WILDFIRE
LOCAL: BHS’S NEW PRINCIPAL PROFILED.
PAGE 10
GRIFFIN GULCH EVACUATED.
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Baker County Press
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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
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