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Friday, July 22, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 30
Live from the RNC!
• BAKER COUNTY’S
FIRST DELEGATE
TO THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION
SHARES EXPERIENCE
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
As reported in The Baker
County Press three weeks
ago, the slate of 28 del-
egates and their alternates
from Oregon to represent
at the Republican Na-
tional Convention (RNC),
includes for the fi rst time
a Baker County resident,
Suzan Ellis Jones. Jones is
chair of the Baker County
Republicans.
The convention is where
delegates from around
the U.S. gather to cast the
votes for president in order
for the party to have an
offi cial nominee.
On Tuesday, that
nominee was announced as
Donald J. Trump.
“He may not have been
my personal choice, but
unless we want Hillary
Clinton as President, the
party needs to support
him,” said Jones.
Delegates are bound
(meaning they can’t simply
select a candidate of their
own choosing) to cast
their votes on behalf of
how voters in Oregon cast
their votes. Jones and four
others were initially bound
to place a delegate vote
for candidate Kasich, but
later became “unbound”
after Kasich was no longer
a possibility for nominee.
Kasich didn’t appear at the
convention.
The convention, held
at the Quicken Arena in
Cleveland, Ohio, has fi erce
security, says Jones who
arrived there last Saturday.
She said two, 8-foot
fences have been con-
structed near the venue.
Delegates from around
America are being trans-
ported to the arena from
a mile away or more on
secure busses. Snipers
are present on boats out
in Lake Erie behind the
venue. Other snipers are
positioned 24/7 along the
rooftops. Federal agents
accompany the delegates
in secure busses to and
from the venue. Approxi-
mately 500 police canines
are also present, many
trained to sniff out bombs,
and utilized constantly.
The number of law-en-
forcement offi cers present
is immense, according to
Jones, and helicopters are
always circling.
“The protestors are so
far back that we don’t see
them,” she said.
Submitted Photo.
Suzan Ellis Jones (left) on the fl oor near the main
stage prior to televised coverage with Rep. Greg
Walden.
SEE RNC PAGE 5
Celebrities, political
figures join Jubilee parade
‘House
Hunters’
films here
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
A fi lm crew from the hit Home and Garden Channel
(HGTV) show “House Hunters” shot footage in Baker
City last week with the crew and a couple of potential
buyers being seen along with a local realtor all over the
downtown area.
Per a nondisclosure agreement, that realtor asked to
have her name withheld from all media mention.
According to the “House Hunters” web site, the show
“takes viewers behind the scenes as individuals, couples
and families learn what to look for and decide whether or
not a home is meant for them. Focusing on the emotional
experience of fi nding and purchasing a new home, each
episode shows the process as buyers search for a home.”
According to HGTV, once shot, episodes take several
months to fi nalize and eventually air.
Chinese exchange
students
welcomed
Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press
Jim Thurber and Jack Hoffman of ‘Gold Rush’ along with editorial assistant, Vivien McQuisten.
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last Saturday’s Min-
ers Jubilee parade was
fi lled with guests from out
of town, including Jim
Thurber and Jack Hoff-
man from the Discovery
Channel’s hit show “Gold
Rush.” Todd Hoffman was
originally scheduled to
appear, but was unable to
return from a trip on time.
Thurber and Hoffman
said they’ve been spend-
ing most of their time in
the southern part of Baker
County. Thurber said, “It’s
nice to get into town.”
Hoffman said production
on the show is moving
along, with some seri-
ous sluicing—involving a
literal mountain of dirt—
scheduled out on the mine
for this week.
After the parade, the
two walked to the Geiser-
Pollman Park to sit with
the Baker County Republi-
can booth, where they took
pictures with fans.
Also fresh off the Repub-
lican parade fl oat and in
the same booth, a variety
of elected offi cials and
candidates in the upcoming
general election gathered.
Sen. Ted Ferrioli of John
Day and Representative
Cliff Bentz of Ontario
participated. Congressman
Greg Walden, candidate
for Oregon State Treasurer
Jeff Gudman, and candi-
date for Secretary of State
Dennis Richardson gave an
exclusive group interview
together to this newspaper.
SEE JUBILEE PAGE 5
Friday
Sunny and warm. Highs in the mid 80s. Clear
and cooler at night. Lows in the mid 40s.
Saturday
Sunny and warmer. Highs in the upper 80s.
Mostly clear and cool at night. Lows in the upper
40s.
Sunday
Sunny and hot with highs near 90. Mostly clear
and mild at night. Lows near 50.
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
The Doucette family was one host family to
welcome exchange students into their home.
BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press
L-R: Congressman Greg Walden, candidate for
Treasurer Jeff Gudman and candidate for Secretary
of State Dennis Richardson.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Traveling from Ankang Shaanxi, China, six students
from high school, two from middle school and two teach-
ers are currently the visiting Baker City, La Grande, and
Boise areas. Ankang Shaanxi is a small town that is a
day by train away from Bei Jing and is considered a rural
town.
SEE EXCHANGE STUDENTS PAGE 9
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Blue Mtn. Forest Plan call
BLM’s juniper lop and lay project
“So I was thinking...” column
County Commissioners
Huntington kids program
One giant nutmobile
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