FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Local
— Obituaries —
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 2
The family came togeth-
er over the last week in
support and to say goodbye
after her unexpected trip to
the emergency room and
the heart wrenching news
of her impending death.
Her daughter, Margie and
her grandson, David were
by her side as she left us. A
celebration of her life will
be held during the Family
Reunion scheduled in June.
Joyce, as she was
known by her children
for so many years, was
a hard-working wife and
mother. She was raised in
Lynchburg, Virginia with
her siblings. She mar-
ried young and had two
children with Lloyd Spoon,
and then married George
Henry Voyles moving
out west, mainly living in
Baker. She loved to dance,
take walks, listen to music,
and had the most infectious
smile, which will greatly
be missed! Even when her
thirty-one grandchildren,
fifty-three great-grandchil-
dren, and two-great-great
grandchildren began to ar-
rive, she had enough love
to go around to each and
every one of them!
Although she lived with
Alzheimer’s Dementia, the
last years of her life were
spent taking trips to Reno,
California, Washington,
and along the Oregon
Coast with her daughter
Margie and three of her
grandchildren—going
places that she never had
the opportunity see. For
the last two years, Joyce
was tirelessly cared for
by her family, mainly her
daughter Margie and Mar-
gie’s daughters, Heather,
Krista, and Michelle for
the last two years. The rest
of the family would like
to thank them for their
selflessness.
She is preceded in death
by a young sibling; sons
Kenneth and Lloyd Spoon
Jr.; parents, Blanche and
Lucian Hurt; George her
husband of 32 years; two
great-grandchildren, and
— Special Column —
most recently, an adult
granddaughter.
Joyce is survived by her
children Betty and her
husband Rick Rickerd of
McMinnville, Leonard
Voyles of Baker City,
John Voyles of Ontario,
Emery and his wife Linda
Hankins of New Mexico,
George Voyles, Jr. of
Mount Vernon, Nancy
Jackson of Reno, Nevada,
Margie Gately of Baker
City, Linda and her hus-
band Lloyd Wallingford
of La Grande, Brenda and
her husband Rod Martin
of Baker City, and Debbie
Voyles Smith Flippin of
Elgin.
For those who would
like to make a donation in
memory of Joyce the fam-
ily suggests Alzheimer’s
and/or Diabetes OHSU
research through Tami’s
Pine Valley Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
PO Box 543 Halfway,
Oregon 97834. Online
condolences may be shared
at www.tamispinevalleyfu-
neralhome.com.
First Friday meeting held
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 3
Harvey said that’s true,
but the community benefit-
ed, because there are two
stores now at least, which
gives customers more
space and selection, which
alleviated some of his con-
cern. While he noted that
people are certainly free
to shop where they would
like, for example, Wal-
Mart and Grocery Outlet in
La Grande, he and Baker
County Economic De-
velopment Director Greg
Smith have been working
on more grocer options for
the community.
Wanda asked about a
Sutton Creek Road inci-
dent from several months
ago, involving a gate
blocking access along the
road. Harey said that the
gate had been removed,
that the road is a right-of-
way, and that the person
who installed the gate will
obey the law, because it
will be enforced.
This led to the topic
of RS (Revised Statute)
2477, enacted in 1866,
which grants “the right-
of-way for the construc-
tion of highways across
public lands not other-
wise reserved for public
purposes...” according to
the statute. Harvey said
that the granted right can’t
be removed, and that the
USFS can’t arbitrarily
close County roads (RS
2477 was repealed under
the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act,
FLPMA, in 1976, but any
existing right prior to that
remained in effect).
He said that the USFS
and the County are work-
ing on both entities’ maps,
in order to have a perma-
nent, accurate record of
County roads and other
rights-of-way, such as
pathways and railroads,
and the maps will be
adjusted accordingly.
Noting the lack of public
acknowledgment regarding
the progress, and giving
the USFS due credit, he
said, “We’re making some
great headway; it’s just not
in the papers.”
