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.