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News Archive
Walden Discusses Spending Cuts With Local Constituents
By Jason Smith
Baker City was greeted by Congressman Greg Walden this President’s day at the historic Giezer Grand hotel. Walden’s town hall visit underscored a number of issues, and many in attendance expressed immense frustration with the way the federal government has been managing its finances and policies.
Walden said, “We made a pledge to America,” referring to spending cuts. “We met that goal.” Walden explain that Congress has been through many late-night or early-morning sessions to pass legislation, up to 3 a.m. Walden joked, “Even with the debate on the hill, people call my office saying that they’re all for cutting spending, just not their program.”
He said, “It’s unconscionable to double our debt in four years and leave it to our children and grandchildren.”
Photo by Eloise Dielman
From left, Chet Smith, Charles Chandler, Menzie McKim, Carl Kostol at Oregon's birthday party.
Baker County Celebrate’s Oregon’s Birthday
Four Local Men Share Their History
By Eloise Dielman
Baker County Historical Society hosted the annual Oregon’s birthday celebration Feb. 14, in the ballroom at Baker Heritage Museum. Sammye Linzel, Society vice president, introduced the four speakers and provided focus questions to get the discussion started. The four gentlemen equal about 350 years of life experience in Baker County and Baker City. Chet Smith, Charles Chandler, Menzie McKim, and Carl Kostol each shared details about their younger lives and professional interests.
Chet Smith
Chet Smith, of Chet Smith Motors fame, told of building a car from spare parts when he was about 12. Once the car would run, he wanted to drive it around town, but he was too young to do it legally. Since he and his father were about the same stature behind the wheel, he “borrowed” his dad’s hat to wear, so people would think it was his father driving.
Fatal Traffic Crash On I 84 West Of Huntington
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into Friday morning's multi-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 about one mile west of Huntington. The crash resulted in the death of a 10-year old Caldwell, Idaho, girl and injuries to four others. The names of the victim and the four occupants in the vehicle she was traveling are now being released following confirmation of required next of kin notification.
According to OSP Sergeant Chris Hawkins, on Feb. 18, at approximately 5:38 a.m. a 2005 Ford Focus driven by Barbara Norris, 32, from Caldwell, Idaho, was westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 345. As the Ford Focus traveled through a left curve, Norris lost control on the icy roadway and spun out. A westbound 2006 Freightliner truck pulling a semi-trailer loaded with household products driven by Rebecca Clark, 41, from LaFayette, Ga., attempted to avoid the spun out Ford Focus. The semi-trailer collided with the Ford Focus pushing it against the left inside concrete guardrail.
School Board Weighs Budget Cuts
By Eden Taylor
In the regular school board meeting on Feb. 15, the Baker 5J School Board discussed the priority budget cut list proposed by the administrative team. Superintendent Walt Wegener and Finance Director Doug Dalton discussed the list line-by-line with the board. Wegener also fielded questions for about two hours.
One of the changes proposed is a 4-day school week for students. Much controversy surrounds that idea. A Public Forum will be held to give people a chance to voice their opinion, gain understanding of the proposals, and make recommendations of their own. The public forum will be March 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the BMS gym.
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Myers Indicted By Grand Jury, Faces Murder and Drug Charges
By Debby Schoeningh
Daniel Myers, 55, of Sumpter who is accused of shooting and killing Travis Weems, 39, of Hermiston on Jan. 27, 2011, was indicted by Baker County Grand Jury Feb. 3. The Jury has indicted Myers on one count of murder, unlawful use of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful delivery and possession of methamphetamine.
Myers allegedly shot Weems outside of Myer's Cracker Creek Road residence, north of Sumpter. Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said Weems was driven by a friend to downtown Sumpter where emergency personnel responded and found Weems dead.
Evans Receives VFW Teacher Of
The Year Award
By Eden Taylor
Annetta Evans, a 6th grade teacher at South Baker school, received recognition at the School Board meeting on Feb. 15 for winning the local, district and State level VFW Teacher of The Year Award.
