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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2015)
4 i Record-Courier THURSDAY, JULY 16,2015 »■ ■■■■I News of Record Marriages June 27 - Samuel Grant Johnson to Katherine Amelia Hagan, both of Baker City. July 3 - Charles Eugene Carpenter to Janet Lee Ellen Taylor, both of Baker City. July 4 - William Eugene Eric Thompson, Jr. to Lindsey Elane Truscott, both of Halfway. July 4 - Clinton Coleman Stockdale to Ramona Elizabeth Harris, both of Homedale, Idaho. July 8 - Daniel Jay Smith to Hilary Ray Crouch, both of St Anthony, Idaho. Arrests July 6 - James Hensen arrested for Reckless Driving. July 8 - Dustin Palmer arrested for Contempt. July 11 - Yuliana Meza arrested on an Out-of-County Warrant. July 13 - Michael Schulte arrested for DUD, Reckless Driving, and Coercion. July 13 - Jeremy Allen Gilda arrested for Violation of Restraining Order. July 13 - James Robert Kolacz arrested for Probation Violation. Baker County Circuit Court July 1 - State of Ore. v. Roderick Joseph Gagnon regarding Possession of Methamphetamine, felony. July 8 - State of Ore. v. James Andrew Ryan regarding Criminal Impersonation of an Officer, felony. July 8 - State of Ore. v. Timothy Kelly Slaney regarding DUII, misdemeanor. July 10 - State of Ore. v. George Eldon Deardorff regarding Wildlife Violation, misdemeanor. House Fire in Baker City Another Sagebrush Rebellion? To the Editor: The Baker City Herald (7-10-2015) headlined an ar ticle "Harvey not happy with Legislature." Baker County Commission Chair Bill Harvey laments legislation the Democratically-controlled Oregon legislature "shoved down our throats" result ing in "an abject failure," so reported the Herald. "I'm sick with what the Legislature has done... when one party holds power." (But I doubt that he laments the fact that since the last national mid-term election, just the reverse is true with the Republicans controlling both houses of Congress.) Harvey's last complaint—"Three-quarters of the state votes conservative. They get it. Another quarter of the state doesn't get it"—demonstrates that Harvey has a mistaken idea of how our democracy works. He con fuses geography with voting rights. Elections are won or lost based on "one man, one vote," not on square miles of Republican Greg Walden's huge 2nd Con gressional District. The result of "one man, one vote" is that the majority of voters have elected a Congres sional delegation composed of six Democrats and just one Republican. If Harvey doesn't like the fact that the 2nd District represents only a small fraction of Oregon voters, then he might consider starting another Sagebrush Rebel lion and petition the Oregon legislature to secede from Oregon and form the State of Jefferson. It's been tried before and failed. But maybe it'll work this time, if Harvey can find enough 2nd District voters as "sick" as he is with what comes out of Salem. Gary Dielman Baker City Why No Workshops in Baker or Union County? Photo by Gina Perkins On Tuesday mid-day fire and police responded to a house fire on the 1700 block of Valley Avenue in Baker City. Red Cross Offers Assistance Bates, Clayton D DOB: 08/23/1983 Sex: Male Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Height: 5'10“ Weight: 160 Convictions: Tampering with Witness, Possession of Meth The person above has criminal war rants. If you see this person, do not attempt to apprehend them yourself. If you know where this person may be, contact Parole and Probation at 541-523-8217 or your nearest police department. You may also e-mail pa- role@bakercounty.org Disaster action team volun- teers with the American Red Cross this afternoon responded to a disaster that occurred in the 1700 block of Valley Ave. in Baker City. This multi-family fire affected four adults, a child, and multiple pets. Red Cross provided food, clothing, comfort kits, stuffed animals and infor mation about recovery services. The Red Cross advocates emergency preparedness and offers the installation of free smoke alarms in communities across Oregon and southwest Washington. Residents may call (503) 528-5783 to schedule an appointment. Know what to do before, during and after a home fire. Take a few moments to review your family's exit plan should there be a fire in your home. This information, and more, is available at www.redcross.org or in a free Prepare! Resource Guide published by the American Red Cross Cascades Region. The guide can be downloaded at http://rdcrss. org/1 zq8XW6. Look what’s new at Scorpio! New shipment of assorted fancy parakeets Hardy aquarium plants scorpiointl@centurylink.net 2628 10th Street, Baker City I 541-523-3156 Scorpio^ Join Baker County Cattlewomen & Cattlemen and Support the Shriners Hospital for Children Saturday, August 1st Cowboy Breakfast! 