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News Archive
EPA Denies Ash Grove Subcategory, But The Plant May Have More Time To Comply
By Jason Smith
The Environmental Protection Agency recently ruled against allowing the Ash Grove cement plant to have a provision that would give it a subcategory for mercury emissions.
The plant in Durkee faces a unique challenge. The limestone that is quarried at Ash Grove has an unusually high amount of naturally occurring mercury, which is a result of the volcanic nature of the rock in this area. Curtis Lesslie, vice president of environmental affairs at Ash Grove, stated in a phone interview that the Environmental Protection Agency said by granting a subcategory, it would still allow too much mercury to be emitted into the air. Lesslie said that in 2007, Ash Grove entered into a voluntary agreement with the state of Oregon to research a way to reduce the mercury emissions. The company invested approximately $20 million into an Activated Carbon Injection System, which resulted in an emissions reduction of about 85 to 90 percent. However, this still did not meet the standard the EPA is requiring, which calls for at least a 95 percent reduction.
Kee To Be City Manager
by Mark Bogart
In a unanimous vote the Baker City Council chose Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee to be the new City Manager. Tuesday’s council meeting was marked by smiles and compliments among the councilors, who were clearly pleased both to land Kee as manager and to do it without argument or criticism of the process.
Kee is a graduate of Baker High School. He served in Ontario as a police officer and then as chief. His limited experience with city government beyond the police department occurred when he served as Ontario’s interim City Manager in 2008.
The council had three choices going into Tuesday’s meeting. Besides Kee, they could have selected former Baker City Manager Jerry Gillham, or they could have continued their search using a recruiting agency selected at the last council meeting.
Two Teenagers Arrested After Vandalism Spree
By Debby Schoeningh
After a spree of vandalism to vehicles and theft from vehicles, two 15-year-old juveniles have been arrested and charged with the crimes.
Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick said the two boys, on July 19, allegedly vandalized the Haines Elementary school, cut hoses and vandalized several unattended cars by pouring food inside (one car), puncturing tires and writing on the vehicles with caulking sealant.
The youths are also charged with entering and vandalizing approximately 15-20 cars in the Haines area last weekend. Southwick said along with stealing small items like change and cigarettes, a handgun was stolen out of one vehicle. He said all of the vehicles involved were unlocked.
Rattlesnake Found At Home In Western Heights
By Debby Schoeningh
Bob and Shannon Moon of Baker City discovered a rattlesnake Friday on their property in Western Heights. Bob said he had heard of people seeing rattlesnakes in other areas on the outskirts of town, including the local golf course, but this is the first one he knows of that has been found in the Western Heights area.
He said Shannon had spied the snake while she was mowing the lawn earlier in the day.
"It startled her and slithered off, and she ran in the opposite direction," he said.
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14 Juveniles Arrested In School Vandalism Incident
At various times between about May 28, 2010, and June 25, 2010, at least 20 juveniles unlawfully entered Churchill School, 3451 Broadway Ave., in Baker City, intentionally causing extensive damage inside the building.
Damages included broken windows, damaged interior siding, graffiti, damage to office equipment and damage to interior doors. The estimated cost to repair, replace and clean up the damage is approximately $26,210.
Purses Snatched
Two employee’s purses were snatched Monday at local businesses, Baker Food Co-op on Broadway Avenue and Baker City Carpet Express on Third Street.
Sgt. Kirk McCormick with the Baker City Police Department said there were also four thefts from vehicles in Baker City Saturday including one purse and some change. All four of the vehicles were unlocked, he said.
Baker City Man Selected For Honor Guard
Taylor Thamert, son of Jeremy and Traci Thamert of Baker City, and Robert and Tonnie Horton of Haines, has made several achievements so far in his military career since enlisting into the US Army last July. He spent his initial training in Fort Benning, Ga. While there, he applied for the US Army Honor Guard. The Honor Guard performs funerals, ceremonial details for the President of the United States, performs with the Lipizzaner Stallions, guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other assorted details. The Honor Guard represents the military as a whole and often times present as ambassadors to foreign diplomats.
Election Filing Deadline Aug. 24
by Mark Bogart
“We have a blank ballot from the cities so far,” reported Baker County Clerk Tami Green in a recent interview. While most candidates for state and local offices were determined in the May primary elections, city council races are wide open till the filing deadline on Aug. 24.
Baker City has four open seats in play. They include positions currently held by Mayor Dennis Dorrah and Councilors Beverly Calder, Clair Button, and Gail Duman. Duman is completing a term as a result of the resignation of Andrew Bryan.
Juvenile Charged With Arson In House Fire
A house belonging to Jim and Linda Thomas at 3255 13th Street in Baker City caught on fire early Monday evening. Linda Gayhart is renting the home.
The outside north wall of the home, some shingles on the roof, and windows were damaged. Sgt. Kirk McCormick with the Baker City Police Department said the owners reported about $20,000 in damages. A 12-year-old male juvenile has been charged with second degree arson in the incident.
A crew from the Forest Service knocked down the flames with a couple of garden hoses before the Baker City fire Department arrived on the scene. No one was injured in the blaze.
