FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Turkey Federation Banquet Nominations
sees record amount raised open for Civic
Leadership
Award
By Todd Arriola
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Around 150 people
gathered together for
the 15h Annual Hunting
Heritage Banquet and
Fundraiser, hosted by the
Baker County Longbeards
Chapter of the National
Wild Turkey Federation
(NWTF), and held at the
Baker City Elks Lodge on
Saturday, February 7.
The banquet was the
most successful one so far
for the Chapter, thanks to
the efforts of Committee
members Bob Reedy, Al
McMillan, Creg Talbott,
Daryl Cockram, Nathan
Hull, Dustin Hull, NWTF
Regional Director Doug
Abfalter of California,
volunteers, sponsors and
the community.
The Longbeards inspired
a lively atmosphere, with
the beginning of social
hour, at 5 p.m. Attendees
had the opportunity to
view the many fundraising
items, 30 of which were
slated for the live auc-
tion, and 18 for the silent
auction. They included
donations and purchased
items. They also had the
opportunity to play differ-
ent games, and there were
many raffl e items, includ-
ing items specifi cally for
the Jakes (members under
17, 22 of whom were pres-
ent).
Regular sponsors for the
fundraiser included Jerry
and Linda McLellan, Brian
and Sharon Martin, Brady
Hill, Nathan Hull of The
Bow Shop, Bob Reedy,
Ray and Ivonne Illing-
sworth of Trader Ray’s,
Dave and Sandy McGuire
of Oregon Trail Restaurant,
and Chris and Donna Hef-
fermen of North Slope Hay
Company.
The table sponsors
included Pattie Vanter-
weile of Triple C Redi-Mix
Inc., Ross Bond of Baker
Electric, Colleen and Wade
Kaseberg of KCMB, and
Pat and Liz Custer of Gen-
try Auto Group.
Dave and Sandy Mc-
Guire and crew of Oregon
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Austin Folkman received a $500 scholarship from the Longbeards.
Trail Restaurant provided
the catering, serving 144
people, buffet style, with
a meal that included
prime rib, baked potatoes,
chicken strips, green salad,
vegetables, french fries,
and pudding.
Reedy emceed the event,
periodically making an-
nouncements about spon-
sors, raffl e items, games,
etc. Reedy called local
Austin Folkman up to the
area by the stage to give
him a $500 scholarship
check, a presentation the
Longbeards make every
year. Standing with Reedy
and Folkman were the
Hulls, McMillan, Talbott
and Cockram.
Reedy introduced Abfal-
ter, and Abfalter, from the
stage, recited the Pledge of
Allegiance along with the
rest of the attendees. Ab-
falter asked the veterans in
the room to stand, and they
were given special coins as
tokens of appreciation for
their service.
Roger Nakashima, from
Payette, Idaho, of Snake
River Auction LLC,
was at the fundraiser as
auctioneer for the many
live auction items. Com-
mittee members displayed
the items to the attendees,
walking around the room
with them, as Nakashima
entertained the crowd and
helped to sell them.
Reedy announced win-
ners of the different games
and raffl es, and one of
these involved a drawing
with roses purchased in or-
der to receive a ticket. For-
ty-eight roses were bought,
and some people improved
their chances by buying
multiple roses, resulting
in multiple tickets. Since
there were many items on
the table, including a pistol
for the fi rst winner, and
hats, knives, and coasters,
to name a few, participants
had plenty of choices.
Reedy drew winners for
the items specifi cally for
the Jakes, including a .22
caliber rifl e, a BB pellet
rifl e, game calls, and a
“Save The Habitat. Save
The Hunt” NWTF sign.
He drew winners for the
regular raffl e items also,
including game calls,
camping chairs, a cooler
and a game blind.
All of the Jakes were
called to the stage later
during the event, and each
one was given a pocket
knife and an NWTF water
bottle, printed with the
motto “Conserve. Hunt.
Share.”
The gross fundraising
total for the banquet was
$27,092, the largest yet,
according to Reedy, along
with the largest attendance
to date. The funds will be
presented to the NWTF,
and dispersed accordingly
at a later date, including
portions back into the local
community for projects,
etc. Because it’s early in
the year, the Longbeards
aren’t currently working on
a conservation project, but
that can soon change.
