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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 2016)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016 Business & Ag Unique wooden canes made locally — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, November 4, 2016 — Eastern Oregon BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com Visitors to and locals of Baker City who visit the Chamber of Commerce for information will find on one of their walls a group of unique wood canes hand made by Frank Bishop. They will also find fishing rods that were also made by him. Bishop has been making the rods and canes for four or five years and has just begun to sell them through the chamber. Bishop explained that there are about ten at the cham- ber and he has five more he has made and will continue to work on others. “It’s something that oc- cupies my mind and the other thing about it is it’s a good product that is very useful,” explained Bishop “I’ve been using a cane for several years and conse- quently I decided I wanted something unique.” Bishop has been a lo- cal man of Baker for 33 years since 1983. He was born and grew up in Vale, Oregon. He spent 39 years in education as an adminis- trator, a teacher in science, biology, earth science, and a variety of other science classes, as well as health and P.E. He also coached wres- tling and football before going into administration. He began teaching in Boise, then went to Ontario as a head wrestling coach and assistant football, then head coach, and became an administrator for six years in Weiser, and fifteen years at Baker Middle School until he retired. The canes he makes are a hobby of his. All of his canes are unique and made out of a dead limb from a tree. “Consequently, you’re not cutting any trees or branches off trees or anything like that that’s living,” said Bishop. “It’s all actually dead limbs. What’s interesting about one particular cane that I make is that you’ll never find two of them that are alike. Once you get to messing with them and working with them it’s really surprising how they change their appearance after they’ve been dead or de-limbed for a long period of time.” He also refinishes old bamboo rods, usu- ally the older generations from 1900 to 1960. With the fishing rods, he will replace anything that needs to be replaced, such as guides. What he usually does with rods is he will strip them completely and Prices trended generally steady compared to week ago prices. Most demand lays with the retail/stable hay. According to some producers, horse owners are starting to prefer lower sugar, higher protein hay. Recent rainstorms throughout the state have slowed movement, as most buyers and truckers prefer not to move hay when it’s raining. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa — Large Square Premium 33 155.00-155.00 155.00 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix — Small Square Premium 150 200.00-200.00 200.00 Orchard Grass— Small Square Premium 40 185.00-185.00 185.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, November 2, 2016 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 1,348 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 147.00 - 165.00 Top 169.00 400-500# Bulk 121.00 - 143.00 Top 147.50 500-600# Bulk 114.00 - 128.00 Top 129.00 Samantha O’Conner/ The Baker County Press Frank and Mary Bishop show off one of their fishing rods and canes. re-stain them and retie all the guides, re-measuring them according to the rod. When making his canes, Bishop uses a leather pad to cushion the hand and makes them comfortable to lean on for balance. The canes are also lighter than they appear to be. Bishop explained that his cane draws conversa- tions from people who see his cane and ask him ques- tions about it. “They can contact me directly by calling 541-523-2600,” Bishop explained for people who are interested in his canes and fishing rods and would like to ask him about them or having one made. Smoke alarms donated to BCFD BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com For the last year, Baker City Fire Department has been working diligently with the State Fire Marshal on a program that pro- vides smoke alarms free of charge to those in need. Although the State Fire Marshal didn’t have specif- ic statistics Baker City Fire Chief Mark John noted Baker Fire and Rescue has been recognized as one of nine Oregon Fire Depart- ments that has provided between 300-500 smoke alarms. John and his department were determined to surpass the 500 mark. As John and Dan Curtis, Assistant Chief, were preparing to begin solicita- tions for an additional 100 smoke alarms, organizers of the annual Baker City Bronc and Bull Riding, held during the Miner’s Jubilee, contacted them about helping them reach their goal. John said, “Because of the (medical/ambulance) services we provide them (during the Bronc and Bull Riding Event) they wanted to help out. I told them, ‘We’d Be thrilled if you contributed,’ Then we talked about it and they just went directly to Scott Thatcher, owner of Thatcher’s Ace Hardware and wrote a check. “Then Mary Jo Grove and the Grove team did the same thing. Thatcher’s Ace Hardware made up the difference and we were actually able to buy 120 smoke alarms. Now the crews will begin the task of installing those.” Once the department had depleted their original 400 smoke alarms from the State Fire Marshal, Curtis began placing names on a list of citizens that were in need. Those on the list will be contacted and arrange- ments made to install those alarms. John said, “The majority of the 120 smoke alarms have been spoken for.” Once installed, they will have surpassed their 500 goal. “To have installed the amount of smoke alarms we have in a community this size is monumental.” John said in amazement. “There is no question, no doubt in my mind that these detectors save lives. Sooner or later.” John said he read an article just the other day about a mother and her three children who almost perished in their home dur- ing a fire. The mother went back in for her kids. Two of them have been hospitalized with burns. It was a home with no smoke alarms. “So, for us to install 500 plus detectors in Baker City is huge. The program, it’s just been remarkably successful, for a commu- nity this size,” he said. As John prepares to leave his position with Baker City Fire and Res- cue for a new opportunity in Spokane, the success of this program is an incred- ible legacy to leave this community with. John humbly and with a hint of emotion said, “I’m so thankful for my experi- ence here.” Baker City Fire and Rescue want to remind ev- eryone that smoke alarms have an expiration date and are only good for 10 years. Please contact the De- partment at 541.523.3711 if you are in need of smoke alarms. As the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week advises: “Don’t Wait, Check The Date.” It could save your life. Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 126.00 - 135.00 Top 139.00 400-500# Bulk 113.00 - 125.00 Top 126.50 500-600# Bulk 108.00 - 117.00 Top 117.50 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 108.00 - 121.00 Top 122.00 700-800# Bulk 105.00 - 118.00 Top 119.00 800-900# Bulk 98.00 - 106.00 Top 107.25 900-1,000# Bulk 95.00 - 104.00 Top 106.50 Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 103.00 - 115.50 Top 116.25 700-800# Bulk 101.00 - 110.00 Top 112.00 800-900# Bulk 94.00 - 101.00 Top 102.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 38.00 - 47.00 Butcher Cows 47.00 - 58.00 Butcher Bulls 52.00 - 62.00 Pairs Young N/A Hfretts. 58.00 - 77.00 Stock Cows Young - 975.00 - 1170.00 ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon Currently the local log market is flooded with fire salvage logs. The log buyer for Malheur Lumber Co. stated they have all the logs they need under contract and are not accepting any new purchases. BCC/LLC of La Grande has receive so many burned fire salvage logs they are no longer accepting logs at the La Grande log yard. Any additional pine logs have to be delivered to the Elgin Log yard cut in plywood lengths and to a 8 inch top. For these pine logs cut in plywood lengths, BCC is offering $280.00/mbf. They are also paying $420.00/ mbf for Doug Fir & Western Larch. For White Fir they are offing $325.00/mbf. At the Pilot Rock Saw Mill BCC is offing $360.00/mbf for a 12 to 15 inch top, for 16 to 19 inch top $400.00/ mbf & offing $425.00/mbf for 20 inch plus top Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1,275.90 Silver: $18.37 Platinum: $1002.95 Palladium: $665.70 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $354.25/bu/USD Wheat: $415.25/bu/USD Soybeans: $1011.25/bu/USD Oats: $225.75 bu/USD Rough Rice: $9.75/cwt/USD Canola: $510.40 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $102.58/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $119.23/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $46.98/lb./USD Bloomberg.com