2 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016
Local
— News of Record —
— Community Calendar —
JAIL ROSTER
SWCD ANNUAL DINNER MEETING
Friday, January 22. The Baker Valley, Eagle
Valley, Keating and Burnt River Soil and Water
Conservation Districts will be holding their An-
nual Dinner Meeting on January 22, 2016 at the
Sunridge Inn. There will be a “no-host” social
hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be
served at 6:30 p.m. We will proudly recognize
local landowners and partners and showcase their
outstanding contributions to the natural resource
conservation effort in Baker County. The cost
for the dinner is $15, payable at the SWCD offi ce
prior to the event. Please join us for a wonderful
evening. Must RSVP by January 15th, 2016 to the
District’s offi ce at: 523-7121, ext. 100 or ext. 109.
LIBRARY WINTER BOOK SALE
Friday, January 22 through January 30. The
Friends of Baker County Library are planning their
winter book sale to raise funds for library improve-
ments and services. During regular library hours.
POETRY READING
Friday, January 22. Join Baker City poet Nancy
Christopherson for an evening of spoken poems at
Crossroads Art Center, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. She will
be reading from her recently published collection
as well as new works. Saturday, January 23, 2016,
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Crossroads Art Center, Chris-
topherson will present a writing workshop open
to adults. Learn the fundamentals and techniques
of language-as-medium in verse. Topics explored
will be form, metaphor, rhyme, the importance of
line breaks... Participants will produce an original
draft poem, learn to critique constructively, prac-
tice revision, then read the revised poems aloud.
All materials provided.
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Saturday, January 23. Casual attire vintage ski
clothing encouraged! Come join us for a fun eve-
ning! Tickets: $25/person, $40/couple 5:30 social
hour, 6:30 dinner, 7:15 auction, 8:00 live music by
Johnny & the Law Breakers. Casual attire. To be
held at the Baker County Event Center, 2600 East
Street in Baker City.
BROOKLYN BOOK FAIR
AND TACO FEED
Thursday, February 4, 4:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Baker County Event Center. Raffl e tickets are on
sale for a variety of prizes that will be awarded in
drawings during the evening. Tickets are available
from students or at the school. For more informa-
tion, or tickets, call the school at 54-523-2450.
NATIONAL TURKEY FEDERATION
BANQUET
Saturday, February 6. Come join in the fun at
the Annual National Wild Turkey Banquet and
Auction, Saturday February 6, 2016 at the Baker
Elks Lodge. Doors open at 5 p.m. Dinner at 6 p.m.
Auction at 7 p.m. For more information contact
Bob Reedy at 541-403-1352.
SUMPTER BLUE MOUNTAIN
POKER RUN
Saturday, February 13, 7 a.m. till 2:30 p.m.
$3,000 in Prizes. Snowmobiles, cars or walker all
welcome. Ticket Sales are Friday at the school-
house from 6-8 p.m. - $10, and from 7 a.m. - 2:30
p.m. on Saturday. Tickets must be turned in by no
later than 3:30 p.m. Payout and prizes at 6 p.m.
Call Neil for more info: 541-894-2217.
HALFWAY PANHANDLE SNOWMOBILE
POKER RUN
Sunday, February 14, Sign up at 9 a.m. at the
Lions Club in Halfway to buy your poker hands.
The poker run is 40 miles round trip. Leave your
hands at the last station or turn your hands in at the
lions hall. Raffl e items will be awarded and winner
will be announced at 6 p.m. Total of $4,000 in
payouts!! For more information call the Blooms at
(541)-742-7277.
