Energy Trust Of Oregon Offers Services
To Baker
By Joni Lea Linscott
At the regular meeting on July 12, 2011, with all Council Members present the Councilors heard a presentation from David Felley of Energy Trust of Oregon on a residential energy efficiency program with Cascade Natural Gas. Felley said he wanted to “let everyone in Baker City know about Energy Trust.”
According to the pamphlets provided at the meeting Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Oregonians invest and benefit from energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy. Their services and cash incentives help utility ratepayers make improvements to save energy and manage costs in their homes, businesses and communities.
Felley explained that a homeowner can get work done to improve the energy efficiency in their home and then send information of the costs to Energy Trust and if qualified, Energy Trust will reimburse the homeowner for the cost of repairs. To learn more about Energy Trust and the incentives they offer, visit www.energytrust.org.
Baker City Calvary Trooper Awarded
Bronze Star Medal
By Staff Sgt. Patrick Caldwell
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Indecision often haunts the heart of combat.
Inside the chaos of crisis, where the standard definitions of time distorts and overlaps, uncertainty rules and often a moment of hesitation translates into tragedy.
Yet for Spc. Christopher Soderholm, a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP) driver for Foxtrot Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, 77th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and a native of Baker City, Ore., his calm resolution proved to be the difference the night he saved his gunner in the wake of an improvised explosive device detonation.
What Soderholm did that night and how he did it was brought into sharp focus July 5 when he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, for his actions when the MRAP he was driving hit an IED (improvised explosive device).
Even now, months later, Soderholm said he still struggles to accurately express what occurred during the incident.
Miners Seek County Help For Forest
Service Road Closure
By Debby Schoeningh
Local miners asked Baker County Commissioners to intervene on their behalf over the U.S. Forest Service’s closure of a road that provides access to the Orion Mine.
Art Sappington, who has mining rights on the Orion, told Commissioners at their July 6 meeting that the Orion Mine, which is located above Unity, is on private property and as such has rights and protections of the county government.
He said the Orion has a 1903 mine to market road that has allowed public access to the mining operation because it was established before the Forest Service.
Sappington quoted John Adams, America’s second president, who in 1814 stated, “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
“We are looking at the potential of anarchy and tyranny of the agencies as commencing,” said Sappington.
He said under state law, the road closure can only be authorized by ordinance of the county.
“I’m trying to figure out a way of not having to file against the county… I’m trying to get everybody back on the same track of supporting private property and the rights of ingress and egress (entering and leaving) to our public lands for lawful uses which not only includes the mineral development, which is the one that directly effects me, but other lawful uses,” said Sappington.
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