Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment

RANCHING STANDOFF

Oregon trial latest in long-running Western land dispute

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The armed protesters who occupied a remote bird sanctuary in Oregon’s high desert earlier this year did so to protest federal land policy, which has been a point of contention in Western states for decades.

On Tuesday opening statements are set to begin in the federal trial of seven protesters, including brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy, part of a Nevada ranching family embroiled in a long-running dispute over land use.

The defendants are charged with conspiring to impede Interior Department employees from doing their jobs at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge through intimidation or threats. Five of them are also charged with possession of a firearm in a federal facility.

The takeover started Jan. 2 as a protest against the imprisonment of two Oregon ranchers convicted of setting fires and quickly grew into demands for the U.S. government to turn public lands over to local control.

EUGENE MOTHER STABBED

Woman stabbed by son gets permission to visit him in jail

(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A judge has approved a Eugene woman’s request to visit her son in jail, where’s being held on attempted murder charges for stabbing her in January.

The Register-Guard reports that Vickie Maskal on Monday won the right to have face-to-face contact with her 23-year-old son, Joshua.

Police had arrested Joshua Maskal after being called to his home, where they found his 45-year-old mother bleeding from stab wounds that were not life threatening.

Vickie Maskal has previously said her son suffers from schizoaffective disorder and was not himself on the night of the stabbing.

The judge’s decision Monday was the second time the woman was approved for increased access to her jailed son. She gained permission to speak with him via telephone in August and says he calls every day.

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WASHINGTON FIRE

Fire near Columbia River burns 1 home, threatens 40 others

GOLDENDALE, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say a fast-moving wildfire near the Columbia River in the Sundale area burned one home and is threatening approximately 40 others.

Klickitat County Emergency Management said in a news release that a wildfire on Monday afternoon grew quickly, spreading west and south toward the area of Sundale.

As of Monday evening, authorities say the fire had burned about 3,000 acres, prompting either mandatory evacuations or notices for to be ready to evacuate for some 20 to 30 residences.

Old Highway 8 has been closed from Washington State Route 14 to Sundale Road and officials were urging the public to avoid the area.

The Red Cross has opened a shelter in Goldendale for people affected by the fire.

BOW HUNTER-ARREST

Bow hunter arrested after fatally shooting hunting partner

LA PINE, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a 52-year-old bow hunter from Tillamook has been arrested on a criminal negligent homicide charge after fatally shooting his hunting partner south of Bend.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Michael Pekarek called 911 Monday morning saying he had shot 45-year-old Jeffrey Cummings of Wood Village while bow hunting.

Investigators say Pekarek saw a mule deer from their truck Monday and got out with his bow to attempt a shot at it.

When the deer moved out of view, authorities say Pekarek turned with his bow pointed toward Cummings to tell him the deer was moving toward him when the he released the arrow.

Cummings was struck in the abdomen.

Authorities say Cummings died at the scene.

Pekarek’s bail was set at $50,000.

CRASH-TODDLER FATAL

Girl, 2, killed in multiple vehicle crash near Bend

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a 2-year-old girl was killed and several others were injured in a vehicle crash near Bend.

The Oregonian reports 45-year-old David Fincher lost control of a Toyota Tacoma as it turned a corner on Highway 20 near Tumalo and then crossed into oncoming traffic Sunday.

The Tacoma collided with a Volkswagen Jetta driven by 37-year-old Sarah Peterson of Bend. A 2-year-old in the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Peterson and a 7-year-old boy in the car were taken to a hospital.

Fincher’s vehicle also hit a Dodge Charger driven by 28-year-old Alexander Perkins of Bend. He and 27-year-old passenger Ashley Perkins of Bend were also taken to a hospital.

Officials say Fincher was charged with manslaughter. Court documents say he was also charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and five counts of assault.

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MISSING WOMAN

Cops: Missing Oregon woman’s body found in remote woods

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The remains of a missing Oregon woman have been found in a remote and wooded area about 150 miles from where she was last seen more than a month ago.

Eugene Police Detective Jed McGuire said on Monday that Cheryl Hart’s body was found by a search party organized by her family.

McGuire says Hart’s boyfriend, Jeremy Milutin, will be charged with her death.

The 35-year-old mother of three from St. Helens was last seen with Milutin on Aug. 4 in Eugene, Oregon.

He has been in custody since Aug. 5 for auto theft in Columbia County and was named a person of interest in Hart’s disappearance three weeks ago.

Court records list no defense attorney for Milutin, who hasn’t been arraigned.

LIGHTHOUSE LENSES

Feds sue man over Belle Isle, Maine lighthouse lenses

(Information from: The Detroit News, http://detnews.com/)

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has sued a Livingston County man to recover two lenses worth an estimated $600,000 that disappeared from lighthouses on Belle Isle and in Portland, Maine, years ago.

The Detroit News reports that the legal battle between the U.S. Coast Guard and antique hunter Steven Gronow could restore a valuable piece of Detroit history to Belle Isle.

Federal court records and interviews describe a decades-long hunt and a wealthy man whose hobby is finding maritime antiques, occasionally in war zones.

Gronow has declined to say whether or not he still has lenses.

Members of the lighthouse community say the Justice Department is bullying a preservationist who has saved rare treasures that the government once treated like junk after it switched from manually operated lighthouses to automated beacons.

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MISSING CLIMBER-BODY

Rescue team finds body of missing climber near Colchuck Peak

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — Authorities have located the body of a Portland, Oregon, man who went missing during a planned climb of Colchuck Peak last fall.

Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett said Monday that a Chelan County Mountain Rescue team found 33-year-old Adam Ochshorn Saturday below the northwest buttress adjacent to Colchuck Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

The experienced climber has been missing since Nov. 29 when he failed to return from a solo climb. Previous searches and attempts to find him were not successful.

Sgt. Kent Sisson says a helicopter flying on an unrelated mission Sept. 6 spotted a faded orange object in the rocks at about 6,500 foot. A rescue team later hiked and climbed into the area and confirmed it was Ochshorn’s climbing pack but did not find him.

The team tried again Saturday, looking above where his pack was found.

Authorities are working on a plan to recover his body from the steep slope.