BUSINESS & AG: Economic Development to
pen letter to FTC about grocery situation.
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The
SPECIAL: Easter greetings from businesses.
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Baker County Press
TheBakerCountyPress.com
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Friday, March 25, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 13
What is BCVIBE?
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
A BCVIBE (short for
Baker County Vibrancy)
meeting was held Thursday
in the Commission Cham-
bers of the Baker County
Courthouse, in order to
discuss plans for attracting
people and businesses to
the community, and to dis-
cuss the scope of work for
the position of Facilitator,
a role yet to be created.
Attendance included
Baker County Commission
Chair Bill Harvey, Baker
City Manager Mike Kee,
Baker Technical Insti-
tute (BTI) Director Jerry
Peacock, Baker County
Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Shelly
Cutler, Baker County Eco-
nomic Development Direc-
tor Greg Smith, Smith’s
assistants Julee Smith, and
Phil Scheuers, Baker City
Council member Sandy
Lewis, Baker City Coun-
cil member Dan Lowe,
Historic Baker City (HBC)
President Larry Abell,
Baker City Council mem-
ber Rosemary Abell, Baker
County Economic Devel-
opment Council (EDC)
Chair Craig Ward, Bake
Heritage Museum Director
Lea Hoover Gettle, Dot &
Rosie owner Chris Parker,
Short Term Gallery co-
owner Brian Vegter, Burnt
River Irrigation District
Chairman Lynn Shumway,
Business Oregon Busi-
ness Development Offi cer
Melisa Drugee, Catalyst
Consultant/Grant Writer
Kat Davis, Crossroads Art
Center Executive Director
Ginger Savage, and Baker
County Library Director
Perry Stokes.
Kee began the discus-
sion, by speaking about
the aging population of the
county, displaying graphs
with statistics, and stating
that increases in the local
population will be depen-
dent upon migration from
other locales.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
A group of City and County offi cials and other interested parties gathered at the
courthouse to discuss the “BCVIBE” idea.
SEE BCVIBE PAGE 7
BCPD hires
new officer
A night of politics
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Johnathan Stanley is start-
ing as the Baker City Police
Department’s newest offi cer
on April 20, 2016.
Roughly one month after
his start date, Stanley will
attend the academy in
Salem, which is a 16-week
course.
Stanley currently lives
in Middleton, Idaho, and
Photo courtesy of the BCPD.
works for Garden City,
Idaho public works in the
Johnathan Stanley.
water department.
According to Lt. Dustin
Newman, Stanley comes
to Baker City with no prior experience, but grew up with
a mother who was a Deputy Sheriff in Douglas County,
Oregon. Stanley’s wife also has family in the local area.
Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press
Congressman Greg Walden and State Representative Cliff Bentz hold a Ken Helgerson Bronc and Bull
Riding art print, which was one of the oral auction items at Saturday’s fundraising banquet.
• ANNUAL BAKER COUNTY REPUBLICAN
BANQUET SEES LARGE TURNOUT
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Haines PCP
race no
longer a
competition
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Republicans hosted their annual
spring banquet last Saturday night at the Elks Lodge. As
always, the event, which included a prime rib dinner, oral
and silent auctions, and door prizes, fi lled the banquet
room with around 150 in attendance.
Chair Suzan Ellis Jones said that this year was record-
breaking in terms of the generosity of local businesses.
Said Jones, “The outpouring of donated prizes and
auction items was incredible this year. Business owners
across the county got behind our event and expressed
their support of our positions and candidates in an amaz-
ing way. The feedback was very humbling.”
Congressman Greg Walden continued his tradition as
keynote speaker for the event. Rep. Cliff Bentz and wife,
veterinarian Lindsey Bentz, travelled from Ontario to
attend as well.
From the west side of the state, Senatorial candidates
Mark Callahan and Dan Laschober attended, each hoping
to make it through the GOP primary in order to face off
against incumbent Sen. Ron Wyden in the fall.
Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press
Precinct Committee People Peggie and Jim
Longwell signed in guests at the door.
SEE REPUBLICAN ANNUAL BANQUET PAGE 5
Friday
Mostly cloudy with snow showers possible.
Chance of precipitation is 60%. Highs in the low
40s. Lows in the mid-20s.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and warmer. Highs in the upper
40s. Lows near 30 at night.
Sunday
Increasing clouds and mild temperatures.
Showers possible late. Highs in the lower 50s.
Chance of precipitation 30%. Lows at freezing.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Two Precinct Committee Person (PCP) slots, both
Republican, both representing the Haines Precinct, at fi rst
looked like competition after all candidates fi led earlier
this month. But now that competition is down to one
slot—that of Kurt Lewis versus Tim Kerns.
Lorrie Harvey had initially fi led to run against Connie
Pound Lewis for the PCP slot reserved for women, but
says she never intended on a competition. When Harvey
learned Lewis had also fi led, she sought to withdraw her
name, only to learn from the County Clerk’s Offi ce that
it was a tad too late—her name had already gone to the
ballot.
Harvey is tossing her support behind Lewis.
Harvey said, “I have nothing but respect for both Con-
nie and Kurt and believe they will make a superb team in
representing my home precinct. I was hoping to with-
draw my name from the ballot but was unable to due to
ballots already being printed. I look forward to both Kurt
and Connie winning this position and ask everyone to
vote for the Lewises in this primary.”
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Sumpter Museum’s new exhibit
NRAC: Feds and wildfi res, etc.
Police investigate stabbing
Spring prescribed burns
City rate hike, community dev job?
Dooley salvage logging
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