FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
LEGAL NOTICE
HELP WANTED
BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT 5J is currently accepting
applications for a BHS Assistant Volleyball Coach. For
a complete description of the position and the application
process go to www.baker.k12.or.us. You may also call
Cathy Martin at 541-524-2261.
8.5
The Baker School District is now accepting bids for the
2016-17 school year. We are looking for food/non-food
bids, milk and produce bids. For detailed lists of items
and more information, please contact Jessica Dalton at
541-524-2260. 8.5
LEGAL NOTICE
DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE
Medical Springs Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors will hold its regular monthly board meeting at Pon-
dosa Station, on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 7 PM to discuss fire department operations. Equal opportunity provider.
Albertsons, Safeway
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PAGE 3
“We, at first, tried for
some independent (noting
previous efforts to bring in
grocers)...The FTC (Fed-
eral Trade Commission)
had worked with Haggen
during the bankruptcy, and
Albertsons was the only
bidder on the franchise
here...They’re the ones
that had the lease on the
building, so, that made it
much easier for them to
bid on it. An independent
would have been our pref-
erence, but, my thoughts
on this were, Albertsons
and Safeway are owned
by the same conglomerate
(Cerberus Capital Manage-
ment) but Albertsons does
have their pricing policy,
and they have their weekly
specials, and Safeway has
theirs so their is a modi-
cum of competition, and I
think the community will
be better served with an
Albertsons, and a Safe-
way,” Warner, Jr. said.
Warner, Jr. was referring
to the Albertsons/Safeway
merger in January of 2015,
which prompted the FTC
to require, as a condi-
tion of the merger and in
order to avoid a potential
monopoly, the company
to divest its store at 1120
Campbell Street. Haggen
acquired the building in the
spring of last year, opened
in May, and, less than six
months later, closed its
doors, and declared bank-
ruptcy. In October of last
year, Albertsons acquired
the building through
auction, prompting once
again, concerns about a
monopoly.
Warner, Jr. said he was
pleased with how the
meeting had gone, and he
mentioned that McGin-
nis had visited the local
Safeway store, and that she
had visited members of
the community, as well. “ I
think we did some good,”
he said.
“I think it was incum-
bent on me as a City
Manager to try everything
that we could to achieve
an outcome, and that’s
what we hired Greg for. I
think it’s something that
had to be done. We will
continue to monitor the
situation. I briefed the
(City) Council, and I think
the Council think that’s
an important thing for me
to be involved in, and of
course, we’ll work with the
EDC (Economic Develop-
ment Council) ...When I
got back in (to City and
County politics recently,
having been a former
County Commissioner), I
decided this was important
to the community...I got
up at five in the morning,
drove to Portland, had the
meeting, drove home, and
I was home by six, and
when I got home, I felt it
was worth the trip. I had
plenty of (community)
input, and I’m sure we’ll
get plenty afterwards, good
or bad.”
Smith said, “A couple of
weeks ago, City Council
said, ‘Gosh, Greg, let’s
take a look at this.’ Com-
missioner (Bill) Harvey
said the same thing, so
I called Oxley the week
before last, and I just
shared with him, that we’re
kind of getting to a tipping
point in the community,
and folks are beginning
to really speculate to the
negative, on the viability
of two Safeway stores.”
Smith said that, within a
few hours, Oxley got back
to him, and the meeting
was set up.
Smith emphasized
the importance of meet-
ing with the Albertsons
representatives, during
which Smith and Warner,
Jr. laid out their concerns.
He said that, once the two
finished, the response
was that Albertsons is a
business, and a store needs
to stay profitable, so, the
company would give com-
munity members one more
chance, to vote with their
checkbooks, by supporting
both an Albertsons, and a
Safeway. Smith’s response
to that was, “Let’s give
it a shot, and we encour-
age everyone in the City,
and the County to support
Albertsons and Safeway
reopening.”
Smith said the executives
said that the new Alb-
ertsons will be state-of-
the-art, as modern as can
be, and that the existing
Safeway will remain in
its current condition. “It’s
going to be a nice store,”
Smith said.
“The overall tone of
the meeting was that the
Albertsons executives
were pretty matter-of-fact.
They’re in competition
with grocery stores all over
the country, and when it’s
all said and done, they
need to keep their doors
open by making a profit.
We understand that, and
anyone would get that.
Their people looked at
it, and they’re not sure
Baker County can support
two grocery stores. But,
they’re going to give it a
try, and if folks will curb
their spending habits, i.e.,
heading to La Grande, or
heading to Boise, and will
try and shop local, then, it
can work. They’re going
to give us a chance,” he
said.
