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Friday, November 3, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 44
Weed management topic
for County Commissioners
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held
its fi rst, regular session of
the month on Wednesday,
November 1, 2017, 9 a.m.,
in the Commission Cham-
bers of the Baker County
Courthouse.
The session included an
hour-long discussion of
the contentious partnership
between the County and
the Tri-County Coopera-
tive Weed Management
Area (Tri-County), and a
decision by the Board to
draft a 90-day partnership
withdrawal notice to Tri-
County, in the hope that
Tri-County will resolve
issues, including facilitat-
ing a staff position in the
County.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioners Mark Ben-
nett and Bruce Nichols,
and Executive Assistant
Heidi Martin.
Attendance also included
Baker County Weed
Master Arnie Grammon,
Baker County Emergency
Management Director
Jason Yencopal, Oregon
Department of Agriculture
(ODA) Northeast Oregon
Integrated Weed Manage-
ment Specialist Mark
Porter, Tri-County Director
Samantha Bernards, Tri-
County Board member and
co-founder Dave Clem-
ens, Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife East
Region Access and Habitat
Coordinator and Tri-
County Board member Jon
Paustian, Doni Bruland,
John Creighton, Tork and
Wanda Ballard, and Tom
Van Diepen.
Harvey called the ses-
sion to order, provided the
Invocation, which included
prayer for the victims and
families of the recent New
York City terrorist attack,
and led in recitation of the
Pledge of Allegiance.
SEE WEEDS PAGE 5
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Master of the Weeds, Arnie Grammon, listens
intently to Commissioners.
Arrest
made in
mail theft
A China-sized fund raiser!
• WHEREABOUTS
OF SECOND
SUSPECT STILL
UNKNOWN
Submitted Photo.
L-R: Taya Riley, Amber Graybeal and daughter Cadence Brown. Graybeal was the lucky winner of the
basket.
• BHS SOPHOMORE RAISES FUNDS FOR
HUGE TRIP
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Taya Riley, 15, is a sophomore at Baker High School
(BHS)—and she has some big plans. Taya is taking part
in the Baker International Cultural Exchange China Trip.
BHS students are eligible to go.
Taya, with help from parents Mike and Debi Riley,
immediately began collecting items to place in a “Simply
Baker City” themed gift basket. The outpouring from the
community was instant, with 34 businesses and organiza-
tions donating items until the basket was valued at over
$1,000. Taya then sold raffl e tickets.
Debi said, “Taya started raising money on September
28. She has raised over $2,000 from popcorn sales, raffl e
tickets, recycling cans, and other odd jobs such as deliv-
ering newspapers.”
To date, 11 students have paid their initial down pay-
ment for the trip, which will happen March 22 - April 2,
2018.
Debi noted that even the fl ight itself will be an adven-
ture—at 12 hours long.
On Wednesday at 4 p.m., Baker City Police Chief Wyn
Lohner drew the winning ticket for Taya’s gift basket.
“I was more than happy to help Taya with this,” said
Lohner. “We all wish her a successful, safe and memo-
rable trip abroad.”
Friday
Cloudy and rain likely. Highs in the mid 40s.
West winds around 5-10 mph. Friday Night:
Cloudy and snow likely. Lows in the lower 30s.
Northwest winds around 3-8 mph.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain/snow
showers. Highs in the low 40s. Northwest winds
around 3-6 mph. Night: Cloudy with a chance of
snow showers. Lows in the upper 20s.
Sunday
Cloudy with a chance of rain/snow showers.
Highs in the low 40s. Southwest winds around
5-10 mph. Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of
snow showers. Lows in the lower 30s.
Submitted Photo.
Police Chief Wyn Lohner draws the winner.
Taya said in an interview Wednesday evening, “The
whole trip sounds like an amazing experience! I haven’t
had much time to think about it, but when my passport
came on Monday is when it became real. It’s hard to pick
just one part, but standing on the Great Wall of China
sounds amazing!”
Anyone wishing to donate toward Taya’s travel ex-
penses can still call 541.519.9312 or 541.519.1987. She
is only $300 short of her end goal.
The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast:
Our forecast made possible by
this generous sponsor:
On October 25, 2017
the Baker County Dis-
patch Center received a
complaint of mail theft
in the area of Richland,
Submitted Photo.
Oregon.
Rebecca Quiroz.
Multiple deputies began
an investigation into the
thefts and learned that
checks stolen in the mail
theft had been passed at
area businesses in Baker
City.
With the tips from com-
munity residents, along
with the cooperation of
area businesses, two sus-
pect vehicles were quickly
identifi ed as being associ-
ated with the crimes:
1. Black Audi A4 four
Submitted Photo.
door, Idaho plates of
Tyler Hunt.
1A4611N
2. White Ford 4D with a
partial plate of HEB
During the course of the investigation, two primary
suspects were identifi ed:
1. Quiroz, Rebecca, 37, of Baker City
2. Hunt, Tyler, 30, transient
On the afternoon of October 30, 2017, Quiroz was
contacted and interviewed regarding the alleged criminal
activity. Quiroz was subsequently taken into custody and
lodged at the Baker County Jail.
Quiroz was initially charged with:
• Identity Theft
• Mail Theft
• Forgery 2
• Probation Violation
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with informa-
tion regarding the whereabouts of Tyler Hunt or who
thinks they may be a victim is asked to contact the Baker
County Sheriff’s Offi ce.
The Sheriff’s Offi ce would like to express their grati-
tude to the citizens of Richland and Halfway, along with
Idaho Power, for their assistance in this investigation.
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Chamber seeks award nominations
Bed bugs in Baker City?
Homemade Goodness by Eileen Driver
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
Pogue not indicted
DEQ fi nes Huntington
Special Olympics results
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