SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2020
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
COMMUNITY
Drug team cites several residents
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
Members of the Baker
County Narcotics Enforce-
ment Team spent this week
issuing citations to people
known to have outstanding
warrants and working to
curtail problems at a house
just a block east of Brooklyn
Primary School known for
criminal activity.
The “warrant sweep” began
Monday with the arrest of
Matthew John Agar, 41, and
Justin Marshall Robinson, 35,
who police located near 10th
and D streets, Baker City
Police Lt. Ty Duby stated in a
press release.
Agar was cited and released
on a Baker County Justice
Court warrant charging him
with contempt of court on
original charges of second-
degree disorderly conduct
and second-degree criminal
mischief.
Robinson was cited and
released on a Baker County
Circuit Court warrant charg-
ing him with two counts of
fi rst-degree forgery.
On Tuesday, narcotics
detectives and uniformed
offi cers from the Baker City
Police Department and Baker
County Parole and Probation
turned their attention to the
problem house, located at
1226 Washington Ave.
The house is owned by
Gary Kramer. Kramer’s adult
son is the only person who
should be residing at the
home, Duby said.
“The residence had become
an ongoing issue of criminal
and transient activity over
the last six months,” Duby
stated in the press release.
Five people described by
police as transients were
served trespass notices dur-
ing Tuesday’s operation.
They were Alex Harold
Wise, 18; Trevor Heath, 24;
Alex Horn, 24; Chad Cox, 39;
and Victoria Mclean, 38.
Duby said Mclean also was
cited on a warrant charg-
ing her with possession of
methamphetamine and a
charge of allowing her dog to
run at large. Police seized the
animal because it had been
deemed a dangerous dog in a
prior case, Duby said.
Wise also was cited and
released on a Union County
warrant charging him with
failure to appear on original
charges of fi rst- and second-
degree theft.
Mclean, Horn and Mariam
Everson Collard, 20, who police
also describe as a transient,
all were cited Thursday
morning for trespassing at
the house at 1226 Washing-
ton Ave.
Five other people also were
arrested Tuesday during the
BCNET operation.
Police contacted Alen
Thomas Brown, 20, at The
Knights Inn Motel at 2205
Broadway St. He was cited
to appear in Baker County
Circuit Court on a warrant
charging him with possessing
methamphetamine.
Jace Taylor Prowell, 29,
also was cited and released at
the Parole and Probation Of-
fi ce at 3320 K St. on a charge
of possession of methamphet-
amine.
Caleb Colton Flint, 35,
was contacted at Cedar and
Campbell streets. As of Fri-
day, he remained in custody
at the Baker County Jail
on a Circuit Court warrant
charging him with violating
his probation on a charge of
fi rst-degree burglary. Flint
also was cited on a Justice
Court warrant charging him
with contempt of court on
an original charge of second-
degree theft.
Josalynne Voncille Hallett,
20, was cited and released at
WEST NILE
Continued from Page 1A
(West Nile virus, quite
unlike coronavirus, isn’t
transmitted from person to
person.)
Hutchinson is manager
of the Baker Valley Vector
Control District. His job is
to control mosquitoes on
200,000 acres, including most
of Baker, Bowen and Keating
valleys.
Each summer Hutchinson
sets out a network of traps to
capture mosquitoes so they
can be tested for West Nile
virus.
In most summers in the
past decade or so — 2018
was an anomalous exception
— those tests have detected
West Nile virus in local mos-
quitoes starting in July.
Last summer, for instance,
the fi rst infected mosquitoes
were trapped in Keating Val-
ley on July 9.
Later in the summer, three
other “pools” of mosquitoes
— a pool consists of 10 to 50
bugs — also tested positive.
In addition, two people who
live near Halfway, which is
outside the Vector Control
District, were infected with
West Nile virus.
Both recovered, although
Photo from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mosquitoes can infect humans with the West Nile virus.
one, Pam Hall-Brisk, suf-
fered severe effects and was
in intensive care in a Boise
hospital for several days in
September.
On average about 20% of
people infected with the virus
have any symptoms, and in
most cases those are minor.
As of Friday, Hutchinson
said he has sent 92 pools of
mosquitoes to a testing lab at
Oregon State University, and
none was infected with West
Nile virus.
