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BUSINESS: Well-known local attorney set to
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Friday, June 9, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 23
BHS Class of 2017 graduates
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Sunday, June 4, students from Baker High School’s
class of 2017 received their diplomas during a blustery
ceremony.
Principal Greg Mitchell gave the welcome address.
Kourtney Lehman presented the salutatorian address and
Jared Miller, the valedictorian.
Baker County Commission Chair Bill Harvey’s younger
brother, Colonel Robert “Bob” Harvey of the U.S. Air
Force, fl ew in from Florida to deliver the commencement
address.
Harvey encouraged graduates to set and keep priorities,
understand the bigger picture in life and focus on what
really matters. He hoped graduates would travel and see
the world, surround themselves with good people and be
the kind of person they want to be.
Ninety seniors graduated this year. The ceremony was
held, as it is yearly, at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.
Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Colonel Robert “Bob” Harvey speaks to this year’s graduates.
Burnt River student wins Apartment
fire
under
congressional art award investigation
Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press
The investigation into the cause of the fi re began
Tuesday morning.
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Submitted Photo.
‘Farm Alarm’ by Burnt River High School student Jin Sue Kim was selected as the regional winner for the
2017 Congressional Art Competition.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today an-
nounced that Jin Sue Kim, a sophomore at Burnt River
High School, has been selected as a Regional Winner for
the 2017 Congressional Art Competition.
Farm Alarm was ranked highly by a panel of judges,
including Eastern Oregon University professor Michael
Sell, Treasure Valley Community College professors Ted
Fink and Robin Jackson, and Feves Art Gallery Director
Lori Sams. Jin Sue Kim’s artwork will hang in Walden’s
La Grande offi ce.
“I want to congratulate Jin Sue Kim on this impressive
achievement,” said Walden. “Farm Alarm is a testament
to his artistic talent, and he should be very proud of this
accomplishment.”
The overall winner for the Congressional Art Com
petition, Liberty Rossell, a senior at Grants Pass High
School, will travel to Washington, D.C. to see her artwork
displayed in the national student art exhibit in the U.S.
Capitol and attend a reception in her honor on June 29th,
2017.
“The Congressional Art Competition is a tremendous
opportunity for young Oregonians interested in art, and
I want to thank all of the students, teachers, and families
who made this year’s competition a success,” Walden
said. “I would also like to thank our judges from around
Friday
Cloudy with rain showers. Highs in the low 60s.
Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday Night:
Cloudy with rain showers. Lows near 40.
Saturday
Cloudy with rain showers. Highs in the upper
50s. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Saturday
Night: Cloudy with rain showers. Lows near 40.
Sunday
Cloudy w/rain showers. Highs in the upper 50s.
Chance of precipitation is 40%.Night: Cloudy
with rain showers. Lows in the upper 30s.
Oregon’s Second District for their expertise in judging
our talented students’ work.”
Judges for this year’s competition included:
• Kim Hearon, executive director, Rogue Gallery &
Art Center, Medford
• Robin Strangfeld, associate professor of art, South-
ern Oregon University, Ashland
• Cody Bustamante, professor of painting and draw-
ing, South Oregon University, Ashland
• Judy Richardson, director, Art and Soul Gallery,
Ashland
• Michael Sell, associate professor of art, Eastern
Oregon University, La Grande
• Lori Sams, gallery director, Feves Art Gallery, Pend-
leton
• Ted Fink, photography instructor, Treasure Valley
Community College, Ontario
• Robin Jackson, fi ne arts professor, Treasure Valley
Community College, Ontario.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a
nationwide high school visual art competition to recog-
nize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each
congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery com-
petition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school
students have participated.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Just before midnight on Tuesday, the Baker City Fire
Department received a call to respond to a fi re at the
Powder River Terrace Apartments.
The fi re, which quickly consumed the entryway, also
left half of the eight apartments uninhabitable in one of
the three complexes, and had several fi refi ghters and one
police offi cer rescuing residents and putting out the fi re
into the wee hours of the morning. 21 individuals in total
responded, with three hours spent at the site.
According to Interim Baker City Fire Chief Cliff Hall,
their fi rst arriving unit had three fi refi ghters, who “initi-
ated a fi re attack with one person while remaining person-
nel executed the rescue of one person from the rear of the
structure.”
Offi cer Blake Hawkins assisted in that effort, which
resulted in the rescue of one handicapped individual.
Said Hall, two additional civilians were simultane-
ously rescued by bystanders with ladders at the rear of the
structure.
One resident was transported to the emergency room
with minor smoke inhalation.
Two additional residents went to the emergency room
by private vehicle after being removed from the struc-
ture. One civilian had breathing issues and one had an
ankle injury after exiting the building from a second story
window.
The apartment complex, located at 1490 Resort Street,
is now the scene of a Major Crime Team Investigation,
said Police Chief Wyn Lohner. An Oregon State Police
arson investigator and a Deputy State Fire Marshal were
brought on-scene due in part to the number of people
involved and the amount of square footage to investigate.
The possibility of arson is under investigation.
SEE APARTMENT FIRE PAGE 5
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
St. Alphonsus president is permanent
County Commissioners coverage
Orpheum theater renovations
7th Run for the Ruts held
City Council—all about more fees
Sumpter: Hearing about pot grows
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