THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
Business & Ag
Quail Crossing Studio
opens in Haines
• LOCAL ARTIST
BECKY MANCINO
LITKE FULFILLS
LIFELONG DREAM
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last Sunday, local artist
Becky Mancino Litke held
an afternoon open house
for her newest endeavor,
Quail Crossing Studio, at
645 3rd Street in Haines.
Filled with a steady
stream of friends, family
and interested patrons,
the cozy studio is off to a
popular start—even though
the studio tour-slash-
official opening isn t until
October 4th.
Opening the studio is the
fulfillment of a lifelong
dream for the artist.
“I’ve been painting and
drawing since I was a little
kid,” began Litke.
She added, “When I was
about seven or eight was
when I first started. I went
to school in Detroit. The
Parks and Recreation had a
painting class for twenty-
five-cents. So I would go
home after school and do
chores for the money for
that class. This was in the
early ‘50s, and money
wasn’t easy to come by.”
Litke paints on just about
anything, she said, point-
ing out tiles, wood and
elk antlers in addition to
more traditional paper and
canvas. Her studio boasts a
well-appointed workspace,
a display of her work and a
retail area.
Items such as prints,
cards, notebooks and her
new 2016 calendar are
available for purchase.
As Litke said, “I have
lived here in spurts.” Her
children were raised in
Baker County, where she
lived from 1968-1979.
After that, she spent time
in Michigan and in Boise,
Idaho, where she was a
restaurant owner, before
moving back home to
Haines in 2000.
For a time, she and her
husband Bruce consid-
ered, and even tried to sell
their Haines home, before
changing their minds and
deciding to build Litke’s
dream studio right there
instead.
In between transactions,
Litke reminisced about
some of her more interest-
ing sales—some of which
have placed her art into
private collections around
the world.
“There was a lady who
came into my booth in Boi-
se,” she began. “She was
Friday, September 4, 2015 — Eastern Oregon
Prices trended generally steady compared to
week-ago prices. Mid quality alfalfa (fair/good/
premium) in Lake County trended higher compared
to week ago prices. Many producers have decided
to hold on to their hay for now, in hopes for higher
prices. Some producers are having their water
rights cut off due to the drought.
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
Alfalfa — Small Square, Premium
150 200.00-200.00 200.00
Alfalfa / Orchard Mix — Small Square, Premium
45 190.00-190.00 190.00
Alfalfa / Orchard Mix — Small Square, Fair/Good
250 125.00-125.00 125.00
Orchard Grass — Small Square, Premium
30 195.00-195.00 195.00
Timothy Grass — Small Square, Premium
10 195.00-195.00 195.00
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 798
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Becky Mancino Litke stands near just a few of the paintings on display on one
wall at her new Haines-based studio, Quail Crossing Studio.
on a trip from Holland and
bought a painting of tulips
to take back with her. So
I know I have work on
display in Holland—and
also Germany.”
In recent years, Litke has
turned to local scenery and
wildlife paintings for the
most part. “Dogs and cats
have paid a lot of bills,”
she said with a laugh.
She credits her husband
of 13 years with some of
that wildlife focus, and for
introducing her to hunting.
The antlers from her first
hunting victory, a buck, are
mounted above the door to
her studio.
Her granddaughter,
CyeAnn, there with father
George Turner, were quick
to show off a lifelike por-
trait Litke had painted.
The Quail Crossing
Studio itself boasts a rustic
vibe inside, designed and
built by “loving hands of
family and friends,” Litke
said.
The studio, named for
the birds that frequent the
street in front of it, was
built by Bruce with the
help of Doug Schneider
and Jeff Raymond. Three
Old Crows, owned by
Michele Johnson and Jay-
son Clarke from Toledo,
Oregon, did the interior
design.
The framing cabinet was
built by Cabin Cowboy
Designs of Baker City,
owned by Be Tiedemann,
and Rockin’R Electibles,
owned by L. D. Ritter.
Jeff and Darcy Raymond
donated the Redwood used
inside Quail Crossing.
Among her other ac-
complishments, in 2014,
the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife chose
Litke’s vibrant painting of
a frog as runner-up during
its annual conservation
stamp contest. There was
no prize for runner-up,
she explained, simply the
recognition of a job well
done.
Much like icing on the
cake, Litke has also been
selected as one of the two
Featured Artists to be spot-
lighted at the upcoming
annual gala at Crossroads
Art Center.
“It’s just such an honor
to be chosen and honored,”
she said. “Especially out of
all the wonderful artists in
the area. I’m excited.”
Becky is also a teacher
who has taught for the
Nampa Art Guild, the
Caldwell Art Association,
Purple Sage Creative Arts,
and Grant County Arts
Association and currently
teaches at Crossroads
Carnegie Art Center.
Crossroads’ director,
Ginger Savage wrote in
a press release that Litke,
in addition to artist Sue
Orlaske of Summerville,
were chosen for the gala
due to their “contributions
to Crossroads and to the
arts and culture ecology of
Eastern Oregon.”
