HAINES: Fundraiser brings in $8,000 toward
annual fireworks. PAGE 8
BUSINESS: Small Business Development
Center revitalizes services. PAGE 3
The
Baker County Press
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Friday, May 22, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 21
Haggen opens its doors
• CAMPBELL ST.
ALBERTSONS NOW
A LOCAL MEMORY
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last Friday, the Albert-
sons store on Campbell
Street became a thing of
the past as the recent pur-
chase by Haggen reached
its fi nal step.
Thursday afternoon the
Haggen sign appeared in
the parking lot, with crews
arriving to install the new
signage during the night.
Haggen’s Public Rela-
tions representative Darcy
Hagin says the company
is giving away money to
the community in celebra-
tion. One $1,000 nonprofi t
recipient has already been
selected, with more details
to come.
Said Hagin, “Haggen
will partner with four local
non-profi ts and donate 2%
of sales to four additional
organizations on four
consecutive Saturdays. So
there are other opportuni-
ties ahead. There are a few
ways your audience can
reach out to Haggen about
their organizations and
ask for support: Visit the
Haggen website and fi ll out
the Online Partner Inquiry
form at http://www.hag-
gen.com/grow-community/
our-local-community/;
talk to the store manager
about their organization.
Store managers play a
key role in deciding about
where to allocate funds for
donations; and attend the
community meeting on
June 30th and introduce
themselves to the members
of the Haggen team that
attend.”
That community event
mentioned is Tuesday,
June 30, 5-6 p.m. at the
Baker County Conference
& Event Center, in Baker
City.
The signs aren’t the only
changes. Crews worked
into the afternoon on
Friday the fi fteenth to re-
model parts of the inside of
the store,which opened two
hours ahead of schedule
that day.
SEE HAGGEN PAGE 9
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Crews worked after dark to hang signs last
Thursday, and continued to the interior of the store,
which opened last Friday afternoon.
Human
trafficking in
the spotlight
RENOWNED PUBLIC LANDS EXPERT SPEAKS TO FULL HOUSE
• SOROPTIMISTS HOLD SEMINAR,
FUNDRAISER TO FIGHT GROWING ISSUE
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Brian Addison / The Baker County Press
Fred Kelly Grant, the Idaho attorney responsible for asserting the legal process of local coordination with
federal agencies, speaks during the Forest Access for All annual banquet May 16 at the Sunridge Inn.
SEE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PAGE 5
Fred Kelly Grant, Rep. Kerry
White come to FAFA event
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
“Thank God Baker
County is fi nally, after all
these years, at that place
where you’re ready to use
the process (coordination)
that cannot lose,” said
property rights attorney
Fred Kelly Grant Satur-
day evening at the second
annual Forest Access for
All (FAFA) Banquet. “I’ve
been here seven times over
the years. I’m so glad that
the commissioners are fi -
nally going to do what the
people are entitled to—and
that is to represent their
interests in regard to in-
teracting with the Federal
government.”
He added, “I will venture
to say that every other
county in eastern Oregon
will be watching you.”
Grant addressed guests
from Idaho and Montana,
as well as attendees from
Oregon spanning Baker,
Umatilla, Wallowa and
Grant counties.
Montana State Rep-
resentative Kerry White
attended, as did Grant
County Sheriff Glenn
Palmer, Wallowa County
Commissioner Paul
Castilleja, Sumpter Mayor
Melissa Findley, Baker
County Republican Chair
Suzan Ellis Jones, former
Klamath County Commis-
sioner Dennis Linthicum,
and Baker County Com-
missioner Mark Bennett
and Baker County Com-
mission Chair Bill Harvey.
SEE FAFA BANQUET
PAGE 10
Friday
Scattered rain showers and variable cloudiness.
Highs around 70 degrees, chance of precipita-
tion is 60% Highs in the high 40s.
Saturday
Scattered clouds with the lingering chance of a
shower to pop up. Highs in the upper 60s. Lows
in the mid 40s.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with a chance for a thunderstorm
or two, any thunderstorm will be strong. Chance
of precipitation is 30%, highs in the upper 60s.
It is not a pleasant subject— human traffi cking.
“We were nervous about the turnout, hoping for a good
crowd and we were pleased. Very informative,”said
Soroptimist Diane Bloomer. “It’s not a subject we like to
discuss or even think about.”
Last Thursday evening a crowd of over 100 met at an
event hosted by Soroptimists International to raise aware-
ness of the epidemic, which many seem to connect only
to foreign countries.
Human traffi cking happens in the United States, too.
Young girls and even boys are kidnapped or otherwise
coerced into a seedy life, bought and sold for unsavory
reasons. With the age of technology it happens all too
often. 13 is the average age for victims.
Keynote speaker Mike Stradley, a lieutenant with the
West Linn Police Department who served 30 years with
the Portland Police Department addressed the guests at
the Elks Lodge.
Voters
reject 1-63
• COUNTY NONPARTISAN INITIATIVE
DEFEATED BY OVER 200 VOTES
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
FAFA president Tork Ballard (left) receives a $2,500
donation from CBU members Montana State Rep.
Kerry White and Ben Erickson of CBU.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
1-63, the initiative spearheaded by Randy Joseph and
supported by the political committee “Baker County
People over Politics” (Randy Joseph, Kate Rohner, Elliot
Averett, Sharon Defrees, Mary Jane Guyer and Hayden
Perkins) was defeated Tuesday night. 1-63 was opposed
by the Baker County Republicans.
The margin of 211 votes means no automatic recount
will occur. The initiative, which would have converted
Baker County’s three County commissioner’s seats to
nonpartisan, received 1,842 votes in favor, and 2,053
against. About 9,900 ballots were sent out.
In other election results, Andrew Bryan defeated op-
ponent Austin Mitchell, 1,556 to 912 with 18 write-ins for
the 5J School Board. Chris Hawkins and Melissa Irvine
both ran unopposed for their positions, garnering 2,069
and 2,110 votes respectively.
SEE ELECTION RESULTS PAGE 5
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Big Chief’s BBQ opens
Preparedness: EMPs, wild edibles
5J: Budget, Board meetings
Swim team results
County Commissioners coverage
Huntington: Lion’s Park makeover
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