BUSINESS: A look at the Haines Sell-Rite
store. New local saddle shop opens. PAGE 3
The
OUTDOOR REC: Two win rifle, handgun
during Republican raffle. PAGE 7
Baker County Press
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Friday, July 24, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 30
Predatory sex offender returns to
Baker City, switches addresses
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
“Throughout my career,
I’ve seen very few preda-
tory sex offenders come
into our community,” said
Baker City Police Chief
Wyn Lohner on Wednes-
day. “It has been quite
some time. But when
it happens it creates an
alarm because of the threat
level.”
Convicted predatory
sex offender, Travis Scott
Jones, age 43, returned
to Baker City a few days
ago, immediately creating
community-wide concern
not only about his pres-
ence, but his seemingly
ever-changing address.
After being released
from prison July 16, 2015,
Jones relocated from New
Mexico back to Baker
City where he spent at
least some of his youth
and attended grade school.
He still has familial ties
throughout the area. One of
his brothers lives in Union
County—the other in Utah.
His father lives in Wallowa
County. His mother, Nancy
(Duncan) Berdahl lives
here. Several other rela-
tives reside in Baker City.
Jones was initially listed
as residing at an address
attributed to his mother
and stepfather at 1769 Val-
ley Avenue in Baker City,
according to Oregon State
Police. That residence is
visible from just about
every north-facing window
in the police department
building one street over,
parallel on Auburn. How-
ever, the home is also near
the Leo Adler Pathway
area along the river, which
is frequented by children.
Late in the day Monday,
Lohner said offi cers spoke
with Berdahl, age 63, who
was adamant that Jones did
not actually reside with her
and her husband Alfred,
age 79, at the Valley Av-
enue address.
Jones’s grandmother,
Betty Duncan, resides at
3010 Elm Street, which is
where Offi cer Shannon Re-
gan was able to locate and
speak directly with Jones.
Jones confi rmed he was
temporarily residing at that
address. He also claimed
he was traveling out of
town by bus to Boise and
back, and would return.
Then on Tuesday after-
noon, his grandmother
told police of yet another
change in Jones’s ad-
dress. His belongings, said
Lohner, were removed
from the home on Elm
Street and returned to the
Valley Avenue address.
Jones’s history as a sex-
ual predator is long—dat-
ing back as far as a felony
sexual abuse conviction in
1986, then similar convic-
tions in 1987 and 1996.
Photo courtesy of the BCPD.
Travis Scott Jones.
His most recent convic-
tion was in 2010 in New
Mexico for possession of
child pornography.
The 1996 conviction was
closer to home in Malheur
County, for fi rst-degree
sexual abuse.
SEE SEX OFFENDER
PAGE 10
New School
Board Chair
elected
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker School District 5J held its regular Board
meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, 6 p.m., at the District
Offi ce, 2090 4th Street. The highlight of the meeting
included the election of current Board Vice Chair Kevin
Cassidy for the position of Chair, and current Board
member Melissa Irvine as Vice Chair. Outgoing Chair
Andrew Bryan, having already served two consecutive
years in that capacity, was ineligible for chair again.
Present from the Board were Bryan (via telephone),
Cassidy, Irvine, Richard McKim and Chris Hawkins,
Chief Financial Offi cer (CFO) Doug Dalton, Superinten-
dent Mark Witty, Assistant Superintendent Betty Palmer,
and Executive Secretary Norma Nemec. There were
around 15 attendees.
The meeting was called to order, and the Pledge of Al-
legiance recited, followed shortly by the approval of the
agenda.
Witty introduced two guests, Mr. and Ms. Li, from
China, visitors to Baker City for about two weeks, who
came to learn about and to experience the local culture,
and to share theirs.
SEE SCHOOL BOARD PAGE 10
County travel
management
group
convenes
Captain America’s visit
Todd Arriola/ The Baker County Press
Allen Mullins, 33, is on a quest to raise $500,000 in donations for the VFW post in Warm Springs.
• MAN ON TREK TO RAISE FUNDS FOR
WARM SPRINGS VFW BUILDING
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The word “superhero” brings to mind images of super
human strength, x-ray vision, and the ability to stop
bullets. While not in possession of any of the afore-
mentioned traits, what Allen “Captain America” Mullins
does have is the ability to communicate a strong message
about our nation’s homeless military veterans, during his
continuing journey on foot across America.
His ultimate goal: to collect $500,000 in donations
or to log 500,000 miles by 2020, in order to help make
improvements on and build new facilities for the oldest
Friday
Sunny and warm, highs in the mid 80s. Mostly
clear and cool at night with lows in the upper
40s.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 80s. A
chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight
otherwise partly cloudy with lows in the lower
50s. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with a chance of morning show-
ers or a thunderstorm. Highs in the lower 80s,
chance of precipitation 20%. Lows in upper 40s.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post in the U.S., estab-
lished in 1952—VFW Elliott Palmer Post 4217, located
in Warm Springs, Oregon.
On the latest leg of Mullins’ trek, he traveled from
Pendleton to La Grande along I-84 east bound to North
Powder, arriving in Haines last Friday afternoon, where
this reporter was able to speak with him, seated at the
Haines Sell-Rite on Front Street.
Mullins, 33, fi rst explained that he’s been often mis-
taken for a veteran (he said he has not served), because
motorists would see him walking along the interstates
and highways, and sometimes, law enforcement would
receive reports that he was a veteran. “You have to un-
derstand, people are going by fast, and all they see is the
blue, and all the patriotism, and the fi rst thing that comes
to mind is, ‘He’s a veteran.’”
SEE CAPTAIN AMERICA PAGE 12
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
• NEW COUNTY COMMITTEE MEETS TO
PROTECT THE FOREST
BY BRIAN ADDISON
Brian@TheBakerCountyPress.com
There are thousands of miles of forest roads within
Baker County. Many of these roads were built for
purposes of commerce and business, and many provide
recreational and tourism opportunities within the county.
This includes roads constructed by timber companies for
the transport of timber, roads used by miners providing
routes from mines to market, roads used by ranchers for
movement of livestock, roads providing access to fi ght
forest fi re, and roads leading to culturally and historically
signifi cant sites.
SEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PAGE 5
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Munsell gets 7 years for murder plot
Turbo’s replacement closer
Sam-O Swim committee tours pool
Trivia: behind our summer events
Blue Yesterdays’ Big band sound
Oath Keeper: cheap food storage
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