Thank you for your interest in reading The Observer. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

Reporters Isabella Crowley and Jillian Hoefer reported on a group of La Grande residents who are fed up with feral cats taking over their yards and neighborhood, a problem they wish Union County would address.

Dorothy “Dory” Fleshman is one of the residents frustrated with the growing feral cat problem, which started soon after she moved into her home near Gekeler Lane and 12th Street in 2013. She found a litter of five kittens when she moved in, and the problem has only gotten worse over the last 10 years. Fleshman’s neighbors suspect the problem began at an old barn in the area where the cats are known to hunt for mice.

The feral cats have knocked over and broken several of Fleshman’s outdoor statues, and they have also torn a few tarps to shreds. The cats climb into her flowerpots and kick the dirt and plants out so they can use the pots as a litter box.

Reporter Dick Mason reported on historian Dick Roth, of Orting, Washington, and his extensive research on the old Central Railroad of Oregon, which ran between Union and Cove for almost 20 years from 1907 to 1926.

The historian recently donated the archive of photos and documents he assembled during his research to the Union County Museum. included in his 2015 book about the railroad, “The Central Rail-road of Oregon: Oregon’s Blue Mountain Route.”

Hoefer reported on the impacts the end of the expanded food stamp benefits have had in Northeast Oregon.

According to Audrey Smith, manager of Community Connection’s Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank, there was a 53% increase in people utilizing all food-related services in Baker, Wallowa and Union counties in the month of March.

And sprinkle in some work to find out what local lawmakers thought about the bombshell of Shemia Fagan resigning as Oregon secretary of state.

Coming up next week, we’ll have a look at how  Eastern Oregon University students are feeling the financial strain of inflation.

It’s all part of The Observer’s efforts, both in print and online, to keep you informed about the latest happenings throughout Union County. As always, if you have a news tip to share or want to ask a question about our news coverage, I can be reached at this email address, acutler@lagrandeobserver.com.  

And, finally, let me take this opportunity to thank our subscribers: We simply would be unable to do this vital work without your support. 

Andrew Cutler is the interim editor of The Observer.