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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 2016)
I Record-Courier 5 THURSDAY, JUNE 30,2016 'f&aáted 'Hew& Haines is busy, busy, and busy! Preparations for the Haines Old Fashioned Fourth of July are in full throttle. Community organi zations, city staff and businesses are preparing for an outstanding celebration. Don’t forget, our Grand Marshall Richard and Queen Nina Stephens will be honored with a potluck dinner on Saturday evening, 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church Community Hall. The public is invited. Please don’t miss a chance to honor these two wonderful members of our community. By the way, Art in the Park Chairman, Becky Litke, is shar ing that there will be 20 vendors in the Haines Park this year. Out standing work by our Chairman. The City is looking for your creative-side. Mayor Jim Brown has asked Sandy Wood to head up a committee to design a city flag. What a great idea! If you would like to help, or have a design you would like to have considered, give Sandy a call at 541-856- 3284. Don’t forget the Eastern Oregon Museum will be showing off some beautiful vintage and antique wedding gowns over the 4th of July. The show will continue through Labor Day. Museum volunteers share that it is a work in progress. The biggest challengefinding dress forms that fit those teeny-weeny waist lines of brides years ago. Geeze! He’s back! Yep. The Boy on the Bicycle is back. Just one slight change - he is peddling his way through town via the corral, located on the north end of the Haines City Park. Haines-own, Elbert Fisher, hand-carved this neat little guy who has developed his own fan base over the years. Some might wonder - where is the Girl on the Bicycle? (Yes, he has a friend.) She, however, is having - shall we say - a few structural challenges and has opted to stay indoors for the summer. Don’t forget to check out the Haines Days sign that has been put up at the north end of town. It is very impressive! Thanks to all those who participated in making that happen. And finally, on Thursday, July 7th, at 10:30 a.m., the Haines Library will be hosting “Kids and Family Zumba” with the Baker County YMCA’s Melissa Irvine. Have fun and get moving! Enjoy your 4th of July with family and friends. Be safe, be smart, and have fun! Haines Summer Reading Program Haines Library is very excited about the wonderful participation we are having in our Summer Reading Program. To date, we've had three Lego Club Tuesdays and two Thursday programs. We were happy to have members of the Baker High School Girls Soccer Team join us for our kickoff day where a great group of Haines area kids and visitors got to set read ing goals, listen to a story, practice soccer skills and play some fun games. Last Thurs day, we hosted the University of Oregon Natural . History Museum's "Move Like a Mam moth Program" and had a record number of visitors to the Haines Library. Summer reading program continues through the month of July Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and is followed by free lunch in the courtyard for all youth under age 18. Tuesdays and Thursday mornings at the library have been such a fun community gathering place. Join us! By Vickie Christensen .................. .. ••••••••••••• Looks like June has flown by, and July is fast upon us. Given the 4th of July falls on a Monday, several meetings have been rescheduled to Monday, July 11. The Ladies Tea will meet on the eleventh, at 10 a.m., at the Wolf Creek Grange. The North Powder City Council will meet at 7 p.m., on the eleventh, also at Wolf Creek Grange. The Wolf Creek Grange monthly meeting is scheduled for July 5 at 6:30pm, come visit and bring a friend. North Powder is gearing up for the annual Huckleberry Festival, slated for Saturday, July 30. It sounds as though there will be mud volleyball, music, games for children, a car show, a beer garden, and much more. Circle the date and join in on the fun. The library has been busy with The Summer Reading Program. If you like to watch movies, come check out our collection of DVD'S. There are plenty to choose from. If you need access to a computer, there are two available. This Week’s Hint This week’s hint is a solution that is safe and will kill those ugly weeds that love to grow in the cracks of walkways. Mix 1/4 cup salt to 1 gallon water, mix, and put it in a sprayer. To keep new weeds from springing up, simply pour salt in the cracks and crevices. At right, children work on a craft project at the Move Like a Mammoth Program. BHS Soccer Helpers who assisted for Summer Reading Kickoff. At left, children learn how prehistoric animals eat by using puppets at the Move Like a Mammoth Program MFRKI ■VI L b I I. L b FY L I Continued from page 4 The Senator also expressed his concerns that not enough spending is being made in the area of our na tion’s infrastructure. “We are only spending only 2% of our GDP on infrastructure spend ing,” stated Merkley. That is not enough. This kind of spending puts people to work, and addresses a real problem in our country.” Merkley applauded the FAST Act - Fixing America’s Surface Trans portation. “The Act,” said Merkley, “is an important long-term plan to improve our crumbling highways and bridges.” The Senator then turned his atten tion to questions from the audience, which proved to be quiet diverse. Opening the questions was Kale Cassidy, who will be a freshman at Baker High School next year. Kale asked specifically about current ini tiatives that will improve the readi ness of kids for college and career choices. He also queried the Senator just how those initiatives could be implemented in rural areas. “I believe we must maintain the Perkins funding,” said Merkley. “It is imperative to our career training. The Carl D. Perkins Act was signed into law in 2006. It is intended to provide individuals with academic and technical skills needed to suc ceed in the workforce. Senator Merkley expressed sup port for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a measure signed into law in December 2015. The act is in tended to replace the controversial “No Child Left Behind Act”. The ESSA narrows the role of the federal government in .elementary and secondary education. It does not remove standardized testing of chil dren from 3rd grade thru 8th grade, but shifts the accountability directly onto the states. “I am pleased with the passage of the Act,” stated Merkley. But, I am