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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
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