“Each year three exceptional teachers are recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for their outstanding commitment to teach Americanism and patriotism to their students. The VFW annually recognized the nation’s top classroom elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics – at least half of the school day in a classroom environment – and promote America’s history, traditions and institutions effectively.
School District Holds Public Meeting In Haines
By Teri Brown-Johnson
The Baker 5J School District held a public meeting at the Haines Elementary School on Thursday, Feb. 10, on Long-Term Strategic Planning. It was presented by Walt Wegener, 5J superintendent and Doug Dalton, 5J’s chief financial officer.
Wegener said the state of Oregon is to blame for the current school budget problems and not the school district. He said the schools are being cut from $6,200 per student per year in the past, and $5,965 currently, to the Governor's proposed amount of $5,850. He said it is the legislature who decides on the budget. The schools may be seeing a 25 percent cut in their revenue.
Wegener said the district needs to sustain excellence in our schools and look at the best ways to respond to the budget shortfall. The school board has decided to take a four to five year look at the situation and put together a long-term plan.
QBC Presents Rings
By Eden Taylor
What could be as fun as winning a championship? Maybe the answer is having a token of that championship to show off. After the Baker High Football Team defeated Douglas in the 4A State Championship game on Dec. 4, 2010, the Baker Quarterback Club (QBC) sought and received donations to purchase each of the coaches and players from the Baker High State Champion football team a championship ring – 40 in all. The rings were presented in a ceremony at halftime of the girls’ basketball game against La Grande on Feb. 11.
Rocky Brown, QBC Vice President, addressed the audience and presented autographed footballs to Jerry Peacock, Principal; Gwen O’Neal, Vice Principal; and Mike Sullivan, Athletic Director; in gratitude for their part in the football season. Brown thanked the public for their donations towards the rings, and then introduced the State Champion Football Team to the cheers of the crowds. The players and coaches walked into the gym single file and lined up on the baseline of the basketball court.
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City Council Discusses Plans For Stormwater Management
By Joni Lea Linscott
At the regular meeting of Baker City Council on Tuesday several items were on the agenda including the Stormwater Management Plan Update. The meeting was brought to order by Mayor Dorrah and all were present.
Mayor Dorrah presented the Proclamation of The Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda week. It was dedicated that the week of Feb. 6-12, 2011 is designated National FBLA-PBL Week in Baker City and a certificate was provided proclaiming this.
County Reviews Changes Proposed To State Fish Consumption Rate
By Debby Schoeningh
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is promulgating new rules on the Oregon Fish Consumption Rate for setting water quality standards for the amount of toxic pollutants allowed to be discharged into the state’s waterways.
A public hearing notice issued earlier this month for other areas of Oregon stated the objective of the change is to "adopt water quality standards for Oregon that will protect people from adverse health effects as a result of consuming fish and water from Oregon streams and lakes. In addition, the objective of the rulemaking is to allow DEQ and other agencies to implement the water quality standards in a manner that is cost effective and achieves meaningful environmental results."
911 Dispatch To Receive Reverse 911 Capability For Emergency Notification
By Debby Schoeningh
Jerry Boyd, director of Baker County Consolidated Dispatch told Commissioners at their Feb. 2 meeting that last year the 911 Center processed 67,000 calls for service, a decrease of almost 3,000 from the previous year. That’s calls coming in, he said, and calls dispatched increased from 14,933 to 20,551.
Reports that were processed also increased by almost 5,000. Boyd said the Baker City Police Department has made a couple of reporting adjustments on how they handle some things and he believes that had to do with some of the increases noted. Basically he said there are fewer public calls than previous years, but more calls to dispatch.
“The point is, we remain busy,” he said. “We have remained staffed consistently, and have no vacancies. We did downsize by one dispatcher two years ago due to state funding reductions." He said it has been working to have one dispatcher on after midnight certain nights of the week, and they are bringing in a Clerk Dispatcher at 5 a.m. to help fill in on computer hours.
