The Observer paper 4-10-15

MOUNTIE SOFTBALL INSPORTS, 8A

WOMEN SWEEP COYOTES INDOUBLEHEADER, ENDING ONE GAMEWITH EIGHTRUN RULE IN HEALTH, 1C IN COLD CASES, 1D

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• La Grande-area group helps build six homes, runs into problems on spring break trip

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• Lawmakers seek federal tax codefi x forlegalm arijuana

By GosiaWozniacka The Associated Press

PORTLAND — Two members of Oregon's congressional delegation plan to introduce bills that would allow marijuana businesses operating in compliance with state law to take federal deductions on taxes like other small businesses.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Congressman Earl Blumenauer say the legislation would altera section ofthefederaltax code that prohibits anyone selling controlled substances fiom getting tax breaks. At a press conference on Thursday, the two legislators said they would introduce the bills next week.

Marijuana possession, sale and cultivation continue to be offenses under federal law.

Congress prohibited anyone selling controlled substances from getting tax breaks in 1982,aRer a drug dealerclaimed hisyacht and weapon purchases as legitimate business expenses.

But Wyden and Blumenauer said times have changed,and federallaw hasn'tcaught

Courtesy photo

Members of the "Get Away, Give Away" mission program explore and admire a home they recently built in Mexico.

The group, with the help of locals, completed six homes for the needy during a spring break mission trip. through theuGet Away, Give Away" program to travel to Mexico during spring break for more than 30 years.

While there, they build houses, host a vacation Bible schooland perform avariety of services. Though not all the members of the program are Christian or even religious, the vast majority of the group see the trip as an opportunity to spread and experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ through word

ByWill Bowman For The Observer

First, an advance team digs and pours a concrete foundation.

Next, aRer arrival, the entire team gets to work, iaming 2-by-4s,raising and f

painting OSB chipboard, wiring, installing doors and windows and, finally, a metal roof.

When they're done, what's leR? A small, two-bedroom home ready to be given to a needy family, just one facet of the group's overall purpose to spread and experience the Gospel in Mexico.

Groupsfrom La Grande and across the state and nation have joined together

4k];. s laf&~ m ' g

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Last fall, Oregon joined Colorado, WashingSeeTax / Page 5A

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DECAnamed as ossible

and deed.

This year, the group built six houses, including alast-minute home for a woman who hadjustlosther house to fire.

"Itreallyis nothing short of SeeMission / Page 5A

ar t ect

Courtesy photo

Mission team members from Texas and Alaska help frame a home in Mexico over spring break. The team helped complete six houses on this year's trip.

• La Grande School District hopes to have contract by May

SuNorterssharesloriesforIoseshSranch • Idaho, Southern Oregon trail users, operators share their experiences

By Kelly Ducote The Observer

The Joseph Branch Rail with Trail project is still early in its planning process.

But organizers behind the

project are encouraged by outof-area supporters who work on, use and live adjacent to trails themselves.

This week, trail enthusiasts involved with the Weiser River NationalTrailAssociation and the OC&E Wood Line State Trail were in Northeast Oregon to share their experiences with trails.

'Trails solve a variety of problems," said Rocky Houston,

INDEX

WE A T H E R

Calendar........7A Dear Abby .....8B Obituaries......3A Classified.......ts H ealth ............SC Opinion..........4A Comics...........7B Horoscope.....3B Outdoors .......1C Community ...7A Lottery............2A Sports ............8A Crossword.....3B Record ...........3A Television ......3C

MONDAY IN HOME

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department state trails director.

From needing a mental break to getting exercise, trails can fill important roles, he said.

Developing the trails, though, isn't easy. And for many adjacent landowners, it can be a scary concept, Houston said.

"With anything new, your imagination runs wild,"he said.

Many people initially oppose trails near their properly

because they fear their property valuemay decrease and that theR and other crimes may increase.

"Usually you find the concerns you see don't come to fruition," said Houston, who is involved with the OC&E Wood Line State Trail in Klamath and Lake counties.

Those involved with the 84mile Weiser River Trail agreed, SeeTraH / Page 5A

42 Low

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Showers around 'x) I, ' <

The La Grande School District is a step closer to having an architect for three major construction projects.

The La Grande School Board voted Wednesday to have the school district enter into negotiations with DECAArchitecture Inc.ofPortland fordesign servicesforthe three projects, all of which will be funded with money fi'om a $31.85 million bond voters approved in November.

Those building projects include: • the construction of a new Central Elementary School building that will replace the present aging Central building • the addition of about six new classrooms SeeArchitect / Page 5A

CONTACT US

Fu ll forecast on the back of 6 section

Friday

By Dick Mason The Observer

Saturday

Sunday

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541-963-3161 Issue 43 4 sections, 28 pages La Grande, Oregon

TASTYTIPSFOR LEFTOVER EASTER HAM

Save the t)ate.Join the Fun.

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Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com.

More contact info on Page 4A.

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This freeevent is sponsored annually by Gronde Ronde Hospitol, Znc. for promoting health, wellness...and just for the fua nfitl •

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Includesthe 17th Grande Ronde Rehab Run. More info at www.grh.org

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2A — THE OBSERVER

D~ Y

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

LOCAL

Thursday morning wreck

UNION COUNTY

Ieetinos plannel reoardino willfire

PLANNER TODAY Today is Friday, April 10, the 100th day of 2015.There are 265 days left in the year.

protectionplan

• Meetings scheduled in county for La Grande, Elgin and Union / .i

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Observer staff

TODAY'S HIGHUGHT On April 10, 1925, the novel "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age evocation of empty materialism, shattered illusion and thwarted romance, was first published by Scribner's of New York.

ON THIS DATE In 1790, President George Washington signed the first United States PatentAct. In 1815, the MountTambora volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa exploded in one of the largest eruptions in recorded history, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.

In 1864, Maximilian, archduke ofAustria, was proclaimed emperor of Mexico.

In 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, a day after surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, said farewell to his men, praising them for their "unsurpassed courage and fortitude."

In 1912, the RMSTitanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals.

CORRECTION In the story "Teen sentenced to 36 months for burglaries," printed April 1 on page1A, thestory misstated how many businesses were broken into between October 2014 and January 2015. Seventeen businesses were broken into between October 2014 through Jan. 2015.

LOlTERY Megabucks: $1.1 million

2— 5 —7 —26 —28 —31 Megamillions: $39 million

5— 15 — 22 —26 —24 —64 Powerball: $80 million

1— 19—45 —46 —58 —29 Win for Life:

12 — 27 — 76 —77 Pick 4: April 9 • 1 p.m.: 5-6-8-3 • 4 p.m.: 8-7-1-1 • 7 p.m.: 5-1-2-9 • 10 p.m.: 5-5-8-7 Pick 4: April 8 • 1 p.m.: 9-5-5-0 • 4 p.m.: 7-1-1-7 • 7 p.m.: 1-5-2-3 • 10 p.m.: 2-8-9-8

NEWSPAPER lATE? Every effort is made to deliver your Observer in a timely manner. Occasionally conditions exist that make delivery more difficult.

If you are not on a motor roub.; delivery should be before 5:30 p.m. If you do net receive your paper by 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday, please call 541-963-3161 by 6 p.m.

If your delivery is by motor carrier, delivery should be by 6 p.m. For calls after 6, please call 541-9751690, leave your name, address and phone number.

Your paper will be delivered the next business day.

QUOTE OFTHE DAY "Work is something you can count on, a trusted, lifelong friend who never deserts you."

—Margaret Bourke-I/I/hite, American photojournalist (1904-1971)

tnm INuetoerrhe Observer

First responders talk as they investigate a crash involving a truck and sprayer Tuesday morning on Pierce Road just north of Gekeler Lane. Drivers sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Wallowa Mountain Loop Road construction resumes Monday Observer staff

Slated for completion this fall, the$5.3 million project is funded by the Federal Highway

By George Plaven

in Oregon will have lasting impacts on advances in precision agriculture and have clear benefits to farm productivity and profitability of wheat production nation-

East Oregonian

PENDLETON — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is lobbying

Secretary ofAgriculture Tom Vilsack to maintain support of the Columbia Plateau Con- wide,"Wyden said. servation Research Center Wyden had proposed abudnorth of Pendleton. get amendment to continue The station stands to funding for all agricultural relose$911,000— nearly half search through 2025, though its annual funding — in it was not adopted into the President Barack Obama's president's final recommenproposed 2016 budget. Such dation. Money &om the cuts deep cuts would force the would be shifted to pay for center to end its research what the administration has into no-till farming for winter identified as higher priority wheat and lay off three staff projects within the ARS. scientists.

Since 2010, the Pendleton Established in 1970, the center has experimented station is part of the fedwith reduced tillage and no-till practices to save eralAgricultural Research Service, or ARS, which serves farmers money and improve as the USDA's principal soil health. Jerry Zahl, a in-house research agency. Lo- crop consultant from College cated on Tubbs Ranch Road, Place, Wash., and liaison the Pendleton center shares between the ARS and OSU, a building with Oregon State said he cannot think of a University's Columbia Basin greater return on taxpayer Agricultural Research Cendollars than finding new ter, though they are different ways to increase the region's programs. farm production.

In a letter sent Tuesday The project also has to Vilsack, Wyden, D-Ore., support from the Oregon said the president's budget Wheat Growers League, the would end critical research industry's foremost advocate on cropping systems for the for local growers.

Columbia Plateau, one of the Stewart Wuest, soil scienlargest wheat producing artist and lead researcher on eas in the Pacific Northwest. the project, said the idea is Wyden also hopes to save to find more and more places forage and turf grass rewhere wheat farmers can cut search on the ARS chopping down on their tillage, which block in Corvallis. if done right could save them 'The research developed money on fuel and boost their

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In April and May, the county will host public meetingsin La Grande, Elgin and Union to gather information from residents in wildland/urban interface neighborhoods on values at risk such as structures, infrastructures, timber, grazing pasture and agricultural crops. The public's input is needed regarding fuel treatment opportunities and participation to alter fire behavior and slow down wildfire

spread.

The Union County Community Wildfire Protection Plan was first written in 2005. Over the past year, representatives from fire m anagementagenciesand emergency services have begun to identify ways to promote fire-adapted communities to reduce risk to people living in fire-prone environments, mitigate loss inthe event ofa wMand ire,fi f nd ways toincrease the forest's resiliency and health, especially around homes,and ways toim prove safety for both firefighters and the public.