According to the Oregon
Health Authority, the virus
hasn’t been found in mosqui-
toes anywhere in Oregon this
summer. That’s also unusual,
as in most recent summers
the virus has been confi rmed
in mosquitoes in several east-
ern Oregon counties, such as
Malheur and Umatilla, before
BLM hires
manager for
the Baker
Field Office
By Sam Anthony
santhony@bakercityherald.com
Joe Aragon, an alumnus of Northern
Arizona University, is no
stranger to high desert
areas like Baker County.
He’s worked as a fi re en-
gine captain, a fi refi ghting
hand crew supervisor, and
Aragon
a vegetation program man-
ager in northern Arizona
and California. Aragon is also a certifi ed
fi re ecologist.
That background made Aragon a
natural fi t to be the new manager of the
Bureau of Land Management’s Baker
Field Offi ce.
Aragon, an avid fi sherman, will be mov-
ing to Baker City with his wife, Kelly, who
is studying at Eastern Oregon University
to become a nurse practitioner, and their
two dogs.
“I really liked being behind the scenes
and getting the work done on the ground,”
Aragon said. “I’ve learned the more en-
gaged I am, the more gratifying the work
becomes.”
The Baker Field Area, part of BLM’s
Vale District, includes about half a mil-
lion acres spread across eight counties in
Oregon and southeast Washington.
the end of July.
Hutchinson said the lack
of positive tests is not due to
laboratory issues related to
the coronavirus pandemic.
He said he has had no
trouble having Baker County
mosquitoes tested at OSU, and
the results are arriving about
as quickly as in previous sum-
mers.
One factor that might be
contributing to the apparent
absence of West Nile virus
is the relative scarcity of the
species of mosquito — culex
tarsalis — that most often car-
ries the virus in Baker County.
Hutchinson said culex
tarsalis populations have been
below average so far this sum-
mer. He attributes this to cool
weather in June.
Culex tarsalis numbers gen-
erally rise during hot spells,
the Baker City Police Depart-
ment on a charge of second-
degree disorderly conduct.
And Kleigh Pogue, 25, was
cited and released at the
police department on a Union
County warrant charging her
with two counts of failure to
appear on original charges of
second-degree theft.
Baker City Police Chief Ray
Duman said the narcotics
enforcement team is trying
to keep the transient group
moving.
“This house has been a sore
in the community,” he said. “A
lot of transient people have
been showing up and people
with warrants congregating
there and taking advantage of
the property owner.”
Duman said when a group
of people like this hole up to-
gether they typically use drugs
and then police start seeing
crime sprees in the community.
“As this continues, we’ll be
keeping them moving,” he said
of the BCNET operation.
The enforcement team in-
cludes members of the Baker
City Police Department and
the Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce. The team is supported
by the Baker County District
Attorney’s Offi ce and Oregon
State Police.
and Hutchinson said he’s been
fi nding more of that species in
his traps since temperatures
started climbing the past
couple weeks.
The sluggish trend is
refl ected in the number of
mosquito pools Hutchinson
has mailed to OSU.
So far he has sent 92 pools
to the lab. Last year at this
time, despite employing the
same number of traps, he had
already collected 189 pools.
More information about the
Vector Control District, includ-
ing a schedule for spraying to
control mosquitoes, is avail-
able at www.bvvcd.org. To re-
port mosquito infestations call
the district at 541-523-1151.
Durkee man arrested
on sex abuse charges
District Attorney Greg
Baxter. The state alleges
A Durkee man was
the crimes took place
arraigned Friday in Baker between Jan. 1, 2012, and
County Circuit Court on
Dec. 31, 2018, in Baker
multiple counts of child
County.
sexual abuse.
Because of the victim’s
A Baker County
age, if convicted, Sangston
Sheriff’s deputy arrested
would face a mandatory
Cecil Allen Sangston, 60,
minimum prison sentence
of 36235 Hindman Road,
of 25 years in prison under
at 4:41 p.m. Thursday. He Jessica’s Law, Baxter said.
remained at the Baker
Enacted in Oregon in 2006,
County Jail as of Friday
the law increased the man-
afternoon.
datory minimum sentenc-
A grand jury indicted
es for those convicted of
Sangston on two counts
fi rst-degree rape, sodomy
of fi rst-degree unlawful
or unlawful penetration of
sexual penetration and
children younger than 12.
three counts of fi rst-degree
The crime of fi rst-degree
sexual abuse.
sexual abuse carries, upon
The female victim, who conviction, a mandatory
was known to Sangston,
minimum prison sentence
was younger than 12 when of six years and three
the abuse fi rst began, said months.
