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LOCAL: Search and Rescue locates lost 14-year-old boy in Boulder Park. PAGE 5 LOCAL: Fund raiser toward seizure dog earns over $5K so far. PAGE 3 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, September 8, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 36 Fire Department awarded partial grant for positions • CITY WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS NOT IN BUDGET BY GINA K. SWARTZ Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com Baker City received word this week that they have been awarded a $426,000 SAFER (Staff- ing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant that would help fund three additional full-time positions to the Baker City Fire Department. City Manager Fred Warner explained, “They would be three full-time, 40 hours per week shifts— (four ten-hour shifts). We would be able to space them out during the times when the call volume is historically the highest.” The grant was applied for earlier this year by Chief Tom Wills, who is currently on a leave of absence from the Depart- ment. Wills opted to take a leave of absence partly to help balance the budget and is expected to return to duty after the fi rst of the year. The SAFER grant is funded through FEMA and is a three-year grant. The catch? The City would be required to provide a grant match of 25% for the fi rst two years at a cost of ap- proximately $57,000 per year and a match of 65% the third-year costing ap- proximately $150,000. In an already extremely tight budget cycle many are questioning whether this is a fi scally respon- sible avenue for the City to navigate even though it means additional Fire Department staff. SEE BCFD GRANT PAGE 3 Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press A grant has been awarded toward three positions at the BCFD. The catch? The required matching funds. Man dies in The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well! Chandler Lane accident On September 2, 2017, Baker County Dispatch re- ceived a report of a single motor vehicle accident on Chandler Lane at approxi- mately 6:11 a.m. Upon arrival, law enforcement and EMS determined that the driver was deceased. The driver was identifi ed as Travis James Talbott Submitted Photo (DOB 3/14/86) of Baker City, Oregon. Talbott Travis Talbott. worked as a ranch hand for Chandler Herefords. A press release from the Sheriff’s Offi ce stated it ap- peared that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Chan- dler Lane approaching the Powder River Bridge. The vehicle drifted toward the side of the road and into the barrow pit before rolling and coming to rest on the metal fence line. Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press L-R: Moving their snow cone stand from Campbell Street to the park for a bit are Shelbe Miller, Londyn McAdams, and Kolbe Miller. BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com If you are a Baker City local or have been here for the summer, you have more than likely seen 10-year-old Londyn McAdams selling snow cones on the corner of Campbell and 2nd Street. McAdams began selling snow cones around Miners Jubilee weekend and has been doing so all summer. “This place is super generous,” said McAdams’ grand- mother, Laurie McAdams. “Baker is so generous, because even in the tragedies, people would come by. She sits out- side and she was selling snow cones from like 12:30 in the afternoon until seven o’clock at night, and they would just come by and thank her. ‘Thank you for sitting outside and doing this’ by the hour, six days a week.” McAdams wanted to do a snow cone stand for a few years but her grandmother was hesitant until this year, and McAdams has been persistent. She started with her smaller snow cone machine that would only do one snow cone in 30 seconds, but raised enough to purchase an industrial machine to keep up with her customers. She also purchases her syrups and other supplies from Boise or online. Laurie McAdams explained that Londyn is saving her money for a motor home. She and a friend of hers thought it would be great to live in a motor home after Friday Periods of smoke and rain showers. Highs in the mid 80s, chance of precipitation is 40%. Night: Partly cloudy with a few showers pos- sible. Lows in the mid 50s, Saturday Patchy smoke otherwise mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Saturday Night: Patchy smoke otherwise partly cloudy. Lows near 50. Sunday Patchy smoke otherwise mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Sunday Night: Patchy smoke otherwise partly cloudy. Lows near 50. they graduate high school. “When she fi gured out that you have to make money, because it costs gas, she wants to have a snow cone machine or a coffee shop in her motor home,” explained Laurie. Now that school has started, McAdams will be selling snow cones probably on Fridays and Saturdays—until the weather turns cold—and she will continue selling them next summer. So far, she has made $1,700, which she is saving to- ward her motor home. “I like making the snow cones,” explained McAdams. “It’s fun for me to grind the ice and put on the fl avor. It’s just really fun. I like that and I like cleaning my table, keeping it really clean, and most of the day I eat snow cones. I like to count back change, too. That’s one of my favorite things.” McAdams explained that she had two people who bought snow cones and each gave her $20 for her motor home. She has also received pictures and presents for her motor home. On Sunday, September 3, McAdams asked Lynette Perry, the Events Coordinator/Treasurer for Baker City Events, if she could sell snow cones at the benefi t concert held that day for local Natasha Harrington and give them the proceeds she earned. She and her two cousins, Shelbe and Kolbe Miller of Yakama, Washington, raised $343, which went toward the funding to help Harrington afford an epilepsy service dog. The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast: Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Preventing suicides • SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH FOR 2017 BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com “You are not alone” is the name of a page dedicated to sharing personal stories and “creative expressions” at the National Alliance Mental Health (NAMI) website (nami. org). SEE SUICIDE AWARENESS PAGE 5 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Griffi n Gulch mercury acceptable Cow tragically kills local woman Baird arraigned on meth charges Tips for surviving smoky air Planning Commissioners reappointed Car seat clinic scheduled Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 5 7 8 10
