FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Local
Sumpter City Council
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 3
Clarke stated he would
love to have just one. He
said it is his opinion that
they need to have someone
willing to stand up and
fight for the City. He said
Stump spoke candidly
about his representation
of other cities and said he
does just that. He also
stated he has the time to
take on another city.
Armbruster asked if
Stump was referred to the
City and Clarke replied
that CIS highly recom-
mended him. Wise stated
if Stump is used to work-
ing with cities, that will be
to the town’s advantage.
Armbruster suggested
interviewing Stump via
phone.
Second Reading of Or-
dinance 2017-1 to Repeal
Ordinance 2016-3
Prior to the reading of
the ordinance, there was
much discussion as to
proper procedure. Woolf
read from the City Charter
the section specific to ordi-
nances, including that “ev-
ery ordinance shall be read
fully and distinctly in open
council meeting on two
separate days”. There is
also provision for reading
being allowed by title only
if certain criteria are met,
including providing copies
for public inspection.
Dodgens stated her
objection to the repeal of
the ordinance and asked
that her appeal be noted.
She said she is concerned
about the existing mari-
juana businesses being
grandfathered in. Clarke
stated that the businesses
currently operating are do-
ing so thanks to OLCC.
McKinney read Ordi-
nance 2017-1. Clarke set
a workshop for reworking
the marijuana ordinance
Monday, February 27th at
11 AM. The meeting was
open to the public.
Groundskeeper
Julie McKinney stated
Sumpter Valley Commu-
nity Volunteers (SVCV) is
willing to manage the Flea
Market vendors, so all the
City needs is someone to
water, mow lawns, rake
pine needles, etc. Woolf
asked if the Council would
like to see a letter of inter-
est from SVCV. Clarke
asked that be provided
soon and said the Council
will need a decision about
what SVCV wants to do
and how much so that the
City knows what to adver-
tise for.
President of Council
Wise nominated Arm-
bruster. Clarke seconded.
Armbruster was elected
by secret ballot with four
votes. Clarke motioned to
accept the vote and motion
passed with three votes,
Armbruster abstaining.
Council Input
Armbruster mentioned
the solar eclipse on August
21 and suggested this may
be something they want to
start talking about.
Woolf stated the Sumpter
Valley Railroad will run
an Eclipse Train that will
depart the McEwen Depot
at 9 a.m. It will be at the
Sumpter Depot for totality,
occurring at around 10:20
a.m.
Woolf also mentioned
that a running event has
reserved the Grounds for
earlier in the weekend.
They will be running on
Saturday. SVCV is plan-
ning a one-day Music in
the Meadow for Sunday.
McKinney asked about
opening the Grounds for
travelers. Woolf stated
that even on Saturday the
runners won’t take up
the whole thing. Myrna
Clarke mentioned the need
for extra portable rest-
rooms.
Clarke said he has been
listening to KJDY out of
La Grande and people
over there are renting their
yards out. John Day is
expecting 5,000 visitors
for the eclipse. Woolf said
Huntington and Prairie
City are right under the
centerline of the eclipse.
Huntington is expecting
10,000 visitors.
Woolf added that the
Fire Centennial is also on
August 13th. Armbruster
stated he is in fear of a
heavy impact on local
resources if the population
swells. Woolf stated the
Depot Inn has been sold
out for a while. Karen
Peters mentioned the lack
of places to eat. McKin-
ney suggested trying to get
some vendors to come out.
Clarke stated he will try to
get in touch with a couple
of Chambers of Commerce
in other towns to see what
they’re doing.
Armbruster said Dennis
Bradley of Oregon Parks
and Recreation is asking
where the Superintendant’s
House thing is going.
Armbruster said he could
get it set up for represen-
tatives from the Parks
Department to come to
March’s Council Meeting.
Rowan stated a bill was
received from a local
resident regarding frozen
sewer lines and read from
a letter dated October 30,
2002, stating utility lines
are the property of prop-
erty owners. Clarke stated
that special provision was
made to owners in the
particular subdivision and
the owners took responsi-
bility for their own sewer
lines. Motion to deny
reimbursement, submit bill
for pumping of tank, and
provide a copy of the 2002
letter passed unanimously.
Public Input
Vern Hollopeter asked
about the status of the
moratorium from the
initiative and asked if any-
thing has been heard from
the Liquor Commission.
Clarke stated they have
everything, but nothing has
been heard back yet. He
stated he would call them
later that day.
Armbruster then stated
the Council has not had
much discussion about
why the City has a book-
keeper in the first place.
He said Sumpter is the
only city in the Region 8
League of Oregon Cities
that has a position like that.
He said some cities use an
accounting firm, but most
don’t. Clarke suggested
discussing this further on
Monday.
Safeway lawsuit
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Safeway, Inc., and AB
Acquisitions, LLC (pri-
vately owned by Cerberus
Capital Managemetn,
Kimco Realty Corporation,
Klaff Realty, Lubert-Adler
Partners, and Schottenstein
Stores Corporation), repre-
sented by attorney Gordon
Welborn, of Redmond,
Oregon-based Hart Wagner
LLP, filed an answer with
the affirmative defense of
Comparative Negligence,
to Stroy’s complaint, on
October 12, 2016.
