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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 2016)
FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5 Local Republican National Convention Police warn about scam Photo Courtesy of Suzan Ellis Jones Rep. Greg Barreto with wife Chris of Cove cross through another layer of security. Photo Courtesy of Suzan Ellis Jones Jones’s view of “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell, who gave a moving speech. Several citizens have recently reported they were con- tacted via telephone by someone claiming to be a member of the Baker City Police Department (BCPD). The caller was asking for donations of money to the department. That type of solicitation is a scam. The police department does not solicit donations by telephone. There are, on occasion, solicitations made on behalf of specific projects or programs. Funding of the depart- ment’s drug K-9 is one example. Currently the BCPD is seeking donations (tax deductable) for a piece of equip- ment needed by the regional SWAT Team that includes personnel of this department. Those solicitations, when they do occur, which is infrequently, are made through the cooperation of the media, are in writing, and the spe- cific purpose is clearly noted. The BCPD never has anyone, an employee or anyone else, solicit donations via telephone. If you receive such a call it is not legitimate. If you receive such a call and your telephone captures the caller’s telephone number please notify us so that we may follow up on the matter. Few arrests made at Jubilee Photo Courtesy of Suzan Ellis Jones Photo Courtesy of Suzan Ellis Jones Willy Robinson of the hit show “Duck Dynasty” drew applause from the enormous crowd. Candidate Donald J. Trump and his wife standing near the stage. CONTINUED FROM votes for the presidential nominee, in-house party business, including adopt- ing a new national platform for the party is voted on, with planks (parts of the platform) either adopted or rejected. Jones said the delegates were often kept on duty till midnight or later. Jones said that one huge change was that the national party adopted Transfer of Public Lands to its platform, following in the steps of the Oregon state party last year. That new text reads: “The federal government owns or controls over 640 million acres of land in the United States, most of which is in the West. These are public lands, and the public should have access to them for appropriate activities like hunting, fish- ing, and recreational shoot- ing. Federal ownership or management of land also places an economic burden on counties and local com- munities in terms of lost revenue to pay for things such as schools, police, and emergency services. It is absurd to think that all that acreage must remain under the absentee owner- ship or management of official Washington. Con- gress shall immediately PAGE 1 In addition to the dual- fence barricades, snow plows have been lined up as one final security measure. A separate line of law enforcement on horseback is also ever-present. Becoming a delegate to begin with was no easy task. According to Jones, slates of delegate candi- dates come together from across all the Congres- sional Districts across the state. Baker is part of Congressional District 2. Jones was part of the “grassroots” slate, which was eventually elected at the GOP’s state-level convention. Competition between slates can be intense. Once elected, delegates are responsible for pay- ing their own way to the convention, and are also expected to donate a week of their time in the process. A pre-convention party awaited Jones and other delegates over the week- end. “They had Three Dog Night playing,” said Jones. “They sounded the same as they always used to.” Jones also encountered actor Antonio Sabato, Jr. as he exited a restroom. “I didn’t know who he was at first,” said Jones. “And then the media just descended on him.” Delegates were able to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame prior to the start of business. Once the business itself began on Monday, national media filled the area. The Oregon delegation was positioned in blue T-shirts on the red carpet area to the left, if one faces the main stage. Jones watched television media personalities such as Sean Hannity interview officials such as Rudy Giuliani, and got Hannity’s autograph at the end. A variety of celebrity speakers such as Marcus Luttrell of “Lone Survivor” fame and cast members from the television show “Duck Dynasty” took the stage, mixing with various senators, governors and the like. During the business of casting the delegate votes, is became apparent based upon who took the stage, which officials the states liked—and whom they did not. “Mitch McConnell,” said Jones, “got booed. Twice.” In addition to casting the pass universal legislation providing for a timely and orderly mechanism requir- ing the federal government to convey certain federally controlled public lands to states. We call upon all national and state