FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
HELP WANTED
The Baker Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is accepting applications for a seasonal irrigation system
worker. This position will be responsible in assisting partnering agencies with the implementation of small scale irriga-
tion systems and riparian vegetation. Candidates must have the following;
1.) Valid Drivers License
2.) Basic knowledge of household irrigation systems, small pumps, and controllers
3.) Ability to use hand tools
4.) Ability to operate small engines/equipment
5.) Ability to perform routine tasks for long periods of time
6.) Basic knowledge of weed identification and treatments
7.) Strong communication skills
8.) Ability to make maintenance decisions with little or no supervision
This position will be from May 2017 to approximately November 1, 2017 and will require a 32 hour work week. The
rate of pay will be $13/hr.
To apply, please drop off or email resume along with a cover letter explaining your qualifications for the position to;
Whitney Collins 3990 Midway Dr. Baker City OR 97814 or whitney.collins@bakercountyswcds.com. All applications
must be in by 3:30pm, March 30th 2017. “Baker Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is an Equal Opportunity
Employer.” For questions, please feel free to contact me at 541-523-7121 x 109.
3.31
Lead ammo, wildlife, and the like
tion (lead
toxicity), on
scavenging
animals,
such as
eagles.
The previ-
ous week’s
journal
began with
details
regarding a
Bald Eagle,
designated
17-084,
THE OUTDOOR COLUMN
which had
By Todd Arriola
been found
on the ground
In one of the most
near Mesa,
recent editions of “Lynn’s
Washington, on February
Journal,” a weekly recap of 27, and which showed
happenings at Pendleton-
signs of ingested lead
based rescue organization
toxicity.
Blue Mountain Wild-
This led to the subject
life (BMW), Executive
of the LeadCare II, a blood
Director Lynn Tompkins
lead testing device manu-
said she received an
factured by North Bill-
overwhelmingly positive
erica, Massachusetts-based
response to the previ-
Magellan Diagnostics,
ous week’s journal entry
which was used to measure
regarding ingested lead
the blood lead level in the
toxicity in raptors, howev-
Bald Eagle.
er, she noted that some of
Initially, Lynn said, the
the information presented
machine read “high,”
was used to promote agen- which meant that the read-
das not in alignment with
ing was above the manu-
BMW’s.
facturer’s limit of what
To set the record
the machine can detect, 65
straight, Lynn stated this,
micrograms per deciliter.
literally, in bold type:
After diluting the sample,
“Blue Mountain Wild-
per Magellan’s protocol,
life respects the rights of
in order to try to obtain a
hunters. Blue Mountain
proper reading, the level
Wildlife recognizes that
was again “high,” and after
sportsmen are conserva-
a second time diluting
tionists...Blue Mountain
the sample, the level was
Wildlife supports hunting
finally detected: 622 mi-
with non-lead ammuni-
crograms per deciliter.
tion...”
Lynn said this was the
She elaborated on all
highest lead level ever
three statements, recog-
documented by BMW, and
nizing that hunting and
30 times the level consid-
fishing licensing fees pay
ered toxic in raptors, 20
for conservation programs, micrograms per deciliter.
benefiting both game, and
Lynn said that, over
non-game species of wild-
the course of five days,
life, and that staff of BMW through aggressive chela-
regularly see the first-hand
tion treatment (in which a
effects of the consumption
solution is injected into the
of the remains of animals
bloodstream, to bind to,
shot with lead ammuni-
and remove the lead), the
lead level of the bird was
reduced to 105 micrograms
per deciliter, but the bird
was unable to overcome
the effects of the toxicity,
and he died.
In Lynn’s Journal, she
said, “There is no safe
level of lead for humans
or wildlife...” as she listed
some potential effects,
such as anemia, high blood
pressure, and the lowering
of IQ and learning ability
in children.
Lynn said, “Non-lead
ammunition performs as
well or better than lead
ammunition. Eating game
shot with non-lead am-
munition is safer for your
family. Hunting with non-
lead ammunition prevents
secondary poisoning of
wildlife like Bald Eagle
17-084...”
At this point in her
journal, Lynn included the
address of a website, www.
huntingwithnonlead.org,
for further information
regarding the topic.
The website, still within
the same theme as Lynn’s
and BMW’s philosophy
about the benefits of using
non-lead ammunition (the
first tip-off is the logo with
the bull elk and the words
“MORE HUNTING LESS
LEAD”), presents informa-
tion regarding the differ-
ences with using lead am-
munition versus non-lead
ammunition, in contrast to
what any group(s) mis-
understood, purposely or
not, from Lynn’s journal,
resulting in misuse of the
information, in an attempt
to advance specific agen-
das, such as hunting versus
anti-hunting.