The committee needs help from the community to ensure all values at risk, evacuation routes, bridges, roads, access/ egress concerns are addressed, water sources

identified. The public's

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bottom line.

"Growers are slowly experimenting with no-till, but it's a very gradual process," Wuest said.

Because the region is so dry — some areas receive less than 14 inches of rain per year — farmers are unable to plant a crop in every field for every season.

Instead, they rotate one year of winter wheat with one year of fallow, which allows moisture and nutrients to rebuild enough in the soil to generate decent yields.

When farmers till, it allows them to tap into that water underground and plant their

wheat earlier in the fall, usuallyaround September.

Otherwise, they won't be able to plant until the next big rain, which might not come until late October.

The concern with starting late is it gives the plants less time in the ground before harvest, and could drop yields as much as 30 percent.

Wuest's trials, however, have shown no-till can be just as productive. Without tilling, the soil stands a better chance of keeping water from evaporating and withstanding erosion. Farmers could also save 0.45 gallons of diesel per acre if they don't

Elgin WHAT: Wildlfire protection plan public meeting WHEN: 6 p.m. April 30 WHERE: Elgin Fire Hall, 900 Alder St.

Union WHAT: Wildlfire protection plan public meeting WHEN: 6 p.m. May6 WHERE: Union Fire Hall, 570 E. Beakman St. input is essential to making the plan inclusive of all concerns and needs and to provide opportunities for the communities to take a role in fire prevention and protection efforts.

Union County is leading the plan revision with assistance from Oregon Department of Forestry, Union County Emergency Services, local rural and city fire departments, Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests, Bureau of Land Management, and the Blue Mountain Cohesive Wildfire Strategyteam.

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Hydrologist John Williams and soil scientist Hero Gollany also work on the project. The researchers are workingtodraR anew fi veyear plan under the program, so long as its funding can remain intact.

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April 16, 9am to 4pm Experience hearing in a whole new way!

• Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at12:30pm with the Chamberof Commerce • Free Hearing Screenings • Door Prizes • FreeBatteryGi veaway • Refreshments will be served

Come join us 541.663.4465 1807 Cove Ave • LaGrande I

EASTERlV OREGON g UDlgLOGy

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have to run their tractors as much in the field.

"In some of the driest areas, we 'refinding thatwe can get good yields even with late-seeded wheat,"Wuest said.'There's still the opportunity to improve crop yields and reduce fuel use, making the systems more profitable and more sustainable at the same time."

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the public for help.

WHAT: Wildlfire protection plan public meeting WHEN: 6 p.m. April 21 WHERE: La Grande Fire Department, 1806 Cove Ave.

Wyden lobbies for Pendleton reasearch center funding

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Administration and is the largest of its kind in the Forest Service system.

Baker County Commissioner Bill Harvey and Wallowa County Commissioner Mke Hayward said theylook fommd to the re-opening of the roadway, which is a popular visitor route. eWe ate verypleased that the contractor will finish the reconstrudion workon the 39 Road this summer,"Haywatd said.'The promotion of this area~ Trav e lOregon's Seven Wonders of Chegon Campaignhas significantly in~ thei n terestin this route and along with Cycle Oregonvisitingthis areain the fidl willhave tremendous economicimpact to Wallowa County. Let's getthe projectdone as soon as possible to take advantage ofthese wonderful opportunities to showcase our countyandregion."

Crews began reconstructing 13 miles of Forest Road 39 beginning at the junction of Kghway 86,10 mileseastofHalfway and northward to the junction of Forest Road 66 in 2013. An additional five miles were added to the project in the summer of 2014, for a totalof18 m ilesofreconstruction.

The detour route, Forest Road 66, is 30 miles in length and is a well-maintained single-lane gravel road with pullouts, but it is not recommended for motor homes.

For more information about the construction project, closures and detour information, go to wwwfs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman or contact the Wallowa Mountains 0$ce at 541426-5546.

BAKER CITY — Work on the Wallowa MountainLoop Road outsideofHalfway resumes Monday.

An alternate route, Forest Road 66, will be plowed and the seasonal snowmobile route that follows the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road,orForestRoad 39,w illbe gated by April 15, weather permitting.

The 18-mile construction area between the junction of Highway 86 and the 39 Road heading north to the junction of the 39 Road and the 66 Road will be gated closed until June 16. Check the Wallowa-Whitman website for the most current information: wwwfs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman.

Beginning June 16, Forest Road 39 will be closed to passenger vehicles from 8 a.m.

Tuesday to 5 p.m. Thursday to allow campers and others to use the route on the weekends.

The 39 Road is not maintained for passenger travel until aker June 15.

Beginning July 1, through completion of construction, visitors can expect rough surfaces and delays of up to one hour on FSR 39, or use the alternate route, Forest Road 66. eWe appreciate the contractor's efforts to minimize the inconvenience to motorists and consider them a partner in our effort to improve the visitor experience along this Scenic Byway," Forest Supervisor Tom Montoya said

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www.valleyinsurance.com

Thme meetings planned: La Grande

Protecting properly from wildfire takes cooperation among agencies, companies and landowners.

To provide the most cohesive fire response and prevention measures, Union County is looking to

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Friday, April 10, 2015 The Observer

ON DECK SATURDAY C College softball: Eastern Oregon University at Concordia University, (2), Portland, 11 a.m. and1 p.m.

C Prep baseball: McLoughlin at La Grande, (2), Pioneer Park, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• Prep softball: McLoughlin at La Grande, (2), Pioneer Park, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• Prep track and field:La Grande, Elgin,Imbler, Union, Joseph, Powder Valley at Dick Horyna Invitational, Stanfield, 11 a.m.

C College track and field:Eastern Oregon University atWashington vs.

Oregon Invitational, Spokane, Washington, TBD C Prep track and field:Enterprise at Meetof Champions, Turner, 11:30 a.m.

• Prep track and field:Cove at Oster's Memorial Lions Invitational, Burns, noon C Prep boys and girls tennis:La Grande atVale, 1 p.m.

• Prep softball: Echo/Stanfield at Elgin/Imbler, (2), Elgin, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

C Prep baseball: Stanfield/Echo at Elgin/Imbler, (2), Elgin, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

AT A GLANCE

Wallowa earns SSCOllCI Wlll The Cougars baseball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 15-4 home victory over WestonMcEwen/Griswold's JVWednesday afternoon.

No other stats were provided for the game.

Polamalu set to retire Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is retiring following a 12-year playing career.

Polamalu said the decision to walk away from the game ultimately came down to wanting to spend more time with his family.

"Since the end of the season I've had a chance to enjoy my family on a level that I never had before.

It was awesome," he sald.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

oumiesscore u e swee oyetlsmtome

By Josh Benham The Observer

Marisa Gonzalez powered Eastern Oregon University to the brink of a pivotal sweep of College of Idaho. It was Cassie Wendt who delivered the finishing blow.

Gonzalez hit home runs in bothgames, and Wendt's solo home run in the sec-

ond game ended the win by the eight-run rule as the Mountaineers defeated the Coyotes twice Wednesday at

April 1in Caldwell, Idaho. "(These wins) were huge,"

Peggy Anderson Field in a

is such a confidence-builder

Cascade Collegiate Conference twinbill.

Easternwon the firstgame, 3-1, and took the second game, 10-2, in five innings, aker the Yotes had swept the Mounties

with C of I being such a good team, and we just got swept by them. This is the team that we are, this is the team that we started out playing as. We

Tim INoetoe/rhe Observer

See Sweep/Pt//ge 9A

Eastern Oregon University pitcher LindseyWalchli unleashes a pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against College of Idaho Wednesday.

PREP GOLF

TIgers

gamer three top-5s Observer staff

The La Grande girls golf team notched three individualtop-fi ve fi nishesand took second overall at Thursday's four-team tournament in Pendleton.

'They played well, and I was proud of them,"head

coach Cally Goss said.'They

Roneld Bond/The Observer

Cove's Alex Graffunder is off to a quick start to his high school track and field career. The freshman has already won two 3,000-meter races and one 1,500, and is ranked sixth in the state in 2A in both races.

never gave up. They kept grinding and turned in some decent scores."

The trio of Trinity Mc-

Carthy, Kayli Miles and Anna Seymourtook third, fourth and fikh respectively to pace the Tigers to a team score of 403.

Pendleton won the tournament with a team score

of 367.

• Cove &eshman Alex Graij.nder hasalready won three races in his briefhigh school career

meets under his belt, GrafFunder has quickly shown he will be a force to be reckoned for years to come, not only at the district but at the state level.

He already has two wins in the 3,000-meter run this season at Harper's Diana Thurmond InvitaBy Ronald Bond tional March 20 and at the Don Walker The Observer Invitational in Nyssa April 3. His time Alex GrafFunder is asserting himat last week's meet of 9 minutes, 54.12 self as one of the top runners in the seconds is currently sixth in the state state at the 2A level, an achievement at the 2Alevel, less than five seconds not evenhe nor coach Blake Manley out of the top-five. expected to be possible at this point Graffunder has also notched a in the young season. victory and a second-place finish in That fact is more remarkable when the 1,500, and his time last week considering that the Cove long-distance of 4:30.88 — which garnered that runner is only a freshman. runner-up spot — happens to be With just a handful ofhigh school sixth-best in the state as well.

The finishes are indeed a surprise to GrafFunder, who didn't expect to be this thick in the competition so soon.

"A little bit," he said when asked ifhe was shocked at the quick start to his season.'Tve been working really hard, but I wasn't expecting it to pay ofFthat much."

The results he's posted have changed his outlook on the season, and the expectations are now higher.

"At first I was just wanting to go to state just to go, but I think it's reasonable to think I can go top-five at state," he said.'What time I need (to run) to do that I don't know yet, but that's my overall goal this season."

It's a goal that may not have seemed SeeRunning/Page9A

McCarthy led the team with a score of 90, while Miles followed up with a 93 and Seymour came in right behind with a 94.

"We've been really emphasizing short game a lot.

They've been practicing and working hard on putting,"

Goss said.

While the putting was a bit more of a struggle Thursday, she noted that"it's still better than it was earlier in the season."

The Tigers take to the links again Tuesday when they host the La Grande Invitational.

Dall, Albrecht eam second team all-state honors

By Ronald Bond

PREP BASKETBALL

The Observer

La Grandebasketball state selections by Oregon's players Brandon Dall and 4A coaches.

