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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2016)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016 Business & Ag Forest Access for All holds successful annual banquet BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The ever-growing organi- zation, Forest Access for All (FAFA) held a hugely successful third annual banquet, which raised funds to help support its solitary cause: “Keeping public lands open to the public.” Over the past couple years, FAFA has grown to 2,500 members spanning several Oregon counties, with ties to sister organiza- tion in other states. This year’s event, which was held Saturday evening at the Sunridge, packed the banquet room nearly elbow to elbow, and drew a host of elected officials from three states. Among the attendees were Oregon State Rep. Greg Barreto of Cove, Montana State Rep. Kerry White, County Commis- sioner Karen Skoog of Pend Oreille County in Washington, Baker County Commissioner Bill Harvey, and Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer. John George of Bates, one of the group’s found- ing members, served as emcee for the evening, which coincidentally was his birthday. George came out strongly on the subject of the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) proposed road closures. “We’re not going to have it!” he began. George took a moment to recognize Palmer who he believes is currently under political attack “because he chose to stand up for people like us.” The statement drew thun- derous applause. George then took another moment to recognize the veterans in the room, with many standing from nearly every table ranging from gray-haired senior citizens to Eli Witham, newly graduated from Marine bootcamp. White then took the mic, speaking for about ten minutes on how apathy de- stroys and elections matt- ter, and how his organiza- tion, Citizens for Balanced Use (CBU) was networked with the agriculture indus- try, recreationalists, timber harvesters, hunters and fishermen to protect public lands for the public. “We are in the fight of our lives and the other side has money,” he said. He spoke of the left-leaning environmental ideology that he believes has infil- trated federal agencies, and the government in general. “The old guard in D.C. doesn’t care a hoot,” he said. “We need to bring the voice back more local.” White said that the Trans- fer of Public Lands back to Friday, May 20, 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 ani- mals. Many hay producers are sold out for the year. New crop hay is growing and will be harvested in the upcoming months. No new eastern Oregon sales confirmed. Last week’s were: Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa — Mid Square Good 150 190.00-190.00 190.00 Alfalfa — Small Square Premium 23 170.00-170.00 170.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 619 Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Montana State Rep. Kerry White (at left), also of Citizens for Balanced Use and the American Lands Council, presented a check for $500 to Forest Access for All, which was accepted by that group’s President, Tork Ballard. state or county level would provide incentive for see- ing those lands managed properly. Harvey briefly spoke next. “It’s a fight for our freedoms—those things we get to do here in Baker County. That’s worth fight- ing for,” he said. Harvey, like many in the room, spoke to what he says is the importance of the County Commis- sioners, or any agency comprised by a board of elected officials, to invoke Coordination rather than Cooperation as has hap- pened historically. Coordination by law is a tool that gives local orga- nization and agencies more comparable footing with federal agency power dur- ing decisions such as road closures and land access. Skoog then spoke. “I wish I had your group in our county,” she said. The Federal govern- ment intends to more than double the amount of wilderness-designated lands in her county alone up in Washington state. Skoog believes that people come out fight- ing when they’re on the precipice, she said. But she fears waning enthusiasm. “Do not go away,” she encouraged the audience. “Be there consistently. The opposition is out there and they’re getting paid.” Her county had become part of a four-county group in her area to combat shrinking access. “Other places, other counties—they’re strug- gling with the same issue,” she said. Skoog noted that because of her stance against forest closures, The Southern Poverty Law Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a self- described progressive group that labels nearly 900 conservative groups and churches across the U.S. as “radicals,” “hat- ers,” and “terrorists” had recently added her to their list. Palmer has been for a time, as were other audi- ence members. Judging by the cheers and applause that rocked the room, attendees consid- ered Skoog’s new designa- tion a compliment. Skoog concluded her speech with saying that she sometimes thinks people don’t pray for vic- tory enough. “We can ask for miracles,” she said, and then led the room in prayer. George reclaimed the room and explained that three USFS items should be on the radar’s of FAFA members: The