FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
LEGAL NOTICES
RENTALS
DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE
Medical Springs Rural Fire Protection District Board
of Directors will hold its regular monthly board meeting at
Pondosa Station, on Monday, February 20, 2017 at 7 PM
to discuss fire department operations. Equal opportunity
provider.
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Good references required. 541-403-4976.
Snow
slides
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PAGE 1
The Rye Valley slide was
the biggest one Smith had
seen in his 30-year career,
he said, and, “...when it
slides off there and hits the
road, it packs, and it gets
just as hard as concrete.
You break out chunks half
the size of the backhoe we
were digging it out with.
It compresses bit time,
when it hits that road...We
just had to dig it, because
it was so big, and so long,
that there wasn’t any piece
of equipment that was
going to get through it...”
He said that a bulldozer
could have been used, but
transporting it to the loca-
tion would have proven
difficult and time-consum-
ing, and steel tracks aren’t
the best option on packed
snow.
Smith said, “Most of
them, they don’t ever
make it to Dispatch (the
Burnt River slide, about
a mile below Clark’s
Creek, was the sole one
reported to Baker County
Consolidated Dispatch, by
Pam Haney, Three Val-
leys Ranch reported the
Rye Valley slide, about
four miles from I-84, and
passersby reported the oth-
ers, he said). They just call
here, we go clean them up,
and nobody ever knows it
happened.” Half-joking,
he said, “You would call
the person who’s going to
clean it up.”
Smith said that the Road
Department generally
sees the most issues in the
Morgan Creek area, along
Snake River Road, because
of the steep slopes. Three
of the slides on Thursday
were in that area, with two
toward Donner Creek, and
the other two on Friday
closer to Richland.
“We haven’t had that
much snow on those hills
in years. I can remem-
ber back in the late 80s
and 90s, it was an every
day occurrence...We just
haven’t had the snow
in the last ten, fifteen
years, like we had twenty,
twenty-five, thirty years
ago. And, Snake River
Road, you know, there’s
eighteen to twenty inches
of snow down there, too.
And, even the lower land
has that much snow, so,
you lay that much snow
on those steep slopes, and,
as soon as it warms a little
bit, they just delaminate.
They’ll bring down full
sagebrush, and sticks, and
rocks the size of basket
balls. They’re pretty vio-
lent, when they happen,”
Smith said, though, he
noted there was no damage
caused by the slides.
Smith spoke about the
major effort to battle
drifting snow, and to keep
roads open. “It’s been a
good old-fashioned winter,
for sure,” he said. On the
plus side, he said, the new,
thicker grader blades the
Department had purchased
are working well, and,
other than a transmission
issue on one of the graders,
there haven’t been any
major breakdowns this
season yet.
Unlike other other pre-
ventive measures, Smith
understandably couldn’t
offer any kind of com-
munity warnings, because,
“You can’t avoid it, and,
you can’t plan for it...You
never know when they’re
going to happen. Noise
can cause them, an engine
breaking on a truck, caus-
ing vibrations, guns--any-
thing can trigger them.”
He said that February
15 is historically the “out
of the woods” moment,
when plowing roads tapers
off for the season, making
way for the next chapter-
-water from the melting
snow. “Believe me, this
year, with as much snow
as we’ve had, there will be
a next chapter. You just
don’t know--it could come
off slow. It’s up to a high-
er power. If it comes off
easy and slow, and, at least
sheds the valley snow, and,
starts walking it up the hill,
we’ll be okay...What kills
us is, if it starts staying up
above freezing at night...
As long as it freezes back
at night (after getting up
to the 30s or 40s, that will
bring it off slow,” he said.
“We’ve had way more
compliments, than we’ve
had complaints—it’s been
quite refreshing. People
are really appreciative...
We’ve been burning the
candle at both ends,”
Smith said. This year, staff
included twelve regular
Department personnel,
plus two part-time in
Halfway, two part-time in
Baker, and one part-time in
Unity, with an additional
two who could be called in
to assist, when needed.