Writes Savage, “Becky
Litke’s selection as Hon-
ored Artist was an easy
decision for the Crossroads
Board. Becky’s ‘Learn to
Love Watercolor’ class ev-
ery Wednesday has intro-
duced hundreds of locals to
the joys of painting. Becky
is always willing and
available to teach or assist
with a special tour groups,
specialty classes and spe-
cial events at Crossroads.
Becky also has mentored
dozens of artists in being
professional in the busi-
ness of art and truly sets
the bar of excellence in
understanding her audi-
ence and what her buyers
will purchase … Becky
consistently donates work
for gala or offers gift cer-
tificates for her classes and
is just a dear friend to the
organization and beloved
by the entire staff.”
After the October 4th
studio tour, 10 a.m. until
3 p.m., those interested in
viewing Litke’s art inside
the studio can call for an
appointment. Litke creates
a variety of commission
work, and welcomes calls
at 541.856.3554.
Litke’s art is also dis-
played and for sale in other
retail locations around
the area, such as Cowboy
Cabin Designs and the
Short Term Gallery in
Baker City.
The 2016 Gala Fundrais-
ing Dinner on October 17,
2015, “GI Jive: A 1940’s
USO Show,” will be held
at the Baker Event Center.
Tickets are $40 a person
at Crossroads and include
dinner with beef donated
by John and Molly Wilson,
as well as a vegetarian op-
tion prepared by volunteers
Kristen Bell Anderson and
Jessica Wickert.
Music will be performed
by swing band, the Blue
Yesterdays, and the An-
drew Sisters will join in a
special performance.
This year’s gala honors
the “Greatest Generation”
and celebrates the arts,
culture, music and spirit of
the 1940s.
For more information
contract Crossroads at
541.523.5369 or 2020 Au-
burn Avenue in Baker City.
Eagle Complex closures reduced
The Eagle Complex
Fire Area Closure was
reduced in size Wednesday.
Specified roads will remain
closed. On Thursday, the
Type 3 incident manage-
ment team, led by Willy
Crippen, Incident Com-
mander, turned command
over to a smaller organiza-
tion managed by the Wal-
lowa-Whitman National
Forest, under the command
of Tyson Baxter, Type 4
Incident Commander.
Good progress continues
to be made on the Eagle
Complex, located 20 miles
northwest of Richland,
Oregon. The 12,763 acre
lightning caused wildfire
is 75% contained, and has
— Weekly Hay Report —
burned 463 acres of pri-
vately owned land protect-
ed by Oregon Department
of Forestry and 12,300
acres of the Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest.
There are 91 personnel
assigned to the fire, inclu -
ing 2 crews, 4 engines, 3
water tenders, 1 dozer, and
2 helicopters. The incident
command post will remain
at the Lily White Forest
Service work center until
Sunday.
A helicopter and an
infrared camera will be
used to find heat remaining
along the perimeter of the
fire and near structures t -
day. And firefighters on th
ground are using hand held
infrared cameras again
to detect heat around the
cabins and structures along
East Eagle Creek.
Hose will be left in
place awhile longer around
the cabins and structures
along East Eagle Creek.
Engines are continuing to
mop up and patrol around
the cabins along East Eagle
Creek, by FS Road 7745.
Two fallers are falling haz-
ardous trees.Existing roads
in the vicinity of the fire
that have been impacted by
fire suppression traffic ar
being graded.
The Burned Area Emer-
gency Response (BAER)
assessment of the Eagle
Complex is beginning, to
identify imminent post-
wildfire threats to human
life and safety, property
and critical natural or cul-
tural resources.
The public use restric-
tions on the Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest
werereduced to Phase A
on September 9th. This
change allows campfires in
fire pits surrounded by dirt,
rock or a commercial fire
ring, that is cleared of all
flammable material within
a 3 foot radius. A shovel
and one gallon of water is
required to have a camp-
fire. Operating a chain saw
is allowed from 8 p.m. to
1 p.m.
Steer Calves
300-400# Bulk 281.00 - 304.00 Top 314.00
400-500# Bulk 234.00 - 278.00 Top 285.00
500-600# Bulk 218.00 - 255.00 Top 257.00
Heifer Calves
300-400# Bulk 257.00 - 278.00 Top 281.00
400-500# Bulk 222.00 - 249.00 Top 255.00
500-600# Bulk 196.00 - 222.00 Top 226.00
Yearling Steers
600-700# Bulk 198.00 - 219.00 Top 223.00
700-800# Bulk 194.00 - 209.00 Top 210.00
800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Yearling Heifers
600-700# Bulk 186.00 - 206.00 Top 209.00
700-800# Bulk 184.00 - 201.00 Top 203.00
800-900# Bulk 159.00 - 172.00 Top 176.00
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Thin Shelly Cows 81.00 - 91.00
Butcher Cows 93.00 - 102.00
Butcher Bulls 98.00 - 127.00
Stock Cows Yng. 1400.00 - 1800.00
Younger Hfrts. N/A
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: $1103.80
Silver: $14.59
Platinum: $981.60
Palladium: $579.35
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Corn: $369.00/bu/USD
Wheat: $473.25/bu/USD
Soybeans: $874.25/bu/USD
Oats: $236.00 bu/USD
Rough Rice: $12.51/cwt/USD
Canola: $464.70 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $143.00/lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $198.60/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $69.03//lb./USD
Bloomberg.com