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Friday, November 10, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 45
Local police take on
‘No Shave November’
• FUNDS RAISED
GO TO LOCAL
CAUSE
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Things are getting pretty
hairy down at the Baker
City Police Department
(BCPD). Literally.
This year, 11 local of-
fi cers and staff decided to
participate in the national
“No Shave November”
event. Started in 2009, the
annual fund raiser was fi rst
organized by a Chicago-
based family with eight
children, whose father
passed away from cancer,
as a new means for cancer
awareness.
However, the BCPD de-
cided to use the funds for
a local cause this year, but
were unable to fi nd a local
cancer charity.
Sgt. Wayne Chastain
said, “We plan on donating
the funds to the Tasha Har-
rington seizure dog fund
raiser. We wanted to have
a fun competition within
the department that raised
some money for a good
cause. We wanted to keep
the donation local in our
community and thought
that Tasha’s dog was a
great cause to donate to.”
So far, the Department
has raised $330 from a $30
per person entry fee.
Chief Wyn Lohner, also
looking scruffi er by the
day, expressed that while
he dislikes the unkempt
look, particularly in uni-
form, the cause is worth it.
Joining Lohner and
Chastain are: Lt. Dustin
Newman; Detective Jay
Lohner; Detective Daniel
Pelayo; Offi cers Coleton
Smith, Chris Sells, Blake
Hawkins, and Ben Wray;
Administrative Assistant
Phoebe Wachtel; and
Evidence Technician Lynn
Magnuson.
SEE NO SHAVE
PAGE 5
Photo courtesy of Wyn Lohner.
Sgt. Wayne Chastain shows off his fi rst week’s
worth of beard growth.
Citizens
upset over
BMTD bill
‘Serve it up Hot’ a success
• CONTENTIOUS MEETING HELD
BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press
Local fi refi ghters and Barley Brown’s raised over $3K this year for local Special Olympics.
• $3,169 RAISED IN TIPS AND
DONATIONS THIS YEAR
BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last Thursday evening, local fi refi ghters and Barley
Brown’s held their annual “Serve It Up Hot” fund raiser
for the Special Olympics.
All tips made at the event went to Special Olympics lo-
cal teams for transportation and rentals for the athletes.
Stephanie Tweit, the treasurer and fundraiser for the
Special Olympics Oregon, is a ski coach for the Special
Olympics.
She and her husband, Bryan Tweit, do fundraising for
the Baker County Ski Team of around 30 athletes. Bryan
Tweit has been involved for 30 years and Stephanie has
for approximately 13.
Tweit explained that they partner with the Fire Depart-
ment in the fall for “Serve it Up Hot” and they partner
with the Police Department in the spring for “Tip a Cop.”
“There’s this friendly competition to see who can
make the most money between the police offi cers and fi re
department,” said Tweit. “It’s pretty fun.”
In the past, they have raised around $2,000 per year,
and Barley Brown’s donates $600, as well as feeds the
fi refi ghters at the end of the evening.
They have worked with Barley Brown’s since 2006 to
Friday
Mostly cloudy with some scattered showers.
Chance of precipitation is 40%. Highs in the mid
40s. Night: Mostly cloudy with a few early show-
ers possible. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and seasonably cool. Highs in
the mid 40s. Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows
near 30.
Sunday
Partly sunny and seasonably cool. Highs in the
mid 40s. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy skies.
Lows near freezing.
SEE BMTD PAGE 3
have this event.
Tweit explained that the number of fi refi ghters help-
ing with the event depends on what is happening in the
City—emergency calls come fi rst.
For the event that evening, she explained they would
have around 10 to 15 volunteers from the Fire Depart-
ment.
The Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports
organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Ac-
cording to their website, they have more than 4.9 million
athletes in 172 countries and over a million volunteers.
Their website also states “Sports are a powerful force.
Sports can shift the focus from disability to ability, from
isolation to involvement. We offer the highest quality
Olympic-style sports training and competition for people
with intellectual disabilities all around the world. This
changes attitudes and changes lives.”
This year, according to Tweit, a total of $3,169 was
raised after all the numbers were tallied: $2569 in tips
and $600 from Barley Brown’s.
Tweit added, “The night was a great success fi nancially
but more than that it was fun for the Fire Department and
the community.
“Out-of-town guests are always surprised when they
walk in to our events and just start smiling. Special
Olympics is so appreciative for the support.
“We presented the Department with a fi reman puppet
that was a hit during the night. Hopefully it can be used
for situations involving kids.”
The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast:
Our forecast made possible by
this generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
On Tuesday, November 7th, the Blue Mountain Transla-
tor District (BMTD) held their regular board meeting at
the Baker City Hall Council Chambers. President Tim
Wallender and Director April Simpson were present via
phone for the meeting and Director Christina Wood and
Secretary Alex McHaddad were present.
Security was requested from the Baker City Police
Department due to heated communications between the
BMTD and citizens who received their tax bills—which
contained a surprise $100 annual fee for BMTD services.
Those attending also voiced concerns regarding being
billed after responding to service charge letters.
According to the Board meeting packet, at this point,
properties with the following reference numbers have
been submitted to the Baker County Assessor to be
removed from the 2017-2018 property tax rolls due to
improper assessment: 1-007263, 1-007316, 1-007388,
1-007810, 1-008283, 1-008546, 1-008568, 1-009005,
1-009096, 1-009118, 1-009245, 1-016031, and 1-901236.
Honoring
those who
served.
Joe Scott’s
r
e
i
m
e
P r
Auto Body, Inc.
Complete Collision Repair
2390 Broadway • Baker City • 541-523-5223
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Sage-grouse study expert speaks
How to fi le for County Commissioner
One injured on Dooley Mountain
High-risk stop leads to arrest
‘Director’s Nightmare’ at EORT
Veterans Day business greetings
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