FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Classifieds / Local / Outdoors
LAWN / GARDEN
LAWNMOWER. Craftsman lawnmower. Works great
but owner has upgraded to an easier to start mower for
herself. Retailed for around $350. Asking $100 OBO.
541.519.0572. Leave a voicemail.
RENTALS
Office Space for rent in Baker City. Prime downtown
location. Handicap accessible. Off-street parking. Air
conditioning. 541-523-5851.
Hoorah for free fishing day
the fluid lev-
els checked,
we headed
on our merry
way on I-84,
ravenous
with hunger,
and looking
for a suitable
establish-
ment to
quash our
cravings.
At about
the crack
THE OUTDOOR COLUMN
of noon, or
thereabouts,
By Todd Arriola
we arrived in
Durkee, and
During Oregon State
for the first time, we ate
Parks Day, Saturday, June
at the Ranch Hand Cafe.
3rd, which was also the
Cheeseburger and tater tots
first day of the most recent
for me, and eggs, bacon,
Free Fishing Weeken—
hashbrowns and toast for
thank you, Oregon State
Brandi and Airianna. Airi-
Legislature, for another
rare gem of solidarity—my anna helped me sample my
loyal tribe and I decided to cheeseburger, and I helped
her sample her eggs. Good
head East, poles, bait, ice,
food, good service, color-
snacks, drinks, chairs and
ing books, and a flatscreen
enthusiasm in hand, to see
TV featuring Chef Gordon
what monsters we could
Ramsey, torturing but ulti-
land, at Farewell Bend
mately helping a restaurant
State Park.
That beautiful and warm owner and their staff.
With our bellies full
Saturday morning, we had
and bill paid, we said our
a bit of a late start, since
goodbyes, and contin-
we needed to locate and
ued East. We arrived in
to pack everything, save
Farewell Bend not long
the enthusiasm, which
after lunch, and we noticed
came pre-packaged, and
that there appeared to be
to buy some bait, which
some structural work on
also came pre-packaged,
Bahadur Singh’s 51-acre,
as a nasty-looking garlic
triangular-shaped property,
brine mackerel mix--we
where the former conve-
had anticipated potentially
nience store, restaurant,
landing some catfish.
and motel are located, so,
With everything loaded,
that was a promising sign
the pickup gassed up and
in the area of development.
We made a brief tour of the
park, including the north-
ern Catfish Loop, and the
two rental cabins, dubbed
“Chukar” and “Coyote,”
caught our eye, which we
may have to test drive at a
later date.
I parked the pickup
north of the park office,
and we gathered our gear,
ready to hit the trail. We
didn’t have on much for
clothing, but said gear
included sun screen and
hooded sweatshirts, as
anyone used to Oregon
weather can tell you, it’s
predictably unpredictable.
Said trail led us north of
the boat ramp, first down a
wooden staircase, and then
along the western shore of
the park section of Brown-
lee Reservoir, below the
northern camping sites.
Along the way, we im-
mediately discovered that
we had neglected to bring
any form of bug spray, a
point which was driven
home more soundly, once
we cleared the trees and
neared the water, which,
at that time, resembled a
backed up toilet.
We relocated a few
times, fussing with our
gear and predictions on
the current, finally settling
on a spot between the boat
ramp and an older gentle-
man, who split his time
between attempting to fish,
and gently reminding his
grandchildren to stop act-
ing like wild animals.
By this point in our ad-
ventures, Airianna, a near-
four-year-old, had become
quite adept at fishing with
her Zebco pole and reel,
both replacements for de-
fective equipment, and she
and Brandi used different
kinds of bait and bobbers,
while I tried out the stinky
garlic brine mackerel
concoction I had purchased
earlier, parking my hook
on the channel bottom.
We had some encourag-
ing bites, but we had to
cut our day short, in order
to take care of some other
pressing business. So, we
packed up our gear, we
walked back up the trail,
and we headed out. While
our dreams of catching
a truck load of catfish,
crappie and bass were
temporarily dashed, the
thought of retreating from
the vicinity of the attacking
insects didn’t disturb me
that much. I bought bug
spray later.
We eventually made it
back to Baker at the end
of the day after taking
advantage of shopping
opportunities in Ontario,
and fishing success was
realized closer to home, in
the form of rainbow trout,
courtesy of the Highway
203 Pond.
While no Moby Dicks
were landed to be sure,
there were no insects eat-
ing me alive, and I can’t
complain about the overall
experience with my girls
on that day--after all, it
was about more than just
fishing...
