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September 10, 2009 Front Page |
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Bomb Training
Oregon State Police Bomb Squad out of Pendleton gave a training Wednesday, Sept. 2, to local firefighters and hospital and emergency services personnel, and Sumpter and Eagle Valley volunteers and EMTs. The group learned what to look for in homemade bombs and how the Squad’s remote operated robot is used to pickup potentially dangerous explosives.
They spent the afternoon at gravel pits east of Baker City blowing up items including a mock suicide bomber, a suitcase and a backpack full of explosives. They also demonstrated what blasting caps can do to a person’s hand by using a glove stuffed with steak and hotdogs.
Senator Merkley Visits Baker City
By Suzanne Ellis Jones
The Baker County Armory accommodated one of the largest town hall meetings in years when Sen. Jeff Merkley came into town last Friday morning. The Baker County stop was part of an eleven-town hall meeting swing that started Tuesday in Bend and will end in Lakeview. Over 400 people attended the hour and a half meeting, with meeting officials setting out more chairs during the first part of the meeting. Prior to the public meeting Merkley met privately with County Commissioners and City officials. Sen. Merkley said this was the largest crowd since Sen. Mark Hatfield was last in Baker City.
People who wanted to ask Sen. Merkley a question were required to sign in and were given a number. The front table also had pro-health care plan signs available. Baker City Mayor, Dennis Dorrah drew the numbers lottery style and over a dozen questions were asked by Baker County residents. The questions ranged from food safety, to concerns about a cyber security bill, concealed carry permits, to many concerns about the Czars President Obama has hired, and health care. All questions and comments were respectful and thoughtful, but the overall mood of the crowd was that they were fed-up with government control.
Recall Petitions Lack Enough Signatures
Baker County Clerk Tami Green said verification of signatures to recall Mayor Dennis Dorrah and Councilor Beverly Calder has been completed. A petition to recall Dorrah had 549 signatures and Calder’s petition had 512. Fifty-four more signatures would be needed to successfully recall Dorrah and 91 for Calder. Green said petitioners have until Sept. 17 to gather the extra signatures needed.
If the recall is successful, Dorrah and Calder’ s positions would be replaced by appointment. Those appointed would fill in until the end of Dorrah and Calder’s terms, which expire in 2010. At that time both positions would be up for re-election.
Commission Discusses Wolf Problems
By Eden Taylor
In the regular session on Sept. 2 the County Commissioners listened to Curt Jacobs from Keating and others as they told of the devastation the wolves are causing to their flocks and herds. Jacobs had a slide show of his mutilated lambs and goat.
The wolves left the area for the hills after they had been captured and collared earlier this summer following livestock attacks in April. But about two weeks ago a collared male and his uncollared female began wrecking havoc in the Keating area again. Jacobs explained the condition in which he found the dead and mutilated lambs to confirm that they were definitely wolf kills. He said he lost 7 lambs and a goat this time, and that’s only what he has found. He does have other lambs missing.
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