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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2017)
LOCAL: Huntington’s ‘Haunted Forest’ enters final weekend for the year. PAGE 7 BUSINESS: DH Wagon & Carriage starts services for Geiser Grand. PAGE 3 The Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, October 27, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 43 New car ‘privilege tax’ set for Oregon Jan. 1 • NEW TAX IS PART OF ‘TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE’ BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Randy Daugherty, owner of Baker Garage, a GMC dealership in Baker City, says his customers can expect an average, instant jump by hundreds of dol- lars per vehicle just for the “privilege” of owning a new car. Daugherty said, “We are very disappointed in all of this. To target a certain segment for a sales tax is wrong. The tax will have to be charged to the consumer. In our case it could be up to $400 on a vehicle depending on how the rules play out.” Come January 1, 2018, the State of Oregon will consider it a “privilege” to sell—or for that matter own—a new vehicle. And the government has levied a hefty tax to go along with it. That tax is part of the 150 or so pages worth of new taxes and projects that go along with the new $5.3 billion Transportation Package that was passed with the 2017 legislative session. The Oregon Motor Deal- ers Association (OMDA) vehemently opposed the bill, as did more conser- vative Republicans. That Transportation Bill was co-authored in part by Re- publican State Representa- tives Cliff Bentz (Ontario) and Greg Smith (Heppner). It was opposed by Rep. Greg Barreto (Cove.) The bill passed due to the bi- partisan support of Salem Democrats and moderate Republicans. Daugherty says he has written a letter to both representatives with no response to date. SEE PRIVILEGE TAX PAGE 8 Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press Baker City’s Baker Garage is one of 600 dealerships in Oregon whose Association is against the tax. Senate shakeup! The dangers of vaping • SENATE MINORITY LEADER SAYS HE’LL ANNOUNCE RESIGNATION SOON BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Tuesday, following a fl urry of Salem rumors, Senator Ted Ferrioli (R- John Day) whose district includes Baker County, announced that he will indeed accept an appoint- Submitted Photo. ment by Governor Kate Brown to the The Pacifi c Sen. Ted Ferrioli Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Council. This position is one of a rare handful of salaried, six-fi gure appointments available to the Governor. Last Thursday, Ferrioli told Baker County Republi- can Chair Suzan Ellis Jones that the acceptance of that appointment would mean giving up his Senate seat and current position of Senate Minority Leader. SEE FERRIOLI PAGE 8 Submitted Photo (left). Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press At left, Blake Chastain was Lifefl ighted to Portland, sustaining serious injuries after an e-cigarette exploded. At right, a typical e-cigarette sold in stores. BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Wednesday, October 18, 17 year-old Blake Chastain of Baker City was injured from an e-cigarette exploding in his mouth. This is the fi rst time locals have experienced such an accident—though the dangers have been reported elsewhere. Chastain was visiting his girlfriend in Redmond when the e-cigarette exploded. He was taken to a Bend-area hospital and then Lifefl ighted to Portland due to his inju- ries, which included loss of teeth, facial fractures, burns on his face and hand, and damage to remaining teeth. Chastain was fortunate—his injured left eye was saved. “The whole reason we went public with this was so people would know what these can do,” explained Aimie Shepherd, Chastain’s mother. “I had no idea. I don’t vape. I don’t know anything about them. I had no idea that it could happen and I know Blake didn’t think it could hap- pen to him.” Shepherd explained that people from all over the world have sent him messages encouraging him in his recovery. She also explained that his goal is to tell people what can happen if people are not careful with e-cigarettes. “We know he purchased it only a week before it hap- pened. He put a brand new battery in it that morning, which was a Samsung Battery, which is the kind you’re supposed to use. So we have no idea what made it hap- pen,” explained Shepherd. Friday Sunny and seasonable. Highs in the mid 60s. Friday Night: Mostly clear and seasonably cool. Lows in the mid 30s. Saturday Sunny and seasonable. Highs in the mid 60s. Saturday Night: Mostly clear and seasonably cool. Lows in the mid 30s. Sunday Sunny and seasonable. Highs in the mid 60s. Sunday Night: Mostly clear and seasonably cool. Lows in the mid 30s. “Educate yourself on vaping and how your device works,” explained Theresa Ball, owner of Theresa’s Trea- sures, Chill’z Frozen Yogurt and Baker City Vape. Ball said, “This will ensure that you know the limitation of your device and batteries. Be careful when purchasing used vapes; it always comes with risks. “Purchasing new will ensure you will get a user manual and warranty for your vape. We don’t recommend buy- ing used equipment at any time. It is illegal for us to sell anything used per the FDA. “In vaping, ‘unregulated tube mods,’ also known as me- chanical mods or tube mods, have no circuitry or safety protections. They are simply metal tubes into which a vaping battery is inserted. This means you should take extra safety precautions when using a mechanical mod.” Ball explained there are different types of vape mods, such as regulated and unregulated. According to a website, “Mt. Baker Vapor,” regulated mods have circuit boards that regulate power in the devic- es and unregulated mods are devices that do not contain a circuit board for regulating power fl ow through them. “We haven’t seen anything like this locally where we’ve had one explode that we’re aware of,” said Police Chief Wyn Lohner. He had heard of stories elsewhere, such as e-cigarettes exploding while shoved down into someone’s pants pocket. SEE VAPING PAGE 10 The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast: Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Harvey, Kirby file for election BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Monday morning, incumbent Baker County Commission Chair Bill Harvey fi led for re-election. Harvey will square off against current Baker City Mayor Mike Downing. Submitted Photo. According to County Clerk Cindy Carpenter, the Bill Harvey recent fi lings are earlier than usual, with the deadline to fi le not until next March. As for the County Clerk’s position, Stephanie Kirby, who works in that offi ce, fi led to run for the Clerk posi- tion on Monday morning as well. Current County Clerk Cindy Carpenter said, “I enjoy working as County Clerk and anticipate 2018 to be a full year with elections, holding the Chair position for recording legislation, and offi ce projects needing completion. Even as I look forward to this last year of my term, I have made the decision to retire in January 2019. I feel fortunate to have my position and be working for Baker County.” ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Grocery Outlet one step closer City votes to accept SAFER grant Van Sickle pleads guilty Museum holds fall gathering Sumpter: Stockade Motel’s new owners Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. Fire Prevention poster contest winners Page Page Page Page Page Page 3 5 5 7 8 9
