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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 2015)
r\ jj _ I/ / A- h _ COMMISSIONERS continued from page 4 i Record-Courier Scam Calls - How to Safeguard Yourself Recently, the Oregon State Police has taken reports from people who have been scammed out of money by people posing as law enforcement officers on the telephone. Scammers have called and claimed to be members of a police department or sheriff's department and that the victim missed jury duty, had outstanding fines, or a warrant for their arrest that could be taken care of over the phone with a payment. Callers may instruct the victims to purchase re-loadable cards and call them back with the numbers. Similar scams have been reported in the past year where callers claim to be with a utility or other government agency. The Oregon State Police reminds you to be aware that: * The Oregon State Police or any other legitimate law enforcement agency does not call community. members seeking payment for outstanding traffic citations or warrants. * The Oregon State Police does not call individuals and demand money from community members under any circumstances. * Individuals claiming to collect debts may try to in still fear in potential victims to persuade them to forward money. Tips to help avoid becoming a victim to this scam include: * Never give personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller or email. * Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason. * Utility companies and government agencies will never contact you for payment by GreenDot, MoneyPak or Vanilla Reload. j Veteran Dispatcher Receives Commendation There is one particular block of time where only one dispatcher is bn duty, from 3-6 a.m., a normally quiet time. This was not the case pn the morning of Jan. 17. For 55 minutes veteran dispatcher Mandy Wirth took on a constant flood of calls, dispatched emergency person nel and made notification phone calls during the horrendous multi-ve hicle accident on that morning. On behalf of the Commission, Harvey plans to present Wirth with an a cominendation for her efforts that morning. Wirth has already received a letter of commendation from the Dispatch Center along with a President’s Coin. : Dental Care Identified as a Need ’ Charlotte Dudley and Magi Lind are the Baker County representa tives of the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO), which is the health plan for the residents who are on the Oregon Health Plan within eastern Oregon. Results of a recent study done in the county revealed the major healthcare gaps which residents felt needed to be addressed. The Local Community Advisory Council (LCAC) was formed in response so qualified individuals and organizations can be notified and brainstorm different ways to solve those deficiencies. Dental care was identified as the chief need, especially for younger children and the elderly population. The most remarkable reason for this is due to there only being one dentist in Baker County who will provide services to the 3,476 people who are on the Oregon Health Plan. In order to help bridge the gap in dental care needs, the First Tooth program was created for young children to get their teeth checked, and get sealants if necessary, while at their primary care provider’s facility and at the Health Department. For the elderly pop ulation, the Oregon Dental School in La Grande has provided free minor dental services. This reporter posed a question for Lind, asking if any steps were being taken to attract or bring in another dentist who will take Medi caid insurance. Lind responded, “I know that they are looking at that at the EOCCO level...and Advantage Dental is trying to recruit more providers to come on the panel. I don’t know where that stands right now, but they know that it’s a need, and it’s not just in Baker. It’s a need throughout Eastern Oregon.” More Dollars Available for Transportation by Community Connec tion Community Connection provides special transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The State of Oregon’s Department of Transportation provides grant money via its sub-recipients, allocating them as the Special Transportation Fund (STF). Due to the increasing number of aging and disabled individuals, as well as a large influx of individuals utilizing medical transportation benefits they gained when Chief Lohner received a the Affordable Health Care Act was enacted, Community Connections complaint from a local couple who lobbied their case, and Congress listened. Their STF Will be increased were concerned about the volume by $11,332 for the 2013-2015 biennium, payable through Baker of people on the Leo Adler Path County way who fail to keep their dogs “We are certainly looking at expanding some services,” Mary Jo Car leashed. The Baker City Police penter said. Department would like to remind The Board will meet again for its regular session on Feb.l 8 at 9 a.m. all pet owners that they are required to keep their dogs on a leash when they are on public property. BCPD will begin conducting random foot patrols on the pathway in an attempt to contact pet owners in violation. Leashes Required on Leo Adler Pathway Restore Veterans Second Amendment Rights To the editor: When I was 19 my country gave me a used M14 and quite a bit of ammunition free and they even gave me $55 extra a month to shoot at some people. The ammo supply was usually adequate, but just in case it wasn’t, they gave me a foot long knife to attach to the end of my rifle barrel. I survived and came home and now I go to the Veteran’s hospital in Boise for medical treatment. Things have changed. Evidently some people, who I suspect were not veterans wrote some laws and I am greeted by one of them in great big letters as I enter the VA grounds that promise a year in jail should I possess a weapon. The practical effect of that is that even though I am a veteran and a non-criminal I have to travel 168 miles one way un armed because my final destination is the VA. Inside I am greeted with some more signs that I don’t quite know how to take. Maybe they are for comic relief or maybe they are just some more of well-meaning