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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2015)
OUTDOORS: Group to take another try at banning trapping in Oregon. PAGE 7 BUSINESS: Dan’s Dawgs House to open on Broadway. PAGE 3 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, November 20, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 47 Assault on the pathway • SIX MEN INVOLVED IN INCIDENT ON PATH BEHIND ACE HARDWARE BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Around 2 a.m. last Saturday morning, six men—two groups of three each—were involved in an altercation on the section of the Leo Adler Memorial Pathway that runs behind Thatcher’s Ace Hardware. According to offi - cials, Dan Turk, Anthony Constantine, and Trevor Shankle of Baker City all sustained injuries of vary- ing degrees during the inci- dent. A parent of one of the men in this group said the three had left their vehicles parked after a night out on the town. Members of the second group are Jason Brown of Baker City and out-of- state friends, Christopher Wymbs and Bryan Morris, who were together on the path after leaving a party earlier. Shankle’s injuries include a shattered eye socket. Turk received nine staples to close a head in- jury sustained in the brawl. Injuries sustained by the third man in that group are reported as somewhat less severe, according to family. The three men in the second group, said Police Chief Wyn Lohner, did not sustain any major injuries. Due to a confl ict of inter- est with one of the men involved being related to a member of his staff, Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff recused himself and his offi ce from the case, which has been transferred to the Malheur County District Attorney’s offi ce, headed by District Attorney Dan Norris. No arrests have yet been made in the case, as victims are still being of- fi cially sorted from alleged assailants, and evidence gathered. Shirtcliff says the case is slated to be turned over to a Baker County Grand Jury within the next few weeks. Investigation of the at- tack has been delegated to the Major Crimes Team with assistance from the Oregon State Police, Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce and Baker City Police Department. Detective Jay Lohner of the Baker City Police Department is the lead investigator. Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press The Leo Adler Memorial Pathway behind Thatcher’s Ace Hardware was the scene of an assault that will now go before a Grand Jury. Veterans honored in Panhandle Huntington man charged with sex abuse BY EILEEN DRIVER Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com Robert Lee Witter, 80, of Huntington has been arrested on multiple sex abuse-related charges. At approximately 2 p.m. on Monday, November 16th, a team of Baker County Sheriff’s Depart- ment deputies led by Sheriff Travis Ash sur- Photo Courtesy of the rounded and approached Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce the house at 205 E. Adams Robert Lee Witter. Street, Huntington. The occupant, Robert “Bob” Lee Witter, born April 10, 1935, is a part-time resident of Huntington, and was found to be home at the time. Witter was promptly ar- rested, taken into custody and transported to the Baker County Jail. Ash said on site, “We are executing a legally obtained search warrant and have no further comment at this time, but will be issuing a press release later tonight.” SEE SEX ABUSE PAGE 5 Carmelita Holland / The Baker County Press Members of the local VFW Halfway Post # 7847 were special honorees in Halfway for Veterans Day. BY CARMELITA HOLLAND News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Pedestrian struck by pickup BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Veteran’s Day was celebrated in the Panhandle of Baker County with an annual breakfast served early that holiday morning, and a program held at the Pine-Eagle Charter School in Halfway, hosted by teachers, students and vari- ous members of the community. Members of the local VFW Halfway Post # 7847 were special honorees. VFW and family members were seated in chairs on the fl oor with others occupying the bleachers, gathered to cheer them. While the guests were fi nding their seat one of the Pine-Eagle teachers, Jason Jordan Smith, played his bagpipes. Following the meal, each person entering the gym re- ceived a patriotic memento from the VFW, distributed by Debbie Duggan; students were given a small American fl ag, and adults received red poppies. Everyone joined in singing The Star Spangled Banner, led by the primary grade children, Joseph Aguilar on the piano, with music instructor Denzil Kumarr. Hymn to the Fallen was played by ten members of the High School Band. Madison Morgan read her story on the topic of “What Freedom Means to Me.” Devin Rasmussen was narrator over a very emotional video featuring D Day—June 6th, 1944, during World War II. A crowd gathered at the Gazebo beside the parking area after the inside service and VFW members rang the old school bell. Friday Mostly cloudy and mild, highs in the mid to upper 40s. Mostly cloudy with frost developing before morning. Lows in the lower 30s. Saturday Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers devel- oping late. Highs near 50. Chance of precipita- tion 40%. Lows in the mid-30s at night. Sunday Cloudy with showers. Highs in the mid-40s, chance of precipitation is 60%. Chance for pop up snow showers at night. Lows in the mid 20s. Carmelita Holland / The Baker County Press ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ was played by ten members of the Pine Eagle High School Band. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. A pedestrian was struck by a pickup truck at the inter- section of Clark and Campbell just before 7 a.m. Monday morning in Baker City. The victim, 79-year-old Alfred Berdahl, of Valley Av- enue, was in the crosswalk when he was struck during his daily morning walk. According to Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner, the driver of a 1991, 3/4-ton Ford 250 pickup was traveling west on Campbell, and was turning south on Clark Street when the vehicle struck the man. The victim was either pushed or dragged approximately 20 feet before coming to rest on the asphalt. Several wit- nesses reported seeing the accident nearly immediately after it happened, but so far no one has come forward who saw the incident occur. Members of a Union Pacifi c crew were among the fi rst to report seeing the aftermath. The victim suffered lacerations, internal injuries and head trauma, but full details of his injuries remained un- disclosed. He was initially transported to St. Alphonsus— Baker City for care, then Lifefl ighted to Boise, where he was listed in critical condition at the time of print. Berdahl’s sister stated he is expected to recover. The driver, Arden Hollinger, 62, of Elm Street, was cited with a Class B violation for Failure to Stop and Remain Stopped for a Pedestrian. The citation carries a penalty of $260, and according to Police Chief Wyn Lohner, there was no evidence of driver distraction. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Heart ‘N Home’s 30 days of gratitude BLM’s Sage-Grouse proposal Museum starts strategic plan Sumpter area on NatGeo channel Parks & Rec: BMX bike track? Richland hosts Mayors Council Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 8 8 9 10