8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015
Local
Historic Homes Parlor Tour Chamber
scheduled for this weekend director
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Saturday, December 12
from noon until 5 p.m.,
Historic Baker City will
present the 30th annual
Parlour Tour.
The event is being co-
sponsored by The Sunridge
and Old West Federal
Credit Union.
New additions to the
tour this year include St.
Francis De Sales Cathedral
and the Sheppard House on
Main Street.
Tickets for the Tour are
available for $15, $12 for
seniors and students, and
can be purchased at BEL-
LA Main Street Market,
Betty’s Books, The Cham-
ber of Commerce or The
Historic Baker City Office
in the Pythian Castle prior
to the tour day.
Groups of 10 or more
can purchase tickets for
only $10 apiece.
Tickets will also be
available the day of the
event at Baker Heritage
Museum.
The tour is self-guided
and begins at the Museum.
The tour proudly
presents 10 other stops that
include Crossroads – Carn-
egie Library, St. Stephen’s
Episcopal Church, The Leo
Adler House and several
other notable properties
throughout our beautiful
Historic Community such
as The Wisdom House and
the Shoemaker House.
“We are going to have a
good showing,” said HBC
Program Manager Jeff Nel-
son. “The Wisdom house
is on the tour for the first
time. Veronica Johnson has
turned it into a vacation
rental home, it was one of
the first houses ever built
in Baker City. The Catholic
Church will be on the tour
for the first time as is The
Sheppard House on Main
and Campbell where Amy
Briels has her Real Estate
Company.”
Briels wrote an email
According to a press release from Chamber Board
President Cheryl Martin, Cutler is excited to facilitate
activities that encourage economic development and ad-
vance the prosperity of Baker County while creating ways
to heighten tourism and focus on infrastructure efforts.
The same press release states that the Chamber board
members are excited for the future opportunities and pos-
sibilities that lie ahead.
The Chamber of Commerce Board will be hosting a
Christmas Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from
4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the chamber office on east Campbell.
Please come meet the new director, visit with the board
and snack on Christmas goodies.
Diocesan
events ahead
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
The St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City is but one new stop on the
tour.
to Nelson regarding some
history on her property that
she received from Nanci
Sheppard.
In that email she stated
that Nanci Sheppard had
told her the house was
built in 1890 by Frederick
Eppinger for his mother
and sisters. The home was
kept in that family until
1960. Frederick Eppinger,
a well-respected citizen,
was a cabinet maker who
also made caskets. His
home was located almost
next door at 2411 Main
Street.
St. Francis de Sales
Cathedral also new to the
tour this year boasts a great
deal of history in the com-
munity. The Cathedral was
dedicated April 9, 1908
with the groundbreaking
for the Church May 24,
1905.
The building is built
entirely of local stone—
Pleasant Valley stone
known as volcanic tuff.
Eight stained glass win-
dows were installed by
mid-May 1923 with the
first major renovation in
1944 and another in 1958.
As part of that renova-
tion, two additional stained
glass windows were in-
stalled by June 1959 and a
smaller window under the
choir loft installed in 1965.
Cathedral Doors crafted
in 1975 by Oregon metal
sculptor Lee Kelly were in-
stalled with another major
renovation occurring in the
winter of 1980 and 1981.
In 1994 an elevator
allowing access to four
levels in the Church was
incorporated.
It should be noted that in
all renovations the gothic
integrity of the building
was not encroached upon.
Nelson wishes to thank
local members that helped
make this possible, Baker
City Herald, Baker City
Lions, Baker City Realty,
The Baker County Press,
Baker Food Co-Op, Bella
Main Street Market, Best
Western Sunridge Inn,
Betty’s Books, Bridge
Street Inn, Hells Canyon
Motorcycle Rally, J. Tabor
Jewelry, Old West Federal
Credit Union, Oregon Trail
Electric Co-Op, Veteran’s
Memorial Club, Amy and
Eric Friedman and JoAnn
and Gary Marlette.
This year’s tour looks
to be rich in history and
beauty and should not be
missed.
Sumpter City Council
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PAGE 4
Julie McKinney stated
she made an executive de-
cision after Dick and Rella
Brown spent 1 ½ hours in
the Fire Hall sweeping up
maggots.
Mike Bainter with Baker
Pest Control came out.
He said they have a major
infestation and it will take
a while, but he is confident
he can get the situation
under control and prevent
further problems with
proper maintenance.
Cary Clarke said the
real problem is with the
hose tower. There was dis-
cussion about the incred-
ible length of time the fly
problem has been an issue.
Kurt Clarke stated this is
the first thing he was told
when he started, to cover
his boots with his turnouts
so they would not get full
of flies.
Myers stated he would
recommend, based on
Clarke’s suggestion, tak-
ing down the hose tower
as it is no longer needed.
He explained they used
to hang and dry hoses
whenever they were wet,
but that new hoses don’t
require that. Myers said
it was a volunteer job to
put the tower up and they
would propose it being
a volunteer job to take it
down.
