LOCAL: Man arrested on bomb-making
charges. PAGE 8
BUSINESS & AG: Cattle producers
attend Beef Tour PAGE 3
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Friday, December 11, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 50
Rep. Barreto tours BHS’s
Baker Technical Institute
• ENTREPRENEUR
GIVES ADVICE FOR
BTI PROGRAM
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Rep.
Greg Barreto of Cove met
in Baker City with Baker
Technical Institute (BTI)
Principal Jerry Peacock
and 5J School Board mem-
ber Andrew Bryan. The
purpose was a tour of the
BTI facilities, and discus-
sion about the direction
and goals of the Institute.
BTI offers “career
pathways” with a mission
statement that, “The Path-
way Programs are rigorous
courses of study to assure
strong academic and tech-
nical preparation providing
students with critical learn-
ing and hands-on-skills.
Students who focus on a
Pathway acquire the skills
necessary for entry into
well-paid careers with high
potential for rapid fi nancial
growth, increased levels of
responsibility and a high
degree of personal satisfac-
tion.”
The discussion covered
the needs of students pre-
paring to enter the work-
force with skills to earn a
living wage, the needs of
the community at large to
have a skilled workforce
who would be able to pro-
vide services locally, and
the needs of locally large
employers who depend on
the schools to prepare their
upcoming employees for
more than the basic, entry
level positions.
Barreto asked Peacock,
“Are you working to
develop a thirst for these
students to go further?”
Sunny Werner / The Baker County Press
SEE BTI PAGE 10
L-R: Andrew Bryan, Rep. Greg Barreto and Jerry
Peacock.
McEwen Bible Fellowship Distracted
puts a wreath around it drivers posing
increased risk
• POLICE PLAN FOR SATURATION PATROL
TO EDUCATE AGAINST DISTRACTED
DRIVING, PARTICULARLY TEXTING
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
The McEwen Bible Fellowship hosted its annual ladies’ wreath party December 5th. Greenery was
provided and participants brought fi nger foods to share. The ladies also participated in an ornament
exchange after the wreaths were completed.
SEE DISTRACTED DRIVING PAGE 5
Lawyer says prayer before
County meetings is legal
• COUNTY HEARS
MORE ON IN-
STREAM WATER
RIGHTS, COUNTY
HEALTH ISSUES
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held an
informal work session on
Wednesday to discuss in-
stream water rights, county
health issues and statistics,
and a citizen’s complaints
against prayer before the
County’s public meetings.
Present from the Board
were Commission Chair
Bill Harvey, Commission-
ers Mark Bennett and Tim
Kerns, and Executive As-
sistant Heidi Martin.
Also in attendance were
legal counsel Drew Martin,
of Yturri Rose LLP, Baker
County Health Depart-
ment Director Robin Nudd,
Baker County Tobacco
Program Coordinator Torie
Andrews, Ed Hardt, Gary
Dielman, Chuck Chase,
Bobbie Danser, John and
Ramona Creighton, Doni
Bruland, and Wanda and
Friday
Mostly cloudy with snow showers possible.
Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little to no ac-
cumulation. Highs in the mid to upper 30s.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with a chance for snow. Chance
of precipitation is 40%. Light accumulation of
snow possible. Highs in the mid 30s, lows in
mid-30s.
Sunday
Rain/snow mix likely with mostly cloudy skies.
Chance of precipitation is 70%. Highs near 40.
Lows in the low 20s.
Tork Ballard.
Water Rights.
Martin explained there is
a coordinated effort among
the irrigation districts in
Baker County, via fi led
protests, to address an in-
stream water rights appli-
cation, fi led in the 1990s,
by the Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW).
Part of the issue, he said,
is that ODFW has asked
for more water than would
be currently available, or is
likely to be available in the
future.
Martin said that the
negative effects of ODFW
being granted those
water rights could include
interference from ODFW
whenever an irrigation dis-
trict deems changes neces-
sary in points of diversion,
for example. He said that
currently he believes the
County has legal standing,
but, that process doesn’t
involve litigation at this
point. He said that alterna-
tives are being discussed.
Hardt said, “Irrigation
districts can coordinate,
agency to agency.”
SEE COUNTY 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.
“Oregon’s cell phone law has had at least one unin-
tended consequence,” said Baker City Police Chief Wyn
Lohner. “Increased texting while driving.”
Lohner referred to “ORS 811.507 Operating motor
vehicle while using mobile communication device.”
Lohner believes that because it’s easy for law enforce-
ment to spot a cell phone in the hand or up to the ear of
a driver—even easier to spot a device’s glow at night—
drivers have taken to hiding their phones down lower, and
texting, in order to avoid the cell phone law.
After the last meeting of the Baker County Transpor-
tation Safety Committee, Lohner and Lt. Sean Belding
from the Oregon State Police discussed a future saturation
patrol effort to help educate about the dangers of not just
using a cell phone, but of texting while driving. Distract-
ed driving-related accidents are on the rise across Oregon,
ofttimes with texting to thank.
“While talking on your phones is risky, texting is even
more dangerous than holding a phone up to your ear,”
Lohner said.
New
Chamber
Director
hired
The Baker County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors
Bureau have announced the hiring of Shelly Cutler as the
new Executive Director. Cutler will take over the reins,
following the departure of Debi Bainter, of the Chamber
on January 4, 2016.
A liberal studies graduate of Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity, Cutler brings experience in communication, writing,
and marketing. She is also the new co-owner of Tropical
Sun Bronzing Spa located on Court Street.
Cutler is profi cient in media relations, is creative and
innovative, and passionate about the community and
county.
SEE CHAMBER DIRECTOR PAGE 8
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Sumpter City Council coverage
Santa Claus visits Mayday, Inc.
5J holds community meetings
Historic Homes tour this weekend
City: Disc golf and Justice Court IGA
Twilight Parade photos
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