FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Luminaria lighting set to music Nelsons
celebrate 50th
anniversary
Submitted Photo.
Photo submitted by Larry Parker.
Larry Parker of Baker City tested out his new $1,000 drone this year, using it to take pictures of the Relay
for Life event from a bird’s eye view.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Smith says he doesn’t
technically charge for his
bagpipe skills.
He said, “I just tell
people to pay me what they
think I’m worth. I accept
donations. That’s usually
what I say. I’ve been paid
as little as $50 and as much
as $300.”
Smith has played at
funerals, weddings,
parades, banquets—and
most recently for the Idaho
Department of Corrections
Honor Guard.
“I suppose my love
for bagpipes is directly
connected to my Scottish
Heritage, especially on
my mother’s side,” Smith
said. “When I was in high
school, I saw Braveheart,
and that just reinforced my
pride! I knew that I would
play pipes someday when
I heard bagpipes up close
and personal at a Renais-
sance festival in Tennessee.
But I could never afford
them until recently. A
decent set of pipes, a bag,
reeds, and maintenance
items will run you $1,500
easily!”
Smith says he’s proud
of his heritage—a direct
descendant of William
Kinney, a Scottish emi-
grant and Revolutionary
War hero who, as the story
goes, fired the first sho
at the Battle of Cuilford
Courthouse, killing a Brit-
ish sentry.
In addition to the in-
spiration brought by his
heritage, Smith grew up
a “metalhead,” which he
thinks just might have
influenced his love of nice,
loud music.
Smith is entirely self-
taught, beginning with a
set of McCallum bagpipes
from Scotland and a few
Youtube tutorial videos.
“Since there was no one
in Baker City to teach me,
I did what any sensible
person would do when
they want to learn some-
thing. I went to Youtube!”
he said.
He also praises his wife,
Rebecca, for her patience.
“I have to say that my
wife has been a saint in
supporting me playing.
She wasn’t always wild
about me practicing around
the house. When you start
playing the pipes, it never
sounds good at first! But
she knew it was a passion
of mine, and she continues
to support me. I think she
sees the good that it brings
to others. You don’t see
bagpipes around here of-
ten, and people really seem
to enjoy them when they’re
around.”
The Smiths are parents to
four wee lads and lasses:
Jordan, 10; Eowyn, 8;
BY ROBERTA MORIN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
A selfie with the piper was one of the scavenger
hunt items prior to the lighting ceremony.
Henry, 6; and Juliet, 3 who
have grown up around the
sound of the bagpipes at
home.
When he first started to
play in 2006, Smith said,
“I struggled for a real long
time trying to learn how to
tune them correctly—bag-
pipes consist of four reeds
that need to stay stable.”
Three years of practice
went by before Smith was
invited to that first Relay
for Life ceremony.
“For a while, I felt I
would never finally learn
how to hold a consistent
note. But as my strength
progressed, so did my
confidence, and I began
playing in front of people,”
he said.
“It’s something I’ve
had to work at for a while
with very little help from
anyone. In a way, it’s like
appreciating money that
you’ve had to work really
hard for. Since I’ve had
more of a struggle learning
to play because of limited
resources, my playing and
my instrument have be-
come more of a part of me,
and I appreciate my talent
a lot more than a would
have otherwise. In a way,
it’s a blessing in disguise,”
said Smith.
Those interested in
asking Smith to play at an
event can reach him at jay-
birdsmith9@gmail.com.
Three wildfires ignite near I-84
Bureau of Land Manage-
ment (BLM) Vale District
resources responded to
three wildfires o f of
Interstate-84, the largest
threatening Huntington,
putting the city in a level
one evacuation alert.
The fires were reported
Wednesday around noon.
The largest of the three is
the Lime Hill Fire, located
just west of I-84 at mile
marker 344 was over 7,000
acres at the time this article
went to print.
There were 18 engines
on site, along with three
water tenders, three
bulldozers and one Type
Two Initial Attack crew.
10 air resources were also
on scene including five
Single Engine Air Tank-
ers (SEATs), one heavy air
tanker and four helicop-
ters. Downed power lines
and damaged utility poles
were also been spotted and
assessed by Idaho Power
Company.
The Lime Hill Fire
is also in Priority Sage-
grouse habitat.
There is no estimate as
to when the Lime Hill Fire
will be contained.