"I was a little surprised AveryAlbrecht were both instrumental in the their since we didn't make it down respective teams' success this there (to the state tournapast season. Both led their ment). I really wasn't expectteams to a Greater Oregon ing anything," Dall, a senior League title and were named who led the boys basketball GOL player of the year. team to an 18-6 record, said. ''When it came out, I felt Now, the state has noticed their credentials. reallyhonored and humbled.

Both Dall and Albrecht I was really thanldul to my were named second team all- coaches and teammates

Mountie junior slamsYotes' pitching EaStern OregOn UniverSity'S MariSa GOnZaleZ

hit home runs in each game of a doubleheader sweep of College ofIdaho athomeWednesday.

The junior's two-run shot in the first game put Eastern up 2-0 and was all the run support the team needed during a 3-1 win. The first baseman added another two-run dinger in the second game for her ninth home run of the year.

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Lindsey Walchli said.'This

PREPTRACK AND FIELD

OBSERVERATHLETE OF THE DAY

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Eastern starling pitcher

Gonzalez

because I couldn't have done it without them."

Dall said to be noticed by othercoaches in thestate is a testament to where the Tiger basketball program is and who the team played this season more so than personal successes.

"Our team really worked hard all year,"he said."We played some really tough opponents. Everyone around the state, especially 4A, knew See Tigers/Page10A

Tim INoetoe/rhe Observer

Brandon Dall led the Tigers to an 18-6 record. The senior was named second team all-state following the season.

TOMORROW'S PICK

WHO'S HOT

WHO'S NOT

Tigers baseball, softball in action

ADRIAN GONZALEZ: The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman is off to a recordbreaking start, as he has hit five home runs, driven in seven is batting an astounding .769 through the first three games.

THABO SEFOLOSHA:The Atlanta Hawks foward suffered a broken leg outside a Manhattan night club Wednesday morning and was arrested, though later released. He will miss the remainder of the season.

Both the La Grande baseball and softball teams begin Greater Oregon League play Saturday, with each hosting McLoughlin in a doubleheader.

11 a.m., 1 p.m., Pioneer Park

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6B —THE OBSERVER 5 BAKER CITY HERALD

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

PUBLISHED BY THE LAGRANDE OBSERVER 4 THE BAKER CITY HERALD - SERVING WALLOWA, UNION 4 BAKER COUNTIES

DEADLINES: LIKE ADS:

Monday: noon Friday Wednesday: noon Tuesday Friday: no o n Thursday DISPLAY ADS:

2 days prior to publication date

©©X

Baker City Herald: 541-523-3673 ® www.bakercityherald.com• classifieds@bakercityherald.com • Fax: 541-523-6426 The Observer: 541-963-3161 ®www.la randeobserver.com ®classifieds@la randeobserver.com ® Fax:541-963-3674 ' •

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w ithover 18,000 readsrs in Union,BaKer and Wallowa counties, plus online at www.northeastoregonclassifieds.com We've combined the local reach of The Baker City Herald and The Observer to bring you the largest, most comprehensive CLASSIFIEDS listings in Eastern Oregon.

Now you'll find more items for sale, more yard sales, more real estate than ever before.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

COFFEE BREAK

SB — THE OBSERVER ttt BA KER CITY HERALD

YEMEN

Mo er of Five tests limits IISsteNing ul wealensshismenlsle of cousin's abili to elp aid SaudiaircamyaignsuerVemen If the penalty for drawing the line is DEARABBY: My cousin "Opal"and I grew up together. We were always close. She that there is tension between you and your has gone through some rough times and I cousin, the upside will be that you will be taken advantage ofless often. have been trying to help her out.

She has tive children (ages 10 to 2) and I DEARABBY: I'm a 49-year-old gay man haveone chil,d wh ois 18.Thefathersofher chil,dren are not helpfid. I recently completed who has been in a relationship with my s my education and am looking for work, so partner, 'Alex, for almost 25 years. We plan money is tight. to havea silveranniversary Opal doesn't feed her kids party in July. When I menbeforebringing them over tioned it to my two sisters, or provide diapers for the ABBY both h ad simil,ar reactions — it's not "appropriate"and little one. She promises to «sil,ver anniversaries arefor reimburse me, but rarely married couples and you're not married." doea Most of the time I keep my mouth shut because I know she doesn't make much as Abby, is it wrong to celebrate a sil,ver ana server. How can I make her understand niversary with Alex? If not, should I send that even though I have only one chil,d that invitations to my two sisters?

— MNG-TERM INMNGBEACH doesn't mean I have the money to help her DEAR LONG-TERM: Of course it's not out with her five?

Also, whenI baby-sit her children, they are wrong! The option of marriage wasn't availrowdy and destructive. But ifI try to raise able to gay people 25 years ago. A quarter of the subject, it creates tension between ua a century together is something to celebrate.

Knowing your sisters' feelings, you'd be I love Opal. I want to help her. But when is it enough? I don't want to withdraw my help justified in excluding them &om your guest list. However, consider taking the high road completely, but it has become more than my and inviting them anyway. Then, whether household can bear.

— CARING COUSININMISSOURI they attend or not becomes their decision.

By James Rosen McClatchy Washington Bureau

The United States appears to be slowlybutsteadily deepeningits involvementin the war in Yemen.

U.S. military officials said Tuesday that the United States has steppedup weapons shipments to the Saudiled Sunni Muslim coalition ofArab countries thathas been bombing Shiite Muslim Houthirebels in Yemen for almost two weeks.

"It's a combination ofpreexistingordersto ourpartners and some new requirements," saidAnny Col. Steve Warren, describing the arms shipments.

Warren told McClatchy that the weapons are mainly ammunition and bombs, likely including precimon-guided weapons to compensate for the absenceofSaudioralliedfoot soldiers in Yemen to provide targetinginformation.

Additionally, the number of US. military personnel assignedtowhat U.S.offi cials have called a')oint fusion center"in SaudiArabia to oversee theaircampaign has risen to about a dozen, Warren said.

An oIIicial who askednot to be identifiedbecausehe was notauth~ t odisclose details saidtheAmerican contlngentis beingledby Marine Maj. Gen. Carl"Sam" Mundy III, the deputy commander of Marine Corps tmops at US. CentralCommand headq~r s inTampa, Fla. Itisunusual for the Pentagon tochoosea two-stargeneralto lead a missionin which US. tmops, warplanes or Navy ships are notdirectlyinvolved.

On Monday, Wanentold

DEAR CARING COUSIN: Nothing will DEARABBY: I am heartbroken. I have an uncle "TonysI'm close to, who is like my best friend. I was sending him pictures of afootballgame and he sentme back a very inappropriate picture ofhimself. He says it was a "mistake," that it was supposed to go to his wife, but the text message he sent with it showed different.

I don't want to be around him. I'm disgusted and hurt over this. I need advice.

What doI do?

change until you are ready to tell Cousin Opal enough is enough and set some strict rules. That she has had five children with different deadbeat boyfriends is not your fault. One accidental pregnancy — or even two — can happen. But FIVE should be a clue that your cousin is irresponsible.

Tell Opal that unless her children are fed before they arrive and she provides diapers, you will no longer baby-sit for her. (It wouldn't be a bad idea to tell her to include some snacks as well.) Tell her that before her children come over she is to instruct them to be on their best behavior. Her household may be chaotic because there are no rules — sodon't blame those children for their bad behavior.

When they arrive, tell them that in YOUR house there are rules. Explain clearly what they are and that there are rewards for good behavior. Make clear that if they can't be good, they won't be welcomed back without their mother.

— HEARTBROEENIN GEORGIA DEAR HEARTBROKEN: Share the photo and texts with your parents and ask what they think about them. Then ask if they think you should forward the picture and text message to your aunt with a note explaining Uncle Tony said they were meant for her, and you didn't want her to miss them.

Because he makes you uncomfortable, listen to your intuition and keep your distance because what he did was appalling.

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reporters that the US.had agreed to provide refuelingservices for the coalition's aircraft, thoughithadnotyetbeen called on to do soand would notdo so over Yemeni territory.

He also saidthat US. military assetshadbeen used to rescue two Saudipilots March 26 fiom the GulfofAden afler the engine oftheir F-15 fighter fitiled.

Warren said anAir Force Pave Hawk special operations helicopter hadbeen dispatched &om Djibouti, on the eastern shore of the gulf, to carry out the rescue, which was coordinatedby the guided-missile destmyer USS Sterett.

SaudiArabia launched airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels on March 26 after therebelsbegan an assault onAden, Yemen's second largest city. The Houthis, followersofareligioussect of Shiite Islam, had taken contml of the country's capital, Sanaa, last fitll and anested

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69% ofcapacity Thief Valley Reservoir 104% ofcapacity Stream Flows through midnight Thursday Grande Ronde at Troy .......... 2700 cfs Thief Vly. Res. near N. Powder . 86 cfs Burnt River near Unity ............ 31 cfs Lostine River at Lostine .............. N.A. Minam River at Minam .......... 418 cfs Powder River near Richland .. 126 cfs

Thursday for the 48 contiguous states

Nation High: 93' ...... Carrizo Springs, Texas Low: 11' ............ Sunset Crater, Ariz.

Wettest: 3.19" .......... Milwaukee, Wis. regon:

High: 70' ..........................

Low:13' ............................ wettest: 0.02" ....................

the country's president,Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, whose escape in February and flight to Aden triggeredthe Houthi advance.

The United States pulled its remaining miTitary personnel &om Yemen on March 21.

Hadi, a close ally of the United States, fledAden on the same day SaudiArabia began bombing and surtacedin

Riyadh the Saudi capital the next day. Almost 200 people have died inAden, Yemen's commercial hub,in ground fighting and airstrikes, and an estimated 500 people are believed to have died throughout the country.

Warren said the recent focus on Yemen has not weakened the separate US.-led air campaign against Islamic Statejihadists m Iraq and Syria. Some of the sameArab countries now helping Saudi Arabia in Yemen also are providing aircraR to the US.-led

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Hay lnformation Saturday Lowest relative humidity ................ 50% Afternoon wind WNW at 10 to20 mph Hours of sunshine ...................... 3 hours Evapotranspiration .......................... 0.09 Reservoir Storage through midnight Thursday Phillips Reservoir 43% ofcapacity Unity Reservoir 99% ofcapacity Owyhee Reservoir

42/51

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YEMEN

Baker City High Thursday ............................ 57' Low Thursday ............................. 22' Precipitation Thursday ................................. Trace M onth to date ...........................0.47" Normal month to date ............. 0.23" Year to date .............................. 1.95" N ormal yearto date .................2.43" La Grande High Thursday ............................ 59' Low Thursday ............................. 36' Precipitation Thursday .................................. 0.00" M onth to date ...........................0.04" Normal month to date ............. 0.45" Year to date .............................. 2.55" N ormal yearto date .................4.68" Elgin High Thursday ............................ 60' Low Thursday ............................. 38' Precipitation Thursday .................................. 0.00" M onth to date ...........................0.67" Normal month to date ............. 0.60" Year to date ............................ 10.58" N ormal yearto date .................8.30"

ilgh I lew(comfort index)

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Anthony Lakes Mt. Emily Rec. Eagle Cap Wild.

