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Friday, May 20, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 21
Commissioner race
turns into nail-biter
• NICHOLS EEKS
OUT NARROW
VICTORY WITH 38
VOTES SEPARATING
TOP CANDIDATES
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
With only 38 votes sepa-
rating Republican candi-
dates Bruce Nichols and
Kody Justus in Tuesday’s
County Commission-
ers primary election, the
results of that race most
likely will not be offi cial
for 14 days, according
to County Clerk Cindy
Carpenter. Unoffi cially, it
appears Nichols has taken
the race.
With all precincts report-
ing, Justus has 1,646 votes,
Bruce Nichols 1,684, and
Jeff Nelson 249.
Carpenter said Tuesday
night that 41 ballots have
not been included in that
total due to lack of or
challenged signatures. The
County Clerk’s offi ce sent
cards out notifying these
voters the day after the
election. These voters have
14 days to contact that of-
fi ce in order for their votes
to count.
Only 16 of these chal-
lenged ballots are Re-
publican. One additional
Republican ballot is com-
ing in from outside Baker
County.
Though the 41 ballots
exceed the slim 38-vote
margin currently held by
Nichols, with only 17
being identifi ed as Re-
publican, it’s technically
impossible that the margin
could be overturned or
narrowed enough by those
ballots to trigger a manda-
tory recount under Oregon
State law.
As the election now
Submitted Photo
Submitted Photo
Kody Justus.
Bruce Nichols.
stands, a mandatory re-
count is not required as the
space separating the top
two candidates is not one-
fi fth of a percent or less of
their combined vote total.
According to Carpenter, a
mere 6.6 vote difference
would be the magic num-
ber to trigger that recount.
SEE ELECTION PAGE 8
Two from U.K. study local Unity man
marijuana legalization
burned in
explosion
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Monday afternoon,
Fred Amans, 67, of
Unity, was Life Flighted to
Boise after sustaining third
degree burns in a work-
related accident.
Amans performs mainte-
nance for the Burnt River
Motel and Market, includ-
ing a small rental cabin on
Submitted Photo
the property in which the
explosion that burned him
Fred Amans.
occurred.
According to those
on site, a propane tank
exploded as Amans attempted to light a pilot light in the
cabin. Plastic items inside the cabin melted, and all but
one window shattered during the explosion. The fi re itself
was quickly contained.
SEE EXPLOSION PAGE 5
Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press
Hannah Fishwick and Hannah Gumble are two of about 30 students from the U.K. visiting Baker County.
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
They met the Baker City Police Chief and the Mayor—
and they’ve traveled from Seattle down through Washing-
ton State all the way down to Baker City this week.
Two third-year university students from England—both
named Hannah—are on an adventure. In town with a
group of around 30 students from Plymouth University in
southwest Devon, the students are on a quest that is part
tourism and part research.
The larger group divided to tackle separate research
projects in the United States—everything from the impact
of a proposed wind farm on Oregon Trail territory to for-
est conservation to vegetation management.
Hannah Fishwick and Hannah Gumble, both Geogra-
phy majors, chose the impact of legalized marijuana as
their study topic.
“It’s very different from England,” said Gumble. “It’s
completely illegal there.”
Fishwick hails from rural Herefordshire, Gumble from
north London.
Here since Monday, the two passed out surveys to
citizens they encountered, and said the key point they
learned during their research was validation of what they
call NIMBY. “Not in my backyard,” explained Gumble.
“That’s when people want the benefi ts of something,
but they just don’t want it here,” said Fishwick.
Gumble added, “One of the biggest things we’ve found
is that Baker City is against dispensaries.” However, she
Friday
More clouds than sun then showers and thun-
derstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80.
Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of
precipitation is 60%.
Sunday
Mostly sunny skies with a chance for afternoon
showers. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of
precipitation is 30%.
noted that in response to their questionnaires, only two
people didn’t support the actual legalization of marijuana.
After three days of data collection, largely in the form
of interviews, said Fishwick, the pair will fi nish compil-
ing their fi ndings, and then present the results to their
cohort for a grade.
The students were also able to visit Baker Middle
School and Baker High School, and travel to Huntington
to look at 420Ville, that town’s new dispensary. Back in
Baker City, Sgt. Mike Regan and Offi cer Coleton Smith
gave the young ladies ride-a-longs complete with the
opportunity to witness citation-writing for seatbelt infrac-
tions and the running of a red light.
The two took note that dispensaries in Seattle were noth-
ing like the one they saw in Huntington—Seattle’s being
larger, shinier and fi lled to the brim with pot merch.
After Friday, Fishwick and Gumble will come to the
end of their two-week university fi eld trip, and begin
another two and a half weeks of U.S. exploration on their
own.
“The people (in Baker City) are so nice,” Fishwick said.
Gumble added, “If you look lost, people here will
stop to ask if you’re okay. That would never happen in
London.”
Fishwick noted the consistent changes in scenery from
the Columbia Gorge and the heat, to fi nding snow at
Anthony Lakes the next day.
Noting those snowcapped mountains, Gumble said,
“It’s like someone just put a backdrop there!” Something
else also stood out to her: Huckleberries and huckleberry
lemonade. “We don’t have them in England,” she said.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
New 911
system
installed
• AMERICAN STEWARDS DEBATE CREATES
ANOTHER HEATED COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SESSION
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board of Commissioners held a
regular session on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 9 a.m., in
the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court-
house, highlighted by an important 911 Consolidated
Dispatch Center recorder installation update from Center
Director Hope Lindsey, and an extensive discussion from
Brenda Holly and other community members, regarding
the American Stewards of Liberty.
Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Com-
missioners Mark Bennett and Tim Kerns, and Executive
Assistant Heidi Martin.
SEE COMMISSIONERS PAGE 4
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Marvin Wood Products new initiative
County: 2% raises ahead
Durkee: Drunk driver sets off fi re
Classifi eds
Tip-a-Cop raises $2380
Huntington: Kayak fi shing contest
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