FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
MayDay, Inc. gets a visit from Baker Mat
Santa Claus at First Friday event Club wrestling
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Baker Mat Club Wrestling Match Results for the De-
cember 5, 2015 Enterprise Match are: 1st place wins-10;
2nd place wins-8; 3rd place wins-5.
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
MayDay, Inc. partici-
pated in December’s First
Friday event, offering
pictures with a special visi-
tor, information on their
services, and cookies and
cocoa.
Millie Joseph, director,
said the event was a chance
to raise awareness of “who
we are and that we’re here
for the community.”
Children had an oppor-
tunity to visit and get a pic-
ture with Santa in front of
a beautiful Christmas tree
as well as enjoying candy
canes and other Christmas
goodies.
MayDay, Inc. works to
prevent domestic violence,
sexual assault, and child
and elder abuse. They
offer assistance to victims,
including a 24-hour crisis
line, trained advocates, and
assistance with obtaining
restraining orders.
Advocates also go out
on all reported sexual as-
saults. Joseph explained
advocates are privileged,
meaning they can’t be
subpoenaed and are not
required reporters.
Other services offered
include food boxes. The
only requirements are
income-based in alignment
with the Oregon Food
Bank guidelines. Food
boxes can be received once
a month, by appointment at
the offi ce.
MayDay, Inc. also offers
OSP asks for
help in
poaching case
Submitted Photo.
This elk in Union County was shot and left to waste.
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Santa Claus a.k.a. Miles Cornelius listened to all the good girls and boys on
First Friday during MayDay’s open house.
a class on relationships.
Classes are held every
Wednesday from 2:30 p.m.
to 3:30 p.m., and are open
to everyone.
Joseph said they would
like to offer more classes
in the future, when they
have the funding.
Volunteers are always
welcome.
Joseph said some cur-
rent needs are help with
the Crisis Line, help at
the front desk, or sorting
clothes donations.
MayDay, Inc. does
not discriminate against
volunteers, though anyone
working with the public
must pass a background
check.
More information on
MayDay, Inc., including
offered services, how to
help, and secure online
donations, is available at
maydayinc.net.
The offi ce number is
523-9472. The 24-hour
crisis line is 523-4134 or
toll free at 888-213-4134.
5J holds community meeting
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Monday, December
7th., approximately 15 ad-
ministrators, teachers and
parents met at South Baker
school to discuss goals and
plans for the future.
Mark Witty, School
Superintendent, and Na-
nette Lehman, Principal of
South Baker Intermediate,
met with teachers and par-
ents to explain the goals of
the Community Meetings
being held in each school
in the district. Ben Merrill,
Principal of Baker High,
was also in attendance.
Lehman fi rst went
through the PowerPoint
presentation designed by
the School Board, and
explained to attendees the
goals developed by the 5J
Board.
These included:
• Effective Literacy
Support for Students,
Families and the Com-
munity;
• Implement Robust
Calendar for Additional
Opportunities; and
• Collaborative Leader-
ship.
Lehman went on to
explain how Baker schools
were moving to address
these goals using nation-
ally recommended criteria.
Reading is expected to
be at grade level by 3rd
grade: Baker offers Read-
ing Support Staff.
All-day kindergarten has
been implemented, and the
Summer School has been
expanded.
The District offers
Ongoing Professional De-
velopment Opportunities.
Students are able to earn
college credits in High
School, and have Ca-
reer Pathways available
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cal Institute.
Regular attendance is
considered vital to suc-
cessful students: schools
have incentives in place to
foster and encourage good
attendance.
In addition, the Baker
School District was se-
lected for Math Enhance-
ment programmes.
The District offers
Charter Schools to respond
to parental choices and
student needs, and Baker
Technical Institute for
those students who wish
to begin gaining practical
skills and knowledge in
their chosen fi elds.
The group of attendees
then briefl y split into three,
and followed Lehman's
request to select their
choices for activities and
programmes they would
like to see continued.
Once completed, each
group presented their
choices to the larger group.
Then came the direction
to select the activities and
programmes that could be
improved upon.
Again, the small groups
presented their ideas to the
group at large.
Then Lehman instructed
the entire group to walk
among all the lists, and
each select three items
they felt were of greatest
importance by placing a
check mark.
Witty explained the
District would take all sug-
gestions from all the meet-
ings at each school under
advisement. There will be
more meetings including
teachers and the Board
to whittle the selections
down. Once the process is
complete, the Board will
return to the community
groups with the selected
projects.
The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division
is asking for the public's help in locating the persons
responsible for the unlawful taking of a branch antlered
bull elk outside of La Grande in the Starkey Unit located
in Union County.
The bull was shot and left to waste just west of Foothill
Road in the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. The bull elk is
believed to have been shot on approximately November
10th. The incident occurred during the general season
Rocky Mountain elk season which is open to spike elk
only. There was no season open for branch antlered bull
elk.
A reward is being offered by the Oregon Hunters As-
sociation through the Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) program for
any information leading to an arrest and conviction in this
or any other wildlife case. Callers can remain anony-
mous. The TIP program number is 1-800-452-7888.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contacted
Senior Trooper Kris Davis at the Oregon State Police of-
fi ce in La Grande at 541-805-4757.
Burnt River
restoration
project done
Submitted Photo.
Juniper cut along Burnt River near Durkee.
The Burnt River Soil and Water Conservation District
partnered with two landowners in the Durkee area to
complete a juniper removal and bank stabilization project
on the banks of the Burnt River.
This restoration project implemented a long term juni-
per management plan to mechanically remove 40 acres of
juniper trees in the project area. Not only will the juniper
cut promote healthy vigorous growth of native grasses
and shrubs in the uplands, but the trees were also used in
stabilizing the banks of the Burnt River. The tree skel-
etons are anchored to the bank via cables and t-posts and
placed top-end down into the stream. The juniper were
overlapped and angled downstream, so the water will not
scour and erode the banks further.
Between the two landowners, 220 junipers were
anchored on the river bends to displace energy and armor
the fragile soil. Willow bundles were also planted on
the banks to help reestablish the riparian area, which is
essential for improved water quality and wildlife habi-
tat. As the woody vegetation grows, the river banks will
become more stable. The plantings were situated under
the anchored juniper to protect them from browsing. The
landowners also reseeded the disturbed areas, as well as
the road that was used for hauling material to the site.
Seeding will promote native vegetation and decrease the
chance for noxious weed niches.
This project incorporated several activities that will
continue to enhance the Burnt River watershed for years
to come.