10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015
Local
Greater Bowen Valley Fire Overton edges
out Bonebrake
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Keith Jensen, who is
the current Assistant Fire
Chief, said this volunteer
department started about
seven years ago after presi-
dent and firefighter Cal
Foster’s log home burned.
“The first thing was we
needed funding,” Jensen
said. Jensen’s wife, Janet,
turned to her mother, Ida
Chastain, who wrote out a
check for around $80,000,
which covered the con-
struction of the actual fire
department’s building.
Rancher Wade Simp-
son donated the three or
so acres upon which that
building sits, according to
Jensen.
Foster recalled the inci-
dent that sparked his idea
to form this group of rural
volunteers.
On a crisp October 4th
day, Foster said, “Our
house caught fire. We
immediately called 911,
but 15 minutes later, she
(Dispatch) called back in
tears. There was no one to
come.”
The Fosters’ home was
located outside any exist-
ing volunteer rural fire
protection area, and well
outside the area serviced
by any paid fire depart-
ment.”
This tragedy started the
wheels turning in Foster’s
head, until some time later
he pulled his first group of
firefighters together. “At
that time,” he said, “Dale
Curtis was Chief and Bev
White was our secretary.
We had Don Copley and
Keith Jensen—and my
son Cameron who since
moved. We had Dave and
Diana Downing. Dave is
still on the Board.”
Jensen explained that
much of the department’s
equipment consists of
“hand-me-downs.” Their
newest truck was donated
from the City of Enter-
prise, which had just pur-
chased a brand new one.
Larry Solisz, Captain
of the Baker Rural Fire
Department said Satur-
day’s open house was
about “a new Chief and
new support.” He added,
“People have really all
come together for this–it’s
a big effort.”
Devlin agrees. He ad-
dressed the crowd of over
50, and introduced Foster,
with members Penny Dev-
lin, Steve Ritch, and David
Downing.
“We have nine certified
firefighters right now,” he
said. “They are all active.
Every time I put out the
call, seven to nine show
up.”
Two new volunteers
signed up during the open
house.
“They do over 100 hours
of training in their first
year,” Devlin said. “That’s
60-70 hours in the Acad-
emy.” The other hours are
logged on the ground dur-
ing real-life situations.
Foster says only four or
five serious calls come in
per year, but pointed to a
recent cabin fire this year.
He also mentioned a car
fire that occurred right in
front of the station.
Prior to the event, Tom
Ruzich of Cutter’s Edge
presented a “housewarm-
ing gift” —a saw, to the
group. Devlin says they’ll
get to go to Cutter’s Edge
and train on its use soon.
The open house also
marked Wildfire Commu-
nity Preparedness Day—
May 2 this year. The day is
meant to encourage ways
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
New Chief Jim Devlin and Baker Rural Fire’s Captain Larry Solisz.
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative held its 27th Annual
Membership Meeting on May 2rd at the Grant County
Fairgrounds in John Day. Members were in attendance
to hear from OTEC Board President Greg Howard and
General Manager Werner Buehler on the state of their
electric cooperative.
Mr. Howard highlighted the clean audit OTEC re-
ceived in 2014 as well as the steps the OTEC Board and
Management have taken to ensure the excellent financial
health of the electric cooperative. Mr. Buehler discussed
the challenges and opportunities OTEC will face in
the future from the Bonneville Power Administration,
increased distributed generation, and new technologies
while working to keep electric rates low.
The OTEC Board Election results were announced:
George “Austin” Bingaman (position 4) of Union
County was re-elected with 3,164 votes.
Wayne Overton (position 5) of Baker County was
elected with 1,844 votes, defeating Aletha Bonebrake
also of Baker County who received 1,671 votes.
Gary Miller (position 6) of Grant County was re-elect-
ed with 3,061 votes.
The proposed bylaw revision was approved and passed
by the membership.
The 3rd Annual Peggi Timm Civic Leadership Award
was presented to Di Lyn Larson-Hill of La Grande. Di
Lyn selected the Union County Friday Backpack Pro-
gram a non-profit 501(c)3 to receive the $25,000 dona-
tion, made available through earnings on unclaimed
capital credits.
