BUSINESS: Two Safeways in one town?
PAGE 3
The
OUTDOOR REC / SPORTS: Swim meet
results. PAGE 7
Baker County Press
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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
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