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October 8, 2009 Front Page |
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Field to Fork: 5th Graders Learn Where Food Comes From
By Eden Taylor
In the 3rd Annual Field to Fork Program, 5th graders from Baker 5J School District learned where their food comes from. The two-day event on Sept. 29 and 30 was presented by the Baker County Farm Bureau and Baker County Association of Conservation Districts. Half of the 5th graders participated on Tuesday and half on Wednesday. Marilyn Moore was the Program Coordinator. Patty Shumway from the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) is an Earth Team Volunteer who also helped with the program and gave recognition to all the volunteers involved. The OSU Extension Service and Baker and North Powder FFA Students were also key players.
Those on the Field to Fork Committee are: Laurie Owens, Josh Uriarte, Catie Kerns, Cory Parsons, Janice Cowan, Holly Kerns, Amber Arritola, Holly McKim, Eugene Hawes, Patty Shumway and Marilyn Moore.
Ash Grove Cement To Lay Off 68 Workers In Durkee
By Mark Bogart
Ash Grove Cement Company has announced plans to layoff 68 of 115 employees at its Durkee plant. The suspension of production and the resulting staff layoff will begin about Dec. 14 and continue until market conditions improve, according to company spokesperson Jacqueline Clark. The company is temporarily suspending production at nine plants around the country. The remaining employees will be involved mainly in filling orders from existing inventory.
The layoff was described as “seasonal” due to the normal slowing of orders
during winter months. However, the nationwide decline resulting from
economic conditions made the situation much more serious. “The economic downturn affecting the entire cement industry is the most severe that Ash Grove has experienced in our 127-year history,” according to a press release on Sept. 30. The release went on to say that U.S. cement consumption dropped by an estimated 22 percent during 2009 and by 16 percent in 2008.
Council Narrows Pool Of City Manager Candidates
By Mark Bogart
Starting with 75 applicants for the City Manager position for Baker City,
the Council has narrowed its list to “a manageable number” for interviews
according to Tim Collins, interim City Manager. At a special work session
on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m., the Councilors will meet to work out a
schedule and details for that process.
“It’s going to be tough to get all seven together, but they all want to be
part of it,” said Collins.
After the Council interviews its selected candidates for the job, they will
trim the list to two finalists for background checks. The final step will
be to negotiate “terms of employment.” Collins avoided using the term
“contract” due to legalities, some related to the current issues of
termination and severance pay. Setting a starting date for the new manager
will also be part of the negotiations.
City Street Projects Nearing End
By Mark Bogart
Baker City street projects are nearing completion, according to Mike Remilyof the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). “D” Street and the Dewey Avenue underpass are expected to be open for regular traffic by Oct. 23.
Birch Street is open now, but final “cleanup work” is still under way,
according to Baker City Public Works Director Michelle Owen.
The Dewey Avenue Underpass project has intermittent flagging and a lane
closure while workers finish grinding concrete to smooth the surface, but
that will be completed soon. Except for a pedestrian handicapped access ramp on the east side of the underpass, work on Dewey will also be completed by Oct. 23. Installation of the ramp and sidewalk is not expected until spring due to coordination between ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad and contractors, said Remily
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