HENSLEY, Justin
GAGNON, Roderick
SYPHERD, Crystol
LATTYMER, Melissa
GRAY, Robert
HARDING, Jestin
HENDRIKSEN, Carmon
PREVO, Loren
KINDER, Jeremy
ANDERS, Tyler
EDISON, Larry
BURNINGHAM, Tyson
STREET, Kenneth
MYERS-GABIOLA, Michael
BURKE, Markus
IJAMS, Margurite
PETERSON, Linda
SCOTT, Austin
ONCHER-FONTAINE, Jay
MYERS, Rodger
BRINEY, Justin
YATTAW, Anthony
DOYLE, James
HARSHMAN, Matthew
TREANOR, Kevin
ROMINE, David
BOLANOS, Ann
ROMINE, Jonathon
HANSON, Coty
KEEFE, Timothy
WINTERS, Lucinda
WEISS, Jamie
MADER, Casey
WITTER, Robert
HODEL, Cody
MCBRIDE, Steven
MYERS, Anthony
SHELTON, Adam
SCHLAHT, Nathan
ELKSHOULDER, Ida
POLICE LOG
Gray, Robert James. 1/15. Baker
County Circuit Court warrants for
Contempt of Court, Criminal Tres-
pass II, Probation Violation, Probation
Violation.
Gray, Robert James. 1/15. Assault
IV, Violation of Restraining Order,
Criminal Trespass II x 3, Criminal
Mischief II x 2, Disorderly Conduct II,
and Harassment.
Larson, Adam Leonard. 1/15. Ha-
rassment.
Lattymer, Melissa Jean. 1/16.
Baker County Parole and Probation
detainer for Probation Violation.
Sypherd, Crystol Morgan. 1/16.
Baker County Parole and Probation
Detainer.
Buford, Scotty Ray. 1/19. Baker
Circuit Court warrant for Contempt
of Court. Original charge is Criminal
Trespass II.
FUNERAL NOTICES
Sharolet Harter, 81, of Baker City,
died on Sunday, January 17, 2016
at Settler’s Park Assisted Living. A
celebration of Sharolet’s life will be
held this summer. Arrangements are
under the direction of Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home & Cremation
Services. Online condolences may
be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfu-
neralhome.com.
Paul Thomason, 91, former
Wingville- Baker City resident, died
on January 13, 2016, surrounded
by family and friends at his home in
Scotts Valley, Callifornia. Interment
will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in
Baker City. A Graveside Service will
be held this spring, date and time to
be announced. Arrangements are un-
der the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
On line condolences may be shared
at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.
com.
Nina Stevens, 91, longtime Baker
City resident, died at her home on
Monday, January 18, 2016. Ar-
rangements are under the direction
of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home
& Cremation Servicees. Online
condolences may be shared at www.
tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Dona Stanbro, 85, of Union, died
1/16/2016 at Jodi George’s Adult
Foster Home in Union.
Arrangements are under the direc-
tion of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer
Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker
City, OR 97814. Light a candle in
remembrance of Dona at www.gray-
swestco.com.
Amber L. Brown, 38, of Baker City
died at her residence 1/17/2016. Ar-
rangements are under the direction of
Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel,
1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR
97814. Light a candle in
Remembrance of Amber at www.
grayswestco.com.
5J says flawed alarm system
should be fixed, reinstated soon
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
In late 2014, Baker
School District 5J began
to implement their plans to
increase safety within the
District schools by issuing
wearable “alarm fobs” to
school personnel at Brook-
lyn school.
The original plan seemed
a good choice; at the fi rst
sign of danger staff could
immediately key their
fob, which was linked to
a complete alarm system.
Once triggered, the alarm
system would lock all
school doors, alert law en-
forcement and emergency
responders.
The alarms were activat-
ed by pushing two buttons
on the fob, which most
district personnel wore
around their necks.
Unfortunately, within
the fi rst three months of
service there were four
separate false alarms gen-
erated by the alarm fobs.
School lockdowns, parents
notifi ed of emergency
situation and immediately
full response from law
enforcement and fi re and
ambulance services ensued
every time.
The alarms were found to
be too sensitive to pres-
sure, and one false alarm
was caused by a student
hugging a teacher in greet-
ing.
The then-superintendent,
Walt Wegener, made the
decision to “put alarm
system on hold until the
glitch is fi xed”— this was
January, 2015.
