10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016
Local
County: Fair brings in less, Griefshare
Sheriff’s offi ce gets tech upgrades program
offered
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held its
last, regular session of the
month, on Wednesday, Oc-
tober 19, 2016, 9 a.m., in
the Commission Chambers
of the Baker County Court-
house. Topics included
discussion of a document
regarding mining issues by
Jefferson Mining District
Coordinating Offi cer Art
Sappington, a Fair update
from Baker County Fair
Manager Angie Turner, and
a Technology update, from
Baker County IT Director
Bill Lee.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioners Mark Ben-
nett and Tim Kerns, and
Executive Assistant Heidi
Martin.
Attendance also includ-
ed Baker County Sheriff
Travis Ash, Baker County
Facilities Maintenance
Foreman Dan McQuisten,
John Creighton, Ken An-
derson, Ed Hardt, and Tork
and Wanda Ballard.
The session was called
to order, followed by the
optional Invocation, and
the Pledge of Allegiance,
both led by Harvey. With
no changes noted to the
agenda, it was then ad-
opted, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns.
Citizen Participation
included Hardt and Sap-
pington. Hardt commented
on the number of political
signs he observed had been
stolen locally, and he said,
“With a little community
like this, we should be
beyond that.” Harvey said,
“I agree.”
Sappington, on behalf
of the Jefferson Mining
District (JMD), and for the
record, presented copies of
a letter to the Board, one
he had sent to Congress-
man Greg Walden, on
March 30, 2011, regarding
claimed legal violations,
against miners. “This ar-
ticle was written on behalf
of locatable miners who
have been brought before
the criminal court system
in total violation of due
process...” the letter states.
“Basically, what the
letter does is, it reiterates
the statutory criteria, and
the fact that the agencies-
-both the BLM (Bureau of
Land Management), and
the Forest Service—are not
following them, and that
they’re actually creating
laws, which we call CFRs
(Code of Federal Regula-
tions), out of thin air, to
make criminals out of citi-
zens...” Sappington said.
He references this letter,
because he said, as elec-
tions near, it’s as pertinent
today, as it was when he
wrote it. Originally, four
locatable mineral grantees
were charged in Oregon
Federal District Court, on
December 1, 2010, “...
of violating information
with unlawfully maintain-
ing, occupying, and using
a residence on National
Forest System lands...”
while on their valid mining
claim, Sappington said.
Sappington said the
miners were convicted of
their charges, and there
was some further action,
but the cases currently are
at a standstill, as well as
any actions from the JMD,
which is trying determine
its next move. Sapping-
ton’s letter concludes:
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Baker County IT Director Bill Lee discusses the upgrades this year to the
Sheriff’s Offi ce.
“How is the mineral
grantee today such a small
part of the whole of society
(less than one quarter of
one one-thousandth of a
percent of the total labor
force) get to petition his
government, and what is
the procedure for him to
know how to produce the
needed minerals and en-
ergy, for the rest of society,
and yet, pay his bills?”
The minutes from the
October 5, 2016 regular
session were approved,
with no noted changes,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns.
Turner provided an
update, which included
some fi gures from the
2016 Baker County Fair,
which she said was a huge
success, better than last
year: $20,675 in sponsor
funds, broken down as
$12,900 in cash dona-
tions (an increase of about
$2,000, over last year), and
$7,775 in in-kind sponsor
funds; and 1,518 exhibits,
and 475 exhibitors. The
biggest fundraiser this year
was the Friends of the Fair
pie auction, which brought
in around $6,200, she said,
$3,000 of which will be
used to install fencing,
along with some grant
funding. Future projects
include grandstand and en-
trance upgrades, possibly
in the spring, Turner said.
She said that the 4-H
livestock auction brought
in less this year, because
less buyers participated,
and the total from that was
around $252,000 (not a
fi nal fi gure). Funds from
the Oregon Lottery are
received (divided among
37 Fairs, statewide) for
purposes of fairgrounds
improvements, equipment
purchases, etc., and these
funds (about $50,000 last
year) depend partly on a
yearly report from Turner,
which she has fi led already,
she said.
