The La Grande Fire Department, La Grande Rural Fire and La Grande Police Department responded to a small grease fire that began at approximately 7:05 a.m. Saturday at the Long Branch in La Grande, according to La Grande firefighter Merle Laci.

Employees of the bar were already waiting outside by the time the fire department arrived on scene, Laci said.

“I couldn’t really see anything (outside) – there was no smoke,” he said. “I was able to look inside the front door. There appeared to be a fire in the grill area.”

The fire department was able to quickly extinguish the fire, which likely started because of grease buildup, he said. There doesn’t appear to be any damage to the building, and the fire department checked Red Cross Drug, next door to Long Branch, to make sure the fire did not travel to adjacent buildings.

Wear red Wednesday for Red Ribbon Month

October is Red Ribbon Month, and the community is encouraged to wear red on Wednesday to show support for a healthy, drug-free community.

Umpqua Bank offers way to contribute

In response to last week’s tragedy, the Greater Douglas County United Way and Roseburg-based Umpqua Bank have created the Umpqua Community College Relief Fund, with all contributions going directly to the victims and their families.

Anyone can make a financial contribution to the fund by visiting any Umpqua Bank location. A text-to-donate option is active for those who do not live near an Umpqua Bank and wish to donate: Just text GIVE to 541-214-2822. More details can be found at www.umpquabank.com/umpqua-life/umpqua-notes/roseburg-relief/.

Cove City Council meets Tuesday

COVE – The City of Cove will hold its regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cove City Hall, 504 Alder St.

Drive up for a pulled pork dinner

WALLOWA – The Wallowa FFA Alumni is hosting a Dashboard Dinner fundraiser Wednesday. A Dashboard Dinner is where drivers pull up and their food is brought out to them to be taken home.

The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meals can be picked up behind the Wallowa School near the cafeteria. Each meal costs $10 and will consist of a pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, baked beans and a cookie. Funds raised will support the Wallowa FFA Alumni Annual Scholarship.

Take an honest look at pain in new series

Grande Ronde Hospital is offering an education series on pain in October. The series will take an honest look at pain, answering questions such as: What causes pain? What makes pain worse? Why is it so hard to change pain? With the aim of teaching participants that they can feel better, the sessions will be held at 7 p.m. on four Thursdays: Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29. Presented by Larissa Bomberger PT, David Ebel PT, Cosette Turnbow FNP-C, Mary Goldstein LCSW and Joel Rice MD, the series is free and requires no registration. Call 541-663-3138 for more information.