Consider mechanical control in
your noxious weed fight
Submitted by Arnie
Grammon, Baker
County Weed District
Whitetop – at Least Ad-
dress the Seed Problem
First, I want to confirm
your suspicions that in-
deed, this is a bad whitetop
year. Why? I suspect that
it may be due to the condi-
tions we experienced last
winter.
The moist conditions
of last fall coupled with
the extensive snow pack
allowed whitetop popu-
lations to explode this
spring. While we can all
agree it was an especially
cold and white winter, our
soils were covered with
snow before they had a
chance to freeze.
Thus, whitetop seedlings
and mature plants were
insulated from the deep-
freeze temps we experi-
enced.
With these conditions
this perennial weed ap-
pears to be in a lot more
locations than before.
Whitetop, especially seed-
lings, normally die back
somewhat because of the
harsh conditions of winter.
The snow insulation ap-
parently provided the boost
required for our whitetop
explosion this year.
We have found that the
ideal treatment time using
herbicides is prebloom to
pre-seed set, where white-
top is highly visible and
susceptible to herbicides.
Without question, the use
of sulfonylureas such as
Telar or Escort that focus
on killing the root is still
our best control manage-
ment strategy. While fall
has proven to be another
very effective window to
treat whitetop, it is not as
visible and showy as in
the spring, making it a less
desirable option.
With the ideal condi-
tions for spread, coupled
with a particularly chal-
lenging season of wind
and rain, treating whitetop
has been especially tricky
this spring. So what can a
homeowner do to address
whitetop on their property,
especially when it looks
like the window of effec-
tive weed treatment has
come and gone?
Depending on the extent
of infestation, one method
that may be helpful short
term is to mow or weed-
whack it down before seed
is fully matured.
While it certainly isn’t
an ideal solution, at least
it minimizes seed set for
this year. Semi-formed
seed lying on the ground is
a much better option than
allowing deer and cattle to
graze viable seed this fall,
thus spreading the plant
through their feces and
hair.
Scotch Thistle – the
Shovel Weed
I want to remind folks
that scotch thistle can
be effectively controlled
using a sharp shovel and
persistence.
Unlike Canada thistle,
which tends to resprout
from the roots after top re-
moval, this plant is a non-
sprouting biennial, which
means it produces a rosette
in year one and then bolts
into a seedstock in year
two. If allowed to go to
seed, this plant will stand
tall, allowing windblown
seed to spread far beyond
the mother plant.
Sharpen a shovel using
a good mill file, and cut
the plant right at the soil
surface.
It will not resprout.
However, if populations
are beyond a few dozen
plants, it may be time
to treat this thistle using
herbicides.
The best herbicide avail-
able for this weed and
so many other sunflower
family plants is a product
called Milestone.
Milestone is effective
throughout the growing
season, and again in later
fall. We also use Telar
in the fall with excellent
results.
I am puzzled why folks
continue to ignore this
easy-to-treat weed.
I see scotch thistle grow-
ing in among farmsteads,
next to houses and barns,
and in otherwise weed-free
pastures and hayfields.
Since growing condi-
tions have been very kind
to scotch thistle, we can be
certain of very robust, tall,
seed producing plants.
However, a little ef-
fort now will pay huge
dividends later, when
that future seed bank is
minimized by a good sharp
shovel.
While the very best time
for treating these weeds
may have come and gone,
it is still not too late to
Art on Loan
Program open
for submissions
The Baker City Public Arts Commission is pleased to
announce a general call for artists for its Art on Loan
Program. This program facilitates the display of privately
owned artworks on city owned property.
The Art on Loan Program is managed by the Public
Arts Commission with the goal of beautifying Baker City
while increasing awareness and appreciation of the visual
arts.
Primarily, three dimensional artworks appropriate for
outdoor public display are considered. Special attention
should be made to weather durability and vandalism
resistance.
The Public Arts Commission is anticipating an instal-
lation date of October, 2017. Costs of installation are
covered by the Public Arts Commission, with input and
direction from the artist.
The piece may be for sale during the one year period of
display if the artist wishes.
Further information on the Art on Loan Program may
be obtained by accessing the Public Arts Master Plan on
the Baker City official website.
Please go to:
www.bakercity.com/2164/Public-Arts-Commission.
