FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Business & Ag
Ace Hardware to move
Continued from Page 1
Inside the building
they have been painting,
installing new heating
and cooling vents, new
LED lighting and cleaning
fixtures.
No new employees are
expected to be hired as the
store changes locations.
“I think this store will
be a little easier to run just
because it is so wide open.
The store now (at 3rd and
Court Street)— I’ve done
about three additions over
there and so we have a
cubby hole back here and a
cubby hole over there. It’s
kind of hard for the em-
ployees to walk through;
they have to walk a half a
mile just to see if anybody
is in the store,” Thatcher
explained.
Thatcher says he will be
able to expand all of their
departments a little bit and
spread merchandise out so
it is more visible.
The new space is about
4,000 square feet bigger
on the inside, for a total in
the neighborhood of about
16,000 square feet.
“Then we have the yard
outside where we will
have our lawn and garden
center. We already have
a greenhouse so we will
move that over and then
we are going to get into a
lot more fountains, statuar-
ies and lawn furniture,” he
said.
Thatcher believes that
the new location on Resort
Street will also give them
better exposure.
He said of the current
location, “You’ve got to
know where we’re at.
We don’t get the driving-
through-town people, and
since Resort Street has
been redone, I mean I
looked at this location even
before Del’s moved in here
and it just didn’t seem fea-
sible at the time, but now
that the street is done, I
mean I sat out here one day
and just watched the traffic
go by and it’s amazing the
difference.
“Hopefully we will be
more in the public eye and
people will be driving by
us more. I’m happy with
this location.”
Thatcher also noted the
abundance of parking the
new location offers.
He said, “I never thought
I’d have people complain-
ing about not being able
to find a place to park at
our current location but it
happened. There are about
20 spots there at the old
location and here at the
new one, I quit counting
around 150. Is goes around
the side of the building
and over towards the Dol-
lar Tree. There is a lot of
space.”
Thatcher owns the cur-
rent location building and
says he has already had
some inquiries into uses
for the space. He is hopeful
he will be able to sell or
lease the property.
Ace Hardware is a co-
op, and each store is pri-
vately owned. Each owner
has stock in the company.
In 2010 Scott and Diana
Thatcher opened a second
store in La Grande. “So
between the two stores we
employ about 50 people.
Each store has a manager,
assistant manager and
sporting goods manager.
We have really good em-
ployees,” he said.
Thatcher is utilizing
local contractors for the
remodel job. “We are so
glad to be able to provide
some jobs during a time of
year when it may be a little
slow. Most all of them
shop with us on almost a
daily basis so it’s my turn
to return the favor,” he
said.
A grand reopening is
expected once they have
moved and settled in.
For anyone who may be
curious, Duce the cat will
be moving to the new loca-
tion as well.
“He is very excited,”
Thatcher said with a grin.
Powder Basin Watershed
Council: membership meeting
By Todd Arriola
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Powder Basin Wa-
tershed Council (PBWC)
held its Annual Member-
ship Meeting, the first for
the Council, on Wednesday
at the Baker City District
5J Office
The meeting was called
to order at 6 p.m., and
the first item of business
was the recognition of
guests, and introductions.
From the Board of Direc-
tors were Nancy Rorick,
Chair; Jim Young, Vice
Chair; and Karen Spencer,
Treasurer. Present Council
Members included Johanna
Sedell, Executive Director;
Suzanne Fouty, Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest
(WWNF) Hydrologist;
Timothy Bliss, Baker City
resident; Marion Crows,
Halfway City Council
Member; Meghan Rorick,
Outreach Coordinator;
Doni Bruland, Executive
Assistant; Denise Schmitz,
Vale District Bureau of
Land Management (BLM);
Shannon Archuleta,
WWNF Biologist; and
Andrew Umpleby, Pow-
der Valley Water Control
District.
Guests included Mike
Kee, Baker City Manager,
Bill Harvey, Baker County
Commission Chair, Wes
Morgan, Burnt River Ir-
rigation District Manager,
and Curt and Cheryl Mar-
tin of North Powder.
