WALK THE MOON: Billboard Top 100
band ‘stranded’ in Baker City . PAGE 3
The
MOTHER’S DAY: Local businesses send their
greetings! PAGES 2, 13, 14.
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Friday, May 8, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 19
‘Mysteries at the Museum’
crew films in Baker City
• SEGMENT MAY
AIR ON TRAVEL
CHANNEL
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
About six weeks ago, a
fi lm crew, now confi rmed
to be from the Travel
Channel’s popular show,
“Mysteries at the Mu-
seum,” fi lmed in Baker
City—at least in part at the
Baker Heritage Museum.
Lea Hoover, the Muse-
um’s new director, said due
to a nondisclosure clause
in the contract, she was
unable to comment for the
time being.
A potential air date for
the segment shot here is
still pending.
Housed in the his-
toric 1920 natatorium, the
museum displays a rich
history, certainly in keep-
ing with the theme of that
show. Host, Don Wildman,
explores museums around
the country, “Often strange
and curious remnants of
the momentous events
that have shaped our his-
tory,” according to the
Travel Channel’s web site.
“Behind each artifact is yet
another story to be told and
secret to be revealed —
tales brimming with scan-
dal, mystery, murder and
intrigue,” the site reads.
The Baker Heritage
Museum is open seven
days a week, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. and includes a new
display honoring those
who served.
Kerry McQuistem / The Baker County Press
Notice from the Travel Channel is pending as to
when or if a segment shot at the local Baker
Heritage Museum will air soon.
50 of
world’s top
snipers to
compete
• BAKER CITY WILL HOST THIS YEAR’S
OREGON SNIPER CHALLENGE
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press
L-R back: Dave Downing, Brent Kragness, Keith Jensen, Penny Devlin, Allen Jensen, Tabbitha Jensen, Cal
Foster, Don Copley, Chris Galiszewski, and Steve Ritch. Front L-R: Jim Devlin, Gabriel Jensen and Rick
Badgley.
Greater Bowen Valley
welcomes new fire chief
SEE OREGON SNIPER PAGE 9
• OPEN HOUSE MARKS RENEWAL OF
AREA’S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Dance of
the 5J
principals
BY KERRY MCQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Greater Bowen Valley Fire and Rescue is proof
that a small group of dedicated citizens can achieve great
things.
On Saturday, volunteers and staff from Baker County
Emergency Management, the Baker City Fire Department
(BCFD), Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Bureau
of Land Management (BLM), the Wallowa-Whitman Na-
tional Forest (WWNF), Baker Rural Fire, Powder River
Rural Fire, Haines Rural Fire, and Richland Rural Fire
came together at the Greater Bowen Valley fi re station on
Sumpter Stage Highway to celebrate a grand reopening
of sorts, including a brand new Fire Chief, Jim Devlin.
According to Devlin, Tabbitha Jensen of both Greater
Bowen Valley Fire and Rescue and the BCFD, was
instrumental in organizing the event—the group’s fi rst of
its type.
“Tabbitha has been working on this since December or
January,” Devlin said. “It’s never been done before. All
the guys and gals put in a ton of effort and everybody
pitched in.”
Jensen’s husband, Allen, is a volunteer, as are her in-
laws, Keith and Janet Jensen.
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Zach Shively (left) and Scott Shively of the WWNF
hang out with Smokey the Bear.
Partly sunny with a high around 55-58 and a
slight chance of isolated thunderstorms. North-
west winds around 10-20 mph. Lows 32-35.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with a high around 62-66. North-
west winds around 10-20 mph with gusts up to
30 mph. Lows near 35.
Sunday
Mostly sunny with a high around 68-72. North-
west winds around 8-16 mph. Lows 33-35 and
partly cloudy at night.
Betty Palmer, former Principal at South Baker Inter-
mediate, is currently acting as interim Superintendent of
Schools until Mark Witty formally takes the position in
July.
Since the position of South Baker’s Principal became
open, there has been a cascade of changes. Qualifi ed
individuals from both inside and out of Baker County
applied for the position, with the successful applicant be-
ing Teacher of the Year 2013, Nanette Lehman. Lehman
has been teaching in the area since moving here with her
family in 2006.
SEE PRINCIPALS PAGE 12
SEE GREATER BOWEN VALLEY FIRE PAGE 10
Friday
The men who may very well be the top 50 snipers in the
entire world are coming to Baker City next month for the
Oregon Sniper Challenge—an event that tests the mettle
of the best of the best.
The challenge takes place every other year, aided by
heavy sponsorship—with past promotion even including
a vignette for the National Rifl e Association’s “American
Warrior” magazine.
The Powder River Sportsman’s Club (PRSC) on High-
way 86, led by president Dave McCoy, will host the chal-
lenge. PRSC is one of only three ranges in Oregon with
the capacity to shoot up to 1,000 yards.
That 1,000-yard range, said McCoy, was a key factor in
drawing the event to Baker City.
“Steve Huisman,” said McCoy, “contacted Buck Buck-
ner who contacted me. And it went from there.”
Huisman heads up Cold Bore Ops, a Portland-area
company.
“This event should be good for tourism,” said McCoy.
“This is an international event. The winner last time was
from Ireland.”
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
FAFA refl ects on USFS meetings
Locals travel to Sugar Pine Mine
Sheriff Ash sworn in
Rachel Center Baby Bottle fundraiser
OTEC: Overton edges out Bonebrake
911 Dispatch changes leaders
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