Oregon in brief

Baker City boy burns school

BAKER CITY - Arson and reckless burning charges have been filed against a 9-year-old boy accused of starting a fire that spread to North Baker School.

The boy was cited at his home and released to the custody of his parents, said Baker City Police Lt. Vernon Hull. He is charged with second-degree arson because police don't believe he intended to set fire to the school.

The fire started in some bushes and moved to the school's main entrance, causing an estimated $10,000 damage, Baker City Fire Chief Tim Frost said.

Coquille girl's killer gets life sentence

BANDON - A Bandon-area man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of 13-year-old Daniella Elder, who disappeared from her home in January.

Steven D. Robertson, 30, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the death of the Bandon girl and was sentenced Monday.

Coos County prosecutors dropped charges of rape and abduction against Robertson in a plea agreement.

Elder's partially-clothed body was found two days after her Jan. 28 disappearance near the home Robertson shared with his parents. An autopsy found she had been strangled and died of asphyxiation.

Robertson was a former boyfriend of Daniella Elder's mother.

Wyoming men finish watercraft adventure

ASTORIA - Three Wyoming men have finished a 5,600-mile voyage on jet skis that retraced much of the route of Lewis and Clark.

Allan Maybee, Roger Melton and Matt Maybee arrived at Astoria, on Sunday, 45 days after leaving the Biloxi, Miss., area.

They traveled mainly on the Mississippi, Missouri and Columbia rivers and crossed overland only where geography and dams got in their way.

For the final stretch, the trio negotiated the tricky estuary of the Columbia River before hitting the heavy swells of the Pacific around 3 p.m.

Allan Maybee has also retraced the Oregon, Santa Fe and Mormon trails on horseback.

Associated Press