FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Memorial Day at Mt. Hope
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 3
Harvey discussed the
War of 1812, including
details of the battles in Bal-
timore, Maryland, which
thwarted British forces,
and the experiences which
inspired lawyer, author,
and poet Francis Scott
Key, to write the lyrics to
The Star Spangled Banner,
which Harvey then spoke.
He said, “Without the
support, sacrifice, and
commitment of our troops,
today, all of our freedoms
would be lost, so, I ask,
in the back of your mind
today, would you please
say a prayer for them
tonight? They’re still in
harm’s way--we want them
to come home, find peace,
and come back to their
family.
“But our troops our
fighting another war now...
Many of them come home,
and they don’t know or
recognize this as home
anymore. They have
nightmare troubles...Many
of them are taking their
lives, through suicide. I
pray that you would reach
out to a veteran--give them
hope, encourage them, let
them know they’re home...
Thank you.”
Hunter announced the
raising of a flag to honor
World War II Army Private
Charles Henry Moeller,
who has passed since the
previous service. Hunter
introduced Mrs. Oregon
2016, Lori McNeil.
McNeil said, “It is an
honor to be with you, on
this beautiful day. This is
my last official appearance
as Mrs. Oregon United
States, and I can’t think
of a better way, than to be
here honoring those who
have served, with all of
you today.
“I, as an 18-year educa-
tor and parent, work very
hard, to make sure that my
family knows the impor-
tant history, so that they,
too understand, and never
forget the importance of
what took place years
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Dani Huck at far left gathers with other volunteers to collect donations in ex-
change for poppies and books.
before them, and they, too
could be here honoring
those who have served, for
generations to come.
“I have many friends
and family who have
served and are currently
serving, and to be here
today means so much. So,
I will continue to work
tirelessly, to educate those
students to the best of my
ability, so that they, too
may know in their hearts,
the sacrifices that have
been made...It is an honor,
thank you so much for hav-
ing me, and allowing me to
be here today...”
Hunter announced the
continuing raising of sepa-
rate flags, to honor World
War II veteran Roy N.
Everson, Everett Scrivner,
Alva “Alvie” E. Justus,
Edwin M. Hindman, and
Gustav W. Sword.
Hunter introduced Baker
Elks Lodge #338 and
Avenue of Flags Commit-
tee representative Doug
Riggs. Riggs said, “This
committee is made up of
the VFW, the American
Legion, and the Frater-
nal Order of Eagles ... I
want to give out so many
Thank yous today...As
Bill Harvey said, we don’t
have a lot of young people
(but)... Saturday morning,
I had 20 Cub Scouts and
Boy Scouts up here, plac-
ing these little flags in the
graves, so, I would like...to
thank Troops 342, 343, and
344, of the Cub and Boy
Scouts.
“I also know of one other
situation, in terms of young
people (a group of grand-
children at the time of as-
sisting to place the smaller
flags, who are now older,
and still helping, with the
younger generations volun-
teering, too) ...
“We do have young
people out there, who are
helping, and who are learn-
ing, and we want to thank
them. I also want to thank
the other 50 volunteers or
so, that I had (who helped
place the flags)...It’s quite
a job...
“I would like to thank
(American Legion Auxil-
iary Unit #41 President)
Dani Huck. She spent over
three years putting this
book together (he held up
a copy of the Baker Elks
Lodge-sponsored book,
“Avenue of Flags: Memo-
rial Day Flags,” which
contains 557 names—there
are actually 584 flags, with
20 being duplicate names,
and seven illegible. Pur-
chase of the book can be
made through donation). It
is a tremendous book...It
lists the names of all of the
veterans, whose flags fly
up here in the cemetery...”
He also expressed grati-
tude for the donation of the
flower boxes placed in the
monument and cemetery
entrance areas.
Riggs invited everyone
present to a free spaghetti
lunch, provided by the
Baker Elks Lodge, and
he asked for volunteers to
return to remove the flags
at 5 p.m. Coates provided
the closing prayer, and bu-
gler and retired Army 1st
Sergeant Duncan Pearce
played Taps, to conclude
the service.
Veteran Bob Nelson
served as a flag bearer,
decked out in full dress
kilt. Brett Reinhart, Jerry
Shaw, Gary Young and
Wayne Coates also served
as flag bearers.
Boat accident happens in Hells
Canyon Pool on the Snake River
On May 27, 2017 at
approximately 4:07 p.m.,
the Baker County Con-
solidated Dispatch Center
received a 911 call report-
ing a boat had tipped over
on the Snake River in the
Hells Canyon pool.
The reporting party
indicated that there were
multiple people in the wa-
ter without life vests.
On arrival, Baker County
Sheriff’s Office personnel
found three of the passen-
gers had been picked up by
a house boat, and two addi-
tional passengers from the
boat had swam to shore.