Charles Green Road,
which intersects with Mc-
Carty Bridge and Conn
Road, north of Baker, was
the only closed road noted,
and it had been in that
status for about a month,
however, he said there
are no residences located
along it (he noted there are
hay stacks). This is typical
during the winter season,
since there is frequent
drifting, but he expected
it to be open again by this
week, or the next.
Smith, expecting more
slides, said, “There’s still
a bunch of snow...As soon
as that temperature gets to
the right point, they’ll fall
again...I f you happen to
come across one, where
the road’s closed, give the
Road Department a call,
and we’ll get out there as
quickly as we can. Obvi-
ously, if you get trapped
(blocked by slides while in
a vehicle), we’ll be there
immediately.”
In non-emergency
situations, Smith said, the
Department may need to
wait until the next day to
clear the slide, depending
on timing.
The Road Department, at
3050 E Street, can be con-
tacted at 541-523-6417.
Another snow plow wrecks
On January 31st, 2017
at approximately 12:34
p.m. Troopers from the
Pendleton Area Command
responded to a motor
vehicle crash on Interstate
84 eastbound near milepost
225.
Investigation revealed
an Oregon Department
of Transportation snow
plow operated by Ryan
McLaughlin, age 35, of
Pendleton Oregon was
traveling eastbound in
the fast lane ,in the act
of plowing, when a 1999
Freightliner-commercial
motor vehicle operated
by Bryon Kilmer, age 38,
of Sweet Home Oregon
attempted to pass the snow
plow on the right.
While attempting to pass,
the commercial motor
vehicle struck the snow
plow on the passenger
side plow wing causing
the snow plow to enter the
center median and roll onto
its side.
Both involved vehicles
suffered damage and had to
be towed from the scene.
No injuries were reported
in the crash.
The operator of the com-
mercial motor vehicle was
cited for Unsafe Passing
on the Right. The Oregon
State Police and Oregon
Department of Trans-
portation remind drivers
that it is unlawful to pass
snowplows on the right
while they are in the act of
plowing.
Below are tips from the
Oregon Department of
Transportation on actions
drivers should take when
they encounter snow plows
during winter driving
conditions.
Keep a safe distance
from plows and sanders
It's illegal to pass a snow-
plow on the right on state
highways.
On most Oregon high-
ways, snowplows have
"wing" plows that stick
out more than eight feet
from the right front edge of
the truck. The snow being
plowed or blown off the
road can contain rocks and
other debris that can dam-
age vehicles.
Drivers who try to
pass on the right when a
snowplow is in operation
run the risk of damaging
their vehicles, hitting the
snowplow or running off
the road and into a snow
bank or guardrail.
Trying to pass a plow
Submitted Photo
This plow, which wrecked near Pendleton, is the
third ODOT plow to do so along I-84 this winter.
on the left also has its
problems.
The road behind the
snowplow is in much bet-
ter condition than the road
ahead. If conditions are
severe enough to require
the attention of a snow-
plow, drivers should use
extra care when trying to
accelerate and pass other
vehicles.
Ruts in the snow can
grab tires; icy conditions
make it difficult to control
any vehicle at higher
speeds.
Drivers should give win-
ter maintenance vehicles
such as plows and sanders
a wide berth.
They do not travel at
high speeds and other
vehicles quickly overtake
them.
Plows and sanding trucks
pull over periodically to let
traffic pass.
The best advice is to stay
at least three car lengths
behind and give yourself
more time to get where you
are going.
Public Works asks people to run water
The Baker City Pub-
lic Works Department is
asking Baker City water
customers to run a thin
stream of water (size of
a pencil lead) at a faucet
in their home or business
as a preventative measure
to keep service lines and
meters from freezing.
The cold temperatures
have forced frost deep into
the ground to the depth of
many service lines.
To encourage coopera-
tion in this effort a credit
of two (2) units of water
will be reflected on the
spring meter read for cus-
tomers.
A unit of water is 748
gallons.
A continuous thin stream
of water will use approxi-
mately 39 gallons/day or
1.6 units of water for a
month.
