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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2017)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017 Business / Agriculture When football and art come together — Weekly Hay Report — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Friday, June 30, 2017 — Eastern Oregon Millman explained his process. “I’m a big sports fan,” he said. “I love football and just wanted to make my favorite teams’ helmets for myself. Coworkers came over, saw them and wanted one of their favorite team’s helmet. Friends kept telling me I can sell them—and I finally listened and started listing on eBay.” “These are custom- painted helmets to look brand new from absolutely ugly and sometimes com- pletely gouged and gross used helmets,” he said. Millman completely disassembles the helmet, sands down the entire thing, fills spots, sands it again and then preps for painting. Once he has his blank “canvas” in shape, it’s ready to paint to his cus- tomer’s specific desires. He said, “I’m always up for a challenge and during football season I’m always challenged—happy and busy making custom helmets for all fans! I find it always interesting what teams fans order and where I ship the helmets.” Millman’s creations are shipping all across this U.S. at this point. Prices trended generally steady in an extremely limited test compared to week ago prices. Most producers are sold out for the year, and are busy out in the fields preparing for new crop. Some produc- ers have cut and starting to bale and are preparing to start selling 2017 hay. So far, new crop hay pricing, in an extremely limited test, seems generally steady compared to 2016 pricing for similar quality. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg No new sales confirmed for the past three weeks. USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Submitted Photo. This shiny yellow Cal helmet traveled to a coach in Oregon who purchased several helmets for his collection. “One of my best expe- riences has to be White Plains Commissioner Chong’s NYPD helmet! It took me much longer to finish than normal due to injuries—a sliced finger and decal mailing mishap,” he said. Millman jokes that there were blood, sweat and tears on that particular project, but it was nonethe- less finished in time for the Commissioner’s visit to the White House where President Trump saw the helmet. “I’m still anxiously wait- ing for pictures of that meeting,” Millman said. He went on to add, “I en- joy making custom-painted helmets exactly the way customers want and order and some are … abstract to say the least! I have made one with a design of half one team and half another, including the face mask, to one color fading into an- other. Any ideas customers have and want, I can do.” The customer’s only limit is the imagination. Millman is currently looking into building a web site for his work, but for now, those inter- ested can look on eBay for “CMill71” and find his latest works of art. He can also be reached via email at uwcmill13@ gmail.com. A custom helmet project usually takes Millman at least a couple weeks to complete, and prices are in a wide range depending on the complexity of the de- sign, with just under $100 being the low end. County: Local disaster declared in advance of solar eclipse • CHANGE IN CALL CENTER SUPERVISION DRAWS CRITICISM BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held its first, regular session of the month on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the County Court- house, which included citizen comment from Tom Muller, departmen- tal updates from County Clerk Cindy Carpenter and County Treasurer Alice Durflinger, and a Declara- tion Of Local Disaster from County Emergency Manager Jason Yencopal, in anticipation of the Total Solar Eclipse event in August. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioners Mark Ben- nett and Bruce Nichols, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Attendance also included Baker County Planning Di- rector Holly Kerns, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, Baker County Parks and Recreation Director Karen Spencer, Baker County Parks and Recreation Advi- sory Board Chair Ed Elms, Baker County IT Director Bill Lee, Baker County Administrative Services Director Christena Cook, Baker County Juvenile Department Court Super- visor Staci Erickson, and Nick Myatt. Harvey called the meet- ing to order, provided the Invocation, and led in recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was adopted with two ad- ditions, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. Citizen Participation included Muller, who voiced opposition to the agreement, which is not finalized yet, between Baker City and the County, to have the Sheriff’s Office manage the 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center. “I believe the 911 Dispatch Center should remain under the supervi- sion of the County, not be given to Travis Ash and the Sheriff’s Office. Money for having a full-time 911 Director has been set aside for this very purpose already...” Muller said. He said that the Center Director should have the necessary experience and background to manage the Center, and that Ash doesn’t have the specific skills, and that his training and experience are in law enforcement. “The last per- son was a disaster...” and Muller doesn’t wish to see that happen again, he said. The minutes from the Wednesday, June 21, 2017 regular session were approved, with some changes, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. Carpenter