Upon further investiga-
tion, it was determined
the craft, a drift boat, had
struck the bridge between
Oregon and Idaho near
Copperfield campground
in Oxbow, causing it to
capsize.
Additionally, at the time
of the capsizing, none of
the occupants in the boat
were wearing life vests.
At the conclusion of the
investigation, the operator
of the craft, identified to be
Tyrel Rankin (24 years of
age) of Summerville, Or-
egon, was cited for Unsafe
Operation of a Boat.
The other occupants of
the boat were:
Brian Gutierrez (22
years of age) of Echo,
Oregon
Treve Moffit (22 years
of age) of La Grande,
Oregon
Trenton Powers (21
years of age) of La Grande,
Oregon
Tyson Wicklander (21
years of age) of La Grande,
Oregon
Anyone with additional
information is asked to
contact the Baker County
Sheriff’s Office.
The Marine Patrol Divi-
sion of the Baker County
Sheriff’s Office would also
like to remind boaters to
wear their life vests at all
times when on the water.
Man drowns in
Snake River
On May 26, 2017 at approximately 2:26 p.m., the
Baker County Consolidated Dispatch Center received a
911 call from an individual on Snake River Road, report-
ing that they could see a body floating in the river.
The witness described this as being approximately a
half-mile from the boat launch (near Spring Recreation).
A witness on shore launched a boat and raced to the
scene.
When deputies arrived on scene, the deceased, iden-
tified as Michael I. Townsley (64 years of age) from
Weiser, Idaho was on the good Samaritan’s boat. The
boat was located between Spring Recreation and Morgan
Creek.
Personnel from Huntington Rural Fire Department and
the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol respond-
ed to the scene as well.
Through the course of the investigation it was learned
that Townsley and his lone passenger, Dustin Grant (18
years of age), also from Weiser, Idaho, were fishing on
Townsley’s small, flat bottom boat, when the wind picked
up.
The river became choppy, and a wave lifted up the front
end of the small craft and slammed it back down. When
the boat hit the wave, it ejected Townsley out the back of
the boat.
Townsley was not wearing a life jacket.
This case remains under investigation. Anyone with ad-
ditional information is asked to contact the Baker County
Sheriff’s Office.
Kayak flips on
203 Pond
On May 25, 2017, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the
Baker County Consolidated Dispatch Center received a
911 call reporting an occupied kayak had flipped over
at the 203 Pond on Medical Springs Highway in Baker
County.
The reporting party stated the lone occupant was wear-
ing a life jacket and was now hanging on to the kayak,
unable to get back on. The boater was later identified to
be George McDonald (80 years of age) from Union, Or-
egon. Personnel from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office,
Oregon State Police, Baker Rural Fire and Baker City
Fire responded.
Upon arrival, McDonald was observed clinging to
the kayak approximately 75 yards from shore. A strong
north wind prevented McDonald from returning to the
north side of the pond. McDonald was urged, via the P.A.
system, to let the wind blow him to the south shore of the
pond.
A jet ski from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office was
deployed at the scene to assist in the rescue. Additionally,
Assistant Fire Chief Sean Lee from Baker Rural Fire,
dove into the pond to assist in the rescue.
Due to the efforts of all involved parties, McDonald
was brought to shore and treated by medical personnel on
scene.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank
all the partnering agencies that responded and assisted in
this rescue mission.
Accident: man’s
arm pinned
beneath vehicle
On May 24, 2017, at approximately 12:58 p.m., the
Baker County Consolidated Dispatch Center received a
911 call reporting a single vehicle crash on Malheur Line
Road in south Baker County. The initial report indicated
that two occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the
crash, and one had an arm pinned beneath the vehicle,
which would be at least partially amputated should the
vehicle be lifted.
Sheriff Travis Ash, along with personnel from the
Huntington Rural Fire Department, responded to the loca-
tion. It was determined that both occupants, Lynn Jordan
(72 years of age) of Aloha, Oregon and Kim McGonigal
(70 years of age) of Aurora, Oregon, would need to be
transported via Life Flight. Two Life Flight helicopters
were dispatched to the scene.
Both Jordan and McGonigal were transported via Life
Flight to a Boise area hospital with varying degrees of
injuries.
Based on evidence from the scene, it was determined
speed was a contributing factor in the crash. Additionally,
the failure to wear a safety belt could be a contributing
factor to injuries sustained by one or both of the occu-
pants.
Sinclair robbed
On May 20, 2017, just after midnight, two unknown
subjects unlawfully entered Fletcher's Sinclair located at
940 Hwy. 7, Baker City, Oregon, while another subject
stayed outside as a lookout after one of the subjects
broke the glass out of the back door. They stole approxi-
mately $34.62 of tobacco products.
A 14 year-old male Baker City juvenile has been
charged with this burglary and theft. His accomplices
have not been charged at this time.