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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2016)
WILDFIRE LOCAL: BHS’S NEW PRINCIPAL PROFILED. PAGE 10 GRIFFIN GULCH EVACUATED. PAGE 5 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, September 2, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 36 USFS’s proposed Eagle Creek purchase meets with strong opposition • PROPOSED NEW SNAKE RIVER FEE ALSO CREATES PUBLIC OUTCRY BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held another agency-to-agency coordination meeting with representatives of the Unit- ed States Forest Service (USFS), on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house. A Hells Canyon Snake River fee proposal, and an Eagle Creek land purchase proposal received signifi cant opposition and concern, from both the public, and the Board. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioners Mark Ben- nett and Tim Kerns, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Present from the USFS were Forest Supervisor Tom Montoya, District Ranger Jeff Tomac, and Northeast Oregon Land Zone Lead Laura Livings- ton. Public attendance includ- ed Bobbie Danser, Tork and Wanda Ballard, Chary Mires, Dale Miles, Ron Edge, Chuck Chase, Marty Stroy, Paul Harlan, Eric Wuntz, Mike and Rusti Lattin, and Lou Fasano. Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press Citizens at Wednesday’s County Commissioners meeting were not pleased about the USFS’s pro- posed purchase up Eagle Creek. SEE USFS PAGE 7 Granite School House becomes new museum Six candidates file for City Council BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com BY KERRY McQUISTEN Granite’s Allen Hall, also known as the Granite School House, has served in many capacities during the town’s history. When the old school burned down in the 1950s, the building was put into service in that capacity. It housed City Hall meet- ings in distant and recent history and was also used as a polling site. Church services were held there in connection with McEwen Bible Fellowship for a number of years. Recently, with the building sitting empty, the Granite Crafters arranged to rent it and have set up a Granite museum. Marilyn Scott explained, “We want to leave some- thing here to tell about the town.” The museum is open as volunteers are available and has drawn a good number of visitors already. The building is named after Doug and Alta Allen, who did quite a bit of work restoring “Granite’s most photographed building”. While the church was meeting there, the roof was replaced, with the church, Granite Crafters, and City of Granite splitting the cost. Many efforts have gone into the interior of the building as well. Scott and Cindy Jo Norenberg repainted the fl oors. Dee Schnitzer found lights to replace the bare bulbs. The lights, purchased at a Sumpter Flea Mar- ket, came out of an old courthouse and are “period authentic”. Mary Lou Holoboff found old-fash- ioned green shades for the windows. A couple of old desks were also located at a Flea Market. Hedy Andersch has taken on the task of looking for old mannequins—an adult size one to dress as a teacher, Friday News@TheBakerCountyPress.com A total of six candidates have fi led to fi ll the six open positions on Baker City Council this week. There are seven total seats on the Council, and the deadline to fi le for placement on the ballot was August 30. Local forestry consultant Arvid Andersen, age 63 and the owner of Andersen Forestry Consulting, began his signature gathering efforts on that fi nal day, turning in 69 signatures. Jamie Ostrander is one of the owners of D&J Taco Shop in the Baker Tower. Ostrander turned in his petition on July 21. Each candidate was required to turn in a petition with 40 signatures—paying a fee to fi le in lieu of signature gathering is not allowed for City Council positions as it is for those at a County level. Rosemary Abell, Mike Downing, Dan Lowe and Loran Joseph are all incumbent candidates, fi ling for their sec- ond and fi nal possible terms on Council, if elected. Jim Thomas will remain in his current Council position, which is not open this time around. Candidates have the option to withdraw their candidacy through today. Small earthquake hits Baker City Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Granite Crafters members Marilyn Scott, Dee Schnitzer, and Cindy Jo Noren- berg in front of the building. and child-sized ones to sit at the desks. Schnitzer said they’d also like to stick one the corner. The walls boast old photos of the town printed, captioned, and framed by Luci Sohler. JoAnne Lucas created and donated ink drawings of local sites. Bill Dobel’s stepchildren recently gave a display that will be used for old maps and gave reproductions of the Lewis and Clarke maps from their famous expedi- tion. A blue notebook holds information on the Fre- mont powerhouse, news clippings regarding the Partly sunny with isolated thunderstorms. Highs near 70. Friday Night: Mostly clear and cool, lows in mid 30s. Saturday Sunny and mild, highs near 70. Saturday Night: Mostly clear and cool, Lows in the upper 30s. Sunday Mostly sunny with mild temperatures. Highs in the lower 70s. Sunday Night: Mostly clear and cool, lows in the upper 30s. murder of Bud Marshall in 1982, and reminisces of Mrs. Neil Niven, a school- teacher in Granite in the late 1800s. Beside the building is a new picnic shelter. Scott said Clarke Brothers did a great job building it last year and got it up in only two days. Despite the name, the Granite Crafters group was started for both the social aspect and to support the community. Volunteers are always welcome. Mem- ber Ruthie Crim lives in Baker City but is active in selling copies of the Granite Crafters Treasured Recipes Cookbook. Profi ts go to fund continuing restoration. The group also plans to offer for sale at the museum James Waucop Tabor’s “Granite and Gold”, by a long-time Granite resident. The museum will be open the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, “after 10” and entrance is by dona- tion. To make arrangements to see the museum other times, contact Marilyn Scott at 541-755-5242, Dee Schnitzer at 755-5151, or Cindy Jo Norenberg at 755-5491. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. On Thursday, August 25, a tiny earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter Scale struck. The quake happened at 10:45 a.m., at 44.854°N 117.895°W, which is 10 kilome- ters to the north of Baker City. The earthquake was reported at a depth of 19.0 km, which was shallow enough for local residents on the north side of town to feel a little motion. The quake was rated as “weak” by the U.S. Geological Survey with no damage reported. The Oregon Offi ce of Emergency Management, as well as Jason Yencopal of Baker County Emergency Manage- ment, have steadily encouraged residents to prepare for events such as a major earthquake or “cascadia event” for quite some time. An “Oregon Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Tsunami Operations Plan” is currently in place, outlining communications and response protocols should such an event happen. Baker County is located in Area 4. SEE EARTHQUAKE PAGE 5 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE City of Sumpter talks pot Mental health committee meets Woman accused of credit card theft New marijuana MIP arrest made Man arrested for car break-ins Community Bank gives $16K Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 5 5 8 10