A year later, questions
asked of Brooklyn staff
made it clear that they
hadn’t been informed
of any progress toward
a resolution. Baker 5J
pointed to Doug Dalton as
the person who had taken
on the problem.
A phone interview with
Dalton clarifi ed the situ-
ation; the solution to the
overly-sensitive fobs was
to build hard cases to pro-
tect them from inadvertent
“bumping.”
An outside manufacturer
has completed building the
specially designed cases,
and the District plans
to begin distribution to
schools in the District over
the next two months.
Trucks reminded to use chainup
areas on local highways
Winter in eastern Oregon
typically means drivers of
commercial trucks and oth-
er vehicles can expect to
install tire chains at times.
At a minimum, vehicle
operators need to have
appropriate tire chains
available and be prepared
to install them when condi-
tions warrant and when the
chain requirement signs are
activated.
When installing tire
chains, commercial truck
drivers are encouraged to
use the designated chain up
areas and not to stop along
the highway shoulder un-
less absolutely necessary.
“During a recent storm
event when chains were
required there were two
miles of trucks parked
along the shoulder and in
the travel lanes, while a
designated chain up area
directly ahead of them sat
nearly empty,” said ODOT
District 13 Manager Ace
Clark. (See attached jpg
image of trucks chaining
up along shoulder)
Over the past sev-
eral years ODOT has
constructed or improved
numerous areas designed
for commercial trucks
to install or remove tire
chains. These sites include
extra wide shoulders with
signage advising they are
for truck chain activities
only and not for parking.
Many of the sites also have
overhead illumination for
improved safety.
“By not using the chain
Extensions fi led at no additional charge!
BRUCE NICHOLS, CPA
STAN MITCHELL, CPA
2550 Broadway, Baker City
541-523-6471 • brucenichols@integra.net
Tax Services:
•
•
•
•
Electronic Filing
Individuals
Corporations
Sub “S” Corporations
• Partnerships
• Trusts, Estates,
Fiduciary
• Exempt Organizations
• Payroll Services
Call us today for an appointment!
up areas, vehicles are
blocking traffi c and creat-
ing a safety hazard,” Clark
said. “We have already had
a couple crashes and road
closures this winter due to
trucks stopping in travel
lanes to install chains or
pulling out in front of
traffi c. The chain up areas
were built to increase
safety for chain up opera-
tions and it is a shame to
see them underutilized.”
All motorists are also ad-
vised to be extra cautions
around areas where people
are chaining up. Please
slow down and be mind-
ful of those on the ground
installing chains, and be
prepared for vehicles pull-
ing back into traffi c.
The road surface is likely
slick, so stopping distance
will increase. Sudden
braking or turns to avoid
vehicles and people could
result in a crash.
Oregon’s road and
weather website Trip-
Check.com includes infor-
mation on snow zones and
chain requirements. Most
snow zones areas along the
interstate in Oregon have
designated chain areas for
commercial trucks located
a short distance from chain
requirement signs.
Truck drivers are advised
to watch for signs that
indicate “chain-up area
ahead” and use these safety
zones for chain-up activity.
Stopping in the travel lane
to install chains can lead
to crashes, which quickly
close the route for all
travelers.
“The logic behind the
chain requirement signs is
that drivers would read the
message, understand the
chain-up requirements, and
pull past the sign into the
designated chain-up areas,”
Clark said. “In most cases
drivers are stopping on the
narrow freeway shoulder
prior to ever reading the
chain up condition sign.
Being out of your vehicle
on the ground performing
chain operations adjacent
to traffi c moving on slick
roadways is dangerous
enough. Please use the
designated chain–up areas
when they are available.”
Know Before You Go:
Visit www.TripCheck.
com for the latest real-
time traffi c updates, road
conditions, snow zone
information, chain require-
ments, highway cameras
and more.
By phone call 511 or
800-977-6368. Outside of
Oregon, travelers can call
503-588-2941.
For additional resources
on winter driving and
preparedness, please visit:
http://www.oregon.gov/
ODOT/COMM/Pages/win-
terdriving.aspx