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Friday, December 25, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 52
Mrs. Eastern Oregon puts
literacy at top of platform
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
When Baker City’s Lori
McNeil was crowned Mrs.
Eastern Oregon back in
August, she immediately
got to work promoting a
cause near and dear to her
heart: Literacy.
Said McNeil, “I have
been in education for
almost 18 years. My expe-
rience has spanned across
pre-K to adult professional
development. Literacy
skills are essential in pro-
viding and maintaining a
solid growth and develop-
ment for everyday liv-
ing. Strong literacy skills
empower people in ways
that go beyond understand-
ing, and serve as building
blocks into a deeper world
that is unknown to those
who do not possess as
strong of skills.
“My passion for helping
people develop literacy
skills stems from the years
of work within education
and the need I continue to
see as I work with students
of all ages.”
McNeil, for example, is
a volunteer with the Baker
County Literacy Coalition
as a weekly reader for el-
ementary kids. Right now,
she’s gearing up for “Dr.
Seuss week” in March—
but that’s just the tip of the
iceberg when it comes to
her literacy efforts, which
she hopes to continue.
McNeil’s next state-level
competition is coming up
on April 9, and if no other
eastern Oregon contestant
makes it to that level, her
reign—and offi cial literacy
efforts—will automatically
continue through the end
of 2016, she says.
“If another applicant
makes it,” she added, “my
title will cease but my plat-
form work will not.”
SEE MRS. EASTERN
OREGON PAGE 5
Submitted Photo.
Lori McNeil, Mrs. Eastern Oregon, says literacy is a
cause near and dear to her heart.
Hammond family garners Two killed
in 1-84
eastern Oregon support
crash
Photo courtesy of OSP.
A woman and a female juvenile lost their lives in this
accident last Thursday.
Submitted Photo.
Ammon Bundy, son of Cliven Bundy, traveled to Burns last week to attend a meeting in support of Harney
County’s Hammond family, two members of whom are scheduled to be incarcerated in January.
• CROWD TURNS OUT IN BURNS TO
WEIGH IN ON BLM CONTROVERSY
BY KEN TAYLOR
SPECIAL TO THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
WITH ADDITIONS FROM STAFF
Americans expect to reap the rewards of their hard
labor, and that is exemplifi ed in hard-working western
ranchers and farmers.
Many in Harney County and across eastern Oregon
believe the Hammond family has lost many of those
rewards fi ghting a government with no limits or account-
ability after the federal government prosecuted local
ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, for burning
grasslands to protect their ranch. Those fi res ended up
burning a small portion of Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) managed land.
On December 15, a group of individuals from across
Oregon, and some even from across the United States,
gathered in Burns as a show of support for the family.
The speakers included Ammon Bundy of the infamous
case of the Bundy ranching family in Nevada, whose
square-off against the BLM also garnered national media
attention, and Ryan Payne.
Baker County residents Jake Brown of Halfway and
Kody Justus of Baker City attended.
Submitted Photo.
The Burns District Offi ce of the BLM.
SEE HAMMOND PAGE 5
Friday
Mostly cloudy with some lingering morning
showers—a textbook Christmas morning. High
in the mid 20s. Lows in the single digits.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and cool, highs in the lower 20s.
Lows near 10.
Sunday
Mostly sunny and continued cold with increasing
clouds towards the evening. High temperature
near 20. Lows around 15.
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 State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the
investigation into last Thursday morning’s fatal crash
on Interstate 84 near milepost 330, just east of Durkee
in Baker County. Upon arriving on scene, emergency
crews found two vehicles had collided head on and a third
vehicle was also struck.
Preliminary information indicates that on December
17th, 2015, at approximately 9:25 a.m., a blue 2003
Chevy Suburban operated by Billie Jo Aguilar, age 39,
with a female juvenile passenger, age 12, and a female
juvenile passenger, age 14, of Wendell, Idaho, had been
traveling westbound on Interstate 84 when the Suburban
lost control on the icy roadway and slid across the grassy
median into the eastbound lanes. A 2014 Peterbilt com-
mercial motor vehicle, operated by Kendall Lee Lend-
erman, age 42, of Dublin, Georgia, was traveling east-
bound, had slowed but was unable to evasively maneuver
when the Suburban impacted head on into the Peterbilt.
Both vehicles then continued to slide off the right
shoulder of the eastbound lanes and impact into a 2014
Volvo commercial motor vehicle that was parked and
occupied by John Patrick Henry, age 40, of Nampa Idaho.
Shortly after impact with the Volvo, the Suburban and
the Peterbilt caught on fi re and both became quickly
engulfed.
Both Aguilar and the 12-year-old passenger were de-
ceased at the scene.
Good samaritans were able to get the 14-year-old out
of the Suburban while it was on fi re. The 14-year-old ju-
venile was transported to St. Alphonsus in Baker City and
later life fl ighted to St. Alphonsus in Boise, Idaho.
Lenderman and Henry were not injured.
The Peterbilt was hauling a fl atbed trailer with lumber
and the Volvo was hauling a tanker trailer containing oil
additive.
One lane of Interstate 84 was shut down over four
hours and OSP is being assisted by the Baker County
Sheriff’s Offi ce, Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) and Huntington Fire Department.
This is an ongoing investigation and more information
will be released when available.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Always Welcome Inn sold
Charley’s has new owners
Bentz announces legislative team
Chamber party for new director
Minimum wage town hall
Random Acts of Kindness
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