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News Archive
Obama, America’s 44th President
West Palm Beach, Fla. — The inauguration of Illinois Sen. Barack Hussein Obama took place Tuesday in Washington D.C. Amidst 29F freezing temperatures and frigid 21F winds, blowing over millions of Americans gathered on the mall, the 44th President of the United States of America was sworn into the oval office by U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Honorable John G. Roberts.
President Obama took the podium and gave his first official address to the American people and the world as President of the United States. He greeted the nation, “My fellow citizens, I stand here today humbled by the task before us.” He thanked Former President George W. Bush, Jr., for his service to the American people and the world. President Obama spoke of the great nation of America made possible by its people. He claimed through the rising tides of prosperity, the still waters of peace, and amidst gathering clouds of raging storms, the people of the United States have remained faithful.
Coordination Is The Word-Baker County Meeting With Fred Kelly Grant
By Suzan Ellis Jones
Baker County Commissioner Fred Warner has embraced the coordination effort as explained by Fred Kelly Grant, a Nampa attorney and President of “Stewards of the Range.” Such simple wordage in Federal law can literally give power back to local governments — if exercised.
About 50 people attended the Jan. 13 meeting at the Extension Building. Also attending was Colby Marshall, Natural Resources Aid for Congressman Greg Walden, Mike Hayward, County Commissioner from Wallowa County, Boyd Britton of Grant County, Mark Davidson of Union County and Carl Stiff of Baker County.
Grant, who is 72 passionate about maintaining private property rights, the sovereignty of this nation, upholding the Constitution and keeping the government at bay. He admits that the beliefs he shares with everyone in the room are not the majority beliefs in the country. This, he states, is a hard concept to accept — but everyone who believes in maintaining private property rights must, and work from there. Rural Americans are in the minority. Through coordination with the Feds and State Agencies, local government can maintain local control and help maintain private property rights.
Baker County Planning Commission Hearing Proposed Zoning Ordinances
By Suzan Ellis Jones
The Baker County Planning Commission held last Thursday what was suppose to be the last public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinances. In reality this issue could be ongoing for many months. Approximately 40 people attended the meeting. There was testimony from nine citizens. The content of some of the testimony was the same as previous meetings, but several citizens introduced new concerns about the proposed document.
Planning Director Mark Bennett explained to the crowd that section 440 on mining was being withdrawn and it would remain the old language from the original county zoning ordinances from 20 years ago. He thought this action would reduce the concerns of the mining community.
Laurene Chapman, former owner of Elkhorn Title, testified with additional concerns about sections of the proposed plan, which hadn't been addressed at earlier hearings. Chapman addressed section 340 on both right-of-way and road easement issues. She asked the question, "Why should the county have the authority to prevent her from granting a road easement to her neighbor?" Discussion followed between Laurene, Mark Bennett and Randy Joseph, in which staff and Chair Joseph both thought the draft proposals were just for new developments. After Laurene made her arguments, they agreed that this section needs to be clarified and worded better.
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MVMH Gives Update At County Commission Meeting
By Eden Taylor
In the regular Baker County Commission session on Jan. 7, Mountain Valley Mental Health (MVMH) gave their biennial update. The commissioners and audience were addressed by Vicki Long, MVMH director, Anthony Bailey, accountant and Kevin Campbell, Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI) president.
Long described how the facility has improved. The organization charts have been updated and are in compliance with the State’s request. She said that in the area of service enhancement the facility has improved access for patients. Many employees are working four 10-hour shifts a week. Days are alternated so that the councilors can be accessed after hours. She also stated that Karen Long and Brenda Paul have completed their LCSW and LPC certifications respectively and that the other counselors are preparing to take the certification exams.
Baker Middle School Holds Science Fair
By Eden Taylor
The Baker Middle School Science teachers wanted to know how to better teach physical science concepts within the classroom. Wendy Files and Becky Mitchell took a course at Eastern Oregon University that encouraged them to have the students use their knowledge of the 6 simple machines to create their own working machines.
Both science teachers loved the idea and Becky though it would be a great opportunity for them to share what was happening in the science classroom with parents and other community members. Thus the idea of the Science Fair began.
The teachers began teaching about the 6 simple machines in December. After they had explored each a little, they instructed the students to use their knowledge to create a machine that used as many of the simple machines as possible. It was pretty much up to them from there on. The students chose their partners, what they wanted their machines to do, the materials they wanted to use, etc. The students were given an entire week in class to construct their machines. If they were not finished at that point they were allowed to take their projects home over the winter break.
