BUSINESS: Businesses, organizers discuss Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally. PAGE 3 The SPORTS: BHS Bulldog Bridger Cook selected to play in Shrine Game . PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, July 31, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 31 Reality series features Hells Canyon cabin with Unity ties BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Two days ago, “Un- plugged Nation” on the FYI Channel, began airing a show about life off the grid. The setting for the debut episode? A cabin in Hells Canyon, accessible only by boat, and owned by Dale and Betsy McGreer of Clarkston. “It was quite the humor- ous undertaking for Dale and I,” said Betsy Mc- Greer. According to a recent article in Inland360.com, the show “follows couples and families who test out the unplugged lifestyle in remote locations across America. Trailers for the series show scenes from an Atlanta couple’s stay in a luxury cabin in Hells Canyon.” When asked how real their realty TV experience was, Betsy said with a laugh, “Oh, it was abso- lutely staged all the way around.” Betsy said their adven- ture began just after they’d listed the cabin with a realtor, Gary Bergan of Century 21, who was then contacted by a fi lm crew. Within two weeks, the international crew of fi ve showed up to begin a four- day shoot. “The whole idea,” said Betsy, “was to fi nd a couple interested in living off the grid and pair them up with the right place. We knew the minute they showed up with three young children that it wasn’t going to work.” The McGreers have Baker County ties—rela- tives in Unity who have eagerly been awaiting the show to see whether it all “worked” or not—for a very personal reason. Betsy’s sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Ken Alexander, live in the Unity area, where they raised their two children, Brian and Pam. The family helped build the featured cabin back in 1992. Submitted Photo. This hand-crafted cabin featured on “Unplugged Nation” is for sale for $425,000 on Realtor.com. SEE REALITY SERIES PAGE 5 Envelope-sender identified, cause of Sheriff’s illness unknown Submitted Photo. This envelope received in Umatilla County did not contain any toxic substance. • NO TOXINS IN ENVELOPE RECEIVED AT THE BAKER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press Early Monday afternoon, reports began coming in that the Baker County Sheriff’s Department had been one of numerous government offi ces targeted in a mailing that sent envelopes containing a suspicious substance to government offi ces across Oregon. Those reports proved true—but only in part. Beloved band teacher to move • AFTER 15 YEARS TEACHING HERE, JEFF SIZER ACCEPTS JOB IN PASCO BY BRIAN ADDISON Brian@TheBakerCountyPress.com Baker School District’s loss is the Pasco, Washing- ton school district’s gain as beloved Baker High School and Middle School band instructor Jeff Sizer has accepted a new job beginning this 2015/2016 school year. Sizer has led the Baker City school band programs at the high school and middle school since 2000. “I’ll miss the kids here, the kids are just great,” Sizer said, as he cleaned out his offi ce at the Baker High School band room during an interview July 28. “I’ve had a whole bunch of outstanding stu- dents and I’ve always said this is the best job in town. Teaching kids music, what could be better?” Sizer and his wife Gina will not only be missed in the local academic commu- nity but also among local music lovers as they’ve cultivated an audience of those who appreciate jazz. The Sizers are well- known throughout the northwest as accomplished jazz performers with Jeff on trombone and key- board and Gina strumming guitar and singing at local venues. While Sizer is moving to teach elementary music students in Pasco, he and Gina will maintain ties to Baker City keeping their Haines area property with plans to retire here. Jeff said he plans to enter retirement in about fi ve Friday Hot with abundant sunshine. High in the mid 90s. Mostly clear with cool overnight tempera- tures. Lows in the mid 50s. Saturday More clouds than Friday, still hot. Highs in the mid 90s. Another cool night with mostly clear skies. Lows in the mid 50s. Sunday Hot and mostly cloudy, slight chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. Chance of precipitation is 30%, highs in the mid 90s. years. Among Sizer’s accom- plishments at Baker High School are helping teach, guide and encourage a long list of talented musicians who’ve gone on to study and make career plans within the fi eld of music. Just in the past couple years, Sammie Stone has gone on to play in orches- tra and jazz bands as a music major at Willamette University. He thinks Sammie will likely become a college music professor someday. Bryan Ames attends St. Olaf College and holds the lead alto position in the college’s fi rst jazz band. Cody Gyllenberg con- tinues his music studies and performs in the jazz band at Washington State University. Jace Roland plays in the jazz and wind ensemble bands at Central Washing- ton University with a goal of graduating with a Music Education degree. Naomi Smith attends Central Washington Uni- versity on a full-ride music scholarship while her sister Ember, a trombonist, played in an orchestra and attended a music conserva- tory in the Czech Republic. Isaac Mansuetti per- forms as a pianist in the jazz ensemble at Univer- sity of Portland. Mitch Sandufer is an active bassist studying and performing at Colorado College. Rebekah Rushton plans to attend Boise State University to study fl ute performance. Sam Rags- dale studies as a music major at Eastern Oregon University. Aria Carpenter takes her trumpet skills to University of Utah this Fall. SEE SIZER PAGE 13 Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Jeff Sizer (right) and wife, Gina, performed at Earth & Vine last weekend, just after returning from Pasco on a house-hunting trip. SEE ENVELOPES PAGE 8 Political intrigue abounds in Sumpter • THREE MORE RECALL PETITIONS FILED BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com Forget speculation over upcoming presidential races. Those interested in political intrigue need look no farther than Sumpter, Oregon, where one completed and three prospective recall petitions have been fi led. A prospective petition to recall Mayor Melissa Findley, who took offi ce in January, was fi led by Chief Petitioner Alan D. Patton on July 7th. The completed petition, with 34 signatures, was submitted on July 23rd. SEE SUMPTER PAGE 10 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Joey Jayo joins Sheriff’s Offi ce Main Street sees chalk art Local swim team results Sex offender arrested, makes bail Busy City Council agenda Tibetan Buddhists visit Baker City Page Page Page Page Page Page 5 5 7 8 9 12