According to the answer,
“Safeway admits that on
or about the date and place
alleged, the plaintiff has
alleged that she fell during
business hours but, except
for as expressly admitted,
Safeway denies the allega-
tions contained in para-
graph 7 (in which Stroy
chronicled parking, and
tripping and falling).”
Safeway denies the rest
of Stroy’s claims related to
her injuries, and according
to Safeway’s complaint,
“The incident and plain-
tiff’s injuries and damages
were caused in whole or
in part by plaintiff’s own
negligence in the following
particulars: a) In failing to
keep a proper lookout for
her own safety b) In failing
to keep proper control of
her body and person; and
c) In failing to avoid or
safely walk over/around
any and all open and obvi-
ous objects or conditions
commonly found in park-
ing lots.”
Safeway seeks a dismiss-
al of Stroy’s claim, plus
costs and disbursements
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker
County Press reserves the right not to pub-
lish letters containing factual falsehoods or
incoherent narrative. Letters promoting or
detracting from specific for-profit business-
es 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@TheBakerCounty-
Press.com.
Advertising and Opinion Page Dis-
claimer: Opinions submitted as Guest
incurred in the case.
On December 2, 2016,
Stroy filed a motion for a
Limited Judgment of Dis-
missal with prejudice, and
without any costs for any
party, as to defendant Pay-
less Drugstores Northwest,
Inc., and that judgment
was granted on December
5, 2016, by Judge Patricia
Sullivan. On December 15,
2016, Stroy filed a similar
motion, as to defendant
Muffrey, LLC, which was
also granted, on December
16, 2016, by Judge Greg
Baxter.
A pre-trial hearing is
scheduled for Wednesday,
March 8, 2017, 8:30 a.m.,
for the plaintiff and the
remaining defendants,
Safeway, Inc., and AB
Acquisitions, LLC (col-
lectively Safeway).
Opinions or Letters to 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 obligation
by this newspaper for the products or
services advertised.
— Special Column —
So I was
thinking ...
A letter to my
younger self
By Jimmy Ingram
Special to The Baker County Press
One of my favorite songs is an old
Faces tune with a chorus that sums up
how most of us feel about life: “I wish
that I knew what I know now, when I
was younger.”
I heard it just the other day on the
radio and it made me think: “If the 38
year old me could talk to the 19 year
old me, what would he say...”
• Listen more to older generations:
Did you notice that old man with a cane
walking down the street? You didn’t?
Well you should. There’s a strong
possibility he knows about things that
aren’t often taught any more.
There’s a lot he can tell you about
life, loss, personal struggle, financial
hardship, marriage and fatherhood.
In his prime he may have been a self
taught home builder, a machinist, or an
mechanical engineer.
He may not say much but maybe it’s
because no one has inquired. Ask him
questions. Respect who he is now but
more importantly what he’s learned
along the way. You could learn a lot
from him.
• Don’t waste your money: You’re
a hard-working young man and that’s
admirable but there’s things in life you
need, and things you want.
Leave room for both but be sure to
separate the two.
You’ll find out later that the best
times in life don’t involve things, they
involve acts and people that you care
about.
If you are going to spend extra
money, buy something that helps you
be creative. Buy a guitar and learn to
play it well.
Buy some tools and build something.
Buy something old and make it new
again.
That will be far more gratifying than
$150 sneakers and bad music CDs that
you’ll eventually throw away.
Save some money for a rainy day. It
won’t hurt.
• Learn to cook: I know right now
you live on sandwiches, jerky, and Clif
bars and that’s acceptable since it’s
only you. But someday you’ll meet a
strong, hard-working woman and have
kids.
When you do she’ll want some help
in the kitchen.
Don’t wait until then to learn a few
things.
Submitted Photo
Jimmy Ingram is a local farmer and
father of two who enjoys people
watching within our wonderful
community and beyond.
Buy some decent cookware and some
cookbooks. Burn the living hell out of
a few things in the oven and undercook
some meat.
Use way too much chili powder and
not enough salt.
Get it all out of your system and learn
from your mistakes. Get some help
from mom, grandma, and Rachel Ray.
If you can make three or four home
cooked meals for your family it will be
a tremendous help to your wife and a
feather in your cap.
• Accept simplicity and routine as a
positive thing: You’re young now and
everything is exciting.
You probably can’t imagine a life
where you don’t get to spend your free
time doing whatever you want to do,
going wherever you want to go.
Don’t become too attached to that
idea.
At a certain point, a degree of routine
will become comforting.
Familiar places, faces, and trust-
worthy people aren’t for sale on store
shelves so surround yourself with them
despite how mundane it may seem at
times.
Life isn’t always fun.
You’ll have bills to pay, sick kids to
worry about, aging parents and grand-
parents, and aches and pains of your
own.
Learn to replace the notion that un-
eventful equals “boring” with the idea
that uneventful means everyone and
everything around you is healthy and
happy.
That’s what really matters.
A few other small bits of advice:
• Don’t say things you don’t mean
• People will let you down. Accept it,
learn a lesson and move on.
• Learn to laugh at yourself. It will
make it tougher for people to hurt your
feelings.
• Don’t eat egg salad sandwiches from
gas stations.
• Don’t drink Tequila and expect to be
productive the next day.
• Listen to a woman when she wants
you to listen.
• Don’t be too stubborn to apologize.
• Love your friends and family, de-
spite their flaws. They love you despite
yours.
— 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