FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Outdoor Rec / Local
HELP WANTED
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. BAKER COUNTY CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE is accepting applications for the position
of Executive Director. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Oct.
15, 2015. JOB LOCATION: Baker City, OR. HOURS PER
WEEK: 40. REQUIREMENTS: 1) Bachelor’s degree in
marketing, public or business administration, economic
development, or related fi eld. 2.) Minimum of 3 years
experience in management, business development, tour-
ism or related fi eld. 3.) Must be a creative thinker, detail-
oriented, and have outstanding people skills. 4.) Must
have advanced computer skills, knowledge of budgeting,
accounting, and fi nancing and experience in creating a
business plan. Please send cover letter, resume and a list
of 3 professional references to: Chamber, P.O. Box 305
10.16.
North Powder, OR 97867.
LEGAL NOTICE
DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE
Medical Springs Rural Fire Protection District Board
of Directors will hold its regular monthly board meeting at
Pondosa Station, on Thursday, October 3, 2015 at 7 PM
to discuss fi re department operations.
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Huntington
hosts Cycle
Oregon
Check out our low advertising rates
at www.TheBakerCountyPress.com!
Wondering about the grouse
listing would
have caused
locally.
Time and
time again,
meeting after
meeting saw
some com-
ponent of the
Sage-Grouse
issue men-
tioned, with
some solid
solutions
proposed
THE OUTDOOR COLUMN
and imple-
mented, and
By Todd Arriola
some not-so-
By now, there’s no doubt
solid solutions
that everyone on the face
proposed, including a salt
of the Earth (or at least in
tax which would have ef-
the West), has heard the
fectively labeled livestock
news that the Fish and
producers as partly to
Wildlife Service has de-
blame for the questionable
cided not to list the Greater woes of the bird, since they
Sage-Grouse under the En- would have been the ones
dangered Species Act. It
footing the bill. And they
seems the U.S. Department proposed the tax.
of the Interior has seen the
County Commissioner
big picture, and has taken
Mark Bennett has played
note that an “…unprec-
a key role in the battle to
edented land conservation
make Sage-Grouse conser-
effort has already signifi -
vation efforts, including
cantly reduced the threats
local ones, known to state
to sage grouse,” according
and federal agencies, urg-
to Interior Secretary Sally
ing community landown-
Jewell.
ers to enter into a 30-year
In my humble opinion,
Candidate Conservation
Baker County couldn’t
Agreement with Assuranc-
have received better news
es (CCAA) in the process,
this month, considering
as a form of protection in
the devastating effects the
the event the bird would
be listed. Though the bird
isn’t slated to be listed for
now, Bennett’s and others’
efforts to highlight the ben-
efi ts of a CCAA—a docu-
ment that in part acknowl-
edges conservation efforts
already in place—have
largely fell on deaf ears in
the County, as evidenced
by a poor response.
Bennett and others have
stated that the decision to
list the Sage-Grouse would
have been based unfortu-
nately on politics, and not
on scientifi c data, since
there is ample evidence
to show that conservation
efforts have been success-
ful. “What more can we
do?” Bennett said, noting
that predator threats to
the Greater Sage-Grouse,
including literally any
animal that can kill a
chicken-sized bird, haven’t
been addressed adequately,
in the decision whether to
list it.
Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsak said, “To-
gether, we have shown that
voluntary efforts joining
the resources of private
landowners, federal and
state agencies, and partner
organizations can help
drive landscape-level
conservation that is good
for sage grouse, ranching
operations, and rural com-
munities.” That explains
the effort in a nutshell, but,
apparently, environmental
groups are screaming foul,
blaming the decision not
to list on political pressure
from western industries—
oil and gas, mining and
agriculture. Whatever the
claim, I’m not sure what
we’d do (or they’d do)
if those industries didn‘t
exist.
It appeared that, for quite
some time, the Greater
Sage-Grouse would be
listed, despite the enor-
mous amount of conser-
vation effort shown, and
the increasing population
numbers. (How could they
keep such an accurate,
close count on them, like
the grey wolf, anyway?)
But, we were lucky this
time, and dodged the
mighty sword.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m
pleased that the decision
has been made not to list
the bird, and sometimes, I
like to keep things simple
with the philosophy, “Why
ask why?” regarding
positive news, but, I have
to wonder, what will the
future hold fi ve years down
the road, when the state of
the bird is reassessed?
Maybe I shouldn’t won-
der so much…
Baker County Fair and Panhandle
Rodeo Round Robin results
Eileen Driver / The Baker County Press
Dinner is served to participants gathered in
Huntington.
BY EILEEN DRIVER
Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Huntington was honored to host Cycle Oregon not once
but twice this past week, making many new friends in the
process.