provided a County Clerk departmental update, which included details regarding election expenses and collections, document preservation, office staff goals, legisla- tive bills, 2018 elections, and the Oregon Asso- ciation of County Clerks (OACC) Annual Confer- ence, August 15-18, 2017, at the Eagle Crest Resort, Redmond, Oregon. In speaking of the Special District Election collections, she said, “This is really the best we’ve collected, since I’ve been in office, to be honest...” So far, $3,252 has been collected, which leaves an outstanding balance of only $2,758.94, she said. She said that Lee has cre- ated a document preserva- tion program, called Paper Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 538 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk N/A Top N/A 400-500# Bulk N/A Top N/A 500-600# Bulk 150.00-161.00 Top 164.50 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk N/A Top N/A 400-500# Bulk N/A Top N/A 500-600# Bulk 127.00-144.00 Top 147.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 141.00-156.00 Top 161.00 700-800# Bulk 134.00-141.50 Top 142.00 800-900# Bulk 124.00-132.00 Top 134.50 900-1,000# Bulk 109.00-118.00 Top 120.00 Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 127.00-136.00 Top 137.00 700-800# Bulk 117.00-123.00 Top 124.00 800-900# Bulk 115.00-123.00 Top 124.00 900-1,000# Bulk 107.00-113.00 Top 114.50 Thin Shelly Cows 61.00 - 69.00 Butcher Cows 71.00 - 78.50 Butcher Bulls 79.00 - 95.00 Stock Cows Young N/A Hfretts 74.00 - 88.00 Pairs Young - N/A ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press Citizen Tom Muller believes the 911 Call Center should have remained under the direction of the County. Vision, at a cost of $2,916, which streamlines the pres- ervation process, saving time, effort, and money. She said she’s uncer- tain whether the planned election room remodel will happen, because of unexpected election expenses associated with a Special Election in January 2018, due to recent mea- sures passed by the State Legislature, the timing of which Carpenter and Ben- nett found to be surprising and suspect, they said. She said that, since she wasn’t aware of the legislation, she didn’t budget for it, and the remodel could be delayed. She discussed legisla- tion which may affect the County, and which she is paying close attention to, including Senate Bill (SB) 481, SB 769, House Bill (HB) 2113, and HB 3357. In regard to filing for a Special District Election, Bennett encouraged that, and Carpenter explained the increase in time, effort, and costs associated with write-ins. Durflinger provided a County Treasurer depart- mental update, which included details regarding interest rates paid on bal- ances in the Oregon Short Term Fund (OSTF), the ten-year history of County foreclosures, the top County taxpayers for 2016- 2017, percentage of taxes collected, and the status of the collection of taxes from Charter Communications. Durflinger said, “The (interest) rates are looking much better...” at 1.45% most recently, and that there is a balancing act, with keeping funds in the bank, and avoiding fees. Speaking of foreclo- sures, Durflinger said that currently, there are eleven deeds left from 2015 for the County to take in 2017, and six deeds left from 2016 to take in 2018 (which could change, de- pending on circumstances). The top 15 taxpayers for 2016-2017 includes Idaho Power Co.; Ash Grove Cement Co.; Union Pacific Railroad Co.; Northwest Pipeline Co.; Oregon Tele- phone Co.; CenturyLink; Marvin Wood Products, Inc.; Level 3 Communica- tions, LLC; Tesoro Logis- tics NW Pipeline Co.; TTX Co.; Verizon Communica- tions; Carshetown, LLC; Pine Valley Land, LLC; Eagle Telephone System, Inc.; and Safeway Inc./ BTS II (Albertsons Store). SEE COUNTY PAGE 4 Prices are based on the majority of saw mills in Northeastern Oregon and Central Idaho. The prices listed below are a composite prices of various saw- mills willing to visit with me about this topic. Ponderosa Pine—small diameter class 8-11 inches diameter class $250 per mbf. Only one sawmill was willing to buy small diameter pine at this time. Ponderosa Pine—medium diameter class 12-17 inches diameter class $300 to $350 per mbf Ponderosa Pine-large diameter class 18 plus inches diameter class $380 to $410 per mbf The Pine prices are still approximately $40 per mbf below average lumber/log market due to 2017 fire salvage Doug Fir & Western Larch—$380 to $420 per mbf. Normal prices typically ranged between $425 to $475 per mbf. White Fir-$300 per mbf. Normal prices typically ranged between $340 to $360 per mbf. Engelmann Spruce—$350 at one Idaho sawmill, other sawmills including with White fir prices. In general, the log prices still impacted from 2015 fire season and fire salvage that resulted. Sawmills are starting to get log yard inventory in line with sawmill production needs. With a new Administra- tion as of 1/20/2017, a more normal economic envi- ronment should result and hopefully a more healthy housing situation will result in a better climate for Northeast Oregon Sawmill and private forest land- owners. Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1,224.40 Silver: $15.98 Platinum: $909.85 Palladium: $844.03 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $392.00/bu/USD Wheat: $560.00/bu/USD Soybeans: $994.25/bu/USD Oats: $287.25 bu/USD Rough Rice: $11.91/cwt/USD Canola: $510.80 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $113.55//lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $142.23/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $84.58/lb./USD Bloomberg.com
