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February 12, 2009 Front Page |
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Forest Service Presents Commissioners With Six Alternatives For Travel Management Plan Proposal
By Eden Taylor
In their regular session on Feb. 4, the County Commissioners heard from Steve Ellis, USFS Supervisor for Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Ken Anderson, District Ranger for Whitman Ranger District, and Judy Wing, Public Affairs.
Steve Ellis talked about the Forest Travel Management Plan. He told the commission that the planning team finalized a range of six alternatives that meet the purpose and need to be outlined in the plan proposal. These ideas will now go to an internal review. The regional staff will use the proposals to make a Draft EIS (environmental impact statement) for formal review. Then there will be another round of public meetings. It is important for the public to know that if they want any right to appeal, they must make their comments in the public meetings during the review processes. These meetings will be held in April and May.
The final decision is up to the USFS Supervisor. Once the final EIS is written, it will be published. There will then be an appeal period. Appeals are made to the Regional Forester. Again, in order to make an appeal, you must comment on the draft during a public meeting in the public review period. Ellis also emphasized that he must follow procedure as outlined in the National Environment Policy Act NEPA.
School Board Hears Proposal For Grade Level Elementary Schools
By Eden Taylor
In a work session on Feb. 5, the Baker School board members heard a proposal for Grade Level Elementary Schools presented by the Administrative Team. The team consists of the 5 elementary principals in the district, Troy Fisher, Craig Harlow, Betty Palmer, Beth Bigelow and Ben Carr. Troy Fisher gave the presentation. All involved emphasized that this is merely a proposal and that all options will be carefully scrutinized before a decision is made.
The idea of putting all the lower grades in one school building and all the upper elementary grades in another building is what this proposal is about. Fisher listed that the following are driving forces to make the change: (1) Budget constraints/declining enrollment; (2) More efficient staffing and collaboration; (3) Efficiency in curriculum and instruction; (4) Strengthening of programs; (5) stability in school attendance and attendance area. The district has been working on collaboration, and housing all the teachers for similar grades together can make for more efficient use of time in the collaboration processes.
Roe Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison
Gerald Dewayne Roe III, of Haines, was sentenced this week to a mandatory minimum 10-year prison term after Roe pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of his infant daughter, Mia.
The sentence, passed down by Judge Greg Baxter, came after an agreement was reached between the defendant and the District Attorney’s office. Late last year, a Grand Jury had indicted Roe on one count of first-degree manslaughter and two counts of murder.
According to District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff, the manslaughter conviction meant Roe had killed his daughter, “recklessly and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
Shirtcliff said the reason they allowed manslaughter instead of the original murder charges was that after a review with the medical examiner, they believe Roe had not intended to hurt his daughter.
“The baby’s mother felt this would be fair also,” he said. “It was more reckless than intentional. Roe also had no pattern of previous abuse, and the defendant’s age was taken into consideration. He had to be held accountable, and we tried to strike a fair balance.”
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