BUSINESS: New resale shop opens on
Broadway in Baker City. PAGE 3
The
SPORTS: 16TH bicycle event wraps up over
the weekend. PAGE 7
Baker County Press
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Friday, June 30, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 26
911 Call Center
management still
under discussion
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held a
work session on Wednes-
day, June 28, 2017, 9:50
a.m., in the Commission
Chambers of the Baker
County Courthouse, which
included discussions re-
garding 911 Consolidated
Dispatch management,
Parks Department property
sale, Sumpter Dredge tail-
ings mining, and County
foreclosure property on 3rd
Street.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioners Mark Ben-
nett and Bruce Nichols,
and Executive Assistant
Heidi Martin. Atten-
dance also included Baker
County Sheriff Travis
Ash, Baker County Parks
Director Karen Spencer,
Baker County Facilities
Maintenance Foreman Dan
McQuisten, Baker County
Administrative Services
Director Christena Cook,
and Baker County Assessor
Kerry Savage.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Sheriff Travis Ash discusses the 911 Dispatch Center with Commissioners.
SEE COUNTY PAGE 2
Hereford
Library’s giant
Cottonwood removed crash kills
one
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
This past Monday
through Wednesday, Resort
Street was blocked off to
traffi c while crews tackled
the process of removing
the giant old Cottonwood
tree from the parking lot of
The Baker County Public
Library.
According to Baker
County Library Director,
Perry Stokes, not a lot is
known about the specifi c
history of the tree.
“At about 288 inches (24
feet) in circumference, cot-
tonwood tree growth factor
calculations suggest it was
around 180 years old,”
Stokes said.
Involved in the cutting
down of the tree were: Ed
Adamson, Facilities Spe-
cialist for the library dis-
trict; Tony’s Tree Service;
City of Baker City Public
Works; Baker County
Road Department; Baker
County Probation and
Parole (volunteers to help
move the wood) and the
Northeast Oregon Com-
passion Center (charitable
organization for fi rewood
donation).
Said Stokes, “We do
aim to replant a tree in
that area, but with focus
currently on tree removal
we are not yet in the plan-
ning stage for replanting.
I anticipate that we’ll be
working with the Baker
Photo courtesy of OSP.
A Washington driver lost his life when his car struck
a tree in Hereford over the weekend.
Suzan Jones / The Baker County Press
By Tuesday afternoon, much of the tree had been removed.
City Tree Board for recom-
mendations on species,
location, and schedule.”
The estimated cost to
remove the tree was ap-
proximately $3,000.
Lightning
strikes house
Photo courtesy of the Baker County Public Library.
Ed Adamson standing inside a rotten space from the
tree trunk Wednesday.
Friday
Sunny and mild, highs in the low 80s.
Friday Night: Clear and cool, lows near 50.
Saturday
Sunny and mild, highs in the low 80s.
Saturday Night: Clear and cool, lows near 50.
Sunday
Sunny and warmer. Highs in the upper 80s.
Sunday Night: Clear and not as cool, lows in the
mid 50s.
On June 24, 2017, at about 3:37 p.m., OSP Troopers
and emergency personnel responded to the report of a
single vehicle crash on Highway 245 near milepost 11 in
Hereford.
Preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Volkswagen
Jetta was traveling northbound when it drifted out of its
lane of travel, crossed the oncoming lane and continued
off the roadway, where it struck a tree. The driver, Luis
Alberto Barrera Menez, age 29, of Centralia, Washington,
was pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger,
Octavio Castro Valdez, age 25, of Centralia, Washing-
ton, was transported by Life Flight to Saint Alphonsus
Regional Medical Center in Boise for treatment of his
serious injuries.
OSP was assisted by Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce,
Baker City Fire Department, Blue Mountain Ambulance
and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Kailyn and Vivien McQuisten visit the tree on its last
day, Sunday.
The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast:
Our forecast made possible by
this generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
On June 26, 2017, the Baker City Fire Department
responded to a house possibly struck by lightning at B
and 9th in Baker City, with a report of smoke developing
inside the structure.
Upon arrival, fi re crews noted occupants outside of
home.
Initial command noted smoke coming from the foun-
dation of the home and a general alarm assigned to the
incident to bring additional responders.
SEE LIGHTNING PAGE 5
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Local preparedness group meets
Local Simplot safety certifi ed
Page
Page
“So I was thinking...” by Jimmy Ingram Page
Baker City approved budget
Page
County adopts budget
Page
Road closures for parades in area
Page
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