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BAKER COUNTY LIBRARY
2400 RESORT ST
BAKER CITY OR 97814-2721
Prairie City valley photo by Gina Perkins
JAN 0 7 2016
ouner
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Est. Haines 1901 ~ Haines, Baker County, Oregon
Volume 115, Number 1
Armed Fringe Group of
Ideologues Take Over Unoccupied
Bird Sanctuary
Story/photos by Gina Perkins
I traveled Burns on Saturday, Jan. 2 to photograph the rally and
protest march which was held for the purpose of supporting
Dwight and Steven Hammond, Harney County ranchers who
were re-sentenced for a controversial arson conviction.
While the protest was peaceful, there was a palpable uneasi
ness within the community. There was no visible sign of law
enforcement during the protest, but the Oregon Department of
Transportation was routing traffic to an alternative route and Main
Street was vacant.
After returning home, I learned that some of the outside militia
had seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge which is approx
imately 30 miles from Burns. A variety of videos have been posted
by militia members who say there has been no vandalism and
want to remain peaceful, but will fire if fired upon. They say it is
illegal for the federal government to own this property [the Mal
heur National Wildlife Refuge] and that they are going to return it
to the state and to Harney County. They say they plan to stay for
years and are equipped to do so.
An unknown number are occupying the refuge but is signifi
cantly less than the 150 originally stated by the group. Recent
reports state 15 to 20 are currently there and include men,
women,- and children. A point person maintains watGh over the
entrance in a fire tower and as of the time of this writing, there is
no law enforcement at the site and there is no standoff. The FBI
is the lead agency and is working closely with state, county and
other law enforcement agencies.
Summary of the Hammond Case
It's complicated.
See FRINGE GROUP on page 7
The following is the statement Har
ney County Sheriff Dave Ward gave
during the 3 p.m. press conference
held on Jan. 4,2016.
"Good afternoon.
My name is David Ward, and I am the
Sheriff of Harney County.
The Hammonds have turned them
selves in today at 1:37 p.m., in accor
dance with the law, and are currently in
custody at Federal Correctional Institution
in California.
Harney County is a community of ap
proximately 7,000 people; almost 5,000 of
us live here in the community of Burns
and Hines.
This event has had a significant impact
on that community.
Our goal is to work together to restore
calm and regular services for the people
we serve.
This incident originally started when
people from outside the state arrived in an
attempt to prevent the Hammonds from
returning to prison. This began as a
peaceful protest.
It took an unfortunate turn when some
of those people broke off and began an
armed occupation of the Malheur National
Wildlife Refuge.
The Harney County Commissioners
and I have requested law enforcement as
sistance from Oregon State Sheriff's As
sociation and Oregon State Police.
Sheriff's Offices from around the state
have also sent resources to assist us.
We requested this additional support to
make sure the citizens of Harney County
are safe. This is our top priority.
See WARD on page 8
If you are interested in volun
teering to help the Friends sort
or sell books for the January
book sale, please stop by the
Baker Library's front desk and
leave your name and phone
number or email at the Volunteer
Box, and a Friends' volunteer
will call you in January to
arrange a shift for you. Or you
can provide this information in
an email to:
@gmail.com, or telephone the
Library at 541-523-6419.
Brooklyn Book Fair
and Taco Feed Feb. 4
Flag draped over the shoulders of a protester.
Representative
Cliff
Bentz whose family has
been in Harney County
for a century knows the
Hammonds and their
situation
well.
He
considers them friends
and yet cautions people
who have made asser
tions
or judgments
about the situation without all of the
facts.
"The facts are known only to the
people directly involved. Many of the
assertions out there are wrong. Only
their lawyers and those privy to the
information, people who were there in
the courtroom, truly know. It's a very
complicated situation," said Rep. Bentz.
"Regardless, the consequences of this
are really sad," Bentz added. He also
stated that the Hammonds received a
trial and the situation has been heard by
the court system, including the U.S.
Supreme Court.
"The Hammonds have stated they are
going to abide by rule of law," said Rep.
Bentz.
