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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2015)
Students enter Battle of the Books —Page 12 Elks Eye Poster Contest Winners —Page 4 The Baker County Press Friday, March 20, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 12 Th eBakerCountyPress.com • Your local weekly news source! 75¢ LOCAL NEWS: HEADLINE STORIES • LOCAL ARTICLES • OUTDOORS • AGRICULTURE • CLASSIFIEDS Wyden’s town hall THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN Ash appointed Sheriff SENATOR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS, PROMOTES NEW TRADE ACT Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Baker City Mayor Kim Mosier introduced Sen. Ron Wyden to the audience. Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press County Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Harvey shakes the hand of Lt. Travis Ash after announcing his appointment as interim Sheriff Wednesday. By Todd Arriola Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners welcomed a full house once again on Wednesday, March 18, at the regular bi-monthly session at the Baker County Courthouse, as the decision was made to appoint Lieutenant Tra- vis Ash as interim Baker County Sheriff, effective May 1. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioner Mark Bennett, Commissioner Tim Kerns, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Sheriff applicant Patrol Deputy John Hoopes was also present, along with other personnel including those in County and City positions, and members of the public. The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m., followed shortly thereafter by the Pledge of Allegiance, and the optional Invocation, both led by Harvey. The agenda was then adopted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Harvey explained the Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press process for the appoint- ment of Sheriff, saying, “We’re going to ask each one of the Commissioners to give their choice for the appointment, and then, in their own words, describe how they came to the deci- sion.” Bennett was fi rst to dis- cuss his decision. See NEW SHERIFF / Page 9 This citizen protested the Obama Administration during Wyden’s arrival. Another protest was also present in the parking lot. By Kerry McQuisten News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Last Saturday morning democratic U.S. Senator Ron Wyden arrived in Baker City to hold a town hall at the Senior Center as part of this year’s annual tour. The group of around 65 citizens who arrived to hear him speak, and two separate protests—one involving a giant balloon from Fight for the Future against the Trans- Pacifi c Partnership—made for a busy parking lot. See WYDEN / Page 5 McCarty victorious COUNTY LOSES LAWSUIT AGAINST COLUMBIA BASIN HELICOPTER By Brian Addison Brian@TheBakerCountyPress.com Submitted Photo. Above: This Huey is owned by Columbia Basin Helicopter, which provides services to the ag industry. Friday Mostly clear and sunny with temperatures in the high 60s. 40% chance of rain showers overnight with lows in the mid 40s. Saturday 40% chance of rain showers, otherwise mostly clear in the later parts of the day. Highs in the low 50s. Low at night around 26. Sunday A wealth of sunshine with highs in the upper 50s. Partly cloudy and cool at night, warmer than the night before though. Lows around 35. The court case Baker County versus David McCarty and his business Columbia Basin Helicop- ter was resolved when on March 6, 2015, Oregon Circuit Court Judge Ron- ald Pahl handed down a decision in favor of Mc- Carty and his agricultural helicopter business. At issue was whether or not McCarty should be allowed to conduct his commercial helicopter business on property zoned as Rural Residential within the Baker County land use ordinance. Baker County offi cials agreed that McCarty could fl y on his own property for agricultural purposes such as seeding, fertilizing, and weed spraying. The issue arose how- ever when Baker County interpreted the land use ordinance to disallow operation of McCarty’s commercial aerial spraying business. Within the trial docu- ments the County said they’d received numerous complaints from neighbor- ing property owners about the noise of the helicopters and about semi-trucks hauling tanker fuel and other chemicals in and out of the property. See McCARTY / Page 3 Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Partial summary judgement granted in Langrell case By Kerry McQuisten News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Umatilla County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Pahl entered a ruling Friday, March 13 in favor of partial summary judgement for plaintiffs Richard and Lynne Langrell. The Langrells fi led suit against the City of Baker City about a year ago, claiming the City charged double sewer and water rates for the motel they own, The Always Welcome Inn. The Judge made the following fi ndings and conclu- sions: “1. 3 March 1998, Richard and Lynne Langrell signed an agreement. They agreed to pay double for their water and sewer because they were outside the City Limits. “2. In February 2005, Consent to Annexation was signed by Plaintiffs and Defendant. The agreement was silent on sewer and water rates. The Defendant had pre- pared the Consent to Annexation agreement. “3. Plaintiffs did not agree to pay double for utilities. “4. Double rates have been charged and Plaintiffs have paid $39,435.89.” See LANGRELL / Page 8 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Turn the Page Used Books Reopens The Outdoor Column: Fishing! Halfway’s Lagoon Project Oath Keepers: World Gone Crazy Radio Public Arts Commission Meets Halfway Crab Feed Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 7 8 9 10 11
