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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 2017)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7 2017 in Review Photo submitted by Pam Haney. February. This avalanche near Dark Canyon Road in Burnt River Canyon was 8’ deep by 25’ across. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press An overload of heavy, wet snow brought down the roof of the building at 1916 Main Street beside the historic Geiser Grand Hotel, sending debris toppling down onto Resort Street. February Nine snow slides block areas around county. This winter’s snow loads and above-freezing temperatures combined to cause nine slides so far, on Thursday and Friday, January 19 and 20, the two biggest ones in the Rye and Burnt River valleys, according to Baker County Road Master Jeff Smith. Mayday, Inc. speaks out about abused men. According to the National Coalition Against Domes- tic Violence (NCADV), “One in four men is a victim of some form of physical violence by an in- timate partner during their lifetimes” in the United States. 24% of intimate partner physical violence victims are male and one in eight men is severely injured by an intimate partner. This total does not include the high number of emotional abuse cases. Snowload crushes historic building. On Sunday morning, Feb. 5, at 8:10 a.m., a multi-agency response was called into action as the old two-story Crabill Building, con- structed in 1889, crumbled under a heavy snow load. The building, which stands at 1916 Main Street, is owned by Barbara Sid- way and husband, Dwight. Snowbound calf rescued. In late January, Baker Aircraft owners and operators Troy and Genevieve “Gen” Woyd- ziak, among others, played a pivotal role in the rescue of rancher Mike Trindle’s newborn calf and two year- lings stuck in the Eagle Cap Mountains. Fighting for local jobs. Last Friday morning, the 10th, from 8-9 a.m., U.S. Rep. Greg Walden visited the offices of Chaves Con- sulting on Dewey Avenue to learn more about recent events at the company that resulted in the loss of 54 local jobs. OR46 gets collared. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) placed a VHF collar on what is believed to be the alpha male, designated OR46, of the Minam Wolf Pack, giving the agency the ability to once again monitor the pack via radio for the first time since August 2015. March Solar eclipse meetings continue in Baker City. “The 2017 monumental massive solar eclipse event is what we are here to talk about,” was the welcome by Craig Farley of the Regional Solutions Office of Oregon to the assembled city, county and state agen- cy representatives at Baker City Hall last Wednesday. Intro to law enforce- ment classes held. Officer Lance Woodward of the Baker City Police Depart- ment will begin teaching an Introduction to Law Enforcement four-part course beginning Friday, March 3 at the Baker High School library. Sycamore Tree gets new owner. March 1st through 4th, The Sycamore Tree held a launch party to celebrate its 29th anniver- sary and new ownership. Josey Gaslin became the official new owner of the Submitted Photo. Matty Cunningham is now home and on his way to a miraculous full recovery. business. Local toddler survives after rescue from pond. 22-month-old toddler, Matty Cunningham of Baker City, is lucky to be alive—so fortunate, in fact, that the story of his survival has spread to tele- vision news outlets such as KTVB in Portland and KBOI out of Boise, Idaho. Last Thursday, according to Baker City Fire Chief Tom Wills, “Baker City Fire Department (BCFD) personnel responded to a reported drowning in the Salmon Creek area of Baker County. Sumpter City Hall floods. In an ironic twist, Sumpter’s City Hall flood- ed just days after Utility Manager Jeff McKinney reported at the March City Council meeting that there would be some inevitable flooding around town due to runoff. Bookkeeper Kathi Vinson discovered the flooding when she arrived for work Thursday morning, March 16th. Firearms manufacturer expands. Clay Winton, owner of Crosshair Cus- toms, has purchased the warehouse at 2300 Wind- mill Road. Crosshair Cus- toms offers AR-15 firearm parts and gun accessories, as well as custom design services. April Carry the Fallen march comes to Halfway. River Colnot whose uncle, Kyle Colnot, was killed in ac- tion in Iraq in 2006, orga- nized the area’s first “Carry the Fallen” march. Hearing set in BMCC lawsuit. A pre-trial hearing is set for late May in Baker County Circuit Court Case No. 16CV36651, Peggy Hudson v. Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC), in which Hudson, former BMCC Baker County Associate Vice President (AVP), seeks at least $463,225, for claims of employment discrimination, to include whistleblowing, age dis- crimination, and common law wrongful discharge. Wyden holds town hall. Senator Ron Wyden (D) held his 808th town hall Wednesday morning in the Baker High School (BHS) auditorium with a crowd of about 175 students and members of the public at- tending. 5J’s four-day school week to continue. On Thursday, April 20, the Baker School District 5J voted unanimously to adopt the 2017-18 Interim School Calendar, keep- ing the existing four-day school week, adopted five years ago. Multiple businesses burglarized. Over the weekend of April 22nd, several 10th Street Baker City businesses were burglarized, with four ad- ditional attempted burglar- ies, apparently by the same individual or individuals. Those businesses included Long’s WaterWorks, Rush- ton Podiatry, Farmer’s In- surance (Tom Van Diepen), and Baker County Custom Meats. Attempted burglar- ies were at the Animal Clinic, Forty Winks and a Splash, Elkhorn Chiroprac- tic and Ne-Hi Signs. On Wednesday, calls came in from the Campbell Street area with businesses such as Carquest, Paradise Truck Wash and Gene’s Mobile Truck repair hit. May 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center Director resigns. The Baker County Board of Commissioners held session Wednesday, May 3, 2017, 9 a.m., which included, among other details, the announcement that 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center Director Hope Lindsey is resigning, effective mid-May. NASA coming to Burnt River. Around 35 people were in attendance for a meeting Monday eve- ning in Unity to discuss Suzan Jones / The Baker County Press preparations for the total In June, the old cottonwood in front of the library solar eclipse on August 21. was removed for safety reasons. Scientists from NASA will traffic for about three days make camp at the school while crews tackled the during the event. process of removing the Sumpter park vandal- Oregon Trail Interpre- giant old Cottonwood tree ized. More vandalism in tive Center celebrates 25 from the parking lot of Sumpter’s Volunteer Park years. On Thursday, May The Baker County Public bathrooms was discovered 25, the National Historic Library. this past week. Utility Oregon Trail Interpretive Manager Jeff McKinney Center celebrated its said while cleaning, the 25th anniversary with a City Recorder bumped the free admission day. The heater in one of the bath- Center had a reception, rooms and the heater knob performances, and activi- fell off. Closer inspection Labyrinth built. The ties to celebrate the day. revealed the wall heaters Baker City Lion’s Club, The speakers at the event had been stolen from the working in conjunction included former Oregon bathrooms and the grills with the City of Baker governor Barbara Roberts. replaced so that it was not City, and master brick Union Pacific train immediately obvious that mason Dave Gagnon and hits, kills pedestrian. On they were missing. crew, broke ground on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at Healthcare hecklers Baker City’s first labyrinth. approximately 5:44 p.m., make for unusual town Sheriff to supervise the Baker County Con- hall. Call Center. City and solidated Dispatch Center The story might have been County officials agreed received a 911 call from that U.S. Representative taht Sheriff Travis Ash, Union Pacific personnel Greg Walden chose the who has been proposing stating one of their trains Baker High School gym had just struck a pedestrian to take control of the 911 as the location for his 14th Center, should do so. walking on the tracks near town hall this year—had Merkley holds town where the Burnt River and it not been for the unusual hall. Senator Jeff Merkley the Snake River intersect. makeup of the audience. (Democrat) stopped in 33 year-old Kristoffer Mc- Therein is the real story. Creary of Caldwell, Idaho, Baker City on Saturday Members of the group afternoon to hold a town was killed. Health Care for All Oregon hall at 4:30 p.m. Only 45 Apartment