FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
DAR talks cemetery, library Orchestra to
begin spring
season
By Todd Arriola
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Lone Pine Tree
Chapter of the Oregon
State Society Daughters
of the American Revolu-
tion (OSSDAR), of the
National Society of the
Daughters Of The Ameri-
can Revolution (NSDAR)
held its regular monthly
luncheon at the Best West-
ern Sunridge Inn, in Baker
City, at noon last Friday.
Present from DAR
were Meschelle Cookson,
Regent (President), Ro-
berta Morin, Vice Regent,
Shirley Simons, Treasurer,
Wilma Johnson, Chaplain,
Lynne Zwanziger, Regis-
trar, Carol Guthrie, Theona
Hambleton, Secretary,
Dorothy Robertson, Histo-
rian, Lillian Densley, Dory
Fleshman, Joan Smith,
Katherine Smutz, Ethelyn
Williams, Nancy Wilson
and new member Kathryn
Pitcher.
Guests included Barbara
Borello, and Melissa Sha-
fer, Baker County Library
Children’s Librarian.
Cookson called the meet-
ing to order, and welcomed
everyone, followed by in-
troductions, recitals of the
Pledge of Allegiance and
The American’s Creed by
the group, and the Opening
Prayer, led by Johnson.
DAR is heavily involved
with the promotion of edu-
cation, and Guthrie intro-
duced Shafer, who brought
several photo albums of
children’s programs associ-
ated with the Library, for
the group to look through
while she spoke. “I have
programs all year long,”
she said, emphasizing that
she’s involved with more
than just the major summer
events. She talked about
Story Time, on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
She also talked about the
winter programs, which
usually took place from
January through spring
break, and explained that
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
The DAR ladies discussed everything from historic undergarments to cemetery
markers to expanding library services last Friday.
on Fridays beginning this
week, she planned to have
the children attendees start
growing a fairy garden,
an idea inspired partly by
the movie Maleficent. This
Friday program is sched-
uled for preschool-aged
children at 10 a.m., and
elementary-aged children
at 3 p.m.
“I also go out to the
YMCA and have Story
Time four times a week,
with the preschool,” Shafer
said. But, because she’s
unable to get to every loca-
tion she’d like to in order
to provide this service, this
year she’s seeking volun-
teers to train as Outreach
Storytellers to help out
with the programs.
She discussed a current
program at the Library,
called Ready 2 Learn,
which began about a year
and a half ago. The pro-
gram was set up to assist
children in the 0 to 6 age
group.
Morin asked Shafer
about extending some
programs out to Unity,
Hereford and some other
areas, and Shafer said the
Library is working on pro-
viding that service. Shafer
also mentioned some gene-
alogy resources available
at the Library.
Minutes were approved
and the Treasurer’s Report,
showed all members’ dues
currently paid, and that the
group’s Chapter account
shows a balance of over
$3,000.
Cookson discussed with
the President General’s
Report, from Lynn Forney
Young, NSDAR President
General, concerning the
125th anniversary of the
founding of the DAR, on
October 11, 2015. This
celebration includes the
Celebrate America Cruise
some National Administra-
tion members and guests
will be on, sailing from
New York to historic New
England and Nova Scotia
ports, from October 10 to
17, 2015.
Cookson discussed
the National Defender, a
resource with chronicles of
service by DAR members
nationwide, and infor-
mation about homeless
veterans programs.
Zwanziger gave a Reg-
istrar’s Report, stating that
currently, the group has 43
members. Cookson said
that usually, the group has
membership drives in July,
August and December,
and thanked Zwanziger for
her efforts to recruit new
members.
Cookson said the Chap-
ter’s Wingville Cemetery
Historical Marker applica-
tion was approved. The
cemetery, owned by the
Baker County Parks and
Recreation Department,
will be recognized with
most likely a stone marker,
and a ceremony in the
spring, she said.
“Oh my gosh, they were
jumping at the chance,”
Cookson said, speaking
about the enthusiasm from
the Department concerning
the marker. Cookson spoke
with Charles and Howard
Payton of Wingville in
order to gather documents
and photographic evidence
about the cemetery and
area for the application.
