LOCAL: School Board honors local police
department. PAGE 5
CITY: YMCA asks for management fee for
Sam O Swim. PAGE 3
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Friday, August 26, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 35
Walden’s HB 5815 could
help free the Hammonds
• BILL IN JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, IN
FIRST STAGE OF
PROCESS
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On July 14, U.S. Repre-
sentative Greg Walden’s
House Bill 5815: Resource
Management Practices
Protection Act of 2016
was referred to the House
Judiciary Committee.
The bill specifi cally bars
prosecution under sec-
tion 844(f)(1) of title 18,
United States Code, in
certain cases.
Prosecution under related
legal reasons is the reason
Harney County ranchers
Dwight and Steven Ham-
mond are currently serving
out a fi ve-year prison
sentence for arson.
Walden said on Tues-
day, “We know what an
important land and forest
management tool proper
use of fi re is in the West.
That why it’s especially
important to make clear
that if you’re following
the rules and using fi re
as a tool, and by accident
it escapes your property,
you won’t get a mandatory
minimum fi ve-year prison
sentence.
“I’ve worked with local
and national farm and
forest groups, and gotten
support of the Chairman of
the U.S. House Judiciary
Committee, in drafting this
legislation. Other western
members of Congress are
joining as cosponsors and
we hope to move forward
in a positive direction
soon. Our farmers, ranch-
ers and foresters need
the clarity, certainty and
protection this legislation
provides.”
Passage of the bill has
the potential to translate
into freedom after time
served for the Hammonds.
Submitted Photo.
Hammond family member are embraced by
supporters at the doorstep of their home during a
rally last January in Burns.
SEE HB 5815 PAGE 5
Monster Red of ‘Gold
Rush’ hits the road
Marijuana
MIP arrests
on the rise
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Arrests for Minors in Possession (MIP)—specifi cally
in possession of marijuana—are on the rise this year, said
Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner Tuesday.
“The tax benefi ts of legalized marijuana sales seem
to be the focus, especially at the state level, but nobody
wants to talk about the cost to our communities now that
marijuana is more readily available. From increases in
costs to our health care system; to an increase in DUII
marijuana cases throughout the state; to a local jump in
citations for Minor in Possession of Marijuana,” Lohner
said.
Lohner said marijuana-related MIP arrests this year
have already doubled the number of arrests typically seen
in Baker City during previous years.
SEE MIP ARRESTS PAGE 8
Submitted Photo.
Woodrats
cause damage
across County
The last part of the enormous wash plant known simply as Monster Red leaves Clark’s Creek and Baker
County, on its way to new adventures with the Hoffman crew.
• RECLAMATION BEGINS ON FORMER
FILM SITE
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last week, the enormous wash plant, Monster Red, was
dismantled and hauled off the now-former fi lm site for
the Discovery Channel’s “Gold Rush” up Clark’s Creek
in southern Baker County.
The vibratory gold wash plant was purchased by the
show’s mining crew led by Todd Hoffman for use in the
last season. Weighing in at 50 tons, the Discovery Chan-
nel says the machine is able to process 300 yards of dirt
an hour—Wikipedia claims 180. Either way, the plant
was one of the largest in the Klondike at the time.
The plant was built to the specs of another of the
show’s stars, Dave Turin, who was on site last week to
help dismantle and haul away the beast on a fl atbed.
Two weeks ago, processing the mountain of dirt, af-
fectionately dubbed “Mt. Vesuvius” by neighbors, came
to an end.
Heavy equipment operators have already begun to fl at-
ten the hill of dirt, and begin the reclamation process of
the mining site as required under Oregon state law.
Friday
Sunny and mild, highs in the mid 80s. Mostly
clear and cool at night with lows in the upper
40s.
Saturday
Sunny and warmer, highs in the upper 80s.
Mostly clear and cool at night with lows in the
upper 40s.
Sunday
Sunny with continued warm, highs in the upper
80s. Clear and cool at night with lows in the
upper 40s.
Submitted Photo.
Jim Longwell holds his latest catch at his home up
Pine Creek ten miles northwest of Baker City.
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Submitted Photo.
The reclamation process has begun on the former
site of production for ‘Gold Rush’ with this mountain
of dirt soon to be fl attened.
Despite no reports this year to the local Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) offi ce, citizens from
every corner of Baker County are talking about wide-
spread—and expensive—damage caused by a usually
little-talked-about rodent: the woodrat.
Bridgeport-area miner Jim Juhola said that he has
trapped at least 20 of the pests this summer, a number that
will surely grow through the fall.
A couple miles up the road at the Devils Canyon
Ranch, rat-killing dog Dagny has chomped 20 as well.
SEE WOODRATS PAGE 8
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Rail Fire raises frustrations
Valley St. dog deemed dangerous
Chamber holds soapbox derby
New wolf depredation confi rmed
The Outdoor Column
Police bust meth dealer
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