FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015
Classifieds / Local
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
BLM seeks input for
Cold Springs horses
LEGAL NOTICES
Vale, Ore. – The Bureau
of Land Management’s
(BLM) Vale District has
begun the development of
a wild horse gather plan
for the Cold Springs Herd
Management Area (HMA)
and is asking the public for
their input.
The Vale District will
prepare an Environmental
Assessment that will ana-
lyze the return of the wild
horse population of the
Cold Springs HMA to the
Appropriate Management
Level (AML).
The Cold Springs HMA
is made up of nearly
30,000 acres and is about
30 miles south of Juntura,
Oregon near Star Moun-
tain.
The AML for the Cold
Springs HMA is a range
of 75 to 100 wild horses.
The goal of this project is
to return the wild horse
population to the estab-
lished AML and to protect
rangeland resources,
including essential greater
sage-grouse habitat from
damage caused by over-
population.
The Vale District
determined the need for
this plan due to intensive
monitoring over several
years involving studies of
grazing, range condition,
actual use, precipitation,
weather and other factors.
“Precipitation has been
poor and forage has suf-
fered as a result,” said Don
Gonzalez, Vale District
BLM District Manager.
“If you combine that with
fire damage over the last
several years throughout
the District, you create a
precarious situation for
these horses.”
Aerial monitoring in
July 2014 found that there
were 213 wild horses.
Assuming a population
growth rate of 20 percent,
the population is now
expected to be in excess of
250 wild horses.
By summer of this year,
this number of horses will
exceed the forage allocated
for their use by 40 percent.
Damage to forage and
plants have been docu-
mented in areas of concen-
trated wild horse.
In 2013 and 2014, field
observations also docu-
mented low water avail-
ability, with large concen-
trations of horses observed
around severely limited
water sources.
“We want to see the
horses and the rangelands
thrive,” said Gonzalez.
“We’re hoping that this
process will make that
possible, and we’re hoping
for constructive ideas and
comments during the scop-
ing period.”
Comments are being
accepted through May 29,
2015, and information is
available at:
http://www.blm.gov/or/
districts/vale/plans/plans-
details.php?id=3164
5J: Board hears resignations, new hires, awards
• BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETS
JUST BEFORE
GENERAL SCHOOL
BOARD MEETING
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker School
District 5J held a budget
meeting and a Board of
Directors meeting Tuesday,
May 19, 2015, in the North
Conference Room of the
District office, 2090 4th
Street.
Budget Committee
Meeting.
Present for the budget
meeting, held at 5 p.m.,
were Andrew Bryan, Board
Chair; Kevin Cassidy,
Board Vice Chair; Betty
Palmer, Interim Super-
intendent; Doug Dalton,
CFO/Business Manager;
Melissa Irvine, Budget
Committee Chair; Mike
Rudi, Budget Commit-
tee Vice Chair; Richard
McKim, Board Member;
Autumn Swiger-Harrel,
Budget Board Member;
Rusty Munn, Budget
Committee Member; and
Elen Dentinger, Acting
Secretary.
Attendees included Su-
perintendent Walt Wegener
and Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest Whit-
man District Ranger Jeff
Tomac.
Irvine called the meet-
ing to order, and Dalton
discussed the economic
forecast, stating that for
2016-2017, $290,000 in
additional funding would
probably be available to
the School District.
Wegener mentioned
some possible grants and
other sources of additional
funding that could become
available.
Bryan asked Dalton
about the PERS (Public
Employees Retirement
System) situation, and
Dalton said that it looks
negative, with completely
unexpected legislation that
affects benefits.
He said there would
be increased costs going
forward, while retirees are
still owed funds, and the
cost to the District could
be around $790,000.
Munn referenced Palm-
er’s Budget Statement at
the budget meeting last
week, and explained that
the four-day week was
originally implemented
because of funding issues.
A resolution regarding
the permanent tax rate
of $4.6051 per $1,000 of
assessed taxable prop-
erty within the district was
approved, as well as the
2015-2016 School budget.
Board Meeting.
The Board meeting was
called to order at 6 p.m. by
Bryan, followed shortly by
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present were Bryan,
Cassidy, Palmer, Dalton,
Irvine, McKim, Dentinger,
and outgoing Baker High
School (BHS) Student
Body President Bailey
Hill. Around 20 people
attended the meeting.
There were several
presentations made at the
beginning of the meeting,
the first one from Palmer
to Linda and Tim Collins,
and Chelsea McLaughan,
in recognition of the part-
nership of Anthony Lakes
Mountain Resort to the
School District, with the
“Ski For The Health Of It”
program. Palmer said that
this year, 160 students had
enrolled in the program,
the highest number so far.
