10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 Local Author holds book signing State Attorney General makes surprise visit • MARY VINE RETURNS TO LOCAL CHARACTERS, SETTING IN LATEST NOVEL BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Author Mary Vinecore, writing under the simpler pen name Mary Vine, returned to Baker City last Thursday evening to promote the release of her newest novel, Snake River Rendezvous. This newest title is a mix of romance with a bit of suspense—and a bit of inspiration. In this book, “FBI agent Jacob Hayden Robie is on a search for a terror- ist hideout somewhere between Salisbury Junction and the Snake River in northeastern Oregon. The old motel by the freeway is his best bet for a distrac- tion-free central location, even if its owner is the one who got away. Someone around her, though, is the man or woman he’s hunting. To flush out the enemy, he’ll have to hide his real identity—and his feelings for Hailey—even if it means she’ll never trust him again.” The setting is one that most locals might recog- nize as inspired by the dilapidated motel and gas station that once operated at Farewell Bend. In the past, Vinecore has brought similar northeast Oregon settings to life, including the town of “Salisbury Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press Writing as Mary Vine, Mary Vinecore returned to Baker City last week for a signing at Turn the Page Used Books. Junction.” The signing, hosted by Turn the Page Used Books and owner Steve Golieb, saw fans trickle through the event during the eve- ning. “Never have I attended a friendlier book signing event,” she said. Golieb offered appe- tizers and wine catered by Earth and Vine while Vinecore answered ques- tions from those who walked through the door with a curiosity about writing—or who simply wanted to purchase a copy of her latest. Vinecore and her hus- band, Greg, are enamored with northeast Oregon— likely explaining why she places most of her books in this area. The couple can be found in Sumpter or Bourne during the summer months, before heading back to their home in Idaho during the fall. “I didn’t start writing until I was 36,” she said. “I was shy at first about tell- ing anyone.” Then with the help of a neighbor—a high school English teacher— she decided to take a stab at getting published. First, several of her ar- ticles on ghost towns found their way to print. Novels came later. Besides writing, Mary works for the West Ada School District in Idaho and is one of a small hand- ful of speech language pathology assistants who are licensed by that state. She teaches individual and small groups of chil- dren, ages kindergarten through twelfth grades, which are language impaired or need help cor- recting articulation errors. Vinecore’s other titles set in the area include A Place to Land, Wanting Moore and Maya’s Gold, all released by Black Lyon Publishing, LLC, a nation- ally recognized traditional publishing house based in Baker City. She is also the author of A Haunting in Trillium Falls, which was released the year before last. Readers can learn more about all Vinecore’s work at www.maryvine.com. Her books are available online at all major retail- ers, and can be ordered in at any bookstore. Vinecore is working on a children’s book for release later this year. City to hold meeting over Rural Fire Protection District property removal On July 14th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., the Baker City Council will hold a public meeting in accordance with ORS 222.524, to receive testimony concern- ing the removal of the below described property from the Baker Rural Fire Protection District. The meeting will be held in the City Council Cham- bers located at 1655 First Street, Baker City Oregon. Legal Description - Fire Dist Add opt 1 The following de- scribed land in Section 15, T9S, R40E, WM, is to be removed from the Baker County Rural Fire District, Baker County, Oregon. This district includes the Northwest quarter and the West ½ of the Southwest quarter of said Section 15. EXCEPTING THERE- FROM the following areas: • the Southeast ¼ of the Northwest ¼ • the area in the West ½ of the Southwest ¼, East of the West bank of the Smith Ditch • the area in the West ½ of Section 15, to the West of the East Right of Way Hwy. line of U.S. I-84 • A parcel of land in the Northwest ¼ of the Northwest quarter of said Section 15, described as follows: beginning ap- proximately 485 feet East and 60 feet South of the Northwest corner of said Section; thence East, 396 feet, along the South line of the H Street R.O.W.; thence South, 396 feet; thence West, 396 feet; thence North, 396 feet to the point of beginning. Records referenced to establish this boundary: Partition Plats: 1999-015 2006-005 County Deeds: B09 38 0071 B09 38 0082 Book 164 pg 383 ORMAP tax map 09S40E15 La Grande woman still missing On June 20th of this year, friends of Neli Rogers con- tacted the La Grande Police Department to report her as a missing person. Neli was last seen in La Grande on that day and has not been seen since. The La Grande Police Department has officially listed Neli as a missing person. Detectives are actively investigating her disappearance and are in contact with friends and family in an attempt to locate her. Interviews and searches of cell phone records have not yet yielded a definitive search area. Officers with the La Grande Police and the Union County Sheriff’s office are working together searching La Grande and the surrounding wooded areas in efforts to find Neli. Neli is approximately 5’6” tall and weighs 175 pounds. She is 27 years old. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes, with a dark complexion. She was last seen wearing a black shirt with large silver numbers similar to a football jersey. She was last seen driving a white 1990 Ford F250 single cab pickup with the Oregon license plate ZGP926. The pickup hasn’t been located at this time. Those with any information on her whereabouts should contact Sgt. Jason Hays of the La Grande Police Depart- ment at 541.963.1017. Submitted Photo. Oregon’s Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. A spontaneous visit by Oregon Attorney General El- len Rosenblum resulted in recognition of MayDay, Inc. at the annual conference of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (OCADSV). While in Baker City in early June, the attorney general happened to walk by the MayDay office on Main Street. Noticing the sign on the front of the building, she decided to stop in for a visit. A MayDay advocate greeted her, answered questions and showed her around the office. Last week, as the keynote speaker at the OCADSV conference, Rosenblum cited MayDay as an example of the important work being done by agencies across the state to combat domestic violence and sexual assault and to provide needed support to victims. She specifically rec- ognized the achievements of MayDay Executive Director Milli Joseph, who met with her at the conference. Rosenblum’s presentation at the conference focused on the needs of victims and the importance of local ef- forts to reduce violence. She also discussed legal changes recently passed or being considered by the Oregon Legislature and how they could affect crime victims and the agencies who serve them. Some of those bills will add protections for victims and increase consequences for offenders. Burglary suspect arrested near John Day On June 29, 2015 around 4 p.m., OSP re- ceived an attempt to locate on a burglary suspect from Harney County. An OSP Trooper located the vehicle traveling north on HWY 395, just south of John Day a short time later. The trooper stopped the vehicle and while approach- ing the vehicle on foot, the driver sped away. Submitted Photo. A short pursuit occurred Charles Platt. and the driver suddenly stopped the vehicle near milepost 1 and fled on foot. OSP was assisted by the John Day Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff's Office in the search for the suspect. The suspect, Charles D. Platt, age 25, of Burns, was lo- cated and arrested without incident. He was booked at the Grant County Jail for Attempt to Elude in Vehicle-Felony, Attempt to Elude on Foot, Reckless Driving and DUII Library offers ESL Submitted Photo. Neli Rogers has been missing since June 20. Baker County Library District is pleased to announce a new free digital service for our online users. Basic ESL for Libraries is an online English language learning program that improves an individual’s listening, speak- ing, reading and writing skills through a simple to follow, yet instructionally proven curriculum. Students learn English quickly and effectively on relevant topics includ- ing: family, home, school and many other topics. In each lesson students learn key vocabulary and how to use that vocabulary in conversation. This tool can be used by individuals working indepen- dently or by groups with a facilitator and includes native language support for 19 languages. Those languages in- clude Amharic, Bengali, English, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Nepali, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic, Chi- nese, Farsi, German, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. To access Basic ESL, go to the library’s website at www.bakerlib.org , select the Resources page, and click on the Basic ESL link.