2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021
Robbery, kidnapping suspect, in jail
since September, released on bail
By Chris Collins
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
February 27, 1971
In a repeat of last week’s squeaker over Redmond, the
Baker Bulldogs escaped with a 42-38 win over a scrappy
Hermiston squad last night in Baker. Again, it was right
down to the wire. Hermiston brought the ball in with 1:25
remaining, trailing 40-38, but was unable to pick up a
basket.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
February 27, 1996
Students at South Baker Elementary School will be
part of the World’s Largest Concert to be shown on Public
Broadcasting Stations across the nation March 7.
The program will be broadcast at 10 a.m. on OPB
Channel 13 in Baker City, according to Judy Trohkimoinen,
South Baker music teacher.
The South Baker students will sing “Good Night” a
Russian folk song for eight to 15 seconds as part of the
program in which students from all over the world sing the
same music at the same time.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
February 28, 2011
Baker has made a habit of hovering at or near the
100-point mark in recent games.
The Bulldogs did so again Saturday despite a slow start,
rolling past Astoria 91-34 in a Class 4A boys basketball
play-in game at BHS.
Baker now travels all the way across the state to play at
North Bend Friday at 7 p.m. in the fi rst round of the state
playoffs.
Baker (20-4) has scored 82 or more points in fi ve of its
last nine games, including 100 against Mac-Hi, and 101
against Ontario in Greater Oregon League games.
Saturday, Jesse Brown gave Baker the lead at 2-0 with a
driving basket off the opening tip.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
February 27, 2020
The Blue Mountain Translator District, which supplies
TV signals to parts of Baker and Union counties, wants
to start a local channel available by antenna and through
online streaming and cable TV.
The new channel, which could air such events as local
government meetings and high school sports, could
launch later this year.
The District, which is based in La Grande, has issued a
request for proposals to operate the low-power local chan-
nel and set up the streaming and cable options.
The new channel would be available to anyone who
pays the District’s $100 annual subscription fee, said Alex
McHaddad, the District’s executive director.
McHaddad said the District has been working on the
project since the spring of 2019. It distributed community
surveys last fall to learn what people want to see on a
local TV channel, and the District’s board of directors has
been working on a strategic plan.
In 2019 the Oregon Legislature passed a bill — SB 394
— that authorized the District to start a low-power station.
“Ideally we would want to be able to broadcast all local
government meetings — city council, county commission-
ers, school board,” McHaddad said. “Of course each entity
is going to be allowed to say yes or no.”
O REGON L OTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Feb. 24
8 — 11 — 14 — 23 — 37 — 39
Next jackpot: $2.4 million
POWERBALL, Feb. 24
4 — 33 — 43 — 53 — 65 PB 21
Next jackpot: $106 million
MEGA MILLIONS, Feb. 23
5 — 7 — 9 – 20 — 57
Mega
15
Next jackpot: $30 million
WIN FOR LIFE, Feb. 24
22 — 36 — 66 — 75
PICK 4, Feb. 25
• 1 p.m.: 8 — 4 — 5 — 5
• 4 p.m.: 4 — 5 — 1 — 3
• 7 p.m.: 3 — 0 — 9 — 8
• 10 p.m.: 8 — 8 — 2 — 7
LUCKY LINES, Feb. 25
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
A Reedsport man who came to Baker
City last summer quickly found himself
in trouble with the law and has been in
jail since Sept. 16, 2020, on 13 criminal
charges ranging from burglary and rob-
bery to kidnapping.
That changed Monday, Feb. 22, when
Cesar Eduardo Lira, 30,
was released from jail after
posting a reduced bail of
10% of $150,000 ($15,000).
Bail had earlier been set at
$400,000.
Lira
Lira has been charged in
a Baker County grand jury
indictment issued Sept. 8, 2020, with
two counts of second-degree burglary
and one count of fi rst-degree burglary,
Class A felonies; two counts of second-
degree kidnapping, a Class B felony; fi ve
counts of coercion, a Class C felony; and
two counts of menacing and one count
of second-degree theft, both Class A
misdemeanors.
Baker County Circuit Court Judge
Matt Shirtcliff declined to reduce bail to
10% of $50,000 ($5,000), as requested in
a motion fi led in January by Lira’s at-
torney Bob Moon of Baker City. Shirtcliff
did, however, lower the security amount
to $200,000 in a February ruling, accord-
ing to court documents.