Pondosa Home Damaged By Fire
Medical Springs Rural Fire Department was able to quickly contain a house fire in Pondosa, due largely to the actions of the owners and tenants.
Medical Springs Fire Chief Jim Carter said last Thursday night’s blaze began when the chimney got hot and ignited material next to it in the attic. The owners of the home, Bob and Jean Bennett, and the tenants Tom and Charlene Light were able to hold the fire down with a garden hose. The Bennetts also own the Pondosa Store.
“If they hadn’t done that, we probably would have lost the whole thing,” said Carter.
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Winter Storm Blasts Northeast Oregon, Shuts Freeways And Schools
Twenty-four inches on the ground in the North Powder area. Twenty-two inches in Bridgeport within the last two days. Such was the wintry weather reported around all Baker County and adjoining areas this week.
Not only did this latest winter storm blast cause a portion of I-84 to be shut down Sunday night and Monday morning between Pendleton and Baker City, but it coated northeast Oregon with enough of the fluffy white stuff to extend the Christmas vacation for Baker 5J District students one extra day – an event that almost never happens in this neck of the woods. Huntington and Pine-Eagle students weren’t so lucky; they were called back to school that same day.
As of Tuesday, Anthony Lakes reported 75 inches of mid mountain snow with a 52 inch base.
A mix of rain and snow is predicted for later in the week, with clear skies ahead for the weekend. Travellers are encouraged to visit www.tripcheck.com to view road closures and conditions before leaving home. Winter storm warnings can be seen at www.noaa.gov.
Missing Juveniles Found Safe
Two female juveniles, ages 12 and 15, from Baker City were reported missing by their parents Dec. 30 at about 2 p.m. The girls are step-sisters, living in different homes.
Lt. Brian Harvey with the Baker City Police Department said the girls had apparently hitchhiked to Boise. Harvey said the 15-year-old called police and turned herself in Dec. 31 and the 12-year-old remained missing until Saturday morning, when Boise Police found her at an address in Garden City.
Harvey said the 12-year-old was considered endangered, because authorities suspected she had been hanging out with a man who had a warrant out for his arrest. Details on the man have not been released and at this time no charges have been made. Harvey said both girls appeared to be unharmed.
OTECC Launches Online Videos
With important messages to convey, and a growing potential audience, OTECC has taken the challenge of communicating in this age of television and video head on.
On Jan. 1, OTECC officially launched its OTECC-TV program on YouTube. This new communication tool stems partly from the 2008 OTECC Member Satisfaction Survey results that indicate a high percentage of OTECC members use the Internet frequently. Specific results suggest two-thirds of the members have Internet access either at home or at work.
“Although not all members have access to the Internet, an ever growing segment does,” says Steve Schauer, Member Services Manager. “OTECC is always looking for new and innovative ways to effectively communicate with its members, and this is just one more tool we are using.”
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Governor Proposes Controversial New Oregon State Mileage Tax
According to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski’s official web site, the governor has filed more than 30 pre-legislative session bills, including the transportation-related proposal for a new mileage-based tax.
The governor’s site says he plans “a path to transition away from the gas tax as the central funding source for transportation.” This plan is focused on a new tax based on the miles driven by a certain vehicle. However, the current gas tax would stay in place, and increase by two cents per gallon, for cars not equipped to measure mileage for the tax.
Small Woodlands Association Explores Local Wood Industry Opportunities
Nils Christofferson of Wallowa Resources Community Solutions Inc. (WRCSI) presented a Prefeasibility Study of a value added wood products industry to Baker County’s Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA) recently. The study was spurred by a $2 million dollar state grant awarded to Sustainable Northwest, which included $35,000 for Baker County OSWA for planning of new wood products markets, infrastructure, and for equipment.
Baker County OSWA in conjunction with Sustainable Northwest and WRCSI conducted a preliminary review of the available harvestable timber in Baker County for the Prefeasibility Study. The review showed that Baker County has over 100,000 acres of private forestland and about 185,000 acres of national forest system lands zoned for commercial timber production within 50 air miles of Baker City.
Halfway Woman Arrested For Stabbing Boyfriend
A Halfway woman was arrested Monday, Dec. 22, for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend. Anna Irene Brisk, 21, was taken into custody about 4 a.m. Monday and charged with assault.
Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick said an altercation occurred between Brisk and Jason W. Landers, 28, also of Halfway, which allegedly resulted in Brisk stabbing him once in the shoulder with a kitchen knife.
Southwick said Brisk called 911 and Landers was transported to St. Elizabeth Health Services where he was treated and later released.
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