Wallowa Lake Thief Valley Res. Phillips Lake Brownlee Res. Emigrant St. Park McKay Reservoir Red Bridge St. Park

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Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, I-ice.

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Friday, April 10, 2015 The Observer & Baker City Herald

BOATING

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• Killgore Adventures ofFers a boating experience on the Snake River ByRich Landers

has a goal of exploring the

The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman Review

highlights of Idaho," she said

WHITE BIRD, IdahoHells Canyon might be God'sbest-kepthideaway if you're a hiker seeking solitude, a fit hunter pursuinggame or an anglerhoping to catch smallmouth bass, steelhead and sturgeon until your arms are numb.

Jet boat operators provide the divine intervention to answer your prayers.

The Snake River is the &eeway to the canyon experience. Starting &om Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston, boaters can navigate 104 miles of wild country upstream to Hells Canyon Dam, built in 1967. They can, that is, if they have the skills to negotiate rapids that range to class 4 and class 5.

The International Scale of River Difficulty defines class 5 whitewater as "Extremely long, obstructed or very violent rapids which expose

a paddler to added risk.

Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes..."

But in a properly outfitted jet boat with a skilled pilot, class 4-5 is defined as family fun.

"We just had our first trip of the 2015 season on Thursday," said Heather Killgore, who started Killgore Adventures with her husband, Les, and son, Kurt, in 2002.

"Itwas part ofa spring break trip for a family that

from their lodge in White Bird. eHells Canyon is definitely one of them."

The 652,488-acre Hells Canyon National Recreation Area generally straddles the Snake where it forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon.

The Killgores also raise longhorn cattle, guide deer hunters and host longrange shooting events on their 1,600-yard range. But they focus their outfitting operations in the wilderness core of canyon — the 32.5 river miles from Pittsburg Landing upstream to Hells Canyon Dam, as well as the nearby Salmon River.

They organize a Memorial Day weekendATV riding tourthatattractsabout 200 people, but the company is best-known for the year-round adventures they deliver by jet boat.

'The whitewater is just part of the experience," Kurt Killgore said during one ofhis popular 65-mile round trip tourstothe dam and back.

"Elk, deer and even bighorn sheep are especially visible as they winter along the river.

The fishing in particular is world-class during summer, and we take care of steelheaders and hunters in fall."

Sometimes hikers book a jet boat ride upstream so they can follow all or a portion of the trails that run alongSnake River from Hells Canyon Dam back downstream. The trail on the

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Kurt Killgore of Killgore Adventures based in Whitebird, Idaho, pilots his jet boat up Granite Creek Rapids, the largest Snake River rapids in Hells Canyon.

Idaho side is well-tended.

The trail on the Oregon side is more rugged, with a good spur up the Imnaha River.

Jetboat tours mightinvolve stops andhistoric sites along the river,including Kirkwood Historic Ranch and Museum.

Lunch mightbe at Hells Canyon Dam with avisit totheForestServicevisitor center. Idaho Power's three Hells Canyon hydmpower projects — includingOxbow and Brownlee dams upstream — pmduce 70percentof the company's power output.

Kurt Killgom,35, s~ taking the contmls of ajetboat in Hells Canyon whitewater for the first time in 1999 on practice runs with his firmily.

'Td go a little farther upriver each weekend,"he said.

"It's shell-shocking the first time you take a wave to the windshield and can't see. You need time and experience to be comfortable with that."

About six months of run-

ning the rapids both directions is needed to get the river down as a pilot, he said.

"On theother hand,some guys never learn it,"he said.'You have to read the river and understand how it changes as the flows go up

days are reserved for nonmotorized boating, primarily rafters and kayakers heading downstream on multiple-day trips &om the dam.

'Thejetboat opens the experience to everyone,"Killgore said."Ifyou can sit down,you 811d down. can run whitewater."

"A rock can't hide &om you Killgore tries to customize in swiR water. It's the calm the trips to the group and the water where they can hide. weather. eWe can stay dry, but we The middle of the river is your friend for the most part, might run one rapid multiple but certain places go against times on ahot dayin a way all the rules. In those places that soaks the passengers if they're up for it — and they you have to be taught by somebody with experience." usually are. They dry out in About 15jetboat operators no time." are licensed to operate on Heading up the river, the Snake in Hells Canyon.

Killgore pointed out numerMost of the guides based in ous landmarks, including Lewiston come upstream Rush Creek, Bills and Water only as far as Dug Bar, since Spout rapids as well as Kirby a marathon trip to Hells Creek Lodge, Kirkwood Canyon Dam would be unRanch, Temperance Creek comfortably long.

Ranch, Sand Creek Fish During summer, jet boats and Game Cabin and Sheep are allowed to run Thursdays Creek Ranch — all remote to Sundays, and the other and all but Kirkwood acces-

sible only by boat or trail.

Some attractions are not so obvious to the unacquainted.

Slowing the 30-foot jet boat to a purr on a stretch of smooth deep, dark water, Killgore baits a rod and casts it out with enough weight to knock a black bear silly.

Guests barely have time for a snack before Erika Holmes is summoned to do the heavy liAing. A sturgeon has taken the bait and the fight is on.

About 20 minutes later, Holmes — muscle weary and dampened with sweat — reeled up a 6-foot-long sturgeon.

'Thinkwhatit would feel like to land one ofthe 9- or 10-foot ers,"Killgoresaidbefore theyreleased the gentle giant.

"Our most popular thing with customers is the Sturgeon Bass Trout Trip we do in summer," he said."Families come with the kids and SeeBoat Triy/Page 2C

Women can hunt without having to dress like the guys hen Katyand Iwerefi rst wonder that we ever got married. dating she'd go bowhunting a Looking back, I guess that I can lot with me. We had a blast, but in somewhat relate to how she felt. those days there When I was a was no women's BASE CAMP kid there was outdoor clothno kid outdoor TOM CLAYCOMB ing. She'd have clothing, no to wear my old camo, no wool cammies. The shirt sleeves hung six socks, no warm gloves and no therinches below her finger tips and the mal underwear. We wore dad's old pants were pulled up to her chest. worn out cammies (in fact I think One night, we'd had a good Katy was wearing some of dad's old hunt and I thought I'd go all out camo at that time). There was no and told her we'd go to the locamo for women or kids. cal little town and I'd buy her a To make matters worse, dad steak. She jumped straight up and would only let us wear a cap or said, 'What? Not looking like this cowboy hat. He thought a pullover you're not!" I guess she did look impaired our hearing. I'd pull on three pairs of socks to stay warm like a little kid dressed up in her dad's hunting clothes and maybe I and cram my feet into a pair of hadn't done too good of a job paint- cowboy boots. As cramped as they ing her face up. When she reads were,it'd probably have been betthis article she will also remind ter to have just worn one pair. We me that I wouldn't let her wear got cold as kids deer hunting. I'd ofgladly given $1,000 fora pair of hairspray orperfume. Ididn't want her spooking my deer. Young ThermaCELL heated insoles.

Let's fast forward 30 years. husbands aren't too smart. It's a

W

were in a Bass Pro Shop trying to find some women's camo for an upcoming hunting trip. Ha, not a chance of finding that. They kicked around some ideas on how to rectify thatproblem and by 2008 they kicked off their own line ofhigh performance hunting gear for women.

I think most women out there will agree, Prois now owns the market.

It's amazing how big and how fast that they've grown. Like the old saying, necessity is the mother of all Tom CINircomb photo inventions. Smart people see a need and fill the spot.

Katy Claycomb, right, helps at a seminar at the Yakima Sports Show I'm glad to see the vast imand demo's Prois clothing. Prois makes nice-looking yet functional outdoor clothing for women. provement in outdoor clothing for women. We all want our woman to When Katy met Katherine I saw co-owner Kirstie Pike and go with us don't we? No wonder it Grande with Prois, which makes I told her how much Katy loved was tough on Katy with the gear excellent women's hunting clothProis. I shared with her the aforethatshe had towear and on top of ing and nice looking shirts, she mentioned story about Katy. She that it sure didn't make her feel like laughed and said basically the same a woman. was sold. Now Katy demo's Prois shirts at a lot of my seminars thing happened to her and that's So, you girls out there reading when she's helping me out and is what instigated her to develop the this arbcle, check out some of the a big proponent of Prois.

Prois line.

Prois gear. You don't have to settle At the SHOT Show the other day, In 2006-07, she and her husband for just being one of the guys.

BRIEFLY

WEEKLY HUNTING REPORT

FLYTYING CORNER

Plenty rrf black bears available for hunting season Spots still open for Pickpocket a good dark blue nymph horsemanship class Start with a No. 14-16 2X long nymph hook and slide a black WALLOWA COUNTY: Spring bear season starts next week, and a good density of black bears exists throughout the district. Most of the snow is gone from mid- and low-elevation areas of the district, although more snow is in the forecast for this week. Bears will begin waking up and making forays away from their dens in search of early season foods, such as green grass, ground squirrels, and roots and tubers. In spring, black bears are fair weather fellows and really only venture out of their dens on warm, sunny days. The best strategy for finding them is to sit on a spot with a good view of open canyon sides and use binoculars or a spotting scope to locate them. The animals feed off and on during all daylight hours and patience is the order of the day when spotting spring bears.

Source:OregonDepartment of FishandWildlife

There are three spots still available in the PES180 Basic Horsemanship course. The time slot available is Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, contact Eastern Oregon University Outdoor Program Coordinator Michael Hatch at mhatchleou.edu or course instructor Jaci Weishaar at 541-786-3218.

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chrome bead up against the eye. Wrap a base of fine lead wire.

Tie in 3 or 4 pheasant tail fibers for the tail. For the body, use alternating wraps of black and blue Ultrawire wound over black goose biot. Build the thorax with black and blue Ice Dubbing.