Moon next sought a reduction of bail
to 10% of $130,000 ($13,000). Moon
argued that Lira’s parents have oper-
ated two successful Mexican restaurants
in Reedsport for the past 25 years, but
the family was hard-pressed to meet the
bail requirement because of business
struggles as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic.
In a ruling on Feb. 16, Shirtcliff
ordered bail reduced to $150,000. Lira
was released to his parents on Monday
to return to their home in Reedsport
with them.
Moon stated in court documents that
Michael Spaulding, chief deputy district
attorney for Baker County, did not object
to Lira’s release from jail to his parents’
custody.
The release was necessary to allow
Continued from Page 1A
“It will be normal — people
will just have to wear masks
and social distance,” Mc-
Quisten said.
While Baker County is in
the lowest of the state’s four
risk levels for COVID-19
spread, the theater can have
up to 50% of capacity. How-
ever, McQuisten said she will
limit ticket sales to 30% or
40% to ensure enough space
between patrons inside the
theater spaces.
That would mean about
40 to 50 tickets per showing
for the largest of the Eltrym’s
three screens, and fewer than
20 in each of the two smaller
spaces.
The Eltrym, Baker Coun-
ty’s only moviehouse, hasn’t
been open much in the past
year. Due to state-mandated
restrictions, it closed mid-
March 2020.
McQuisten reopened
Sept. 18, but studios weren’t
releasing new movies. A
statewide freeze again closed
theaters on Nov. 14. The
Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald
The Eltrym Theater is Baker City’s only movie house. It reopens March 5.
Eltrym has been closed since
then.
During the closures, the
McQuistens worked on
several projects, such as
installing air scrubbers on
the HVAC system.
While inside the theater,
Move Oregon’s Border is also seek-
ing to put measures on the ballot this
Continued from Page 1A
November in Harney, Morrow, Uma-
The organization submitted 746 signa- tilla, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and
tures, and Kirby said she verifi ed 630 of
Curry counties, said Mike McCarter,
those.
who lives in LaPine, south of Bend, and
Among the 116 signatures that weren’t is president of Move Oregon’s Border.
verifi ed, 22 were duplicate signatures, 21
In a press release Sunday, Feb. 21,
didn’t match the signature on the person’s McCarter said restrictions that Oregon
voter registration, and others were from
Gov. Kate Brown has imposed during
people who either aren’t registered to vote the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate
or don’t live in Baker County, Kirby said. the disconnect between the urban and
Similar measures will also be on the
rural parts of the state.
May ballot in Malheur, Lake, Sherman
“The lockdown has affected the
and Grant counties.
whole state, but we saw Oregon give
C ONTACT THE H ERALD
1668 Resort St.
Open Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone: 541-523-3673
Fax: 541-833-6414
Publisher
Karrine Brogoitti
kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.
com
Jayson Jacoby, editor
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Advertising email
ads@bakercityherald.com
Classifi ed email
classified@bakercityherald.com
Circulation email
circ@bakercityherald.com
“The fi lms are getting bet-
ter,” she said.
She plans to be open Fri-
day through Monday or Tues-
day until she can increase her
staff. To stay updated, visit
www.eltrym.com or check the
theater’s Facebook page.
COVID relief to urban Oregon instead
of rural Oregon,” McCarter said. “Rural
Oregon is unrepresented in the Demo-
cratic caucuses in the Oregon House
and Senate. Since state leadership
doesn’t consult Republicans, rural in-
terests are completely ignored when it
comes time to apportion state spending
around the state. This state protects
Antifa arsonists, not normal Orego-
nians, it prioritizes one race above an-
other for vaccines and program money
and in the school curriculum, and it
prioritizes Willamette Valley above
rural Oregon.”
O BITUARY
owner of Windfall Antiques.
He was a man of few words
Leo Dave Poe, 77, died
and great integrity. He
peacefully in his home on
always quietly helped those
Feb. 23, 2021, with his family in need.
by his side.
