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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2017)
LOCAL: Espresso was secret ingredient in this year’s Dutch oven cookoff. PAGE 5 BUSINESS: New organic spa to open in Baker City. PAGE 3 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, October 13, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 41 Efforts fail to put repeal of gun grab law on the ballot BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com A statewide petition ef- fort by Republicans to put a repeal initiative on the ballot for newly signed bill SB719 has failed. About 1,000 voters in Baker County alone turned out to support putting a repeal of this law on the ballot for voters, with Baker County Republicans spending two afternoons at the corner of the park col- lecting signatures. “We spent a few hours on two separate Saturdays, and people were lined up eager to sign. We’ve never seen such a turnout for a cause,” said Baker County Republican Chair Suzan Ellis Jones. “They came by the hundreds both days.” SB719, which passed through the Oregon legis- lature as a bill focusing on mental health and pre- venting suicide, is widely viewed by opponents as illegal legislation in viola- tion of the Second and Fourth Amendments. Under this new law, if a friend, neighbor or family member claims a citizen is unstable, homicidal or suicidal—whether or not there is real evidence to back up the claim—he or she can obtain an order from the local court for police to seize fi rearms belonging to that citizen. The citizen would have no warning before police arrive on their doorstep, which legislators opposed to this bill argued will inevitably put law en- forcement in unnecessary, dangerous situations as lawful gun owners caught off guard are abruptly put on the defense. Once fi rearms are seized, that citizen would then have to wade through a lengthy court process to prove him- or herself in- nocent. Submitted Photo. SEE GUN GRAB REPEAL PAGE 5 Lines continued solidly for two afternoons as people clamored to sign petitions locally. City Manager proposes one Sumpter’s less police position in order to un-bear-able accept grant for Fire Dept. situation BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker City Council Convened Tuesday, Octo- ber 10, 2017, at City Hall in the Council Chambers. The meeting opened with Councilor Adam Nils- son leading the pledge of allegiance and giving the invocation. All were pres- ent except Council member Arvid Andersen. The hot topic was wheth- er to accept a SAFER grant to add three positions to the Fire Department—a grant that requires a sub- stantial funds match from the City, which it does not have. City Manager Fred Warner suggested not fi ll- ing one open position at the Police Department in order to fi nd funding. This year, a public safety fee was implemented, in large part to fund and save that police position. SEE CITY COUNCIL PAGE 3 Kids learn to make bread Photo courtesy of Samantha Rowan. Bears are making quite a mess in Sumpter. • BEAR PROBLEMS CONTINUE BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com Sumpter is receiving more than the usual wildlife visitors this fall, with several bears raiding garbage cans throughout town. “Apparently, they’re hungry, and they like garbage,” said City Recorder Julie McKinney. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife trapped a couple of bears in the Sawmill Gulch area. Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press SEE BEARS PAGE 3 First graders learned how to make bread, starting above mixing ingredients for dough in plastic bags. BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Friday, October 6th, fi rst grade students were invited to participate in the fi rst Friday Experience of the school year, where they learned how to make bread. The theme of the event was “The Little Red Hen” by Paul Galdone, and was held at the North Baker cafeteria. Students learned more about the Little Red Hen’s job making bread through activities, such as learning how fl our is made, and reading the story. Each student left with a personal-sized loaf of white bread. The students mixed small amounts of ingredients in plastic bags before kneading and baking the dough. They also colored pictures from the book and put them in order from the story. Daisy Walden, a substitute teacher who has been in the district for fi ve to six years, taught this Friday Experi- ence. Friday Mostly cloudy with a few rain showers mainly early. Highs near 50. Chance of precipitation is 40% Night: Cloudy with a few showers to start then turning partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Saturday Mostly sunny and cool. Highs near 50. Saturday Night: Mostly clear and cool. Lows in the mid 20s. Sunday Mostly sunny and cool. Highs near 50. Sunday Night: Mostly clear and cool. Lows near 30. “It’s something that I love. I really love cooking and I knew that for this Friday Experience it needed to be something a little more exciting than just well, you know, reading a book and practicing regular old school stuff they do every day,” explained Walden. “And I knew I wanted some sort of literature connection.” Walden explained that the opportunity began last year. Teachers are able to volunteer to do a Friday Experience event and submit a proposal of what activities they would like to do. The proposals are approved by the principal and 5J Superintendent. “I’m hoping to do a couple more this year,” said Walden. Walden explained that the amount of students who are able to participate in the events is the teacher’s choice. For her event, it was open to 15 students but they can have as many as 20. “I think it was a success. I think I’d like to do some- thing again,” said Walden. The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast: Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Suspect caught in Powder River BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com A foot and bicycle chase ended Tuesday afternoon in the middle of the Powder River. On October 9, at about 12:35 p.m., Offi cer Shannon Regan observed a subject on a bicycle, who she believed to be wanted, in the area of Myrtle and Dewey Streets in Baker City. SEE SUSPECT CAUGHT PAGE 8 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Drug take-back scheduled Local airman graduates basic Sumpter City Council coverage Sage-grouse comments reopen Taste of Baker ushers in autumn Suspect fl ees, crashes car Page Page Page Page Page Page 5 5 7 7 8 8