Bryan introduced Hill,
then asked Baker High
School Principal Ben
Merrill to say a few words
about leadership and Hill’s
role and experience at the
school.
Merrill said that Hill
was chosen as Promise
of Baker Student of the
Month in January, and
spoke about his courage,
determination and future,
and praised not only Hill
for his efforts, but also
next year’s incoming
President, Bryson Smith.
Palmer presented Hill with
a certificate in recognition
of his outstanding efforts,
and he thanked the group,
then introduced Smith.
Keating School Head
Teacher Kathi Shaw pre-
sented Lacy Churchfield
the award for Promise
of Baker Student of the
Month for May, in recogni-
tion of her efforts writing
an Ellis Island-themed
essay in honor of the 125th
anniversary of both Ellis
Island and the Daughters
of the American Revolu-
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Kathi Shaw of Keating presents Lacy Churchfield the award for promise student of the month for May.
tion (DAR). Churchfield
received a 1st place
District medal and $50 in
March from Joan Smith
and Cherlyne Allen of the
Lone Pine Tree Chapter of
DAR, and she also placed
1st at the State contest this
month for the 5th grade
level, Shaw said.
Beth Bigelow next
spoke about Sue Richard,
who’s retiring from her
position as Haines 5th/6th
Grade Teacher. Bigelow
talked about first meet-
ing Richard, and about
their positive experiences
and Bigelow’s major ac-
complishments, and then
Bigelow read a poem in
honor of Richard, titled
“A Tribute To A Teacher.”
Bigelow also read a quote,
which said, “Don’t cry
because it’s over; smile
because it happened.”
Palmer spoke about
South Baker School Para
Professional Diane Davis,
who also is retiring. Palm-
er talked about Davis’s
career, her performance,
and her personal life, and
had high praise for Davis,
noting her humor, kind-
ness, thoughtfulness, and
caring attitude.
Bryan mentioned others
retiring, but not present, in-
cluding Jan Bonn, Brook-
lyn Music Teacher; Kim
Virtue, Baker High School
Student Services; and
Carolyn Crawford, Baker
Middle School Guidance
Secretary.
The Board next approved
the meeting agenda, and
the minutes from the April
21, 2015 regular Board
meetings.
Bryan then mentioned
a classified new hire, Bus
Driver Linda Rudy.
Hill gave a BHS report,
including school sports and
clubs events and accom-
plishments, including the
recent Mr. BHS competi-
tion, FBLA elections,
and for the first time, a
country-themed dance to
be held next Friday at the
Baker County Fairgrounds.
The Board discussed the
June Board meeting date,
and decided on Tuesday,
June 23.
Julie Gentry was present
during the public com-
ment segment to discuss
her concerns about the
5th/6th grade size class at
Haines, and she suggested
more staff to address the
issue. Palmer responded
to Gentry that according
to policy, the class size-to-
teacher ratio is proper.
Action Item 1 was
approved by the Board,
which includes:
Administration Hires are
Nanette Lehman, South
Baker Principal; Chris
Carmiencke, Baker Middle
School Principal; and
Molly Smith, VP/Math
Coach.
On the list of Certified
Resignations are The-
resa Dee, South Baker
4th Grade Teacher; Seth
Bingham, Baker High
School FFA/Ag Teacher;
and Brianna Ellis, South
Baker Developmental 4th
Grade Teacher.
Annetta Evans, Haines
5th/6th Grade Teacher,
is listed as a Certified
Transfer.
Certified New Hires
are Amy Younger, South
Baker 4th Grade Teacher;
Skye Flanagan, South
Baker 4th Grade Teacher;
Dana Marlia, Haines Pre-K
and .5 Special Education
Teacher; Thomas Joseph,
Baker High School Lan-
guage Arts Teacher; Aysha
Vidales, .6 English Learner
Teacher for the District;
Cynthia Stevens, Haines .5
5th/6th Grade Teacher; and
Bibiana Giff, Baker High
School/BTI Ag Science
Instructor/FFA Advisor.
Marcy Osborn, Baker
Middle School Volleyball
Coach, is listed as the
Extra-Duty Resignation.
Extra-Duty New Hires
are Shawn Simpson, Baker
High School Head Vol-
leyball Coach; Kristen
Ruston, Baker High School
Girls Soccer Coach; and
Brent Gyllenberg, Baker
High School Head Boys
Basketball Coach.
Action Item 2, Resolu-
tion 15-09, Oregon State
School Fund, was dis-
cussed by the Board. Ac-
tion Item 2 was approved.
Action Item 3 was
approved, the Second
Reading of Policies:
EBCB-Emergency Drills;
GBDA-Mother Friendly
Workplace; GBM-Staff
Complaints; JHCD-Non-
prescription Medication;
and JHCDA-Prescription
Medication, with JFG-
Student Searches omitted
from the list.