UNION — The Union City Council gave Assistant City Administrator Rod McKee the green light Monday night to purchase a new emergency siren and have it installed. The council via consensus, not a vote, gave McKee the authority to spend $18,000 to obtain a new siren. The siren will be mounted on a pole near city hall. It will replace a siren that sat atop city hall for many years before it was removed earlier this year to make room for a bell tower. The siren will alert Union’s volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders of emergencies.

Blood donations needed in region

Because there is an elevated need for blood donations in our region, community members are especially encouraged to give their time and blood at an American Red Cross blood drive in La Grande from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the LDS Church, 1802 Gekeler Lane. Walk-ins are welcome, and the Red Cross will have extra staff and technicians available to expedite the process. If you would rather make an appointment, call Linda Strand at 541-963-4261.

To streamline the donation experience, on the day of donation, you may go to www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to complete a pre-donation reading and health history questions.

Literacy Center’s fall hours begin next week

Beginning Sept. 19, the Literacy Center at Cook Memorial Library, 2006 Fourth St., La Grande, will be open from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Walk-ins are welcome. Tutoring may also be arranged in advance by calling the library at 541-962-1339. All services are free.

The center is currently in need of used children and youth books in good shape, “Treasure Chest” incentive rewards (mechanical pencils, Play-doh, click erasers, etc.), clipboards and volunteers. Donations may be dropped off at the library.

Boys invited to join Cub Scout Pack 515

The La Grande Optimist Club Cub Scout Pack 515 will be hosting a join night at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Presbyterian Friendship Center, corner of Sixth and Spring in La Grande. Families with boys in kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome to come see a pack meeting in action, meet the families and the leaders of Pack 515, get your questions answered and sign up. Call 309-230-7496 for more information.

EOLS Association to elect directors for coming year

UNION — The annual meeting of the members of the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Association, Inc., will be held at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 19 in the EOLS Clubhouse, 760 E Delta St., Union. The main purpose of the meeting is to elect directors for the coming year.

Art Center offers Candlelight Ceramics

Art Center East, 1006 Penn, La Grande, is hosting an evening of fun, candlelight romance and throwing on the potter’s wheel beginning at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. Light snacks, clay, romantic crooners and all necessary tools will be provided. The minimum age is 18, and couples of all orientations are welcome. Skilled instructors will walk participants through options to complete a few simple projects. ACE will glaze, fire and ship your work to your home for an additional $10 (any firing/shipping fees are collected at the event). Enter the building through the Fifth Street door. Cost is $35, $30 for members, plus $5 for materials. Register at www.artcentereast.org.

If you don’t have child care for your date night, ACE will treat your kids to an evening of art. Kids age 6-11 are welcome for a $10 fee each. For more information or to arrange babysitting, call ACE at 541-624-2800.

Imbler School Board meets Monday

The Imbler School District Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 in Room 1 of Imbler High School. The board will receive the 2017 year end audit report. The public is welcome to attend all open sessions of the Imbler School District Board of Directors.

Island Avenue paving nears completion

ODOT anticipates that paving on Island Avenue will be completed by today. A seal coat still needs to be placed on the center turn lane and shoulder/bike lanes, but this work has not been scheduled yet. The freeway interchange ramps at Exit 261 will be paved next week. For more information contact Mike Remily, project manager, at 541-963-1349 or 541-786-0952.