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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2017)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017 Business / Agriculture Painting unveiled in Sumpter BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Friday, July 14, 2017 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady. All prices re- ported today are new crop, unless otherwise noted. Most producers are done with first cutting and working on second cutting. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa Large Square Premium/Supreme 90 160.00-160.00 160.00 Alfalfa Large Square Good 60 120.00-120.00 120.00 Timothy Grass Large Square Premium 1000 265.00-265.00 265.00 Meadow Grass Large Square Good 120 160.00-160.00 160.00 Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com Sumpter City Council met in regular session July 11th. Councilors Linda Wise and Robert Arm- bruster and Mayor Cary Clarke were in attendance. “The City of Sumpter” The meeting began with the unveiling of “The City of Sumpter,” a folk art piece by artist Jennifer Lake. Lake held a drawing for those in at- tendance and Jim Sheller won a free print. Twenty percent of sales of “The City of Sumpter” prints through August 15th will be donated to the Sumpter Volunteer Fire Department. “I paint happy because I’m happy,” says artist Jen- nifer Lake, known for her folk paintings. She said she loves all aspects of her work and keeps extremely busy. She said she has never known the meaning of the word “boredom.” Lake lived in Sisters for years and had galler- ies in Old Mill, Sisters, and Salishan. Four years ago, she was working on a huge project for the Forest Service and really needed time just to paint. A friend invited her to visit, and she loved everything about the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountains the moment she saw them. Lake said she grew up in Michigan and loves to backpack, ski, snowshoe, kayak, and canoe. She closed her galler- ies and moved near the wilderness of the Elkhorns. In addition to her painting and photography, the time to concentrate on her art has led to opportunities to expand into abstracts, pa- per collage, a fabric studio with everything from col- lages to wall hangings, and mixed pieces. Lake also enjoys the outdoors and recently hiked to the top of Mount Ireland. A private party commis- sioned Lake to paint “The City of Sumpter,” a folk art piece featuring local build- ings, animals, people, and, of course, the mountains. Lake said it usually takes about two to three months to paint such a piece. She commented that Americana folk art is getting rarer and rarer due to the time involved. The process includes adding layers of detail. Lake says her paintings are “similar to needlepoint—one stitch at a time—one brush stroke at a time.” Lake is donating 20 percent of proceeds from sales by August 15th of prints of “The City of Sumpter” to the Sumpter Volunteer Fire Depart- ment. She appeared at the July Sumpter City Council meeting to let attendees view the original painting and sign up for prints. To place orders, Lake can be contacted through her blog at jenniferlakeart.blogspot. com. Fire Department Fire Chief Kurt Clarke reported the Department is finalizing the wish list on the BFA grant they received. Two new suction hoses were installed on the 6x6 to make it a water tender. Fire danger just went to high. The QRU had starting problems during the last Flea Market. All is good now. There was one call during the Flea Market. Clarke just visited with the — Weekly Hay Report — USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press Mayor Cary Clarke and artist Jennifer Lake with her painting “The City of Sumpter.” Fire Marshall who is new to the area from Crook County. Clarke asked the status of the City burn pile. Mayor Clarke said he would close the pile on 7/12 until the fire danger goes back down. Loads over the last month have been “real clean.” Kurt Clarke thanked Lake for the 20% to be donated saying “That’s so cool.” Utility Manager Jeff McKinney stated he was unable to get the printer to work. “So ev- erything’s wonderful.” Executive Session Council set an executive session to discuss public behavior for 4 p.m. on July 18. Any other issues added to the agenda will be publicly posted. Dan Van Thiel Clarke motioned to ter- minate the City’s contract with attorney Dan Van Thiel as of July 11. He stated attorney Josh Stone of Lake Oswego is on retainer with the City and gets on things quickly. Motion passed unani- mously. Transient Lodging Tax City Recorder Julie McK- inney explained the City has an opportunity to retain their $8,100 share of the transient lodging tax that is currently going to the County to use for tourism promotion and facilities. LeAnne Woolf remarked that Halfway gets $30,000. When asked what’s wrong with Sumpter, she stated fewer spaces. Jeff McK- inney remarked some businesses are not paying their fair share of transient taxes. Catherine Dodgens mentioned illegal use in a noncommercial zone. Clarke will look into the matter. Clarke made a motion that the City keep the transient lodging tax and decide how to best use the funds rather than sending them to the County pool. Motion passed. Cross Vacation Ordi- nance 2017-5 Council voted to read the ordinance twice by title only. McKinney read the ordinance by title including a