First Friday with the
Commissioner is held on
the first Friday of every
month, and the public is
welcome to attend.
City-County joint meeting
talks Dispatch Center
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held a
work session on Wednes-
day, February 1, 2017, 5:30
p.m., which had as its pri-
mary matter the continuing
conversation with Baker
City Council members,
regarding the Intergovern-
mental Cooperative Agree-
ment for Dispatch and
Records Keeping Services,
between the City and the
County, which remains in
the discussion stage.
County Commission
Chair Harvey said, “In
my understanding, I think
we’re just at a current
impasse of who’s going
to be appointed to the two
positions available on the
911 Board, and then, the
cost share—correct me,
if I’m wrong, sir.” Baker
City Manager Fred Warner,
Jr. said he agreed, and he
noted the color of his rec-
ommended changes to the
agreement, as did Harvey.
Harvey said that the pro-
cess to resolve issues with
the agreement has been a
lengthy one, and there is
still confusion.
Warner, Jr. said, “We
need to get this done, and
move on. Folks have done
a great job with the (Baker
County 911 Consolidated
Dispatch) Center, and we
need to figure out how
we’re going to finance on-
going operations...” Part of
the City’s position on the
makeup of the 911 Board
is that it should include
more representation from
the City, since the City
would pay a majority of
the shared costs.
Harvey said he’d recom-
mended that the City pay
75% of the cost of shared
services, while the County
would pay 25%, because
Center Director Hope
Lindsey studied the utiliza-
tion of those services, and,
in addition to extra costs
incurred by the County, the
City sat at 80% utilization,
while the County sat at
20%.
He didn’t want to rec-
ommend the City pay 80%,
because it would be too
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker County Press
reserves the right not to publish letters containing factu-
al falsehoods or incoherent narrative. Letters promoting
or detracting from specific for-profit businesses will not
be published. Word limit is 375 words per letter. Letters
are limited to one every other week per author. Letters
should be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.
com.
Advertising and Opinion Page Disclaimer:
Opinions submitted as Guest Opinions or Letters to
large an increase, from the
current 71% (which will
remain in effect until June
30, the end of the fiscal
year).
Harvey said his recom-
mendation is that the
makeup of the 911 Board
would include the County
Commission Chair, the
City Manager, an EMS
representative (Fire or
Emergency), and two
people appointed by the
City and the County.
He said he prefers to
have at least one represen-
tative from the public, be-
cause he values highly that
input also, which he noted
is a significant part of other
meetings and processes.
During a discussion
about the calls received by
the City, versus the Coun-
ty, and the costs incurred
and the facilities provided,
Harvey emphasized the
County’s role, costs, and
budget issues
SEE CITY-COUNTY
PAGE 5
the Editor express the opinions of their authors, and
have not been authored by and are not necessarily
the opinions of The Baker County Press, any of our staff,
management, independent contractors or affiliates.
Advertisements placed by political groups, candidates,
businesses, etc., are printed as a paid service, which
does not constitute an endorsement of or fulfillment ob-
ligation by this newspaper for the products or services
advertised.
So I was
thinking ...
Phone
addiction
By Jimmy Ingram
Special to The Baker County Press
A few months ago my family and I
were waiting to be seated at a restau-
rant in Portland.
Personally I think few places are
worth waiting 30 minutes to be seat-
ed, but after traveling with two kids
all day, we weren’t about to leave.
My wife, tired of sitting all day,
said she’d take our daughter and stroll
through the mall adjacent to the res-
taurant until a table was available.
My son and I stayed, seated on a
long booth across from another long
booth. No less than 30 people sat
there waiting with us and they all had
one thing in common: they were all
using their cell phones in one way or
another.
Every person there, ranging from
age 8 to 80 sat hypnotized by some-
thing that didn’t really exist even 20
years ago, maybe even as recent as 12
years ago in their current form.
It was like an eerie scene out of a
science fiction movie where everyone
had been brainwashed by aliens.