The wording on the marker
is currently pending.
Cookson displayed a
quilt that she assembled,
and discussed possibly
selling packages with pat-
tern blocks like those in
the quilt as a fundraiser.
Wilson shared her
thoughts about corsets
and bras during Points to
Remember, a segment of
the meeting in which she
usually has an informative
and entertaining historical
story to tell.
The Chapter’s meetings
are on the second Friday
of each month alternating
between Baker City and La
Grande.
Baker City Council
Continued from Page 1
Minutes from the De-
cember 9, 2014 meeting
were approved as was a
liquor license application
for Lefty’s Tap house do-
ing business in the former
Bull Ridge Pub location on
Broadway.
The Surface Trans-
portation Program Fund
Exchange Agreement was
also presented for approv-
al. Upon approval, the city
will receive $105368.36
in a cooperative agree-
ment with Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation to
exchange federal dollars to
state dollars.
The money will be used
to fund the thin overlay
project and was antici-
pated during the develop-
ment of the 2014 pavement
management plan. Council
voted to approve the STP
agreement.
Appointments were
made to fill vacancies on
the airport commission.
Those appointed were
David Davidson, Gordon
Conrad and Troy Woyd-
ziak.
Appointed to fill pla -
ning commission vacan-
cies were Ned Ratterman,
Kenneth Rockwell and
Alan Blair, all of whom
currently serve on the plan-
ning commission and wish
to serve another term.
With the ending of her
term, Councilor Johnson
who served as the Council
representative on the pub-
lic works advisory com-
mittee will no longer be on
that committee.
It was advised by
Michelle Owen that the
council consider finding
a replacement as soon as
possible as that committee
tends to be very active this
time of year as the City
prepares capital plans and
budgets.
Council was addressed
by Public Works Director
Michelle Owen in regards
to the watershed manage-
ment plan.
She first addressed
awarding the Water Facil-
ity Master Plan contract to
Murray Smith and Associ-
ates.
David Stangel of MSA
was present at the meeting
and introduced himself to
the Council.
Mayor Moiser asked
Stangel if he would be
available to the council
should they need informa-
tion regarding the project
at any time.
Stangel assured that
either himself directly or
through Owen would be
available for discussion or
to answer any questions
on the project as they may
come up. Council voted to
approve the Water Facili-
ties Master Plan Contract.
Owen next spoke of
some comments she had
received from members of
the community and with
those comments Owen
had a couple of suggested
changes to the Water-
shed Management Plan.
Specificall , “the city, by
resolution is a cooperat-
ing agency,” and Owen
suggested adding that to
the acknowledgements on
the first page of the plan so
that “the public is aware
that we are an agency and
we are required to com-
municate with the Forest
Service and other State and
Federal Agencies.”
Another update Owen
proposed to add was an
additional strategy to the
goal of working toward
fuel reduction. “The public
comment that we received
is that the goals related to
fuel reduction were not
strong enough,” Owen told
the Council. “People want
to see action sooner than
what we had documented.
I suggest that we begin as
soon as possible by having
Baker City request assis-
tance from State and Fed-
eral elected officials, which
may include requesting
an emergency declaration
by the Governor request-
ing dollars be allocated
federally to assist with fuel
reduction costs.”
Commissioner Harvey
expressed concern about
language in the document
stating the Forest Service
owns the property.
“It is federally owned
property managed by the
US Forest service,” Owen
stated.
Harvey responded by
saying, “It is not U.S. Fed-
eral government land. It is
State land entrusted by the
Federal Government.”
In his address to the
Council he advised the
council, “You are in joint
management with the
Forest Service. You have
the right as well to go in
and do forest health issues
and management. The City
has jurisdiction over the
watershed.”
Councilor Langrell mo-
tioned to table a vote until
all amendments had been
made. That motion failed
4:3. The Council went on
to pass the adoption of the
Watershed Management
Plan with Owen advising
she will make all revisions
and update all copies im-
mediately.
