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
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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
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