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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
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