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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 8, 2015)
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9 Local Rachel Center holds annual Oregon Sniper Baby Bottle fundraiser Challenge CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com Mother’s Day, May 10th, marks the start of the Rachel Crisis Pregnancy Center’s annual Baby Bottle fundraiser. Baby bottles will be distributed to interested persons at local churches this Sunday. Participants are asked to fill the bottles with coins, currency, or a check and return them on Father’s Day, June 21st. Alberta Darlington, Director of the Rachel Crisis Pregnancy Cen- ter, said crisis pregnancy centers across the country run similar fundraisers and reach members of the churches that way. Dar- lington said the Center also has purchased some larger bottles and is going to ask various local stores for permission to place the bottles. She said they certainly don’t want to take away from the money someone has brought to spend at the business, but that if anyone has change they want to give, it all helps. Susie Busch, volun- teer coordinator for the fundraiser, said Baker City is a pretty small town to have this kind of facility. She said it is usually larger towns that can support this type of facility and that all the support people have given the center is much appreciated. Darlington said she is retired, but has no wish to stay at home. She leads classes for women who have had abortions, provides counseling, and oversees operations. She also has provided services outside of working hours, including transportation to doctor’s appointments for mothers and babies with no other means of transporta- tion. Darlington said she has also driven women who had no one else to support them to the hospital to give birth, and has provided whatever support they Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press Alberta Darlington shows one of the large bottles to be placed at a local busi- ness while Lola Langley, who manages the front office, works on flyers to go in the baby bottles. requested, including being present at a birthing. She said she is more than glad to be able to help. The Rachel Center does not charge for any of its services, including clothing for babies and children (sizes stocked for up to about age 12), parent- ing classes, counseling, Bible studies, and diapers. Darlington makes sure that items that go on shelves are in good condition. She said, “If I wouldn’t put it on my grandchild or child, I wouldn’t expect anyone else to use it.” Darlington explained that they are happy to provide services to anyone walking through the door and that there are no required income verifica- tions. “If they’re coming in, we’re assuming there’s a legitimate need.” Services are available for families, teens, foster parents, or anyone else that has questions about parenting or relationships. Pregnancy tests are also offered at no cost. Dar- lington said they provide verification of a positive test and that doctors and social service agencies in the area recognize and ac- cept their verifications. Darlington said the Center hopes to be able to soon offer cooking classes on how to prepare quick meals for children. They would also like to be able to offer sewing classes to teach basic skills such as mending, sewing on buttons, or making some clothing, such as “jam- mies.” Darlington said the community has been quite generous to offer support in fixing up their facil- ity. Recent improvements include a new kitchen in which the cooking classes could take place. Darlington expressed her great appreciation for community donations, say- ing, “It’s how we survive.” Donations include baby and children’s clothing, wipes, baby blankets, and various “baby parapher- nalia.” Ongoing, Darlington said the center is always in need of laundry detergent and cleaning supplies, baby wipes, and baby hygiene items. Anyone who wishes to give a donation to the work of the Rachel Center and does not have the oppor- tunity to do so by other means can mail it in. The Rachel Center also welcomes volunteers. Darlington explained there is always work to do. She said if someone brings in clothes and says they were just washed, “that’s an extra blessing.” Otherwise, everything is washed or cleaned, includ- ing clothes, playpens, high chairs, etc. Some items are mended or repaired to be ready for use. There are also times donations need to be picked up or deliv- ered to those who cannot make it into the Center office. The Rachel Center is located at 2192 Court Av- enue. Hours are Wednes- day to Friday 9-5 (closed between 12 and 1) and the phone number is 541-523- 5357. Darlington said it’s always nice to have people come in to see what’s go- ing on and what the Center can offer the community. Huntington Chamber completes annual May Auction, lunch BY EILEEN DRIVER Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com • EVENT KICKS OFF SPRING/SUMMER SEASON The Annual Huntington Chamber of Commerce May Auction and Cinco de Mayo Lunch was held on Saturday, May 2 in Lion’s Park in Huntington. This event kicks off the spring/summer season and is always much antici- pated. The event’s emcees and auctioneers this year were Conway Lewis, and Cham- ber Secretary and Mayor Travis Young. A delicious lunch of beef enchiladas, chicken quesadillas, Spanish rice, refried beans and green salad was served starting at 11:00 a.m. and included lemonade, ice tea or coffee for only $6 a plate—and no one went away hungry. After eating their fill members of the crowd gathered