8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016
Local
X-Drive returns to studio
Submitted Photo.
Above: X-Drive are Keith St. John, Baker City’s own Jeremy Brunner, James Lomenzo, and Fred Fischer.
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Brunner describes the
band’s sound as “classic
melodic hard rock in its
finest purist form.”
Said Brunner, “The first
album has opened a lot of
doors. Not long after the
release of the album, I was
contacted to write for a
soundtrack to an upcoming
movie. The director liked
the ‘Get Your Rock On’
album. So that’s my main
focus right now is getting
those songs finished up.”
Those songs will consist
of four covers for the un-
disclosed movie.
After the songs are
finished, the band will
head into a public relations
campaign that includes
press releases, a music
video and a photo shoot—
all exciting.
Due to the current loca-
tions of the band members,
Brunner said, “I will be
working at The Mixhouse
in Boise with Scott Pergan-
de who has done hundreds
of gospel/religious CDs in
Nashville. Keith will be
working out of the studio
in L.A.”
Brunner added, “Scott is
an excellent engineer and
mixer.”
“Get Your Rock On,”
which features 12 tracks
and was released through
Frontier Records, is avail-
able now at Amazon and
iTunes. The producer on
the album was the late,
great Andy Johns (Led
Zeppelin, The Rolling
Stones, Van Halen)—one
of his last works. The
album was mixed by Wyn
Davis (Black Sabbath, Dio,
Whitesnake, Dokken).
The album was released
on Ward Records (Colum-
bia) in Japan.
For more information,
visit the band’s Facebook
page or go to www.x-
drivemusic.com.
The band plans to per-
form in Baker City this
year—so stay tuned!
When Sumpter’s snow
plow breaks down
• SUMPTER CITY
BURIED IN FLUFFY
WHITE STUFF
DURING HEAVY
EQUIPMENT SNAG
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Snow removal efforts in
Sumpter hit a snag when
the City plow, a converted
1972 “deuce and a half”
military transport vehicle,
broke down the morning of
Wednesday, January 20th.
The frame that holds
the bracket for the plow
attachment broke, necessi-
tating having specially cut
pieces of steel sent out for
welding.
To add to the chal-
lenge, the City backhoe
had blown a seal and also
needed repairs. With the
City plow out of com-
mission, by that Friday
afternoon Utility Manager
Jeff McKinney said the
upper half of town was
completely inaccessible.
While waiting on the
snowplow parts to come
back, McKinney explained
he would be taking the
repaired backhoe out to
make notches in the snow
banks lining the streets to
give the snow somewhere
to go once the plow was
running again. McKin-
ney said, “We started
out just as wide as we
could, and the streets are
already down to one and
a half lanes.” Part of the
challenge is that the plow
attachment is fixed in one
position and the angle
cannot be adjusted as on a
regular snowplow.
The snowplow was fixed
and running by Saturday,
when the backhoe broke
down, a hydraulic cylinder
needing repairs.
City Recorder Julie
McKinney said that unlike
sewer and water, revenue
to cover the expenses of
street maintenance and
upkeep does not come in
directly from citizens. A
share of revenue from
gas taxes comes in from
the State and this amount
is based on city popula-
tion. McKinney, with the
assistance of Bookkeeper
Kathi Vinson, confirmed
that Sumpter receives from
this source around $11,000
annually that goes to the
street budget.
McKinney said despite
the inconvenience, com-
munity spirit was evident
with lots of people out
removing snow from roofs
and driveways. Carey
Clarke donated time and
equipment to help get
snow cleared from around
City Hall on Wednesday,
January 20th, after it piled
off the roof.
When contacted on
Tuesday, January 25th,
Mayor Leland Myers said
he had not been around the
past few days, and wasn’t
able to comment much on
the situation, but asked
that folks just be patient
and realize that bad situ-
ations will happen once
in a while. He said that
equipment breakdowns
are inevitable, but the City
works to resolve issues as
quickly as possible.