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Chaos At Council Meeting
by Mark Bogart
A disagreement over who’s to blame for a “paltry” number of city manager applicants led to strong words and a brief recess in Tuesday’s meeting of the Baker City Council.
After Councilor Milo Pope said, “No one should be surprised by this paltry response,” he proposed a contract that would offer the new manager a greater level of job security.
Mayor Dennis Dorrah thanked Pope for the suggestion then asked him to work with current City Manager Steve Bogart to draft a possible contract.
Then Dorrah said he was angered by Pope’s frequent negative comments over the past year. He told Pope he needed to “move on” and “think more about the community and less about your own ego.”
County Accepts Gift Of Anthony Lakes
Baker County Commissioners agreed to accept the gift of Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort to Baker County from its owners during a meeting yesterday, July 28.
According to a resolution drafted by the Baker County Board of Commissioners, Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort will continue to operate until Nov. 1, 2010, at the current owner’s expense, at which time the County will take over. Meanwhile, Baker County personnel will work with the Resort owners to familiarize itself with Resort operations and to prepare a budget and operating plan.
The resolution stated the Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort board of directors approached Baker County with the intention of gifting stock and all Resort assets to the County.
School Board Ponders More Budget Cuts
By Eden Taylor
Looming over any School Board meeting this time of year is, “What else will have to be cut?” School Board members and new Superintendent Walt Wegener spent Sunday, July 25, at Rusty Munn’s home hashing out the budget and what to do if further cuts are made.
As of now, the District has only laid off one part-time certified (teacher). But if the State’s predictions come true, Baker 5J will have to cut another $800,000 from its budget. That’s the concern of the school board which has cut to the bone already. Any cuts from here on out will be choosing between something good and something good. Hard, if not impossible, decisions will have to be made.
School Board members want to know what is most important to the public. Any public input will help as further cuts are being decided upon.
Courier Editor Receives 1st Place In Newspaper Association Contest
Debby Schoeningh, editor of The Record-Courier received first place in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association’s “Best Local Column” category of the 2010 Better Newspaper Contest. Other winners in this weekly circulation division were: 2nd place, John Schrag of News-Times, Forest Grove; and 3rd place, Matt Crownover of Lebanon Express.
Schoeningh’s column, “The Country Side,” on ranching humor appears in The Record-Courier and in three books that she has published.
Grass Orchid, A Finicky Wildflower Of Eastern Oregon
by Brian Bolin
By the time this article is printed the Oregon Grass Orchids will all be gone... at least for this year. Finicky, is not word enough to describe this rare beauty that blooms as it chooses, when it chooses, where it decides; and that is if it will grow at all. Millions of rhizomes lay waiting for years if necessary until the conditions are perfect, and for about three weeks they put on a spectacular show if you are lucky enough to find them.
A symbiotic-parasite, the rhizomes attach themselves to the roots of grass and sage-brush; trading the sugars they produce for water and other nutrients. The first two and only leaves break ground in early spring and are nearly impossible to identify as they look like two blades of grass about eight inches tall.
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Wings Over Baker Airshow Returns
By Jason Smith
The Wings over Baker Airshow is returning Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24, for its 8th year. For some, this may be a much-waited event due to last year's cancellation for economic reasons.
Mel Cross, who has flown for over 30 years and helps run the event, explained a little of how it all began. “It started in 2002,” said Cross. “I had to finance it, and the first few years were tough. The first year was a benefit for 85 people. I decided to do another one, and it grew.” Cross emphasized proceeds from the airshow will be given to the airport. Cross also said that when the airshow grows and more revenue is made, he would like to see a scholarship of about $1,500 or so be given to a high school student who wants to learn how to fly.
Residents Say Proposed Transmission Line Route Could Negatively Impact Oregon Trail History Tourism
By Debby Schoeningh
Idaho Power's latest proposed route for the 500 kV Boardman to Hemingway transmission line is unacceptable to Baker City resident Stan Wellman. The line route was changed from going in front of the National Historic Interpretive Center, to behind it, but is still in plain view of the old Oregon Trail, less than a mile from the Center.
"I just feel sick about this," said Wellman. "Something has to be done. We've spent years promoting the Oregon Trail and using it as an educational tool for kids, and a place to hold wagon encampments."
Wellman said the transmission line will mar the landscape that is part of the area's history.
Ginger Savage, Executive Director, Crossroads Selected To Participate In American Leadership Forum
The American Leadership Forum (ALF) of Oregon has selected Ginger Savage to participate in the statewide American Leadership Forum of Oregon program for the 2010 - 2011 year. Savage will join 20 other notable leaders from around the state to participate as part of the organization’s Class XXV Fellows Program.
The American Leadership Forum of Oregon is an independent chapter of the National American Leadership Forum, a non-profit organization that works to join and strengthen leaders in order to better serve the public good. ALF Fellows will participate in a number of seminars over the course of the coming year, concentrating on essential topics related to collaborative leadership and community building in the State of Oregon. Over 475 senior level leaders from the public, corporate and non-profit sectors throughout Oregon have completed the ALF program since its inception in 1986.
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