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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 26, 2017)
LOCAL: 5J—promise students recognized, BTI looks at new position. PAGE 8 The SPECIAL: Businesses send Memorial Day messages. PAGE 10 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, May 26, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 21 Crowd turns out to support forest access • ANNUAL FOREST ACCESS FOR ALL BANQUET A HIT BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com Over 130 people at- tended another successful Annual Forest Access For All (FAFA) Banquet and Auction, held in the Sun- ridge Inn Restaurant’s Blue Mountain and Sunridge rooms, on Saturday eve- ning, May 20, 2017. The event, in its fourth year, featured guest speakers, live and silent auctions, and prime rib and halibut dinners, from the staff of the Sunridge. Guests mingled during Social Hour, which began at 5 p.m., and viewed the live and silent auction items, the latter displayed in the Sunridge’s Library room, the former within the combined area of the Blue Mountain and Sunridge rooms (the wall between the two rooms is removable). At 6 p.m., FAFA member and emcee John George said, “I want you all to know how much we appreciate you being here...It’s been a great deal for us, the last three years prior...” He emphasized the pivotal role donators play as a driving force behind Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press Emcee and member John George with auctioneer Mib Dailey (seated). FAFA’s efforts, as he noted their recognition in the middle two pages of the event program (the design and printing of which was donated by Rock Creek Developments, LLC, man- aged by Lorrie Harvey), and their presence at the event, which was followed by applause, after they stood. “We appreciate ev- erybody... who’s donated,” George said. In preparing guests for the lively atmosphere, George joked about them discovering and using guest speaker and Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer’s bid number dur- ing the auctions, and he said, “I don’t know how many folks here have ever watched (auctioneer) Mib Dailey do an auction before, but it’s probably one of the funnest evenings you’ll have in a long time.” Dailey said, “Maybe.” George introduced and recognized the elected offi cial guests, including Oregon State Republican Representative Greg Bar- reto (a guest speaker), Bak- er County Commissioner Mark Bennett, Baker County Commissioner Bill Harvey (a guest speaker), and “the hooligan from Grant County,” Palmer, all of which was separately followed by applause. SEE FAFA BANQUET PAGE 3 Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press FAFA President Tork Ballard talks with Oregon State Rep. Greg Barreto from Cove, who was a guest speaker during the evening’s event. City’s new fee ordinance Speelman pleads passes first reading guilty • CITIZENS TURN OUT TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, OPPOSITION before June 30, 2017. The Ordinance had been reviewed by the City’s legal counsel Warner advised. The ordinance specifi cally stated that the revenue col- lected would go into the general fund for the city, shall be reviewed and set annually and has a sunset clause of June 30, 2020. It also outlines an appeal process that directs the City Manager to review and decide appeals in lieu of a public safety committee. On May 18, 2017, Beth Marie Speelman, (DOB 5/22/1984) of 1695 Auburn #3, Baker City, OR pled guilty to Crimi- nally Negligent Homicide, a Class B Felony and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine a Class C Felony. One count of Man- slaughter in the Second Degree was dismissed as Photo courtesy of the part of a plea agreement Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce. with the District Attor- ney’s Offi ce. Speelman was sentenced Beth Speelman by visiting Circuit Court Judge Lane Simpson. Judge Greg Baxter recused himself due to a confl ict of interest. Speelman was sentenced pursuant to the sentenc- ing guidelines to optional probation. The Court had the option to sentence Speelman to prison for 22 months or probation with jail time. Speelman was sentenced to 6 months in the county jail with three years probation. Once Speelman has completed her jail sentence she will transfer to an inpatient drug treatment program to complete drug and alcohol treat- ment. If Ms. Speelman’s probation is ever revoked, she would serve 22 months in prison. She must complete drug and alcohol treatment while on probation. SEE CITY’S NEW FEE ORDINANCE PAGE 3 SEE SPEELMAN PAGE 5 BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com Mayor Downing called the Tuesday evening City Coun- cil meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He then led the Pledge of Allegiance and provided the invocation. Robin Nudd, Community Development Coordinator fi lling in for City Recorder Julie Smith called roll. All were present, with the exception of Councilor Abell who arrived at 7:30 p.m. Next Mayor Downing turned to the consent agenda. Councilor Joseph moved to approve the agenda with a second heard by Councilor Nilsson followed by a unani- mous vote. Next Mayor Downing called for citizen participation, hearing none, Council then moved forward with the agenda. Ordinance # 3354 Public Safety Utility Fee City Manager Fred Warner addressed Council briefl y stating that the ordinance before them had been reworked as they had directed at the last council meeting. He also stated that this new ordinance was based on the $3 residential and $6 commercial amounts the Budget Board had agreed on in the fi nal budget meeting Wed. May 17th as a revenue enhancement. By imposing this amended amount, cuts to fi re and police services were averted. However, this ordinance must be passed by City Coun- cil and then added to the City’s Fee schedule by resolu- tion before the of June. Failure of the Council to pass this ordinance would require Council to then revisit the approved budget, mak- ing cuts where necessary before adopting the fi nal budget Friday Mostly sunny skies with mild conditions. highs near 70. Friday Night: Mostly clear and cool. Low near 40. Saturday Mostly sunny skies with mild conditions. highs in the mid 70s. Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Sunday Mostly sunny skies with warm conditions. highs near 80. Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press Citizen Tom Muller addresses Council. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Logging truck has mishap Huntington represented on Boise panel Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Steele convicted on sex abuse Man arrested after being served OTEC gives capital credit notice New BCPD offi cer sworn in Page Page Page Page Page Page 2 4 5 5 8 8