Blue Moun- tain Forest Plan Revision (BMFPR), The Travel Management Plan (TMP) and the Blue Mountain Forest Resiliency Project (BMFRP). The BMFPR comment period is closed, but 580 comments in support of retaining access were received by the USFS. The objection round of the process, first anticipated around September of 2017, may be coming as early as late this year, George said. So he asked those who had originally commented to prepare for that earlier timing. As for the TMP, on De- cember 16, 2015, he said, Subpart A was released, showing a decommis- sioning list of roads in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. A presentation show- ing the Subpart A maps highlighting the USFS’s proposed minimum neces- sary roads was shown. A possibility of 1,261 miles of roads are currently marked for “decommis- sioning” or closure. Such roads would even- tually be ripped out, gated off, or blocked with a tank trap. Subpart A, said George, springboards into the future Subpart B, which could designate the use for the remaining roads, e.g. some would be avail- able for pickups, others for ATVs, etc. A buffer to which users would be restricted is also typically implemented along the roads. In Montana, the Helena National Forest now has a 30-foot buffer on either side of the remaining roads. Those wishing to travel more than that dis- tance off the road to pick berries, mushroom hunt, cut firewood, etc. are not allowed to do so without special permits. Finally, the BMFRP, according to George is this: “We (the USFS) let 300,000 acres burn. Now we’re going to step in and say there’s a problem.” George anticipates the USFS will then attempt to clean up that problem while referring back to Subpart A, thin trees, then button up the areas that have been newly man- aged—effectively locking citizens out. “They’re going to screw us out of our mountains if we don’t get on it,” George said. In the Helena National Forest’s situation, more than half the preexisting roads were eliminated. The evening wrapped up with silent and live auc- tions, featuring auctioneer Mib Dailey and items donated by roughly 100 businesses throughout northeast Oregon. FAFA’s Executive Of- ficers are: President Tork Ballard, Vice President Chuck Chase, Secretary Wanda Ballard, Treasurer Bobbie Danser, Public Af- fairs Officer John Creigh- ton and Web Designer Rob Browning. More information is available at ForestAccess- forAll.org. Marvins expands employee purchase program Employees of The Mar- vin Companies now have an easier way to enjoy and take pride in owning the products they’ve helped to envision, design and build thanks to an expanded em- ployee discount program. The new program offers the company’s more than 5,000 employees industry- leading window and door solutions for up to 78 per- cent off list price, ensuring they are attainable for the — Weekly Hay Report — company’s workforce. “At Marvin, we make the best windows and doors in the world. Marvin employ- ees are producing the high- est quality products while we’re at work, and we should all enjoy the high- est quality products when we’re in our homes,” said Paul Marvin, President of Marvin Windows and Doors. “This program now allows everyone in the or- ganization the opportunity to showcase the craftsman- ship of our world-class products at home.” While an employee dis- count program has been available for many years, the expanded program significantly reduces the cost of windows and doors for employees and includes full warranty coverage. Employees may purchase Marvin brand window and door products at 70 percent off list price, and Infinity window products at 78 percent off list price. “When building or remod- eling, we want our employ- ees to use the absolute best products available – prod- ucts that only The Marvin Companies can produce,” Marvin continued. “With this expanded program, Marvin employees can do just that.” For more about career opportunities please visit Marvin.com. Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk N/A Top N/A 400-500# Bulk 137.00-166.00 Top 167.00 500-600# Bulk 153.00-176.00 Top 178.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 142.00-153.00 Top 155.00 400-500# Bulk 137.00-149.00 Top 157.00 500-600# Bulk 132.00-149.00 Top 154.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 136.00-157.00 Top 158.00 700-800# Bulk 131.00-144.00 Top 145.00 800-900# Bulk 112.00-129.00 Top 130.00 900-1,000# Bulk 108.00-119.00 Top 127.00 Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 131.00-144.00 Top 146.00 700-800# Bulk N/A Top N/A 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 49.00-66.00 Butcher Cows 68.00-81.00 Butcher Bulls 73.00-89.00 Pairs Yng. 1575.00-1860.00 Hfretts. 86.00-102.00 Pairs Older. - N/A 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: $1,224.50 Silver: $16.34 Platinum: $993.20 Palladium: $531.88 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $403.75/bu/USD Wheat: $466.25/bu/USD Soybeans: $1083.25/bu/USD Oats: $190.00 bu/USD Rough Rice: $1,077.00/cwt/USD Canola: $525.60 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $113.75/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $142.75/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $79.93/lb./USD Bloomberg.com