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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2021)
A2 LOCAL/RECORDS Wallowa County Chieftain Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Blaze destroys home of Wallowa man By ELLEN MORRIS BISHOP For the Wallowa County Chieftain WALLOWA — A fi re that likely started in an attached woodshed severely damaged the home of 84-year-old Merel Haw- kins on Bear Creek Road southwest of Wallowa on Tuesday afternoon, April 13. Firefi ghters from Wal- lowa, Lostine, Enterprise and Joseph responded along with Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry fi re crews. The house was a total loss, said Merel Hawkins’ daughter, Mary Hawkins, on Saturday. “The fi re looked like it started in the woodshed,” she said. “It spread really fast.” Merel Hawkins was shaken, but unhurt and con- soled by family, friends and neighbors at the scene. His caregiver, Michaela Shane, had taken the wheel- chair-bound family patri- arch and former packer out the front door to safety promptly at the fi rst sign of smoke before the fi re spread. IN BRIEF Vendor symposium takes place Saturday JOSEPH — The Wal- lowa County Farmers Mar- ket is holding its 2021 ven- Ellen Morris Bishop/For the Wallowa County Chieftain Firefi ghters douse the last embers of the fi re that severely damaged the home of Merel Hawkins on Bear Creek Road southwest of Wallowa on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The structure was ruled a total loss, according to his daughter, Mary Hawkins. The property includes the Hawkins Sisters Chicken Ranch, where sev- eral sparks landed. “Thanks to the Lostine Fire Department’s careful work, nothing caught fi re, including a trailer I had that was full of hay,” Mary Hawkins said. ODF fi re crews extin- guished a grass fi re that spread about 200 feet from the house. She also praised the quick arrival of the Wal- lowa Fire Department. “They were here fi ghting the fi re in only 11 minutes after we called,” she said. She also praised Lend- ing Heart Community Resources. The Wallowa nonprofi t provided replace- ment equipment to meet her father’s medical needs so he could comfortably take up residence at the Mingo Motel after the fi re, she said. Although the house and a signifi cant amount of memorabilia were lost, Merel Hawkins remains upbeat. “Dad’s said it’s a chance for a new start,” Mary Haw- kins said. “I just hope I can have that kind of attitude when I’m 84.” dor symposium virtually on Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, is free. According to a press release, speakers include Stangel Bison Ranch, Lo and Rip Lip Products, and Earth and Ether Rocks and Gems. The speakers will off er tips and information on marketing, booth display and customer service to current and potential mar- ket vendors. There will be a question session. Participants will meet a market manager, learn how to apply to be a vendor at the farmers market and learn about updated COVID-19 regulations, market proto- cols and safety procedures. The even will include a door prize, sponsored by Wild Carrot Herbals, the Bookloft and Genuine Wal- lowa County, that will be awarded at the conclusion of the symposium. There are several ways to register. Visit tinyurl. com/vendwallowacounty, the Wallowa County Farm- ers Market website at www. wallowacountyfarmers- market.com, or on Face- book or Instagram. Follow- ing registration, and prior to the symposium, regis- trants will receive a Zoom link to virtually attend the symposium. Eventbrite, which is coordinating reg- istration, will send regis- trants a reminder and the Zoom link before the sym- posium begins. Registration is required to be part of the door prize drawing. — Chieftain staff Helen Bernice (Clark) Beard March 6, 1928 – October 7, 2019 Helen Bernice Beard, 91, a long time Asotin resident, passed away peacefully on October 7th, 2019 at the Sycamore Glen facility, after a long illness. Helen was born March 6, 1928 in Boise, Idaho to Albert Leroy Clark and Mabel Margaret Wilson. In February, 1939, Helen and 5 of her 6 siblings went to live with their uncle and aunt, Walt and Edith Wilson who resided in the