FROM PAGE ONE
Thursday, augusT 4, 2022
ThE OBsErVEr — A9
AUTISM
MERA
Continued from Page A1
Continued from Page A1
“Everyone can relate in some
way or another.”
This year’s walk received
two $2,500 donations from
what the ASO calls “platinum
sponsors” — La Grande’s
Center for Human Development
and The Dalles-based non-
profit Greater Oregon Behav-
ioral Health. Other sponsors
chipped in as well, including
La Grande’s own Bowman
Trucking.
Smith and co-organizer
JulieKay Dudley started
the Union County Color the
Blues for Autism Walk in
2016. According to Smith and
Dudley, the event has outgrown
its original locale at Riverside
Park, and will now be held at
the Union County Fairgrounds,
3604 N. Second St.
Smith said the fairgrounds
offer a space that is big enough
and safe enough for more
people to come and enjoy the
festivities. Despite the location
change, Smith expects to see
returning volunteers and partic-
ipants who have a soft spot for
the yearly event.
“This is the walk that they
look forward to being a part
of every year,’’ she said. “It
feels pretty good to have that
response.”
For Smith, the autism walk
— and her role in planning it
— hits close to home. Her son,
Raiden, was diagnosed with
autism at two years old. Raiden
endured all manner of chal-
lenges, from being born prema-
turely to persevering through
a broken collar bone while
working through a develop-
mental delay.
“He’s our success story,”
Smith said. “He’s my
superhero.”
Despite his developmental
delay, he began formulating
words and sentences around
four years old with the help
of some of his favorite songs
The forest management project
at MERA was introduced by Union
County for improving forest health
and reducing wildfire risk, as well as
conducting logging for profit, with the
proceeds going back into the recre-
ation area.
The Red Apple area and the
MERA Loop trail below Asher Lane
will be closed off for logging and
mastication from Aug. 29 through
Oct. 31. All fire safety restrictions as
outlined by the Oregon Department
of Forestry will be followed while
logging, according to Wright.
Wright plans to have weekly con-
versations with the contractor and
go onsite to the logging area in order
to provide greater oversight and
ensure the project is moving along as
intended.
“Make sure it’s a good job when
we are all said and done,” he said.
There was some debate over
whether the Upper Igo Trailhead
should remain open during the log-
ging work after residents from Igo
Lane expressed safety concerns about
equestrians on the road due to blind
corners. The joint advisory com-
mittee unanimously voted to keep all
the trailheads open.
The boundary line will be heavily
signed so the public is aware of what
areas are off limits. Committee mem-
bers and volunteers will be stationed
at MERA on the first day of logging
to answer questions and direct people
to areas where they can still hike,
bike, ride and enjoy the outdoors.
Wright announced that an agree-
ment had been reached with a private
landowner to allow the logging com-
pany access to MERA, so that the
primary parking lot for MERA was
not impacted.
Wright also provided a brief
update on the hiring of a new coor-
dinator for Union County Parks. He
hopes to have the position filled by
November.
“After the last meeting, I appre-
ciate you working to address our con-
cerns,” said Tyler Brooks, committee
member and head of the Blue Moun-
tain Single Track Club.
Cassiopaia smith/Contributed Photo
Cassiopaia smith/Contributed Photo
The annual Color the Blues for Autism Walk will take
place Saturday August 13th, from 10 am to 1 pm.
and television shows. Now 12,
Smith’s son joins her for the
yearly walks.
This year, Smith has invited
the Portland Ghostbusters — a
donation-based charity cosplay
group that participates and vol-
unteers in community events
throughout the Pacific North-
west — to the walk. A few of
the group’s volunteers will be
in attendance, dressed in full
Ghostbusters get-up.
Attendees can also expect
a free lunch, a photo booth,
face painting, prize raffles and
more. Local vendors like La
Grande’s Kettle Corn N’ More
will also be selling a variety
of treats. This year’s festivi-
ties will also include a bounce
house.
