Op-Ed: Oregon
Hunters Association
—Page 4
I-84 MEGA-CRASH
—Pages 1 and 5
The
Rep. Walden’s
Rotary Club Visit
—Page 8
Baker County Press
Friday, January 23, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 4
Th eBakerCountyPress.com
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LOCAL NEWS: HEADLINE STORIES • LOCAL ARTICLES • OUTDOORS • AGRICULTURE • CLASSIFIEDS
Cattlemen
Unsung heroes and miracles gather at
Sunridge
FIRST RESPONDERS GIVE A LOOK INSIDE THE I-84 MEGA-CRASH
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Photo courtesy of OSP.
While several were injured in the pileup near Pleasant Valley Saturday morning, there were no fatalities.
By Kerry McQuisten
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last weekend was
marked by a huge pileup
on I-84 involving dozens
of vehicles, and a series
of additional accidents on
secondary highways across
the county. Though the
freeway was shut in both
directions from Ontario to
Pendleton most of Satur-
day, not a single fatality
was reported.
The mega-crash oc-
curred around 4:54 a.m. at
milepost 318 near Pleasant
Valley when several semis
traveling eastbound on
black ice, collided.
Lt. Don Taggart and
partner Ryan Tachenko of
the Baker City Fire Depart-
ment were the fi rst in a line
of dedicated responders to
arrive on the scene.
“We were dispatched
around 5 a.m.,” Taggart
said. “We were initially
told there were two pos-
sible patients with poten-
tial critical injuries.”
When Taggart and
Tachenko arrived they
found conditions “extreme-
ly foggy,” he said. “There
was 50 feet of visibility at
best.”
By Todd Arriola
They soon found that
the chain reaction of the
accident itself hadn’t come
to a conclusion. As the two
began to set up a staging
area from which to provide
emergency medical ser-
vices, “Two semis blew by
either side of us and almost
hit us,” Taggart said.
See I84 MEGA-CRASH /
Page 5
The Baker County Livestock Association (BCLA), an
affi liate of the Oregon Cattleman’s Association (OCA),
held its fi rst monthly meeting of the year, at the Best
Western Sunridge Inn, in Baker City, on Thursday.
Jacob Bingham, former Vice President of the Associa-
tion for the last two years, called the meeting to order
at 7 p.m., his fi rst as the newly elected President, with
nearly 30 in attendance. Other offi cers present included
Drew Martin, Vice President, and Dotty Miles, Secretary.
Martin Arritola, Treasurer, was absent.
Chamber of
Commerce
hands out
awards
Inside the Oregon House
By Kerry McQuisten
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Most voters don’t give a
passing thought to the two
months nestled between
November Election Day
and the January swearing-
in ceremony.
But for the winning
candidates, those months
right after the election are
life-changers—particu-
larly if you’re a fi rst-time
elected offi cial, a newbie
to Salem.
The Baker County Press
spoke with Chris Barreto,
wife of new State Repre-
sentative, Greg Barreto of
Cove, as well as newly
elected State Representa-
tive Bill Post of Keizer,
for a peek at what happens
behind the scenes to new
political families on both
sides of the state.
Eastern Oregon.
“After home-schooling
for 25 years, putting the
kids in a private, Christian
school has been one of
the biggest changes,” says
Chris Barreto.
Friday
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
See CATTLEMEN / Page 3
ONE FROM EASTERN OREGON, ONE FROM WESTERN OREGON:
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH TWO NEW REPRESENTATIVES
See INSIDE THE HOUSE/
Page 12
Jacob Bingham, right, is the new BCLA president.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Lynette Perry (at left) accepts the Legacy Man of
the Year award on behalf of her late husband, Doyle
Perry.
By Todd Arriola
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Submitted Photo.
State Rep. Greg Barreto and wife, Chris, stand near the entrance to the House
chambers in Salem.
Mostly Sunny. Fog early then mostly clear skies.
High of 36, low around 26.
Saturday
Rain Showers. 40% chance of rain with highs
around 40. Skies clear at night with a low of 23.
Sunday
Mostly Cloudy. The clouds return with tempera-
tures in the lower 40s. Cloudy at night with a low
around 30.,
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by
this generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Around 100 attendees gathered at the Baker Elks Lodge
on 2nd Street last Saturday for the Baker County Cham-
ber of Commerce’s 88th Annual Awards Banquet, honor-
ing individuals for their dedication and volunteerism in
the community.
See CHAMBER BANQUET/ Page 3
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Police make several meth arrests
County Commissioners coverage
Lions club honors 8-year-old
5J: Brownfi elds, new superintendent
County mayors meet in Huntington
Wellness Watch Column
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