Previously married to Bar-
A celebration
bara Haydock, he was father
of Leo’s life will
to a son, Buck. He wed Gayle
take place later,
Quigley on May 25, 1985,
with the place,
and together they remod-
date and time to
eled multiple houses, built
be announced.
a business, raised children,
Leo Poe Angie and Andy, and started
Leo was born
on Feb. 21, 1944,
a farm.
at Durango, Colorado, to
They had many happy
Inez-June and Orville Poe.
years together with their
The oldest of 10 children, Leo loyal companions, Rex and
began working at age 9 and Kirby. Our lives were richer
never stopped.
for knowing him.
Leo was a co-owner of Brit-
Leo is survived by his wife
ton Equipment, a supervisor of 35 years, Gayle; his son,
for Ash Grove Cement and
Andy Quigley (Alice) and
Leo Poe
Baker City, 1944-2021
Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75 for
those under 60. Meals must be picked up; no dining on site.
masks are required except
when eating or drinking.
McQuisten said movies
are being released at a better
rate now that more venues
are reopening, including
Disney’s “Raya and the Last
Dragon.”
BORDER
Next jackpot: $25,000
■ MONDAY: Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes with
country gravy, green beans, biscuit, coleslaw, cheesecake
■ TUESDAY: Beef stroganoff over fettuccine noodles, peas,
roll, sauerkraut salad, cookies
■ WEDNESDAY: Baked ziti, zucchini and tomatoes, garlic
bread, pasta salad, pudding
■ THURSDAY: Breaded pork loin, mashed potatoes with
gravy, green beans, roll, broccoli-bacon salad, brownie
■ FRIDAY: Barbecued pork ribs, baked beans, corn,
cornbread, potato salad, apple crisp
See Suspect/Page 5A
THEATER
1-6-11-16-17-23-26-30
S ENIOR M ENUS
Lira to seek medical treatment and to
allow him to settle pending misdemean-
or criminal charges in Coos County,
Moon stated in court records.
Before being released from jail Mon-
day, Lira was cited on two Coos County
warrants charging him with carrying
a concealed weapon and two counts of
second-degree disorderly conduct, both
Class B misdemeanors. The crimes are
alleged to have taken place on Aug. 8,
2020, in Coos Bay, according to Coos
County court records.
Lira’s parents have assured the court
that they will help their son comply with
requirements to settle his legal issues
in Coos County and in Baker County,
Moon stated in court documents.
Lira is accused of entering the Baker
City home of Veronica Taylor and David
Cassaro on April 26, 2020. Lira allegedly
was carrying a hammer and threatened
to harm Taylor if she didn’t give him
a backpack he was seeking or tell him
where the backpack was, the indictment
states.
grandsons, Wyatt and Emett;
his daughter, Angie Howe
(Bob); his son, Buck, and
grandson, Alexia; his siblings
and in-laws, Carol and Einar
Traa, Jack and Charlotte
Poe, Linda and JD Lethlean,
Donna and Jim Guelder,
Ivan and Alice Poe, Todd and
Jean Poe, Cindy Poe, and
Wade and Debbie Poe; and
multiple nieces and nephews.
The family owes a debt of
gratitude to Heart ’N Home
Hospice Care.
Memorial contributions
can be made to Heart ’N
Home in Leo’s honor through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral
Home & Cremation Services,
P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR
97834. Online condolences
can be made at www.tamis
pinevalleyfuneralhome.com
Providing quality and compassion to all his patients.
Dr Sanders specializes in all aspects
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N EWS OF R ECORD
ISSN-8756-6419
Serving Baker County since 1870
Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays except Christmas Day by the
Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media
Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807),
Baker City, OR 97814.
Subscription rates per month are
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Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker
City, OR 97814.
Periodicals Postage Paid
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Copyright © 2021
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
VIOLATION OF RELEASE
AGREEMENT: Travis Sprague, 23,
of Baker City, 2:59 p.m. Thursday,
in the 1200 block of Third St.;
jailed.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY INTO
A MOTOR VEHICLE, THIRD-DE-
GREE ROBBERY and FOURTH-
DEGREE ASSAULT: Jesse Aaron
Hatch, 41, of Seattle, Washing-
ton, 6:54 a.m. Thursday, in the
2830 10th St Baker City, Oregon
Albertsons parking lot; Hatch
was arraigned Friday in Baker
County Circuit Court on charges
that he used force in an attempt
to take a vehicle belonging to
Nicholas Lark; jailed.
Brian Sanders, DPM
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