Smith explained that,
while the previous plan
was to operate two Safe-
way stores locally, “I think
Fred and I did a pretty
decent job of explaining to
them that that’s not going
to fly. Folks aren’t going
to support that. One, they
don’t want a monopoly,
and two, they want choice.
And we shared with them
that, if it can return to the
previous model, where we
had an Albertsons and a
Safeway, people can get
their Weekly Shopper from
either store, and they have
a variety in products, etc.
We told them we thought
it would be supported,
and they seem convinced
with what Fred and I had
to share...I can’t speak for
them, but it appeared they
weren’t sure what their
final decision was going
to be, until they met with
Fred and I. At that point,
Mayes said, ‘Okay, this
is what we’re doing,’ and
Fred and I couldn’t have
asked for a better outcome,
from that meeting.”
Smith said the benefits
to the community will
be numerous, including
added jobs, and choices
for consumers. “They’ll be
able to shop both weekly,
and have different selec-
tions, and hopefully, folks
will support it, and hope-
fully, we’ll get some more
people back to work,” he
said.
Smith said, “I didn’t
know this, but apparently,
when Haggen went out
of business, the FTC sent
out a Notice for Propos-
als, via email, to any and
all grocers. How they do
that, I don’t know. I don’t
know what their public
announcement process is,
but they sent it out, and
no one bid on the opportu-
nity for a second store, in
Baker, and so, Albertsons
just purchased the second
opportunity, and the FTC,
seeing that there were no
other options, granted it to
Albertsons. So, when we
shared our concerns with
Albertsons about a mo-
nopoly, they said, ‘Gosh,
we hear your concerns,
but no one expressed an
interest in buying.’ I shared
with them, ‘That may have
been the case in your pro-
cess, but we’ve had other
entrepreneurs who have
expressed interest, and
should this fall through,
we’re most definitely going
to be contacting them.’”
Smith said, “When it’s
all said and done, we
need two grocery stores,
we need options for local
folks, and we need the
jobs. That’s what we’re
trying to do. I am not
giving up on them. My
teeth are dug in, and by
golly, one way or another,
we’re going to make sure
this community has two
grocery stores. Right now,
we’re counting on Albert-
sons, but if it doesn’t work
out, we’re going to figure it
out. All we can do on this
is to keep trying.”
—ODFW Weekly Recreation Report—
BAKER COUNTY
Cougars can be found
throughout Baker County but
hunters should target areas with
high concentrations of deer and
elk. Setting up on a fresh kill or
using distress calls can all be
productive techniques. Hunters
are required to check in the hide
of any cougar taken, with skull
and proof of sex attached.
Coyote numbers are good
throughout the district. Try call-
ing in early morning and late
afternoon. Remember to ask for
permission before hunting on
private properties.
GRANT COUNTY
Cougar hunting remains open.
Successful hunters should
remember that check-in of the
hide with skull and proof of sex
attached is mandatory; see the
regulations for details.
Coyote numbers are good in
most of the district. Coyotes
may respond to distress calls.
Try calling in the early morning
and late evening.
MORROW, GILLIAM AND
WHEELER COUNTIES
Cougar hunting is open.
Cougar are well distributed
in our forested areas. Calling
with distress calls or cougar
vocalizations can be effec-
tive. However, locating a fresh,
naturally made kill has the best
chance of success.
The Coyote population is
healthy with good numbers of
coyotes available for those who
wish to pursue them. Watch
wind direction to help prevent
giving away your location. Call-
ing with game distress calls can
be very successful.
UMATILLA COUNTY
Cougar are well distributed
in forested areas of the Walla
Walla, Mt. Emily, and Ukiah
units. Hunters will have best
success by finding a fresh
naturally made kill and sitting
on it, or by using predator calls.
Some success has come from
following tracks until the cougar
is located.
Coyote are numerous
throughout the County and
hunters should have good suc-
cess calling. Remember to ask
permission before hunting on
private lands.
UNION COUNTY
Cougars are common in Union
County. Focus on game rich
areas with long ridgelines or
saddles that cats typically travel.
Setting up downwind of a deer
or elk killed by a cougar can be
productive. Nonresident hunters
can include a cougar tag with
others tags for only $14.50. All
cougars taken must be checked
in within 10 days of harvest;
call for an appointment before
check in.
Coyote numbers are high
throughout the district. Try call-
ing in early morning and late
afternoon. Remember to ask for
permission before hunting on
private properties.
Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area
The portion of Ladd Marsh
East of Foot Hill road is now
closed to all hunting.
Visitors are advised to careful-
ly read posted signs and consult
the wildlife area administrative
rules. Rules that apply to all
areas are at the top (at the link),
and then scroll down to page
8, #635-008-120, for additional
rules specific to Ladd Marsh.
