OREGON GRAND JURY RETURNS NO CHARGES AGAINST GARY EIDE

A grand jury this summer investigated former Cape Girardeau city manager Gary Eide, but returned no charges against him concerning financial activities while he was city manager of Salem, Ore.

Eide resigned as city manager of Salem in April amid an Oregon Justice Department investigation of that city's financial procedures, including his travel expenses.

The justice department sent its investigative report to the Marion County District Attorney.

"We set up a special grand jury and investigated the matter. We interviewed a great many witnesses," Elise Fulsang, deputy district attorney, said Thursday.

The grand jury investigation of Eide and then-city finance director Dick Armstrong ended in early July.

"District Attorney Dale W. Penn announced on July 9 that the grand jury found insufficient evidence of intent to steal, hence the grand jury returned no true bills," Fulsang said.

The investigation focused on about $2,000 in travel expenses and $250 in long distance phone calls incurred by Eide, said Fulsang.

"Interim (Salem) City Manager Larry Wacker is planning to carefully review the Justice Department report and make changes in city administration," she said.

Fulsang said Eide reportedly has moved to Phoenix, Ariz., and is "trying to start up a travel business."

Eide's attorney, Dennis Graves of Salem, could not be reached for comment.

Cape Girardeau Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink who worked with Eide in city administration in Mexico, Mo., and later Cape Girardeau said Thursday he was pleased that no charges had been filed against his former boss.

"My impression, from the outside, always was that somebody was trying to make life difficult for him," said Stoverink.

In public service today, he said, "more than ever you subject yourself to being guilty until proven innocent instead of the other way around.

"Whole careers are sometimes ruined because someone makes a frivolous accusation," said Stoverink.