6:30 a.m. -10 a.m. Geiser-Pollman Park in Baker City Steak, eggs, pancakes & coffee only $10 • No steak? $7 New This Year, "GRIDIRON" Tailgate & Grill-Off with Auction. Tailgate 12-6 p.m. • Auction 2 p.m. Prior to football game - watch for more details. To pre-order tickets, www.eastwestshrinefootball.com/store/cl/Featured_Products.html Proceeds from both events help purchase the Shrine Steer which is auctioned off during half time of the E-W Shrine game; Those funds go directly to die Shriners Hospital for Children Shriners Hospitals for Children Love to the rescue.* To the Editor: “Circumvent”, I came across this word recently, and now it sticks in my already cluttered head., (the defi nition—around, to get the better of or, prevent by craft or ingenuity) I feel the workshops being facilitated by, High Desert Partnerships, are a platform to circumvent the overwhelming negative response to the Blue Moun tain Forest Plan Revision. Over 1300 comments were received with 95% disapproval of the plan. I find it alarming no workshops are scheduled for Union or Baker County. Repeatedly Forest Access For All, has requested public meetings with the forest service and voiced our dislike of the workshop scenario. Once again this agency appears to suffer hearing loss. Baker County commission chair, Bill Harvey, is working to arrange a public meeting. Last year FAFA spent thousands of dollars, present ing meetings and encouraging people to speak and write concerns on the proposed Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision. FAFA members traveled across eastern Oregon throughout the summer months. The efforts of dedicated members combined with others gener ated over 1300 comments. Finally late in the fall, 11 counties, made the right move and rejected the pro posed forest plan. Something worked. Be aware when you attend these workshops. It is imperative you stick to your message. A piece of in formation came out of the John Day, meeting, which to me was very alarming. The forest supervisor re sponded to the crowd with the insinuation, when it comes to push and shove the forest service doesn’t need to respond to any of our concerns. Once again engagement with the forest service would indicate we are dickering over a preconceived conclusion with the illusion public concerns have been addressed. At the very least we need language in the Blue Mountain Forest Plan, that preserves and protects our present level of access. That would be a fair beginning for dialog. Road closures through the backdoor of projects needs to stop. To date 14 workshops have been scheduled, none in Union or Baker Co. I want endless meetings and comments to end, but request 2 more. One in Union and one in Baker Co.. Preferably at a time and date working people can attempt to attend the meetings. Wanda Ballard Baker City Editor's note: Peter Fargo, Public Affairs Officer with the U.S. Forest Service stated, "We definitely plan to announce more public workshops soon, including in Baker County and Union County. We are in touch with local partners and still working out the details for those events." Home-Grown Treasures To the Editor: Despite unseasonable downpours, the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally this past weekend was a success. (Kudos to Kurt Miller and his crew.) During Satur day's exhibitions, we had the distinct privilege and outstanding pleasure of hearing the Baker Elks' Drum & Bugle Corps play to rousing applause. These fellas are truly home-grown treasures. Nothing can get you on your feet and swaying to the beat, like the Drum & Bugle Corps. For over five decades, they have been putting Baker City on the map. They've played in every state of the Union, yet always return home to us to play in the Miners Jubilee parade, the Shrine pa rade, and a host of other special events such as the Motorcycle Rally. "Thank you" doesn't even begin to express our deep appreciation. Joyce Badgley Hunsaker Hometown Girl Planning Commission to Conduct Hearing on Vacation of Street The Baker City Planning Commission will be conducting a hearing on Thursday, July 16,2015 at 7 pm to hear the following request: VAC-15-046 Donald & Roberta Fink have petitioned for the City to vacate a dead-end por tion of ‘E’ Street, located in Section 16 of Town ship 09 South, Range 40 East, W.M., Baker County, Ore., between Tax Lots 1300 and 1400. Two properties abut the proposed street vaca tion: Tax Lot 1300 (Ref. 470) owned by Donald & Roberta Fink of 2960 East Street, Baker City and Tax Lot 1400 (Ref. 471) owned by Kenton & Shirley McPheron of 990 Park Street, Baker City. Both properties and the portion of ‘E’ Street pro posed for vacation are located within the General Industrial (I) Zone. As included in the petition, the vacated portion of ‘E’ Street is proposed to be come a part of Tax Lots 1300 and 1400, in equal parts. The request will need to comply with the Baker City Development Code, Section 4.3.200 and 4.3.190, and Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 271. The City Council will make the final decision on the request, and will conduct hear ings on Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, August 11, at 7 p.m.. For more information, contact Planner Eva Ceder at 541-523-8219. A copy