Jeff McKinney said he
has been out at midnight
some nights keeping up
with the snow removal,
though he is quick to point
Grazing loss
report deadline
is February 1
(Baker City, OR), Jan. 21, 2016 – Baker-Grant County
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director
Trent Luschen reminds livestock producers who suf-
fered grazing losses that occurred throughout 2015 due to
drought or wildfire that they have until Feb. 1, 2016, to
report their losses and to enroll in the Livestock Forage
Disaster Program (LFP).
LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock pro-
ducers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock
due to drought on privately-owned or cash-leased land or
fire on federally-managed land. Producers in Baker and
Grant County are eligible to apply for 2015 LFP benefits
on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture. Live-
stock producers are encouraged to contact the Baker-
GrantCounty FSA Office with any questions regarding
specific forage crops that are eligible.
“Prolonged drought and wildfire conditions have cre-
ated a need for livestock disaster assistance programs in
Baker and Grant County,” said Luschen. “I encourage all
affected livestock producers to contact the Baker-Grant
County FSA Office to schedule an appointment to enroll
in the program before the Feb. 1 deadline.”
Livestock producers must complete the LFP application
and required supporting documentation no later than Feb.
1, 2016, for losses that occurred throughout 2015. Pro-
ducers who already have appointments scheduled require
no additional action to meet the deadline.
Eligible livestock includes alpacas, beef cattle, buf-
falo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats,
llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep or swine that have been
or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or
pastureland.
For more information about LFP, contact the Baker-
Grant County FSA Office at 541-523-7121 x 2. To find a
local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov. Visit www.
usda.gov/disaster to learn more about FSA disaster as-
sistance programs.
BMTD
completes fiber
optic connection
Blue Mountain Translator District has completed its
fiber optic connection and is now broadcasting additional
channels for viewers in Baker Valley and Union County.
The District says it’s very excited to be able to offer
these additional viewing options and still at the cost of a
$100 annual membership fee.
Some viewers may have to re-scan their television sets
or converter boxes, but some will see the new stations
populate on their sets automatically.
Dependent upon the mountain you receive your signal
from, you may receive from six up to eight new viewing
options.
Questions or in need of more information, please con-
tact the District or visit the website www.bmtd.org.
Two more intend
to file for
Commission seat
Submitted Photo.
Utility Manager Jeff McKinney digging out the park-
ing lot at City Hall.
Last week, Baker County rancher Kody Justus filed to
run for the open County Commission slot to be vacated
by Tim Kerns at the end of the year.
Two additional Republican candidates, local CPA Bruce
Nichols and retired Bureau of Land Management em-
ployee Dave Hunsaker have since picked up the prelimi-
nary paperwork to file as well.
Baker County Clerk Cindy Carpenter said, “They have
both filed a prospective petition, which means they have
been certified to collect signatures to be a candidate
rather than pay the $50.”
Justus opted to simply pay the fee.
Carpenter added, “Both are Republican and need to col-
lect 114 signatures. After the signatures are certified (and
enough collected) then they will be candidates and be on
the ballot.”
At the time of print, neither Hunsaker nor Nichols had
yet turned in their petition.
Scholarship open
Submitted Photo.
The snow plow stopping to converse with the back
hoe, which blew a seal and was out of commission.
out the benefit of snow to
Sumpter and those who
enjoy snowmobiling in
the area. He also cited the
abundance of community
spirit with citizens taking
extra care to watch out for
each other.
As far as catching up,
Myers stated, “As long as
it doesn’t snow three feet
overnight soon, we’ll make
it.”
Saint Alphonsus Auxiliary- Baker City is once again
offering a $1,500.00 scholarship. To be eligible you must
be a graduate of a Baker County High School or a current
resident of Baker County, who will be at least a sopho-
more in college by September, 2016.
The Scholarship will be awarded to a student who
is enrolled in a health care profession. The application
for the scholarship can be obtained from the Auxiliary
Gift Shop in the front lobby of Saint Alphonsus Medical
Center – Baker City or from a member of the Auxiliary
Scholarship Committee, Peggy Payton, Chairman, 541-
519-8118, Marilyn Bloom 541-523-2750 or Betty Rouse
541-523-5563. Applications must be returned to the com-
mittee by April 15th, 2016. The recipient will be notified
by May 20th, 2016.