FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Marijuana businesses may be Fatal crash in
welcome in Sumpter soon City Limits
On August 4, 2016 at about 11:56 a.m., Oregon State
Police (OSP) troopers and emergency personnel respond-
ed to the report of a two-vehicle fatal crash at an intersec-
tion of A Street and 2nd Street in Baker City.
Preliminary information indicates that a 2002 Dodge
Stratus, operated by Yvonne N. Hesseltine, age 59, of
Baker City, and passenger, Raisan C. Hesseltine, age 40,
of Baker City, was traveling westbound on A Street when
the Stratus struck a southbound 2015 Chevy Equinox,
operated by Ronald R. Fisher, age 59, of Pendleton, on
the driver’s side. This resulted with the Equinox rolling
over onto its top. Fisher was ejected and fatally injured
and lack of safety restraint use or a failed safety restraint
may have been a contributing factor.
Fisher was pronounced deceased at the scene by
emergency crews and Raisan Hesseltine was transported
by ambulance to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in
Baker City for minor injuries. Yvonne Hesseltine was not
injured in the crash.
The intersection was closed for four hours as the inves-
tigation was conducted and the wreckage removed. This
is an ongoing investigation and more information will be
released as it becomes available.
OSP was assisted by the Baker City Police Department,
the Baker City Public Works, the Baker County District
Attorney’s Office and the Baker City Fire Department.
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Council
met August 9, 2016 to hear
reports and discuss several
items of business. Carey
Clarke conducted the meet-
ing with members Saman-
tha Rowan and Robert
Armbruster also present.
Bills
Payment of all bills was
approved except for an
Ed Staub and Sons bill for
dust abatement submitted
by Stage Stop owner Mike
Davidson.
Utility Manager Report
Utility Manager Jeff
McKinney was absent.
During the meeting, City
Recorder Julie McKinney
passed out a book of before
and after photos taken at
the water treatment plant.
Fire Dept. Report
John Young reminded
everyone there is to be no
burning at all, including in
burn barrels or recreational
fires in rings. Lightning
on Sunday started several
fires, one of which Sumpt-
er responded to, assist-
ing the Forest Service by
pumping water up to them.
Young said the fires started
were all pretty small, but
the Forest Service is jump-
ing on them right away.
Young passed on thanks
from Kurt Clarke to Mar-
lene Bork for again making
use of Neal’s bulldozer
available to the Fire De-
partment.
With the low water situ-
ation, a draft point on the
river has been reconstruct-
ed and the Department is
training on drafting.
Planning Report
LeAnne Woolf reported
they continue to review ap-
plications and work on the
Comprehensive Plan and
Evacuation Plan.
Dawn Kitzmiller of the
County Building Depart-
ment mentioned that
woodstoves and fireplaces
are considered mechanical
and installing new ones
requires permit and inspec-
tion.
If they are not permitted
and inspected and happen
to start a fire, most likely
an insurance company
won’t cover the damages.
Two positions are
available on the Planning
Department. One of those
can be someone who lives
outside of city limits.
Mitration Station
Shawn McKay is repre-
senting a potential marijua-
na dispensary to be located
in Sumpter.
The recreational dispen-
sary will serve patrons 21
and older during regular
business hours.
They will have one
full-time on-site manager
(Anita Lewis) and one to
three employees.
They are looking at the
“Tinman Building” as it
has a nice storefront and
aesthetic features to make
a nice business.
McKay said the li-
censing process is fairly
lengthy and the State won’t
start issuing licenses for
recreational retailers until
October 1st of this year.
McKay said mitration is
the process of consuming
cannabis through inhala-
Hunters’
ed classes
available
The last hunter education
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Shawn McKay addresses Council and citizens about plans for recreational mari-
juana store.
tion (specifically related
to self-medication). They
thought of the business
name “Mitration Station”
because a railroad theme
could help the store fit in
with the aesthetics of the
town.
Armbruster asked about
experience. McKay said
he is co-owner of a labora-
tory in La Grande that does
all state-required marijua-
na-related testing. He has
been a medical marijuana
patient and grower for
almost ten years. He con-
siders himself the “Eastern
Oregon expert,” provid-
ing garden and business
consulting services.
Lila Young asked about
prices.
McKay stated it varies
by vendor but he would
say the cost will be be-
tween $8-20 per gram for
“flower.”
To multiple questions
about crime and traf-
fic, McKay replied that
residents can expect to see
increased traffic.
He said he has been talk-
ing to business owners in
Huntington and has heard
nothing but good feedback,
including from the grocery
store and café.
Rowan stated they
also had a meeting with
Huntington and heard only
positive comments about
the marijuana business.
McKinney stated there
is no more housing or
property for sale in town;
Huntington is experiencing
a boom.
Clarke stated he does not
like marijuana a bit, but
after going to the meeting
in Huntington and learn-
ing that the business has
not caused increased crime
and all businesses have
benefited, he thinks there
could be positives for the
town.
McKay explained recre-
ational marijuana is taxed
at 17% by the State. A
portion of that will be re-
disbursed to the town. The
City of Sumpter could also
impose a 3% tax on sales.
Marijuana businesses are
regulated by the Oregon
Liquor Control Commis-
sion (OLCC). McKay said
this business is regulated
more than anything else in
the State, and that maybe
transporting nuclear mate-
rial would be comparable
in regards to oversight and
regulation.
When asked about not
being able to deposit drug
money in the banks as mar-
ijuana use is still a federal
offense, McKay said there
are bills in front of the
Legislature right now to try
and correct that.
John Young asked if
there a similar obligation
to refuse to sell to someone
who is high as there would
be for a bartender to refuse
to serve someone who is
drunk. McKay replied
absolutely, and that is part
of the OLCC-required
training for everyone who
works in the industry, from
growers to sellers.
