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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2019)
2A — THE OBSERVER D AILY P LANNER TODAY Today is Friday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2019. There are 11 days left in the year. Union County Police dog takes down fleeing suspect ■ High-speed chase ends in crash, arrest bit down on the chance of escape. LA GRANDE — A According to a news new member of the release from the sher- Union County Sher- iff’s offi ce, a Union resi- iff’s Offi ce was integral dent at 1 a.m. called in Thursday’s early 911 and reported a morning capture of a stranger stole his 2006 Kapeli fl eeing fugitive. Chevrolet Suburban Sheriff Boyd Ras- from his driveway. The mussen credited the swift caller also said he had left the work of patrol dog Molly for SUV unlocked with the key helping with the arrest of in the ignition. Lucas Pakapea Kapeli, 31, a A sheriff’s deputy respond- transient from Washington ed to take a report, and soon now facing multiple charges after La Grande police offi cer after a high-speed car chase. Brandon Boucher spotted “He could have slipped the Suburban with a male away and hid in a fi eld,” driver and female passenger Rasmussen said, but having inside near Walton Road and a patrol dog at the ready Mulholland Drive. Boucher By Phil Wright TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT On Dec. 20, 1995, an American Airlines Boe- ing 757 en route to Cali, Colombia, slammed into a mountain, killing all but four of the 163 people aboard. ON THIS DATE In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the US. In 1860, South Carolina became the fi rst state to secede from the Union as all 169 delegates to a special convention in Charleston voted in favor of separation. In 1924, Adolf Hitler was released from prison after serving nine months for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch. In 1963, the Berlin Wall was opened for the fi rst time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays. In 1978, former White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman was released from prison after serving 18 months for his role in the Watergate cover-up. In 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega. In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples were entitled to the same benefi ts and protections as wedded heterosexual couples. In 2002, Trent Lott re- signed as Senate Republi- can leader two weeks after igniting a political fi restorm with racially charged remarks. In 2005, a federal judge ruled that “intelligent de- sign” could not be men- tioned in biology classes in a Pennsylvania public school district, delivering a stinging attack on the Dover Area School Board. LOTTERY Megabucks: $7.6 million 8-24-25-36-42-47 Mega Millions: $40 million 22-30-53-55-56-16-x2 Powerball: $171 million 14-18-26-39-68-9-x2 Win for Life: Dec. 18 3-4-32-56 Pick 4: Dec. 19 • 1 p.m.: 6-8-8-6 • 4 p.m.: 4-7-3-9 • 7 p.m.: 7-3-8-2 • 10 p.m.: 1-1-5-1 Pick 4: Dec. 18 • 1 p.m.: 3-9-9-5 • 4 p.m.: 5-7-7-0 • 7 p.m.: 2-5-2-6 • 10 p.m.: 9-2-9-0 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. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 LOCAL The Observer stopped the vehicle, and the two occupants provided identifi cation. Kapeli was driving, and his identifi cation, the sher- iff’s offi ce reported, was false. Boucher told the driver to shut off the ignition, but he instead took off and dragged the offi cer a short distance. La Grande Police Chief Brian Harvey said Boucher suffered only minor injuries. “He was able to get disengaged pretty quickly,” Harvey said. City police and Oregon State Police troopers pur- sued the Suburban, but the sheriff’s offi ce reported police ended the chase due to the “driver’s extremely reckless driving and speeds in excess of 100 mph.” A deputy soon found the Suburban on McAlister Road and tried to pull it over. Again, Kapeli sped away, this time turning east onto Highway 203 and continuing onto Curtis Road. Another deputy set out spike strips to blow out the Suburban’s tires, but Kapeli saw that and reversed direction. “The speed and reckless nature of the reversal caused the vehicle to overturn and come to a stop,” according to the sheriff’s offi ce. The female remained inside while the driver took off running. Rasmussen said deputy Dane Jensen then released Molly, who took down Kapeli. Jensen and Molly re- turned last month from training in California and have been patrolling since. Rasmussen said this was Molly’s fi rst signifi cant action in the fi eld, and she proved to be a worthy invest- ment. Law enforcement took Kapeli and the passenger to Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande, where medical staff examined and released them. The sheriff’s offi ce then arrested Kapeli for unlawful use of a vehicle, misdemeanor and felony fl eeing, reckless driving, reckless endangering, crimi- nal mischief, giving false information to police and us- ing another person’s driver’s license. Baker County Playground project gains national attention By Samantha O’Conner EO Media Group BAKER CITY — Baker City’s plan to build an all-inclusive playground this spring at Geiser-Pollman Park has gained national attention. On Nov. 24 city offi cials learned from PlayCore, a maker of play- ground equipment, that the Baker City project had been selected as a national demonstration site. “We were surprised. We didn’t even know that there was such a thing,” said Joyce Bornstedt, the city’s technical administration super- visor who oversees city parks. Bornstedt said the PlayCore design representative the city has been working with submitted Baker City’s project for the demonstration site