Finish with Midge Flash legs tied to front and ba

Q.-

Source: Gaq Lewis,ForWesCom NewsService

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2C — THE OBSERVER 8r BAKER CITY HERALD

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

SPORTS 8 REC

BIKING

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By Mark Morical WesCom News Service

REDMOND — Afler a historically mild winter, mountain bike season is starting early in Central Oregon. Trails west of Bend that are normally not ridable until June have been busy since February.

The Wanoga complex has been snow-free for weeks, at least before these most recent storms.

But even with all the mountain biking available close to Bend, I still wanted to exploremore traditional early-season trails on the high desert to start out the 2015 edition of Mountain Bike Trail Guide.

I texted a mountain biking friend last week, asking if he would join me on a ride at Cline Buttes, west of Redmond.

His response: "Wanoga is clear. You should be riding closer to town."

Well, Cline Buttes was an area I had never really ridden much,and Ifigured now was the time, as such desertlike trails will no doubt become too sandy earlier than normal this year.

The trails on Cline Buttes, including a narrow singletrack path that wraps around the buttes and two downhill trails that start from the top of the highest butte, are part of the Bureau of Land Management's Cline Buttes Recreation Area. The area, which is

Mark MorscalNvesCom News Service

So we decided to go

Dustin Gouker, of Bend, rides the singletrack around Cline Buttes. undergoing trail and trailhead developments, also includes the sprawling trail network at Maston, across Cline Falls Highway from the buttes.

Although I have experienced Mastonmany times, I had never biked the singletrack on Cline Buttes.

Part of that was the fact I had neverfound the singletrack there. Maps of the area arehard tofind,butI located one on the website www.mtbproject.com, as well as a description of an 8-mile loop on the buttes.

After some persuading,my friend came along on the drive north from Bend through Tumalo and toward Eagle Crest Resort on a crisp, sunny day last week.

The "trailhead" is not well-marked. We made a leR-hand turn off Cline Falls Highway and drove through a cattle guard gate a couple of miles before Maston's Juniper Trailhead and parked the car.

The singletrack started about 100 yards to the leR off the dirt road. The trail

a fairly treacherous dropoff Redmond, Smith Rock State Park and the Ochoco Mountains sprawled out to the east, and soon we turned west as we wrapped our way around Cline Buttes.

Once we were on the west side, snow-covered Cascade peaks dominated the horizon. I knew we would climb a dirt road to the summit of the butte — but I wasn't sure which road and which butte.

We made a leR on a dirt road that went to the top of the middle of the three buttes, then, afler some searching, descended a dangerously steep trail all the way back to the car.

At the car, after some discussion, we realized we had taken the wrong dirt road and climbed the wrong butte.

was already somewhat dustyand extremely narrow.

We rolled through juniper trees and sagebrush and soon began to climb in earnest. The trail went from dusty to hard and tacky, even with some shale. And it became increasingly narrow as we climbed.

We made a leR onto a rocky road, then picked up the singletrack again to the right afler climbing a few hundred yards.

The singletrack narrowed to almost 10 inches in spots, and to our right was

again, since we had ridden 6 miles and were not gassed just yet.

We climbed the singletrack a second time, but this time, we stayed on said singletrack until we wrapped around the highest butte, then made a leR on a dirt road to the summit.

The singletrack on the west side of Cline Buttes is special, not only because of the view of the Cascades towering over an endless expanse of juniper trees, but also because of the unique, rolling, side-hill character of the trail.

The climb up the road to the top is tough, but not impossible, and we stayed on our bikes for most of the ascent.

Surrounding the summit of thebutte, at 4,067 feet, is a barbed-wire fence that protects a radio facility, and the two downhill trails can be found after riding for a bit to the right of the fence.

We took the second trail we came to, and it was one of the steepest I have ever encountered, with several technical rock sections. We walked several portions of the descent, but we became more confident as the trail flattened out a bit toward the bottom. We rode over a fewjumps, and then the trail eventually merged into the singletrack trail that we rode from the start of the ride.

Both downhill trails are for advanced riders only, and riding the original singletrack as an out-and-back route is an option for those who want to avoid the challenging downhill.

The ride ended up being about 14 miles, although the loop itself is about 8 miles.

It was a perfect way to start the season, with rolling singletrack, gut-busting climbs and impressive views.

Now, on to the endless other mountain biking options this spring in Central Oregon.

BOATTRIP Continued from PageI C

W E A R 'EM TO W O R K , TREVOR DOES.

grandparents, and everybody is happy. We can stop in some areas where the kids can catch a bass almost on every castand then go aftera big sturgeon, enjoy a good boat ride and run the rapids."

The trip includes seven major rapids that mustbe negotiatedup and downstream, including two class 4s that can

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range to class 5 — V8d Sheep and Granite Creek.Some rapids require banking around rocks andpositioninginto the right angles to climb the river stalr steps.

Although he has two 550-horsepower engines at his service, Killgore doesn't just roar up the &othing waves of Granite. He gets partly into the deafening rush of current, eases off the throttle, side slips off a pillow of water and then eases down on the lever to power tons of aluminum and eight guests over the top.

"Allofajet-boat operator's money is made or lost

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in the big rapids," Killgore said. "This boat is so expensive because it has the pumps and motorssetup for running the big rapids.

Some boats aren't."

Hells Canyon is the deepest canyon on the North American continent, about 8,000 feet if measured &om the Snake River's Granite Creek Rapid up to the summit of He Devil Peak, elevation9,393 feet.

"It's a funny coincidence that the biggest rapid is at the deepest part of the canyon," Killgore said.

Wildlife viewing is a major hitwithjetboatguests.

Depending on the day, they might see a black bear, river otter, bighorn sheep, deer or a number of other critters.

Bald eagles and ducks tracked the boat several times as Killgore cruised downstream.

He cut the power for everyone to enjoy seeing a group of elk on a ridge above.

'There's something special about a place where you see elk," said Jeremy Harris,a guest on the trip.'There's something whole and right about it."

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

THE OBSERVER a BAKER CITY HERALD — 5C

HEALTH 8 FITNESS

AMERICA'S STRUGGLE WITH OBESITY

ByAaren E. Carrol New YorkTimes News Service

There are people in this country eating too much red meat.They should cutback.

There are people eating too many carbs. They should cut back on those. There are also people eating too much fat, and the same advice applies to them, too.

What's getting harder to justify, though, is a focus on any one nutrient as a culprit for everyone.

I've written articles on how the strong warnings against saltand cholesterolarenot well-supported by evidence.

But it's possible that no food has been attacked as widely or as loudly in the past few decades as red meat.

As with other bad guys in the food wars, the warnings against red meat are louder and more forceful than they need to be.

Americans are more overweight and obese than they pretty much have ever been.

There's also no question that we are eating more meat than in previous eras. But we'veactually been reducing our red meat consumption for the past decade or so. This hasn't resulted in a huge decreasein obesity ratesor deaths from cardiovascular disease.

The same reports also show that we eat significantly more fruits and vegetables today than we did decades ago. We also eat more grains and sweeteners.

This is the real problem: We eat more calories than we

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It's possible that no food has been attacked as widely or as loudly in the past few decades as red meat.

thanthey pretty much

This was a cohort study of people followed through the National Health and Nutrition Examination

have ever been."

Survey (NHANES). It found

'Americans are more overweight and obese

there were no associations between protein consumption need. But in much of our dis- and death from all causes or cardiovascular disease or cussion about diet, we seek a singular nutritional guilty cancer individually when all party. We also tend to cast participants older than 50 everyone in the same light as were considered. "eating too much."

It did detect a statistiI have seen many people cally significant association point to a study from last between the consumption of year that found increased protein and diabetes mortality, but the researchers protein intake was associated with large increases cautioned that the number of in mortality rates from all people in the analysis was so diseases, with high increases small that any results should in the chance of death from be taken with caution.

The scary findings I cancer or diabetes. A close examination of the manuscript, detailed earlier are from a though, tells a difFerent story. subanalysis that looked at

tively healthy employees, who are expected to choose cheaper plans, it could mean other workers are leR covering more of the costs out of pocket.

Private exchanges help employers limit what they pay for health benefits, but it's not clear whether they help keep health care costs under control, said Rich Birhanzel, managing director for Accenture Health Administration Services. If they don't, workers could be responsible for an increasing share of their health care costs over time.

Midsized companies have been the main users of private exchanges, Birhanzel said. He said he expects larger employers to increasingly use the portals as well, especially in preparation for a federal levy on high-cost health plans, dubbed the Cadillac Tax. That 40 percent tax on costly health benefits, part of the AfFordable Care Act, starts in 2018. It will initially hit family plans on which premiums exceed$27,500 and indi-

Continued from Page6C By 2018, a quarter of employees who get insurance through work will pick a plan through the private markets, according to Accenture.

"It's clearly the way health care is heading," said Jean Moore, a managing director at Towers Watson & Co., which runs online benefits markets for employers.

The change represents a fundamental shiR in the employer-employee relationship and mirrors trends in President Barack Obama's health care law, also known as Obamacare, under which the government gives people tax credits to help them buy insurance on government markets.

It might also put more of the financial burden ofhealth care on workers, though it can save employers money and bolster earnings at benefits consultants such as Towers Watson andAon. Towers Watson gets about vidual plans costing at least$10,200.

10 percent of its sales by operating the online Premiums for family coverage averaged portals for its clients, and exchange revenue $16,834in 2014,up 3 percent from ayear grew the fastest among the company's major earlier and compared with $5,791 in 1999, business lines in the final three months of according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. last year.

Although privately run insurance exchang- Workers picked up about $4,823 of the tab.

A singleperson paid $1,081ofthe $6, 025 es are separate from the marketplaces operpremium on average l as t year . ated by the U.S. government and some states Private exchanges can give workers more under the law, the same principle applies: choices, Moore said. Some might opt for Individuals choose from plans with difFerreduced benefits, whereas others will pay for ent premiums, copayments, deductibles and comprehensive coverage. coverage options. About 11.7 million people "Employers have been shifbng more and enrolled in government-run marketplaces more costs to their employees because they this year. can't afFord not to," Moore, of Towers Watson Employers can benefit from switching to a & Co., said.'The thing about exchanges that private exchange because they can set aside really provides value to employees is that afixedamount ofmo ney that workers use there's so much choice, so as an employee is to pick an insurance option from companies faced with a set amount from the employer, such asUnitedHealth Group,Aetna and Cigna. Although that could be good for relathey have a number of different options."

people only 50 to 65. But if you look at people older than 65, the opposite was true.

