BUSINESS: Eagle Cap Grill opens for
business on 10th Street. PAGE 3
The
LOCAL: Two teachers honored at School
Board meeting. PAGE 8
Baker County Press
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Friday, September 23, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 39
City Hall Week comes to Baker City
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last week throughout
the state of Oregon the
League of Oregon Cities
(LOC) facilitated round-
table meetings with leaders
of various municipalities
around the state, seventeen
regional meetings in all.
The Friday morning
meeting at City Hall saw
leaders from Baker City
including City Councilors
Daniel Lowe, Rosemary
Abell, Jim Thomas, and
City Manager Fred Warner,
Jr. Among others attendees
were Mayor Sheila Farwell
from Halfway, Mayor Jim
Brown of Haines, Mayor
Lynn Ewing from Maupin
and Mayor Ron Lundbom
of John Day.
Former Mayor Mark
Stringer from Nyssa, who
is now running for Senate
District 30, also attended.
Craig Honeyman was on
hand as the representative
from the LOC.
Four topics were the
focus of the discussion:
Property Taxes, PERS
Reform, Recreational Im-
munity and Transportation.
“I am interested in
those issues as they affect
Eastern Oregon, as they
affect small cities and as a
City Councilor specifi cally
as they affect Baker City,”
said Lowe as he opened the
meeting. He also stated,
“We had hoped to have
some of our representatives
and senators here to also sit
with us to hear our voices.”
Unfortunately, none were
in attendance.
Warner noted he had
received calls from both
Representative Cliff Bentz
and Senator Ted Ferrioli
letting him know they were
unable to attend due to
prior commitments.
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
SEE CITY HALL WEEK
PAGE 5
Mayors from various cities around eastern Oregon gathered in Baker City last
Friday.
Man rides
ATV into
cable
Broncos fans gather at growing
annual ‘Sumpter Dome’ party
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
At 4:54 p.m. on September 8, the Baker County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce received a report from property owner, Don
Chastain of French Gulch Road, of a trespass situation.
Gordon Paustian, age 81 of Baker City, was traveling
by ATV when he entered Chastain’s private property.
According to Sheriff Travis Ash on Monday, Paustian had
ridden approximately one-half a mile into the property
and passed one ‘No Trespass’ and one ‘Private Prop-
erty’ sign before striking a cable that the landowner had
stretched across his road. Though the cable was in the
shade, Deputy Robb said two pink ribbons marked it.
Paustian left the site of his own accord and sought medi-
cal treatment, which amounted to some stitches on his
tongue.
Chastain opted not to press trespass charges, simply ask-
ing that the incident be logged.
Submitted Photo.
Raffl ing off items such as the ones above helps raise funds for Bronco Girl Beth Miller who, on horseback,
leads the team out onto the fi eld during games at her own expense.
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
“It all started with a 12-
inch screen,” said Sumpt-
er’s Vern Hollopeter. That
was six years ago.
The inspiration for host-
ing his fi rst Boise State
football viewing party
at what has come to be
known as the “Sumpter
Dome” came from conver-
sations with fellow fans.
Hollopeter said he lives
by the Sumpter fairgrounds
and he struck up lots of
football conversations with
visitors to the Flea Market.
He learned many Labor
Day Flea Market attend-
ees were either sad to be
missing the season opener,
due to being in Sumpter,
or planning to go home so
they could watch the game.
Hollopeter decided to put
a television in his yard and
host a viewing of the open-
ing game.
The fi rst year, everyone
Friday
who came huddled around
a 12” television.
Hollopeter said, “We had
a blast,” and he promised
a bigger TV the next year
and a bigger one the year
after that.
A couple years ago,
Hollopeter hit on the idea
of using projection. The
issue was fi nding someone
who could make him a big
enough screen. He tried
everyone he could think of,
but no one could manu-
facture a 10’ wide screen
without a seam.
He fi nally got in touch
with the sign and graphics
shop that designs all Boise
State’s banners. They
were able to take a roll of
ten-foot-wide banner mate-
rial and produce his fi rst
screen. Hollopeter rigged
a roll-up system like used
with blinds, and that setup
is still in his front yard.
SEE SUMPTER DOME
PAGE 7
Sunny and mild, highs near 80. Friday Night:
Mostly clear and cool, lows near 40.
Saturday
Sunny and mild, highs in the mid 80s.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear and not as cool,
lows in the mid 40s.
Sunday
Partly sunny with a chance for showers in
the afternoon. Highs near 80. Sunday Night:
Chance for showers early then partial clearing
overnight. Lows in the upper 40s.
Suit settled
against former
owners of The
Record-Courier
• PERKINSES AGREE
TO LEAVE THE
NEWSPAPER BIZ FOR
5 YEARS, DO NOT
OWN RIGHTS TO
THE RECORD-
COURIER
COMPILED BY STAFF
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Submitted Photo.
On September 13, the
lawsuit fi led by Kerry Mc-
Quisten, individually and
as owner of Black Lyon
Publishing, LLC, of which
The Baker County Press
is part, against defendants
Gina Perkins and Lynn
Perkins, former owners of
The Record-Courier, came
to a close in a settlement.
Submitted Photo.
Plaintiff Kerry
McQuisten.
Vern Hollopeter stands outside the “Sumpter Dome.”
SEE LAWSUIT PAGE 5
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Submitted Photo.
Defendant Gina Perkins.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Marvin Wood Products expansion
County hears BMCC issues
Baker City fi ned by DEQ
Possible sex abuse case
Coffee Coral, Little Pig robbed
Sweet Wife Baking receives award
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