LOCAL: Harness money donated for BCPD
drug dog. PAGE 10
The
LOCAL: Commissioners meet about mining
Sumpter tailings. PAGE 5
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Friday, August 5, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 32
Proceedings on hold
against Sunridge for now
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Monday, July 18,
2016, a Notice Of Stay Of
Proceedings was fi led by
plaintiff Bayview Loan
Servicing, LLC, in Baker
County Circuit Court, in
the matter of Bayview
Loan Servicing, LLC vs.
Carshetown, LLC, and
Townridge, Inc. The
Notice suspended further
action in the lawsuit,
with regard to defendant
Townridge, Inc. (dba Best
Western Sunridge Inn)
only, according to the
document.
In mid-April this year,
the plaintiff fi led the
lawsuit, seeking more than
$4.7 million in damages,
claiming that the defendant
failed to make monthly
loan payments since Feb-
ruary 1, 2015. On June 25,
2016, Townridge, Inc. fi led
for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
in the District of Oregon
U.S. Bankruptcy Court,
citing fi nancial issues,
pending litigation, and the
need to restructure debts.
On Wednesday, August
3, 2016, a Motion was fi led
in the bankruptcy case, by
U.S. Department of Justice
Trial Attorney Carla G.
McClurg, on behalf of Gail
Brehm Geiger, Acting U.S.
Trustee for Region 18.
Geiger, through McClurg,
moved that the court order
an expedited hearing on
the U.S. Trustee’s Mo-
tion for Entry of an Order
Directing the Appointment
of a Chapter 11 Trustee.
The Motion stated that
McClurg conferred with
counsel (Boise-based D.
Blair Clark) for the debtor
(Townridge, Inc.), and
counsel (Joseph Meier) for
Baker County, concern-
ing an expedited hearing
on the Motion, and that
Townridge, Inc. objects
to the expedited hearing,
and Baker County doesn’t
object.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
The Best Western / Sunridge continues to navigate
the legal system after a declared bankruptcy and
lawsuit fi led this summer.
SEE SUNRIDGE PAGE 7
Fire season flares up
Natural
resource
advisory
committee
divided
• GROUP SPLIT ON COUNTY
COORDINATION VERSUS COOPERATION
WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Tuesday, July 25, 2016, 3 p.m., the Baker County
Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) met for
its regular meeting in the Commission Chambers of the
Baker County Courthouse, with several topics on the
agenda, including coordination updates, review of the
Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision (BMFPR), and the
continuing coordination versus cooperation debate.
SEE NRAC PAGE 3
Photo Courtesy of Lee Ann Warren.
The Rail Fire outside Unity fl ared up quickly after fi rst reported Sunday afternoon.
• OTHER FIRES IGNITE NEAR DEAD MAN’S
PASS, WHITNEY, HUNTINGTON
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Sunday afternoon, the biggest fi re of the season so
far in Baker County ignited.
Located about 10 miles southwest of Unity, the Rail
Fire was quickly visible as a fast-spreading smoke plume
that covered the southern half of the county. By later that
afternoon, smoke was also visible from Baker City.
On Sunday evening, the Baker County Sheriff’s offi ce
and staff from the United States Forest Service (USFS)
helped evacuate campgrounds in the area—including
Mammoth Springs, Elk Creek, Stevens Creek, and South
Fork.
Approximately 314 fi refi ghters, with additional resourc-
es arriving later in the week, were present from a mix of
the USFS, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Sher-
iff’s Offi ce, Baker County Emergency Management and
private citizens. 11 dozers, 31 engines, 10 water tenders
and four helicopters, with additional resources ordered at
the time of print were on hand.
According to a press release Wednesday, the Pa-
cifi c Northwest Incident Management Team Twelve
(NWIMT#12) assumed command of the fi re at 6:00 a.m.
Monday, August 1.
Crews worked through the night building direct and
Friday
Mostly clear and hot. Highs near 90. Possible
isolated thunderstorms at night, otherwise partly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and cooler. Highs in the mid 80s.
Partly cloudy and cooler still at night. Lows near
50.
Sunday
Partly sunny with isolated thunderstorms. Highs
in the low 80s. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Lows in the upper 40s.
indirect contingency lines and watching for spot fi res af-
ter Tuesday’s passing cold front delivered wind gusts up
to 35 mph, driving the fi re farther to the east and north.
Wednesday crews continued to build and reinforce direct
contingency lines and build indirect lines on the east and
north sides of the fi re.
Baker County Sheriff’s Department delivered Level
2 evacuation notices to approximately ten homeowners
Tuesday evening. Level 2 status suggests that people be
prepared to evacuate should the risk increase.
At the time of print, nearly 6,600 acres had burned, with
5% containment, and a large fi re camp remained set up at
the Burnt River School in Unity.
In addition to the Rail Fire, another fi re called the
Whitney Fire ignited on the other side of Unity—about
ten miles to the northeast. That fi re was contained at
about 15 acres, and its cause is also unknown. Five fi re
engines, two hand crews and a bulldozer were on the fi re.
Earlier that same weekend on Saturday, the Weigh Sta-
tion Fire near Dead Man’s Pass created a freeway closure
for about 24 hours between Ontario and Pendleton while
crews battle fl ames and heavy smoke near I-84. At the
time of print, that fi re was nearly contained at around 700
acres, with crews remaining on site to fi ght the hot spots.
Oregon Highway 30 near the Poverty Flats exit was
reopened Wednesday. Travelers on that road can expect
some fi re equipment to remain in the area and should
proceed with caution.
Another smaller fi re in Huntington near Durbin Creek
outside Huntington also burned on Monday, scorching
less than fi ve acres and quickly contained.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Halfway
grade gets
new camera
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
During the week of July 18, the Oregon Department
of Transportation (ODOT) installed a new camera along
Highway 86 at the Halfway Summit. This camera was
added to the network of cameras available to the public
via www.tripcheck.com.
According to Tom Strandberg of ODOT’s Region 5
Public Affairs, “The camera image is provided by Eagle
Telephone of Richland. ODOT partnered with them for
the camera and we pay connections cost for its use. In-
stallation didn’t take any time for ODOT since the camera
was already up and running by the time we got involved.
There was some time and effort spent by our IT staff to
get the signal to work with our system.”
Images are transferred over the Telco’s internet ser-
vice. ODOT’s system goes out via the ODOT internet and
captures the image direct from their camera.
SEE HALFWAY CAMERA PAGE 7
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Public use restrictions increase
Planning commission: tennis courts
“So I was thinking...” column
Witter sentenced to 83 years
Harmful algae in Snake River
Poetry celebrates Leo Adler
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