fire under (HCAO), a Portland-based or so attended. investigation. Just before politically motivated Motorcycle rally calm. midnight on Tuesday, the nonprofit endorsed by the The 2017 Hells Canyon Baker City Fire Depart- Oregon Communist Party Motorcycle Rally was rela- ment received a call to and County Democratic tively quiet for Baker City respond to a fire at the Central Committees across Police Department person- Powder River Terrace Oregon to name a few, nel this last weekend. All Apartments. came to the gathering en investigatory contacts the The fire, which quickly masse. Department had were with consumed the entryway, Geiser Grand to ex- local citizens. also left half of the eight pand. The Geiser Grand Body found in hotel. apartments uninhabitable Hotel has been awarded On June 5, 2017, Baker in one of the three com- an Oregon Main Street County Consolidated Dis- plexes, and had several Revitalization Grant—the patch received a call from firefighters and one police maximum grant size of The Oregon Trail Motel officer rescuing residents $100,000 to encourage regarding the death of one and putting out the fire their efforts to save the of their guests. into the wee hours of the historic Crabill Building, Tragedy strikes. For the morning. 21 individuals in soon to be known as the last 35 years in July, the total responded, with three South Wing of the Geiser Miners Jubilee, honoring hours spent at the site. Grand Hotel. Baker County’s heritage, Burnt River student City discusses new pub- has been highly anticipated wins congressional art lic safety utility fee. The throughout the community. award. U.S. Rep. Greg final item on the agenda at Last Saturday, a corner- Walden (R-Hood River) the first City Council meet- stone of that event, the today announced that Jin ing of the month, the idea Miners Jubilee Parade, was Sue Kim, a sophomore at of a new public safety util- changed forever in a split- Burnt River High School, ity fee, was the hot topic. second with the death of has been selected as a Human trafficking in seven-year-old Dylan Scott Regional Winner for the the spotlight. On Satur- Thomas. Thomas was 2017 Congressional Art day, May 13, Soroptimists killed when he fell from a Competition. International of Baker City float sponsored by the local Gentry sells. According partnered with Gentry Ford to a press release issued on YMCA and was run over. and Ford Motor Company Woman hit by pickup. Tuesday, June 20, 2017, to hold their third annual Last Wednesday, just after after a 65-year run, Gentry event “Take the Wheel to 6:30 p.m., police and med- Auto Group owner Ryan Stop Human Trafficking.” ics were called to the 2100 Gentry sold the Gentry’s Crowd turns out to block of 5th Street right family-owned and -oper- support forest access. behind Dairy Queen for an ated Oregon dealerships Over 130 people attended incident involving a pickup to Todd and Paula Mc- another successful An- truck and a pedestrian. The Curry, who currently own nual Forest Access For female victim was severely the Mountain Home Auto All (FAFA) Banquet and Ranch dealerships, the Me- injured, but did survive. Auction. BHS choirs to go to New ridian Auto Ranch, Ontario Controversial fee ordi- York. The High School Auto Ranch Chrysler Jeep nance passes first read- Bel Canto and Trebel Dodge Ram, and now the ing. City Manager Fred Choirs were selected to Ontario Auto Ranch Ford Warner stated that this new perform at Carnegie Hall Subaru, and the newly ordinance was based on in New York in April 2018 named Baker City Auto the $3 residential and $6 for a Choir Festival with Ranch. commercial amounts the multiple other choirs. They Bentz suffers heart Budget Board had agreed will be gone April 13th to attack. On Sunday, June on in the final budget the 16th. 11, Representative Cliff meeting Wed. May 17th as Visitors Bureau re- Bentz (R-Ontario) suffered a revenue enhancement. newed. The Profes- a heart arterial blockage. By imposing this amended sional Services Agreement He was admitted to the amount, cuts to fire and po- between the County and Salem Hospital and is lice services were averted. the Visitors Bureau was expected to make a full Many from the public renewed for only one year, recovery. expressed opposition. instead of two. Library’s giant cotton- SEE 2017 IN REVIEW wood removed. Resort PAGE 8 Street was blocked off to June July