The NWTF, a nonprofi t
organization founded in
1973, and the leader in
upland wildlife conserva-
tion in North America, is
composed of sportsmen,
women and children dedi-
cated to the conservation
of wild turkeys and the
preservation of the nation’s
hunting heritage, with local
chapters in every state.
The NWTF has spent more
than $412 million to con-
serve almost 17.25 million
acres of habitat.
Bentz comments on current session
On Monday, February
2nd, State Representative
Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario)
joined his 59 legislative
colleagues in the Oregon
House of Representatives
for the reconvening of the
2015 Oregon Legislative
Session. (The Session
convened formally on
January 12th for Organi-
zational Days and then
adjourned until the 2nd of
February).
Rep. Bentz said, “It is an
honor to serve the constitu-
ents of House District 60
for this, my forth elected
term in offi ce. At the top
of my list of priorities
is the protection of our
water rights, improving
our fi re-fi ghting capabili-
ties, fi nding ways to better
manage the damage caused
by drought, and protecting
against the passage of laws
that harm District 60.”
“Also, bringing a height-
ened awareness of the in-
credible opportunities that
Eastern Oregon offers the
State of Oregon remains
one of my most important
goals, along with support-
ing and/or sponsoring the
65 plus bills requested by
my District 60 constitu-
ents.”
Challenges which are
anticipated to be presented
by the Democrat Majority
include: the continuation
of the Low Carbon Fuel
Standard, proposals to
expand fi rearm background
checks, replacing the gas
tax with a vehicle mileage
tax, automatic voter regis-
trations through the DMV,
increasing the minimum
wage, and mandating paid
sick leave for all Orego-
nians.
“I oppose, as I know
most of my constituents
would want me to, many of
my Democrat Colleagues’
concepts. However, I will
need your help if we are to
stop at least some of these
ideas from becoming law.
Contact my offi ce if you
want to be involved.”
Rep. Bentz, except for
infrequent weekend trips
home, will remain in
Salem for the duration of
the 2015 Session, which
will adjourn in late June or
early July.
Republicans to raffle off rifle, handgun
The Baker County
Republican Central Com-
mittee has begun its annual
fi rearms fundraiser, this
year raffl ing off both a rifl e
and pistol at the same time:
a Henry, lever-action 45-70
and the Springfi eld XDS
9mm pistol.
Tickets are $10 each.
Only 500 tickets total
will be sold. To purchase
tickets, contact any Repub-
lican precinct committee
person, this newspaper at
541.519.0572, or Suzan El-
lis Jones at 541.519.5035.
Ace Hardware also has
tickets available, and can
show the guns on display.
Drawing will take place
July 19 during Miners’
Jubilee.
Steve, you’re the rock
I lean on through life’s
storms.
Happy Valentine’s
Day, Suzan!
Love,
Keith
Jake, thanks for being
my sweetheart!
I love you!!!
Tonya
I Love you,
Honey.
from
Your Sweet thing
Love always,
Gina.
Long time eastern Oregon resident Peggi Timm was
the driving force behind the creation of Oregon Trail
Electric Cooperative, serving as the fi rst President of its
Board of Directors.
Peggi went on to serve numerous roles on the Board
and in the greater electric cooperative community, receiv-
ing the Northwest Public Power Association Award for
Outstanding Public Service in 2009. She gave back tire-
lessly to her community, winning the White Rose Award
from the Oregon March of Dimes for women who have
made a signifi cant impact on their communities. Peggi
was named Baker Woman of the Year three times and has
served as Baker County Treasurer and as a City Coun-
cilor. The former President of the Oregon Trail Regional
Museum, she was appointed by the US Department
of the Interior to the National Advisory Board for the
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Peggi
was instrumental in helping to bring many of our local
employers to Eastern Oregon over the years and worked
with state and national leaders to bring the Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center to fruition. Peggi’s commitment to
Eastern Oregon can be seen in almost every facet of the
communities she has so ceaselessly served. Peggi Timm
passed away in 2013.
