BUSINESS: Two Safeways in one town? PAGE 3 The OUTDOOR REC / SPORTS: Swim meet results. PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, July 1, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 27 Hunt of a Lifetime makes dreams come true • MONEY RAISED TO GRANT DREAMS TO YOUTH WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com Lefty’s Taphouse, at 1934 Broadway in Baker City, hosted a very suc- cessful Hunt of a Lifetime banquet and auction fund- raising event on Saturday evening, June 25, bringing in over 500 people, and over $50,000 in funds, which will remain in eastern Oregon. This event marked the fi rst time that a fundraiser was held here to benefi t the organization. Rick Stout, co-owner of Lefty’s, said, “It was huge. We had it (the event) everywhere; we had a beer garden (and barbecue) outside, we had people upstairs (in a rental venue, called Lefty’s Loft). There were seats for 400 inside, and seating for another 75 outside, and we probably had about 500 people through here. It was amaz- ing. A lot of volunteers put in a lot of time, doing a lot of things, and it came to- gether very well. We were very pleased with it.” Stout said that locals Clay McEnroe and Chris- tina Smith spearheaded the effort, coming to the Lefty’s crew and asking to hold the event there. He said that because the fundraiser was held locally, the funds raised also will be utilized locally, whereas previously (the Oregon Chapter was started in 2002), funding came from the national segment of the organization. SEE HUNT PAGE 8 Cycling event celebrates 15 years Submitted Photo. Baker City’s fi rst Hunt of a Lifetime banquet raised over $50,000. Sumpter: Recall takes out mayor • TWO COUNCILORS RETAIN THEIR SEATS BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press Organizers Brian and Corrine Vegter watch the event unfold near the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com From Thursday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26, Baker City celebrated the 15-year anniversary of the Baker City Cycling Classic. Brian and Corrine Vegter were the offi cial race direc- tor and volunteer coordina- tor respectively. They began organizing this fi ve-stage event a year in advance. To organize this event, they coordinat- ed with a number of enti- ties, including the Oregon Department of Transpor- tation (ODOT) and the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. “We fi le paperwork for the permits we use. We provide a safety plan to them, and what the route is. And we check to make sure that there is not going to be road construction or any county construction depending on what routes we are using,” explained Brian Vegter. “It ends up being a full- time job for a solid two months where we almost don’t do anything else but work on the race,” stated Corrine Vegter. This event is through Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) and is listed on their event website. Racers will fi nd events through OBRA’s website as well as where they are ranked. Promo cards, fl yers, and word of mouth spread news of the event. There were 230 racers and 300 volunteers in- volved in this year’s event. “We have people from Canada, Washington, Utah, California, Illinois, Or- egon, Idaho, and, I think, Colorado this year,” stated Brian Vegter. SEE CYCLING PAGE 7 Friday Partly sunny with cooler temperatures. Highs in the mid 60s. Partly cloudy and cool at night. Lows near 40. Saturday Mostly sunny and seasonable temperatures, highs in the mid 70s. Mostly clear and cool at night. Lows in the mid 40s. Sunday Mostly sunny and warmer. Highs in the mid 80s. Mostly clear and warmer at night. Lows near 50. The votes are in for Sumpter’s recent recall election with a high percentage of the town’s 133 registered vot- ers taking part. Ballots were due Tuesday, June 28th. Unoffi cial results for the recall of mayor Leland Myers are 53 yes votes and 51 no votes. For the recall of Councilor Cary Clarke, 47 voted yes and 58 no. And for the recall of Councilor Samantha Esposito, 48 voted yes and 58 no. Recording deputy Karen Phillips verifi ed that a simple majority vote is required for a successful recall and that results will be certifi ed within 14 days. A statement was not immediately available as to how Sumpter’s mayoral position will be fi lled after the vote is certifi ed. According to page 12 of the Oregon Elections Division Recall Manual (http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/ Documents/RecallManual.pdf), “If the recall election is successful the position becomes a vacancy in offi ce and is fi lled in accordance with state statute or local charter or ordinance.” SEE RECALL PAGE 9 Accounts set up for crash victims BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press Cyclist Nadine Carter from Boise participated in the race for the fi rst time this year. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Accounts at two separate banks have been established to help cover the medical expenses of crash victims Tricia Price and daughter Sydney Palmer, who were seriously injured outside Haines last week in a head-on collision. Jamie Knight, acting as one spokesperson for the family, said Community Bank is accepting donations. Ty Moothart, a family friend, helped set up a separate account at Old West Credit Union toward that same purpose. Price and Palmer were in the wrong place at the wrong time when they were struck by a driver who had been reported as driving erratically just prior to the accident. That driver died in the accident. Price and Palmer were LifeFlighted to Boise. Price was then transported to Walla Walla and fi nally to OHSU in Portland. Both underwent multiple surgeries. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Retirements at Blue Mtn. Design FBI’s serial killer cold case County: Windfarm, Richland sewer ‘Agenda’ fi lmmaker visits Baker City City: Quiet Zone, wastewater, more Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally schedule Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 4 5 5 8 10