The City asks that cus-
tomers continue running
water for the next few
weeks or until tem-
peratures are consistently
warmer and frost depth
moves back toward the
ground surface.
The running of the water
can start immediately.
Citizens with more ques-
tions can contact Public
Works Director Michelle
Owen at 541.524.2031 or
mowen@bakercity.com,
or visit City Hall on First
Street.
Mayors Council
luncheon held in
Huntington
Eileen Driver / The Baker County Press
City Mayors throughout Baker County braved the
snow to attend a luncheon last week.
BY EILEEN DRIVER
Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com
For those who could plow their way out of their cities
on January 26, the Mayors Council Luncheon held in
Huntington at the VFW Hall was very informative.
Hosted by Huntington’s new Mayor, Candy Howland,
who has stepped into the Mayor’s position with plenty of
problems to deal with right off the get go due to the harsh
winter, the meeting was attended by representatives from
cities throughout Baker County.
First up on the agenda was city updates.
Mayor Sheila Farwell of Halfway was the first to tell of
her city’s struggles this winter. She reported that Halfway
has lost 36 buildings due to collapse from the heavy snow
and ice including the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds.
They declared a State of Emergency on January 25. Shei-
la Farwell who has been Mayor of Halfway for 8 years
has major concerns about the flooding to come when the
melt does come and also told of their current project to
get their fire hydrants dug out.
Halfway’s sewer project had to be put on hold for the
winter and they are worried about it being able to resume
on time due to the weather.
Huntington’s Mayor Howland reported that the city has
received help from Baker County Emergency Manage-
ment who arranged for a DOC work crew to come and
dig out Huntington’s fire hydrants and sewer drains.
Huntington who declared a State of Emergency on Janu-
ary 19th has also had numerous buildings, carports and
outbuildings collapse.
Mayor Howland urged everyone to make sure gas
meters are also dug out as the cannot vent properly if
covered shutting down the gas flow and leaving people
without heat.
Robert Armbruster, Sumpter City Councilman, reported
that Sumpter has 117” of snowfall standing at four feet
and has also declared a state of emergency. He also stated
that Sumpter has already depleted their snow removal
funds.
He also stated that Sumpter has a new Mayor, Mayor
Cary Clarke, who was elected as a write-in along with
two new City Councillors, one of whom declined to serve
so they are one short and hoping to appoint someone at
the next City Council meeting.
After all the turmoil, Sumpter has endured he is hopeful
that they now have a functional government in Sumpter.
Armbruster also told the assembly that two marijuana
dispensaries have opened this week in Sumpter although
he is sceptical about how much traffic they will get seeing
as how far off the beaten path Sumpter is.
Mike Downing, Baker City Councillor and Acting
Mayor, revealed that Baker City had also declared a state
of emergency on January 24 and are working hard to get
the streets passable.
They have reached an agreement with DEQ on septic
issues and currently have two openings on the Baker City
Council.
Richland Mayor Mike Patterson, who also only has been
on the job for 3 weeks said his city is experiencing the
same snow problems as everyone else. He also believes
the new City Council seems to be very forward think-
ing and will function well. His major concerns for the
future are the possible traffic problems they expect when
Idaho Power gets their new boat launch near Swedes’
Landing completed. This will cause their busiest street to
become even more busy and they are concerned it won’t
be able to handle the additional traffic. Richland has been
directed by DEQ to take frequent water samples, over the
next year, from Eagle Creek which will most likely result
in a mandate to install a new water purification system.
Mayor Patterson also stated that Richland will be
celebrating it’s 100 year anniversary on March 27 of this
year and they are not sure yet what form the celebration
will take.
The second agenda item the County update was report-
ed by County Commissioner Bill Harvey who informed
the assembly that Baker County is working 24/7 to keep
the roads open and are very concerned about the weather
impact and the results of the coming snow and ice melt.
So they are also working on preparing for what’s to come.
He also could not stress enough the need to prepare
for the massive crowds expected to arrive in the Baker
County for the Eclipse on August 21, 2017.
SEE MAYORS COUNCIL
PAGE 8