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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2018)
A16 News Blue Mountain Eagle FINICUM LIAM Continued from Page A1 Continued from Page A1 north on the highway, Finicum encountered a road block, crashed into a snowbank and exited the vehicle. Officers said Fin- icum appeared to be reach- ing for a weapon and shot him, and that they found a 9-millimeter pistol in his pocket. The vehicle’s other occupants, including Ryan Bundy, were taken into custody. The Central Oregon Major Incident Team led the investigation into Fini- cum’s death. Harney Coun- ty District Attorney Tim Colahan also requested that Malheur County Dis- trict Attorney Dan Norris review the investigation, which determined the six shots fired by OSP officers, including the three that killed him, were justified. Two additional shots, which did not hit Finicum, reportedly fired by an FBI Hostage Rescue Team member, were referred for further investigation, and agent W. Joseph Astarita was indicted on charges of lying to investigators about firing the shots. Astarita is among the numerous defendants list- ed in the suit, as are the FBI and OSP. The suit compares Fin- icum’s shooting in Harney County to the shooting of a defector by North Korean officials in November as he crossed the demilitarized zone into South Korea, stat- ing “... in the American psy- che, the idea of being shot in the back by your own gov- ernment for trying to cross a border — is unthinkable.” The suit argues govern- ment agents targeted Fin- icum for his involvement in the 2014 Bunkerville, Nevada, standoff, where Bureau of Land Manage- ment and FBI agents had a confrontation with rancher Cliven Bundy, father of Am- mon and Ryan, over unpaid grazing fees. It states the occupiers were attempting a “lawful adverse possession” claim and had not broken any laws. The suit lists Finicum’s widow, Jeanette, their 12 children and the estate of LaVoy Finicum as plain- tiffs and seeks at least $5 million for each from a col- lection of defendants: the United States of America, FBI, Bureau of Land Man- agement, BLM employee Daniel Love, BLM law enforcement director Sal- vatore Lauro, former Ne- vada Sen. Harry Reid, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the refuge occupation Greg Bretzing, FBI agent Joseph Astarita, the state of Oregon, Oregon State Police, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, Harney County, Harney County Sheriff Da- vid Ward, former Harney County Judge Steve Grasty, the Center for Biological Diversity and “John Does 1-100” — described as other unknown federal and state employees — ac- cording to the complaint. Liam’s mom, Sara Hebard — formerly of Prairie City — and stepfather Scott Hinkle, realized something wasn’t right on Jan. 17 when Liam com- plained of intense pain in his groin area. Scott took a look and reacted with alarm at what he saw. “It was purplish-red and gangrenous looking,” he said. “We threw him in the rig and went like hell.” After surgery at St. Antho- ny Hospital to remove infected tissue, Liam and his mother flew by air ambulance to Do- ernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland on Jan. 18. Scott stayed back to care for the other boys. In Portland, the surreal nightmare continued as surgeons tried to stay ahead of the rare but deadly infection, known as necrotizing fasci- itis, by amputating parts of the boy’s body. “They basically cut him up piece by piece,” Scott said. “Almost his whole right side was gone,” Sara said. “They kept cutting and hoping. Cutting and hoping.” Eventually, as Liam kept going downhill, he was trans- ferred to Randall Children’s Hospital on Jan. 21 so another team could take a look at the problem. That night, Liam died. Sara said she is still pro- cessing. Her emotions run the gamut. She smiles in won- derment as she recalls how he tried to keep his family and friends from worrying as he lay in his hospital bed in a nest of tubes, electrodes, cables and monitors. He FaceTimed with friends, laughing, joking and showing his tubes. “He told them ‘It’s just go- Wednesday, January 31, 2018 EO Media Group/E.J. Harris Sara Hebard gets emotional while talking about the life of her son, Liam Flanagan, 8, on Jan. 23 at her home outside of Pilot Rock. Flanagan died Jan. 21 after cutting his leg while riding his bike and contracting a flesh- eating bacteria. Contributed photo Liam Flanagan lies in his hospital bed during his battle with necrotizing fasciitis. ing to be a couple of days and I’ll be coming home,’” Sara said. “He was so strong and so brave.” At one point, Liam was feeling dehydrated and Sara promised she wouldn’t eat or drink until he was able. Liam wouldn’t have it. “He took my hand and said he just needed a hug,” she re- called. Scott spoke to Liam for the last time by phone on Friday. “I told him to be strong and that he’d be OK,” Scott said. “He said he missed me.” Now that Liam is gone, Sara and Scott are reeling in a rush of memories. “He was a bright ray of sun- shine,” Sara said. “He loved ev- eryone and everyone loved him. He was one of those people who would walk into a room and would draw everyone.” “He was a lovable kid,” Scott said of the boy who uncomplainingly helped him build fences and do other tasks around the farm. “He never had a bad word to say.” They are second-guess- ing themselves. Maybe if they’d gotten Liam to the hospital sooner when he first complained of pain they had chalked up as normal. They want other parents to know about this flesh-eating bac- teria, something they didn’t previously know about. “We don’t want any other parents to go through this,” Scott said. A Gofundme account has been established, and ac- counts have been set up at Banner Bank and Old West Federal Credit Union. Contributed photo Liam Flanagan and Sara Hebard attend the Pendleton Round-Up several years ago. FIRE Continued from Page A1 Rynearson said the home is a total loss, but outbuildings weren’t affected. At the height of the fire, there were nine John Day fire- fighters on scene and at least 10 Prairie City firefighters, in- cluding the chiefs. Prairie City responded with a water tender, a Type 1 engine and a support vehicle, and John Day had two tenders and a rural engine, as well as the chief’s rig. Grant County Undersheriff Zach Mobley was also on site. Rynearson said his biggest concern was having enough personnel available if another call came in. Firefighters remained on scene until 11 p.m. Thursday evening, and returned at 3 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Friday for mop up, he said. Rynearson said people should clean their flues at least three times each year, at the beginning, middle and end of the heating season. “We’re in the middle of the heating season,” Rynearson said. “We should give flues and other heating devices a thorough check and make sure they’re in tip-top shape.” The Jensens, whose proper- ty is at the “Y” going up Baldy Mountain, own Oxbow Trade Co. in Canyon City, which is a warehouse and museum with dozens of horse-drawn vehicles. Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter A Prairie City Rural Fire District fire truck is on the scene of a house fire on Jan. 25 on Pine Creek Road. The house fire at Jim and Mary Jensen’s property continued to burn the afternoon of Jan. 25. A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY V ETERANS : Did you know a service-connected disabled veteran is entitled to FREE use of Oregon State Parks? See your Grant County Veteran Services Officer today for more information, Katee located at Grant County Courthouse. Hoffman Call 541-620-8057 for an appointment 37759 A Prairie City volunteer firefighter surveys the scene after a flue fire. Michael B. DesJardin Dentistry, PC A firefighter extinguishes hot spots after a home was destroyed. No one was injured in the blaze. Preventive, Restorative & Endodontics New Patients Welcome! 208 NW Canton John Day 541-575-2725 mbddental@live.com michaelbdesjardindmd.com Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available