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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2016)
BUSINESS: Tentative date set for Safeway to move into old Albertsons building. PAGE 3 The LOCAL: Sumpter’s snowplow breaks down. PAGE 8 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, January 29, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 5 X-Drive goes back in studio for movie soundtrack • LOCAL GUITARIST AT CENTER OF NEW MUSIC DEAL BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com In August of 2014, Baker City native and Baker High School grad, Jeremy Brun- ner, along with a power- packed lineup of rock industry veterans, released their fi rst CD together as the band X-Drive. Now Brunner is back in the studio—in Boise this time instead of Los Angeles— recording a handful of covers, as well as some original material, for an upcoming movie soundtrack. “I signed a nondisclosure agreement,” said Brun- ner. “So I can’t comment further on the songs or the soundtrack except to say that’s what we’re working on.” The 2014 CD, “Get Your Rock On,” has a sound reminiscent of 80s rock—a sound that garnered the attention of a new producer and at least one movie director. As for X-Drive, Brunner is the band’s songsmith and guitarist. He’s normal- ly joined by bassist James Lomenzo from White Lion, singer Keith St. John from Montrose, and fi nish- ing out the group, drummer Fred Fischer from Mid- line. If Lomenzo’s name sounds familiar, it might be because in addition to White Lion, he also played for John Fogerty, David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth and Black Label Society. Lomenzo’s tour schedule with Fogerty this year has precluded him from joining in the record- ing session in Boise, says Brunner. “Keith and I are in talks with a new bassist who is yet to be announced,” he said. Submitted Photo. Jeremy Brunner is back in a Boise recording studio working on material for a movie soundtrack. SEE X-DRIVE PAGE 8 Blood is shed in Harney County Council gets K9 demo Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press Submitted Photo. Offi cer Coleton Smith shows off Capa’s new K9 badge, which was donated by Billie Jo Deal, at right. LaVoy Finicum was killed Tuesday evening on his way to a meeting in John Day. • TRAIN WHISTLE QUIET ZONE ALSO KEY TOPIC AT TUESDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com Tuesday’s City Council meeting was called to order promptly with a full house, then moved into a very full agenda made a little livelier with a demonstration from the Police Department’s new drug dog, Capa. The Pledge of Allegiance and invocation were led by Rosemary Abell. She stated, “As we move into 2016, an election, year I thought it would be good to think about leadership in terms of what unites us rather than what divides us. I’m talking about our core values, things like integrity, service, authenticity, love, family all of those things that we value.” The consent agenda was then unanimously adopted with all councilors present. Citizen’s Participation was called for, and Brian Vegter stepped forward to present Council with a framed jersey signed by last years’ winners of the Baker City Cycling Classic. He thanked Council for support over the last 14 years. Council then turned to their lengthy agenda. SEE CITY COUNCIL PAGE 10 Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press Capa alerts, fi nding a drug scent under City Manager Mike Kee during a demonstration. The occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles outside Burns was marked by bloodshed early Tuesday evening with the shooting death of Robert LaVoy Finicum, age 55. Finicum, an Arizona-based rancher and father of 11 foster children, was one of approximately 40 mem- bers of a group, led by Ammon Bundy, to take over the Refuge following the January 2 rally in Burns to sup- port the Hammond family. Two members of that family were sentenced to fi ve years in prison on arson charges falling under a 1996 domestic terrorism act after burning approximately 130 acres of publicly managed lands. The imprisonment triggered public outrage. Bundy and Finicum stated multiple goals, including launching the Hammonds’ situation into the realm of national media attention, and then the hope of convincing the Federal government to release control of those lands back to state or county-level control. Nearly a month into the occupation, the situation had remained without confrontation prior to this week. On Tuesday, two vehicles from the Refuge, including a truck driven by Finicum, were en route along Highway 395 between Burns and John Day. Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer was facilitating a community meeting in John Day at which he hoped to mediate compromise. SEE HARNEY COUNTY PAGE 12 Friday Cloudy with a high around 40 and snow likely before 10 am, followed by rain in the afternoon. Southeast winds around 10-15 mph. Chance of precipitation 70%. Low around 24. Saturday Mostly cloudy with a high around 36 and a 20% chance of isolated snow showers. West winds around 5-10 mph. Lows near 16. Sunday Mostly cloudy with a high around 33 and a 20% chance of snow showers. North winds around 3-8 mph. Low around 19 with wind chill 5-9. 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 NRAC meets 5J reps attend Econ Dev Board mtg. The Outdoor Column YMCA hosts cancer survivor group ‘Enhanced Friday’ 5J controversy Huntington celebrates 125th BD Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 7 9 9 11