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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2016)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7 Sports / Local Sumpter Dome CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Last year for the season opener, it was cold and rainy, “darn near snowing up here,” he said—and Hollopeter thought the event would be rained out. Forty-five intrepid souls showed up and crowded together on his porch. This year, Hollopeter mounted a 16’ x 10’ screen in his shop and put in bleachers. He has two sound systems, with a wireless subwoofer in- stalled under the back row of bleacher seats. An amplifier and high definition projector, along with wireless satellite receiver and laptop, round out his system. Hollopeter said it’s as close as one can get to a stadium-like experience without actually going to the stadium. Hollopeter said they lost track of attendance for this year’s opening game viewing after one hundred showed up. He had to open his bay doors and people were standing to watch the game. They “made this place rock.” All the vendors around told him they knew when- ever Boise State had done something good. Over half the attendees were there for the first time but said they would definitely come back next year. Hollopeter said there are always people who insist on giving him money, and he has passed on all dona- tions to Beth Miller, The Bronco Girl. Miller leads the Boise State team out onto the field. The school does not pay her and so all costs come out of her pocket. Miller explained that hers is a volunteer posi- tion, but said the school is good about reimbursing gas money. She attends all home games and the Bowl games if the facilities will allow a horse on the field. Hollopeter happened to have the opportunity to meet Miller, and asked if she would like to come up to Sumpter during the Flea Market. She did, and two years ago, she and her hus- band, along with her horse, visited the Labor Day Flea Market. Hollopeter said she was the hit of the Flea Market. She let anyone who wanted get on her horse, hold the Boise State Flag, and get a picture. Hollopeter said, “You’ve never seen bigger smiles than those kids when they got to climb on that horse and hold the Boise State flag.” He said she had painted the white blaze on her horse’s face orange and the orange was rubbed off by the end of the day from so much petting. Hollopeter said Boise State is “definitely the most popular team up here, followed by Oregon and Oregon State.” Miller said that Sumpter is a very outgoing small town and that it felt like a home away from home, almost like Boise with so many fans. Last year, the opening game was at Boise, so Miller could not come to Sumpter, but was going to come up this year. Hollop- eter said that unfortunately, she went out of remission for her MS, and her doctor would not let her. Hollopeter also hosts smaller game viewings for all away games and hopes to have Miller up for one of those. Miller said she and her husband are excited about coming and hope to make it. Hollopeter wanted to do something extra this year to encourage Miller, so he decided to raffle off three autographed items— a running shoe signed by star running back Jeremy McNichols, a hat signed by most of this year’s offense and coach Bryan Harsin, and a football signed by the same and Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Hen- dricks. Hollopeter said there was a knock on his door one day and he opened it to Gerry McMullen. McMul- len admired his set-up and asked who was Hollop- eter’s crew. When Hollopeter said he did not have one, McMul- len volunteered. He and his wife took over the raffle so Hollopeter could focus on showing the game. They sold 150 raffle tickets, plus several people made dona- tions after the game. They were able to raise a little over $1,000. Hollopeter plans to offer three more raffle items next year. Raffle winners this year, all Idahoans, were Jeff Wise of Payette, Mike Hampton of Boise, and Salli Bolthouse of Eagle. In addition to the raffle, Hollopeter gives out door prizes during the season opener. Each person who comes gets 10 tickets and he draws for prizes during commercial breaks. He saves up prizes throughout the year and Les Schwab also donates prizes ever year. Pepsi donates sodas for the event. Hollopeter is already making plans for accom- modating more fans for next year’s opening game. Miller is graduating, so this will be her last season as the Bronco Girl. Hollopeter said, “We’ll definitely be here next year so we can keep her replacement coming on the field.” In addition to all away games through the season, he said Boise State has a strong team this year and he thinks it’s likely that he will also be hosting view- ings of the Bowl