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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 2016)
REGION Saturday, June 25, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3A Forest Service: Finicum memorial must come down By AMANDA PEACHER Oregon Public Broadcasting Supporters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers are in conlict with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies over an impromptu memorial site for Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, the Arizona rancher killed by law enforcement during the occupation. Rocks, lags, balloons, photos and lowers are in place at the remote site along U.S. Route 395 north of Burns, where the spokesman for the armed occupation died in a confrontation with Oregon State Police troopers. The Forest Service says the memorial, which sits on Malheur National Forest land, is illegal. “While the placement of a monu- ment or memorial on public land may help some individuals through dificult times, these memorials are generally of signiicance to only those most closely tied to a speciic person or event,” said Mike Stearly, public affairs oficer with the Malheur National Forest. “Others may feel that memorials intrude on their experience of the forest.” Two men have been guarding the memorial for nearly three weeks, in response to several instances when the memorial was altered or disap- peared completely in the middle of the night. William Fisher, of Salmon, Idaho, and Jamey Landin, of Burns, say these three weeks are the longest the site has been untouched. “They know we’re there,” said Fisher, referring to anyone who might want to alter the site. “We’re doing something here.” After reaching the 14-day stay limit allowed in the nearby desig- nated campground, the two moved across the road and founded a dispersed campsite. There, they can Staff photo by E.J. Harris The U.S. Forrest Service has said the roadside memorial to Robert “LaVoy” Finicum on Highway 395 north of Burns must be removed. stay for an additional 30 days. Both Fisher and Landin say they are unarmed, and they say they intend to remain peaceful. By law, they are not allowed to carry guns because both men are convicted felons. The Forest Service said the memorial items are prohibited and need to go, but the agency has not speciied a timeline for when it could be removed by the agency. “The Forest Service does not want to have any conlict or confrontations,” said Stearly. “Law enforcement is in contact with those folks, and communications are in place.” In late May, four men were cited for allegedly attempting to install a permanent cross in concrete at the site. The Harney County Sheriff’s Ofice charged the men with third degree criminal mischief, a violation that could carry a $5,000 ine. Larry Jay, one of the four who was cited, said he and the other defendants in the case plan to plead not guilty to the offense. Stearly suggested Finicum’s supporters pursue the Forest Service’s “Plant-A-Tree” option, which allows donors to plant seed- lings in honor of a loved one. Fisher scoffed at that option. Those trees wouldn’t be planted where Finicum was shot, and he dislikes that the seedlings would be planted via a federal government program. The men said they won’t leave until a permanent memorial is in place at the site. They said others will take their place when their stay limits are up. “We are prepared to do this for as long as we need to,” said Fisher. “We have wall tents with wood stoves if we need them. We have snow machines. We have whatever it takes.” Fisher and Landin are both currently unemployed. Before he began camping with Fisher, Landin worked as a gas attendant in Burns. They are now supported by food and monetary donations from Finicum supporters and friends. “You’ve got angels,” said Fisher. “If you’re supposed to be some- where, then the universe will make sure you’re provided for.” Fisher maintains an active Face- book page and occasionally solicits donations through social media. The recent activity at the memorial has some Harney County residents worried that the tension around the site could lead to further conlict with land agencies or even another occupation. “There’s no need for this whole thing,” said Burns resident Helen Patton, a retired school principal. “If they want to honor (Finicum), why don’t they do it where he’s buried?” She said the memorial supporters don’t seem to have a grasp of the laws they’re breaking. “They’re just prolonging this whole thing,” said Patton. “It’s a strange situation, and it just needs to go away. We just need to get back to normal.” On Sunday, Finicum