2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
March 13, 1971
It will be the “battle of the Wapiti” tonight when Enter-
prise and Wallowa, fi rst and second place teams in District
8A, collide for the Region Four “A” title.
The two squads won state tournament berths and a
shot at the number one spot with a couple of thrillers last
night in the Baker gym. Enterprise outlasted the inspired
Pine-Eagle Spartans 76-66, and Wallowa edged previously
undefeated Harper 61-59.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
March 13, 1996
The U.S. Forest Service is ready with its drip torches and
its shovels and its water pumps.
Now the agency must wait for the weather.
As soon as it’s ready, perhaps by later this month,
employees from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
will begin to light forests on 1,090 acres in the Eagle Cap
Wilderness.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
March 14, 2011
The Powder River plays host to people who fi sh, fl oat
or prefer keeping their feet dry by walking alongside when
the weather is mild.
Bank erosion on a stretch near Kirkway Drive has been
occurring since the late 1990s. Residents who live along it
worry about how the continual carving fl ow has shortened
the spaces between their homes and the river.
Carefully planted trees look like they’ll fall into the water
any time now. And a signifi cant number of barriers erected
to protect the land are slowing falling away.
“Each homeowner has their own idea what they want
the bank to look like,” said Timothy Bliss, chair of the Pow-
der Basin Watershed Council.
These homeowners’ efforts have “often been done
without permits,” he said.
For example, huge boulders placed to protect one side
of the bank end up hurting the other side because the wa-
ter is forced away from the rocks. Even the strongest bar-
riers will prove to be short-lived, at least in human terms,
because the water fi nds a way to adapt, he said.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
March 14, 2020
Coronavirus hadn’t arrived in Baker County as of Friday,
but its effects were widespread.
On Thursday alone, Gov. Kate Brown closed public
schools statewide from Monday, March 16, through
Tuesday, March 31, and the Oregon School Activities As-
sociation (OSAA) canceled the Class 4A state basketball
tournaments.
The Baker girls, defending state champions, were
scheduled to play Valley Catholic Thursday night in a quar-
terfi nal game at the tournament.
Schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday, April 1.
For Baker School District students that means an extra
week and two days of spring vacation. Spring break was
already scheduled from March 23-27.
The Saint Alphonsus Health System, which owns the
hospital in Baker City, announced visitor restrictions to its
hospitals effective Thursday.
Baker High students compete in
unusual Mock Trial competition
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
When the 16 members of
Baker High School’s Mock Trial
Team got all dressed up for the
regional contest last month,
they had no place to go except
back to school.
As with most other activi-
ties this school year, the mock
trial competition was different.
Rather than competing face to
face at the Courthouse in their
own community or traveling
to La Grande as they have in
past years, they put their public
speaking skills and courtroom
decorum on display via com-
puter from the BHS library.
Students took to the Zoom
computer app for the contest.
Many students throughout
the state chose to argue their
cases and portray the parts of
witnesses, judges, and attor-
neys from their homes and
avoided the need for masks
and social distancing, said BHS
teacher Kris Pepera.
But the 16 members of his
team took a different tack, said
Pepera, who is in his eighth
year of guiding the BHS Mock
Trial team. Baker County Cir-
cuit Court Judge Matt Shircliff
served as his co-coach as he has
in past years.
“We made the decision as
a group that we wanted to be
together,” Pepera said. “We
were one of the few teams in
Oregon not to compete at home
and wearing masks.”
To further complicate logis-
tics, the fi rst day of the competi-
tion, which had been set for
Tuesday, Feb. 16, was canceled
because of the massive power
outage that struck much of the
state during an ice storm in
western Oregon.
The online option designed
to keep participants safe from
COVID-19 was not available
without a power source.
The two-day contest, that
was to have taken place on
Tuesday, Feb. 16, and Thursday,
“This was such a cool and fun team. I was
really proud of this year’s group, especially
because of Zoom. There were a lot more
moving parts, but the students were really
patient and easy to work with, and as
always, they represented us really well.”
— Kris Pepera, Baker High School Mock Trial coach
Feb. 18, instead was shifted to a
Thursday-Tuesday schedule.
The fi rst day of the competi-
tion started on Thursday, Feb.
18.