The Alder Creek Fire is
estimated at two acres. It
is also located to the west
of I-84 near mile marker
322, between the Pleasant
Valley and Durkee exits.
There are currently two en-
gines on scene, from both
the U.S. Forest Service and
the Vale District BLM.
The smallest of the
three fires was the Joh -
son Area Fire. It was one
acre is size and is also to
the west of I-84 near mile
marker 324.
The Johnson Area Fire
is actually a complex of
three fires which has grown
into a single fire. There
are currently resources on
scene from the Vale BLM,
the Oregon Department of
Transportation, the Baker
City Fire Department and
the Oregon Department of
Forestry.
Due to their size, both
the Alder Creek and John-
son Area Fires were con-
tained soon. Still, weather
and varying conditions
could increase the potential
for the fires to spread
The freeway was shut
down both directions all
Wednesday afternoon
Kent and Anita Nelson, formerly of Hereford,
currently of Baker City, celebrated 50 years together
with friends and family last weekend.
Submitted by Chris Dixon.
The fire near Lime burned over 7000 acres within
just a day on Wednesday, shutting down the free-
way in both directions.
between La Grande and
Ontario due to the fires,
reopening late that night.
No cause has yet been
determined for any of the
three fires.
Vale District BLM fire
investigators are currently
investigating possible
causes.
Report any wildfires or
suspicious smoke to the
Vale BLM Dispatch Center
at 541-473-6218.
Saturday, August 1 over 170 people enjoyed the big day
for Kent and Anita Nelson’s 50th wedding anniversary at
the Senior Center in Baker City.
The event was prepared by their sons, Matt Nelson and
Mark Nelson, and families with refreshments catered.
Matt emceed the event telling about life on the ranch
while growing up.
He related how his parents involved them in roping and
riding horses and even some rodeo events; they always
came to cheer them on.
Mark shared his thoughts of growing up on the ranch
and his appreciation for the loving Christian family.
Their community and church involvement was shared
by the Nazarene Church pastor who also offered the
blessing for the food following the sharing time.
Music selections were played on the piano by grand-
children Emilie and Edouard Nelson.
Guests were invited to relate interesting fun events
throughout the years.
Gary Collison told about hunting trips at the ranch but
more outstanding was a hunting trip to British Columbia
where Kent took his own saddle.
Kelton Spain told horse stories, which drew many
laughs.
Roberta Morin shared about teaching with Anita and
being in plays with Anita’s directorship of the “Burnt
River Theatre Guild.” These melodramas were a commu-
nity highlight with many local participants. Morin also
shared how Suski from Finland came to share their home
as an exchange student. At that time, Morin was an Area
Representative for the exchange student program.
All of Anita’s siblings were there with the exception of
her deceased brother Dwight.
Kent’s twin, Karen, was also in attendance, and shared
events with everyone. Since Kent was first born, he
developed into the boss and even had Karen pulling him
in the wagon when they were little.
Mark said, “It was a fantastic party and really cool.
Seeing a lot of neighbors who had moved away, class-
mates and Suski and her family really made the day.”
Matt and his children will remain here for a five-week
vacation before returning home to London.
Goal hit for
Turbo’s
replacement
A new drug-detecting canine is one step closer to
purchase.
Monday the Baker City Police Department received a
$1,000 donation from the Broncs and Bulls organization
and a $1,000 donation from Shawna Patton, pushing them
over the $10,000 goal toward purchasing a replacement
drug-sniffing dog, said Chief Wyn Lohner.
Two weeks ago, the Sunridge Inn/Best Western in
Baker City donated a check for $3,000 to the cause.
“The owners have been so supportive,” Lohner said
at the time. “The Sunridge also donated back when we
originally got Turbo.”
The Baker City Police Department had previously
received $400 from High Desert Harleys. Other do-
nors included the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally at
over $3,000, Lavish Salon and Day Spa, Chelsea C.
Blatchford-Brown Road Photography, La Enterprises,
Inc. -Unity, Oregon, Superior Towing, Murrit and Lorry
Davis, Richard Johnson, Kimberly Ham, and P&E Dis-
tributing.
Turbo, the department’s first drug dog, retired about a
month ago at 10-years-old due to the passing of measure
91 legalizing marijuana.
Lohner says the department isn’t looking to purchase
just any dog. The $10,000 pays for a canine with highly
specialized training, equally specialized training for the
new drug dog’s office -handler, airfare transporting the
dog here, and other associated expenses.