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November 27, 2008 Front Page |
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Christmas Tree Arrives Downtown
This year’s downtown Christmas tree, an enormous blue spruce donated by Brent, Shelly and Hannah Wilson of Baker City, arrived last Saturday to take its place at Main and Court Streets.
Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative provided equipment and volunteers, Gene Nelson, Larry Robb, Tim Bannister and Rich Eskew, to help with the removal and transport of the tree. Chuck Carey cut down the tree and Don Glerup transported it downtown on a log truck.
After the holidays, the tree will be cut up by members of the prison work crew, and the wood will be donated to needy families.
Baker City Public Works crew will decorate the tree with lights and birdseed ornaments made by students at the Seventh-day Adventist School will adorn it. The lighting of the tree will take place Dec. 6 after the Twilight Parade, which begins at 5 p.m.
Haines Man Indicted For Murder
Gerald Roe III, 19, of Haines was indicted by a Baker County grand jury Thursday, Nov. 13, on two counts of murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of his infant daughter, Mia Marie Roe. There were multiple charges because there was allegedly more than one physical act involved in the infant’s death.
Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said the Grand Jury reconvened on Nov. 21 and the charges were amended to include three counts of murder, the manslaughter charge was dropped. However, Shirtcliff said the manslaughter charge could still be considered.
Baker City Man Sentenced On
Sex Abuse Charges
On Nov. 20, 2008 Eugene Andrew Kekalis, 42, of 1635 15th St., Baker City entered guilty pleas to first degree sodomy and two counts of first degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 200 months with the Oregon Department of Corrections. Circuit Court Judge Greg Baxter sentenced Kekalis consistent with his plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office.
One charge of first degree rape and eight counts of sexual abuse were dismissed as part of the agreement. Kekalis was sentenced to 100 months in prison on the sodomy conviction and 75 months on the first sexual abuse conviction to run consecutive. On the final sexual abuse conviction, 25 additional months were run consecutive with the final 50 concurrent. Kekalis will serve just over 16 years in prison of mandatory time, as these are Ballot Measure Eleven sentences. He will also be required to serve 140 months of post prison supervision in which he will be required to register as a sex offender.
Reports Of Wolf Sightings Continue, Photo Of Wolf Taken Near Durkee
By Debby Schoeningh
An Oregon Department of Transportation employee took a photo of what he believed to be a wolf near Durkee earlier this year. The photos circulated around the community via email. Russ Morgan, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf coordinator in La Grande said he had seen the photo and the animal looks “very wolf-like.” He said it was probably a lone animal.
Morgan said there have been over 150 reports of wolf sightings this year as well as confirmed breeding activity in Union County, north of La Grande. During a howling survey ODFW biologists reported hearing distinct howls from four animals, which they believe were two adult gray wolves and two pups.
In east Baker County, Morgan said, there are “strong suspicions” of wolves in the area.
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