Dudley, whose daughter
is on the spectrum, has been
involved in the autism com-
munity for over 35 years. For
her, the day is just as important
for celebrating children on the
TRIAL
Continued from Page A1
While driving, Hamilton said he
engaged in small talk, pointing
out where his wife’s children lived
— a decision he would come to
regret.
The second trip was supposed to
be to Spring Creek, where Lee told
Hamilton an RV had broken down.
But when the pair were almost to
the exit, Lee revealed he actually
needed to go to Meacham, where
he met a man with a brightly col-
ored plastic shopping bag.
During the drive back, Ham-
ilton said, Lee asked if he wanted
to see what was in the bag. Ham-
ilton said Lee pulled out a box,
opened it and revealed a gun. Ear-
lier during his testimony, Ham-
ilton said he has an intense fear of
guns.
Testimony about
Lee’s demeanor
Hamilton testified he became
uncomfortable with Lee’s lan-
guage and attitude, which esca-
lated once the Conley Road prop-
erty was listed for sale.
He told the jury Lee would say
his wife was costing him every-
thing, that she needed to be gotten
rid of and he knew people in Port-
land that for $3,000 would come
to deal with the problem.
Hamilton said Lee asked him
if he would serve as an alibi if
something happened. Hamilton
said he would not lie to police.
McDaniel asked why Hamilton
continued to work with Lee. He
explained they were so close to
being done with the trailer and it
felt like the end was in sight.
The night of
Williams’ slaying
Hamilton was supposed to
meet Lee and his son at the repair
shop the night Williams was
killed, Nov. 17, 2018.
Hamilton said he was feeling
incredibly anxious that night —
worrying that perhaps it was not
Lee’s son coming from Portland
but someone else.
Hamilton ended up going to
Lee’s shop after 11 p.m. He said
he took back roads to avoid cam-
eras, not wanting any association
between himself and Lee in case
something did happen that night.
When he arrived, Lee came
out from his trailer and the pair
had a brief interaction where
Hamilton demanded his keys
because the work on his RV was
still not completed.
Hamilton said Lee went back
inside to get the keys, but when
he came back he was wearing dif-
ferent clothes and was carrying a
bag. According to Hamilton, Lee
opened the passenger door, tossed
the bag down and got in the car.
Hamilton testified Lee grabbed
a long-barreled gun and pressed
it to Hamilton’s temple. Ham-
ilton told jurors he was scared
and thought Lee was going to kill
him.
During this line of questioning
from McDaniel, Hamilton broke
down crying again and needed
time to compose himself.
When he continued, he said
as Lee directed him to drive, he
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Lee’s attorney, Dean Gushwa,
on cross examination asked Ham-
ilton multiple times if he heard
anything the night of Williams’
slaying. Hamilton said the only
sounds he heard that night were
the gunshots.
Gushwa turned to Hamil-
ton’s agreement with the district
attorney in exchange for his tes-
timony. Hamilton said he pleaded
guilty to two charges of hin-
dering, which came with 7½ years
of prison time. Hamilton said he
believed this was all he would
be charged with, but the murder
charge had not been dismissed.
Gushwa asked Hamilton why
he had changed his mind and
finally testified about the murder.
Hamilton said he wanted to put
Williams’ family, and his own
family, at ease.
Gushwa noted instances when
Hamilton lied to police and asked
Hamilton whether he told the
truth in his final interview with
police.
When Gushwa continued
his cross examination Monday
morning, Aug. 1, he asked Ham-
ilton if he and Lee were intimate
together. Hamilton said he did
not know what Gushwa meant,
to which the defense clarified a
sexual relationship.
Hamilton said no.
The district attorney rested
her case on Aug. 2, and Gushwa
scheduled defense witnesses for
Aug. 3. The court anticipates
closing statements could happen
Aug. 3, after which it will be up to
the jury to determine a verdict.
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the road, Hamilton said he slowed
down and turned on his brights
— trying to get law enforcement
to pull him over. Lee noticed and
told him if he slowed down again
he would shoot.
Along Highway 237, Ham-
ilton said Lee rolled down the
passenger window and tossed
the gun. He was momentarily
relieved until Lee pulled another
gun. McDaniel asked if this was
the same gun from Meacham and
Hamilton responded he did not
know at the time, but later made
the connection.