of the applica tions, all documents and evidence submitted by or on behalf of the applicant, and the applicable criteria are available for inspection at no cost and will be provided at reasonable cost. A digital copy of the documents can be emailed to you at no cost, or a hard copy can be mailed to you by post mail, upon request, for a reasonable cost. Staff reports on both matters will be available on July 8,2015. Persons wishing to comment on the proposed application may do so by submitting written testimony to the Baker County Planning Depart ment no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the hearing. Testimony may also be given in person by attending the hearing. The failure to raise an issue in person, or by letter at the hearing, or fail ure to provide statements or evidence sufficient to afford the decision-maker an opportunity to re spond to the issue, means that an appeal based on that issue cannot be filed with the State Land Use Board of Appeals. If you have questions regarding this applica tion, please contact Eva Ceder at the Baker City- County Planning Department at (541) 523-8219 or eceder@bakercounty.org. The Planning De partment is located in the basement of the Baker County Courthouse, 1995 Third Street, Suite 131, Baker City, Ore. Greg Walden Supports Bipartisan Wildfire Prevention, Forestry Reform Bill Passed by U.S. House Walden: “I urge the Senate to quickly consider and pass this bill. Our forested communities have already waited too long. Now is the time to act.” As another busy fire season is already well underway in Oregon, U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) strongly supported a bipartisan bill passed by the U.S. House of Repre sentatives today to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire in national forests. The Resilient Fed eral Forests Act (H.R. 2647), which passed by a vote of 262-167, would bring much needed reforms to federal forest policy and help bring active management back to our forests. Speaking on the House floor in support of the bill, Walden explained the need for meaningful action on fixing broken federal forest policy. “The House’s consideration of the bill is timely. As we speak brave firefighters are still trying to contain the Corner Creek fire, which has already burned nearly 29,000 acres of forest land near Dayville, Ore. Unfortunately, this fire season is only getting started,” Walden said. “One look at the fires around the West makes clear the status quo isn’t working for our forests, and it certainly doesn’t work for our rural communities. The Resilient Federal Forests Act will help strengthen the health of our communities and our forests. I urge the Senate to quickly consider and pass this bill. Our forested communities have already waited too long. Now is the time to act.” Walden further explained some of the benefits the bill would bring to Oregon’s rural forested com munities and the peoplé who live there. “Among the many strong provisions in this bill to streamline planning, reduce frivolous lawsuits, and speed up the pace of forest management, several in particular are helpful for Oregon’s federal forests. For national forests in eastern Oregon, this legislation repeals the prohibition on harvesting trees over 21 inches in diameter - a measure temporarily implemented in 1997 that still hasn’t been removed nearly 20 years later. This flawed one-size-fits-all rule illustrates just how broken federal forest management has become. It greatly limits the flexibility forest managers have to ad dress site specific needs of the forest on the ground and has only become a source of frequent ap peals and litigation,” Walden said. Walden also explained that the bill brings much needed reforms to O&C lands in southern and western Oregon. “This bill also includes legislation I wrote working with my colleagues from Oregon, Representa tives Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader pertaining to Oregon’s unique O&C Lands, cutting costs, and increasing timber harvest and revenue to local counties. The BLM is also directed to revise their flawed management plan proposals to consider the clear statutory mandate to manage these lands for sustainable timber production and revenue to the counties,” Walden said. The bill also helps solve the long-standing ‘lire borrowing” problem by allowing the Forest Service to request FEMA disaster funds for fire suppression without having to continually rob their internal fire prevention accounts. During the last session of Congress, the U.S. House twice passed bipartisan legislation coau thored by Walden to help reform federal forest policy. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to take mean ingful action on forestry legislation. Passage of this bill continues Walden's mission to make forest policy work for Oregonians. He has been a leader in writing other bipartisan forestry plans, including the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, the Forest Emergency Research and Recovery Act, and the FLAME Act.
