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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2015)
SPORTS: Rep. Cliff Bentz rides in Cycle Oregon, wildfire changes routes. PAGE 7 The LOCAL: U.S. Rep. Greg Walden holds fire- focused town hall. PAGE 8 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, September 18, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 38 Transfer of public lands draws officials to Baker City • REP. KEN IVORY OF THE AMERICAN LANDS COUNCIL SPENDS THREE DAYS IN AREA BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Utah State Representa- tive Ken Ivory visited Bak- er County for the second September in a row last weekend with a three-day stay in the area this time. Ivory also serves as President of the American Lands Council (ALC), and along with colleague David Holloway, that same organization’s Colorado State Coordinator, not only held a full-day seminar on the topic of public lands transfer, free to the public, but toured the areas burned in the 103,000-acre Cornet/ Windy Ridge Fire. Fresh from the Boise Airport, Ivory’s fi rst stop was a two-hour visit with Rep. Cliff Bentz in Ontario, who expressed his interest in learning more about the ALC’s primary goal: releasing federally managed lands back to state-level control. From there, Ivory and Holloway gathered with a group of around 20 citizens for a public meet and greet Friday evening to discuss whatever came to mind. One local opponent of the idea, attended briefl y, but the remainder of the at- tendees were in support of the transfer of public lands. Saturday morning, the banquet room at the Sunridge was packed as Ivory’s offi cial seminar began. Oregon State Rep- resentatives Greg Barreto from Cove and Mike Near- man from Independence traveled to attend, as did Planning Commissioner Les Poole of Gladstone and Union County Com- missioner Jack Howard. Submitted Photo. L-R: Baker County NRAC member Kody Justus, Rep. Ken Ivory, David Holloway and forester Arvid Andersen look at the burn area on Dooley Mountain. SEE PUBLIC LANDS PAGE 5 Accident ignites Dry Gulch Fire Photo courtesy of Heidi Justus. Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press Old and young alike gathered to give thanks to fi rst responders and remember those who were lost during the September 11, 2001 attack on American soil. • NEW BRIDGE, RICHLAND, HALFWAY AREAS RECEIVE EVACUATION NOTICES 9/11 vigil held in front of local armory for 2nd year BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com An explosive single-vehicle rollover was the cause of the Dry Gulch Fire, which started on Saturday. According to Sheriff Travis Ash, his offi ce responded to the accident at about 3:10 p.m. on September 12. • FIRE DEPARTMENT TURNS OUT TO PAY RESPECTS, REMEMBER THOSE WHO FELL SEE DRY GULCH FIRE PAGE 2 BY SUNNY WERNER Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Top: Firefi ghters at the Baker Fire Department respectfully removed their hats prior to folding the fl ag. Lower: Lorrie Harvey at left, with vigil organizer Carole Dyke of Baker City. Friday Mostly sunny and mild, highs in the mid to upper 60s. Partly cloudy and cool at night with lows near 40. Saturday Mostly sunny and mild, highs in the mid 70s. At night, partly cloudy and cool, lows in the mid-40s. Sunday Mostly sunny and warm, highs near 80. Mostly clear at night with lows in the mid 40s. Early in the evening of Friday, September 11, a group of local residents gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Baker County Armory on Campbell Street. Flying proudly above was the American Flag suspend- ed from an extended ladder on a Baker City Fire Depart- ment (BCFD) fi re truck. Among the group were members of the BCFD, Baker County Emergency Management and County Commis- sion Chair Bill Harvey, several Precinct Committee- people from the Baker County Republicans, along with a couple of dozen Baker residents. This was the second “offi cial” annual 9/11 or Patriots Day remembrance observance for Baker City, both initi- ated and organized by Carole Dyke. Dyke, the driving force behind the event, greeted the attendees. She welcomed everyone, and spoke a few words about what the program would contain. Dyke then introduced Kody Justus as the keynote speaker, who also led an invocation. SEE 9/11 VIGIL PAGE 5 Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. The Dry Gulch Fire jumped Hwy. 86 Sunday at the top of the grade between Halfway and Richland. Wingville Cemetery gets marker BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com Local community members and others from across the state came together on what could be described as a cli- matically perfect Patriots Day last Friday morning, for the Wingville Cemetery Historic Marker Dedication, spon- sored by the local Lone Pine Tree Chapter of the Oregon State Society Daughters Of The American Revolution (OSSDAR). SEE WINGVILLE PAGE 12 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE New candy shop to open Jeff Kleck art on display BMS volleyball Kerns stalls NRP adoption Sumpter: 1 councilor likely recalled Career profi le: BMS Counselor Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 3 7 9 9 10