An introductory state-
ment on the website, re-
garding its contributors and
mission, reads as follows:
“Hunting with Non-lead
is dedicated to promoting
hunting and wildlife con-
servation through the use
of non-lead ammunition.
“We are hunters and
wildlife biologists who
recognize the common
ground between hunting
and wildlife conserva-
tion. It is our mission
to promote the positive
contributions of hunting
and the use of non-lead
ammunition by providing
accurate information and
resources to hunters and
wildlife managers.”
Credited as contribu-
tors are the Institute for
Wildlife Studies California
Non-lead Outreach Coor-
dinator Russell Kuhlman,
a lifelong outdoorsman
who’s hunted multiple
game species in multiple
states across the country;
Wildlife Biologist Jim
Peterson, a lifelong hunter
from Idaho, who’s worked
for the National Park
Service; and avid hunter
and outdoorsman Leland
Brown, a former wildlife
biologist from New Hamp-
shire, who’s worked on a
variety of invasive species
control programs, and who
works with hunters in the
Northwest to reduce the
unintended impacts of lead
ammunition on wildlife,
according to information
on the website.
The Institute for Wildlife
Studies partnered with the
National Park Service to
remove feral hogs from
Pinnacles National Monu-
ment (located about five
miles east of Soledad, and
about 80 miles southeast
of San Jose, California),
having successfully culled
more than 300, gaining
extensive experience with
the use of non-lead am-
munition.
Their conclusion, ac-
cording to the website:
“Based on these real world
evaluations of non-lead
ammo, we have found it to
be extremely accurate and
lethal.”
Free fishing days coming in April
Anglers and would-
be anglers can enjoy a
weekend of free fishing on
April 22 and 23. On these
two days, Oregonians and
visitors can fish, crab and
clam for free anywhere in
Oregon without a license,
tag or endorsement.
This free fishing week-
end —as well as to two
other free fishing holidays
Nov. 25 and 26 and Dec.
31 – Jan. 1, 2018 — is in
addition to the traditional
free fishing weekend on
June 3-4. These additional
free fishing days are thanks
to a 2015 law passed by
the Oregon Legislature
allowing the Fish and
Wildlife Commission to
set up to eight days of free
fishing every year.
“April 22 is also Earth
Day, and what better way
for Oregonians to get
outside and celebrate the
natural world than by tak-
ing family and friends out
for a day of fishing,” said
Mike Gauvin, ODFW rec-
reational fishing manager.
While licenses are
waived during free fishing
days, all other regulations
and regular closures still
apply.
Chance ahead to win guided hunt
ODFW is offering 10
youth hunters (ages 17 and
under) the chance to win
a guided turkey hunt on a
private ranch in Jackson
County during the spring
2017 turkey season.
Ten hunts will be raffled
off on March 31, 2017.
Winners will receive one
day of turkey hunting on
the C2 Ranch in Jackson
County, accompanied by a
guide who will help locate
wild turkeys. A parent or
other family member may
also accompany the youth
on the hunt.
“The ranch has a lot of
oak savannah and brushy
areas, which makes for
good wild turkey habitat,”
says ODFW wildlife biolo-
gist Vince Oredson.
Spring turkey season
runs April 15-May 31
statewide, and youth hunt-
ers also get their own two-
day season April 8-9.
Hunt applications are
available at the ODFW
Central Point office, 1495
East Gregory Rd., or
online under A&H Hunting
Opportunities.
Applications must be
received at the Central
Point ODFW office by 5
p.m., March 31, and may
be submitted by mail, in
person, or email. There is
no cost to enter the raffle,
though winners are still
responsible for purchas-
ing a hunting license and
turkey tag before hunting.
Winners will be notified on
April 3.
Youth without hunter
education certification may
apply and hunt under the
Mentored Youth Hunter
program, but only during
the regular spring turkey
season (April 15-May 31),
not the two-day youth
season.
For more information,
contact Vince Ored-
son at (541) 826-8774,
Vince.J.Oredson@state.
or.us.
Sumpter City
Council talks
cannabis tax
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan @TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Council met in regular session March
13, 2017. In attendance were mayor Cary Clarke, Linda
Wise, and Samantha Rowan. Among other business, the
Council passed Ordinance 2017-2 regarding collection of
tax on sales of cannabis products.