Langell Valley of Klamath Coun- ty, Oregon. She attended school in Bonanza, Oregon and graduated from Bonanza High School in 1946. Helen was married to Charles Edward Akin, Sr. on March 22, 1946 in Malin, Oregon. Charles and Helen became the parents of Marilyn Ann, Charles Edward Jr., Robert Shane and Kevin Patrick Akin. Helen later married the love of her life, Ralph Everett Beard, on August 11, 1967 in Enterprise, Oregon and they were together until his passing in 2001. Helen had an adventurous spirit of independence which took her to many places during her lifetime. In 1951, with her husband, Charles and 2 small children, she spent her first of many years on the Snake River in Hell’s Canyon at Temperance Creek where Charles worked herding sheep. She and Ralph would later return to work at the Copper Creek Lodge multiple times in the years between 1974 and 1982. Helen also traveled to Alaska to where she cooked for her son Chuck on surveying jobs throughout Alaska in the years 1979-1988, in- cluding David River, Circle Hot Springs, Kasigluk, Tuntituliak and the Colville River on the North Slope. She wrote of her many adventures in the newsletters she sent to family and friends from the distant communities. An avid collector, Helen most enjoyed hunting for an- tiques, blue willow china, and campaign buttons. She developed an interest in genealogy and traveled to meet and share research with newly found family members. She wrote poetry and was a member of the Palouse Cowboy Poetry Club. She was a lifetime member of the Asotin County Historical Soci- ety Museum and shared her knowledge of the Snake River area with anyone interested. Helen was a suppporter of the Veter- ans of Foreign Wars and a long time member of the Eagle Cap Auxillary Post No. 4307 in Enterprise, Oregon. “A kind hearted person, Helen always had a smile and an open door for family, friends and those who were yet to become her friends. She never met a stranger and could make you feel welcome. As a grandmother, she was al- ways willing to listen and gave her heart when you needed it the most. Meals with Helen were special moments, and although the food might be simple, the time together sharing a meal are some of the happiest memories of the family. A strong spirit of determination helped see her through difficult times, and she loved to tell stories of her life adventures and the interesting people she had met along her journey. She enjoyed the Grange Hall dances of her earlier years and was known for the many Halloween costumes she created for Ralph and herself.” Helen is survived by her sons Charles “Chuck” (Tracy) Akin of Anchorage, AK, Robert “Bob” (Shirley) Akin of Golden Valley, AZ and Kevin (Beverly) Akin of Fair Oaks, CA; her “ unoffical” son Chris Borgerding of Joseph; her grand- children Lisa Snodderly and Julie (Michael) Jackson, Val- erie (Gary) Michael, Lindsey (Eric) Salazar, Jared (Jacqueline) Akin and Joshua (Rebecca) Akin; her great-grandchildren Rowdy (Sara) Snodderly, Tyler (Yenni) Snodderly, Logan Jackson, Jude Salazar, Micah Laylah and Gabriella Akin, and Ashlyn Akin. She was preceeded in death by her daughter, Marilyn Mooring. Helen strongly believed that no one should ever go hun- gry, so the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials would be welcome, made to the Asotin County Food Bank in her honor. The address is 1546 Maple Street, Clarkston, WA 99402. A memorial service celebrating Helen’s life will be held May 1, 2021 at the First Christian Church 840 10th st Clarkston, Wa at 2pm with meal to follow downstairs, elevator available. Weather Forecast Courtesy of Weather Underground • wunderground.com High Low Conditions April 22 61 35 showers April 23 62 37 partly cloudy April 24 62 38 cloudy April 25 56 35 showers April 26 53 34 showers April 27 56 36 showers April 28 59 37 showers Phases of the moon April 26 May 03 May 10 May 17 Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon 1st Quarter WALLOWA COUNTY SUNRISE & SUNSET APRIL 22 – 28 (from the U.S. Naval Observatory) THUR FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WED 5:49 7:46 5:48 7:47 5:46 7:48 5:44 7:49 5:42 7:51 5:41 7:52 5:40 7:53 Melvin