concerned that the funding compo nents of the bill dealing with Career Technical Education (CTE) got very diversified. Too many program ob jectives within that section of the bill will result in a lot of different com petition for the dollars. I am con cerned about the long-term impact of that.” Merkley shared with the audience that he was the first in his family to go to college. “No one in my family, no one in my neighborhood, or any I really knew went to college. We need to take the mystery out of going to college for kids. We need to make that vision attainable.” “The cost of college has gone up faster than anything else in our econ omy. Kids are putting off marriage, or buying a home because of college debt.” Baker City resident, Bruce Raffety, asked about the potential mineral ex traction in the Owyhee Canyonlands, 'fyrtCk "Pwwl&i "JîewA located in Malheur County. “There is a large Russian organiza tion that wants to extract minerals from the Owyhee Canyonlands area,” stated Merkley. “I have co sponsored Senator Wyden’s bill that would prohibit that from happening. It (Wyden’s bill) also has a number of economic development incentives around grazing, tourism, and recre ational access to federal lands.” Betsy Christ of Haines inquired about die Senator’s position regard ing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is a trade agreement that was signed by twelve Pacific Rim countries. It is widely-considered as one of the most ambitious free trade agreements ever signed. Supporters believe it will promote tremendous economic growth for the involved countries. Opponents of the TPP voice concerns that it will result in jobs leaving the U.S. for developing countries. By a show of hands, Senator Merkley took a poll of the audience members regarding their position on the TPP. The majority of members believed it would harm the U.S. economy. Merkley acknowledged the meas ure might be beneficial in two areas: protecting intellectual property rights, and helping in many agricul tural areas. However, he opposes the measure on what he believes will be a devas tating impact on manufacturing jobs. “I am concerned that geo-strategic interests are topping the interests of America,” said Merkley. “We have lost 5 million jobs as a result of trade deals that have prompted U.S. com panies to move overseas. Obviously this has caused real damage to our middle class.” , Merkley noted his concerns with trading partners’ labor laws, wages, and environmental matters, suggest ing the lack of appropriate standards on their part does real harm to any fair trade negotiations. Marshall McComb of Baker City asked what could be done about the shift to technology and the impact it has on our ability to create jobs. “How do we cope with this?” asked McComb. “The minimum wage of fifteen dollars is not going to make that big of difference. What do we need to do to encourage a wealth shift to make sure a greater number of people can participate in economic opportunity?” Senator Merkley shared with the audience that this very issue has been of concern to him for many years. He has expressed those concerns to many economists and the “best brains” in the field. Most have told Merkley that it is the direction of em ployment. He was told that commu nities will be economically successful if they figure out how to make the machines that people are going to use, and then train people on how to use them. He told the story of a knife grinding operation, once utilizing employees, now completely automated. “No Worker’s Compensation, no disability claims, no overtime, no health insurance,” stated Merkley. “It is no wonder employers are mov ing seriously towards automation.” Haines resident, Maxine Cole shared her point of view on gun con trol with Senator Merkley. “The criminals are going to get guns, and they are going use them,” said Cole. “How are we going to de fend ourselves?” Merkley addressed the question in two parts: 1) Restricting guns for those who are on the FBI Terror Watch List, or the “no-fly list” and, 2) Tightening loopholes at gun shows and places like Craig’s List. Merkley again took a poll of the au dience regarding those who sup ported the idea of restricting guns for those who are on the FBI list. The majority of the audience agreed the loophole should be closed. He then pointed out that states like Oregon have already moved forward to close loopholes in gun shows, online pur chases and avenues for purchase other than retail operators. Senator Merkley, along with fellow Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, were among several Democrats who joined a filibuster to discuss gun con trol following the Orlando shooting. Local rancher, Curtis Martin touched on the issue of the Owyhee Canyonlands but spent most his time asking about the Senator’s position on Navigable Waters regulations being driven by the U.S'. Environ mental Protection Agency. “Things look ambivalent when they first start, but then there is this creeping control,” said Martin. “This issue has the opportunity to affect every ditch, stream, canal or other water systems. We just ask that you take into account that creeping regu lations are destroying our ability to make a living.” Merkley responded, “I think the The staff of the Record- Courier wishes everyone a safe fourth of July! exemptions that are in the measure are sound, and I think will protect many of your concerns. I will take any concern you have and dive into the details. Bring me the details and I will dig into it to see what we can find.” The Senator thanked the Haines community and ended by saying, “Go Bulldogs.” Kevin Cassidy, 5-J School Board Chairman responded, “Go Haines Hawks!” EAGLE VALLEY Collision Rebullders Inc. 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I am housebroken, have impeccable house manners, know my basic commands and walk very well on a leash. I have never been in the country, much less had any experience around livestock so I cannot be adopted to be a working ranch dog. I need a secure fence to keep me safe and from wandering away. I am not a barker and am the most calm and loving dog. I am currently being fostered with four adults and two young children 6 and 8 and lots of dogs, big and small and doing very well, but do not like having to spend time alone in a kennel part of the time. If you would like to learn more about me or receive an adoption application, please call Best Friends of Baker, Inc. A Call Best Friends of Baker, Inc. 541-519-7387