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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2016)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 Business & Ag Woman charged with burglary at Main Event BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Monday morning, Rebecka Rose Quiroz was arrested on Burglary 2 and Theft 1 charges after allegedly breaking into the office of the Main Event Sports Bar just before mid- night the day before. According to Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner, approximately $7,000 was taken. Police utilized evidence captured by the business’s video surveillance system. Said Lohner on Tuesday, “Today we served a search warrant on her vehicle and recovered a substantial amount of cash (uncalcu- lated total at this time). We also have reason to believe some of the money may have already been used to pay debts, as we had one business already call after seeing the arrest on Facebook and telling us Rebecka had paid them just before her arrest.” Detective Jay Lohner has also been investigating a fraud case from Communi- ty Bank involving Quiroz, and potential fraudulent deposits into the ATM machine in early March, totaling approximately $630. That case, which would involve Computer Crimes and Theft charges, is still under investigation. Friday, March 11, 2016 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady compared to week-ago prices in a very limited test. Many producers have decided to hold on to their hay for now, in hopes for higher prices or to feed to their own animals. Many hay producers are sold out for the year. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Orchard / Alfalfa —Small Square Premium 25 195.00-195.00 195.00 Photo Courtesy of the Baker County Sheriff’s Department. Rebecka Rose Quiroz. Cattlemen pledge $10K against Owyhee Monument CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Eiguren introduced himself and the other special guests as he and Bilbao took turns explain- ing and discussing the effects of a designation, and proposed actions to oppose it. Eiguren said that Portland-based KEEN footwear, and the Oregon Natural Desert Associa- tion (ONDA) are the key organizations, in pushing for the designation, which Obama would declare, through an Executive Order, under the 1906 Antiquities Act. He said that the des- ignation would not only affect the cattle industry directly, but it would also have a trickle-down effect, within communities, to include businesses and organizations associated with the industry, as well. Eiguren explained that OSBC’s mission includes not only being advocates for the cattle industry, but, for other natural resource industries in Malheur County for now and the future. Eiguren said, “We never get anything out of them, ultimately...” speaking about the issues with proposed “compromises,” with environmental groups. “They tell us that the activities that have traditionally gone on within the monument lands will continue to go on, but, once that monu- ment designation comes in, this changes from the multiple-use, with sustain- able yield, that we are tra- ditionally accustomed to, under the BLM (Bureau of Land Management)...to more preservationist type of thinking, so that these activities will not con- tinue on, if they affect the preservation of the monu- ment itself... The result is that you go away from these activities, rather than allow these activities at their highest sustainable levels...” Eiguren said that Gallatin came highly rec- ommended, to assist with the opposition effort. Bilbao introduced herself, and said that the Gallatin team consists of around 15 people. She said, “Our idea is, there is no compromise right now. We are going in and saying, ‘Absolutely NO monument; 2.5 million acres is ridiculous’...Our overall mission is not to make someone feel good; our mission is to make the Governor’s Office, and Washington, D.C. uncom- fortable...” She said people, and all types of liveli- hoods would be affected by the designation. “It’s really a natural resource issue...” she said, explain- ing that the story of how the proposal would affect different groups of people, including those in the cattle industry, those who recreate, and many others, needs to be told. She said that a roughly 40-question survey, regarding public opinion about the effects of the designation, submitted to 400 random participants in Oregon, will be reviewed, and the results will be available on Gallatin’s website, one which be cre- ated, based on the data. “This has been an issue that a lot of different com- munities face...We can’t allow this to happen,” Bil- bao said. The aforemen- tioned website will include stories from many diverse groups of people and organizations, she said, and Gallatin will get those same stories out through different forms—general media, social media, radio, etc. Dotty asked how the message would reach Obama, and Bilbao said that contacts of Gallatin include lobbyists, and different individuals, and organizations, who can communicate effectively. During the meeting, prompted to give his input, Bentz stood and addressed the group, while Ferrioli listened via Curt’s cellular phone. Bentz said, “First of all, I want to say how impressed I am, with the evolution of our commu- nity, in managing the dif- ficult situations like this, because, we all saw the Bundy group manage the situation (the Malheur Na- tional Wildlife Refuge oc- cupation) entirely wrong... This meeting tonight is the most amazing evolution of our counties, that I’ve seen in the almost ten years now, that I’ve had this job... I’m very proud of my people here...” He said he had a meet- ing with staff from Senator Ron Wyden’s office after the legislative session last July, and they told him they had heard at that time that Obama had planned on possibly designating “half of Malheur County” a National Monument, which angered Bentz so much, that he was prompt- ed to take action, initially organizing a Town Hall meeting in Adrian, which brought in hundreds of at- tendees. A series of other meetings were held, cul- minating in Wednesday’s meeting, he said. “This evolution of how a community can get to- gether, and figure out how to effectively be heard, is really something to see... What’s happening here isn’t just saying no to the monument; it’s saying why a cow belongs out there. Everybody’s who’s got a permit, is in this... The people who want the monument, don’t want the cows... The cows are on trial here, okay—that’s the truth of it, and we want to keep them in the back- ground, but, at the end of the day, if we want to keep making a living with a cow, we better win this battle ...” Bentz said. Bentz spoke about the contribution from BCLA, $10,000, which is a sig- nificant amount of money, and greatly