Cochlear implants success, bingo updates, SAR donations, and more from the Elgin Lions Club
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, November 28th, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ELGIN – (Release from the Elgin Lions Club) Nur and Meagan Sofe recently expressed appreciation to the Elgin Lions for their assistance with their daughter’s cochlear implant and hearing aid. The Elgin club joined another Lion group to help pay for expenses above insurance cost. According to Nur, “We truly appreciate it, and it makes a big difference to our family.”
Search and Rescue members Shanna Arbogast and Nick Vora presented a program on the history, concept of operations, area profile and other data pertaining to the Union County Search and Rescue program.
Vora, who serves at the Union County SAR Coordinator, stated that, in the l960’s, a CB radio club began operations. Most calls, he noted, were for lost hunters and mushroom pickers. The non-profit SAR is now embedded within the sheriff’s office and uses modern equipment with approximately 40 volunteers on hand. The group covers the county population of 37,000 with roughly ½ public land. He noted eight counties now send members to La Grande for training. In addition to initial certification, specialty teams for rope rescue, water rescue, cadaver and trailing techniques are available. Funding for the program comes from grants, the sheriff’s office budget, emergency management, and volunteer fundraising and donations. To this end, the club elected to make a contribution of $500 for the organization.
The Elgin Light Parade will be held December 6th and wind up at the Stampede grounds, where the club will serve the community a chili dinner.
President Pat McDonald announced that over 40 community members attended the last sessions of BINGO, held each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center.
Photo #1 Nur Sofe thanks Lions
Photo #2 Shanna Arbogast and Nick Vora talk about Search and Rescue