Utility Manager Report
Jeff McKinney started with, “Wow, what a winter!”
He said everything is running smoothly now. There will
be some inevitable flooding as spring thaw comes with
ditches plugged with ice and snow. Tuesday afternoon,
there were some flooding issues right by City Hall. McK-
inney said the mayor grabbed a shovel and helped him get
the issue under control.
McKinney stated the winter was brutal and hard on
everybody. The City spent tremendous amount of money
for snow removal. McKinney acknowledged Tim Peters
for digging out hydrants. He said Clarke has come to
the rescue countless times, more often than not without
submitting a bill. He also thanked Lee German and Phil
Callahan for their help, saying there was more here than
one guy could possibly keep up with.
McKinney said there are usually some water issues
concerning inflow to the City about this time of year, and
maintaining access to McCully will be a priority.
Fire Department Report
Jim Sheller reported things are really quiet with no
call-outs since the last meeting. They are waiting to
begin their heavy training again when the snow goes. All
equipment is ready to roll.
Planning Report
LeAnne Woolf reported the Planning Commission met
on 3/2. She submitted a zoning application to an archi-
tect for corrections to some issues. The application will
be reviewed at the next meeting. The Commission also
discussed the evacuation plan. John Young will invite
Sheriff Ash to come and share the perspective of the
Sheriff’s Department. Commission members are watch-
ing water drainage and how the snow berms affect it, as
that is a part of the section they are currently working on
in the Comprehensive Plan. Finally, Woolf stated there
are openings on the Commission. She said there is little
to do except at meetings, unless someone volunteers to
take on something additional.
Clarke asked if anything has been heard from the State
Parks people. Woolf said they will be coming to April’s
City Council meeting.
Offer Assistant Recorder Position
Clarke reported the Council held a meeting and went
through resumes. He said of those submitted, he thinks
LeAnne Woolf is best qualified for the position. Clarke
made a motion to offer her the job. Motion passed unani-
mously.
Replacing Attorney Skerjanec
Clarke stated he’s talked to Josh Stump quite a bit and
he seems pretty much on the ball and willing to take on
the job. Wise commented that his resume looks good.
Clarke said Stump comes highly recommended by the
League of Oregon Cities and the City insurance company.
Rowan commented that Stump is good about returning
calls and e-mails. Clarke made the motion to hire Joshua
Stump as City attorney. Motion passed unanimously.
Woolf stated that named defendants on the lawsuit
would like it clarified if Stump will be handling that.
Clarke stated he thinks Stump will handle everything.
Clarke asked who will be representing City Hall at the
3/24 meeting. Clarke motioned to elect Rowan as repre-
sentative of the City. Motion passed unanimously.
ORD NO 2017-2 3% Sales Tax on Cannabis Products
City Recorder Julie McKinney explained this is
required by State in order to collect taxes on cannabis
sales. She said citizens already voted on receiving the
three percent tax, but now the ordinance has to be done.
It has been posted for a long time. McKinney read the
ordinance in its entirety and did a second reading by title
only, per unanimous vote of the Council. Motion to pass
the ordinance was approved unanimously.
ORD NO 2017-3 Revised Time, Place and Manner
on Cannabis Businesses
McKinney stated she made the requested amendments
and asked Council to approve the changes so she can get
the ordinance posted. Motion passed unanimously.
ORD NO 2017-4 To Prohibit Marijuana Grows
McKinney stated she contacted the DLCD (Department
of Land Conservation and Development). They will get
back to her on which person in particular to send the ordi-
nance to. She said they going to help so the City doesn’t
run into trouble again like it did with LUBA. There will
be a hearings process on the ordinance.
Resolutions 330 and 331: Update and Continue Wa-
ter Reserve Account and Update and Continue Sewer
Reserve Account
McKinney read both resolutions. As the need contin-
ues to exist to set aside funds for updating and maintain-
ing the water system and updating and maintaining the
sewer system, the Council resolves to continue setting
the funds aside. This resolution must be reviewed and re-
newed every 10 years. Motion to adopt both resolutions
passed unanimously.
Resolution 332: Moving funds from LGIP
This resolution covers moving funds not to exceed
$62,000 to the water utilities fund account for the pur-
poses of paying outstanding overtime and comp hours, on
the advice of attorney Stump. Motion to adopt resolution
passed unanimously.
SEE SUMPTER PAGE 9