8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015
Local
5J: ODOT BOLI camp, summer Turbo
reading program, school
resource officer among topics
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
• BUDGET
ADOPTED
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Kevin Cassidy, acting
chair called the meeting
to order “in the absence of
Andrew Bryan who is in
Great Brittain.”
Gwen O’Neal acknowl-
edged Jan Bonn for her
years of service with Baker
School District as she
retired. Bonn began her
career in 1974 in Tilla-
mook, Oregon as a music
teacher and has been with
the Baker School district
for the last 28 years.
O’Neal highlighted
her career, touching on
the many different posi-
tions Bonn has held from
teaching music to teaching
Kindergarten, 2nd grade,
3rd grade and 4th grade.
Bonn also worked as a
substitute in the Pine-Eagle
District.
“This is a woman who
knows how to move
around,” said O’Neal.
“She has worked in every
elementary school in the
Baker School District
including North Baker and
Churchill schools when
they were still in operation
and Haines and Keat-
ing. Thank you for all the
wonderful years here in the
Baker School District.”
The board agreed to
modify the agenda as Jerry
Peacock was present to
speak to the board about
a recent career camp for
girls made possible by an
ODOT BOLI grant.
“Thank you for allow-
ing me to present what
went on June 15th-17th,
it was our first ever girls
ODOT BOLI camp and it
was even more successful
than we had anticipated,”
he said.
Out of the 13 girls that
registered, 11 were able to
attend.
“We felt really good
about the turnout and com-
mitment level,” he said.
According to Peacock it
was three days of intense
fun and very hands-on.
The girls were exposed to
power hand tools many for
the first time, working with
surveying, cement work,
and welding, which was as
Peacock said, “The most
interesting of everything
we did because they were
extremely nervous and
scared. In the end, they
probably enjoyed that
more than anything and
some of them even said it
might be something they’d
want to pursue.”
The group also visited
Triple C Redi-Mix where
Casey Vanderwiele ex-
plained the Redi-Mix pro-
cess and what they were
looking for in employees.
The girls also visited
Behlen’s paint and welding
shops and were able to see
women in industrial jobs
and they also visited Ash
Grove where the girls were
able to sit up in the largest
bulldozer in Oregon that
had just been purchased.
Peacock said the camp
had been extremely suc-
cessful and thanked every-
one for their great support
saying when he called to
make arrangements no one
balked at all and just asked
when they needed to work
the group in.
Members of the 5J School Board met Tuesday.
The only complaint he
received was from those
participating that the camp
was not long enough but
all thought it was worth-
while for them.
Peacock said the girls
used the word “inspired” a
lot to describe the impact
the experience had on
them. Peacock said should
the funding be available
to do the camp again next
year they will look at mak-
ing it longer.
“Jerry, you and your staff
should be commended for
pulling it off and provid-
ing that opportunity,” said
Cassidy.
Next Cassidy opened
the Budget hearing turning
things over to Doug Dal-
ton, CFO.
“Last time we met,
was the approval of the
budget committee kind of
a recap of where we were
at, the budget committee
approved the budget and
moved it forward to the
board so you’re here to
adopt.
“Typically if there are
any changes, this is the
time where you get ad-
ditional information about
changes that occurred at
the state level or within
the budget. There are no
changes, the budget is
exactly as it was approved
by the budget committee.
What we predicted the
state funding level to be is
pretty much exactly what it
was,” Dalton said.
The Board later moved
to adopt the budget in a
unanimous vote.
Jim Tomlinson briefly
addressed the board on
behalf of the Baker County
Community Literacy
Coalition.
This program is a private
non-profit organization
dedicated to provide
literacy in Baker County.
They provide volunteers
in classrooms, last school
year Tomlinson said, “We
provided 52, half-hour
sessions” reading with stu-
dents and similar programs
continue on in the summer
with the summer reading
program.
The summer read-
ing program, available
to kindergarten through
2nd grade students and is
held every Tuesday and
Thursday from 11-12 at
North Baker School. The
kids that participate in the
program can also stay for
the summer lunch program
provided.
This year the program,
coordinated by Susan Yen
first grade teacher, is serv-
ing 56 kids.
Baker County Library
also gets involved with
a grant program called
the STARs (summer time
awesome reading) this year
they are engaging kids
with a superhero theme.