status. Bornstedt ordered equipment for the new playground last week. Installation is tentatively set for May 11-15. “A lot of things have to happen before that and we never know about our weather,” Bornstedt said. The city’s $245,885 order with Game Time covers the cost of play- ground equipment, surfacing and installation. The city will take delivery by Dec. 31. Bornstedt said she placed the order before the company updated its price schedule on Dec. 11. “We wanted to make sure we got our order placed before the prices went up,” she said. Although the city has received several grants and donations for the project, totaling $285,461, the city still is raising money for the estimat- ed $299,000 effort, including a couple of pending grants. “Even with the pending grant op- portunities, we’re still sitting about $10,000 short, so we’re still raising money and we’re very confi dent that we’ll get there one way or the other,” Bornstedt said. She said city offi cials have spoken to a couple of local service clubs and will be talking to others about spon- sorship opportunities. “That’s available to anybody who wants to sponsor a piece of equip- ment or make any type of donation to the project,” Bornstedt said. Sponsorship opportunities are in three levels — gold, silver and bronze — and range from swing seats for chil- dren at $975 to a 53-foot-long zip track with an adaptive seat for $11,230. The city received $164,000 from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, $37,740 from the Moda Assist online voting contest last spring, $25,000 from the Leo Adler La Grande businesses hosting community chili feed PACIFIC NORTHWEST 5($&+PLOOLRQ3DFLÀF1RUWKZHVWHUQHUVZLWKMXVW2QH&DOO PNDC CLASSIFIED - Daily Newspapers 29 newspapers - 1,187,980 circulation Number of words: 25 z Extra word cost: $10 Cost: $540 (Runs 3 consecutive days including wkds.) PNDN 2x2 DISPLAY - Daily Newspapers By Sabrina Thompson 27 newspapers - 1,016,864 circulation Size: 2x2 (3.25”x2”) Cost: 1x 2x2: $1,050 The Observer LA GRANDE — Side A Brewing, in partnership with other local businesses, is providing a free community chili feed Saturday. “I thought it would be a nice offering for the commu- nity,” said Scott McConnell, Side A Brewing co-owner. “Especially since it can be hard around this time of year to get a nice meal for the family.” The event runs 4-8 p.m. at the La Grande Presby- terian Friendship Center, 1308 Washington Ave. Local businesses, including JaxDog Cafe, Kneads Bakery and Grocery Outlet, are provid- ing sides, drinks and des- serts while Side A is making the chili. “We are making chili be- cause it is a signature warm dish and easy to make in bulk,” Side A front-of-house manager Brittany Dalton Foundation and $20,000 from the Sunderland Foundation. Other contributions include: • $1,230 from a Facebook birthday party fundraiser by Karla Macy, whose son, Gus, has spina bifi da and will benefi t from the new all-inclusive playground. • $10,000 from the city budget • $2,000 from the Sunridge Inn • $2,000 from the Super 8 motel • $1,000 from Motel 6 • $416 from a fundraiser at the Sunridge Inn during the Hells Can- yon Motorcycle Rally • $363 from an Albertsons fundraiser • $238 from a fundraiser by Brian and Corrine Vegter, owners of Churchill School Bornstedt said the city will arrange a dedication for the new playground, which she hopes will be open by Me- morial Day weekend. ALASKA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO, MONTANA More info: Cecelia@cnpa.com or call (916) 288-6011 I would like to thank my valued customers, residential & commercial Staff photo by Sabrina Thompson Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Safe & Happy New Year! Travis Hansen, kitchen manager and co-owner at Side A Brewing, prepares food for the lunch rush. said. “I think the holiday sea- son is a great time to look at what the community needs.” The event also will have live music and giveaways. While there is no cost for the meal, donations will be accepted and go to three Union County programs: the Friday Backpack Program, which provides food over the weekend to elementary school students who are in need; the Angel Fund, which helps homeless or unaccom- panied youth; and the Union County Warming Station. “It is a simple way we could give back this year,” Dalton said. ,WV¼[4I_V;MZ^QKM Don Junker, owner FAMILY OWNED Holiday Design by Addalyn Pointon of Lewiston, ID. QUOTE OF THE DAY “All the mistakes I ever made were when I wanted to say ‘No’ and said ‘Yes.’” — Moss Hart, American playwright and director Kapeli remains in the Union County Jail, La Grande. The sheriff’s offi ce also reported it is detaining the passenger but she might not face charges. Kapeli also had a war- rant out of King County, Washington, stemming from a Nov. 2 home invasion, for fi rst-degree robbery, fi rst- degree kidnapping, third- degree assault, unlawful possession of a fi rearm and fl eeing police. Rasmussen said the sheriff’s offi ce was aware Kapeli could be in the area but did not know an exact location. He said the apprehension of Kapeli goes to show how well law enforcement agencies here work together. The district attorney’s offi ce arraigned Kapeli on 10 initial counts Thursday afternoon, including misde- meanors of reckless endan- gering and reckless driving and the two felonies for vehicle theft and fl eeing in a vehicle. Circuit Judge Wes Williams set Kapel’s bail at $75,000. 215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440 northwestfurnitureandmattress.com www.communitybanknet.com Member FDIC La Grande La Grande - Valley 904 Adams Ave 541-962-7600 2313 Adams Ave 541-963-3434 Elgin Baker City 109 S 8th St 541-437-1811 1190 Campbell St 541-524-7667