supporters from as far away as Utah and Wyoming attended a Father’s Day ceremony at the site. Finicum’s wife, Jeanette, attended and emphasized her hope that supporters would continue her husband’s mission. Fisher said meeting Jeanette Finicum in person strengthened his resolve to remain at the site and stand up to federal agencies. “They want to ight us just over a small little memorial,” he said. “Fine, we’re here. You might have killed the messenger, but you haven’t killed the message.” HERMISTON Rodriguez body found at Harris Council to set taxi rates, rules Park, not behind burned garage By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian The Hermiston city council will discuss a 25 cent increase for its senior and disabled taxi program during its Monday meeting. The council also will consider adoption of a set of policies governing the program, which uses taxpayer money to subsidize taxi rides for senior and disabled Herm- iston residents. Assistant city manager Mark Morgan said the price was set at $2 per ride in 2010. Since then minimum wage has risen $1.10 per hour and will continue to rise 50 cents per year through 2022. “We need to recoup some of those costs,” he said. The taxi ticket program used to be administered by Hermiston Transit Services, which has since gone out of business, and is now under Umatilla Cab Company. Morgan said the transition has caused some confusion with riders who had grown used to certain services, so the proposed policies are meant to “get everyone on the same page.” The policy manual states that personal care assistants and children may accompany the senior and disabled riders for the cost of a ticket, instead of full fare, but a ticket must be used. Riders who have so many groceries that they take up a seat that could be used for another passenger must use a second ticket to pay for that seat. The policies also outline rules for passengers, including not eating or drinking in the taxi, and outlines what drivers cannot do, including leaving their taxi unattended to help put away groceries or walk through assisted living facili- ties looking for a passenger. The full list of policies can be found under the June 27 agenda online at www. hermiston.or.us. On Monday the city council also will be asked to make recommendations to the League of Oregon Cities on what its top legislative priori- ties should be for the coming year. The council will discuss the LOC’s preliminary list during a 6 p.m. work session irst. In a memo to the council, City Manager Byron Smith said his recommendation, based on the “current political situation” in Salem, was for the council to ask the LOC to focus on property tax reform, PERS reform, a transportation package and recreational immunity. Morgan said rising PERS costs continue to raise costs for the city. Property tax reform is also needed, he said, particularly adjusting the way assessed value is calculated. The state calculates “assessed value” as the market value the last time the house was sold minus 10 percent, with a cap of 3 percent growth per year. The result, he said, is that two identical houses in the same city can have wildly different assessed values, neither of which match market value. The city would also like to see measures taken to ease compression. Morgan said additional money for transportation projects is needed, since at this point there is a very small pot of money for bicycle/pedes- trian projects and “streets need not apply.” The city also is interested in seeing “recreational immunity” restored for cities. Oregon law used to shield cities from being sued if someone was injured in a public park, but a recent court case ruled that the city’s indi- vidual employees can still be sued, and the city must defend its employees. The League of Oregon Cities is pursuing legislation that would expand the immunity to include city workers. The city council meeting will be Monday with a 6 p.m. work session and 7 p.m. regular business meeting at city hall, 180 NE Second Street. Umatilla man in jail after violent confrontations East Oregonian A Umatilla man Wednesday pleaded not guilty to 14 counts stemming from accusations he threatened to kill a man. Orlando Garcilazo Madrigal, 30, around 12:20 a.m. June 8 pointed a pistol at the head of Jesus Tena in his residence at Southgate Village Apartments, 1105 S. First St. Hermiston, according to a report from Hermiston police. Madrigal then tried to pull his ex-girlfriend, Esmerelda Chavez, from a vehicle belonging to Elisha Cribbs. Cribbs took off with Chavez in the car, according to the report, and Madrigal followed them through town “attempting