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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2017)
LOCAL: Compassion Center holds first free clothing day. PAGE 3 The OUTDOORS: ODFW releases quiz on identifying coyotes and wolves. PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, September 22, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 38 County Planning Commissioner investigated for skipping permit process BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com According to Baker City Building Department Permit Technician Dawn Kitzmiller, she initiated an offi cial investigation on April 3 of this year, following a complaint by a concerned Baker County citizen, of two reportedly non-permitted, completed home additions on Baker County Planning Com- mission member Robert Crawford’s property in Halfway, which he owns with his wife, Elizabeth Crawford. As a Planning Commis- sioner, Robert is part of a board responsible for permit approval decisions based on review of appli- cations from private land- owners, etc. Most recently he was a vocal opponent of approval of a permit requested by a Sumpter property and mine owner, which was eventually ap- proved after a contentious four-month debate between the members of that board. The citizen, who wished Kitzmiller said, “I ex- plained the code and rules, and verifi ed that indeed a building permit would be required for what they described.” to remain anonymous (there’s not even a refer- ence to their name in the fi le), reported the addi- tions to the Department, on March 30, and asked Kitzmiller whether any permits and inspections were required. SEE PLANNING COMMISSIONER PAGE 3 Deer Riding High with a cowboy, gospel and a little music rescued from manhole Photo courtesy of Quail Ridge Golf Course. Oh deer! This little critter was successfully rescued after somehow getting stuck in this manhole. BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press Todd Pierce, above, works with a halter-broke-only horse. His sermon likens the development and trust built in the horse to that of spiritual development and faith in God built in Christians. BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com It’s not every day one sees a round pen set up in the middle of the Baker High School football fi eld. The horse situated next to a Christian band wasn’t quite the norm either. Yet that was the sight to which audience members were introduced when they walked into Bulldog Memo- rial Stadium last Saturday afternoon. Riding High Ministries, featuring speaker Todd Pierce, presented its “Born Wild, Created to be Free” presenta- tion to Baker County—free to all who wished to attend. Pierce’s presentation for the local community was sponsored by the Blue Mountain Baptist Church in Baker City, though most of his outreach happens behind chainlink fences within prisons. Pierce emphasized that his mission focuses on doing what it says in the Bible—to not forget those in chains. His presentation has come to both the Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker City and the Snake River Correctional Facility in Ontario, reaching 500-600 in- mates there. Given his target audience, it’s little wonder Pierce focuses much on a theme of freedom—that of gaining spiritual freedom through a relationship with Jesus. Taking a horse barely used to a halter, and certainly neither a saddle nor rider, Pierce worked that horse during his sermon to demonstrate parallels between the animal developing trust and skills, to messages in the gospel. Pierce referred to the Bible as a “love letter” to man- kind, and focused much on an understanding of Christ- like love—and even pointed out the change in the horse within the round pen when it sensed a calm, loving energy—which pushed fear out of the space that love and Friday Saturday Partly cloudy with a high around 55 and a low at night just above freezing. Light winds and only a 30% chance of rain showers. On Friday, September 15, Kelly Cassidy at the Quail Ridge Golf Course discovered a deer that had fallen into a manhole near the pump house on Indiana. According to the Quail Ridge Golf Course’s post on Facebook, Cassidy was weed eating and cleaning the area when he discovered the deer. The manhole was a valve, going down eight feet with three and a half feet to move laterally. Brian Ratliff, the District Wildlife Biologist at the Or- egon Department of Fish and Wildlife explained that he had intended to drop into the hole to blindfold and hobble the deer out. That plan didn’t quite pan out. SEE DEER PAGE 5 Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press Scot Knox, pastor at the Blue Mountain Baptist Church, makes the introductions. faith now occupied. Pierce shared short accounts from his family life, and laughed when he said he didn’t understand when people stated they believed God had given up on them. He lik- ened Christians to the horse circling the pen, saying it all depended on how many laps a person wanted to take be- fore he or she stopped doing something that didn’t work and tried out something new. He stated God was patient and “kept inviting and inviting” to show the way. More on Riding High Ministries, including their sched- ule, can be found online at www.RidingHighMinistries. org. Donations are accepted. The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast: Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Deer poached in City Limits According to Baker City Police Lt. Dustin Newman, on September 13, 2017, between about 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. a juvenile male shot a deer with an arrow on the property located at 3500 10th Street in Baker City, Oregon. Baker City Police assisted Oregon State Police (OSP) with the response, said Newman, and then helped to quickly locate the suspect. OSP handled the case and enforcement aspect. That suspect’s name was not released due to his age. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Councilman: less watershed fuel load ‘Blithe Spirit’ play prep at EORT Crossroads artist of the month Mostly sunny with a high around 60 and a low at night around freezing. Mild breezes. County to sell property in Tasty Bake Sunday Mostly sunny with a high around 65 and a low slightly warmer around 35 degrees. Less clouds than the day before. Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Crossword / Word Search Matched savings program Page Page Page Page Page Page 5 5 7 8 9 10
