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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 2019)
2A — THE OBSERVER D AILY P LANNER TODAY Today is Monday, Sept. 9, the 252nd day of 2019. There are 113 days left in the year. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On Sept. 9, 1971, prison- ers seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York, begin- ning a siege that ended up claiming 43 lives. ON THIS DATE In 1776, the second Continental Congress made the term “United States” offi cial, replacing “United Colonies.” In 1850, California be- came the 31st state of the union. In 1942, during World War II, a Japanese plane launched from a subma- rine off the Oregon coast dropped a pair of incendiary bombs in a failed attempt at igniting a massive forest fi re; it was the fi rst aerial bombing of the U.S. main- land by a foreign power. In 1943, Allied forces land- ed at Salerno and Taranto during World War II. In 1948, the People’s Dem- ocratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared. In 1960, in the fi rst regular-season American Football League game, the Denver Broncos defeated the Boston Patriots, 13-10. In 2005, Federal Emer- gency Management Agency Director Michael Brown, the principal target of harsh criticism of the Bush admin- istration’s response to Hur- ricane Katrina, was relieved of his onsite command. LOTTERY Megabucks: $1 million 12-13-16-35-36-45 Mega Millions: $154 million 4-11-13-19-31-10-x4 Powerball: $50 million 11-20-41-42-56-6-x2 Win for Life: Sept. 7 13-24-38-54 Pick 4: Sept. 8 • 1 p.m.: 8-7-4-9 • 4 p.m.: 4-9-1-4 • 7 p.m.: 0-7-4-7 • 10 p.m.: 8-0-2-2 Pick 4: Sept. 7 • 1 p.m.: 8-8-6-5 • 4 p.m.: 0-1-5-0 • 7 p.m.: 4-7-0-1 • 10 p.m.: 2-9-8-0 Pick 4: Sept. 6 • 1 p.m.: 2-0-3-5 • 4 p.m.: 0-3-6-2 • 7 p.m.: 5-4-9-8 • 10 p.m.: 6-5-1-2 NEWSPAPER LATE? Every effort is made to de- liver your Observer in a timely manner. Occasionally condi- tions exist that make delivery more diffi cult. If you are not on a motor route, delivery should be before 5:30 p.m. If you do not 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 541-975- 1690, leave your name, address and phone number. Your paper will be delivered the next business day. QUOTE OF THE DAY “A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes.” — Gotthold Lessing, German dramatist-critic MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 LOCAL New local lodging Mining proposed in dredge tailings ■ Antone Creek Lodge opens near Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort SUMPTER — An offi cial from a Canadian company gave Baker County Com- missioners an update on a proposal to do exploratory mining on a county-owned section of the dredge tailings in Sumpter Valley. Erik Tofsrud of Shukrain Investment Inc. in Vancouver was joined by Mark Ferns, a retired state geologist from Baker City. Both are part of Rainier Skyline Excavators Inc. Special Projects. The group wants to conduct a “bulk test,” which would involve digging a trench about 900 feet long, 300 feet wide and 80 to 100 feet deep, according to the proposal submitted to the county. Rainier Skyline Excava- tors would be ready to start the test in March 2020. The process would determine whether it’s fi nancially fea- sible to do larger-scale gold mining in the tailings. If the bulk test shows gold concentrations too small to warrant more mining, the group would fi ll the trench and level the disturbed area. “We will not leave this area with any cost to the county,” Tofsrud told commissioners. “That has been an understand- ing with Commissioner (Bill) Harvey since we started talk- ing about this two years ago.” Commissioners will have to put out a request for proposals in case other companies are also interested in doing testing on county property. By Samantha O’Conner EO Media Group S. John Colllins/EO Media Group By Samantha O’Conner EO Media Group NORTH POWDER — Antone Creek Lodge, a family run RV park that’s the nearest overnight lodging to Anthony Lakes, opened earlier this summer in the Elkhorn Mountains. The park is owned and operated by Rich and Lori Daniels, who also own Rich’s Portable Cabins in North Powder, along with their daughter, Harmony. Antone Creek Lodge is along the Anthony Lakes Highway about nine miles from Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort, with whom the business is a lodging partner. Although the ski area operates a couple of rental yurts, and a camp- ground and guard station are open during the summer, there are no other overnight accommodations at the resort. The timbered property features four cabins, or “tiny homes,” built by Rich’s Portable Cabins. The park, which opened June 22, sits between Antone Creek, which is about 50 feet from the cabins, and the highway. Lori, 62, said that “most of our guests are out of town guests,” com- ing from, among other places, Boise, Portland, Hermiston, Bend, and Ken- newick, Washington. The cabins can be rented for up to 30 days for staycations, family reunions, ski weekends, small weddings, and other events. They range in size and capacity. “They are private enough that you don’t have to know the people next Antone Creek Lodge has found a niche in the Elkhorn Mountains along the Anthony Lakes Highway northwest of Baker City. In front of Cabin 1 are, from left, Rich, Lori and Harmony Daniels. Rich’s Portable Cabins, built at North Powder, are for rent nightly and longer. to you but at the same time they are small enough that you are close enough to your family for family re- unions,” said Harmony Daniels, 19. Three of the cabins are pet-friendly. Lori said the other cabin is pet-free, “so it does not affect anyone’s allergies.” According to park’s website, up to two dogs, each a maximum of 30 pounds, are allowed, and larger dogs are considered on an individual basis. The Danielses have discussed the possibility of