High protein was associated with lower levels of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. If you truly believe this study proves what people say, then we should advise people older than 65 to eat more meat. No one advises that.

Further, this study defined

people in the"high protein" group as those eating 20 percentormore oftheir calories from protein. When the Department ofAgriculture recommends that Americans get 10to35 percent oftheir calories from protein,20percent should not be considered

high.

If I wanted to cherry-pick studies myself, I might point you to this 2013 study that used the same NHANES data to conclude that meat consumption is not associated with mortality at all.

Let's avoid cherry-picking, though. A2013 meta-anal-

carbohydrate 0ike Atkins), moderate macronutrient

(Weight Watchers) and lowfat (Ornish).

All of the diets led to reduced caloric intake, and all of them led to weight loss at six months and, to a lesser extent, at 12 months. There was no clear winner, nor any clear loser.

Where does that leave us?

It's hard to find a takehome message better than this: The best diet is the one that you're likely to keep.

What isn't helpful is picking a nutritional culprit of bad health and proclaiming that everyone else is eating wrong. There's remarkably little evidence that that's true anytime anyone does it.

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eating less red meat today than any time since the 1970s. Doctors' recommendations haven't been ignored.

We're also doing a bit better in our consumption of vegetables. Our consumption of carbohydrates, like grains and sugar, however, has been on the rise. This is, in part, a result of our obsession with avoiding fats and red meat.

We're eating too many calories, but not necessarily in the same way. Reducing what we're eating too much of in a balanced manner would seem like the most sensible approach.

Last fall, a meta-analysis ofbrand-namedietprograms was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study compared the results from both the individual diets themselves and three classes, which included low-

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All the warnings appear to have madea difference in our eating habits. Americans are

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ysisofme at-dietstudies, includingthose above,found that people in the highest consumption group of all red meat had a 29 percent relative increase in all-cause mortality compared with those in the lowest consumption group.

But most of this was driven by processed red meats, like bacon, sausage or salami.

Epidemiologic evidence can take us only so far. As I've w ritten before,thosetypesof studies can be flawed. Nothing illustrates this better than a classic 2012 systematic review that pretty much showed that everythmg we eat is associated with both higher and lower rates of cancer.

We really do need randomized controlled trials to answer these questions. They do exist, but with respect to efFects on lipid levels such as cholesterol and triglycerides.

A meta-analysis examining eight trials found that beefversus poultry and fish consumption didn't change cholesterol or triglyceride levels significantly.

All of this misses the bigger point, though. It's important to understand what"too much"really is.

People in the highest consumption group of red meat had one to two servings a day. The people in the lowest group had about two servings per week. If you're eating multiple servings of red meat a day,then,yes,you might want to cut back. I would wager that most people reading this aren't eating that much.

If you eat a couple of servings a week, then you're most

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Jason Bodewig, Owner - 541 404 6919 •

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Friday, April 10, 2015 The Observer & Baker City Herald

AFTER A MASTECTOMY

PUBLIC FORUM SATURDAY

earnin 8 OH

e noi e annin WesCom News Service staff

Lisa Britton/Forthe Baker City Herald

Sharman Lorimer, left, a certified mastectomy fitter, shows various styles of camisoles to Peggy Payton during an appointment on Wednesday. Lorimer works for Idaho Orthotic 8L Prosthetic Services in Meridian, but makes regular visits to Baker City to meet with women.

El Prosthetics for women who have undergone a mastectomy aren't just cosmetic — they are crucial to balancing weight and keeping the spine aligned

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Residents interested in learning more about end oflife planning are invited to Union County's celebration of National Healthcare Decisions Day this weekend.

A public forum will be &om 9 a.m. to noon in the community room of Cook Memorial Library in La Grande. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The event is &ee to attend, but seating is limited.

Organizers fear many people do not get the care they want as the end oflife nears because there is no record of their wishes. This can lead to family crises at a time when support and care are needed.

"As a result of our Advance Care PlanningForum, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about the health care decisions and complete Oregon advance directives or the Oregon

POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) to make their wishes known," said Lisa LadendorfF, director of Northeast Oregon Network.aFewer families and health care providers will have to struggle with making difFrcult health care decision in the absence of guidance &om the patient, and health care providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance care planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so."

Speakers at Saturday's event include LadendorfF, attorney Glen Null and former Director of the Idaho Quality of Life Coalition Inc. Cheryl Simpson, who holds a master of social work degree.

<"~g'

By Lisa Britton

HEALTH CARE MARKETPLACE

For the Baker City Herald .l rI

Sharman Lorimer provides a service that some women don't know they even need until they meet her.

Lorimer is a certified mastectomy fitter, and helps women find the right prosthetic and bra following a mastectomy.

She works for Idaho Orthotic & Prosthetic Services in Meridian, Idaho, but travels to Baker City"as often as needed."

"Baker is like our second home," she said.

On Wednesday, she met with patients in a special room Lisa Britton/Forthe Baker City Herald at St. Alphonsus Medical Center, in the wing that also Sharman Lorimer organizes the inventory she brought to Baker Cityhouses the Sleep Center. camisoles, bras and swimsuits that have pockets for prostheses. Lorimer aI can't seem to get to Idaho to do it," said Peggy Payton, said it's important for women who have had a mastectomy to be fitted with as she perused the items Lorimer had on display. the proper prosthesis to help avoid balance and posture problems.

Appointments are typically an hour, Lorimer said, because women like to try on a "Somefothese women "Based on the brand, variety of styles before deciding on the perfect one. the sizes aredifFerent,"she have goneyears without The need for a prosthetic, she said, is to balsatd. one."

Pjus she realiy enjoys ance weight and to realign the spine.

— Sharman Lorimer, aAlot of women think they're cosmetic," spending time with the Sharman Lorimer certified mastectomy fitter women who seek her Lorimer said. makes occasional She's seen some women who, after a unilatservices. visits to St. Alphonsus "It's been phenomenal eral mastectomy (removal of one breast), stufF Medical Center-Baker one side of their bra. to talk with the ladies,"she said.'We City.

However, that doesn't provide the proper weight to balance the bend over backward to help — some women have gone years without one." remaining breast.

You can reach Lorimer at 1-877-884-1 294 or call In the case of a bilateral mastectomy, when both breasts are reShe said insurance is required by federallaw to coverthe costofthe moved, the loss of weight can throw ofFbalance and afFect posture. the Baker City hospital By seeing a fitter like Lorimer, women can find a prosthetic that prosthesis and bras. at 541-523-8102.

In addition to her visits to Baker replaces the tissue they had removed. They come in difFerent weights City — this time she met with women and materials — silicone, foam or fiberfill.

The prostheses can then be slipped into a bra or camisole with a at both St. Alphonsus Medical Center and St. Luke's EOMA — she said special built-in pocket. patients can come to the location in Meridian, where she has set up a When Lorimer arrives in Baker City, she brings a variety ofbra boutique with the various styles.

It is located at 1859 S. Topaz Way, Suite 100, in Meridian. styles and sizes, camisoles and even some swimsuits.

"Also, we have new stufFcoming every single month," she said.

For more information on when she will be in Baker City again, call St. She said trying on the difFerent styles is preferable to ordering online. Alphonsusat541-523-8102,orIdahoOrthoticat877-884-1294.

~ANT Tp KNOW MOREP

Oregon RuralActiongathering Saturday LA GRANDE — Oregon Rural Action's Annual Gathering is set for this Saturday, April 11, at the Pleasant Grove Grange on Hunter Road outside of Summerville.

The evening will begin with a social hour, no-host bar and chili cook-off competition from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by the official member meeting. Oregon Rural Action's newly hired executive director, Marc Sanson, will speak on the future of the organization and members will elect the new board of directors and vote on bylaw changes.

Silent, live and dessert auctions as well as a 50/50 raffle will happen throughout the evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring finger food and potluck dishes to share. Beverages will be provided.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

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•

Emnlovers ogingto

giveworkers cashinSlace ofinsnrance

By ZacharyTracer Bloomberg News

A growing number ofAmericans are no longer getting health insurance directly &om work as companies quit administering benefits, which will send about 40 million people to shop for coverage by2018,a study estimates.

Instead of picking a companywide health plan, employers are increasingly giving workers financial support to choose their own &om a menu of options.

For 2015,6 million workers selected coverage&om marketsrun by private benefits administrators, according to a study &omAccenture.

That's double the number in the previous year, when employees of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., Sears Holdings Corp. and Darden Restaurants Inc. had to go shop on their own.

MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR

Free six-week course for caregivers set BAKER CITY — A free six-week course, aPowerfulTools For Caregiversa will start May 5 at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St. in Baker City.

The classes are designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while also caring for a relative or friend.

The course is appropriate for people who are helping a parent, spouse or friend whether they live at home, in assisting living or elsewhere.

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Class sizes are limited, and pre-registration is required.

To register, call Rochelle at Community Connection, 541-963-3186, or email her at Rochellelccno.org.

The class will meet from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. onthesesTuesdays:May 5,May 12, May19, May 26, June 2 and June 9.

More information about the course is available online at www.powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org.

SeeInsurance/Bge 5A

HEALTHY LIVING

Indian wisdom

The ancient Indian science Ayurreda teaches that a heaitrrr digestive system ia aa important aa good natrienta.

For good digestion • Eat In a qulat,relaxed place; do not read, work or watch TV • Have hot food,freshly prepared with spices • East aboutthe same tlme

each day • Make lunch yoar main meal Source:

wwwSvrIvsdfl nt

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•

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 201 5

The Observer k. Baker City Herald

LA GRANDE MOM MISSING SINCE OCTOBER '99

hey are the crimes, somenearly seven decades old, that continue to haunt Northeast Oregon.

Murders Disap.pearances Eachf.othem unresolved, depriving the victims'familiesfo closure and leaving the policefrustrated, and the public unsurevhethera murdererrem ainsamong them.

The Observer and the Baker City Herald continue their multi week series -today pro ftling onefothese 11casesin the region thatincludes Union, Baker and Wallova counties.

Tenfothese crimes have never beensolved One

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By T.L. Petersen

T o date, th e se

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Leona Kinse of La Grande is still missing, much to her family's concern.

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initially closed but the suspect'sconviction vas overturned on a legal technicality.

Ourgoal in highlighting thesecold casesis to remind our readers about the victimsfothese terrible crimes, about the lives they ledand thepeople vho cared about them.