games. The next away game kicks off September 24th at 12:30 p.m. Ladies golf scores Following are the Quail Ridge Ladies Golf and Bridge scores for September 7 and 14, 2016: Golf Winners. Club Champion 2016 Myrna Evans. September 7 Low Net, 1st Flight Tie: Myrna Ev- ans- Judy Karstens; 2nd Flight Kathye Corn; 3rd Flight Marianne Klinger. September 14 Guess your Score 1st Flight Sammye Linzel; 2nd Flight Karen Wollard; 3rd Flight Marianne Klinger Bridge Winners. September 7 1st Carol Arnstein; 2nd Deni Smith; 3rd Shannon Sullivan. September 14 1st Janice Smull; 2nd Pat Cook; 3rd Dianne Ellingson. Man killed in Minam crash On September 19, 2016 at about 3:06 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on State Route 82 near milepost 31 (Minam Grade). Preliminary investigation revealed an older Dodge farm truck, operated by Gary Leonard Alford, age 70, of Joseph, was traveling eastbound down Minam Grade when his vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle left the roadway and traveled down the embankment, where Alford was ejected. Emergency services personnel extracted Alford from the hillside below the roadway. Life Flight arrived on scene but Alford had succumbed to his injuries before he could be evacuated from the scene. Witness statements and some scene evidence suggest that an equipment failure may have been a contributing factor in the crash. The highway was closed for two hours while the inves- tigation was being conducted. OSP was assisted by Oregon Department of Transporta- tion (ODOT), Elgin Fire, Union County Sheriff's Office and Wallowa County Sheriff's Office. County hears BMCC funding vs. services concerns BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held its second, regular session of the month, on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Courthouse, which included a continuing discussion regarding issues with the Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) program. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioners Mark Ben- nett and Tim Kerns, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. The session was called to order, and the optional Invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited, both led by Harvey. With a few noted changes to the agenda, it was then adopted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Citizen Participation included Steve Culley, who said he’d like to see any possible County tax rev- enue from the legalization of recreational marijuana be set aside for drug treat- ments (dispensaries are currently banned within City limits, and within unincorporated areas of the County). He said he’s experienced some issues using the prison inmate communica- tion system, Telmate, and he said that he’s noticed problems with private bill collectors (Bennett said he didn’t think the County used private collectors, for fines and fees). Among other details, Culley said that he would like to see more press coverage, regarding meth- amphetamine busts, and the many issues with local meth use and its effects, in general. The minutes from the regular session on Wednes- day, September 7, 2016 were approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff, and Baker County Juvenile Court Supervisor Staci Er- ickson provided the Board with D.A. and Juvenile De- partment updates. Includ- ed in Erickson’s update were statistics for 2016 juvenile referrals, from January 1, 2016, through September 15, 2016. Among the statistics: 16 MIP (Minor In Posses- sion) marijuana referrals; 22 MIP alcohol referrals; 38 property crime referrals (property crimes include theft, criminal mischief, burglary, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct); 24 person crime referrals (per- son crimes include assault, harassment, menacing, and assaulting a public safety officer); 7 alcohol and drug crime referrals (alcohol and drug crimes include furnishing alcohol to mi- nors, DUII, and possession of methamphetamine); 14 runaway referrals; and 3 tobacco referrals. Erickson’s chart showed MIP marijuana and MIP alcohol referrals, from 2013, through 2016 (so far): in 2013, 9 MIP mari- juana, and 18 MIP alcohol; in 2014, 8 MIP marijuana, and 19 MIP alcohol; in 2015, 10 MIP marijuana, and 19 MIP alcohol; and in 2016, 16 MIP marijuana, and 22 MIP alcohol. During Shirtcliff’s update, he emphasized the importance of press cover- age and public awareness, regarding the continuing battle to curb methamphet- amine use and manufac- ture, and to showcase the efforts of law enforcement, including drug raids. He also voiced strong support for Oregon Ballot Measure 11, first passed by voters in 1994, which established mandatory minimum sen- tencing for violent crimes, without possibility of early parole, or reduction of a sentence, for good