Interested artists are asked to submit an online applica-
tion at the same website, along with a letter of interest,
resume, and examples of previous work.
Deadline for submitting an application is August 1,
2017.
Ladies golf and
bridge scores
The most recent Quail Ridge Ladies golf and bridge
scores as are follow:
Bridge winners for May 17: 1st Janice Smull, 2nd
Margo Kenworthy, and 3rd Carol Giovanneti.
Golf winners for May 24: Mixed Flights- Low Net
1st Flight Winner Linda Taylor, 2nd Flight Winner Kathy
Hopkins, and 3rd Flight Winner Carol Irvine.
Bridge winners for May 24: 1st Dianne Ellingson, 2nd
Judy Karstens, and 3rd Margo Kenworthy.
Golf winners for May 31: 1st Flight Jennifer Godwin,
2nd Flight Tie Karen Woolard/Kathy Hopkins, and
3rd Flight Tie Carol Irvine/Roxanne McAdams. Birdie:
Jennifer Godwin.
Bridge winners for May 31: 1st Sandy Grover, 2nd Jes-
sie Ritch, and 3rd Karen Lewis.
Golf winners for June 7: 1st Flight 1st-tie Linda Taylor
and Lavelle Raley, 2nd Flight 1st Karen Wollard, 3rd
Flight 1st-tie Carol Petry and Roxanne McAdams. Birdie:
Margo Kenworthy and Carol Irvine.
Bridge Winners for June 7: 1st Lavelle Raley, 2nd Shir-
ley Dodson; and 3rd Sandy Grover.
Nine-week bridge winners:1st Della Steele, 2nd Judy
Karstens, and 3rd-tie Marlene Cross and Karen Lewis.
Pine Valley Exhibit
Hall repairs begin
Submitted Photo.
Whitetop can quickly
take over fields.
treat whitetop and scotch
thistle this year. There is
no question that the use
of effective herbicides
when these weeds are most
susceptible is still our best
option.
However, if you’ve al-
lowed whitetop to mature
and scotch thistle to attain
small tree status, a sharp
shovel, a good weed
whacker, and a mower can
still be utilized to minimize
seed set.
As it turns out, this
approach is considerably
more effective than ignor-
ing the problem and doing
absolutely nothing.
Addressing seed set is
important when noxious
weeds tend to produce
especially abundant quanti-
ties of seed. Left to fully
mature, this seed poten-
tially assures whitetop and
scotch thistle progeny of
further invasions, unless
we are willing to use a
little elbow grease to “cut”
the cycle.
“Flatter than a pancake.” That's the look the Halfway
Fair Exhibit Hall has been sporting since this epic winter
took it down.
For more than 80 years, the old Exhibit Hall provided
a place for generations of families to strut their stuff -
showing the Panhandle what they could produce from
the land, the kitchen, their sewing rooms or their creative
hands. That all ended on January 11 in a twisted pile of
metal and broken wood.
The effort to rebuild has begun. Tax-deductible dona-
tions may be made towards clean-up and construction to
bring the hall back to life before fair-time, 2018.
In order to get the fundraising underway, United Com-
munity Partners (UCP) has offered to provide fiscal
sponsorship for the Exhibit Hall construction project
to assist the newly formed “Friends of the Pine Val-
ley Fair” (FPVF). While FPVF awaits notification on
their application for federal tax-exempt status, UCP will
receive funds dedicated for the Exhibit Hall Project into
a restricted account and track payments for the project.
Volunteers from FPVF will serve as the project com-
mittee for UCP, seeking grants, informing the public of
progress, and interacting with contractors.
By the time the project is underway, FPVF should be
ready to take the reins and continue on as a full service
tax-exempt corporation. “We already have more than
$22,000 in pledges from some wonderful local donors,”
said FPVF President, Lynda Bird, “but we know we still
have a long way to go. This arrangement lets us get mov-
ing now.”
Concept drawings will be prepared soon, but the com-
munity should anticipate an attractive, updated structure
of similar size to the existing footprint, with an exterior
that matches the grandstand. Contributions of any amount
are welcome. Locally generated funds will be combined
with money raised through grants and a social media
campaign. Please make checks payable to United Com-
munity Partners, Inc. Write “Exhibit Hall Project” on the
memo line. Mail to: UCP, PO Box 545, Halfway, OR
97834.
United Community Partners, located in Halfway, is a
nonprofit corporation qualified as tax-exempt under sec-
tion 501c3 of the Federal Tax Code.