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
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Mega Millions: $40 million
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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
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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
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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
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