leaders and representatives to exert their utmost power and in- fluence to urge the transfer of those lands, identified in the review process, to all willing states for the benefit of the states and the nation as a whole. The residents of state and local communities know best how to protect the land where they work and live. They practice boots-on- the-ground conservation in their states every day. We support amending the Antiquities Act of 1906 to establish Congress’ right to approve the designation of national monuments and to further require the approval of the state where a national monument is designated or a national park is proposed.” Jones and the other Or- egon delegates will begin leaving Ohio at the end of the week, following their own personal schedules. Also from eastern Oregon at the RNC were Rep. Greg Barreto of Cove and his wife / legislative assistant Chris. Celebrities, politicians at Jubilee Richardson had driven from Medford to Portland where here met pilot Gary Dunfree for the first time. From there, they flew to the Baker City Airport owned and operated by Troy and Gen Woydziak. Dunfree gives free “dream” plane rides to kids ages 8 to 17 via www. youngeagles.org, and donated the trip to Rich- ardson. Richardson has been to Baker City multiple times over the past two years. Richardson came close to the governor’s man- sion in a race against John Kitzhaber last election, but didn’t feel the numbers for him would add up to a win against Kate Brown after she was appointment when the embattled Kitzhaber stepped down. “It’s time for account- ability, transparency and integrity to be restored in the Oregon capitol,” said Richardson. “We need to make sure that businesses are welcome in Oregon so that our economy can grow.” Gudman emphasized that he has no aspirations to the governor’s seat should he be elected Treasurer. “I’m running on the simple proposition that Oregon’s next Treasurer should actually have ex- perience as a Treasurer. I bring decades of experi- ence in the financial field,” said Gudman. “I want to serve eight years as Trea- surer and then I’m done.” Congressman Walden is up for reelection this year, with polls showing him light years ahead of the nearest competition. Walden said, “I’m work- ing hard to try backing off Federal overreach in our lives. I’m pushing back against the proposal to establish an Owyhee National Monument in Malheur County. Work- ing hard to try to get more active management in our forests ... We just passed legislation in the House to delist the gray wolf across the state ... We got a provi- sion passed to block any funds from being spent to declare any monument in Oregon and to prevent the government from enforc- ing the Waters of the U.S. through the E.P.A. to 1989 levels.” Walden said, “We have a lot more work to do.” Richardson departed with his pilot after touring the park and visiting with local residents. Gudman remained slightly longer, greeting those who visited the park, before moving on to his next appearance. Walden also headed out early to drive back to Hood River, then catch a 6 a.m. flight to Ohio for the Re- publican National Conven- tion the next day. According to the Baker City Police Department, there were no major incidents related specifically to any of the Jubilee weekend’s events. There were some minor con- frontations that occurred at the beer garden but those were resolved without arrests. Several persons under the age of 21 were cited for minor in possession of alcohol. Agents from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) were in Baker City to monitor both the sale of alcohol at the beer garden and compliance with OLCC regulations by local business establishments. OLCC did give notice of an impending action regard- ing the Rising Sun (2425 Oak St.) for serving alcohol to an obviously intoxicated male. That subject voluntarily submitted to a breath test which revealed a blood alcohol level of .35. OLCC is investigating other potential viola- tions by that same establishment. NEOEDD gets contribution Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD) Executive Director Lisa Dawson is pleased to announce a contribution of $7,500 from Commu- nity Bank to support NEOEDD’s administration of the Individual Development Account (IDA) program. IDAs provide a 3-to-1 match for savings as well as free money- management training for Baker, Union, and Wallowa county residents who have low or moderate incomes. “Community Bank’s contribution helps us continue to offer this important program to residents of Baker, Union, and Wallowa counties,” says Dawson. —Correction— Last’s week’s issue had an incorrect headline stating that Samantha Rowan was Sumpter’s new mayor. The original headline identified an appointment for Rowan, followed by the fact there was still no new mayor. As best we can tell, a cut and paste error got us! We apologize for the er- ror, thank Ms. Rowan for her sense of humor—and assure the citizens of Sumpter that the content of Meghan Ander- sch’s article was indeed correct.
