Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2017)
CITY/COUNTY: 911 Board holds ‘emergency’ budget meeting. PAGE 3 The LOCAL: Cosplay workshop held at the Baker County Public Library. PAGE 5 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, May 12, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 19 Healthcare hecklers make for unusual town hall BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com The story might have been that U.S. Representa- tive Greg Walden chose the Baker High School gym as the location for his 14th town hall this year—had it not been for the unusual makeup of the audience. Therein is the real story. Members of the group Health Care for All Oregon (HCAO), a Portland-based politically motivated nonprofi t endorsed by the Oregon Communist Party and County Democratic Central Committees across Oregon to name a few, came to the gathering en masse. HCAO’s primary goal? Universal health care per a single-payer system. Some of the group’s members were local to the venue. Others stated that they had come in from outside the area and were following Walden from town hall to town hall. Locally, HCAO lists Betty’s Books as their only “business ally.” Interspersed between HCAO members across the bleachers were residents not belonging to that group. In contrast to last month’s town hall with Senator Ron Wyden, Baker High School students were not taken from class to at- tend Walden’s town hall. Walden began by introducing Boy Scout Troop 444 to lead the Flag Salute, then said this was his 144th town hall since 2012, and second trip to Baker City this year. This year 1,344 Baker County constituents have contacted Walden’s offi ce, with 1,314 responses given so far. Walden gave a gen- eral overview of recent Congressional activities, such as the passing of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which fully funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Rep. Greg Walden (at right) as Boy Scout Troop #444 brings in the fl ags. SEE TOWN HALL PAGE 5 Geiser Grand to expand City discusses new Public Safety Utility Fee • 20 NEW ROOMS TO BE ADDED WITH HELP FROM A $100K GRANT Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press Poppy girls were on hand to sell poppies in remembrance of the debt owed to veterans and their families. BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com The fi nal item on the agenda, the idea of a new public safety utility fee, was the hot topic at City Council this week. Mayor Mike Downing called the fi rst regular City Council meeting to order Tuesday night. Councilor Abell led the pledge of allegiance and gave the invocation for the evening. City Recorder/Human Services Manager Julie Smith called roll with all Councilors answering present. Mayor Downing next called for the consent agenda that con- sisted of the 2017 STP (Surface Transportation Program) agreement. Approval of this agreement is a cooperative agree- ment with Oregon Department of Transportation for the exchange of Federal dollars to State dollars. The 2017 amount will be $112.801.88. A staff report submitted to Council by Joyce Bornstedt advised Council that the Public Works Advisory Com- mittee had reviewed and approved the Pavement Man- agement Plan that included using the STP funds for the proposed projects. Councilor Joseph moved to approve with a second heard by Councilor McQuisten. With a unanimous vote the consent agenda was approved. Downing called then for Citizen participation. Friday Mostly cloudy with rain showers. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Highs in the mid 50s. Friday Night: Lows in the mid 30s. Saturday Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Highs near 50. Lows near 30. Sunday Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Highs in the mid 50s. Lows in the mid-30s. Mary Miller, Chair for the public arts commission came forward to advise Council that the vinyl wrap project the commission has been working on diligently for some time has stalled due to the inability to receive approval to move forward from ODOT. She advised Council the commission will try other av- enues to complete this project and they will keep Council advised of the progress. Poppy Day Proclamation Downing read a proclamation recognizing May 26th, 2017 as Poppy Day in Baker City. The American Legion Axillary #41 and the V.F.W Auxiliary #3048 twined the Memorial Poppy and Buddy Poppy to remind the com- munity of the debt Veterans and their families are owed. Designated Poppy Girls were on hand to supply Council- ors with poppies. They then walked through the crowd to sell additional poppies. National Correction Offi cers and Employees Week Proclamation Downing read this proclamation declaring the week National Correction Offi cers Week. He stated he had been out to the Powder River Correc- tional Facility earlier in the week to present the procla- mation and was informed they had plans to recognize employees with different things all week. SEE PUBLIC SAFETY FEE PAGE 4 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 Geiser Grand Hotel has been awarded an Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant—the maximum grant size of $100,000 to encourage their efforts to save the historic Crabill Building, soon to be known as the South Wing of the Geiser Grand Hotel. That building almost entirely collapsed from snow and ice load on February 4 of this year. The building’s owners, Dwight and Barbara Sidway, have committed to save and expand the building by extending the Geiser Grand Hotel. The couple plans to add approximately twenty more guest rooms and suites. “We are so grateful to our downtown neighbors for their support throughout this trying time,” said Barbara Sidway. “The aspirations of the merchant group Baker City Downtown, and the commitment by the City of Baker City to move forward with becoming a Main Street community made this grant possible. I know that there will be so many more resources to come into our com- munity as the community’s Main Street efforts bear fruit.” The Sidways have assembled a credentialed design team. Stu Edwards, Structural Engineer out of Ontario, has worked with the Sidways since 1993, and was a key player in saving the Geiser Grand Hotel from the wreck- ing ball. Jerry Rotnov, architect, fl ies in to Baker from his home in Clarkston. Electrical Engineer Jack Terry and Justin R. Beaucannon Mechanical Engineer of Idaho round out the design team. They are charged with creat- ing a design that will be strong structurally, and offer guests unparalleled luxurious comfort, with amenities that may include a rooftop bar and Jacuzzi. SEE GEISER GRAND PAGE 3 Award-winning food and beverage 7 a - 9 p Daily Opera Party Tuesday Nights Mothers Day Brunch and Dinner May 14 G EISER G RAND H O T E L Standing proudly on Main St. in Baker City since 1889 Reservations please: 541.523.1889 GeiserGrand.com Facebook.com/GeiserGrand ALSO IN THIS ISSUE “So I was thinking...” by Jimmy Ingram Baker Valley Education Association Commercial marjiuana grow ban? Sumpter hears about forest access Fire torches Birch Street yard Wrongway driver dies in crash Page Page Page Page Page Page 4 5 7 8 8 8
