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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 2015)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 Business & Ag Historic Baker City holds second plug-in meeting • COMMUNITY PRIDE, INVOLVING LOCAL YOUTH DISCUSSED BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com Wednesday morning The Little Bagel Shop on Main Street hosted the second Historic Baker City (HBC) “plug in” meeting. The meeting, which garnered an audience of approximately 20, was fa- cilitated by HBC president Larry Abell, Downtown Project Manager Jeff Nel- son and Maurizio Valerio of RDI, Rural Develop- ment Institute. Nelson, who was also scheduled to attend another meeting that morning, spoke about Economic Development. He said, “It is one of the strongest arms. There is opportunity with me working also for BMCC small business development program and we have been able to col- lect data to begin ‘business clustering.’” Clustering is an idea where businesses with similar products and ser- vices in the same general industry are placed in the same vicinity, same block. “Take for example J. Ta- bor Jewelers and No. 1911. If 1911 started renting tuxedos, someone buying an engagement ring at J. Tabors could be directed to 1911 by staff for renting their tuxedo,” Nelson said. “HBC does play an impor- tant role for the economic development of downtown but we are reaching out to businesses on 10th street, Campbell Street and Broadway. For all our cur- rent HBC members, we are going to have Leo Adler money soon, so if you do have exterior projects, we would love to hear about them and get that info so we can help you and make that project happen.” Nelson then addressed events. “For the events, last year was outstanding. So far for this year, Larry thought up the business duck race and it was phe- nomenal,” he said. That race was held dur- ing Miners Jubilee. Nelson said, “We’re coming up to the Taste of Baker, it was our best event last year with record-breaking numbers. This year we will be having the same thing I’m sure and we will have restaurants that are not on Main Street so they will be in Court Plaza. “The Sunridge is going to help out with their DJ so we will have a little bit of music down there, too. Then we will be getting into the Halloween season I am meeting with the prison to see if they can help with reenacting our scarecrows, they may be making them and I may be seeking donations for materials to make them. “And we are getting into our holiday season as well and with last years new lights we noticed the garlands that stretch across the streets looked a little dim in comparison to the new lights on the tree so this year the garlands will have new lights as well. I — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, August 28, 2015 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady compared to week ago prices. Alfalfa premium quality in Lake, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, and Wasco Counties trended higher. Demand was slow to moderate. Some pro- ducers were wrapping up third cutting alfalfa while a few were beginning fourth cutting. Fires and smoke throughout the counties have limited some producers from being able to move hay. Many pro- ducers have decided to hold on to their hay for now, in hopes for higher prices. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa — Large Square, Good 1490 160.00-170.00 160.20 Alfalfa — Small Square, Good 30 180.00-180.00 180.00 Orchard Grass — Large Square, Good 35 190.00-190.00 190.00 Timothy Grass — Large Square, Good/Premium 138 180.00-180.00 180.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 362 Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press Jo Marlett listens to HBC president Larry Abell give his presentation. have also been contacted by a couple of people that have large trees in their yards they’d like consid- ered for the downtown tree this year. “I will be getting with OTEC soon to make a decision on that so let me know if you have a tree you’d like considered as well. The homes parlor tour is being complied as well. I’m sorry I have to go, I got double booked today, we’ve got some exciting things going on with the chamber and HBC will be playing an impor- tant role in that I will get you all informed as soon as I can of that.” Rosemary Abell spoke up and said, “One of the things the Chamber is going to be talking about is the Cycle Oregon event starting and ending in Baker City. The race has started here before but never ended here so this would be a new addition to the event. Next year’s event is expecting around 2,200 riders averaging 51 years of age with an aver- age income of $103,000. “That could mean good revenue for Baker City and the Cycle Oregon event organizers have money to spend on organizations like the football team for help- ing unload equipment with money available to HBC and the Chamber for vari- ous things too. Tentative plans include a beer garden and other entertainment to be held at the sports complex.” Nelson said, “We’d like to make it so that when they plan for the future they will want to do it again and again.” After Nelson’s departure, Larry Abell guided the group in another direction. He spoke of the “restore center” HBC is getting to- gether that will be located on the corner of Washing- ton and 2nd Street that is about 2000 square feet. The idea behind the re- store center is to “recycle” needed building materials into other things. Abell said, “I think many people have old stuff in their basement or garage that is just sitting there and not needed anymore. We will try to be a little more selective with the stuff that we collect than