“There were 110 people on
the Zoom call when it started,”
Pepera said. “They defi nitely
made it work on Zoom.”
The Baker team competed
three times over the two days,
fi rst at 2 p.m. and again at 5:45
p.m. Thursday and then once
on Tuesday.
It took a little extra prepa-
ration for the BHS team to
work out the kinks of how to
make best use of the online
system, Pepera said. A plan
for the team to make its case
in the competition from the
Baker County Courthouse was
thwarted by Wi-Fi issues.
But the students were
patient and helpful throughout
the process, Pepera said.
“They all just rolled with it,”
he said. “Zoom was a bit of a
nuisance but they accepted it
and kept moving forward.”
This year’s contest was based
on a civil case written by a com-
mittee of lawyers and teachers
with experience in high school
mock trial, according to Erin
L. Esparza, executive director
of the Classroom Law Project,
which sponsors the program.
Taken from the headlines of
the past year, the case directed
students to consider the right
to freedom of speech and
peaceful protest guaranteed by
the First Amendment to the
Constitution and the Fourth
Amendment’s protection
against arrest without probable
cause. As they have in the
past year across the country,
including in Oregon, the case
demonstrated how those rights
can collide with the duties of
a police offi cer in the course of
performing his or her job.
In this scenario, a journalist
fi led a civil lawsuit claiming
that he was wrongfully ar-
rested while covering a protest
in his community to stop the
demolition of a theater in the
town.
The journalist claimed that
police confused him with pro-
testers, who he also maintains
were not breaking the law, and
whose rights he defended to
police.
The journalist ultimately
was arrested on a disor-
derly conduct charge. He was
released from custody a short
time later and the charge was
dropped.
The journalist maintained
that the arrest was retaliatory
in violation of his First Amend-
ment rights to free speech and
peaceable assembly. In his
complaint he sought a jury trial
with economic, noneconomic
and punitive damages to be
determined.
“The case was really fun
and interesting,” Pepera
said. “We had some excellent
conversations and it was a
great case about the First and
Fourth Amendments.”
Students began preparing
for the competition when they
returned to school after Christ-
mas break. They met Monday
through Thursday after school
and spent an additional three
O BITUARY
Lester Short
instead, he started working and worked
until he was in his 70s.
Lester Orval “Shorty” Short, 85, of
He married Mildred Irene “Midge”
Baker City, died on March 6, 2021, at his Wayne in 1967 and together they lived
residence.
and worked around Pacifi c Northwest.
At his request, no formal
He worked as a farm and ranch hand
services will take place.
and drove produce and stock trucks
Shorty was born on
locally and long haul. Shorty and Midge
June 22, 1935, at Madras
owned their own semi-truck for a
to Clarence “Kid” and
period and often drove as a team, most
Winifred “Winnie” Short
often pulling “bull wagons.” Shorty and
Lester
(Hunt). He attended school
Mildred often spoke of the time they
Short
through the eighth grade;
hauled cattle for the fi lming of the early
at the end of his eighth-
’90s movie “City Slickers.” They both
grade year, he helped take care of his
said it was their favorite job. Shorty also
mother. He never made it back to school; worked for the Forest Service in Baker
Baker City, 1935-2021
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LUCKY LINES, March 11
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Next jackpot: $39,000
S ENIOR M ENUS
■ MONDAY: Chicken-fried chicken, mashed potatoes with
country gravy, Capri vegetables, biscuit, three-bean salad,
lemon squares
■ TUESDAY: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes with gravy,
roll, mixed vegetables, macaroni salad, brownie
■ WEDNESDAY: Corned beef and cabbage, red potatoes,
carrots, roll, pea-and-onion salad, tapioca
■ THURSDAY: Liver and onions, red potatoes, peas and
carrots, three-bean salad, roll, berry cheesecake
■ FRIDAY: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, mixed
vegetables, roll, broccoli-bacon salad, lemon squares
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.
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
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
$10.75 for print only. Digital-only rates
are $8.25.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker
City, OR 97814.
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
Copyright © 2021
hours on Saturdays to prepare.
COVID-19 protocols were
observed throughout all prac-
tices, which meant long days of
wearing masks for their coach
and for students attending
school in person on some of
those days. Social distancing
was maintained throughout
the practices as well, Pepera
said.