“Every kid is a super
hero, it is to help confi-
dence and self-esteem,”
said Thomlinson.
The Literacy Coalition
provides free books for
not only children in the
schools but in social ser-
vice agencies as well.
They also work with
Head Start, YMCA, and
recently added a new part-
ner, WIC. Tomlinson also
put into place a program
with EOMA to give kids
books when they go in
for their doctor’s appoint-
ments.
There was new focus
made to engage family
involvement by partnering
with Child Care Resource
and Referral and by going
into Recovery Village, the
inpatient drug treatment
facility where mothers
and children stay together
to give books. Through
the program Thomlinson
said the organization had
“Given away about 2,500
books.”
Tomlinson went on to
say, “Volunteers really
make our programs, we
typically have about 40
volunteers. Businesses,
service and government
organizations and indi-
viduals in town are vital in
their support by providing
either financial support or
providing volunteers.”
Tomlinson spoke of a
new program: “We are
just getting this off the
ground, branch librarian
Donna Pearson has been in
contact with Powder River
Correction Facility to work
with 12 inmate families,
19 kids to provide books to
them.”
Tomlinson did make a
point to mention they were
shifting from purchasing
books through Scholastic
to purchasing more books
locally so as to support
business in our own com-
munity.
Another big issue that
was discussed was the
contract for the next four
years that has been signed
partnering the School
District, the City and the
County together to provide
a School Resource Officer.
It was understood that after
July 1 a hiring committee
would be formed between
the three entities to hire the
person that would fill the
role.
One of interim super-
intendent Betty Palmer’s
concerns was that this
resource officer “Assist
school staff with truancy
issues, one of things that
we are really working
hard at, at the high school
level, is to have better at-
tendance.” She went on to
say, “This person can also
give referrals to the Police
Department or Juvenile
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Department and help to
advise us through court
system. This contract does
go into effect as of July
1 and during the summer
months when we don’t
have students on campus
this resource officer will
just be a police officer in
our own community. We
do however anticipate that
this officer will show up
for in-service and train-
ing with our staff and then
come right into the school
year with our students.”
Overall, Palmer felt like
entering into this agree-
ment was a good step
forward for all.
The question was
raised about the effect this
may have on Haines and
Keating schools to which
Palmer answered, “We
have agreements to use the
resource officer in outlying
places on occasion, too.”
It was brought up that
to involve the county in
the agreement Hunting-
ton, Pine-Eagle and Burnt
River would need access to
this officer as well, which
was indicated would be al-
lowed per the agreement.
The board tended to
some housekeeping items
such as going over a list
of new hires, resignations
including that of Baker
Middle School Principal
Minda Vaughn, resolutions
allowing for a permanant
tax rate, appropriations in
the budget, establishing a
fund balance and approv-
ing revisions to the student
search policies, which
would wait for approval
because if concerns Chris
Hawkins, also an Oregon
State Policeman, had to its
context.
He felt that in the revis-
ing more questions were
raised than it cured.
Before the meeting
adjourned new Superinten-
dent Mark Witty spoke.
He said, “I would like
to mention how good of a
job Betty has done moving
the district through this
transitional phase.”
Witty pointed out that
under her leadership some
critical things have been
done in her small amount
of time.
“I think we are six
months ahead of where
we would have been as
far as getting those things
accomplished and moving
forward. I’m very appre-
ciative of what Betty has
done and am really looking
forward to working with
her and the leadership team
as a whole. I think Betty
deserves credit for taking
this district and really
doing some quality work
these last few month,” he
added.
Witty takes the helm
July 1.
The trainer who trained Turbo no longer trains dogs.
With the legalization of marijuana taking effect July 1,
Turbo, who is trained to detect marijuana as well as other
illegal narcotics, can no longer be used.
“There is no way I can say what he is smelling,” said
Weaver. “I can no longer use Turbo to attain probable
cause for vehicles and stuff like that.”
According to Weaver the benefit of having a dog in
Oregon is, “You have the vehicle exception rule where
if you have a dog with the established certification and if
I were to come upon a regular traffic stop while another
officer is filling out the paperwork I can run the dog
around the vehicle. Then if the dog alerts, with the ve-
hicle exception rule, I can get into the vehicle and look.
