Eastern Oregon University will present a spring concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6, in McKenzie Theater. EOU’s 45th Parallel takes the stage to perform student arranged pieces. 45th Parallel features horns, woodwinds, piano, electric guitar, fiddle, percussion and vocals. The arranging team includes Ethan Cornia, Jadon Martinez and Jakob Graffunder. The concert includes pop songs from different genres and eras.
Residents can chat June 11 with La Grande city manager finalists

4 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 7:50 am Wednesday, June 4, 2025 LA GRANDE — Community members can meet with the candidates vying to be the next city manager on La Grande. The city is holding a meet-and-greet with the finalists on Wednesday, June 11, 5:30-7 p.m., at the La Grande City Hall, 1000 Adams Ave., according to a press release from the city of La Grande. After 17 years as city manager, Robert Strope announced he will retire later this year.
La Grande High School graduates 152 seniors - La Grande Observer

5 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 11:21 pm Monday, June 2, 2025 LA GRANDE — La Grande High School’s class of 2025 received many pieces of advice on Sunday, June 1, during the school’s graduation ceremony. Unsurprisingly many of the recommendations were for the graduating classes’ future, but LHS’s senior class President Rilley Robinson encouraged her fellow classmates to be fully present in the moment. Robinson acknowledged this was the moment she and her classmates had been waiting years to experience.
La Grande man in 7 criminal cases going to Oregon State Hospital

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 10:47 am Saturday, May 31, 2025 Judge sends La Grande man with seven open criminal cases to Oregon State HospitalLA GRANDE — A Union County Circuit Court judge has committed a La Grande man facing charges of felony sex abuse and burglary to the Oregon State Hospital. Gregory Archer, 72, has been in the Union County Jail in La Grande since the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested him May 14.
Harney County may oversee onsite septic systems in Union County

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 7:00 am Saturday, May 31, 2025 UNION COUNTY — The Union County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Wednesday, June 4, could grant Harney County the authority to enforce the Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Management Program. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality handles that for Union County now. The board is considering an ordinance to shift those duties to Harney County. The board meets starting at 9 a.m. in the Joseph Building Annex Conference Room, 1106 K Ave.
Transient man back in custody for stealing pickup from local dealership - La Grande Observer

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 8:13 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2025 LA GRANDE — Police arrested a transient man in La Grande for stealing a pickup from a local dealership. La Grande police took Kenneth Martinez, 44, of Walla Walla, into custody for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and failure to register as a sex offender, according to Oregon public records. The former is a felony level offense.
Longtime Commissioner Roberts to step down - La Grande Observer

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Bill Bradshaw

Published 11:17 pm Monday, May 26, 2025 ENTERPRISE — Wallowa County Commissioner Susan Roberts is ending her long career in public service. “It has been my pleasure to serve this county for so many years,” Roberts said in a press release. “The people who live here make Wallowa County as special as the land that we love and care for.”Roberts has been on sick leave since early this year.