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November 13, 2008 Front Page |
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Local Veterans Honored
A small crowd gathered at the Baker County Courthouse Tuesday in spite of the rain to honor Veterans. A ceremony was held near the Memoerial Wall, which lists the names of local residents who have died for their country.
Jim Thomas, district commander of the Vetrans of Foreign Wars, (above right) spoke about the cost of freedom, which is paid for, often by the lives of our Veterans.
He said that when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan end, he hopes we won’t have to add too many names to the Memorial Wall.
Flags were proudly displayed at the ceremony by Veterans. A flag was carried with a photo of U.S. Army Medical Corporal Jessica Ellis, (above right) who lost her life earlier this year. As soon as the war is over her name will go up on the Wall as well.
Council Urges Support Of Downtown Economic Improvement District
By Debby Schoeningh
Baker City Council agreed unanimously to support the renewal of the Economic Improvement District (EID) during their Nov. 11 meeting. The council will send a signed letter to both local newspaper editors urging them to support the renewal as well.
In the letter Councilors said in part, “With the initial implementation of the EID, we were able to leverage community monies to encourage millions of dollars in private investment. If the EID had not been in place, our downtown community would not have had the dedicated resources needed to make so many of our wonderful improvements happen.”
Jennifer Watkins, Baker City’s director of community development, said EID is set up as a funding source for downtown promotion, management and economic revitalization. The City contracts with Historic Baker City, Inc. to provide these services as outlined the EID ordinance.
“The EID itself is just the funding resource to provide those services to the community,” she said. If it passes, this will be the fifth EID and it is expected to raise nearly $40,000 per year.
County Commissioners Discuss Idaho Power Transmission Line Routes
By EdenTaylor
County maps were rolled out on the table to discuss the Idaho Power Transmission line that is proposed to cross Baker County. The commissioners will suggest a desired route for the high-power line. Commission Chair Fred Warner Jr. explained that the County’s choice of a desirable route is not possible due to the Federal protection of sage grouse in that area. Because the protected area is listed as a Category 1 by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, discussion isn’t even allowed. Possible past sage grouse leks have been identified and nothing can be constructed within a two-mile radius of each lek. Warner said he is frustrated by the system. He said a satisfactory route could be negotiated through the protected area where a sage grouse hasn’t been seen in the past 10 years and without harm to the bird, if there were any discussion allowed.
Warner said that since the project was state and nationally supported, and of benefit to the public, that public land should be used, not private. But the only public land on the desired route is protected. Though the private land also has possible grouse leks identified, the Federal Government has not prohibited that land from being used as a transmission line site. It is noted that the land owners will receive some compensation if their land is used. Warner didn’t think that private land owners should have to bear the brunt of the transmission line and that it should go through public land as much as possible. Since the desired route is not possible, alternative routes were also discussed.
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