for the auction to begin at 1:00 p.m. There were many and varied new and used items to be auctioned off. Conway started the after- noon off with, “The Cham- ber appreciates everyone coming here today and we hope you remembered to bring your checkbooks. Now what am I bid for this Bellefleur Queen Comfort- er set donated by Baker Bed & Bath?” The rest of the afternoon went fast and furious with items being sold quickly and with fierce competition on some items. Two of the most heatedly bid-on items were a home- made peanut butter pie and homemade blackberry pie. Other items available were a small organ donated by Candy’s Corner Market in Huntington, one queen- size Memory Foam pillow donated by Eldridge Fur- niture in Ontario, a Shock fishing pole and reel do- nated by Huntington Bait & Tackle, a Movie Night basket from Albertsons in Baker City, a filled flower basket from Safeway in Baker City, T-shirt and cap from Les Schwab in Baker City, Car Cleaning kit rom O’Reilly Auto Parts in Baker City, a green and peach hand-crocheted afghan donated by Bob Witter, a birdhouse from Oregon Trail Landscape, first aid kit from Baker City Pharmacy, Craftsman bit driver set from Sears, three gallons of white ex- terior paint and paint brush set from Sherwin Williams in Ontario, one bird feeder from Andrew Seed in Ontario, a wireless hitch camera from Rocking R in Ontario, six-piece wrench set from Napa in Ontario, 52-piece emergency kit from Les Schwab On- tario, 25 piece screwdriver set from Ace Hardware in Baker City, $20 gift certificate for Betty’s Books in Baker City, two wine stoppers & two wine glasses from Kenney & Keele Ontario, five, $10 gift certificates from Napa in Ontario, two $10 gift certificates for Winger’s Ontario, $30 gift certificate for Red Apple Ontario, a $60 & $40 gift certificates from the Tire Factory in Ontario, two $50 gift certificates from Steve’s Hometown Dealership in Ontario, and a spittoon, platter and bowl donated by Windfall Antiques. The consensus was that the even had a great turnout and very few of the used items were left unsold and none of the new items were left. The Huntington Cham- ber of Commerce wishes to thank all the donators and the buyers for making this years event a big success. All proceeds will be used for Pioneer Days music. Pioneer Days is scheduled this year from August 7th through 9th in Huntington. The event, which began in 2009, has indeed bloomed into an international law enforcement/military sharp- shooting demonstration. Competitors are hand-selected and invited from a pool of submitted letters of interest. Competitors then pay an entry fee of $250, but entries closed April 1 when the 50 slots filled. According to Huisman, “We like mixing it up.” He said this year, some competitors who work in specs ops and counter-terrorism will attend, as well as representa- tives from the FBI and possibly Secret Service. “We have competitors this year from Ireland, Italy, Canada and all across the U.S.,” he added. Huisman himself has been in law enforcement for nearing two decades and lists im- pressive accomplishments such as SWAT sniper instruc- tor and armorer in his credentials. In addition to the 1,000-yard shooting range, Huisman’s attention was drawn to the Baker City area due to fam- ily ties. “My whole family on my mother’s side is from Baker City,” he said. Major rules for the challenge are: .308 caliber rifles only, factory ammunition only (no reloads), muzzle velocity not to exceed 2750 fps (no exceptions)—am- munition with be chronographed, international shooters must obey all ITAR when selecting items off of the prize table, and international shooters must provide their own translator if needed. McCoy said members of the Baker Rural Fire Depart- ment, with Chief Dan Weitz, will be present along with a wildland fire truck just in case a fire is somehow ignited. The winners of two separate raffles, each for a POF 415 rifle, will be announced at the event. The first raffle’s proceeds go to the Warrior Dog Foundation—the second raffle’s proceeds to the Green Berets. Tickets can be pur- chased and more information about the overall event can be found at www.coldboreops.com. The Oregon Sniper Challenge is June 12-14 this year. Friday the 12th will be a day for vendors and sponsors. (The prize table usually holds over $100K in donated prizes.) The public is encouraged to come take a peek at the event from about 10 a.m until 2 p.m. that Friday. “We would love to have the public come out,” invited Huis- man. Competitions will be held the following two days through Saturday and Sunday. Members of the press and public will not be allowed, for obvious safety reasons and to preserve the privacy of the competitors, during the actual training and competi- tion. Though currently held every other year, Huisman said it’s not outside the realm of possibility to turn the compe- tition into an annual event. Payton awarded scholarship Saint Alphonsus Auxiliary- Baker City Scholarship Committee met recently to review scholar- ship applications. Commit- tee members are Marilyn Bloom, Betty Rouse and Peggy Payton. They are awarding $1500 to a Baker County resident who is enrolled in the health care field such as RN, LPN, Radiology, Medical Lab Technician, Physical, Re- Submitted Photo. spiratory or Occupational Therapy or similar areas. Nathan Payton. The student must have at least a college sophomore status by September 2015. This year the scholarship is being awarded to Nathan Payton a 2012 graduate from Baker High School. He is going to Biola University to become a Physician's As- sistant.