But that's not our only objective. Wehope too that by telling these stories ve might spur in someone a memory, someseemingly small, nearly forgotten detail, that could give investigators the break they've soughtfor decades

deputies to look.

a Grande police are getting leads and information t h a t i s b e i n g ch e c ked i n t o , L t . D e r i c k geddington said Thursday but there is still little evidence to go on.

DeFord lives in "We're mother for "some ti reall y w or r i e d , " Kinsey's half sister Velma Asher T he famil y i s because she left, sal d. appointments for Asher said an i ssue for t h e familyhas been that they are not all living in t hi s area and that Her work, Ashe Kinsey "was a friend toeververy)ody" meaning that t h e re are

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DqU tej. still hoping $o fjgd mi$$ing mom

By Dick Mason

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Earlier this week, cern bec u her rno Posters with Kin' by the family and

g and yardwork, is believed to ve beenlastseen Oct. 25.

4n anonymous caller to the police said that he had Ki th M o onday or Tuesday at a certain ition, Reddington said. sai . OQic icers went to the loca"Ever ednesday, but did not find Kinsey or the per"She's staying there — who has also so not bee n seenf or Kin ra1d ay s.

It Reddingtoii said police felt the lead w; I.- . «» ' t would continue to be investig'at«I

e 1999 B$QS

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Bill Raut The Observer

About 20 peoyle along the north

Carolyn DeFord was at loose ends emotionally the morning of Oct. 26, 1999, but she did not know why.

"Something wasn't right, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Everything was making me cry. I cried because I had to go to work, I cried because it was raining, I just cried....

The sobbing was coming &om somewhere inside of me, somewhere I'd never felt," wrote DeFord in an essay about her mother, Leona Kinsey.

Later that morning, DeFord felt a L%A tug on her heartstrings. At work DeFord, who then lived in Lacey, Washington, was told there was an urgent message on her phone.

The message was from Nancy, a La Grande woman who was a good &iend of DeFord's mom. The women said on the recorded message that DeFord's mother had gone to Albertsons the day before and was supposed to stop by her house while returning home. Nancy was concerned because Kinsey never showed up.

DeFord was not alarmed initially. ''Well, Mom was a grown woman, and it wasn't unlike her to spontaneously change plans, so I didn't take the news too seriously," wrote DeFord.

So she returned Nancy's call and told her not to worry.

Next DeFord tried to contact her mom, leaving messages on her pager and her phone.

"Hey, Mom, it's me," DeFord said."I have an emergency. I need you to See Leona / Page 2D

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20 — THE OBSERVER a BAKER CITY HERALD

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

COLD CASES

LEONA Continued from Page 1D

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call me back as soon as you get this."

DeFord, Kinsey's only child, received no response from her mom.

"I was starting to get mad at her for letting me worry.

She hadn't returned any of my calls, which was not like her. She always called right back. I was trying not to overreact but I kept imagining the worst."

Two days passed and DeFord still had not heard from her mom.

'The sinking feeling was getting harder to ignore. I was debating whether or not I should report her as a missing person," DeFord recalled.

"I couldn't make any sense of it. It was the kind of thing I heard on the news but never imagined that I would have to deal with.... She is not a missing person. She's my mother."

DeFord fi nally mustered the nerve to call the police and report her mom as missing. She said that the phone felt cold and suddenly seemed very heavy.

"I cried as I gave her information about my mother. I could see crystal clear in my mind's eye the features that I quite possibly would never see again," DeFord said.

if there arepeople I should

Missing over a decade

revisit.

Today, 15-V2 years later, DeFord's mom is still missing despite the hard work of multiple law enforcement agencies. Police are not optimistic that Kinsey will be found anytime soon.

"Our leadshave stalled," said John Shaul, a La Grande police sergeant.

Shaul worked as a detective for the La Grande Police Department at the time of Kinsey's disappearance. He has spent countless hours working on the Kinsey case.

Shaul said there is no physical evidence of foul play found, but he still fears that could have been a factor.

'There are suspicious circumstances that make it seem likely that there was

— La Grande Polim Sgt. John Shaul

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WesCom file photo

Tom Futter and Evelyn Pollard of the Blue Mountain Sundance Society make a Native American offering during a 2008 memorial ceremony for Leona Kinsey in this file photo. Kinsey, a Native American ofYakima and Puyallup heritage, vanished from La Grande in October 1999. f

"I was constantly going overwhatI mighthave missed. I was wondering

took the dog with her. When she did leave her at home, it was only for a few minutes," DeFord said."She wouldn't have abandoned her. It would have been out of character to leave the dog alone.The dog was part of the family."

LeR home, too, was Kinsey's cat, Mya. Further proof that Kinsey, who ran a landscaping business, had no intention ofleaving can be found in her datebook, DeFord said.

Kinsey was booked for work a whole week at the time of her disappearance.

DeFord also noted that her mom was happy living in the foul play," Shaul said.

Grande Ronde Valley.

"She had lived in Eastern He said the police did have a person of interest in the Oregon 25 years and loved case, but it led nowhere. it. She loved the lifestyle, "He was not cooperative," the hunting, the fishing, the Shaul recalled of the man. camping, all the outdoor M uch of Shaul'stim eon activities. She wouldn't have the case was spent reviewing just walked away," DeFord leads. told The Observer in 2008.

"I was constantly going Two of Kinsey's favorite outover what I might have door activities involvedplenty missed. I was wondering if of searching.

"Shereall y enjoyed mushthere are people I should room hunting and was a rock revisit," he said."Cases like hound. She would go into this stay with you." riverbeds looking for rocks," La Grande Police DepartDeFord said. ment Sgt. Det.Jason Hays is now in charge of the case, Kinsey also enjoyed looking for antiques and old but Shaul remains driven to homesteads, DeFord said. solvethe case because ofhis concern for those who are 'I love you three' close to Kinsey.

"She is somebody's mom.

When DeFord is asked to You can't help but get emoSeeLeona / Poge 3D tionally attached to the case," he said."I want to bring resolution to the family."

DeFord is impressed by how hard local police have worked tofi nd her mom, and how they have reached out to her family.

'The police have been very compassionate. We really appreciate it," DeFord said.

Nobody has been more empathetic and responsive than Shaul.

"He's been amazing whenever I call. He has been really compassionate. He just obliges his time," DeFord

cQ

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WesCom file photo

Leona Kinsey was memorialized by the community and members of the Blue Mountain Sundance Scoeity in a 2008 ceremony at Riverside Park.

Poem keeps mother close to daughtei"s heart Carolyn DeFord had a confusing feeling when she walked into the home of her mother, Leona Kinsey, in early November 1999.

Kinsey had mysteriously disappeared about a week earlier from her Kins e y home in La Grande.

"When I walked in, I had an overw helming sensethatshewasgonebut that she wasn't far away," DeFord said.

Minutes later a sense of her mother's presence almost overwhelmed her.

It was conveyed by a poem DeFord foundthatKinsey had copied by hand.

The work, "Little Sparrow" by Grace E. Easley, reads in part: When I have a lot of worries, and my soul is weighted down, l can almost hear him saying, "Only crosses make a crown."

And when my eyes are burning from the tears I have shed,

Comes this gentle voice "Remember what I suffered in your stead?"

When I lookaround for comfort, and thereis no listening ear, Comes awhisper close besideme, "Hush my child, for I am here!"

And somehow the heavy burden that l almost couldn't bear, Slips from offmy aching shoulders, and becomes as light as air.

The poem concludes with the following passage: And I am no longer troubled At the turning of the ways For long ago He told me "I am with you all the days."

And I find a blessed haven, Beyond the reach of man, Just like the tiny sparrow That He sheltersin His hand.

DeFord said her heart skipped and she felt her cheeks get hot after reading the poem. She believes that her mother was speaking to her through the poetry

— Dick Mason

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Lack of evidence An examination of Kinsey's home by Shaul and other detectives yielded no evidence indicating she had planned to go anywhere. Particularly disturbing to investigators and DeFord was the presence

she had copied.

"The poem was something simple but felt like a message. She was trying to tell me what I needed to hear and give me strength," DeFord said. "She was kind of reaching out to me with that poem."

DeFord compares the poem to a tape recording she has of her mom talking to her grandfather. The recording, on a cassette tape, is the only one she has of her mom's voice. The tape and the copiedpoem giveDeFord asenseof her mom's presence.

"They go hand in hand," DeFord said.

If Kinsey did leave the poem for her family to see, it would be fitting, because Kinsey did not like it when her loved ones were steeped in worry.

DeFord recalled that her mother always "wanted to make sure that everything (was) OK."

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ofKinsey'sblack Lab,Libby.

DeFord said the dog was almost a constant companion ofher mom.

"Ninety percent of the time she went anywhere, she

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

THE OBSERVER rrr BAKER CITY HERALD — 30

COLD CASES

SMALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES LI

By Pat Caldwell

/

For WesCom News Service

For people committed to public safety, cold cases present more than just an example of unfinished business.

Unsolved crimes seem to cut right to the center of the ethos of American law enforcement, where measured and appropriate justice standsas a hallmark ofa democratic system.

Cold cases — especially crimes that involve homicide — can't be easily filed away or forgotten.

"Obviously the most important message, and especially to families, is we don't forget those cases," La Grande Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said.'These types of cases, they tend to haunt us."

Harvey said delivering a resolution to the family members of a victim is often the crucial fuel that drives law enforcement ofFrcers.

"We know that was someone's child or spouse. We want to bring them closure and find justice," Harvey said.

Finding justice, investigating crimes that are often decades old, can be especially difFrcult for small police departments in rural areas.

Long-term investigations into old crimes consumes manpower and money. In small police departments,

LEONA Continued from Page 2D describe her mom's character, she quickly refers to a typical exchange they would have when saying good-bye to each other.

"She would say 'I love you,' and I would say 'I love you two,' and then Mom would say 'I love you three, I love you four,"' said DeFord, who now lives in Yelm, Washington.

Kinsey had a soft spot in her heart for the underdog, a trait her daughter learned at a young age. DeFord noted that when she was in school, her mom would make her reach out to people in school who were not popular.

"She would say you should go sit with that person (someone who others may have been staying away

D BY BUDGETS

asideand put togethera team. Fve been a cop for 30 years, (and I know that) these types of cases don'tjust go away,"he said.

Down in Malheur County, SherifF Brian Wolfe agreed with Harvey that relatively small law enforcement departments face resource challenges when tackling cold cases.

"We don't have a unit that investigates cold cases,"he said.

Wolfe, though, said finding a resolution to cold cases is still a priority.

