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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2016)
LOCAL: Kadie Cosby featured speaker at Christian women’s event. PAGE 7 The OUTDOORS: Moose poached, wasted in Wallowa County. PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, December 16, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 51 Planning begins for full solar eclipse in 2017 • TOURIST INFLUX EXPECTED IN BAKER COUNTY BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The full solar eclipse coming across North America next August 21 has been described as a celestial event of Biblical proportions by some. And that event’s path of totality just happens to cross over Baker County, making the area perhaps the best location in the world from which to view it. Last Thursday afternoon, Scott Fairley, Regional Solutions, Eastern Region Coordinator, Offi ce of Governor Kate Brown, hosted a meeting with community leaders from around Baker County to address the tens of thou- sands of tourists anticipat- ed to arrive over the course of a mere day or two for the eclipse. The purpose of the meet- ing was “to coordinate 2017 Eastern Oregon solar eclipse planning efforts between event promoters, local and state law en- forcement and emergency responders, and federal and state agencies.” The exact amount of tourists to expect? “That’s a hard number to pin down,” said Linea Gaglia- no of Travel Oregon, who called in to the meeting. “Eastern Oregon is a place people are really seeking out.” Gagliano said residents in nearby urban areas such as Seattle, Boise, Euguene and Portland are likely to travel to Baker County. “50,000 is not an exag- geration,” she said. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Scott Fairley, center, representing the Governor’s Offi ce held a meeting on the solar eclipse last week. At the left, Jason Yencopal of Baker County Emer- gency Management. SEE SOLAR ECLIPSE PAGE 5 Manslaughter charges brought in co-sleeping death Police K9 fundraiser brings in $28K Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Sgt. Wayne Chastain lets Capa demonstrate his skills to the crowd. L-R: Sgt. Mike Regan, Vivien McQuisten, Kara Regan and Ida Newman. BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com “This turned out greater than I ever thought it would,” said volunteer Tori Brown. Brown, along with event organizer, Shawna Patton, teamed up with Phoebe Wachtel who works the front desk of the Baker City Police Department, as well as other members of that department, to pull off the fi rst annual fundraiser Saturday afternoon and evening to support the care and feeding of Capa—Bak- er City’s second drug dog. Capa came on board in late October of last year after Turbo, the prior drug dog, had to be retired early due to the legalization of marijuana. A canine trained to hit on marijuana scent was no longer effective. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press L-R: Volunteers Tori Brown and Shawna Patton with Phoebe Wachtel of the Baker City Police Department. Capa is trained to focus on other illegal substances, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. A community-driven fundraising campaign brought in the money to purchase Capa, a Belguim Malinois and German Friday Chance for snow showers, otherwise partly sunny and cold. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Highs in the upper teens. Lows near 0. Saturday Mostly sunny and cold, highs in the upper teens. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy and cold, lows near -5. Sunday Partly sunny with a slight chance for snow showers. Highs in the upper teens. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Lows near 5. Shepard mix. The dog was born in Germany, but transported to Florida for highly specialized train- ing. Then-handler, Offi cer Colton Smith, attended training with the dog in Florida; however, handler duties transferred to Sgt. Wayne Chastain after Smith later resigned from the handler role. Said Chief Wyn Lohner, “Capa is not an item in the general budget.” SEE K9 FUNDRAISER 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. On December 13, 2016 Beth Marie Speelman, (dob 5/22/84) of 1695 Auburn Ave #3 Baker City, Oregon was arraigned on an Indictment in Baker County Circuit Court. Speelman was indicted by the grand jury for Manslaughter in the Sec- ond Degree, Criminally Negligent Homicide and Photo courtesy of the BCSO. Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. Beth Speelman. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Baker County Major Crime Team in early Septem- ber of 2016. The charges relate to allegations that Speelman was co- sleeping with her baby Tracin Givens causing his death. Speelman’s bail was set at $215,000. The baby had died, confi rmed by an autopsy, due to asphyxiation while sleeping with his mother. In the past eight or so years, at least half a dozen other infants have also died locally due to positional asphyxiation, though no charges were fi led. Charges against other mothers whose infants have died in such a way have typically indicated the mother was impaired or intoxicated at the time. Offi cials, however, have not yet confi rmed or de- nied those details in the Speelman case. More information will be released at a later date. Relay for Life needs volunteers BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com Looking for an opportunity to serve as a volunteer but haven’t found the right fi t? Heather Farnworth, the com- munity manager for the Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society, would like you to consider volunteering with The American Cancer Society. SEE RELAY FOR LIFE PAGE 3 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Coughie Cup planned in Sumpter Brooklyn school budget night Page Page Sumpter: No pot within 1000 feet of park Page Huntington preps for solar eclipse Page Baker City Council coverage Page Youth theater begins Page 3 4 4 5 8 10