We’ve done that several times.”
While Weaver can’t give an exact number of arrests
that have come from “sniffs” Turbo has done, he has
been instrumental in a lot of cases.
“It’s hard to say a number because there have been a
lot of times when the State Police or even the County has
called me out on the freeway or somewhere. The agency,
officer gets credit for that arrest, if any. After his retire-
ment we may still use him for special circumstances, like
if Parole and Probation wants him or if the schools want
to use him,” Weaver said.
Even with the legalization of marijuana, it will still be
illegal for minors or those on parole or probation to pos-
sess marijuana.
In his years with Weaver the two have formed a strong
bond and once retired, Turbo will lead the life of any
ordinary dog, spent in the care of Weaver.
“We’ve got a black lab pup he can play with so it’ll be
good,” he said.
Of course, according to Weaver that pup is eight
months old and already outweighs Turbo.
“He is going to be treated more like a regular dog.
Working dogs don’t associate much with family. When
not working he has a kennel and dog house. I do go out
and throw his toy a few times for him. It is not recom-
mended that if it’s a working dog they be treated like a
family pet. I don’t know that it would make a big differ-
ence though I mean they know what they are doing. All
they want to do is find their toy because it’s all a game to
them really anyway,” he said.
Weaver was unsure whether the K-9 program will
be continued in Oregon—dogs throughout the state are
being retired with the passing of measure 91. Prior to
the passing of the measure, marijuana was illegal and all
dogs were trained to detect the drug. Weaver sees the ac-
quiring of new dogs, and training for each dog and each
handler, as a very large expense for the state.
“The Chief has asked me (if we are successful at at-
taining another dog) if I wanted to be the handler. I told
him I don’t need three dogs at home,” he said. “Also, I’ll
be eligible to retire in four and a half years and like told
the Chief, I’d really like to see the handler be somebody
that is going to be here for a period of time so the a
new dog isn’t bounced around like Turbo was. It is an
increase in training to bounce them around, and that’s
an added cost. Plus if you have someone that is with the
dog all the time you’re not having to transition from one
handler to the next. Some dogs won’t take to it—they’re
a one-person dog. Luckily black labs aren’t known for
that.”
Weaver added, “I thought I’d get to retire not too long
after Turbo but with recreational marijuana, he gets out
way before I do.”
When Turbo was asked if he had any big plans for
retirement he simply wagged his tail, but according to
Weaver, Turbo is sneaky and likes to go trash can diving
when given the opportunity—so a little of that is surely
on his agenda.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing efforts by The Hell’s
Canyon Motorcycle Rally to try and muster up donations
to replace Turbo. Back in 2007, the Rally raised $30K to
fund Turbo, and this year they’re working toward $10K,
which is the estimated amount for a suitable replacement.
Commemorative pins are for sale at various stores
around Baker City, and will be available during the Rally
itself next month. Donations can also be made online at
www.hellscanyonrally.com/2015/05/turbo-retires-after-
distinguished-career or by searching GoFundMe.com
for “Turbo’s Replacement” by Steve Folkestad. So far
the GoFundMe site has raised $525 toward the new K-9
project.
Clarification
We were contacted last week by The City of Sumpter
expressing concern that its citizens might be alarmed by
a phrase in an article in our June 19 issue about their
ongoing lawsuit.
On page 8, we report on a discussion between at-
torneys this week about an unauthorized irrigation
system creating an allowance of waste getting into the
"city water system," resulting in a total of $9K in DEQ
fines. We first want to stress, as it states in the article,
that these incidents happened years prior (2010-2012),
not this year. We stand by our coverage of this week's
hearing, but also see how the term "city water system"
as used could cause concern.
To quell the potential for rumors: We are not aware
of non-disinfected recycled water leaking into the City
of Sumpter’s drinking water supply. We have no reason
to even think it. In checking with the DEQ, the terms
"public water system" or "public water supply" and
"City of Sumpter drinking water protection area" are all
used in their documentation, and these terms encompass
"state waters" around Sumpter, such as the Powder
River. Leakage into those state waters was the focus of
the fines. We sincerely hope this clarification stops any
alarm before it happens. That full press release from
the DEQ can be found here: http://www.deq.state.or.us.
Search for keyword “Sumpter.”