THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
Business / Agriculture
A sun-filled 18th HCMR held
BY SAMANTHA
O’CONNER
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
Alfalfa
Large Square Premium/Supreme
60 160.00-160.00 160.00
No new sales were confirmed in
Eastern Oregon the three weeks prior.
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press
Larry Davis Jr. and Fred Lechance by their motorcycles at the Rally.
they are hoping to expand
on that for next year, work-
ing with the Flat Track
Racing Association.
Registered riders were
able to participate in a
photo scavenger hunt when
riding. The riders would go
to the coordinates given,
take a picture of what was
there, and were given a
free pin for that ride.
Larry Davis Jr. and Fred
Lachance of Enterprise,
Oregon, are two riders who
have attended the Hells
Canyon Motorcycle Rally
for years.
Davis Jr. rides an Electra
Glide Classic Harley Da-
vidson and Lachance rides
an Ultra Harley Davidson
and they have been riding
for 50 years. Davis Jr.
worked for and retired
from the Forest Service
after 25 years.
“It’s a good place to
come this time of the year
when you’re from En-
terprise, Oregon,” stated
Davis Jr. “Keep it going.
We love it here.”
Kerry Kendall and
his wife Veria of Weiser,
Idaho, attended their first
year at the rally this year.
They are the owners of the
Colonial Motel in Weiser.
The Kendalls ride a Ya-
maha 1100 V Star Classic.
Attending the Motor-
cycle Rally were the High
Desert Harley Girls, who
have attended the rally for
eight years. This year’s
members were Whitney
Carlson, Jordyn Glorfield,
Erika Hanson, Brianna
Wilson, Natallie Maldo-
nado, and Leann Day, the
digital marketing manager
at High Desert Harley-
Davidson
The girls are Brand
Ambassadors for High
Desert Harley-Davidson,
located in Meridian, Idaho,
the main sponsor of the
event, explained Day. The
Harley Girls change every
two years.
The Harley Girls do
photo shoots, work at the
events held by High Desert
Harley-Davidson and
promote their events. Day
explained that the girls,
when in Boise, Idaho, hand
out flyers for events they
have there and when they
are out of town, they repre-
sent High Desert.
Monica Maldonado, the
owner of MG Motorcycle
Gear, has attended the rally
for about five years.
They sell Ride or Die
T-shirts, sunglasses, and
helmets. Maldonado is
from Los Angeles, Califor-
nia, and she travels around
to other states selling their
wares.
City Council approves City/County
IGA for Sheriff oversight of Dispatch
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
July’s first regular City
Council meeting was held
on lucky 7/11/17.
As roll was being called
by City Recorder/Human
Resources Manager Julie
Smith Councilors, Joseph
and Andersen arrived late.
Mayor Downing, Coun-
cilors Abell, Thomas and
McQuisten all answered
present with Councilor
Nilsson absent.
The first matter Council
addressed was the consent
agenda that consisted of
Council minutes from
the June 27, 2017 regular
meeting and the June 28,
2017 special meeting held
with Baker County Com-
missioners regarding the
911 Consolidated Dispatch
Center.
Upon a motion to ap-
prove the consent agenda
by Joseph and a second by
Abell Council unanimously
passed the motion. Down-
ing next called for Citizen
Participation. Seeing none
he moved forward with the
agenda.
Board and Commission
Appointments
Smith advised Council
that with several service
terms expiring in July there
were numerous openings
on the various Boards and
Commissions the City
has. Currently vacancies
include Planning Com-
mission – 2; Public Works
Advisory Committee – 2;
Tree Board – 3; Parks and
Recreation Board - 3; Golf
Board – 1; Airport Com-
mission – 2; Public Arts
Friday, July 7, 2017 — Eastern Oregon
Prices trended generally steady with not much
comparison available from week ago prices. All
prices reported today are new crop, unless otherwise
noted.
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
July 6th through the
10th, the Hell’s Canyon
Motorcycle Rally celebrat-
ed its 18th year.
Steve Folkestad started
the motorcycle rally when
his friends, who rode
every year to Baker City
from Portland, suggested
it—and it has grown ever
since.
This year Kurt Miller,
Folkestad’s partner, coor-
dinated the event, which
ended up being held in
sunny weather rather than
rain for the first time in a
few years.
Miller explained that
he has been helping with
the event for more than a
dozen years and has been
helping coordinate for six
to eight years.
