LOCAL: American Legion Auxiliary donates school supplies for kids. PAGE 8 The LOCAL: Local teacher earns award, goes to White House. PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, August 19, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 34 Law enforcement concerned about graffiti BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held its second, regular session of the month on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house, which included a discussion about the grow- ing City and County graf- fi ti problem, with Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner, and Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioner Tim Kerns, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Commissioner Mark Bennett was absent due to the Rail Fire outside Unity, which has necessitated the removal of his cattle from pasture. Attendance also includ- ed Baker County Veterans Service Offi cer Rick Glo- ria, Community Connec- tion of Northeast Oregon, Inc. Manager Mary Jo Carpenter, Baker Heritage Museum Commission Member Steve Bogart, Baker County Roadmaster Jeff Smith, Baker County Assessor Kerry Savage, Baker County Planning Director Holly Kerns, Ed Hardt, Ken Anderson, Tork and Wanda Ballard, Art Sappington, John and Ramona Creighton, Gary Dielman, and Mark Sayers. The meeting was called to order, and the optional Invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited, both led by Harvey. His Invocation included a spe- cial prayer for fi refi ghters. Agenda changes were approved, with a motion from Kerns, and a second from Harvey, and the agenda was adopted, also with motion from Kerns, and a second from Harvey. Citizen Participation included Lohner, Ash, Sappington, Hardt, Wanda Ballard, Dielman, the Creightons, Sayers, and Anderson. Photo by Wyn Lohner. An historic stone building near the freeway just a few miles outside the City Limits was a recent target, the graffi ti similar to that at Farewell Bend. SEE GRAFFITI PAGE 3 Local woman lands on ‘Live with Kelly’ TV show Sunridge: New hearing held • OWNER WITHDREW UNAUTHORIZED $13K, POTENTIAL SALE DISCUSSED BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com A hearing was held last Thursday morning in the matter of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Townridge, Inc., aka the Best Western Sunridge Inn, during which Judge Trish M. Brown voiced frustration and criticism as she spoke with the associated parties about the case. Carla G. McClurg, representing the Offi ce of the U.S. Trustee, joined Brown for the hearing via telephone, as well as D. Blair Clark, for Townridge, Inc., Joseph M. Meier, for Baker County, and Townridge, Inc. General Manager Lisa Wilson. The 11 a.m. hearing, regarding the U.S. Trustee’s First Amended Motion for an Order Directing the Appoint- ment of a Chapter 11 Trustee, began with Brown’s ques- tion to McClurg and Clark, about Carl Town’s conduct (Town was listed as Owner and President of Townridge, Inc,. on June 25, 2016, the date the bankruptcy docu- ments were fi rst fi led). SEE SUNRIDGE PAGE 7 Submitted Photo. Mary Collard (at left) poses with the host of the show, Kelly Ripa. BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com Mary Collard, a local from Baker City, appeared on ‘Live with Kelly’ in New York July 28. She had been contacted by a col- lege suitemate she had not seen in 32 years, who lives in New York and whose children are performers. Collard, her mother, her sister, sister-in-law, and stepsister from Virginia, had planned to go to New York because her mother loves it. Collard went early to re- connect with her suitemate and applied for tickets for the July 28 airing of ‘Live with Kelly.’ She was pleasantly surprised to hear she had received the tickets. She, BY KERRY McQUISTEN her friend and another person from Baker, went to the show. “It was a fun experience,” explained Collard. She has been a fan of the ‘Live with Kelly’ show for years and after being in the audi- ence three times, she is a bigger fan. She explained that Kelly is fun and ap- preciates her fans. Collard spoke to camera- men and the crowd director to see if there was a way she could get tickets for the following week. The director said to go back Tuesday, that they were VIPs, not having to wait in line with the other audi- ence members—and she was able to meet the guests on the show. News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Submitted Photo. SEE ‘LIVE WITH KELLY’ PAGE 5 Mary stands under the lights and camera on stage. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Friday Sunny and mild, highs in the mid 80s. Clear and cool at night, lows in the upper 40s. Saturday Sunny and not as mild. Highs near 90. Clear, lows near 50 at night. Sunday Clear and warm, highs in the low 90s. Mostly clear with lows near 50. ‘Gold Rush’ crew to leave local claims? Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Just last week the two mining claims—one near Hereford and one up Clark’s Creek by Bridgeport—that served as the Baker County production sites for the hit Discovery Channel show, “Gold Rush” were fi lled with pricey Volvo heavy equipment, a large wash plant—and prior to that, a bustling camera crew. This week, not so much. On Tuesday, the wash plant, trailers, and other telltale signs of production were dismantled and hauled out dur- ing what most locals believe is a shift in production from Oregon to outside the state—Colorado, most say, but no one is certain at present. The show’s star, Todd Hoffman, said he was unable to discuss anything with just about anyone at this point. The Discovery Channel has cast, crew, and those related to production locked into a strict nondisclosure agreement. In July, some familiar with the claims expressed con- cern yet hope that recent sluicing or “washing the dirt” would produce the desired amount of gold. That doesn’t appear to have been the case, and travels out of the area by Hoffman himself caused many to speculate the trips were prompted by the need to fi nd a new location. Most will simply need to watch the new season featur- ing Baker County and airing in October, to know the details for sure. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Huntington: Marijuana info meeting Norovirus hits Unity Man with knife arrested Home Roots Tour coming Pioneer Days held Memory Cruise schedule Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 5 8 8 10