BUSINESS: Baker City gets a certified
arborist. PAGE 3
The
SPECIAL: Our Spotlight on Mental Illness
continues with a look at depression. PAGE 5
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Friday, March 17, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 11
Local toddler survives
after rescue from pond
• LOCAL STORY
HITS TELEVISION
ACROSS OREGON
AND IDAHO
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
22-month-old toddler,
Matty Cunningham of
Baker City, is lucky to be
alive—so fortunate, in
fact, that the story of his
survival has spread to tele-
vision news outlets such
as KTVB in Portland and
KBOI out of Boise, Idaho.
Last Thursday, according
to Baker City Fire Chief
Tom Wills, “Baker City
Fire Department (BCFD)
personnel responded to
a reported drowning in
the Salmon Creek area of
Baker County.
“When BCFD paramed-
ics arrived they found a
young victim unconscious
and breathing on the shore
of a small pond.
“The young victim
was reportedly found in
the pond and pulled out
by family members who
performed CPR before
paramedics arrived.
“Paramedics who were
on scene less than fi ve
minutes provided advanced
life support treatment to
the victim and with the
help of Baker Rural Fire
Protection District fi re-
fi ghters and Baker County
Sheriff’s Offi ce deputies
rushed the victim to the
Saint Alphonsus Hospital
Emergency Department.”
In multiple interviews,
Matty’s parents, Matthew
and Elsa Cunningham,
said they believed their son
to be dead—he was blue
and non-responsive—and
attributed his recovery to
nothing short of a miracle.
The family had been
working outside their
house when Matty wan-
dered off.
SEE RESCUE PAGE 5
Submitted Photo.
Matty Cunningham is now home and on his way to a
miraculous full recovery.
City: Police Association Man arrested
labor contract ratified, Boy on sex abuse
charges
Scouts attend meeting
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Boy Scout troops 450 and 452 attended this week’s Baker City Council meeting as a requirement to earn
their Citizen of Community Badge.
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesday night saw the fi rst March meeting of the City
Council. Mayor Downing called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m. Councilor Dan McQuisten led the Pledge of Al-
legiance and Invocation. City Recorder/Human Resourc-
es Manager Julie Smith called roll with all Councilors
present.
Downing then called for citizen participation, and see-
ing none, he moved forward.
Before turning to the evening’s agenda Downing gave
recognition to Boy Scout Troops #450 and #452, who
were present for the meeting to fulfi ll requirements to
earn their Citizenship of Community badge.
To be eligible for this badge, the Scouts must attend
a public meeting where different opinions are expressed
and then they must explain their experience.
The requirements for this badge are intended to teach
the Scouts the importance of being productive and active
members of their community.
Downing then focused on the agenda for the evening.
Local Community Advisory Council
Charlette Dudley addressed Council regarding the local
Friday
Partly sunny with a high around 62. East to
southeast winds around 8-16 mph. Friday Night:
Mostly cloudy with a low near 40. Southeast
winds around 5-10 mph.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with a high around 63 and rain
showers likely. South winds around 10-20 mph.
Chance of precipitation 50%. Saturday Night:
Partly cloudy with a low near 30.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with a high around 53 and a slight
chance of rain showers. North winds around
5-10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20%. Sunday
Night: Mostly cloudy with a low near 28.
Community Advisory Council. This Advisory Council
was created at the request of the Medicaid program to
fi nd ways to enhance and identify additional needs of care
in the County.
The Council meets the fi rst Tuesday of every month and
brings together partners like the County Health Depart-
ment, New Directions Northwest, mental health providers
and community members.
As a Council, they come up with areas in which they
think the community could benefi t and do research and
collect data to support the need.
In 2016 a grant of $34,700 was allotted that allowed the
Council to provide information and screenings regarding
colon/rectal cancer that was received by an overwhelming
number of community members.
They also were able to expand the student health center
services at Baker High School, allowing for the center to
bill, generating a revenue source and a large number of
students accessing adolescent wellness exams.
Those exams are also credited with opening commu-
nication that lead to mental health treatment often for
depression and in some cases substance abuse.
SEE CITY COUNCIL PAGE 2
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Cecil Noble, age 70, was
arrested for crimes involv-
ing sexual abuse at his
residence in Rye Valley on
March 10, 2017. (Noble
receives his mail in Hun-
tington.)
Baker County Deputies
began an investigation into
the crimes after receiving
information that two Hun-
tington juvenile females
Photo courtesy of the
had reported being inappro-
Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce.
priately touched by a man
Cecil Noble.
while they were playing in
the park.
The victims told deputies the older man who had
touched them was a stranger to them. The victims and
witnesses gave a very detailed description of the man and
the vehicle he was operating. None of the witnesses could
see a visible license plate on the vehicle.
The deputies were not able to locate Noble in the
Huntington area. Later on March 10th, Baker City Police
Department requested assistance in locating Noble from a
crime that had been committed at Sonny’s Bar & Grill in
Baker City.
When deputies arrived at Noble’s residence both he and
his vehicle matched the detailed information provided by
the victims and witnesses in the Huntington and Baker
City crimes. Noble was taken into custody without inci-
dent; he was transported and lodged in the Baker County
Jail, and charged with Sexual Abuse I (two counts), Ha-
rassment (two counts), and Public Indecency (Baker City
Police Department).
Geiser Grand
wins prestigious
wine award
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
“It’s a total thrill,” said Barbara Sidway, owner of
the Geiser Grand, in an interview Wednesday morning.
“When anyone works hard to deliver something wonder-
ful and you don’t think anyone really notices, it’s gratify-
ing. It really picks you up!”
Sidway referred to her business’s recent win of Or-
egon Wine Press magazine’s 2017 Oregon Wine A-List
award—but not only of the award, also of the position as
that publication’s Regional Spotlight business for Central
and Eastern Oregon.
SEE WINE AWARD PAGE 3
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Opinion / Politics
Halfway: Pine Fest named best
Sumpter: Cannabis tax discussed
Page
Page
Page
The Outdoor Column by Todd Arriola
Page
County hears about Wolf Plan changes
Page
Grocery Outlet a no-go in Baker City Page
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