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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2016)
LOCAL: Community Easter egg hunt photos. PAGE 10 OUTDOORS: County warns against toxic Myrtle Spurge plant. PAGE 7 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, April 1, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 14 Book’s Baker City mystery shooting a mystery no more • SHOOTING FROM THE 1950s NOT A MURDER AFTER ALL BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com It all began with a March 3, 2016 letter from author William L. Aumiller to Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner. Aumiller’s aunt, Bon- nie Aumiller, as it turned out, had recounted some questionable circumstances from her childhood, recorded in an interview prior to her death in 2014. Her nephew had then set those memories to paper. Those circumstances? A shooting in Baker City in- volving Bonnie Aumiller’s father, Baker City Police Offi cer Chris Schoeberlin. “When I fi rst saw the book and letter, I wasn’t sure what to think,” said Lohner. “We hear a lot of wild stories, and I wondered if this was just another of those.” Aumiller’s book, “Earth Angels: Three Who Mattered” documents his aunt’s story from 1952. Writes Aumiller, a retired Denver Police Lieutenant, “I should have known bet- ter; it should have clicked, but I didn’t consider that someone else may have been charged with murder 64 years ago...” Aumiller went on to say, “It wasn’t a pressing issue since it happened so many years ago, but one that should be addressed.” Lohner agreed. “If there was even a small bit of truth to the story, we need- ed to make a fair effort to prove it—or dispel it.” The idea was to bring closure at last, if closure was needed, to the fami- lies of both the victim and suspect. Submitted Photo. A letter from author William Aumiller launched some detective work at the BCPD this month. SEE SHOOTING PAGE 5 Mural series adorns museum Hughes arrested on meth charges Photo courtesy of the Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce. Tracy Hughes. Kailyn McQuisten/ The Baker County Press A series of 18 murals painted by Tom Novak now graces the exterior of the Baker Heritage Museum. • FOUR-YEAR PROJECT AT LAST COMES TO FRUITION On March 25, 2016, at about 11:19 p.m., the Baker City Police Department (BCPD) began investigating a potential delivery of Methamphetamine in Baker City. BCPD Detective Sharon Bass was able to observe what appeared to be a delivery of narcotics at a local residence and then Offi cer Rand Weaver conducted a traffi c stop on the vehicle the suspect was traveling in, near the intersec- tion of 5th and Myrtle. Seized in the investigation was: • 2.9 grams of Methamphetamine, which had been delivered to a local residence • 28.8 grams of Methamphetamine, located in the ve- hicle the suspect was traveling in • Narcotics paraphernalia • $265 in cash Arrested at the scene for Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine was Tracy Leroy Hughes, age 50. The investigation will continue. BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Tom Novak’s mural proj- ect was a labor of love four years in the making. Originally planned to be completed in 11 months, but delayed by the artist’s illness, the 18-mural series fi nally found its place along the exterior walls of the Baker Heritage Mu- seum last Saturday. The project’s cost came in at $21K funded by the Meyer Memorial Foun- dation. Said Museum Manager Lea Gettle, “They have been incredible to work with.” According to Gettle, the project started as a program in which Novak Friday Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press One corner sign, “Museum at the Nat,” is a tribute to the museum’s days as a natatorium. worked with troubled youth to paint murals. The second part of the project was a collaborative effort between Novak and the Museum Commission. The artist chose black and white rather than color to mimic the photographs after which most of the murals were inspired. Said Gettle, “The murals are painted directly from Warm and sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Lows in the mid-50s. Saturday Mostly sunny with slightly cooler temperatures and possibly a few clouds. Highs in the mid 60s. Sunday Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Partly cloudy. Lows near 50. photos in our archives, the east facing fi ve mural scene is a scene that Tom imagined himself of the pioneer wagons descend- ing into the Powder River Valley.” House paint on wood was used, creating a lifes- pan of up to 40 years for the paintings. Housed in the his- toric 1920 Natatorium, the Baker Heritage Museum, formerly Oregon Trail Re- gional Museum, displays and interprets the rich his- tory of the region. Permanent and changing exhibits of mining, timber, ranching, agriculture, early Baker City life, Chinese culture and wildlife fi ll the 33,000 square foot build- ing. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Candidates forum April 19 The Baker County Republican Party and The Baker County Press will sponsor a forum for all County Com- missioner candidates vying for Position No. 1. The forum will take place on Tuesday, April 19 at the Best Western – Sunridge Inn, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All candidates will have the opportunity to meet and greet with the audience directly after the forum. Candi- dates are also being provided tables for their campaign materials. Commissioner candidates, Kody Justus, Jeff Nelson and Bruce Nichols have all confi rmed their attendance. Candidates will fi eld questions from the audience. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Veterinary services to relocate Easter Bunny visits Huntington BMCC’s offerings expand New wolf kill confi rmed Speedo Swim meet results Paving projects and Capital Plan Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 5 7 7 8