Salvation Army.” The space was just recently made available and Abell is expecting the restore center to begin op- erations in the near future. Abell also talked briefly about Resort Street banners that are set to be launched, with banners soon to be printed. Each banner is different and depicts a business or landmark unique to our town. The idea as Abell explained, “Is to connect visitors and residents to the downtown businesses and buildings because there will be details on the ban- ners so you can find what is on the banner. If you find 10 of them you get a gift certificate to shop in one of the local stores, they’ve already been donated.” Abell mentioned that in working on events, Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner, during the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally debriefing, suggested a su - vey that would give insight into the event. The six-question survey would be followed up by a meeting concerning the Rally and any changes that might improve the event. “The folks that run the Rally will be involved too. They know we are doing this. I don’t try and pull any punches; it’s all on the table,” Abell explained. “And this is not just the Main Street businesses either. There are a lot of business impacted by the Rally.” Abell also told the crowd that an IT person is being sought to redesign, revamp and integrate the HBC website, although some free classes for non-profits in web design have been taken that IT person is vital to the organization. There were three candi- dates thus far. “We feel that having that website is going to attract younger members and people will have an easier time communicating with HBC,” said Abell. “Face- book and social media will be a part of that.” Funding initially for the IT person and their work will come from a Ford Family grant. Abell spoke of a concept called “A City without Walls,” which they are working on implementing and will put information into the hands of those who want and need it easier and faster. He also explained fund- ing sources and that for the first time known to him, the City gave HBC $5,000 to work with out of the City budget. That money was crucial to securing grants, etc. Joyce O’Neil, owner of Copy, Ship & Mail and Joyce’s Frame and Craft and manager of the Bas- che- Sage Place expressed concern over communica- tion. She stated she did not receive adequate notice about the Cycle Oregon event, learning about it on a Thursday with the event on Saturday. It was suggested that better and more frequent forms of communication be secured with the pos- sibility of even a monthly column in one of the local papers. “Years ago, it was if you advertised in one paper and one radio station, you reached 100% of the population. Nowadays you can advertise with every- one and don’t get 10%,” said Bob Hayes, downtown building owner. O’Neil spoke to the past of having block captains that were responsible for keeping businesses in their designated block or area informed of upcoming events and even distribut- ing flyers, opening up com- munications. She volunteered to fill that role in her block. Consensus among the attendees was that it was a good idea to revive that program. There was talk of other volunteers for block cap- tains and the possibilities of contacting any former captains who were still around to see if that may be a role they wished to fill once again. It was also discussed at great length bringing many of the youth groups in our community into HBC—not just to fill service roles du - ing banquets or for various other dirty jobs but to actu- ally utilize them for input into our community and some of the decisions that are made. It was felt that there had been a long his- tory of ignoring kids and it might be wise to engage our youth; they are part of our community. Many among the attend- ees felt the youth could bring an energy and drive to the table different than what was already there. SEE HISTORIC BAKER CITY PAGE 10 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk N/A Top N/A 400-500# Bulk 243.00 - 259.00 Top 260.00 500-600# Bulk 226.00 - 239.00 Top 241.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 241.00 - 265.00 Top 267.00 400-500# Bulk 223.00 - 247.00 Top 248.00 500-600# Bulk 203.00 - 230.00 Top 231.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 206.00 - 218.00 Top 222.00 700-800# Bulk 201.00 - 209.00 Top 214.00 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 198.00 - 212.00 Top 213.00 700-800# Bulk N/A Top N/A 800-900# Bulk 164.00 - 172.00 Top 175.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 71.00 - 87.00 Butcher Cows 95.00 - 105.00 Butcher Bulls 97.00 - 118.00 Stock Cows Yng. N/A Younger Hfrts. 123.00 - 147.00 Stock Cows - N/A ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon Doug Fir is $415.00/mbf White fir is $365.00/mb Ponderosa Pine is brought sold on diameter splits 6 to 11 inch dib $300 to $310/MBF 12 to 17 inch dib $350 to $375/MBF 18 to 23 inch dib $400 to $430/MBF 24 inch plus dib $450 to $500/MBF DIB is diameter inside bark at small end of log. MBF is thousand board feet lumber, net scale. People interested in selling logs should call and get specific quotes from saw mills. Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1133.30 Silver: $14.66 Platinum: $1014.43 Palladium: $583.75 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $366.25/bu/USD Wheat: $478.25/bu/USD Soybeans: $871.75/bu/USD Oats: $225.00 bu/USD Rough Rice: $12.00/cwt/USD Canola: $465.10 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $141.50/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $196.23/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $69.83//lb./USD Bloomberg.com
