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News Archive
Two Die In Fatal Crash Near Baker City
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers, with the assistance of local police and emergency responders, are continuing the investigation into an early Thursday morning single vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 84 about five miles west of Baker City that resulted in the death of two people and injuries to 14 others.
The van involved is reportedly registered to New Life Worship Center in Federal Heights, Colo., and is affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Masters Commission. The group was enroute to Portland, Ore., for a conference to raise funds for the commission's discipleship program. Crash scene investigators have finished at the scene, and are continuing to gather information with the help of agencies in Oregon, Idaho and Colorado.
Baker City Manager Candidates Narrowed To Two
By Mark Bogart
The Baker City City Council voted Monday afternoon to conduct background checks on two top contenders for the city manager position. Tim Johnson of Portland and Clarence Hulse of Cocoa, Fla. remain as possible replacements for former City Manager Steve Brocato.
After discussing the options in executive (closed) session, the Council returned to open session for its decision. Aletha Bonebrake moved to offer the job to Johnson contingent on a background check and public input. However, interim City Manager Tim Collins recommended maintaining two finalists in order to avoid possible conflict with a state law requiring public involvement before a final decision is made.
Number Of Swine Flu Cases Increases
By Mark Bogart
The estimated numbers of hospitalizations and deaths due to H1N1 pandemic flu, often called swine flu, took a dramatic jump last week, partly due to refinements in the way estimates are made. More is also being learned about who is most likely to face hospitalization or death from this strain of flu. Because most cases don’t require a doctor’s care, and because most victims are not tested, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has had to reevaluate how it estimates the number of cases. It now estimates 22 million cases and 4,000 deaths in the U.S. from the illness since last April. An estimated 540 children are thought to have died from H1N1.
The CDC has narrowed its focus on risk groups due to recent data and a continuing shortage of vaccine. Oregon health officials report that, “Over 90 percent of people hospitalized with H1N1 have been pregnant women, children 5 and under… and people with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and cardio-pulmonary disease.” While millions of people have contracted the disease, most recover without medical care, so officials at all levels are reaching out to the high risk groups in an attempt to get them vaccinated as soon as possible.
Haystack Fire Consumes More Than 100 Tons
A fire broke out early last Friday afternoon in a hay shed owned by John and Kate Rohner. The shed was located outside Baker City on Pocahontas Road.
An estimated 100-150 tons of hay were lost in the blaze. The efforts of the Baker Rural Fire Department and Haines Fire Department, as well as those of quick-thinking neighbors with tractors, helped to save the remaining 400 tons.
The fire is thought to have started due to spontaneous combustion within the stack, a phenomena that occurs when hay is baled and stacked too green and the resulting moisture-created mold within the bales self-ignites as heat is produced..
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Halfway’s City Well Building Rocked By Explosion
By Tami Waldron
On Sunday, Nov. 8, it was business as usual for city employee Paige Frederickson to go to the City Well building and check pressures and equipment, which was at 7:30 a.m. At 3:06 p.m. that afternoon an explosion and fire was reported at the city well building which resulted in blowing out the city of Halfway's main water pumping station.
Monday brought many folks to Halfway, including Fire Marshall Richard Smith and Gary Timm, David Wildman from Anderson Perry, and more. Monday was a day of trying and retrying in getting well #1 reconnected. The first try of getting parts from Baker failed when the coupling brought out was the wrong size. Idaho Power donated the supplies/materials needed to fabricate and weld the connections. Idaho Power employee and welder Jason Harriman had the expertise to solve the problem with the help of Denny Farwell and city employee's. City Works Employees Paige Frederickson and Duane Wallace worked during the night Monday and all day Tuesday.
Man Impersonating Police Officer Pulls Over Teenager
By Debby Schoeningh
On Nov. 5 at 8:30 p.m. a 16-year-old female was pulled over by what appeared to be a police officer in an unmarked vehicle.
Sgt. Kirk McCormick said a man driving a light colored passenger car with a grill guard on the front placed flashing lights on the dash and pulled the teenager over on Elm Street near the City limits. The teenager was uncomfortable with the situation, and when the man approached her window she remained in her vehicle, rolled her window down slightly, and told him she wanted the Department to send an officer in a marked police car.
“She (the teenager) was very smart,” said McCormick. “The man, who was not really a police officer, told her to ‘have a nice day’ and left.”
McCormick said there has been a rash of similar situations in Idaho where people impersonating a police officer have pulled a vehicle over.
Council Interviews City Manager Candidates
By Mark Bogart
The Baker City City Council reviewed plans for hiring a new city manager, but made no decisions at Tuesday’s meeting. The agenda, which was short, got even shorter after two items were withdrawn. Two councilors, Andrew Bryan and Milo Pope were absent.
City Manager Pro Tem Tim Collins summarized plans for selecting a new city manager. Three candidates were interviewed on Monday and a fourth will be interviewed on Thursday, Nov. 12. A small group of citizens have been invited to share information about Baker City with the four applicants. Those sessions are open to the public, but Collins explained they were not intended to be candidate forums like those held when people run for public office. He stressed that hiring is a Council decision, not an election, although input from citizens will be received. The intent of the gatherings was primarily for the prospective city managers to listen rather than present information. Candidates are also being given tours of the area.
