BUSINESS: Controversial new dispensary
opens in Huntington. PAGE 3
SPORTS: District Basketball Tournament.
Photos and brackets. PAGES 7-9
The
Baker County Press
TheBakerCountyPress.com
75¢
All local. All relevant. Every Friday.
Friday, February 19, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 8
Three to run for open
Commissioner seat
• HUNSAKER
WITHDRAWS FROM
COUNTY RACE
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The past week has seen
shakeups and develop-
ments in the upcoming
race for Baker County
Commissioner seat number
one, which is soon to be
vacated by Tim Kerns.
Local rancher and Natu-
ral Resources Advisory
Committee member Kody
Justus fi led fi rst, fol-
lowed by local CPA Bruce
Nichols. Retired Bureau of
Land Managment employ-
ee David Hunsaker also
picked up his paperwork
to fi le, but withdrew from
the race last week, citing
a pending double knee
surgery.
On Wednesday, Jeff
Nelson of Historic Baker
City and Blue Mountain
Community College’s
economic development
program became the latest
candidate to fi le.
All three candidates are
running on the Republican
ticket this May.
“As Commissioner I will
continue in my pursuit of
economic development,
ensuring we bring family
wage jobs to Baker County
who support our small
town community way of
life. I will continue to
promote local economic
prosperity and growth in
small business and tour-
ism. I am committed to
protecting our rural way of
life and I will fi ght to capi-
talize on our local sustain-
able resources to revitalize
industry for Baker County.
I am committed to pursu-
ing every avenue to ensure
business owners thrive,”
Nelson issued in a state-
ment Wednesday.
Submitted Photo.
Jeff Nelson of Baker City is the most recent
candidate to fi le for Commissioner.
SEE COMMISSIONERS
PAGE 5
Merrill to
leave BHS
principal
position
Sumpter holds poker run
BY BAKER COUNTY PRESS STAFF
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Baker High School Principal Benjamin Merrill is mov-
ing to a new position within the Baker 5J School District.
Merrill will take on a new principal position at Eagle Cap
effective the fi rst of July.
Merrill, a father of two, resigned from his position on
City Council late last year citing personal time with his
children as a key reason.
Former long-time BHS principal, Jerry Peacock will
step away from the position he’s held at Eagle Cap to
continue on in his director role at the Baker Technical
Institute (BTI), which has continued to expand since its
launch. The BHS principal position will be advertised.
At the last City Council meeting, 5J offi cials also dis-
cussed the possibility of moving BTI efforts perhaps a
step further into the realm of a community college.
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Rally area
to be
discussed
at Council
Team Art Brat running to victory in the Outhouse Races.
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter Valley Blue
Mountain Snowmobile
Club’s Annual Poker
Run and Outhouse Races
enjoyed plenty of snow on
Saturday, February 13th.
The weather cooperated
with sunshine until mid-
afternoon, though skies
were leaden by the start
of the outhouse races and
sleet was spitting by the
time the day’s prizes were
awarded.
Nevertheless, spirits
remained high throughout
the event.
Snowmobile Club
secretary/treasurer Bar-
bara Malone explained
that money raised will
be donated to a charity.
Members will get together
to decide on a charity
after the fi nal proceeds are
determined.
Along with two poker
stations out on the snow-
Friday
mobile trails, there were
also seven stations at busi-
nesses around Sumpter:
The Community Center,
Bed and Breakfast, Stage
Stop, Soda Mountain Pet
Supplies, Rustic Realty,
Depot Inn, and the Scoop
N’ Steamer.
Participants drew a ran-
dom chip for each of their
poker cards at a maximum
of seven stations. The top
23 poker hands won cash
prizes.
The outhouse races drew
more spectators than rac-
ers, though Kurt Clarke’s
ultralight outhouse model
drew much attention. The
winners of the races were
a young team dubbed “Art
Brat.”
At six o’clock, the crowd
gathered at the grooming
shed for prizes and raffl e
drawings was standing
room only.
SEE POKER RUN PAGE 5
Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. Highs
in the mid 40s, chance of precipitation is 40%.
Lows in the mid-20s.
Saturday
Partly sunny and cooler, highs in the low 40s.
Mostly cloudy, lows in the mid 20s at night.
Sunday
Sunny and warmer. Highs in the upper 40s.
Partly cloudy with lows near 30.
• STREET CLOSURES ON MAIN MAY
SHIFT SLIGHTLY NORTH
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Marlene Bork manning the poker station at Soda
Mountain Pet Supplies.
On February 23, 2016, the Baker City Council will
discuss the layout and street closures for the annual Hells
Canyon Motorcycle Rally.
Last year after the 2015 Rally, several businesses
gathered in a meeting to discuss concerns about access
and the like. The result has been a proposed updated plan,
which shifts closures slightly to the north per a diagram
provided by the Baker City Police Department.
SEE RALLY PAGE 5
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
Chamber takes back Relay
Special Column by David McElroy
American Legion Struggles
County Commissioners coverage
Huntington’s history event
Parks and Recreation Board Meets
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
3
4
5
10
10
11