Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2015)
LOCAL (Halfway): Pine-Eagle Charter School Christmas concert. PAGE 8 The SPECIAL: Holiday messages from local businesses and organizations. PAGE 12 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, December 18, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 51 Local police nab third Boise robbery suspect since 2004 • WELLS FARGO BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT CAPTURED IN BAKER CITY BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Last Friday afternoon, for the third time in recent memory, local law enforce- ment nabbed yet another Boise-area bank robbery suspect who had fl ed to Baker City. Mark Allen Price, 46, was being sought in con- nection with the December 10 armed robbery of nearly $1,600 from the Wells Fargo at 7700 West Fair- view Avenue in Boise. At 6’2”, 370 lbs. and covered in distinctive tatoos on front and back, including some biker gang images, his own image stood out on bank cameras. When the Boise police sent word to Baker City Police Department (BCPD) Lt. Dustin Newman that Price might be in the area, video surveillance footage at the local Maverik on Campbell Street confi rmed that suspicion. According to Newman, the Boise detective in- formed him that Price had family in the area, and that it was suspected he might be staying in the local Best Western. Newman said he “changed into soft clothes, went undercover—and couldn’t fi nd him.” The Maverik footage had shown Price in a 1997 Ford Ranger Pickup. Newman checked all the local hotels and motels with no luck until police were at last able to “ping” Price’s cell phone, from which he had made a call only ten minutes earlier at the Super 8 Motel near the freeway. Newman, who along with Sgt. Wayne Chastain and Offi cer Daniel Pelayo, were the three BCPD of- fi cers on duty at the time. Submitted Photo. Mark Allen Price’s arrest last Friday was only one in a series of brushes with the law. SEE ROBBERY PAGE 5 There and back again … County, USFS meet again • SECOND COORDINATION MEETING HELD WITH FOREST SERVICE BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held another government-to-government coordination meeting with representatives of the United States Forest Service (USFS) on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house. Present from the Board were Commission Chair Bill Harvey, and Commissioner Tim Kerns, and fi lling in for Executive Assistant Heidi Martin was Shaylinn Sells from Baker County Administrative Services. Commissioner Mark Bennett was absent, due to family commitments. Joining the Board from the USFS were Whitman District Ranger Jeff Tomac, and La Grande District Ranger Bill Gamble. SEE COUNTY / USFS PAGE 3 Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Forest Service publishes travel management reports A large group fi lled the gym at the LDS Church in Baker City Saturday night as Elizabeth “Betty” and David Huntsman were welcomed home. L-R: Glenda Mastrude, Betty Huntsman and Sheila Valentine. • A TWO-YEAR JOURNEY COMES FULL CIRCLE BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The past two years passed slowly at times, but overall, seemingly in a blink. In the debut issue of The Baker County Press, January 3, 2014, the article “To Russia with Love” chronicled David and Elizabeth “Betty” Huntsman’s departure on a church mission, initially landing them in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Last Saturday the Huntsmans celebrated their return to Baker City at the LDS Church, packed with a couple hundred of their closest friends—and a massive cookie exchange. During their two years away, “Some of our friends have died, babies were born, and people have married,” said Betty. The couple’s dog now has a white muzzle—but recog- nizes them. Betty said she’s thankful to see the Elkhorn Mountains remaining the same as always behind them. And, of course, they are surprised by the “Haggen saga” and hope to see a second large grocery store return to the area. For now, they’re adjusting and refl ecting. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Mementos of Russia decorated the tables, along with dozens of plates full of cookies. Portland, Ore — Press Release: The U.S. Forest Ser- vice Pacifi c Northwest Region released 17 travel analysis reports this week that outline existing road systems and identify opportunities to achieve a more sustainable sys- tem of roads for each national forest in the Pacifi c North- west. These travel analysis reports are part of nationwide requirement involving national forests across the country. These reports are not decision documents—instead, they provide an analysis of where the existing road sys- tem is today. All future proposed actions and decisions will involve further opportunities for public input and engagement at the project level under national environmental policy act processes, according to guidance issued by Regional Forester Jim Peña to all national forests. SEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PAGE 9 SEE THERE AND BACK AGAIN PAGE 5 Friday Cloudy with rain likely. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Highs near 40. Possible freezing rain at night. Lows around 30. Saturday Mostly cloudy with a chance for snow. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little to no accumulation expected. Highs in the mid 30s. Lows near 20. Sunday Mostly cloudy with a chance for snow. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Light to moderate ac- cumulation expected. Highs in the mid 30s. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE OCA holds annual meeting in Bend Christmas dinner in Panhandle Huntington Christmas celebrations Sumpter festivities held County: Justice Court IGA Christian Women’s Luncheon ends Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 8 8 8 10