County Continues To Battle Weeds
By Eden Taylor
The Baker County Commissioners heard an update on the Weed Department from Arnie Grammon in their regular session on Nov. 4.
Grammon told the commission of the “three-legged stool” that the Department stands on. Those legs are Innovation, Herbicide Giveaways and Cost-share for herbicide and/or seed. While showing that squelching innovation is not good, Grammon told the commissioners of new herbicides and methods that are winning the battle against some species.
Bio-control releases of mecinis janthinus, a stemboring weevil, have shown progress on controlling dalmation toadflax. Bio-control of whitetop is still at least two years out.
Imazapic is a new herbicide that is working well on medusahead near Richland. A new herbicide is being evaluated that is showing excellent promise on Leafy Spurge. That should be available next spring. Whitetop and scotch thistle near Weatherby are now being treated in a test area with Chapparral.
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Public Announcement
Baker City Council Executive Session
The Baker City Council will be conducting interviews of the top four selected candidates for the position of City Manager. The format of these interviews will be in executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(a). These interviews will be held on Monday, November 9, at 8:30 a.m.; 10:30
a.m.; and 2:30 p.m. and on Thursday, November 12, at 9 a.m.
5J Introduces Doug Dalton As Chief Financial Officer
By Eden Taylor
Doug Dalton has recently taken over duties as the new Baker 5J School District Chief Financial Officer and Business Manager. He replaces Ed Hayhurst who retired in October after 17 years in those positions.
Dalton grew up in the area. He recently returned to Baker County to a ranch that was homesteaded by his family in the 1800s. Dalton spent the past 18 years in Boise.
Dalton was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for IDACOMM, Inc., a telecommunications company based in Boise, Idaho. He was responsible for business development, finance, human resources, strategic planning and acquisitions. Superintendent Don Ulrey disclosed that, “With Doug’s leadership, IDACOMM, Inc., became the largest telecommunications company in Idaho and rapidly expanded throughout the Western United States.”
Cole Cited For Furnishing Alcohol To A Minor
Former Baker County Commission Chair Brian Cole, 47, of Baker City was cited and released Oct. 31 for furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick said at about 8:30 p.m., while on patrol, Deputy Gabe Maldonado spotted a vehicle parked at the Pocahontas Fire Station. Maldonado stopped to check things out and found Cole and a 17-year-old female, not related to Cole, in the vehicle. Southwick said Maldonado noted that there was alcohol in the vehicle. Along with Cole’s citation, the juvenile was issued a citation for minor in possession and released to her parents.
Although the incident took place at the Pocahontas Fire Station, there was no Fire Department related event taking place there, and Cole and the female juvenile were the only ones found at the scene.
Joel Awaits Lung Transplant In Seattle
By Mark Bogart
“The waiting is the hardest part,” said Joel Cummings from his temporary home in Seattle where he awaits a double lung transplant. Joel was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, or CF, as an infant and has coped as well as possible with the life-threatening condition. Now, with his lungs functioning at about 13 percent, he is in desperate need of a transplant.
Joel is on oxygen and relies on a wheel chair to get around most of the time. While physical challenges like loss of sleep, aching muscles, and a sore back have been difficult, Joel says the emotional toll of waiting is his greatest obstacle right now.
After gaining enough weight to meet the requirements for the surgery, Joel and his wife Saundra, had to move from Baker City to Seattle in order to be close enough to the University of Washington Medical Center when a donor becomes available. Now they wait in their small apartment. In the meantime, they focus on maintaining Joel’s health, weight and spirits.
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Truck Trailer Topples Over
Last Thursday, Oct. 22, a Marvin Wood Products truck trailer came unhooked from the cab and tipped over on H Street, between 15th and 17th Streets.
At right Valley View Towing used Air Cushion Recovery to upright the trailer. Superior Towing and Blue Mountain towing also assisted at the scene.
The driver of the truck Mike Palmquist and co-driver Duane Horras were uninjured.
Dorrah, Calder Recall Fails
By Debby Schoeningh
The Oct. 27 recall election to remove Mayor Dennis Dorrah and Councilor Beverly Calder from office failed by a high margin.
Dorrah received 2,288 no votes and 938 yes votes, a 71 percent to 29 percent margin.
Calder received 2,187 no votes and 1,036 yes votes, a 68 percent to 32 percent margin.
There were a total of 3,238 ballots counted.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with this unmistakable message from voters,” said Calder. “We (councilors) have work to do. We need to sit down and work out constructive ways to communicate and take care of the city’s interests and projects. I can’t say how much I appreciate what the people of Baker City did, it has been an ordeal, their support has been incredible. I’m ready to get back to work.”
Dorrah said, “I’m obviously pleased with the results of the election. I’m glad the voters were very decisive. We need to put all of this behind us, look ahead and get back to business.”
County Commission Approves Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment
By Eden Taylor
The second public hearing was held for the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment PA 09-002 during their regular session on Oct. 21. This Amendment changes the ordinance requiring all parcels in a partition to have DEQ approved sewage disposal system to only requiring parcels 2 acres or less to have the system. This amendment affects partitions only, not building permits. No one brought in new testimony. Scott Hartell, the applicant, offered his thanks to the Planning Department for their help in working on the amendment. The commission approved the Amendment.
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