Julie McKinney reported
Blacks is coming to pump
water out of the heating
fuel tank. Jeff McKinney
asked what is the next step
as there is no heat in the
City Hall building. He
mentioned that Scott’s
Heating and Air Condition-
ing came out previously
and suggested abandoning
the current system and
putting in an above-ground
tank. A motion to do this
was approved and Myers
asked Julie McKinney to
move forward.
Jeff McKinney stated
he wanted to thank Clarke
Construction for “pulling
the snowplow out of dif-
ficult position it slid into”
and saving the City a tow
bill. He also said, “I am
very happy to see Council
moving forward and ac-
complishing what needs to
be done in such an effec-
tive manner. Thank you,
all of you. It’s refreshing
to see problems being ad-
dressed and taken care of.”
Myrna stated she agreed
with Jeff that Council was
doing great getting things
done.
Jeff McKinney led a
round of applause.
Kurt Clarke stated he
was leaving to see if he
could get the bathroom
lights on.
Executive Session
Myers announced the
meeting was adjourned
to be reopened with an
Executive Session. He
explained the session was
open, but that those present
could observe only and
offer no input. He stated
the matter was in regard to
an employee complaint of
harassment. Myers said
he has been trying to get
in touch with the City’s
attorney, but has not been
able to do so.
Council discussed the
matter, giving the employ-
ee a chance to voice input
as well. Clarke stated that
it’s fine to have an opinion,
but keep it to yourself.
Esposito said, “Treat
people like you want to be
treated.”
She said any employee
issues should be taken to
Clarke as he is now the su-
pervisor. Myers said what
has been recommended is
that everyone volunteer to
behave in the future. There
is currently no process in
place to follow once it is
determined that someone
has done wrong.
Myers addressed the
individual in question and
Bishop Cary will be at the Cathedral this coming week
to perform the Rite for the The Rite of Opening the Door
of Mercy and Mass on December 13, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at
the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, Baker City.
As explained by Pope Francis: “The practice of pilgrim-
age has a special place in the Holy Year...to reach the
Holy Door ... everyone, each according to his or her abil-
ity, will have to make a pilgrimage. This will be a sign
that mercy is also a goal to reach and requires dedication
and sacrifice. May pilgrimage be an impetus to conver-
sion: by crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, we will
find the strength to embrace God’s mercy and dedicate
ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father has
been with us.”
More information can be found at www.dioceseof-
baker.org/yom.htm
Man arrested
for bomb-
making
Photo Courtesy of the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.
Jonathon Romine.
said, “I hope that you can
see fit not to pester our
City employees. I don’t
know what else to do at
this time. It can get very
serious.”
He then asked Council
for any final input be-
fore closing the session.
Oakley read a definition
of harassment, including
systematic and ongoing
actions. She stated one
incident does meet the
definition of harassment.
Esposito stated they need
to put this behind them and
move forward. Oakley
agreed that the incident is
now in the past and to put
it there.
Clarke asked the employ-
ee if that was suitable. The
employee replied, “Yes, I
can work with everybody
here.”
Myers adjourned the
Executive Session and
reopened the Council
meeting to allow for public
input. After hearing some
brief remarks and promis-
ing that if the individual in
question steps out of line
“one iota,” Council will act
swiftly, the meeting was
adjourned.
Kurt Clarke announced
he had found and reset the
appropriate GFI and the
bathroom lights were back
on.
Jonathon Romine, 35, who was residing at 627 David
Eccles in Baker City, has been charged with manufactur-
ing an improvised explosive device (IED), and unlawful
possession of an IED.
Romine was not directly renting the home at which
he was staying, but residing with its renter. He is from
Halfway.
After receiving a tip and photograph from the property's
owner, according to Police Chief Wyn Lohner, Baker
City Police obtained a search warrant for the outbuilding
behind the residence where the device was subsequently
located Monday afternoon.
The IED charges were added on Tuesday to other
charges for which Romine was already incarcerated ear-
lier in the month.
Lohner said that the piece required to ignite the device
was lacking, and that the overall destructive potential of
the device was unknown.
Homeland Security referred law enforcement to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation who have in turn referred
them to the ATF, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
The investigation is ongoing.
OTEC gives $5K
In support of the Grant County wildfire relief fund, Or-
egon Trail Electric Cooperative had an opportunity early
this morning to visit Old West Federal Credit Union and
present a $5K check issued by the National Rural Utili-
ties Cooperative Finance Cooperation (CFC).
According to Old West Federal Credit Union president,
Ken Olson, the “Community Fire Relief Fund” has dis-
tributed approximately $250K in donated funds through-
out the community to date.
Additional information on how you can donate to help
Canyon Creek wildfire victims can be found by visiting
any Old West Federal Credit Union branch, by mail (650
W. Main St., John Day, OR 97845), or by calling: 541-
575-0264.