Mike Kee addressed the
council briefly noting -
nancial reports enclosed in
council packets and labor
trends.
Newly hired Fire Chief
Mark John introduced
himself to the council and
invited council members
to the fire station at any
time telling them he had
“an open door policy and
would be happy to show
you around the station.”
He said he feels being
in Baker City is a “great
privilege.”
With that the meeting
adjourned.
The Baker Community Orchestra began weekly
rehearsals on Thursday, January 15. Music handout at
rehearsals will begin at 6:15 and rehearsal will begin at
7:00 p.m.. Rehearsals will be in the Baker High School
Band Room and continuing on Thursdays through the
Spring. All interested musicians are welcome come join
in. There is no charge to participate, though free will do-
nations to help pay for music are welcome. No auditions
are required. We welcome all orchestra or band instru-
ments, guitar and bass guitar as well. The Orchestra
always has a need for strings, particularly cello, viola and
bass. The orchestra is also in need of trumpets and per-
cussion. The Orchestra welcomes “drop in” musicians
to come in and see what we are doing and participate for
the fun of it at any of our rehearsals.
The purpose of the Orchestra is to provide the oppor-
tunity for community members to participate in making
music, in particular, adult “comeback” players. Many of
our members enjoyed playing in high school or college,
then quit playing for some time, often due to no oppor-
tunity to play. Others members have recently learned to
play an instrument to join in. There is room for all in the
Orchestra.
If you are interested and would like more information
or to chat about joining, please call Brian Watt at 541-
523-4662. If you have never played an instrument and
would like to learn, give us a call and we will see if we
can help you out.
La Grande
ranks highest
risk for radon
New Oregon radon data show that many regions of
the state are at moderate risk of having high radon levels,
with several pockets of high-risk areas around the Wil-
lamette Valley, and in eastern and southern Oregon.
Oregon’s areas of highest risk for radon are in Scap-
poose, Banks and North Plains, as well as Boring, Park-
dale, Dundee, Turner and La Grande, according to the
data published at www.healthoregon.org/radon. A large
swath of Portland was found to be at high risk. Baker
City is at moderate risk.
Radon is odorless, tasteless and invisible. It is a natu-
rally occurring radioactive gas that comes up from the
ground and is drawn into buildings, where it can build up
to dangerous levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency estimates that radon is responsible for more than
20,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the
U.S. after cigarette smoking, and the leading cause of
lung cancer among non-smokers.
The Radon Program is joining the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in urging Oregonians to take
action and test their homes for radon during January as
part of National Radon Action Month.
Testing homes for radon is simple and inexpensive.
Radon test kits can be purchased at local hardware and
home improvement stores, or online, and are priced
between $15 and $25. Radon problems can be fixed by
qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many
common home repairs, such as painting or having a new
water heater installed. The best time to test for radon is
during the heating season, when the windows and doors
are closed up tight. This is when you would expect to find
the highest radon levels in your home.
Radon levels vary throughout Oregon depending on
the underlying geology. Residents can see what levels
have been detected in their neighborhoods by visiting the
Radon Program website at www.healthoregon.org/radon,
which lists radon test data by city and Zip code Residents
can visit the Radon Program website to see if they are eli-
gible for a free test kit. Those living in Zip codes where
there are fewer than 20 test results can send an email to
radon.program@state.or.us to receive instructions on how
to get a free test kit.
For more information on radon, radon testing and
mitigation, radon-resistant new construction, or to order
a test kit online, call the Oregon Radon Program at 971-
673-0440 or go to www.healthoregon.org/radon or visit
the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/radon/nram.
Three move
forward in
5J search
Tuesday night the 5J School Board narrowed the
superintendent search down to three candidates. They will
be interviewing Betty Palmer from Baker, Mark Witty
from John Day and Robert Vian from Orofino, Idaho on
February 20.
The candidates will tour the district in the a.m. and
interview in the p.m. There will be a "Meet and Greet" at
the high school from 4 - 6 p.m.