This year there were
47 vendors, the most this
event has had since it
began. That number did
not include the vendors
organized by D&J Taco
Shop, who were all local
Baker City vendors. The
rally also had free concerts
for visitors and riders to
enjoy
“This year was differ-
ent,” explained Miller. “It
was really great, a lot of
people worked together,
particularly lead by Tom
Busciglio, they came up
with the idea of having
this free concert at the
VFW hall. They got it all
organized and a lot of busi-
nesses kicked in to help
make that happen.”
This year they also had
the first flat track racing
and Miller explained that
— Weekly Hay Report —
Commission – 2; and Sam
O Swim Committee – 2.
Several of the vacancies
have been ongoing and of
those expiring, five have
reapplied to continue their
service.
Jerri Wickert for the
Sam O Swim Committee,
Ann Mehaffy and Cor-
rine Vegter for the Public
Arts Commission as well
as Gail Duman and Kim
Mosier for the Parks and
Recreation Board. Coun-
cilor Joseph moved to ap-
point all that had reapplied
for positions.
McQuisten seconded that
motion. Council voted
unanimously in favor,
passing the motion and
reappointing all. Even with
the appointments made
Tuesday evening there are
still several positions that
remain vacant.
The City is encouraging
all citizens consider serv-
ing on the various open
Board and Commission
seats. For more informa-
tion please contact Julie
Smith at City hall. She can
be reached by phone at
541.524.2033, by email at
juliesmith@bakercity.com
or in person.
Justice Court Update
Quarterly the Council
hears updates from Justice
Court Administrator
Michael Finney regard-
ing financial information,
statistics and any other
information pertinent to
the operation of the Court
that serves as the City’s
Municipal Court.
Finney began by explain-
ing that some of the num-
bers, including revenue
and the amount of com-
plaints filed with the Court
were down slightly over
last year but contributed
that to the harsh winter.
He added that so far, July
was already seeing a rise in
citations.
He also explained that the
Court is currently work-
ing very hard at obtaining
more information from the
Baker City Police Depart-
ment on parking citations
to enforce collections and
that efforts so far have
proven successful.
Historically, according to
Finney, parking citations
had little to no information
when received and were
unfortunately simply filed
away without being col-
lected on.
He also told Council
that he continued to hear
complaints from those
cited with City Ordinance
Violations, such as hav-
ing weeds that were too
tall, were upset because
they were not privy to
the information as to who
complained about them.
Finney explained that
his understanding was that
the City’s code enforce-
ment was complaint driven
and based on the com-
plaints he was receiving
asked Council to consider
if this was the best way to
utilize the Code Enforce-
ment Officer.
911 Baker County
Consolidated Dispatch
Center Agreement
City Manager Warner
advised Council that a
new IGA (Intergovern-
mental Agreement) had
been drafted that placed
the oversight of the Center
under the Baker County
Sheriff’s Department.
Ongoing conversations
about the status had oc-
curred in recent months
concerning its future.
During a June 28, 2017
meeting County Commis-
sioners Mark Bennett and
Bruce Nichols, owning,
and Thomas, McQuisten
and Abell were all in
agreement to place the
oversight under the direc-
tion of Sheriff Travis Ash.
Commissioner Harvey was
the only one to oppose.
Although on July 3, 2017
Ash assumed oversight of
Dispatch, the IGA was still
being drafted and had not
been approved by either
the County Commission-
ers or the City Council. At
Tuesday night’s meeting if
approved by Council the
agreement would be sent
to the Commissioners for
adoption.
A few minor questions
were raised such as cover-
age of the center during
what are considered non-
peak times dropping from
two certified dispatchers to
one and clarifications as to
some of the abbreviations
that were used.
Joseph moved to ap-
prove the agreement, a
second was made by Abell.
A unanimous vote was
cast. The agreement will
be forwarded to the Baker
County Board of Commis-
sions for their approval.
SEE CITY COUNCIL
PAGE 4
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 538
(There was no July 5 sale due to the holiday.)
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 —
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: $1,219.70
Silver: $15.89
Platinum: $916.56
Palladium: $846.89
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Corn: $385.85/bu/USD
Wheat: $537.00/bu/USD
Soybeans: $1034.00/bu/USD
Oats: $284.50 bu/USD
Rough Rice: $11.84/cwt/USD
Canola: $514.00 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $117.88//lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $151.75/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $69.28/lb./USD
Bloomberg.com