behav- ior, for offenders 15 and older. Shirtcliff referenced a recent protest against Measure 11 in Salem, spearheaded by a chief petitioner, whose spouse is in prison for child sexual abuse. He stressed the reduction in violent crime since the passage of the measure, and he said that the mea- sure is normally applied properly, though that pro- cess is often misunderstood by the public, including the assumption that it includes mandatory sentencing for lesser crimes. The Board began a discussion which was intended to originally be part of an executive ses- sion, in order to consult with County legal counsel Drew Martin, about the legal rights and duties of a public body, with regard to current litigation, or litigation likely to be filed. Bennett asked what the is- sue was specifically, and Harvey responded that a citizen, in this case, former BMCC Program Director Peggy Hudson, wished to bring to the Board’s attention major issues with the relationship between BMCC and the County, in the area of funding, versus services provided by BMCC. Bennett said he didn’t think that this topic met the requirements for an executive session, and that it should be an open discussion. After some further discussion, Bennett made a motion to address the topic without an executive session, Kerns seconded the motion, and it carried. Hudson, who originally thought the issues would be addressed in executive session, was reluctant to provide copies of her re- search at first, but then she provided those documents. The documents she pro- vided detail issues, among other items, with the historic push of the BMCC District (which includes Pendleton, Hermiston, Mil- ton Freewater, Baker City, and Boardman) to increase the percentage of students of Hispanic descent, from 12%, to 25%, by the end of fiscal year 2010, while she noted that Baker County has a very low percentage, “too white,” she said, which results in a lower percentage over- all, and less investment in Baker County; with a Baker County voter survey conducted in 2012, which included a question about potential support for a $12 million bond measure, to pay for the expansion of BMCC facilities and programs in Baker County, rather than a question that could have included pos- sible lower bond amounts; and the lack of response, from certain BMCC per- sonnel, when questioned about these and other is- sues, including the decline in student enrollment in Baker County—60% within the last three years. Hudson continued to discuss the topic for a significant portion of the session, and the conversa- Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press Steve Culley addresses the Commissioners regarding marijuana taxation. tion included Martin, as well as Randy Joseph, who said that Hudson’s infor- mation was an eye-opener, and that it needs more pub- lic exposure. The Board discussed the options with opting out of the BMCC/ County relationship, and the need for the County to have its own community college. At the conclusion of the discussion, Harvey moved to schedule a work session, for Wednesday, October 12, 2016, 9 a.m., in order to invite key personnel, including members of the 5J School District Board, and representatives of BMCC, to discuss the matter further. The motion was seconded by Kerns, and it carried. Order No. 2016-156, Appointing A Justice Of The Peace Pro-Tem For The Baker District, was approved, with a mo- tion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Josie Hermann was appointed, during the absences of the Honorable Don Williams, Justice of the Peace for the Baker District, her term set to expire on September 21, 2016. Amendment No. 3 to Oregon Jobs and Transpor- tation Act (JTA) of 2009 Agreement, Local Agency Agreement for Fund Distribution, Resort Street, Best Frontage Road, and Chandler Lane Improve- ments, No. 26459, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Bake County Roadmaster Jeff Smith discussed the agreement with the Board, prior to approval. According to the agreement, the project includes rebuilding of Resort Street, installation of a “pork-chop” barrier on Best Frontage Road, and shoulder improve- ments on Chandler Lane, and the total project cost is $7,052,000, funded by the JTA. Local Contract Review Board (CRB) Order No. 2016-155, An Order Designating A Sole Source Provider For Hot Mix Asphalt For Baker County Road Department, was ap- proved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Smith discussed the Order with the Board, prior to approval. According to the docu- ment, Baker County in- tends to purchase hot mix asphalt during fiscal year 2016-2017, and Roger As- phalt Paving Company was designated as a sole source provider (Roger Asphalt Paving Company is the only provider of hot mix asphalt within the area). SEE COUNTY PAGE 8