expanding the lodge by adding cabins, for which there is room. “It just depends on how successful this is and what the need is,” said Rich, 59. Lori said the couple attended the Sumpter Flea Market last weekend and saw what they believe was the “fourth cabin that Rich ever built.” “That’s where we got our start, was Sumpter at the fl ea market,” Lori said. The Antone Creek Lodge has been in the works for many years. The Danielses started Rich’s Por- table Cabins in 1999. According to a written history the couple compiled, Rich began as a self- employed timber cruiser. “As he could see the inevitable ‘writ- ing on the wall’ as far as job security, he decided to venture into a career that was more ‘sustainable,’ “ according to the written history. Rich bought 75 acres of timber ground and a portable sawmill to continue his work in the industry “with a brighter destiny on the horizon,” ac- cording to the history. Later he had a chance conversation at a building supply store when he heard a customer ask the clerk about storage sheds. None was available, and Rich ap- proached the customer and told her he could build a shed for her. Thus began his construction busi- ness. Two of his sheds became a bunk- house and a bath house for a couple building their home. The couple told Rich and Lori that if their shed had been bigger they could have lived in it. Rich’s Sheds then branched out into the manufacture of several play houses. The “Women in Timber” organiza- tion bought one to raffl e in a fund- raiser and placed it in a parade in La Grande. Union County Tourism later asked Daniels to build a mobile tourist information booth. That booth took shape as a miniature cabin on wheels. Daniels had expanded on the idea of building a larger version of the cabin on wheels. In doing so, he discovered with some research that he had built what is considered a park model RV. The RV park is part of the Danielses’ plan to transition from the manufac- turing part of their business to the the rental side. Hedman ends fight against extradition to Washington By Chris Collins EO Media Group BAKER CITY — A man wanted for murder in Washington who last month opposed extradition, prefer- ring instead to remain in the Baker County Jail awaiting disposition of local charges, has changed his mind. Colby James Hedman, 23, a former Heppner resident, waived extradition Wednesday in Baker County Circuit Court before Judge Greg Baxter. That action allows him to be returned to Washington where he will face charges of fi rst-degree murder and theft of a motor vehicle. Hedman, who was ar- rested near Baker City on July 9, was represented by Baker City attorney Damien Yervasi. Assistant District Attorney Michael Spaulding represented the state. Baxter told Hedman that while Washington authori- ties have 21 days to retrieve him from the Baker County Jail, he expects them to act sooner because of the fi rst- degree murder charge. “I’m pretty sure Washing- ton will come down and get you within the week,” Baxter told Hedman, who appeared via video from the Baker County Jail. Upon his return to Washington to face the more So Much More Than A Pharmacy handmade jewelry | leather goods & luxury accessories | home fragrances, bath & beauty | greeting cards & gift wrap | premium candles 1123 Adams Ave, La Grande 541-963-5741 • redcrossdrugstore.com serious charges, the Baker County charges will be dismissed. In response to a question from Baxter, Spaulding said Bob and Robbie Borders, who live on Taggert Lane north of Baker City where Hedman is accused of steal- ing two of their vehicles, sup- ported the state’s action. Hedman has been held at the Baker County Jail since July 9 on two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and one count of attempting to fl ee or elude police, both Class C felonies; two counts of second-degree criminal mischief, Class C misdemeanors; and one count each of reckless driv- Come by and check us out! SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER! ing, second-degree criminal trespass and failure to per- form the duties of a driver involved in an accident, all Class A misdemeanors. A grand jury indicted Hedman on the charges on July 11. Baxter set bail at $100,000, requiring the full amount to be paid before Hedman could be released, rather than 10 percent as is allowed in some cases. The Washington fugitive warrant charges him with fi rst-degree murder in the death of Kyle J. Martz, 35, of Walla Walla, Washington, and theft of Martz’s Toyota pickup truck from Martz’s home at Walla Walla, Wash- ington on July 8. 1809 Gekeler Ln. La Grande 541-963-4700 Grande Ronde Hospital proudly welcomes: Jay Johnson, DO Joining GRH as an Emergency Department Physician Emergency Department Physician Jay Johnson joins Grande Ronde Hospital after spending several years as a locum tenens emergency medicine physician, during which time he worked in a variety y of hospitals across the United States. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where p he e s served e r ved d for f or seven sevve n and a nd a half years as a clinic supervisor and served an additional seven and a half years as an air traffic controller. Dr. Johnson is the recipient of the h Air Force Achievement Medal, and two National Defense Service A Medals. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the M Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, and is M c certified by the American Board of Osteopathic Emergency Medicine. Jay Johnson, DO Dr. Johnson and his wife have five married children and seven D grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his family, faith-based g a activities, vacationing, golf, scuba diving, hiking, caring for and showing Irish Wol"ounds, and enjoying smooth jazz and contemporary I Christian music. C Learn more about Dr. Johnson in our online Provider Directory at www.grh.org today!