Dogs are not permitted within
the Wildlife Area, including the
Glass Hill Unit, on or off leash
except during authorized game
bird hunting seasons.
Vehicles, camping and fires
are prohibited on the wildlife
area at all times.
For more information please
call 541 963 4954
WALLOWA COUNTY
Black Bear: Bear hunting is
expected to be good early in the
morning and late in the evening
in draw bottoms and stream bot-
toms where bears are feeding
on hawthorn, service berry, and
elder berries. Huckleberries are
beginning to ripen and bears will
soon be moving up slope to take
advantage of this favorite food.
Coyote: Good numbers of
coyotes can be found through-
out Wallowa County. Calling
coyotes with rabbit distress type
calls has been effective for hunt-
ers. It is important to choose
areas with abundant coyote sign
and little human activity.
Cougar numbers are moderate
throughout Wallowa County.
Most lions are taken incidental
to other hunting; however, call-
ing with fawn bleat, or locating a
cougar kill and waiting for a cat
to return are often successful
techniques.
SB 1513
introduced
During the 2016 legislative session Senate Bill 1513
was introduced. That bill would allow the surviving
spouse of a law enforcement officer or firefighter killed
in the line of duty to apply for a property tax exemption
for the first $250,000 of assessed value of homesteads of
surviving spouses.
A requirement of this Senate Bill is that for the provi-
sion to be effective County Commissions must, by
ordinance or resolution, implement this provision of law.
The exemption remains in effect unless/until the surviv-
ing spouse remarries.
Fire Chief Mark John on behalf of the Oregon Fire
Chiefs Association and Police Chief Wyn Lohner on
behalf of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police,
will be asking the County Board of Commissioners to
consider this needed legislation at a near future meeting
of the Board of Commissioners.
Community
orchestra
August 15
The Baker Community Orchestra will hold its Summer
Concert Monday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Powder
River Pavilion in Geyser-Pullman Park in Baker City.
There is no admission and all are welcome. Bring the
whole family!
The orchestra, under the direction of Kelly Brick-
man, will perform a Salute to America and Americana,
a mix of patriotic and folk music of our country. Bring a
blanket, or your lawn chairs, perhaps a picnic dinner and
enjoy some music made by your neighbors!
The Baker Community Orchestra is made up of volun-
teer community members who have a passion for making
music.
The orchestra is open to any community member who
can play a band or orchestra instrument.
There is no audition requirement, only the ability to
read music and play at a middle school level, or above.
For information on joining, you can contact Brian Watt at
541-523-4662.
EOU trustees
to meet
Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity’s Board of Trustees is
hosting a public reception
at the Crossroads Carnegie
Art Center, 2020 Auburn
Ave., from 4:30-6 p.m.
Wednesday, August 10.
Complimentary refresh-
ments will be served.
Board members will be
in Baker for a two-day
retreat at the Geiser Grand
Hotel, in part to discuss
future goals for the univer-
sity. Wednesday’s recep-
tion is an opportunity for
the community to speak
with individual trustees,
Submitted Photo.
learn more about new ini-
tiatives and ask questions.
Cheryl Martin.
"We are eager to meet
with people in Baker
County including alumni, community leaders and edu-
cators," said Cheryl Martin, EOU trustee from North
Powder. “Having the opportunity to listen to and learn
what aspects of higher education are important to them is
a vital role of the board.”
David Nelson, board chair, and Tom Insko, EOU presi-
dent, will also be attending the event.
Martin was appointed as an EOU trustee in 2014. A re-
tired teacher with 27 years of experience, she now serves
on the advisory board for the North Powder Agriculture
Program and the Oregon Cattlemen's Association govern-
ing board. She is also the current president of the Baker
County Chamber of Commerce, and together with her
husband Curtis, owns and operates VP Ranch.
Ladies golf
Ladies Quail Ridge Golf Winners for July 13, 2016 are:
1st Flight 1st: Tie: Myrna Evans: Linda Taylor; 2nd
Flight 1st: Kathy Hopkins; 3rd Flight 1st Marianne
Klinger.
Birdies: Jennifer Godwin: Judy Karstans: Myrna Evans:
Marianne Klinger.
For July 20, 2016: 1st Flight 1st Judy Karstans, 2nd
Jennifer Godwin; 2nd Flight: 1st: Margo Kenworthy;
3rd Flight: 1st Marianne Klinger.
Bridge Winners for July 13, 2016 are: 1st Della Steele,
2nd Janice Smull, and 3rd Kathy Eidsen.
Bridge winners for July 20, 2016 are: 1st Dianne El-
lingson, 2nd Jessie Ritch, and 3rd Marilyn DelFatti.