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.