BHS Class Of 2010 — Oh The Places They Will Go!
By Eden Taylor
Amid darkening clouds and a pesky breeze 118 students graduated from Baker High School on Sunday, May 30, in Baker Memorial Stadium. The students marched in behind a faculty contingent to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance,” played by BHS band members. The faculty members formed two lines for the graduates to walk through as the teachers honored the students.
Senior members of the Bel Canto Choir sang an endearing A’capella rendition of “The National Anthem,” as the large crowd stood to honor America.
The audience and graduates were then welcomed by 2010-2011 ASB President Chelsea McVay. She then introduced the first speaker, Taralynn Taylor, the salutatorian of the class of 2010. Taralynn is the daughter of Tim and Eden Taylor.
City Councilor Bryan Resigns
By Mark Bogart
Andrew Bryan has resigned from his position on the Baker City Council. Bryan sent a one-sentence email to the City and to local newspapers to inform them of his resignation but gave no reasons for his decision.
The vacancy on the Council will be filled by a vote of the remaining six councilors, according to the City Charter. However, the other details of the process are yet to be determined, according to Mayor Dennis Dorrah.
At the next council meeting, on June 8, City Manager Steve Bogart will explain past methods used to fill council vacancies; then the council will select a process, Dorrah said. One method, selecting the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes in the last election, would allow the decision to be made during that meeting. Former Councilor Gail Duman would be selected using that format. Another method mentioned by Dorrah is to take applications, then choose from the applicants.
Budget Board Approves Amended Budget
By Mark Bogart
Last week a list of additional cuts for the Baker City general fund budget was approved by a seven-to-six vote of the Baker City Budget Board. This week, two attempts at compromise were considered before the budget was approved.
Budget Board Vice-Chair Alan Blair got little support in his attempt to bring the sides together. He worked from last week’s cut list, proposed by Chairman Randy Daugherty, and suggested smaller amounts in most cases. He asked the group to consider a $110,000 reduction for the police department instead of the $150,000 cut approved last week.
Next, Blair proposed putting back $40,000 of the $105,000 cut from community and economic development. Because the development efforts are done in collaboration with Baker County, he and City Manager Steve Bogart believed the elimination of all of the city’s contribution would risk losing the city’s involvement in development projects.
Governor Appoints Aletha Bonebrake To State Library Board
Salem — Governor Kulongoski has appointed Aletha Bonebrake of Baker City to the State Library Board of Trustees. She will replace Doug Henrichs of Milton-Freewater who will retire from the Board in July after serving two four-year terms. Her appointment was confirmed by the Oregon Senate on June 26.
Bonebrake is a retired librarian who has been a leader in the Oregon library community for many years. She was the highly-successful director of the Baker County Library District from 1985 to 2007. The Library was recently named a runner-up for the Library Journal Best Small Library in America award. She also served as President of the Oregon Library Association in 2006-07, and is still active in Oregon Library Association as a member of the Legislative Committee.
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