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.

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Births: May 14, 2025 - La Grande Observer

2 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Tammy Malgesini

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Good Shepherd Medical Center, HermistonApril 29, 2025ROSS — Sevana Reardon and Aaron Ross, of Hermiston; a boy, Whitt Isaac Ross. April 30, 2025WALKER — Brooke Walker and Tanner Walker, of Hermiston; a boy, Kolbey Brooks Walker. Grande Ronde Hospital, La GrandeMay 6, 2025SETON — Kayla Maureen Houston and Travis LJ Seton, of La Grande; a boy, Luca Cyrus Seton.
Northeast Oregon Department of Forestry to run fire training session May 13 at MERA - La Grande Observer

6 days ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 12:00 pm Saturday, May 10, 2025 UNION COUNTY — Residents may notice smoke coming from the Mount Emily Recreation Area on May 13, but the Oregon Department of Forestry said not to worry. The Northeast Oregon District is running a fire training session at the MERA parking lot on Owsley Canyon Road as part of a fire school program, according to a press release from ODF.
Traffic crash closes Highway 86 near Wallowa - La Grande Observer

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Jayson Jacoby

Published 8:45 am Friday, May 9, 2025 A traffic crash has closed Oregon Highway 82 about 4 miles west of Wallowa, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. There is no estimate for how long the closure will last, according to an update at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, May 9. More Breaking News
Wolf activity increases in Wallowa County

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Bill Bradshaw

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Commissioners, wildlife experts, ranchers and more attack wolf issueENTERPRISE — Calving season and a lack of newborn elk have prompted an onset of wolf depredations on livestock in Wallowa County. The county board of commissioners learned about the situation at its meeting Wednesday, May 7.
Births: May 7, 2025 - La Grande Observer

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Tammy Malgesini

Published 8:30 pm Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Good Shepherd Medical Center, HermistonMay 3, 2025ZOOK — Ryley Jo Zook and Anthony Tate Zook, of Hermiston; a boy, Emerson Tate Zook. Grande Ronde Hospital, La GrandeMay 1, 2025MURRY — Emily Hembree and Josey Murry, of La Grande; a girl, Rawley Riata Murry. May 2, 2025BARRY — Kelsey Marie Barry and Evan McNeill Barry, of La Grande; a boy, Miles Evan Barry. COX — Kori Cox and Michael Cox, of Union; a girl, Sophie Cox.
New Union County Chamber director ready to put skills to work

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 9:00 am Saturday, May 3, 2025 LA GRANDE — After four years of remote work, Saajan Chauhan is excited to exchange his days of virtual calls with far away clients for face-to-face meetings with local community members in his new role as the Executive Director of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. Since stepping into the position on April 14, Chauhan has been working to get a lay of the land. He is eager to bring his skills and expertise in digital marketing to the role.
Joseph mayor addresses litany of complaints - La Grande Observer

1 week ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Bill Bradshaw

Published 9:00 am Saturday, May 3, 2025 City council accepts administrator resignation, gets new councilorJOSEPH — The city of Joseph at its meeting Thursday, May 1, lost its administrator, gained a new city councilor and heard a rundown of complaints about governance and financial oversight. Dan Larman submitted his letter of resignation, effective immediately, as city administrator due to “personal reasons.” Mayor Stephen Bartlow said Larman’s reasons were because of health concerns.
Foundation raises more than $20K for imaging machine

2 weeks ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Bill Bradshaw

Published 9:10 pm Thursday, May 1, 2025 ENTERPRISE — Wallowa Memorial Hospital should be getting a new peripheral vascular sonogram by midsummer after the Circle 100 fundraiser on March 18 drew $20,500. Stacy Green, director of the Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation that put on the fundraiser, said the take wasn’t the highest the group has ever raised — it raised $24,000 last year. But it’s enough to purchase the sonogram, which costs $20,055.
Future housing development in La Grande could get a helping hand

2 weeks ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 30, 2025 LA GRANDE — An infrastructure project to support future housing in La Grande recently took a tentative step forward. The city is partnering with Regional Rural Revitalization Strategies Consortium, also known as R3, to explore funding the Eastside Water and Sewer Infrastructure Project.
Cove man arrested for sex crimes

2 weeks ago | lagrandeobserver.com | Isabella Crowley

Published 8:37 pm Wednesday, April 30, 2025 COVE — Police arrested a Cove man Tuesday, April 29, on a warrant charging felony-level sex crimes. Oregon State Police arrested James Hicks, 28, for first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree unlawful sexual penetrations and first-degree sexual abuse, according to Oregon public records. All are felony-level offenses. The grand jury indictment alleges the four charges occurred on or about Jan. 11.