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
L OCAL B RIEFING
Forest Service tightens fi re restrictions
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, in response
to rising wildfi re danger, has imposed more stringent
restrictions on campfi res and chain saw use.
Phase B of public use restrictions took effect Friday.
Campfi res are allowed only in fi re pits at designated
recreation sites such as campgrounds. All fl ammable
material should be cleared 10 feet from the edge of the
pit, and the pit should be free of overhanging mate-
rial. Anyone with a campfi re must have a tool that
can serve as a shovel and at least one gallon of water.
Campfi res must be attended at all times and com-
pletely extinguished.
Campfi res are also allowed in designated wilderness
areas, except the Lake Basin of the Eagle Cap Wilder-
ness.
Chain saw use is not allowed during Phase B with-
out a permit.
Motor vehicle travel off developed forest roads and
trails is not allowed due to the risk of a vehicle spark-
ing a wildfi re in the dry grass and encroaching vegeta-
tion. An exception is driving to a campsite within 300
feet of an open road. Motorized travel on roads closed
by gates, barricades, berms, rocks, or logs is prohibited.
Baker County Garden Club meets Aug. 5
The Baker County Garden Club will meet Wednes-
day, Aug. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Daugherty home, 995
J St. in Baker City. Please bring auction items and a
sack lunch. Social distancing will be practiced.
LIVE AUCTION
New At The Baker
County Library
Patrons can reserve materials in advance
online or by calling 541-523-6419. Drive-in
hours at 2400 Resort St. are Monday through
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and
Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
FICTION
• “1st Case,” James Patterson
• “Deadlock,” Catherine Coulter
• “Robert Ludlum’s the Bourne Evolution,”
Brian Freeman
• “Empire of Wild,” Cherie Dimaline
•“Relentless,” R. A. Salvatore
NONFICTION
• “Deadliest Enemy,” Michael T. Osterholm
• “The Hope of Glory,” Jon Meacham
• “Hollywood Park,” Mikel Jollett
• “Unknown Valor,” Martha MacCallum
• “Breath,” James Nestor
DVDS
• “Ash Is the Purest White” (Action)
• “Flint’s Deadly Water” (Documentary)
• “Izzy Gets the (expletive) Across Town”
(Comedy)
• “Sonic the Hedgehog” (Family)
• “VFW” (Horror)
Note: Processing of new movies is being
delayed due to a disruption of the supply
chain for fi ling materials. Library offi cials
recommend using the catalog to place holds
on new materials. They may be able to fi ll
requests by borrowing from Sage partner
libraries before local copies are available.
Highland Dr Real Estate:
3120 Highland Dr, Baker City, OR
August 15th, 2020 @ 10 AM
Preview: August 14th, 2020 10AM-6PM
Dream location overlooking the City. This amazing 2.32 acres is a must see.
Beautiful custom built home with over 3400 sq/ft. Wonderful floor plan with
open kitchen and family room with city views. The kitchen offers a large
island and dining area with custom oak cabinets. Along with the living room
off the entry there is a large master bedroom with city views, with a large
walk in closet and walk in shower. A nice second bedroom and office/bed-
room plus a large utility with bathroom on the main level. Lower level offers
a large bonus room, bedroom, cold storage. Nice private back yard. Outside
you’ll find a fantastic 40 x 50 shop with tack room and storage, plus a 35’ x
47’ covered RV storage. Lots of parking. This is a wonderful property.
TERMS: This property to be sold at LIVE auction on Aug. 15, 2020 at 10:00 am (pst).
Sold As-Is, Close in 30days. 5% earnest money day of the auction, non-refundable.
5% buyer’s premium. Seller to provide title insurance & 1/2 of closing doc fees.
* Call Larry with any questions. You do not have to have an agent to
participate. All real estate agents must register at least 2 days prior to
auction and be present day of auction.
PERSONAL PROPERTY AUCTION TO FOLLOW!
MLS #98772155
Larry Downs
Downs Realty and Auctions
208-939-9456