Rorick welcomed the
group, thanked the staff
and Board for their efforts,
and then presented the
2014 Annual Report. She
pointed out that $292,232
was secured last year in
grants for restoration,
monitoring and outreach,
and the approximate value
of the total for volunteer
hours (calculated at the
rate of $21.35 per hour)
was $42,507. Match-
ing funds received was
$625,003 from partner
contributions, including
the BLM, WWNF, Oregon
Department of Environ-
mental Quality (ODEQ),
Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife (ODFW),
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), Oregon
Watershed Enhancement
Board (OWEB), Baker
County, Baker County
Soil and Water Districts
(BCSWD), Bureau of
Reclamation, Baker School
District 5J, AmazonSmile,
Idaho Power Company,
Patagonia, Jubitz Family
Foundation, Leo Adler
Foundation, Meyer Memo-
rial Trust, and National
Fish and Wildlife Founda-
tion (NFWF).
She discussed the
Water Quality Monitor-
ing Program, stating that
there are 78 monitoring
sites across the Powder
Basin, and partners include
WWNF, BLM, Pine Eagle
High School, Baker High
School, and Burnt River
High School. Rorick said
there are 18 citizens who
also volunteer to collect
water quality samples.
Rorick said conservation
projects for 2014 included
work along Pine Creek at
McMullen Slough. Major
construction was complet-
ed in August, and riparian
fencing was installed in
December. The purpose of
the project was to address
concerns about ero-
sion, using large wooden
structures and transplanted
clumps of willow to slow
the force of Pine Creek, tap
sediments, and allow ripar-
ian colonization. OWEB,
NFWF, USFWS and Pata-
gonia funded the project,
along with support from
the Baker County Road
Department and WWNF,
River Design Group pro-
vided engineering services,
Steve Lindley Contracting,
Inc. constructed it, and the
landowner installed the
riparian fencing.
Habitat conditions along
25 miles of stream were
also surveyed last year.
PBWC held a field day
at the Hughes Lane Park in
Baker City, which included
130 5th and 6th graders
from Haines and South
Baker schools, where
they could have hands-on
experience with exploring
watershed science.
PBWC also involved
community members in six
public watershed learn-
ing events, and two river
cleanup events, including
removing trash from along
the Powder River in down-
town Baker City.
Sedell thanked the
group for attending, and
explained that Wolf Creek
had been chosen to be
monitored for the last two
years, with the intention of
monitoring for one more
(three-year rotation), and
if anyone had any sugges-
tions about another stream
to monitor in the future, to
let her know.
Meghan Rorick said
there will be another field
day event held in May,
again with South Baker
5th and 6th grade students.
She’ll be designing the
hands-on learning stations,
five in total, and volunteers
will be needed for each
one, she said.
Spencer gave a Trea-
surer’s Report, stating
that the budget review
through June 2014 looked
great, noting there was not
much of a change from
the year before, and no
issues were observed. The
current financial statement
was given, and she noted
that she had copies of the
reports for those present.
Fouty discussed with the
attendees the purpose for
the social hour held imme-
diately after the meeting,
which was a brainstorming
session, in order to provide
suggestions and ideas,
like locations for river
cleanups, areas that need
improvements, etc.
Before a slideshow was
presented, showcasing
projects from last year,
Fouty said Steve Hawkins,
WWNF Fuels Program
Manager, will be the guest
speaker at the next meet-
ing. She said he’ll speak
about fire ecolog , history,
and past and current fuels
treatment.
Comments collected
from attendees includes the
following: 1. Cut willows
and plant them. 2. Look for
opportunities for aquifer
storage. 3. Maximize
limited resources and look
at fuels and restoration
projects on and off private
lands. 4. Keep data that is
collected through monitor-
ing on a basin-wide basis,
rather than DEQ-specific
sites. 5. Show kids electro-
shocking fish. 6. Look for
beaver dams, and map
them and how much water
is being held in them. 7.
Snorkel camp-canoeing,
look at bugs and fish. 8.
Nature walks. 9. Beavers
and development of ways
to decrease conflicts. 9.
Moving rocks that block
fish out of streams. 10.
