OUTDOORS: Forest Access for All members
go on D-Day ride. PAGE 7
The
LOCAL: Hughes Lane three-vehicle accident
update. PAGE 12
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Friday, June 12, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 24
Local pilot escapes
crash uninjured
• MECHANICAL
FAILURE LIKELY
CAUSE OF CRASH
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On the sunny Sunday
morning of May 31, sea-
soned pilot Troy Woydziak
of Baker Aircraft was busy
hauling his fi rst load of the
day up to the Minam River
Lodge, not yet knowing he
was in for one intense ride.
Woydziak had been hired
to carry logs up to the
lodge, which is undergoing
some improvements.
His helicopter, a UH –
1H, had a 150- foot-long
line on a load of nine, 24
foot logs weighing
2,000 pounds on the end of
the hook.
In moments, Woydziak
said, “I felt a loud vibra-
tion and heard a howling
sound coming from the
transmission area of the
helicopter. I immediately
dropped the logs into the
fi eld from a height of about
15 feet and looked at the
master caution light to see
if I had any warnings. I did
not. I immediately lowered
the collective and started
a descent into a fl at open
fi eld with trees.”
As fate would have it, a
gardener some yards away
was watering his newly
planted garden.
SEE CRASH PAGE 5
Submitted Photo.
The skids were broken after this helicopter came down hard near the Minam
River Lodge.
Walden’s
local staff
changes
• KIRBY GARRETT
PROMOTED TO D.C.
POSITION, JORDEN
NOYES ASSUMES
LA GRANDE OFFICE
ROLE
BY BRIAN ADDISON
Brian@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Submitted Photo.
Brian Addison/ The Baker County Press
SEE WALDEN STAFF PAGE 5
Valedictorian Zach Tomac addresses the crowd and his fellow classmates under a hot sun.
Class of 2015 graduates
• 109 GRADUATES
AWARDED HIGH
SCHOOL DIPLOMAS
BY BRIAN ADDISON
Brian@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Baker High School
awarded high school
diplomas to 109 gradu-
ates of the Class of 2015
under bright sunny skies
and unseasonably warm
temperatures Sunday, June
7 within Bulldog Memorial
Stadium.
The Class of 2015 held
28 students graduating
with academic honors.
Valedictorian Zachary
Tomac began his com-
mencement speech by
remember fallen classmate
Joe Davis who succumbed
last year to complications
associated with Multiple
Sclerosis.
Tomac read a poem
written about Joe recog-
nizing him for possessing
Friday
the spirit of a lion and the
patience of a lamb, a fi erce
determination, expressive
eyes, and referring to him
as “our hero.”
Tomac spoke of lessons
learned including the stan-
dard of class set by Baker
High School students, for
learning to work in groups,
and for having the skill
of improvisation instilled
within him by a dedicated
staff of instructors.
He also handed down
sage advice to his under-
classmates, “Always be
nice to the offi ce staff; it
will make your life 100
percent easier.”
Rebekah Compos was
recognized for her aca-
demic acumen by being
awarded the class Salu-
tatorian honor. Compos
referred to her education as
a preparatory tutorial for
the life ahead. “Rejoice,
we have accomplished
much is this tutorial,” she
told her classmates.
Kirby Garrett, formerly
Jorden Noyes.
Field Representative for US
Representative Greg Walden
(R-OR 2nd District) in the La Grande offi ce, has moved
on from his local position to join Walden’s staff in Wash-
ington D.C.
Haines
celebrates
its littlest
heroes
BY BRIAN ADDISON
Brian@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Brian Addison/ The Baker County Press
Beloved middle school teacher, Bill Mitchell, now
retired, gave the keynote speech to the BHS Class
of 2015.
Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and walks of
life. Some are trained and paid, some are strictly volun-
teers, and some still calculate their ages in single digits.
Haines Elementary School honored a full spectrum of
heroes, from life-savers to those who volunteer time and
effort to better their community, during the school year
ending assemble, June 10.
Adam and Ori Kerns are thankful for the calm and
immediate response their three oldest children displayed
during a life-saving emergency on May 26. The Kerns’
youngest child 15-month-old Thomas had fallen in the
pond and was found face-down and unresponsive by his
three siblings, 5-year-old Kylie, 9-year-old Caleb, and
8-year-old Wesley.
SEE HAINES HEROES PAGE 5
SEE BHS PAGE 9
Sunny and mild, with highs near 80. Clear at
night with a low around 42.
Saturday
Sunny and mild, with highs near 80. Clear at
night with a low around 42—again!
Sunday
Sunny and mild, with highs near 80. Clear at
night with a low a little warmer at 47.
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
Richland: Panfi sh Tournament
Greg Smith’s $96K salary renewed
City of Unity: Budget
Baker City Council coverage
Sumpter City Council coverage
Elkhorn Muzzleloaders meet
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