The theme for the 2017
Fair will be “100 Years,
Celebrate The Tradition,”
Turner said, to commemo-
rate the 100th anniversary
of the Baker County Fair,
1917-2017. On Novem-
ber 4-5, 2016 (Friday and
Saturday), the “No Regret
Dog Trial” is scheduled to
be held at the Baker Coun-
ty Fairground, Conference
& Event Center, 2600
Cedar Street. Other events
include the Baker County
Mounted Posse Gun Show,
the weekend of Thanks-
giving, with 80 vendors,
and the “Local is the New
Black” Christmas Bazaar,
also held there, November
19-20, 2016 (Saturday and
Sunday), with 72 vendors,
an event organized by
Kristy Backlund.
Lee provided an update,
including mentioning
that a web cam had been
installed at Holcomb Park,
in Richland, which he said
was well received by the
public. Other items there
include a previously ex-
panded wi-fi range of 200
feet, which he said has also
been popular.
The major focus for
upgrades this year was the
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce, Lee said. This
included upgrades to the
jail notifi cation system,
which notifi es victims
when inmates are released,
and upgrades to the Sheriff
911 websites. 911 Con-
solidated Dispatch Center
equipment was also re-
placed, including the older
recording system, server
upgrades are being imple-
mented, and UPS (Uninter-
ruptible Power Supply)
equipment was replaced.
The system now includes
two UPS batteries, which
are “hot swap” capable,
instead of the older, single
battery pack.
Additional upgrades in-
clude Offi ce 2016 software
(still in progress). Lee
said that one of the most
interesting upgrades to him
was the installation of a
cradle point, which uses
cell phone technology to
add mobile capability to
the Sheriff’s Offi ce/Court-
house network.
The next session is No-
vember 2, 2016, 9 a.m.
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Community members who have experienced the death
of a family member or friend are invited to register for the
GriefShare program held at Calvary Chapel Baker City.
This nondenominational program features Christ-
centered, biblical teaching that focuses on grief topics as-
sociated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar
features nationally respected grief experts and real-life
stories of people, followed by small group discussion
about what was seen on the DVD.
Your bereavement experience may be recent or not so
recent. You will fi nd encouragement, comfort, and help
in grieving the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling,
other family member, or friend. This is an opportunity to
be around people that understand what you are feeling.
You will learn how to recognize the symptoms of being
stuck in grief and that you do not need to live in bondage
as a slave to certain emotions. You will learn valuable
information about facing your new normal in life and
renewing your hope for the future.
You are welcome to start at anytime during the 13
week session.
GriefShare will be held Thursdays Nov 3 - Feb 2, 6:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. Our fi rst session on November 3 will
begin at 5:30 for orientation and registration. We will be
meeting at Calvary Chapel Baker City located at 1668
Resort Street Suite B. To Register or for questions, call
541-519-1644. The total cost is $15. There are scholar-
ships available. Child care is available.
Minner arrested
for burglary
On October 18, James Minner (DOB 01-02-1997) was
arrested for Burglary in the First Degree and Theft in the
Second Degree. The arrest stems from a Burglary com-
plaint that was received on February 19, 2016 from Linda
Miley, a Halfway resident, who reported cash and food
items stolen from her home.
On February 20, 2016, Deputies investigating the
crimes spoke with Minner in a phone interview, during
the interview Minner admitted to the crimes. Minner was
believed to have left the state immediately following the
incident but recently returned to Baker County. Minner
turned himself into the Sheriff’s Offi ce Tuesday, and was
arrested and lodged in the Baker County Jail.
Contest for kids
This is the 7th year Community Bank has asked kids to
design the holiday lobby poster for their branches. It may
be a little early to start thinking about the Christmas holi-
day, but in order to collect entries, select the top 3, and
run a Facebook voting contest to determine the winner,
the bank needs to have entries turned into a local branch
by Thursday, November 3rd.
Entry forms with rules can be found online at commu-
nitybanknet.com or at your local branch. Kids Kinder-
garten through 4th grade are invited to enter. The winner
of the contest receives a $100 Visa Gift Card, one roll of
dollar coins ($25), a large poster of their design, and a set
of 20 cards featuring their artwork to send to their family.