Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2017)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5 Local Fighting the good fight Ferrioli CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Carpenter said there were approximately 3,000 U.S. military personnel living on the base in Kandahar, along with civilian contrac- tors. “They added about an- other thousand right after I left,” Carpenter said. Their goal in Afghanistan is simple on paper—to push back ISIS. Carpenter said U.S. forces often worked with the Afghan National Army (ANA) on missions to gain back ground against the terrorist invaders. “Up north at Dwyer,” she said, “so many were killed that the ANA didn’t want to go back up there. They’re scared and didn’t want to be killed.” Carpenter recalls being “mortared” by ISIS, but not seeing the enemy up close and personal. “They hit some barriers and the flight line,” she said, “but nothing impor- tant.” Carpenter actually enjoyed such missions, Ex- peditionary Advisory Pack- age deployments, or EAPs, during which they would move forward on the ground and sit in a location for several days at a stretch to help tactically advise the ANA, or respond in case of emergencies, a strategy the U.S. military switched to in Afghanistan several years ago. Her primary purpose, however was transporting patients via helicopter—up Submitted Photo. Carpenter stands with two of her crew mates in Tarinkot, Afghanistan, a former Australia military post. to a capacity of four at a time. “We could carry two litter patients and two walking wounded at a time,” she said. “Thank goodness it was slow.” Carpenter estimates one or two transports per month during which she would hoist the patients one hundred feet up to the helicopter. The toughest incident she handled involved a nineteen-year-old man who had been killed in action or KIA. “The flag had already been draped over him,” she said quietly. The troops looked to life’s smaller joys to offset the tragedy at times. “Porcupines!” Carpenter said. “They have porcu- pines in Afghanistan just like we have here—except bigger.” Also bigger—the spiders. “Camel spiders,” she said. “Big. Ugly.” Carpenter also turned to positive memories, such as seeing Mt. Rushmore from the air, circling the monu- ment twice via helicopter. “We got to fly across the country,” she said. This flight went along with a stay in the Mojave Desert in 2016 to train in conditions similar to those in Afghanistan prior to deployment. She also has fond memo- ries of the bread pudding at the base in Kandahar, and grateful recollections of indoor plumbing that meant avoiding travel to outdoor trailers in order to shower. After leaving Afghani- stan, Carpenter was sent to Kuwait for transfer, then a 17-hour-flight to Germany, which ended up in Maine, and from there to Ft. Hood Texas for debriefing for about a week. When asked, she said she has no plans for another overseas deployment. “But I would go back if they asked me to,” she concluded. Because Ferrioli is a Republican, his replacement must also be a Republican. Ferrioli’s Senate District 30 includes all of Baker, Harney, Grant, Malheur, Wheeler, and Jefferson counties. Partial counties included fall in Deschutes, Wasco and Lake counties. Strangely, the District also includes small geographic strips inside the borders of two other counties, but those have no PCP representation. During the nominating convention, PCPs will cast votes, which are weighted by the population in their respective precincts, for their preferred nominees. While legal to select up to five nominees, standard policy, and the legal option previously taken in such situations, is to select just the top three vote-getters. Baker County has one of the largest groups of elected PCPs within SD30—and one of the largest number of PCPs traveling to the convention. Thus, Baker County has the potential to greatly sway the outcome of the process. Ferrioli has clearly stated that he will step back and not endorse any nominee who emerges. Organizations such as the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association say they’re open to endorsing multiple candidates. As of print, Oregon Right to Life representatives stated they had not officially endorsed any candidate, despite politically mailings to the contrary. Rep. Cliff Bentz from Ontario has expressed interest in Ferrioli’s senate seat for quite some time, and almost immediately began campaigning for the position. How- ever, according to multiple sources, Bentz will not be the sole competitor. To date, approximately five other candidates have stated they are likely to file the appropri- ate paperwork prior to Saturday’s convention. One of those candidates, Mike Shirtcliff of Redmond, a distant relative of Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff, announced his candidacy Tuesday. Mule deer poached Turkey Trot brings in 600 lbs. of food for the needy BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress. com Last Thursday morning, runners and walkers lined up outside of Kicks Sports- wear for the 10th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk to kick off Thanksgiving. The Turkey Trot was presented by Northeast Or- egon Compassion Center and organized by Brian and Corrine Vegter, who also started the annual event. “We had been told about the Compassion Center through Kathleen Chaves,” explained Brian Vegter. “The idea behind the Turkey Trot in general, like across the country is that there’s a way to raise money, generate food for food banks, and do some- thing fun and active before we go and sit down for a big meal.” According to Brain Vegter, this year had the second largest turnout in the race’s history with 516 registered, 160 of which signed up the morning of the trot, and 16 registered teams. This year, more than six hundred pounds of food was donated to the food bank run by the NEOCC. Brian and Corrine estimated over $5,500 was Photo courtesy of OSP. Three deer were shot and or run over near Hunt Mountain. Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press Best Costume Winners: The Mythical Magic team. raised this year from entry fees, donations, and spon- sorships, bringing the races contribution to the commu- nity around $50,000 in its ten year history. A new course record was set, for the second year in a row, in the women’s field by Rachel Roelle of Anchorage, Alaska with a time of 20:57 beating her previous record 21:27 by 30 seconds. In second place was Lydia Anderson with a time of 21:49 and in third place was Anika Anderson with a time of 21:50. In the men’s field, local Nic Maszk came in first place for his fifth Turkey Trot with a time of 17:57. In second place was Kale Cassidy with a time of 19:20 and in third place was Lucas Sterns with a time of 20:14. In the team category, 50 Shades of Gravy came in first, The Tater Trots in second, and Struttin Our Stuffin in third. Best costume went to the Mythical Magic. Fastest runner with dogs was again Michelle Bou- dreau with a time of 24:19, almost a minute faster than 2016. The fastest runner with a stroller was Peter Fago with a time of 23:24. Volunteers who helped with the event included at least 11 people on traf- fic control, six to ten who helped with the finish line area, and others who helped serve food and bev- erages to participants. Organizers would like to thank the community, volunteers, participants and their sponsors for the con- tinued support and to re- mind people that NEOCC accepts food donations all year long at 1250 Hughes Lane in Baker City. County needs two volunteers Baker County is seek- ing two volunteers for the Transportation/Traffic Safety Committee. The Committee is seeking representation from the following categories: 1. Volunteer must own or use a Commercial Mo- tor Vehicle within Baker County. 2. Volunteer must be a senior citizen in Baker County without public transportation. Volunteer forms can be found at www.baker- county.org/commissioners. For additional information please contact the Com- missioner’s Office at 541- 523-8200 or by emailing hmartin@bakercounty.org. The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division in Baker City is asking for the public's assistance in locating the person(s) responsible for the unlawful taking and waste of three mule deer (one buck, two does) that were discovered on private property off of Hunt Mountain Lane. A Fish and Wildlife Officer responded to the call on Saturday November 25th and believes this happened after dark on Friday night November 24th. The officer located two mule deer does that were shot, driven over by a vehicle, and left to waste. The officer also located a buck that was shot, had the antlers removed, and was left to waste. A reward is being offered by the Oregon Hunters Asso- ciation through the Turn-In-Poachers (T.I.P.) program for any information leading to an arrest in this or any other wildlife case. Callers can remain anonymous. The T.I.P. program number is 1-800-452-7888. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact either the TIP hotline or by calling Sergeant Cyr at the Oregon State Police Worksite in Baker City at 541-523- 5867 extension 4170. The Oregon Hunters Association offers rewards to per- sons, through their T.I.P. fund, for information leading to the issuance of a citation to a person(s), or an arrest made of a person(s) for illegal possession, killing, or taking of bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, deer, antelope, bear, cougar, wolf, furbearers and/or upland game birds and water fowl. T.I.P. rewards can also be paid for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of game fish, and/or shell fish, and for the destruction of habitat. In addition rewards may be paid for information lead- ing to the issuance of a citation to a person(s), or an arrest made of a person(s) who have illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who "work" the system and falsely apply for resident license or tags are not legally hunting or angling and are considered poach- ers. Rewards: Bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose $1,000; Elk, deer, antelope $500; Bear, cougar, wolf $300 Habitat destruction $300; Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags $200; Game fish, shell fish $100; Upland birds, waterfowl $100; Furbearers $100. T.I.P. Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7). T.I.P. E-mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)