In an event that hasn’t happened since Cycle Oregon
came through the city approximately 10 years ago, every
community group in Huntington banded together to help
the 2,250 bicyclers and 300+ supporting workers on their
journey through Eastern Oregon.
The event began with lunch in Huntington High
School’s lower fi eld, served by Huntington Christian
Center and Huntington Parks & Recreation, with bicy-
clist trickling in from their starting point in Baker City
from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
From there, participants visited local businesses and
both the indoor and outdoor Historical Museum before
continuing on their way to Farewell Bend State Park
where they were greeted and welcomed to Huntington
with cheers by historically costumed pioneers, Weiser,
Idaho’s Onion Skin Players and the Bald Mountain
Knuckle Draggers highland games athletes courtesy of
the Huntington Historical Society and The Snake River
Sternwheeler Association. As they arrived to fi nd their
tents set up ready for the night ahead, their luggage was
delivered right to their doors for them by Huntington
High School students and the Lion’s Club who packed
them back up for travel the next morning as well. Dinner
and breakfast, which took three to four hours to serve
each time, was served with a smile by volunteers for the
Huntington Senior & Youth Organization.
Table and chair set-ups and take-downs along with
garbage removal throughout the park were supplied by
the Veteran of Foreign Wars. All this was over seen and
organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of
Huntington with help and thanks to the people at Fare-
well Bend State Park. At the end of the tiring, but fun
two-day odyssey, everyone was exhausted and ready
for a rest. George Petit, Quarter Master for the VFW
was heard to say, “Tell Tara (Cycle Oregon organizer)
to lose my number! I need a rest.” But he was also the
fi rst to say, “We’ll be there,” when word came down that
Cycle Oregon was coming back not in 10, 5 or even one
year, but one day later because of the fi res burning near
Richland and Halfway making it unsafe for the riders to
continue on their journey. With a few well-placed calls
and social media pleas, the second time around was even
better than the fi rst with all the volunteers returning for
another two days of exhausting fun.
So any time Cycle Oregon or any of its riders want to
return, from the people of Huntington: “ Welcome home.
We’ll be here!”
New Baker City
Councilor needed
The City of Baker City is looking to fi ll one open
position on the City Council. The City will accept ap-
plications through the offi ce of City Recorder beginning
on September 25th until October 9th at 10:00 a.m. The
individual who is appointed by a majority vote of the City
Council will serve on the City Council through December
of 2016. An applicant must be a registered voter in the
State of Oregon and have resided within the City of Baker
City for 12 months immediately preceding the appoint-
ment. This partial term will expire at the end of December
2016.
To apply go to www.bakercity.com to download and
complete the City Councilor application located on the
City’s home page and submit a letter of interest to Luke
Yeaton at City Hall located at 1655 1st Street. Applica-
tions can be returned to: Luke Yeaton, 1655 1st Street
Baker City OR, 97814, Fax: 541-524-2024, Phone: 541-
524-2033, Email: lyeaton@bakercity.com.
Photos courtesy of Krishele Whitnah.
Above: Contestants in the 2015 Round Robin
gather for photos. At right: Grandparents Dorothy
and Thorny Hampton pose with winner Abigayle
Whitnah and siblings.
SUBMITTED BY
KRISCHELE WHITNAH
The 2015 Round Robin
winners for the Baker
County Fair and Panhandle
Rodeo were as follows:
Novice Division
Novice All Around
Showman Colton Clark
Reserve Champion
Bailee Griggs
Senior Division
All Around Showman
Abigayle Whitnah
Reserve Champion All
Around Showman Gussie
Cook
Abigayle was awarded
a buckle sponsored by the
Richland Hitching Post
Gussie Cook was awarded
a chair sponsored by the
DLX Ranch
Colton Clark was award-
ed a trophy and custom
jacket sponsored by the
Baker FFA.
Bailee Griggs was
awarded a chair sponsored
by the Pine Eagle FFA.
(The chairs are printed
to denote the award and
sponsor).
Ladies golf results
In order to compete in
the round robin, the youth
either won or got reserve
for their respective divi-
sion and species.
In round robin, each
of the participants rotates
through rings where they
show each species (Beef,
Swine, Sheep, Goats, Ca-
vies, Rabbits, and Chick-
ens) for fi ve minutes per
round.
The September 9 Quail Ridge ladies golf winners were:
1st fl ight, Jennifer Godwin; 2nd fl ight, Karen Wollard;
3rd Flight, Roxanne McAdams. Bridge winners were: 1st
fl ight Judy Karstens, 2nd Shirley Dodson, 3rd Tie: Kathy
Eidson and Carol Stevens.
September 16 Bridge winners were: 1st, Kathy Eidson;
2nd, Judy Karstens, and 3rd Betty Combs.