COUNTY: Sheriff’s Office to get new camera
security system. PAGE 3
The
SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Ann “Bebe” Ellis Racey.
PAGE 5
Baker County Press
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Friday, April 21, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 16
Wyden holds town hall
• STUDENTS AND
PUBLIC ATTEND
MEETING IN BHS
AUDITORIUM
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Senator Ron Wyden (D)
held his 808th town hall
Wednesday morning in the
Baker High School (BHS)
auditorium with a crowd
of about 175 students and
members of the public at-
tending.
The Baker City Police
Department provided
security for Wyden to and
from the venue and during
his 90-minute session at
Wyden’s request.
Student Body President
Carson Lien and BHS
Principal Greg Mitchell
provided introductions as
moderator Kail Macy lent
his made-for-radio voice to
announcing drawn ticket
numbers for those wanting
to ask questions.
Wyden began the
morning by recognizing
Anthony Lakes Mountain
Resort for their support
of local veterans, particu-
larly noting recent events
in cooperation with local
Veterans Services.
The fi rst comment came
from potato producer Mark
Ward, who stressed the
need for export trade and
worker protection stan-
dards.
Wyden responded that
Oregonians are great at
“growing things” and that
he was always looking for
ways to “knock down bar-
riers” to trade.
Erin Blinco, student,
asked Wyden his thoughts
on the mandatory mini-
mum wage increases in Or-
egon in light of the state’s
rural/urban divide.
Wyden said he’s look-
ing at policies that raise
everyone’s wages, and that
Oregon’s system is “worth
trying out” and perhaps
looking at on a national
level.
Andrew Bryan of the
5J School Board asked
Wyden’s thoughts on the
Every Student Succeed
Program.
Wyden spoke to what he
believes is the importance
of federal Secure Rural
Schools (SRS) Funding
and Payment in Lieu of
Taxes (PILT) monies com-
ing to states from timber
harvests on federally man-
aged lands.
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Sen. Wyden (at right) presented a fl ag fl own over
the Capitol to representatives from Anthony Lakes.
SEE WYDEN PAGE 5
Kids’ rodeo draws a crowd
BCFD to
use new
electronic
form
GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
For some time now the Baker City Fire Department has
been conducting business fi re safety inspections. These
inspections are an ongoing effort to keep our buildings
and businesses safe by identifying fi re and safety hazards
and correcting them before a problem occurs.
Lt. Sara Blair of the Baker City Fire Department heads
up the inspections for the Baker City Fire Department.
Blair said that the inspection program began several
years ago under former Chief Price but staffi ng and other
diffi culties saw the program take a backseat to more
pressing matters. Former Chief Mark John began to put
the program back on track—current Chief Wills continues
to make the program a priority.
SEE FIRE DEPARTMENT PAGE 8
Samantha O’Conner/ The Baker County Press
Little ones line up for the stick horse races at last Saturday’s event.
BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Saturday, April 15th, the Baker County Shrine Club
held its 18th Annual All Kids Rodeo at the Baker County
Fairgrounds Show Barn. Rodeo Chairman Dick Kirby
explained that they had 80 to 100 kids who attended the
event.
Attending the rodeo were the 2017 Shrine Game East
Queen Cambrie Lagao and the Haines Stampede Rodeo
2016-2017 Queen Dakota Guilliams and Princess Skylar
Blankenship. Guilliams and Blankenship awarded all the
children who participated in the events ribbons.
The rodeo began with Jordan Remien performing the
National Anthem followed by the fi rst event of Wild
Cow Milking. In the fi rst event, children 4 and under
rode a wood cow with a bottle attached to its side, while
children 5 and older pulled the cows in a race to the fi nish
line.
When there, the kids milked the cow and all teammates
had to run back to Guilliams and Skylar. There were four
teams and all were presented with fi rst through fourth
place.
Other events included Sack Races, Tractor Pull, Stick
Horse Races, and steer roping outside. Inside, they had
Nugget in a Balloon Scram where the children popped
balloons that had coins inside, Mutton Busting, and Tug-
A-War.
After the children played Tug-A-War, their parents
Friday
Mostly sunny and seasonable. High near 60.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy and cool. Lows near
40.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with some high clouds. Highs
in the mid 60s. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy
with scattered showers. Lows in the mid 40s.
Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. High in
the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid
30s.
LaGrande
business
explodes
Samantha O’Conner/ The Baker County Press
Tanner Hensen, age 4, learning how to rope a steer.
Photo courtesy of OSP.
also played a round with their children cheering for them.
Karli Jo Satterfi eld, 6, won fi rst place in Mutton Busting.
“We’ve added, with the steer roping and tractor pulls,”
explained Rodeo Chairman Bryan Braun. “Then a few
years ago we added the Tug-A-War and the sack races.
We just keep adding things.”
The funds raised at this event are used to purchase
the steer that is auctioned off at the East West Shriner’s
Football Game. The proceeds from the game then go to
the Shriners Hospital.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made
possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
The remains of the Ed Staub and Sons Petroleum
shop in LaGrande.
On April 13, 2017 at approximately 11:23 a.m., mul-
tiple agencies responded to 2203 Watson Street in La
Grande for the report of a structure fi re/explosion.
Upon arrival of emergency crews, they discovered the
Ed Staub and Sons Petroleum shop fully engulfed in fi re.
It was determined that the building was not occupied at
the time of the explosion and no injuries were reported.
SEE ED STAUB AND SONS PAGE 8
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Update on Brownlee Reservoir
ORP fi les complaint against judge
Spotlight on Mental Health
Man arrested after shooting 25 elk
Homemade Goodness column
Kindergarten screening ahead
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