Lila Young asked where
the product will come
from. McKay stated there
is a pretty big farm in Hun-
tington, as well as farms
in Bend and other parts of
the state. The product will
be packaged and labeled at
the Sumpter store. Or-
egon guidelines state that
any product that leaves
the store be in childproof
packaging and meet all
labeling requirements.
A resolution to allow the
town to tax recreational
sales at 3% will be going
to City voters. John Young
clarified if this is voted
down, Sumpter will still
have the businesses, just
won’t be able to collect the
tax.
Introduction of
Marijuana Dispensary
Ordinance
Copies of draft ordi-
nance 2016-3 to require
city permits for marijuana
retailers and medical mari-
juana dispensaries were
made available to attend-
ees.
McKinney explained
this is a draft and there will
be a future workshop for
input.
In response to comments
that law enforcement does
not respond to concerns,
Rowan stated Travis (Ash)
will be invited to the work-
shop.
Resolution 327: Ballot
Title 3% Tax on Sales of
Marijuana Products
Julie McKinney read
the resolution to submit a
ballot title to City voters to
impose a three percent tax
on the sale of marijuana
products by marijuana
businesses. Council ap-
proved unanimously.
Planning Commission
Leave of Absence
Council unanimously
approved a written request
from Dave Stellman for a
leave of absence from the
Planning Commission July
30th to October or Novem-
ber.
Possible Franchise
Agreement with Oregon
Telephone
McKinney explained
this is just developing.
Oregon Telephone would
like to use the cables that
are already hanging from
a former cable TV service
to provide Internet service.
Sumpter would receive a
franchise fee for this which
would go into the general
fund. More information is
upcoming.
Public Input
Woolf reported that the
Sumpter Vally Railroad
Starlight Express is run-
ning August 13th. The
train will depart McEwen
around 7 p.m. and get to
Sumpter about 7:45. On
the return trip to McE-
wen, riders will be able to
observe the Perseid meteor
shower.
The train currently has
70 reservations.
Clarke asked about Mu-
sic in the Meadow. Woolf
said she just about has the
band line-up squared away.
Music in the Meadow will
be held September 17th
and 18th.
McKinney reported
a visit from Arnie, “the
county weed guy,” and said
he is very distraught about
the knapweed.
He said natural biocon-
trols are not working. He
will be up in the fall for
the herbicide giveaway,
and residents need to get a
handle on this invader.
John Young announced
Sumpter Valley Com-
munity Volunteers will be
paying for an adaptor to
allow Sumpter and Powder
River Fire Departments to
conduct mandatory annual
testing of air pack masks.
class for 2016 in Baker
City is scheduled to begin
August 18th.
Students can register for
the class at license outlets
or on the ODFW website
course fee is $10 pay-
able at sign up a complete
schedule of the class is
availed at these sited.
A field day for students
that have completed the
home study workbook or
did the online course will
be September 3.
Students can register
for this option at the same
locations.
Question about the course
you can contact Bill Taylor
at 541-403-0900.
Vandalism ends
the BCPD’s
prescription
drug disposal
Several years ago the police department, as a service to
the community, placed a prescription drug drop off box
in the lobby of the police department. Its purpose was to
provide members of the community a convenient and safe
way to dispose of outdated or no longer required prescrip-
tion medications. Over the years the drop off box has
been appropriately used for the purpose it was intended to
serve.
Recently there have been multiple instances of
person(s) placing inappropriate and in some cases poten-
tially dangerous items in the box. That poses a health and
safety risk to those who must periodically empty the con-
tents of the box and destroy the drugs as required by law.
As a result of this misuse and the dangers such misuse
pose to those who empty the box this service, effective
immediately, has been discontinued.
Persons wishing to properly dispose of outdated or no
longer needed prescription medications are encouraged to
contact their medical provider to learn of alternate means
of disposal.
On a slightly different, but perhaps related matter, the
police department has recently experienced damage to
numerous tires on its patrol vehicles. That damage has
been caused by someone placing roofing nails in the park-
ing lot of the police station.
According to a press release from the Baker City Police
Department, “It is regrettable that at a time when so many
members of this community have expressed an outpour-
ing of support for our police personnel someone would
engage in vandalism of this sort.”
Both of the actions noted in this press release constitute
violations of law. Anyone found to be involved in either
will be subject to arrest and prosecution.
The recent expansion of the video surveillance camera
system at the police department, which includes night
vision capability, will insure that those involved are
identified.
Bears might be
pests in John
Day area
Wildlife managers urge residents in the John Day area
to take steps to avoid bear conflicts this fall. Secure
garbage and food waste, clean up fallen fruit around trees
and don’t leave pet food outside.
ODFW expects there could be an increase in bear
problems this fall in the wake of the Canyon Creek Fire
which burned 110,000 acres last year. Burned areas will
produce fewer berries, grasses and other natural food
sources which will increase the temptation for bears to eat
inappropriate food sources.
“Bears spend fall feeding on berries, grasses and other
food sources in order to build up fat stores for winter
hibernation,” said Ryan Torland, ODFW district wildlife
biologist for Grant County. “There are likely to be fewer
berries and other foods available this year due to the fire,
but it’s important bears don’t start raiding garbage cans
or fruit trees in residential areas as that habituates them to
this food source.”
“We’d appreciate residents taking steps to avoid any
conflicts with bears,” he added. “We have already seen a
few conflicts this spring and hope to avoid more.”
The fire could have short term impacts on the local bear
population, as fewer cubs may be born next year or bears
could leave the area. But the overall bear population is
doing well and should recover.