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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2016)
LOCAL: City Council gets update on local economic development. PAGE 5 BUSINESS: OTEC gives tour to second-grade class. PAGE 3 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, September 30, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 40 Unity residents learn about drugs BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Tuesday evening, Deputy Jeff Spencer, a drug recognition expert and eastern Oregon Coor- dinator for that program, and Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, held an infor- mational community event in Unity with the purpose of explaining the charac- teristics of drugs found locally—and their effects on the human body as seen from a law enforcement perspective. 30-35 residents joined the audience, slightly more than the 25 or so who at- tended a similar meeting in Halfway a few weeks ago. Former Bridgeport rancher Lynn Shumway opened the meeting, stating he and others had “con- cerns” about drugs in the area and had asked Ash to provide the information. Both Ash and Spencer emphasized that they were not present to debate the morality or legality of marijuana use—topics in the minds of many resi- dents following the recent legalization of recreational marijuana use in Oregon. Ash was focused on “some general information on drugs and physiologi- cal effects of marijuana,” he said. A drug is defi ned as, “Any substance, which when taken into the human body, can impair the ability of the person to operate a vehicle safely... that alters perception or behavior, reducing that individual’s ability to function in an academic environment.” SEE DRUGS PAGE 5 Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Deputy Jeff Spencer (right), a trained drug recognition expert joined Sheriff Travis Ash in Unity Tuesday evening to teach about drugs. Republicans introduce Safe routes candidates, oppose local to school nonpartisan issue event ahead BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Wednesday, October 5, Baker County schools will be participating in the 20-year anniversary of the Safe Routes to School Bike/Walk to school event. This is the fi rst year Baker County will participate. Safe Routes to School is an international group that works on bringing communities together and making walking and biking to school safer. According to Quick Facts and Figures, “The history of Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day: The Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the fi rst National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago in 1997, modeled after the United Kingdom’s walk to school events and communities around the United States have been celebrating Walk to School Day ever since. It was established as ‘International’ in 2000 when Canada and the U.K. joined with the U.S. to celebrate it.” SEE SAFE ROUTES PAGE 8 Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press L-R at table: Rep. Cliff Bentz, Rep. Greg Barreto, Baker County Republican Chair Suzan Ellis Jones, Senate candidate Mark Callahan and Baker County Sheriff candidate John Hoopes. • OPEN HOUSE HELD AT THE SUNRIDGE INN BANQUET ROOM BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Republican Central Committee and The Baker County Press co-sponsored a Republican can- didate and initiatives open house Wednesday evening at the Sunridge Inn. The event drew an audience mixed with Democrats, Republicans and non-affi liated voters alike. In attendance from the political realm were Rep. Cliff Bentz, Rep. Greg Barreto, Senate candidate Mark Cal- lahan, Baker City Council candidate Arvid Andersen, and Baker County Sheriff candidate John Hoopes. Oregon State Attorney General candidate Daniel Crowe and his wife were scheduled to attend the open house, but didn’t arrive. As it turned out, an hour or so before the start of the event, the Crowes struck a deer on the freeway as they neared Baker County. The couple was uninjured, but their vehicle considerably damaged. SEE REPUBLICAN OPEN HOUSE PAGE 4 Friday Partly sunny with increasing clouds. Highs near 80.Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. Lows in the mid 40s. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. Highs in the mid 60s. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy and cooler with a chance for showers, lows near 40. Sunday Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. Highs in the lower 60s. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers, lows in the upper 30s. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Baker County Sheriff candidate John Hoopes (left) with Baker City Council candidate Arvid Andersen. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Honored artists works on display Crossroads Carnegie Art Center Board of Directors voted unanimously to recognize the signifi cant contribu- tions of two remarkable artists, Paul Hoelscher and E’Jay Weber of Baker City for their contributions to Crossroads and to the arts and culture ecology of Eastern Oregon at their 2016 Gala Fundraising Dinner on October 15, 2016. Paul Hoelscher has been in Baker City since 1995 but grew up in Minnesota. Paul’s Honored Artists piece will be on display at Crossroads as soon as it is fi nished and was sponsored by “WDG & TDG” and Sharon Bannister. E’Jay Weber, is a retired arts educator, ceramicist and glass artist has lived in Baker County for almost 25 years. E’Jay’s Honored Artist piece will be on display at gala and was made possible by the sponsorship of Dr. Eric and Kristy Sandefur. The Honored Artist pieces will be sold at the live auc- tion at the Crossroads Gala “Burgers, Boats and Beaches” on October 15th at the Baker Event Center. Tickets are $40 a person at Crossroads or from Board Members and include an amazing gourmet Cheeseburger Dinner with beef donated by John and Molly Wilson, as well as a vegetarian option prepared by The Little Pig. Music will be provided by I So Do Music For You by Bryan Tweit. Games, activities, live and silent auction followed by music and dancing. For more information contract Crossroads at 541-523-5369 or 2020 Auburn Ave Baker City, OR 97814. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE County/BMCC issues in depth Salt Lick winners announced Funny money in Baker City Brooklyn’s new Principal Sex abuse investigation opened Sumpter’s Music in the Meadow Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 8 8 8 9 10