Davis March 9, 1926 – March 9, 2021 Melvin Davis passed away on his birthday, March 9, 2021 at the age of 95. He was born March 9, 1926 on Lower Prarie Creek in Joseph, Oregon. Melvin grew up on the family farm, and was in the Navy during WWII. He became ill with Tuber- culosis during the war, and spent 13 months in the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. Melvin was given an honorable discharge, and told by the doctors he would never be able to work another day in his life. He married Beverley Casper in 1949. They had 4 sons. Melvin went to OTI, and learned the auto body repair trade. Later, he worked for Chevrolet Garage called McDanniel Motors, and the Dodge Garage owned by Mick Courtney. In 1971 Melvin opened Davis Body Shop, and retired at the age of 70. He is survived by; Jim and Marta Davis of Wallowa; Wayne and Susan Davis of Enterprise; several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved barbeques, family, and friend, his Mariners, Trail Blazers, Seahawks, and his flowers. Many have remarked since his passing that he was a good man, and treated people fairly. That is about as good as it gets. He was loved, and will be missed. FOR THE RECORD APRIL 3 4:55 a.m. — Report of com- mercial alarm in Enterprise. 4:38 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle reported in rural Enterprise. 4:55 p.m. — 911 traffi c complaint in rural Enterprise. 5:15 p.m. — Traffi c com- plaint in rural Enterprise. 6:18 p.m. — Animal com- plaint in rural Joseph. 6:49 p.m. — Report of injured deer in rural Enterprise. 8:14 p.m. — 911 driving complaint in Enterprise. 9:32 p.m. — Noise com- plaint in Joseph. APRIL 4 4:08 a.m. — 911 call reporting a traffi c complaint in rural Joseph. 5:51 a.m. — Umatilla Tribal Police arrested Zachery Ryan Chayse Smith, 25, of Enter- prise, on a Wallowa County Community Corrections order of arrest and detention for probation violation. Original charge: second-degree theft. Smith was lodged at the Uma- tilla County Jail. 6:38 a.m. — The Umatilla Tribal Police arrested Gerritt James Johnson, 28, of Enter- prise on a Wallowa County Community Corrections order of arrest and deten- tion for parole violation. Orig- inal charge: delivery of meth- amphetamine. Johnson was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail. 2:39 p.m. — 911 report of a fi re in Wallowa. 3:47 p.m. — Animal com- plaint in Joseph. 10:22 p.m. — Report of possible fi re in Enterprise. Found to be a controlled burn. APRIL 5 10:22 a.m. — Dog as a public nuisance reported in Joseph. 1:21 p.m. — Vandalism, theft reported in Wallowa. 2:32 p.m. — Caller reported a dumpster fi re in Elgin — 911 call was transferred to La Grande. 4:52 p.m. — Possible drug off ense reported in Enterprise. APRIL 6 5:10 a.m. — Noise com- plaint reported in Enterprise. 6:19 a.m. — Vehicle vs. deer reported on Highway 82 in rural Enterprise. 7:45 a.m. — Predator dep- redation reported in rural Joseph. 1:26 p.m. — Burglary reported in Wallowa. 2:10 p.m. — Report of menacing in Enterprise 3:52 p.m. — Burglary reported in Lostine. APRIL 7 5:23 a.m. — Single-vehi- cle injury traffi c crash reported in Lostine. Call was referred to Oregon State Police. 8:43 a.m. — Black and brown short-haired dog with collar and tags seed on road in rural Enterprise. 10:03 a.m. — Dog as a public nuisance in Wallowa. 11:04 a.m. — Loose dock reported at Wallowa Lake. 11:47 a.m. — Dogs run- ning at large reported in Enterprise. 3:31 p.m. — Grass fi re spreading to a grain tower in rural Joseph reported. Joseph and Enterprise fi re depart- ments responded. 5:39 p.m. — Two female golden-doodle dogs reported as lost in Joseph. 11:06 p.m. — Civil dispute reported in Enterprise. APRIL 8 8:13 a.m. Border collie mix and German Shepherd mix running at large in Enter- prise. Dogs were retrieved by owners. 9:21 a.m. — Wallowa County Sheriff ’s Offi ce issued a warning for speeding at a traf- fi c stop in rural Joseph. 9:36 a.m. — WCSO issued a warning at a traffi c stop in rural Joseph. 