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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2016)
LOCAL: Poppy Day Proclamation honors veterans. PAGE 7 LOCAL: Mining summit draws crowd of about 100. PAGE 11 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, April 29, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 18 ‘Gold Rush’ begins filming, cast says community has been welcoming BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The cast and crew of The Discovery Channels’s mega-hit show “Gold Rush” are settled in Baker County, and according to one of the series’ stars, Todd Hoffman, “It is un- believable how welcoming the people around eastern Oregon have been.” Over the past couple weeks it hasn’t been un- common to hear about cast sightings at local stores including Napa, Baker Electric, Gentry Ford, Ace Hardware, and a local of- fi ce supply and furniture store or two. Safeway, of course, is a given. The camera crew some- times slips by with less visibility—when their Brit- ish and Irish accents don’t give them away. “We’ve spent thousands at Ace Hardware alone,” said Hoffman. “I can’t believe how much they have.” Hoffman paused during this interview, wind whip- ping across the hillside on which he stood—and his cell phone. Though the mine, owned by the Wirth family and located in the Hereford area, is not yet open or being worked yet, fi lming began right around 1:30 p.m. this Tuesday afternoon. “Our goal for this year—” said Hoffman in between wind gusts and calls from the production crew over his radio, “—We’re hoping that we can beat the Klond- ike right here in Oregon, and really show everyone just how cool Oregon is. It’s our home, you know. Sumpter was the fi rst place I mined. When I was 12, I won a rooster crowing contest in Sumpter!” He added, “The camera and production guys can’t say enough good things about being here.” SEE GOLD RUSH PAGE 8 Fire Department hires its first female lieutenant Submitted Photo. Reporter Todd Arriola ran into Todd Hoffman at the place all roads lead to these days: Safeway. Rural FD break-ins still under investigation BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press History in the making as Sara Blair becomes the Baker City Fire Department’s fi rst female lieutenant. L-R: Alan Blair, Sara Blair, David Blair and Fire Chief Mark John. • 107-YEAR-OLD BAKER CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCES A HISTORY-MAKING FIRST BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com “In the long history of this fi re department, this is really a very signifi cant event,” said Baker City Fire Chief Mark John. After nearly twelve years of service, Sara Blair has risen through the ranks from fi refi ghter and paramedic to become the department’s fi rst female lieutenant. “It’s history-making,” said John. “I’m excited,” said Blair. “It’s a new concept for me—there’s a lot of responsibility.” “Total responsibility,” John pointed out with a laugh, for when Blair is the senior offi cer on a shift from here on. The lieutenant position was left open with no plans to fi ll it for “six to eight years,” according to John. The position was restored about a year and half ago. John said Blair went through a “fairly exten- sive” testing process spanning two days and including tactical simula- tion, a written test, confl ict resolution, employee issue solving, and the like. SEE BLAIR PAGE 5 Friday Mostly cloudy with possible showers. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Highs near 60. Lows at night around 40. Saturday Mostly cloudy with breezy conditions. Highs near 60. Wind diminishing at night with lows around 35. Sunday Mostly sunny and warmer. Highs near 70. Mostly clear and cooler. Lows near 40. Two cases involving the break-ins at two separate rural fi re departments are still under active investigation, said Sheriff Travis Ash on Tuesday. On April 21, 2016, Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce responded to the Keating Rural Fire Department to investigate the theft of fi re department equipment. The initial investigation revealed someone had entered the fi re department building and stole fi re-fi ghting and life-saving equipment valued at over $100K. On April 22, 2016, Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce responded to the Pocahontas Rural Fire Department to investigate another break-in. When deputies arrived they found someone had entered the fi re department by force and stolen fi re-fi ghting and life-saving equipment. A dol- lar amount of the items was not yet available. The fi re departments are in the process of inventorying equipment to determine all the equipment stolen and the replacement cost. The theft of the equipment will restrict Keating Rural and Pocahontas Fire Department response to emergency calls for service, the recovery of the equipment is crucial to their effective response. Anyone with information leading to the recovery of the equipment please call Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce at (541) 523-6415. City Manager finalists announced Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Alan pins on the new Lieutenant’s badge in front of the BCFD at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. As the City Manager recruitment process moves for- ward, the City Council has scheduled interviews for May 9th and 10th. The Council has also scheduled an opportunity for the public to meet the fi nalists. A meet and greet will be held in the City Council Chambers on May 9th at 5:30 p.m. The candidates who were chosen by the City Council as fi nalists to interview were: • Cheryl Beatty - Currently the Assistant City Manager/ Finance Director of the City of Junction City, Kansas. She has held several other City Administrator positions since 1997. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration. SEE CITY MANAGER PAGE 9 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Cattlemen: Wildfi re assistance 420Ville expands customer base Senate candidate visits Huntington Commissioners: Hop Heaven AAUW has candidates forum Sumpter hosts candidates forum Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 3 9 10 11 12