appreciated, but he said the effort could include a price tag of pos- sibly half a million dollars, to oppose the designation. He said, “What you’re trying to do is sway the opinions of a huge herd of people in the Willamette Valley... Every dime spent in the Willamette Val- ley (in getting the mes- sage out) is a good dime spent...” He said that spending money on getting a highly visible message out in the western portion of the state, about why the desig- nation is a bad idea, makes sense, through media, etc., including to Brown. “I have spoken with the people in Secretary (of the Interior Sally) Jewell’s office. She has, I think, very little to say...” Bentz said, noting his disbelief of Jewell’s claim that she’s unaware of any plans between her office and the White House, to coor- dinate this designation, though, her office has been involved in past designa- tions with the President. Bentz said, “At the end of the day, I think it is obvi- ous, and we have a very short period of time. So, don’t dawdle.” Dotty said, “This is the direction that would do the most good?” Bentz replied that the Gallatin Group is the kind of tool used to “... win the battle...” Bilbao said that get- ting the message out there--through different mediums, such as news- paper, radio, social media, and emails—is the best method. Ferrioli echoed the comments made by Bentz about Jewell’s claim she’s unaware of designation plans, and he said, speak- ing about conversations with Brown, Jewell, and Judge Steve Grasty, of Harney County, “Some- how, I was not reassured... I think Representative Bentz accurately charac- terized this...The President has made the decision to designate, and picked a date of significance (the 110-year anniversary of the enactment of the Antiquities Act is June 8, 2016), and he will drop the dime...” Ferrioli described the efforts put forth, to oppose the listing of the Greater Sage Grouse, under the Endangered Species Act, an effort he said is ongo- ing, at the cost of at least $1 million so far, which he thinks is comparable to what the designation opposition effort could take. “Right now, folks who have a direct inter- — Weekly Hay Report — est have to step up to the plate, and make a financial commitment... There is no half measure that can be taken, that will allow us to survive... I don’t want to see it (the designation) happen; there will be grave consequences in the community...” He said that the argu- ment in opposition can’t solely include details from a cattle industry point of view, but, needs to emphasize also that there is much more to lose with a designation, including tearing families apart, de- stroying communities and sustainable infrastructure, and the loss of access, and activities valued by a wide range of people. “We have to be all in—we can’t lose this one,” Ferrioli said. Bentz added that Ferrioli sent him a $1,000 contri- bution from his campaign, to put toward the opposi- tion effort, and Bentz and his wife, Lindsay, are personally contributing $1,000 toward the effort. Curt had made a mo- tion at the end of the last BCLA meeting, on February 25, 2016, that the BLCA give $10,000 to OBSC, the vote of which was postponed until this special meeting, because of the amount of funds involved, and because it was desired to have a larger percentage of voting members present. Bingham spoke about, and gave praise for, BCLA’s fund raising ef- forts in previous years, speaking about saving the funds for a rainy day. “I think we felt that a rainy day has come...Under this circumstance, we feel that part of these savings is going to go immediately to help our neighbor...It’s our industry...” he said. Dotty passed out slips to voting members pres- ent, with the following result: 13 in favor, and 1 in opposition, which was announced by Drew, fol- lowed shortly by applause. Bingham thanked the attendees, and said, “This has been developing over the last couple of years. If we don’t ever stand up for something that we firmly believe in, at what point are we ever going to feel good that we actu- ally tried? Ten thousand (dollars) is small pennies to what needs to happen, but for those people who raised that money, it was a huge effort, a huge sacri- fice... I take my hat off to them...” For more information, including membership, and donation details, OBSC can be contacted at info@ obscoalition.org, and at the following address: Owyhee Basin Steward- ship Coalition, P.O. Box 99, Ontario, Oregon 97914. Bilbao can be contacted at 208-989-8855, or ysabel. bilbao@gmail.com. Last week: Alfalfa —Large Square Good/Premium 85 135.00-135.00 135.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 868 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 201.00 - 223.00 Top 230.00 400-500# Bulk 196.00 - 205.00 Top 207.00 500-600# Bulk 169.00 - 196.00 Top 200.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 179.00 - 197.00 Top 208.00 400-500# Bulk 170.00 - 199.00 Top 201.00 500-600# Bulk 156.00 - 172.50 Top 174.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 148.00 - 173.00 Top 179.25 700-800# Bulk 133.00 - 153.00 Top 157.00 800-900# Bulk 136.00 - 143.50 Top 145.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 137.00 - 158.50 Top 160.00 700-800# Bulk 128.00 - 139.00 Top 142.25 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 55.00 - 65.00 Butcher Cows 67.00 - 74.00 Butcher Bulls 74.00 - 86.00 Stock Cows Yng. N/A Younger Hfrts. 82.00 - 106.00 Stock Cows Older. - 925.00 - 1300.00 ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon Currently the local log market is flooded with fire salvage logs. The log buyer for Malheur Lumber Co. stated they have all the logs they need under contract and are not accepting any new purchases. BCC/LLC of La Grande has receive so many burned fire salvage logs they are no longer accepting logs at the La Grande log yard. Any additional pine logs have to be delivered to the Elgin Log yard cut in plywood lengths and to a 8 inch top. For these pine logs cut in plywood lengths, BCC is offering $280.00/mbf. They are also paying $410.00/ mbf for Doug Fir & Western Larch. For White Fir they are offing $310.00/mbf. At the Pilot Rock Saw Mill BCC is offing $360.00/mbf for a 12 to 15 inch top, for 16 to 19 inch top $400.00/ mbf & offing $425.00/mbf for 20 inch plus top Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1,230.00 Silver: $15.24 Platinum: $959.19 Palladium: $574.75 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $367.75/bu/USD Wheat: $472.00/bu/USD Soybeans: $891.50/bu/USD Oats: $195.95 bu/USD Rough Rice: $10.47/cwt/USD Canola: $469.00 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $130.88/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $165.40/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $83.63/lb./USD Bloomberg.com