The 2015 Peggi Timm Civic Leadership Award will be
awarded annually to a woman residing in OTEC’s service
territory who most exemplifi es Peggi’s ceaseless spirit of
volunteerism to improve life in our communities. Empha-
sis will be placed upon recognizing individuals who have
led in the creation, revitalization, and success of local
organizations and institutions.
The Award: OTEC will contribute $25,000 to a quali-
fi ed 501(c)(3) non-profi t organization chosen by the
recipient. The benefi ciary must be based within OTEC’s
service territory. The award will be funded through
OTEC’s unclaimed capital credit account.
The Process: Nominations should be submitted to
OTEC’s Manager of Communications and Government
Affairs by April 1, 2015. Nominations may be made
by an individual or group who wishes to acknowledge
the work of the nominee or by the nominee themselves.
Nomination forms are available online at www.otecc.com
in the “community” tab. Selection of the recipient will be
made by the OTEC Board of Directors at the April Board
Meeting. This year’s award winner will be announced at
the OTEC 2015 Annual Meeting, taking place on May
2nd in John Day, and will be communicated through
OTEC’s News from the Trail Newsletter.
BHS honor roll
announced
Baker High School has announced the honor roll for
the fi rst semester of this school year. Students earning a
grade point average of 3.5 or above are included.
Freshmen: Isabella Evans, Mason Tomac, Josie Ash,
KaeLee Blaylock, Kaylee Burk, Caitlyn Calaway, Emily
Carter, Ashlie Chastain, Augustena Cook, Lisa Finley,
Kaeli Flanagan, Chance Goertzen, Samuel Hamilton, Em-
ily Holm, Carson Lien, Kaylan Mosser, Vicky Ortiz,
Delaney Van Arsdall, Dawson Vanderwiele, Samantha
Vogt, Calli Ward, Khiana White, and Melody Wiegand
Sophomores: *Micah Bradford, *Kourtney Lehman,
*Jared Miller, * Ryan Schwin, Josephine Bryan, Amrie
Christensen, Cheyenne Christensen, Boston Colton,
Zechariah Compos, Logan Dyke,Gracie Huggins, James
Mazzagotte, Marcus Plumley, Elizabeth Rea, Erik Ruby,
Elizabeth VanGaasbeck, Kirsten White.
Juniors: *Makenna Bachman, *Samuel Baxter,
*Megan Burk, *Dylan Chaves, *Porter Cline, *Chris-
topher Conant, *Madison Elms. *Adina Fast, *Koby
Hansen, *Danielle McCauley, * Morgan Scilacci,*Braden
Staebler-Siewell. *Nathaniel Wright, Lena Bowers, Rab
Bowers, Stella Bowers, Raelin Davis, Robinita Davis,
Melissa Foltz. Naomi Forsyth, Jayden Freeman, Rachel
Freeman, Dusty Gyllenberg, Kassidy Hertel, Jennifer
Hoernschemeyer, Wyatt Knadle. Ashley Knoll, Emilie
Kristensen, Lindsay Livingston, Sierra Mastrude, Gracie
McCarrell, Hannah Myers. Hollis Robb, Emily Sandefur,
Bryson Smith,Teancum Taylor, Marco Vela, Autumn
Weideman, Hannah Wilson, Heather Wright.
Seniors: *Kate Averett, *Angelee Calder, *Aria
Carpenter, * Rebekah Compos, *Skye Crabill, *Grant
Ermovick, *Celina Fuzi, *Elizabeth Hardy, *Matea
Huggins, *Michelle Lehman, *Levi Mansuetti, *Taite
Mendenhall, *Tatiana O’Neal,*Anna Payton,* Madison
Richards,* Kaitlyn Sandefur, *Zachary Tomac, Shannon
Allen, Peter Baker, Brooke Bogardus, Michael Brady,
Tobin Brown, Brooke Duby, Caroline Dudley, Austin
Folkman, Michelle Freese, Taylor Gulick, Skyler Hack,
Brian Johnson, Clayton
LeaMaster, Brady Nelson,
Mairyn Owen, Michael
Parsons, Kimberlee Pettit,
Chris, Th ank you
Stephanie Soliz, Kyle
for a loving year!
Srack, Elijah Witham.
Love Kayla
•Denotes a 4.0 grade
point average.