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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2017)
LOCAL: Two bear incidents in Sumpter. PAGE 3 The LOCAL: 2017 Fair results. PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, September 15, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 37 Feeding the firefighters! BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com Every year, local Baker City vendors sign pre- season agreements to prepare meals for fi refi ght- ers working wildfi res. Among the vendors are Safeway, Subway, and Little Pig who have pre- pared meals in the past to be taken out to fi refi ghters. “Generally on larger fi res, on big fi res, we have national caterers that we use to feed our fi refi ght- ers,” explained USFS District Fire Management Offi cer Willy Crippen. “On large fi res, generally 150 folks and more, we can bring in a national caterer. This year, of course, they are strapped with all the fi res in the west.” Crippen said that in the past, they have utilized state corrections crew kitchens but resources are limited this year. When they have 20 to 75 people, they use local vendors, such as restaurants and stores. “What we do is we send out preseason agreements, we have minimum require- ments for meal size, calo- ries,” explained Crippen. SEE FEEDING THE FIREFIGHTERS PAGE 5 Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press L-R: Jessie Cassell, Hannah Jesenko, Erin Hansen, and Crystal Rhodes from The Little Pig. Flashflood hits South Fork of the Burnt River Veteran takes Honor Flight Submitted Photo. Submitted Photo. Water, mud and debris stranded campers near Unity last Friday afternoon after a fl ashfl ood swept through the South Fork of the Burnt River. Baker County native and WWII veteran William (Dale) Evarts meets with Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River). Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), greeted World War II veterans who came to Washington, D.C. last week to visit their memorial on the National Mall through Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon. Baker City native and World War II veteran William Evarts—who goes by Dale—met Walden and was presented a fl ag fl own over the U.S. Capitol building in honor of his service to our country. “Every time I have the chance to meet one of these he- roes from the ‘Greatest Generation’, I am reminded of the poignant words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In a message to Allied troops just before D-Day, he said, ‘The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you,’” said Walden. “Over seventy years later, liberty-loving people everywhere continue to owe heroes like Dale for their extraordinary service and their incredible sacrifi ce and bravery on behalf of our country.” In addition to presenting Dale with an American fl ag fl own over the Capitol building, Walden entered his name into the Congressional Record along with each veteran who participated in the Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon. Mr. Evarts served in the Army Air Force in the 71st Air Service Group during World War II. “Each of us in this chamber and in this nation should be humbled by the courage of these brave veterans who put themselves in harm’s way for our country and way of life,” wrote Walden in the Congressional Record. “As a nation, we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to them for their honor, commitment, and sacrifi ce in defense of the freedoms we have today. My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and the volun- teers of Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon for their exem- Friday Mostly sunny and breezy. Highs in the mid 60s. Friday Night: Partly cloudy and breezy. Lows in the mid 30s. Saturday Mostly sunny. Highs near 70. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows near 40. Sunday Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy with lows in the mid 40s. • NO INJURIES REPORTED BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Submitted Photo. 10 veterans were honored through Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon. plary dedication and service to this great country.” The Honor Flight Network is a non-profi t organiza- tion created to honor America’s veterans. The organiza- tion transports veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit and refl ect at their memorials – with priority given to World War II survivors and veterans who may be terminally ill. Over 150,000 veterans have been honored through the Honor Flight Network of volunteers nationwide since 2005. Walden often meets with Oregon veterans who come to Washington, D.C. as part of the Honor Flight Network, and fl ies fl ags over the Capitol in honor of each veteran participating in the Honor Flight, along with entering their names into the Congressional Record. The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast: Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Late in the afternoon on Friday, September 8, Baker County Commissioner Mark Bennett informed media that a “three foot wall of water” had just been reported by campers outside Unity in the area of the South Fork of the Burnt River. Those reports were quickly verifi ed as water, mud and debris swept through the burn area of the Rail Fire from last year, and buried roads. The United States Forest Service began efforts to bring a cat to the area to clear the road and free any stranded campers. Baker County Emergency Management Director Jason Yencopal sent the following in a press release: “... at 16:48 Baker County Dispatch received a call about a weather event in the area of South Burnt River Lane. The weather event was a fl ash fl ood/debris fl ow caused by a storm front that was producing an inch of rain per hour over the Rail Fire burn scar. Sheriff Ash of the Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce activated Search and Rescue and coordinated with the Forest Service in a response to ensure the public was not trapped in the campgrounds near the area. The Forest Service sent fi re crews that were staged in the area to the scene and cleared a trail into the campgrounds.” SEE FLASHFLOOD PAGE 3 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Sumpter to leave County TLT pool? Local teachers go back to China Judge Baxter fi les for reelection Man dies in Hwy 86 crash Community Connection awards Riding High Ministries Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 5 5 9 10