BURNS - American flags lined the main streets of Burns and Hines by early Thursday afternoon.
Typically reserved for national holidays, the display marked a special occasion: Emancipation from the fear and disruption that had plagued people here for weeks as armed militants moved among them.
The militants were no more.
The four holdouts who controlled the headquarters compound of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge gave up just hours earlier.
For the first time since Jan. 2, the refuge 30 miles southeast of Burns was in government control, cleared of dozens of men and women from outside Oregon who insisted the refuge would never be federal property again.
The end came with breath-holding moments as a Nevada state legislator and a North Carolina evangelist worked with FBI negotiators to keep the last anti-government protester from killing himself. After about an hour, they convinced David Fry, 27, of suburban Cincinnati, that the prospect of federal prison was better than suicide.
Now, the community, the refuge and Harney County's ranching community turn to the job of healing deep divides.
"We can't do this without you," one of them said.
Fry seemed to settle down. He made the FBI an offer.
"If everybody says 'hallelujah,' I'll come out," he said. He mentioned having a cookie and cigarette while the negotiators considered his request.
The FBI agents kept silent, but others online did yell "hallelujah."
At the same time, according to Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, all those working in the police command post in Burns also shouted the word.
Finally, Fry stepped toward the FBI truck again, hands raised.
"Keep walking, my friend," said an FBI agent. "Hallelujah."
As with the other three, Fry had a moment with Fiore and Graham.
"I gave him a hug. I gave him a kiss on the cheek," Fiore said. Graham hugged Fry and put his hands on Fry's face. He then led the three in prayer.
Fry looked at the two.
"I hope I did the right thing," he said, before the FBI took him away for the long ride to Portland and an appointment Friday with a federal judge.
-- Les Zaitz
(503) 221-8181; @leszaitz