12:05 p.m. — Caller reported a possible drug off ense. WCSO arrested Kevan W. Sadecki, 29, of Wallowa, for unlawful possession of heroin and providing false informa- tion to a peace offi cer. He was transported to the Umatilla County Jail. 11:34 p.m. — Enterprise Police Department issued a warning at a traffi c stop. APRIL 9 7:48 a.m. — Lost black angus bulls reported in rural Joseph. 11:47 a.m. — Out-of-con- trol grass fi re reported in rural Enterprise. 2:22 p.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Joseph. Joseph and Enterprise fi re departments and Oregon Department of Forestry responded and put out the fi re. 3:26 p.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Enter- prise. Enterprise and Joseph fi re department and Ore- gon Department of Forestry responded. 3:39 p.m. — Debit card found in Enterprise. 4:35 p.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Enterprise. Enterprise Fire Department responded. 8:55 p.m. — EPD issued a warning at a traffi c stop. 9:35 p.m. — WCSO issued a warning at a traffi c stop. APRIL 10 7:55 a.m. — Driving com- plaint in Enterprise. 9:21 a.m. — Theft reported in rural Joseph. 11:02 a.m. — Driving com- plaint in rural Joseph. 12:20 p.m. — Injury traf- fi c crash reported at Wallowa Lake. OSP investigated the crash. 4:58 p.m. — Lost wal- let reported in Joseph or Enterprise. 7:27 p.m. — WCSO issued three warnings at a traffi c stop in rural Enterprise. 11:08 p.m. — EPD issued a warning at a traffi c stop. APRIL 11 7:11 a.m. — Lost dog in rural Joseph. Dog was reunited with its owner. 8:12 a.m. — Cows out in rural Joseph. 11:03 a.m. — EPD issued a warning at a traffi c stop. 2:29 p.m. — Firearms com- plaint in rural Enterprise. 4:47 p.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Enterprise. Joseph and Enterprise fi re departments responded and put out the fi re. 6:02 p.m. — WCSO issued citations for driving without insurance and speeding at a traffi c stop in rural Joseph. APRIL 12 3:58 p.m. — Disturbance reported in Joseph. 6:04 p.m. — Trespass com- plaint reported in Enterprise. 8:52 p.m. — WCSO issued a warning at a traffi c stop in Wallowa. APRIL 13 3:29 p.m. — Residen- tial structure fi re reported in Wallowa. 4:04 p.m. — Trespass reported in rural Enterprise 7:25 p.m. — Disturbance reported in Enterprise. 8:26 p.m. — Domestic call reported in Wallowa. APRIL 14 2:34 p.m. — Enterprise police arrested Austin Koski, 18, of Enterprise, for third-de- gree sexual abuse and harass- ment. He was cited and released. 4:59 p.m. — Enterprise police arrested Sean T. Phillips, 30, of Enterprise, for public indecency. He was transported to the Umatilla County Jail. 5 p.m. — Enterprise police arrested Leila R. Rogers, 57, of Enterprise, for second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, third-degree theft, two counts of second-degree trespass and parole violation. She was trans- ported to the Umatilla County Jail. Enterprise police also arrested David L. Palmer, 57, of Enterprise, for second-de- gree burglary, third-degree theft and second-degree tres- pass. He was transported to the Umatilla County Jail. 7:02 p.m. — WCSO issued a warning at a traffi c stop in Lostine. — WCSO 7:18 p.m. arrested John H. Grimsbo, 39, of Pendleton, for DUII and resisting arrest. He was cited and released. APRIL 15 8:47 a.m. — Animal com- plaint in Enterprise. 10:23 a.m. — Civil dispute reported in Enterprise. — Theft 11:26 a.m. reported in Enterprise. 5:58 p.m. — Fire reported in rural Enterprise. 7:15 p.m. — Civil dispute reported in Joseph. 10:19 p.m. — WCSO issued a warning at a traffi c stop in Wallowa. APRIL 16 2:15 a.m. — Theft reported in rural Enterprise. 9:45 a.m. — Lost ferret reported in Enterprise. 5:32 p.m. — Uncontrolled grass fi re reported in rural Enterprise. 9:52 p.m. — Civil dispute reported in Wallowa. APRIL 17 1:50 p.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Enterprise. 2:45 p.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Wallowa. — WCSO 11:06 p.m. arrested Donald Reed Buhler, 32, of Joseph, for attempt to elude, reckless driving and DUII. Buhler was transferred to the Umatilla County Jail. APRIL 18 8:02 a.m. — Dog found in Joseph, a German shorthaired pointer with a leather collar. 10:49 a.m. — Grass fi re reported in rural Joseph. 4:36 p.m. — Single-vehicle injury rollover crash reported in Imnaha.