lib eral stuff, probably one of the war protesters at Berkley or Haight and Ashbury finally graduated and got a government job. It reads “for your protection no guns or knives are allowed.” How the world has changed. Combat veterans remember relying on guns and knives for protection and would like to have one in our personal cars instead of relying on leftist signs. I did mention this to Greg Walden in one of his town meetings and he took notes but I am still waiting to see if does any good to elect a Republican when it comes to rolling back the liberal gun agenda. It sure would be nice to see some push back in Oregon when Ginny Burdick drops five or six gun bills in the legislature but Oregon’s law making body is decidedly short of any veteran perspective, both on the state and federal levels. I would like to see a "Veterans Second Amendment Restoration Act” introduced in this congress and become an issue during the 2016 election cycle. It probably won’t get a lot of traction, until ISIS shows the left wing that you can be attacked here, right in your shopping malls and maybe even at a VA hospital. The idea that those who fought them over there might be attacked here for revenge is not inconceivable. And like they say, “When seconds count the police are only minutes away.” - Steve Culley . Richland * Remember that anyone who has the number on a prepaid card has access to the funds on your card. * Never wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers to a stranger. The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) advises that courts may use an independent collection service to collect impaid monetary judgments and fines. If someone believes they are being scammed regard ing an alleged unpaid traffic citation or other court-imposed financial obligation they can: * Ask the collector (caller) for information specific to the alleged warrant or unpaid traffic citation. The caller should have the court case number, date of ticket and vehicle license number. * Verify the debt or confirm other details by calling the OJD collections hot-line at 1-888-564-2828. * Use OJD Courts ePay to directly pay money owed to state courts for most traffic citations, civil fees or criminal fines (For more information go to http ://www. courts .oregon.gov/ O JD/OnlineSer- vices/ePay/Pages/index.aspx. If you receive a similar call, disconnect without providing any information or taking any instructions from the caller. Contact your local law enforcement agency. You may also file a complaint with the Ore gon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Of fice via the Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or complete an on-line Consumer Complaint Form anytime at http ://www. doj. state. or.us/consumer/Pages/com- plaint.aspx Re-published by permission from and in coopera tion with the Portland Police Bureau www.port- landoregon.gov/police/ Postal Particulars | with Krista Dennis Oops...I missed telling you about a very important day. Did you know that Feb. 4 was “Thank a Mail Carrier Day”? And they need all the support and appreciation that they can get. Over the past 200 years the USPS has grown and changed, but its mission is still the same...to promote open communication. It is hard work to deliver the mail, day in and day out. Let’s not forget that no matter what the weather, our mail carriers are always there for you! I am sure a few kind words like “thank you” will go a long way even if it is„not Feb. 4. 'Our Priority is: YOU! Burnt River 2nd Quarter Honor Roll C ustom M eats Seniors Cody Belveal Steven Duby Honorable Mention: Kelsie Kezerle Juniors Kelly Kamonwong Monique Lu Shelby Swindlehurst Julia Schuff Honorable Mention: Aryanna St. Amand, Armando Garcia Mobile Slaughter Custom Cutting Game Processing Wrapping Curing • Sausage Jerky Owners Del & Jana Woodcock Cell 541-792-0198 • 541-523-5345 239011th Street • Baker City, OB 97814 Sophomores Daniel Isenberger Amy Nguyen Honorable Mention: Tyler Belveal, Oscar Heinrich, Daniel Andersen Freshmen Hannah Hansen Honorable Mention: Shea Swindlehurst Sixth Grade Grace Isenberger Kristin Cantrell EOU Delivers Online MBA Option Beginning this fall, students will have the option to complete a master of business administration degree entirely online from Eastern Oregon University. EOU’s College of Business is piloting the program as a 20-stu- dent cohort. The decision to expand the existing MBA-which is offered on campus in La Grande and onsite in Gresham, Hermis ton and Ontario - to include an online option was fueled by busi ness student feedback. “A survey revealed a large number of students are extremely interested in completing an MBA from EOU, but unfortunately, they are place-bound and unable to attend our on campus pro gram,” said Donald Easton-Brooks, dean of the Colleges of Busi ness and Education. “We are responding to our students’ needs by offering a completely online MBA.” Adding to the flexibility of the degree is the option to fulfill the required 45 credits in either five or nine terms. Online graduate tuition is $372 per credit hour, including fees, which totals $16,740 upon completion of the program. Applications will be accepted through April 15. The form and in structions are available at eou.edu/cobe/business/mba/admis- sions. For more information visit eou.edu/cobe/business/ mba, call 541-962-3772 or e-mail business@eou.edu. 5 name Abner and I’m a handsome and lively 2 1/2 year old Basset Hound. I’m a healthy and happy- go-lucky purebred Basset. I’m housetrained and will sit by the patio door and let my owners know when I need to go "potty." I can be left in the house for long periods of time where I just sleep or look out the window. I get really excited when asked if I want to go for a walk. I am not a digger nor do I climb fences, but I do need a secure fenced yard for my safety and exercise. I do not get to go for very many rides, so it might take me awhile to leam that car rides might be fun. I am neutered, vaccinated and ready to go to a new forever home If you would like to leam more about me, please call Carmen g at 541-519-4530 or Best Friends of Baker, Inc. 541-519-7387. s, Call Best Friends of Baker, Inc.