12 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015
2015: A Year in Retrospect
November
December
November 13
December 11
Albertsons to bid on Haggen. In a move that could land Albertsons the grocer’s
former home at 1120 Campbell Street in Baker City, the company submitted a bid on the
46,000 square-foot commercial building—the current location of Haggen store.
Barreto tours BTI. 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
member Andrew Bryan.
Locals prove vocal. Over 100 people, including many who voiced some strong
opinions, attended a U.S. Forest Service-hosted public meeting at the National Guard
Armory in Baker City, to discuss the topics of access, and increased wilderness designa-
tion, in association with the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision (BMFPR).
Distracted drivers posing increased risk. “Oregon’s cell phone law has had at least
one unintended consequence,” said Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner. “Increased
texting while driving.”
ODFW delists wolves. Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted on Monday
afternoon to remove wolves from the state’s list of endangered species—or delist them.
Lawyer says prayer before county meetings is legal. 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.
Huntington host Highland Games. The Bald Mountain Knuckle Draggers competed
in the annual Huntington Highland Games. The event is held every year on the fi rst
Saturday of November in Lion’s Park, this year being the 7th.
November 20
Assault on the pathway. Around 2 a.m. last Saturday morning, six men—two groups
of three each—were involved in an altercation on the section of the Leo Adler Memorial
Pathway that runs behind Thatcher’s Ace Hardware.
Huntington man charged with sex abuse. Robert Lee Witter, 80, of Huntington has
been arrested on multiple sex abuse-related charges.
Veterans honored in the Panhandle. Veteran’s Day was celebrated in the Panhandle
of Baker County with an annual breakfast served early that holiday morning, and a pro-
gram held at the Pine-Eagle Charter School in Halfway, hosted by teachers, students and
various members of the community.
Pedestrian struck by pickup. A pedestrian was struck by a pickup truck at the inter-
section of Clark and Campbell just before 7 a.m. Monday morning in Baker City. The
victim, 79-year-old Alfred Berdahl, of Valley Avenue, was in the crosswalk when he
was struck during his daily morning walk.
November 27
December 18
Police nab third Boise robber suspect since 2004. Last Friday afternoon, for the third
time in recent memory, local law enforcement nabbed yet another Boise-area bank rob-
bery suspect who had fl ed to Baker City.
County, USFS meet again. 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 Com-
mission Chambers of the Baker County Courthouse.
Forest Service publishes travel management reports. The U.S. Forest Service Pa-
cifi c Northwest Region released 17 travel analysis reports this week that outline existing
road systems and identify opportunities to achieve a more sustainable system of roads
for each national forest in the Pacifi c Northwest. These travel analysis reports are part of
nationwide requirement involving national forests across the country.
There and back again.
In the debut issue of The
Baker County Press,
January 3, 2014, the article
“To Russia with Love”
chronicled David and Eliza-
beth “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 mas-
sive cookie exchange.
VFW Youth Shoot
nearly doubles in size.
On Saturday, the Veterans
Memorial Club in Baker
City was host to the fourth
annual Veterans of Foreign
Wars (VFW) Youth Shoot,
with a signifi cant increase
in participation, up from
last year’s 43 youths, to 70
this year.
City Council: The pot
odor issue was placed
on hold, and Councilor
Augenfeld resigned at the
Nov. 24 Baker City Council
Meeting.
New Chamber Director announced. 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.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Top shooter Ethan Jensen holds his prize, a .17
Super Mag.
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
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: Glen-
da Mastrude, Betty Huntsman and Sheila Valentine.
City, Police respond to
lawsuit. Robert E. Franz, Jr. out of Springfi eld fi led the initial legal response on behalf
of the City of Baker City, ten “Doe Offi cers,” and Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner.
The response addresses the federal lawsuit fi led last month by reporter Brian Addison,
formerly of Baker City. Addison’s suit centers around retaliation and defamation claims
stemming back to an opinion piece he authored, which ran in The Record-Courier news-
paper in 2008. Addison states the piece, which was critical of local police, triggered
retaliatory actions that violated his civil rights over the course of several years.
The Baker County Press celebrates
Christmas tree team makes Main Street merry. Jeff Nelson of Historic Baker
City, Inc. (HBC) said that last Saturday morning’s cutting of the Main Street Christmas
tree happened on “a perfect day.”
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Photo courtesy of Jeff Nelson, HBC, Inc.
Baker City’s Main Street Christmas tree was loaded onto a truck provided by
Superior Towing. The process involved volunteers and staff from OTEC and
multiple City departments.
December
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December 4
Former Grant Co. deputy wants to increase voter turnout. Oregon State Repre-
sentative Sherrie Sprenger traveled from her home base in Linn and Marion Counties,
to Baker County, on a mission Tuesday.
Economic development warns against $15/hour wages. The proposed $15 per hour
Oregon minimum wage, local businesses and the empty Haggen store were the key
topics as the Baker County Economic Development Committee (EDC) held its regular
meeting on Monday.
Deadlines extended in Pine-Eagle lawsuit. An order was granted to extend the
deadline for discovery in the ongoing lawsuit fi led by former Halfway teacher Linda
Mallery McLean v. Pine-Eagle School District 61; et al. regarding the 2013 active
shooter drill at the school.
Bennetts to receive OCA/ODFW award. Mark Bennett and wife, Patti, were
recently notifi ed that they will receive the Riley Freeman award for stewardship at the
upcoming Oregon Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) awards dinner in Bend.
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