County Weed Department Seeks To Expand Mandatory Whitetop Control Boundaries
By Debby Schoeningh
Arnie Grammon, Baker County Noxious Weed Supervisor, said the Baker County Weed control Board of Directors has recommend expanding the boundaries of whitetop mandatory control areas.
Grammon told County Commissioners at their Feb. 2 meeting there are currently two mandatory control sections for the weed, one in Baker Valley, which includes parts of Sumpter and areas north and west of the Freeway, which they would like to expand to include Sutton Creek, Ebell Creek and areas South of Bowen Valley to the top of Dooley Mountain. The proposed whitetop expansion boundary follows the upper Powder River Watershed boundary. The upper Powder Watershed boundary is defined as all areas within Baker County that flow into the Powder River above Thief Valley Reservoir.
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Photo by Joy Myers
Sumpter Man Arrested In Connection With Fatal Shooting
Daniel Myers, 55, of Sumpter was apprehended Friday, Jan. 28, in connection with the shooting death of Travis Weems, 39, of Hermiston.
Weems was found dead last Thursday in a vehicle parked in downtown Sumpter in front of the Elkhorn Saloon. He died of an apparent gunshot wound.
Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said the initial investigation indicates that Weems was shot outside of Myers’ home on Cracker Creek Road on the outskirts of Sumpter. Shirtcliff said Weems was driven by a friend into Sumpter in an attempt to get emergency assistance, but was dead when emergency medical providers arrived.
Shirtcliff said Myers was arrested Friday by members of the Baker County Major Crime Team at his residence. The Union County Combined Emergency Response Team was called in to assist after initial attempts to have Myers exit his home were unsuccessful. A gas irritant was used to force Myers out of the house.
Local Man Sentenced On 2009 Bomb Threat Incident
On Jan. 20, Freddie Armando Butler, 23, of Baker City entered a guilty plea to first degree disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, in connection with a bomb threat in 2009.
Butler was sentenced by Baker County Circuit Court Judge Greg Baxter to one year in the Baker County Jail for calling in a bomb threat to Baker High School (BHS) Dec. 14, 2009. He was represented by attorney Robert Whitnah. Deputy District Attorney Rebeca Piedra was the attorney for the State.
Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said Butler had left the threat on a voicemail at Baker High School stating that there were bombs in four rooms at the school that would detonate at noon the next day. The voicemail was retrieved by the school on the morning of Dec. 15, 2009. The school was evacuated and law enforcement officials responded to determine if the threat was real. After it was determined that there were no bombs in the school, Baker City Police did further investigation to identify who made the false threat.
Investigation of phone records revealed that the phone number used to call the school was registered to Freddie Butler. Shirtcliff said records further demonstrated that at the time the call was placed, a Des Moines, Iowa, cell tower was used, indicating that Butler was out of state when he made the call.
Utah Company Buys Campbell Street Property For Store/ Gas Station
By Debby Schoeningh
Maverik, a Utah based company, has purchased property on Baker City’s Campbell Street to build a convenience store/gas station.
Jenny Long, Baker City planner, said the store plans include a deli, pastry island and coffee counter as well as coolers for beverages, and a full service gas station. She said the company indicated that the existing building on the property , which used to house the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, will be relocated. She said the new store will be 4,217 square feet.
Baker County Assessor records show that Maverik purchased five lots on the 1500 block of Campbell Street with a total purchase price of $830,000 from SLC, LLC (Greg Sackos).
City Staff Recommends Request for Proposal for Sam-O Swim Center
By Jason Smith
Shauna Coleman, who has worked with the YMCA for ten years operating pool systems, presented City Council with a request for maintenance funds at City Council's last session Tuesday night. Coleman is also the Swim Center’s new director.
The city does own the Sam-O Swim Center and contracts with the YMCA to operate it. The city has budgeted some maintenance and supply expenditures this year, including operating supplies and labor. As of now, there is no long term plan for replacement at the facility. Maintenance has been deferred at the Sam-O Swim Center. Many of the systems are reaching the end of their estimated useful life and there is presently no financial plan for the replacement of those systems.
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