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