LOCAL: Poppy Day Proclamation honors
veterans. PAGE 7
LOCAL: Mining summit draws crowd of
about 100. PAGE 11
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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
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