Di Lyn was honored for her incredible leadership and
commitment to Union County and Eastern Oregon. Di
Lyn served on the La Grande city council, was mayor
pro tem and then elected mayor. Along with her work in
creating Maz Square in downtown La Grande, Di Lyn
served as president of multiple organizations includ-
ing the League of Oregon Cities, the La Grande Library
Foundation and Soroptimists International.
In 2006, she was named Woman of the Year by the
Union County Chamber of Commerce and has served as
chair for many philanthropic pursuits including the Union
County Festival of Trees (which she introduced to the
community in 1983), the Capitol Fundraising Campaign
for the Cook Memorial Library, the La Grande Skate
Park, and the Veterans Memorial Pool, among others.
The winner of the ballot drawing for the flat screen TV
was Cory Braseth of La Grande.
Mail thief arrested
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Trevor Lewis from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest shows off wildfire
strategy pilot project posters for the East Face of the Elkhorn Mountains.
Michael Counts, age 28 from G Street in Baker City,
is located securely behind bars in the Baker County Jail
after being arrested for mail theft.
Deputy Gabe Maldonado made the arrest after pulling
over Counts, who was driving erratically and turned with-
out signalling. Dozens of pieces of mail were found in
Counts’ vehicle from multiple addresses. The addresses
seemed to be centered on the areas spanning Highway 86,
West Campbell Loop and others.
The thefts did include ballots, so please contact the
County Clerk’s office if you believe your ballot is miss-
ing. All ballots should have arrived in the mail by now.
The Sheriff’s Department did return the stolen pieces of
mail that were in the vehicle to their rightful owners.
Mail theft is a Class C Felony and possible Federal
offense.
County to observe
National Prayer Day
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Allen Jensen, Jim Devlin and Tabbitha Jensen demonstrate the free fire/smoke
detector program available.
to protect homes, neigh-
borhoods and communities
from future wildfire risk or
current post-fire impacts.
Free giveaway items,
including a fire detector
program, were available.
Chris Galiszewski
manned a table to demon-
strate the County’s Reverse
911 system that notifies
residents of emergencies.
According to Gary Timm
of Baker County Emer-
gency Management, the
system is set to automati-
cally include land lines,
but those with cell phones
need to contact Emergency
Management or the Fire
Department to sign up.
Firefighters with the
WWNF had a display of
posters regarding the wild-
fire strategy pilot project
for the East Face of the
National Day of Prayer is a federal holiday celebrated
May 7, 2015, this year. Bill Harvey, Chair of the Baker
County Board of Commissioners issued the follow-
ing statement: “Believing that God himself created our
Country and gave us the freedom to pray and worship
that which is greater than ourselves, I ask that you join
me, this May 7th for our nation’s National Day of Prayer,
in coming together to pray for our Nation, State, County
and our communities. Let us also pray for our men and
women in our armed forces who have answered our
country’s call to serve. Please also give thanks to the
service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice
defending liberty and freedom. I, now with a grateful
heart, do hereby proclaim, May 7th as National Day
of Prayer in Baker County.”
Powder River Music
Review seeks partner
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Tom Ruzich (seated) of Cutter’s Edge donated this
rotary rescue saw as a surprise house warming gift.
Elkhorn Mountains. Trevor
Lewis and Willy Crip-
pen explained the project.
Lewis said the effort will
combine several agen-
cies—including volunteer
rural ones such as Greater
Bown Valley—to help pro-
tect “State, Federal lands
and private land.”
The explanation, howev-
er, was interrupted by Zach
Shively and Smokey the
Bear a.k.a. Scott Shively,
who later changed out of
the costume.
Baker City Events/Powder River Music Review
(BCE/PRMR) is looking for local charitable organiza-
tions who would like to partner with BCE/PRMR concert
series to raise funds for their organization.
BCE/PRMR has lined up musicians for the summer
concert series and is seeking sponsor to cover concert
expenses. The name of the chosen organization and the
concert sponsor will be listed in advertising and press
releases, invited to display their banner and have a com-
mercial break at the concert. If interested in being a re-
cipient organization or for more information call Lynette
at 541-519-5653.
Powder River Music Review was awarded the Musical
Event of The Year Award for 2014 by Oregon Festival
and Events Association at their convention held March 3
this year in Seaside, Oregon.
Email to lynettedperry@gmail.com for more informa-
tion.