Judge Shirtcliff accom-
modated some trips to the
Courthouse to give students
the feel for an actual court-
room as well.
“He’s an incredible re-
source,” Pepera said. “I can’t
say enough about what he
brings to the program.”
In addition to routine
courtroom protocol, Shirtcliff
also provided his own experi-
ence with working through
COVID-19 online and in-
person courtroom procedures,
mask requirements and social
distancing, Pepera said.
Although the students
didn’t advance to the state
contest as last year’s team did,
their coaches were proud of
them nonetheless.
The region was divided dif-
ferently this year and included
two Bend teams, Baker and
La Grande, rather than the
usual Baker, La Grande, Vale
and in some years, John Day
teams.
The two Bend-area teams,
Summit High School of Bend
and Cascade Academy of
Tumalo, will compete at the
state contest this weekend.
Pepera said he was sorry
this year’s team was not able
to compete in person.
“This was such a cool and
fun team,” he said. “I was re-
ally proud of this year’s group,
especially because of Zoom.
“There were a lot more
moving parts, but the students
were really patient and easy to
work with, and as always, they
represented us really well,” he
said.
City right before retiring. After retiring,
he moved to Montana to live with his
son.
Shorty is survived by his son, Laur-
ance Short of Deer Lodge, Montana; his
brother and sister-in-law, Charlie and
Peggy Short of Cove; seven grandchil-
dren and eight great-grandchildren; and
numerous nieces, nephews, and grand-
nieces and grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents, Clarence and Winifred Short; fi ve
siblings; and two stepchildren.
To leave an online condolence for
Shorty’s family, go to www.grayswestco.
com.
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Walter L. ‘Walt’ Dill-
man: 76, a longtime Halfway
resident, died March 10, 2021,
at his home. Services are under
the direction of Coles Tribute
Center, 1950 Place St., Baker
City, OR 97814. To light a candle
in memory of Walt, go to www.
colestributecenter.com.
Barbara Wendt: 90, of
Haines, died on March 12, 2021,
at her home, surrounded by
family. Arrangements are under
the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home & Cremation Ser-
vices. Online condolences can be
made at www.tamispinevalley
funeralhome.com.
FUNERALS PENDING
Taran Arthur Moothart:
There will be a celebration of
Taran’s life at 2 p.m., Saturday,
March 20, 2021, at Harvest
Church, 3720 Birch St., in Baker
City. Pastor Brad Phillips will
offi ciate. Memorial contributions
may be made to the Taran Me-
morial Fund at Old West Federal
Credit Union, 2026 Broadway St.,
Baker City, OR 97814, or through
Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Cha-
pel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker
City, OR 97814. To leave an
online condolence for the family,
go to www.grayswestco.com
Tommy G. West: Graveside
services will be Wednesday,
March 24, at 2 p.m. at Mount
Hope Cemetery, with military
honors. Those wishing to make
memorial contributions in Tom-
my’s memory can direct them to
a charity of one’s choice through
Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place
St., Baker City, OR 97814. To light
a candle in memory of Tommy,
go to www.colestributecenter.
com.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Two
Baker County warrants): Stacey
Lee Bork, 32, Baker City, 5:37
a.m. on Thursday at Indiana
Avenue and Resort Street; cited
and released.
FIRST-DEGREE BURGLARY:
Trevor James Heath, 25, 12:21
p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of
Campbell Street; jailed.
Oregon State Police
Arrests, citations
FAILURE TO REPORT AS A
SEX OFFENDER FOLLOWING
CHANGE OF RESIDENCE: Lyle
Lester Ray, 52, Durkee, 8:21 a.m.
Thursday in Huntington; cited
and released.
POSSESSION OF MORE THAN
1 GRAM OF HEROIN, FORG-
ERY (Union County warrant),
POSSESSION OF METHAM-
PHETAMINE (violation): Eric M.
Collins, 31, La Grande, 10:52 a.m.
Wednesday at Elm Street and
Spring Garden Avenue; jailed.
FIRST-DEGREE THEFT (War-
rant): Allen Lee Suther, 48, Baker
City, 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday at
10th and Place streets; cited and
released.
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