"Any time you have these types of cases, you have a victim that hasn't been served," he said.

Wolfe said there are two cases in particular in Malheur County he wants to solve someday. One involves a rape and the other the apparent drowning death of a nurse who worked at an area hospital back in 2001.

The case of the nurse — Mae Hori, then 44 — in early 2001 still resonates with Wolfe.

"It was finally ruled an accidental drowning. But I'd like to have the resources to pick that apart. From time to time it bothers me,"he said.

Harvey agrees that the uncertainty left in the wake of an unsolved crime is unsettling. '"Ib never have closure, no one should have to go through that," Harvey said.

it.'

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5, =W5

/g) Tim INustoe/wesoom News Service

La Grande Police Chief Brian Harvey opens an evidence locker in the police department's evidence room.

Harvey says small departments are limited by tight budgets but that they don't forgot cold cases. often a shortage in law enforcement personnel means supervisors and managers must make difFrcult resource allocation decisions.

'Typically in most departments we haveafullworkload.Thebot-

tom line is I can't put a team of investigators on each cold case. So there is a practical aspect to it. At the end ofthe day we have towork within a budget," Harvey said.

However, Harvey said his depart-

ment is committed to solving cold cases. Harvey said the search for justice endures. eMore than anything (cold cases) are lead driven. If we have something significant, we willput something

Have infonrlation?

La Grande

If you believe you have information that could help police as they continue to look for Leona Kinsey, contact the La Grande Police Department at 541-963-1017. not ready to lose her. It was not like she was sick and saw it coming."

Today DeFord continues to struggle to make sense ofher mom's disappearance.

"Still looking back it was all a blur," she said.

Honoring her heritage Kinsey was a Puyallup American Indian who took great pride in her heritage.

"She had a strong cultural sense. She definitely had a sense of pride," said DeFord, who thought she would have plenty of time to learn fully abouther mom's culture and life story.

"I didn't have my whole

herpurse,her ~ t t e lighter andherpager,were leftbehind ather home, DeFord said.

DeFord, who grew up in La Grande, remains optimistic that someone in the community will come forward and reveal just what happened to her mom. ''When was I a kid growing up there, I couldn't sneak out of the house to go skating or whatever without the whole town knowing about it. It is hard to understand how something like this can happen and nobody knows anything," she said.

She hopes the passageof

time will make it more likely for someone to come forward.

"Ithas been solong.Itis life," DeFord said. from)," DeFord said."She Today she aches for the con- such as small town. It is hard was very compassionate for nection she had to her mother to believe that nobody knows the less fortunate." anything," DeFord said."Peoand her love.

DeFord said the worst 'There is nothing like a ple may remember something thing a person could be in mother's love," she said. that at the time they didn't her mother's eyes was to be feel safe (talking about)."

DeFord said her three disrespectfu lofothers.

DeFord is not alone in children have missed out on At the time ofher disapone ofli fe'streasures because trying to keep the memory of pearance, Kinsey was 5-foot- ofher mom's disappearance. her mom alive. In November eHer grandkids deserved to 2008, about 20 people came 5, 110 pounds, with brown eyes and shoulder-length have a grandmother,"she said. together along the north brown hair. She wore glasses.

DeFordsaid thather mom's bank of the Grande Ronde Motorists in the La Grande vehicle, a 1980s GMC Jimmy, River to honor Kinsey. area may someday be was found four days after her She was eulogized in reminded on a daily basis of disappearance in the parking Native American song and Kinsey, as DeFord is considlotoftheAlberts ons~ prayer that day. Those presering putting up a billboard ent heard a plea for closure stote, which closedabout four with her mom's photo on it. for Kinsey's loved ones. years ago. No siym of foulplay ''lfit was your mother or "It would keep her memory were foundin the vehicleitself fresh," she said.

All ofher possessions,including my mother, we'd want them Memories of a person of whom compassion for others was complemented by a light touch.

"She was very nurturing and had a silly sense of humor," DeFord said.

In one of DeFord's favorite photos ofher mom, she is

YAve.

Leona Kinsey's vehicle located Cove Ave.

H Ave. Gmphic by Greg Croee/Wesoom News Service

Leona Kinsey's vehicle was found in the Albertsons parking lot four days after she is believed to have gone missing. found. I think we would think we are ready to heal. Itis time who knew Kinsey to come ofher every day,"said Crystal to find all the pieces ofthis forward in the near future Burnell, who grewup with De- puzzle andput them together." with information that could Ford, in remarks to open the Seven years later, DeFord help solve the case. ceremony at Riverside Park "I hope they reach out to said that she gets excited each spring when people in us. I would love nothing betSpring hopes this area start venturing ter than to call her daughter DeFord could not attend outdoors more and more. and say We found your 'This time of the year people mom,"'he said. the 2008 ceremony but she listened via cell phone and are outin the woods. I always sent written remarks that hope that someone will find Contact DickMason at 541-7S6-53S6or dmason@ were read aloud. something,"DeFord said.

In those remarks, DeFord Shaul would like nothlagrandeobserver.com.Follow saidher pain and griefnever ing better than for someone Dickon Twitter @Igoll/Iason. go away.

'Tlum thousand two hundred and eighty-nine days and not one goes by that I Larrg Mardie don't miss my mother,"DeFord wrote in 2008."Nine years woutd tike Io later I am still crying over the 4hank everyone kIndnennIn loss and I know the tears are for lheIr cardn real because they come from the inside out... This whole and kindnenn experience has devastated a4 lhe IImeof my family. We are ready for beI' emembei'ed.

Oui lOnn. closure and for answers and

e amIy of

Pttof your

greatty apprecIaled, and wittatwayn-

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holding a telephone playfully.

The photo reveals one of Kinsey's endearing character traits.

"She was carefree and had no worries. That is how I remember her," DeFord said.

She credits her mom with being a source of inspiration that she carries within herself to this day.

"She instilled in me the attitude that it is important to always do the best you can," DeFord explained.

Kinsey disappeared when her daughter was in her mid-20s.

"I was too young to lose my mom. It wasn't fair," DeFord said."I lost her without any closure, the opportumty to say good-bye... .Ourfamily was

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40 — THE OBSERVER sr BAKER CITY HERALD

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

COLD CASES

Focusisonmomwithendearing yersonali V-

*.

<os e or t o k t t

FROMTHE REPORTER '

:

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DICK MASON

' l I

This 10-week series will take readers through 10 unsolved cases of homicides and disappearances.

April 3:

3ama Harms Harms, a 19-year-old assistant manager and former college student, was found slain in her downtown La Grande apartment in October 1995.

t

never met Leona Kinsey, but after writing a story about her mysterious disappearance in 1999 I wish I had.

Thanks in large part to the graciousness ofher daughter, Carolyn DeFord, I have gained insight into the life of an intriguing and compassionate person, an individual who I know would have been a delight to know.

I'm sure it would have been fascinating to talk to Leona about her love of searching for old homesteads, and to learn about her proud Puyallup American Indian heritage.

I get the feeling that she is the type of person who had a knack for pick-

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ing up people's spirits and making

Today: Leona Kinsey Leona Kinsey, a 45-year-old mother who ran a local landscaping business, disappeared from La Grande in October 1999 without a trace, and today few — if any — traces have been found.

April 17:

Sylvia Heitstuman Law enforcement exhausted their efforts but despite it all, the most challenging aspect of Sylvia Heitstuman's case is the fact that she knew so many people.

Leads in the case are all dead ends.

April 24:

Doug VanLeuven

them feel better about themselves.

I sensed this aRer Carolyn told me how her mom was always looking out for the less fortunate. It was impressive to hear Carolyn explain that she was urged to sit with students at school who were not popular because her mother believed it was important to reach out to them.

I was nervous about calling Carolyn to ask her about her mom. I am not skilled at asking people about painful, personal experiences and losses. Carolyn, however, to my relief made the process easy. She spoke with candor about the pain she and her family experienced. On the other side, I could hear the enthusiasm in Carolyn's voice jump when she s~ t a l k ing about the qualities that made her mom a special person. I sensed that she would never tire of talking about the qualities that set her mom apart.

Carolyn spoke highly of the work local law enforcement ofIIcers have done in the attempt to find her mom.

Tim INustoe/The Observer

A 2008 edition ofThe Observer highlighted a ceremony held to memorialize Leona Kinsey at Riverside Park.

"... I wanted tofocuson I.eona thewoman withan endearing personality and notl.eona the possible crime victim."

— Reporter Dick Mason

She was vocal about this during interviews, bringing the subject up beforeIasked about it.

When Iinterviewed La Grande Police Officer John Shaul about the case, I was struck by how sincere he was in wanting to find Leona for the sake ofher family. Shaul feels this way even though he now works as a patrol officer rather than a detective.

Itsaysa lotabouthis characterthat Shaul remains dedicated to the case even though it has been years since he has worked as a detective.

When I interviewed Shaul for the story, I didn't focus on the murder or foul play investigation aspect of the story, but rather on the human elements and why he feels personally drawn to the case 15-1/2 years aker Leona's disappearance. The same held true for my interview with Carolyn — I wanted to focus on Leona the woman with an endearing personality and not Leona the possible crime

Courtesy photo

vIctIm.

Leona Kinsey was 45 when she went missing in La Grande in the fall of 1999.

If I succeeded in doing this, it is a credit to DeFord and Shaul.

At 20 years old, VanLeuven had his whole life before him when he was suddenly — and seemingly purposelyhit by a car.

May 1: Kendra Maurmann A shallow grave containing the body of 42-year-old Kendra Dee Maurmann was discovered by mushroom hunters on April 4, 1995, on Eagle Creek north of New Bridge in northeastern Baker County.

She had been buried several months earlier.

May 8: The cases of Helen Lovely and Phay Eng The daughter of Helen Lovely wants the person who killed her in 1945 to see what she looked like.

Commercial mushroom picker Phay Eng was killed on a lonely forest road high in the mountains above Elgin in June 1993.

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May 15: Kristin Schmidt Police suspect that Kristin Alice Schmidt was the victim of a serial killer. She was found at Hilgard State Park.

May 22: Isaac Roberts Isaac Roberts, an Idaho man, disappeared without a trace during the 2012 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo.

May 29: Lia Szubert Police investigating the June 1987 death of 22-year-old Lia Szubert have many more questions than answers today. She was found down an embankment east of La Grande.

3une 5: Dana DuMars A man was convicted of murdering Dana DuMars, but the conviction was later overturned.

DuMars was found in La Grande's Candy Cane Park.

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