Fish screens. 11. Baker
City would like support of
fuel reduction in the Baker
City Watershed.
The 2015-2017 PBWC
Biennial Work Plan
includes Smith Ditch
partnering and funding;
expanding youth programs;
expanding presence at
community events; con-
ducting volunteer activities
and recognizing volun-
teerism; macro invertebrate
monitoring; flow monito -
ing; new rotating panel
(Wolf Creek, etc.); Clear
Creek riparian restoration
and stream bank project;
fish passage barrier culvert
replacement; development,
funding, and implementa-
tion of the Powder Basin
Streamside Stewardship
Program; replacement of
two fish screens on USFS
managed land; prioritiza-
tion of interest concerning
off-stream livestock water-
ing facilities with partners;
and Council development
and management goals.
BEEF MONTH DRAWING!
We're busy celebrating Beef Month here at
The Baker County Press. Did you know that
between our editorial board, sales staff and
reporters, we have three generations of cattle
ranchers involved in putting out this paper
every week? If you renewed or took out a new
subscription this month, you've already been
entered into a drawing for a free package of
our own tender, juicy, home-grown-in-Baker-
County steak!
Subscribe
between now
and the end of
the month to
be entered!
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
— Weekly Hay Report —
Friday, February 6, 2015 — Eastern Oregon
Prices trended generally steady compared to the
same quality last week. Trade activity and demand
continue to be slow. The good weather in several
areas of Oregon has slowed down demand, as the
pasture grasses are already starting to grow and end
users are being able to turn animals out on pasture
rather than purchase and feed additional hay. Fewer
containers available at the shipping ports has slowed
down the ability to export hay overseas. Several
producers have old all that they plan to sell for this
season.
Eastern Oregon sales reported:
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
Alfalfa - Large Square / Premium
99 225.00-225.00 225.00
Alfalfa/Ochard Mix - Small Square / Good
25 180.00-180.00 180.00
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 557
Steer Calves
300-400# Bulk 325.00 - 366.00 Top 368.00
400-500# Bulk 262.00 - 309.00 Top 318.00
500-600# Bulk 248.00 - 289.00 Top 293.00
Heifer Calves
300-400# Bulk 268.00 - 286.00 Top 291.00
400-500# Bulk 218.00 - 254.00 Top 260.00
500-600# Bulk 211.00 - 228.00 Top 230.00
Yearling Steers
600-700# Bulk 198.00 - 223.00 Top 231.00
700-800# Bulk 186.00 - 200.00 Top 204.50
800-900# Bulk 174.00 - 182.00 Top 186.00
900-1,000# Bulk 167.00 - 178.00 Top 180.00
Yearling Heifers
600-700# Bulk 196.00 - 214.00 Top 215.00
700-800# Bulk 179.00 - 193.00 Top 203.50
800-900# Bulk 173.00 - 177.00 Top 179.00
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Thin Shelly Cows 85.00 - 95.00
Butcher Cows 95.00 - 104.00
Butcher Bulls 98.00 - 117.00
Stock Cows 1375.00 - 1800.00
ProducersLivestock.com
— Log Price Report —
Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon
Delivered to Elgin
Doug Fir / Larch 6”+ $370/m
White Fir/Sp 6”+ $380/m
LPP 6”+ $350/m
Delivered to La Grande
P. Pine 6-11” $290/m
12-17” $340/m
18-23” $390/m
24’+ $420/m
Delivered to Pilot Rock
12-17” $390/m
18-23” $440/m
24’+ $480/m
Delivered pulp
$28/ton to Elgin
$28/ton to La Grande
Courtesy of Arvid Andersen,
Andersen Forestry Consulting
— Precious Metals Report —
Price per ounce, USD
Gold: $1,236.80
Silver: $17.00
Platinum: $1,208.38
Palladium: $769.00
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Corn: $386.50/bu/USD
Wheat: $521.53/bu/USD
Soybeans: $973.50/bu/USD
Oats: $272.50/bu/USD
Rough Rice: $10.22/cwt/USD
Canola: $459.80 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $153.20/lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $202.60/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $66.13/lb./USD
Bloomberg.com