I watched my son take in the sur-
roundings fearing what he might ask.
Then he did.
“Dad, can I play on your phone?”
he asked.
I instantly responded, “No, let’s
do something else. Let’s play Rock
Paper Scissors.” He agreed and we
sat there amongst lighted screens and
tapping fingers, dueling each other for
the next 20 minutes.
Ironically, we were the ones getting
strange looks from everyone.
Moments like the above are proof
of what most of us already know: our
culture is being taken over by phones.
Grabbing your phone every couple
minutes to look at it has become a
nearly universal habit.
Did someone text me?
Do I have a Facebook notification?
Maybe someone snapchatted me.
Did I miss a call?
What time is it? Ohh, good. Only
10 minutes til my break and I can go
stare at my phone for 15 minutes.
Phones have become almost like an
appendage for some people. Ringers
and notification chimes go off dur-
ing weddings, funerals, and church
services.
Submitted Photo
Jimmy Ingram is a local farmer and
father of two who enjoys people
watching within our wonderful
community and beyond.
People carry on phone conversa-
tions while going through the check-
out line in stores.
We complain as a culture about
being “too busy” and yet we fill in all
the blank spots in our days staring at
a lighted screen to give us some sort
of feedback.
The irony is that while smartphones
are supposed to keep us in touch with
the world, we tend to ignore every-
thing around us when we use them.
Now I’d like to admit that I’ve
evolved enough as a human being
enough to go against the grain and
only use my phone when necessary.
The truth is, at times I’m as guilty
as anyone else. It’s convenient being
able to check the weather instantly.
It simplifies life being able to text
my wife to see if I’m responsible for
dinner.
I enjoy scrolling through Facebook
at times to see what my “friends”
are up to. But there will never be a
substitute for interacting with people
on a personal level.
An actual smile is better than an
emoji. Seeing someone and ask-
ing them how they’ve been offers a
sincerity not found by checking their
Facebook status.
And shopping? Last time I checked
there were hundreds of local brick
and mortar stores that would love
your business.
I won’t lie and say I preferred the
days when I didn’t have a smart-
phone. It’s a modern convenience that
is here now and will probably never
go away.
But don’t forget to take your eyes
off the screen for a while and enjoy
the people around you without dis-
traction.
Play Rock Paper Scissors, tell
jokes, go have a quiet lunch with a
friend and leave your phone at home.
Disconnect your brain and your
fingers from technology for a while.
There’s a whole world out there
beyond that 4” backlit LCD screen.
— Contact Us —
YOUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS
The Baker County Press
President Donald Trump
PO Box 567
Baker City, Ore. 97814
202.456.2461 fax
Open Monday-Thursday for calls
9 AM - 4 PM
Open 24/7 for emails
202.456.1414
Whitehouse.gov/contact
US Sen. Jeff Merkley
503.326.3386
503.326.2900 fax
Merkley.Senate.gov
Phone: 541.519.0572
TheBakerCountyPress.com
US Sen. Ron Wyden
541.962.7691
Wyden.Senate.gov
Kerry McQuisten, Publisher
Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.com
US Rep. Greg Walden
Wendee Morrissey, Advertising and Sales
Wendee@TheBakerCountyPress.com
541.624.2402 fax
David Conn, Advertising and Sales
David@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Published weekly every Friday.
Subscription rates per year are $29.95 all areas,
e-mail delivery. $39.95 print issue, home delivery,
Baker City city limits only. $49.95 print issue,
mail delivery, outside Baker City city limits only.
Payment in advance.
A division of
Black Lyon Publishing, LLC
541.624.2400
Walden.House.gov
Oregon Gov. Kate
Brown
503.378.3111
Governor.Oregon.gov
State Rep. Cliff Bentz
503.986.1460
State Sen. Ted Ferrioli
541.490.6528
Baker County
Commissioners Bill Harvey;
Mark Bennett; Bruce Nichols
541.523.8200
Copyright © 2014 -2017
541.523.8201