Hamilton said after they
arrived at the shop, Lee got out
while keeping the gun trained on
him and said, “Don’t tell anyone
or we’ll kill you, Cindy, the
family, just like we killed her.”
Hamilton said he started beg-
ging for his life, reassuring Lee
he would not say anything. He
said he was too scared to go
home, so instead he went to his
office.
McDaniel again asked Ham-
ilton why he did not go to the
police. Hamilton said he was
scared and his family came first.
Hamilton told the jury that Lee
called him two times after that
night. The first time Lee asked
him what was going on and Ham-
ilton assured him that he had not
talked to anyone. The second call,
which went to voicemail, was
Lee telling Hamilton the RV was
ready.
When Hamilton was arrested
in connection to Williams’ death,
he said he tried to deflect their
questions and not say exactly
what happened that night. Ham-
ilton said he believed Lee’s
threats to kill his family, and he
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was desperately trying to think
of a way out. He said he consid-
ered trying to knock the gun out
of Lee’s hand, but was worried
the gun would go off while it was
pressed against his head.
Hamilton said as they
approached the Conley Road
house, Lee had him slow down
and partially turn around until the
car was straight across the road.
Hamilton said Lee was acting
erratically — half screaming, half
mumbling. He could not recall
if he or Lee had shut off the car,
just that the keys ended up on the
passenger seat after Lee got out.
Hamilton said Lee kept the gun
pointed at him as he went around
and opened all of the car doors.
McDaniel asked Hamilton
why he did not drive away at this
point. He answered Lee had told
him not to move or he would
shoot.
Hamilton said he heard gun-
shots — two incredibly loud shots
and then possibly two or three
quieter shots. He told McDaniel
he thought maybe there was a
gunfight happening. Other than
the shots, he heard nothing.
He said Lee returned, closing
all the car doors.
Hamilton said he asked Lee if
someone was shooting at them.
He said Lee told him to shut up
and drive.
Hamilton testified Lee also
said “she” would no longer be
bothering him, but did not clarify
whom he was speaking about.
Hamilton said Lee was
breathing heavily, seemed mad
and did not want to talk. He said
Lee held the gun to Hamilton’s
head again as they started to
drive. As they passed police on
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Smith hopes to garner more
volunteers and community
members who want to attend.
Smith said she anticipates 250
attendees this year, but would
be thrilled if more show up.
“There’s so much craziness
in the world today,” she said.
“We just want to let everyone
know that we all can come
together.”
Funds from event registra-
tion fees will go toward sup-
porting ASO-sponsored pro-
grams, events and support
groups in Eastern Oregon. Reg-
istration is $10 for adults over
18 and $5 for children between
three and 17. Admission is free
for children two and under.
Participants over the age of
two receive T-shirts with their
registration.
Register at https://
secure.qgiv.com/event/
colortheblues2022/.
Sign up to volunteer at vol-
unteersignup.org/LE994.
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spectrum as it is for parents and
family.
“I never realized until we
started this how much families
need a day to just be a family,”
Dudley said. “For parents, it’s
a day to relax and let your hair
down.”
For siblings who often feel
left out because of the energy
parents put into caring for their
child with autism, Dudley said
the color walk can help them
understand “that their sibling is
someone to celebrate.”
The culminating activity of
the day will be the color walk.
Smith and Dudley have ordered
bulk batches of dyed cornstarch
that participants can throw as
they parade around the half-
mile paved loop on the fair-
grounds. Dudley’s advice to
event-goers: “Wear something
that you don’t mind getting
colors on.”
With the help of the Union
County Chamber of Commerce,
She asked him why he did not
go to police. Hamilton said he did
not think Lee’s threats were sin-
cere and he was merely mad about
the divorce.
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During the first annual Color the Blues Autism Walk on
April 30, 2016, Cassiopaia Smith was joined by her husband,
Jeremy, and her son, Raiden, who designed the T-shirts that
participants wore during the walk.
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