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
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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
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