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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2015)
BURNT RIVER: Home Extension Club gathers over new quilts. PAGE 5 The BUSINESS: Verizon’s proposed cell towers denied. PAGE 3 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, October 23, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 43 Parents protest new math curriculum • SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PACKS IN A CROWD BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com The room was full at the 5J District Building on Tuesday evening for the regular meeting. “It’s is nice to see so many here, taking an interest in our children,” said Board Chair Kevin Cassidy. But those packing the room, sitting on the fl oor and overfl owing into the hall were there due to a hot issue concerning the cur- riculum. That issue would not be heard until after other busi- ness. So, they waited. The meeting began with presentations to “Prom- ise of Baker Student of Month” winners from Brooklyn and Baker High School. The recognized student from Brooklyn was Mar- quesa Peterson, nominated by Kathy Mitchell who said Marquesa was, “Al- ways ready to learn. She is a leader, a very caring leader but not bossy, kind and respectful.” Baker High School rec- ognized Morgan Scilacci. Baker High School Principal Ben Merrill said “Marquesa and Morgan, we’ve never had this many people come to support the promise of baker awards, you guys are incredible!” That was met with much laughter from the crowd. SEE PARENTS PROTEST NEW MATH PAGE 10 Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press It was standing- and sitting-room only at this Tuesday’s 5J School Board meeting. New K9 to arrive next week Kerns will not seek re-election BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com Photo courtesy of the BCPD. During Offi cer Smith’s two-week training in Florida, Capa has been put through all the paces from his original training, including how to alert on drugs properly. Capa displays a “passive alert,” meaning he sits down and stairs at the source. Turbo had an “aggressive alert,” during which he dug at the source. • OFFICER COLETON SMITH TO RETURN WITH NEW K9 PARTNER ON HALLOWEEN BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The decision to ap- ply to become the Baker City Police Department’s (BCPD’s) new K9 handler wasn’t one Offi cer Coleton Smith took lightly. Smith, who is in Florida on a two-week training program with the replace- ment for former drug dog Turbo, is glad he took the leap. “It’s a big commitment,” Smith said. “In all our emotional survival classes we take, they talk about how to not get burnt out in your career, to try to separate work from home. The separation will be impossible with the dog, so I really wanted to be sure.” As Smith pointed out, “We’ll be on call 24/7. I’ll take home the car. The dog is always there with me.” According to Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner, the new dog, Capa, is a 20-month-old German Shepherd/Belgium Mali- nois cross. “He’s a real goofball. A fi recracker!” Smith said. Lohner said Smith was able to meet Capa and pick him out once he arrived at Southern Coast K9, Inc. in Florida. He said, “The new dog had to have a high talent for drug detection, and be the kind of dog comfortable being petted by kindergartners.” Smith concurred, and requested those same qualities. SEE CAPA PAGE 5 Friday Sunny and mild, highs near 60. Mostly clear at night and cool with lows near 30. Saturday A mix of sun and clouds and cooler. Highs in the upper 50s. Cloudy and not as cool at night with lows near 35. Sunday Sunny and warmer. Highs near 60. A few clouds at night, otherwise clear and cool. Lows near 30. The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for its second regular session of the month on Wednesday, at 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Courthouse, with the notable announcement from Com- missioner Tim Kerns that he will not seek another term. Present from the Board were Commission Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioners Mark Bennett and Tim Kerns, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Also present were Baker County Road Master Jeff Smith, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, Baker County Undersheriff Warren Thompson, Baker County Assessor Kerry Savage, Baker County Deputy Assessor Shawn Berry, Baker County Technology Director Bill Lee, Baker County Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) Coordinator Eric Wuntz, Ed Hardt, Ken Anderson, Cyn- thia Long, Tork and Wanda Ballard, and Bobbie Danser. Upon calling the session to order, Harvey noted a change to the order of recital of the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation, this time with the Invocation given fi rst. The agenda was adopted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. During the Citizen Participation segment of the session, Kerns said, “I’d like to announce that I will not run for reelection. It will 15 ½ years by the time I fi nish my term (by January of 2017). It should be plenty.” Several attendees provided comments about different topics during the same segment, including Forest Service travel management plans and the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 from Long, road closure issues from Ed and Wanda, and proposed national monuments issues from Tork. SEE COUNTY COMMISSION PAGE 5 Man cited in dog attack on alpaca BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Photo courtesy of the BCPD. Offi cer Coleton Smith and Capa hit it off right away in Florida this week. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. On October 18 at about 9 p.m., Brian Marshall of Sparta was issued a citation for having a dog as a public nuisance. The citation came as a result of the lethal attack on neighbor Lise Madson’s alpaca last week as reported in The Baker County Press. Madson witnessed three of Marshall’s dogs in a pack, mauling the animal, and was able to shoot one dog in defense. As of Friday the 16th, Marshall’s pitbulls were relo- cated. According to Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, Marshall currently has one cow dog left at his Sparta residence. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Wolf shot in Grant County Huntington’s Homecoming Blue Mtn. Forest Plan meetings Sumpter Christmas planning Lewis sworn in again on Council Commissioners urge timber salvage Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 7 8 8 9