to force them off trial in the case starting the road multiple times with Aug. 9. Madrigal remains his vehicle” while in the area in the Umatilla County of Northeast Fourth Street Jail, Pendleton, in lieu of and East Elm Avenue $500,000 bail. before leeing. Madrigal in The Umatilla 2014 pleaded County District guilty to second- Attorney’s Ofice degree disorderly charged Madrigal conduct, a with pointing a misdemeanor, in irearm at another, exchange for the fourth-degree state dismissing assault, three counts multiple charges each of harassment of menacing and and unlawful use of Madrigal unlawful use of a weapon against a weapon against another, and two counts each another. He also is the of menacing, reckless driving, brother of Alonso Madrigal, and recklessly endangering 23, who was shot and killed another person. Court records March 4 in Hermiston. show he pleaded not guilty. That case remains an active The court set a three-day investigation. Summer Gift s for everyone on your list! Put a smile on the heart with the power of flowers. HWY 395, HERMISTON 541-567-4305 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 12pm-5am www.cottagefl owersonline.com Happy 80th Birthday Jim Love from your family! By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Editor’s note: This story updates and corrects information from a Friday story. Umatilla County under- sheriff Jim Littleield set the record straight Friday on where police found the body of homicide victim Gabriel Ledezma Rodri- guez of Milton-Freewater. The body was found May 27 near Harris Park southeast of Milton-Free- water, he said. Police had searched the site of a May 18 ire that destroyed a garage at 83949 Highway 339, Milton-Freewater. Little- ield conirmed, though, that no body was found at that site. The East Orego- nian in a previous story misreported there was. Robert Gage Sregzinski, 19, of St. John, Washington, remains a suspect in Rodri- guez’s murder, though he does not face any charges in the death and police could be looking for others connected to the case. Rodriguez had been missing since last April. A May 19 search warrant afi- davit that Umatilla County sheriff’s detective Kacey Ward wrote to investigate arson at the Milton-Free- water home states the Walla Walla Police Depart- ment identiied Sregzinski as Rodriguez’s killer. Sregzinski on April 28 water. tried to lee Milton-Free- A ire broke out the water police after oficers morning of May 18 at a uninhabited saw guns in his car during two-story home at 83949 a trafic stop. Highway 339, Police and Milton-Freewater, Umatilla County which was a block District Attorney east of Winesap. Dan Primus An investigation said Sregzinski revealed the garage ired a shotgun had no power and at oficers who arson could be returned ire, involved. striking Sregz- Walla Walla inski. police the day He remains Sregzinski of the ire asked in the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, on Milton-Freewater oficer 12 charges stemming from Dan Lackey to go to the the incident, including scene and look for a body. attempted aggravated He found carpet matching murder and unlawful that from the homicide possession of a short-bar- scene, the afidavit states, and a pile of rocks and reled shotgun. A search of Sregzinski’s cement blocks and even car turned up guns, black said he caught he scent of ski masks, rubber gloves, a a dead body. But Littleield said roll of duct tape and more. Ward in the afidavit police dug up the site and stated Walla Walla police found no body. Instead, detective Steve Harris on police on May 27 later May 4 reported a witness found Rodriguez’s body saw Sregzinski shoot east of Milton-Freewater Rodriguez in a Walla on Walla Walla River Road Walla home in April, roll near Lincoln Mountain the body into a carpet and Road. Sregzinski was in had the witness help move the body to Sregzinski’s custody at the time of vehicle. Sregzinski then the ire and does not face arson charges. Umatilla left to bury the body. Walla Walla detectives County District Attorney questioned Sregzinski Dan Primus said only that about Rodriguez’s death, the case remains an active according to the afidavit, investigation. ——— and he mentioned Winesap Contact Phil Wright at Road, so detectives looked for the body along the road pwright@eastoregonian. that runs near Milton-Free- com or 541-966-0833. 90TH BIRTHDAY OPEN HOUSE FOR: HENRY KREBS Everyone Welcome! Sunday July 10th Ione American Legion Hall 1:00pm - 5:00pm Hostesses: Robin Krebs, Roni Krebs, Penny Krebs, Jane Krebs Brinkman, Rosanne Jewett Card Shower: Henry R. Krebs P.O. Box 336, Ione, OR 97843
