First Powder Pal Graduates
By Travis Short
On Monday the first graduate of Powder River Correctional Facility’s (PRCF) “Powder Pals Program” was released to his new home with an employee of New Directions, an agency that provides counseling for inmates. Cooper, a yellow Labrador retriever who had a sordid past (he has an unexplained metal plate in his right rear leg) and anxiety issues has been receiving obedience training from four inmates selected to take part in the project. Without the opportunity given him, this energetic dog would likely have faced euthanasia.
The inmates chosen are responsible for the project’s dogs 24 hours a day, according to Ron Miles of PRCF, and the lead staff member overseeing the program. The men have also been receiving help and advice from a number of civilian volunteers including Karen Haines, Mitch Bulthuis, Karen Skeen, Sheila Holman, Susan Glass, Marion Price, and Dick Haines. Heading the training is Jeanette Stewart of Richland.
Stewart is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in animal behavior, and has a dog training and behavioral counseling business called “Practical Dog Solutions.” The program espouses positive reinforcement, and places an emphasis on not teaching through force or aggression. The driving idea behind her (and consequently, the inmates’) training style is that a dog responds well to, and remembers, a reward for positive actions.
BPA Outlines Proposed Rate Increase For Region’s Electric Utilities
By Angela Perez
Also explains need to balance energy, economic and environmental laws and goals
In a region that has “few economic advantages,” low cost, renewable hydroelectric power is a blessing to the Pacific Northwest, according to BPA chief administrator Steve Wright. Wright was speaking to 70 attendees at a recent Town Hall meeting held in last week at OTEC’s Baker City headquarters. BPA, the federal marketing agency that sells OTEC most of its electricity, visited OTEC to discuss a proposed rate hike this October that could be as much as 15% for the region’s electric utilities, including OTEC. That cost increase could translate into as much as a 7.5% increase for OTEC members on their monthly bill.
Wright outlined the many factors that have led to the proposed rate hike. Those factors include issues involving salmon protection as well as need to renovate dams and other power-generating facilities. Also, BPA has experienced decreased revenues due to both the national economic recession and decreased snowpack, which has led to lower-than-average flows in the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Missing Canadian Couple Last Seen In
Baker City
The Penticton Royal Canadian Mounted Police are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of a Penticton couple after their family reported them missing March 31. Law enforcement agencies in the western United States and Baker County are assisting RCMP with the release of their information to area media and providing any needed help to locate the couple.
RCMP investigators obtained store security video footage from Baker City confirming Albert Chretien, 59, and his wife, Rita Chretien, 56, made a gas purchase Saturday, March 19, at Jackson's Food Mart. Investigators also confirmed that Albert and Rita Chretien crossed into Washington via Oroville on March 19 at approximately 7:05 a.m. They stopped in Baker City where the gas purchase was made at 2:45 p.m. while they were on a business trip enroute to Las Vegas, Nev. The couple did not arrive at their destination.
"To date, the couple’s banking activities and cell phone usage have been nil. The Penticton RCMP is liaising with several U.S. police agencies in order to forward the information state side in attempts to locate the couple," said RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk.
The couple's children grew concerned after the pair did not return from their trip to Las Vegas as planned. The couple was scheduled to return last week between Monday and Wednesday. Family members are very concerned and note that their parents failing to show for the planned attendance at a trade show and convention is out of the ordinary. They said the couple are local business owner-operators which has had a direct effect and concern to many others including the small staff they employ.
Albert and Rita Chretien were traveling in their two-tone tan 2000 Chevy Astro van displaying British Columbia license plates 212-CAV.
The RCMP and U.S. State and county agencies are now concentrating their investigative efforts in the Baker City and Oregon State area, the last known whereabouts of the Canadian couple.
The missing couple is described as:
Albert Chretien, 59
• Caucasian male, 5'6", 175 lbs, with blue eyes and brown hair bald on top
• Black baseball cap with bold white lettering logo "RITAL" and smaller orange lettering "Enterprises Ltd"
• Khaki button up dress shirt
• Black jeans and black shoes
Rita Chretien, 56
• Caucasian female, 5'3", 135 lbs, blue eyes and wears glasses, shoulder length brown hair worn in pony tail
• Brown jacket with light colored collar
• White blouse/shirt
• Beige mesh purse
• Dark leather lace up shoes
• Last seen wearing sunglasses
|