description of the 20’x60’ portion of unconstructed alley to be vacated. Dave and Heather Cross filed for the vacation on April 27. It appears no one would be adversely affected and no one showed up to contest the vacation. All appropri- ate permissions have been obtained. Council voted unanimously to accept the readings and approve. Public Input Kathy Whitesell stated the water truck driver did a wonderful job during the last Flea Market. She heard lots of positive remarks. Woolf said there is a large double desk used by the railroad in its depots, which had been loaned to the State for staging in the Superintendent’s House. The railroad donated the desk to Sumpter Valley Community Volunteers (SVCV) because of the organization’s commit- ment to helping restore the house. SVCV is requesting permission from the City to leave the desk where it is. Council granted permission. Nancy Myers collected feedback from about twen- ty vendors at the last Flea Market regarding the in- creasing rates. She stated there were only 29 vendors at the Grounds. Several said they won’t be back. One said he will get space downtown instead of at the Grounds. Someone sug- gested raising the vendor fee but leaving the foot- age fee alone. Someone else noticed that several portable toilets downtown were a long way from vendors and weren’t being used. Myers said if the vendor fee alone is raised, it will have the vendors who benefit pay for the cost of portable toilets. Ron Borello stated he heard similar complaints from many people coming in and out of the store say- ing that they won’t be back due to the price increase. Clarke stated Sumpter is still the cheapest venue around. Borello said Sumpter is cheaper but other venues bring in more people and more revenue for vendors. Clarke stated the Fourth of July Flea Market is dying and if participation can’t be brought up, it needs to end. Wise pointed out the Fourth will be on a Wednesday next year. Julie McKinney said the Grounds is subsidizing portable toilets and trash pickup for businesses. Jeff McKinney stated, “I love and adore all business owners here and patron- ize all of you, but I don’t think the City should be in the business of Flea Markets at all.” He stated he would like to see in the Charter where the City can put on the markets at City expense. Clarke agreed the City needs to at least break even. Arm- bruster said he has yet to see a clean, simple P&L (profit and loss statement) relevant to results of the Flea Market. Woolf said she will be working on one after getting payroll taxes submitted. Myrna Clarke stated volunteers are decreasing. Other cities do different events and Sumpter needs to think about other op- tions. Dodgens suggested city-wide yard sales like in Haines. She also stated the Grounds is a money- making venture that pays its own bills and there are things that can be done with that property. Cary Clarke stated that comes back to the issue of volun- teerism. Wise stated she has been involved with the Flea Markets for 20 years. When there is a rate in- crease, a group of vendors always goes elsewhere for a year, but they return to Sumpter after that. She said where she sets up, she technically has a business license but still pays the vendor fee. She would like to see those who hold garage sales contribute something since they are benefitting from the increased traffic. Woolf stated it has been three years since the last Flea Market work- shop. Council scheduled a workshop to discuss the matter to follow the Executive Session on 7/18 with start time estimated about 5:30 p.m. Myrna Clarke suggested everyone bring five ideas of pos- sibilities for Fourth of July events. Lake offered to share the reasons for the great success of the Sisters Quilt Show which she was involved in. Dodgens said she thinks the announcer’s boot at the fairgrounds called the Hub should be renamed in some sort of recognition for the Myers brothers who built it. Clarke stated they are about to do some restora- tion down there and maybe need to pick a name and make a plaque to recognize those who originally put it together. McKinney read a letter submitted by Joy Myers concerning replenishing dust abatement oil on Aus- tin Street paid for by prop- erty owners, a large portion of which was washed to the sides of the street by the water truck during the Flea Market. Sheller stated the large amount of Flea Market traffic on that road caused issues. Jeff McKin- ney said if property owners take it upon themselves to do something to City streets without letting the City know, they assume all risks. Myrna Clarke suggested putting up a sign asking that the watering stop for that portion. Cary Clarke stated that from now on the water truck will respect the oiled patches as much as possible. Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 538 (There have been no sales numbers since June 28.) 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: $1,240.90 Silver: $16.28 Platinum: $921.88 Palladium: $861.00 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $382.00/bu/USD Wheat: $502.75/bu/USD Soybeans: $1010.10/bu/USD Oats: $295.00 bu/USD Rough Rice: $11.85/cwt/USD Canola: $508.40 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $118.88//lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $154.95/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $68.80/lb./USD Bloomberg.com
