Elkhorn Classic Rolls Into Town
By Jason Smith
The Elkhorn Classic returned to Baker City June 18-20. Participants came from all directions and walks of life to take part in the exhausting four-stage event.
On Friday, the riders began their trek at Baker High School for stage 1, the Oregon Trail Road Race. This stage of the event consisted of 72.9 miles and 6,515 feet of climbing.
On Saturday Stage 2, the Pleasant Valley Individual Time Trial was held. It consisted of 11.3 miles out and back. That wasn’t the only event of the day though. Riders still had the third stage to tackle, the Gold Rush Criterium. This was a 1 km L-shaped course staged in downtown Baker City.
Duman Sworn In To Fill Council Seat, City Discusses Police Department Cuts, Shifting Economic Development To County
By Mark Bogart
Gail Duman was selected by a unanimous vote on Tuesday night to fill the open seat on the Baker City Council. However, from that point on, the council and city staff had a difficult time following the numbers and agreeing on a budget resolution for 2010-2011. The group finally adjourned its meeting, agreeing to try again Wednesday, with a revised version proposed by Councilor Aletha Bonebrake.
Before getting into the regular agenda items, the council heard public comments from Carol Tone, a military widow, who described the cemetery conditions as “deplorable.” Although especially concerned about the maintenance of the veterans’ section, she said that families expected perpetual care to mean “365 days a year” for the graves of their loved ones. She said graves need to be leveled and markers straightened.
The city is spending about $10,000 on cemetery improvements including leveling sunken graves, fixing the mausoleum, and installing a kiosk, according to Public Works Director Michelle Owen. Tone and Bonebrake said they thought the money was for work on the graves and markers, not the other structures. Owen said she would provide a report to Tone and the council.
School District Faces Possibility Of More Budget Cuts
By Eden Taylor
The Baker School District 5J Board adopted the 2010-2011 Budget that was recommended by the Budget Committee with the provision that it will probably be changed. Just after the Budget Committee approved the budget, Salem let every department know they should reduce their budgets by 9 percent. So, the District doesn’t know the final amount of their allotment.
At the regular School Board Meeting on June 15, Finance Officer Doug Dalton presented the board members with the worset-case scenario. If indeed the District has to cut another hole in their expenditures, Dalton has a plan. The District would again look at a four-day school week as well as cuts in several departments. Besides cutting two days from the school year, the District would have to cut another 6.5 FTE (full time employee equivalent).
Each principal submitted paperwork that showed the impact of further cuts in each area.
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