He went on to state that the peaceful
rally was a reflection by people who live
and work on the land every day and
deal with the ever increasing complexity
of all of the .rules and regulations
pertaining to public lands,
"Everyday they watch the land
diminish in value whether its because of
weeds, fire, or other inappropriate uses
while everything is managed by
litigation," Bentz stated.
With all of that said, Bentz is adamant
that it should not result in anarchy and
mob rule.
North Powder
Halibut Feed
Save the Date!
April 16
Tickets always
go fast
The Baker County Chamber of
Commerce Banquet will be held
on Saturday, Jan. 16 beginning
at 5 p.m. at the Sunridge Inn in
Baker City. Call 541-523-5855
for more information.
Friends of the
Library Book Sale
Jan 22-31
The Facts About the
Hammond Case Known
Only to those Directly
Involved
Sheriff Ward's Message to
Militia: Go Home and End
this Peacefully
Annual Chamber
Banquet Jan. 16
Planning Commission to
Consider Micro-Distillery
On Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 at 7 p.m.
the Baker City Planning Commission will
hold a public hearing to consider a Condi
tional Use Permit request and hold a work
session to consider revisions to Develop
ment Code Chapter 3.5, Signs.
Ryan and Kaylin Chaves have requested
a Conditional Use Permit (CU-15-088) to
establish a ±5050 square foot micro-dis
tillery (classified by the Baker City Devel
opment Code as manufacturing and
production) and tasting room in a building
located at 1901 Main Street in the Central
Commercial Zone. The property is identi
fied as Tax Lot 5600 in Section 17dd of
Township 9 South, Range 40 East, W.M.
(Ref. 2937).
The public is invited to attend this hear
ing and to submit comments. Testimony
and relevant evidence, either in support of
or in opposition to the proposal, must be
based on the applicable review criteria and
submitted to the Planning Department by
5 p.m., on the hearing date, Wednesday,
Jan. 20, 2016, or in person during the
hearing. The Planning Commission will re
view the application using the criteria in the
Baker City Development Code, Section
2.3- Commercial Districts, as well as in
Section 4.4.400 -Conditional Use Permits
- Criteria, Standards and Conditions of Ap
proval.
The staff report will be available for in
spection on or before Jan. 13, 2016 at the
County Courthouse at 1995 Third Street,
Baker City; copies can be provided for a
reasonable' charge, digital versions can be
e-mailed for free.
The hearing will be held in Council
Chambers at Baker City Hall, 1655 First
Street, in Baker City.
See MICRO-DISTILLERY
.on page 8
Eagle Cap
Extreme Sled
Dog Race
South Baker
Spaghetti Feed
& Silent Auction
Jan. 20-23
Joseph
at Ferguson Ridge
Thursday, Jan. 28,
4:30 - 7 p.m.
Adults $6 and
12 & under $3
All you can eatl
www.eaglecapextreme.com
This annual fundraising event
will be held at the Baker County
Event Center on Thursday, Feb.
4 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Raffle
tickets are on sale for a variety
of prizes that will be awarded in
drawings during the evening.
Tickets are available from
students or at the school. For
more information, or tickets, call
the school at 54-523-2450.
National Wild Turkey
Association Banquet
and Auction Feb. 6
Come join in the fun at the
Annual National Wild Turkey
Banquet and Auction on
Saturday Feb. 6,2016 at the
Baker Elks Lodge. The doors
open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6
p.m. The auction will be at 7
p.m. For more information
contact Bob Gentry at
541-403-1352.
Top 10 Business Tax
Tips for 2016 Class
Baker County Economic
Development will host "Top 10
Business Tax Tips for 2016" on
Thursday, Jan. 14. The class
will be led by Garchar & Colton
CPA, Sarah Hutchinson, and is
scheduled 7-8 .m., at the Baker
County Chamber, 490 Campbell
Street in Baker City.
Pre-registration is requested for
the free class. Please contact
Baker County EDC at 541-523-
5460, or by email bakercoun-
tyedc@gmail.com.
4005 23rd Street • PO Box 226
Baker City, OR 97814
(541) 523-3616