NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
A2
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally canceled for 3rd straight year
By JAYSON JACOBY
Baker City Herald
BAKER CITY — For the third
straight summer one of Baker City’s
signature events, the Hells Canyon
Motorcycle Rally, will not happen.
Mark Dukes, a partner in High
Desert Harley-Davidson of Merid-
ian, Idaho, the dealership that orga-
nizes the rally, said in an interview
Wednesday, Feb. 16, that multiple
factors contributed to his decision
to cancel the event.
And unlike the cancellations in
2021 and 2020, the pandemic isn’t
the lone issue.
Two other concerns this year,
Dukes said, are a major construc-
tion project to build more than 300
wheelchair-accessible curb cuts,
including on Main Street, a focal
point for the rally, and a shortage of
employees at his motorcycle deal-
ership.
Dukes said he doesn’t have
enough workers to organize the
rally in Baker City and operate the
dealership.
“I don’t want to go up there and
not have a great rally,” he said.
Although the omicron wave of
COVID-19 has passed, and infec-
tion rates are plummeting, Dukes
said there still is an element of
uncertainty that matters with an
event such as the rally, which takes
at least six months to plan.
Dukes said the prospect of part-
nering with other organizations to
coordinate the rally isn’t feasible
in his view, because they would
Kathy Orr/Baker City Herald, File
The Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally, one of Baker City’s major summer
events, won’t happen in 2022, the third straight year it’s been canceled.
The organizer hopes to resume the event in 2023.
need to be familiar with motorcy-
cles and the motorcycle industry.
Dukes said his goal is to revive the
rally in 2023.
Shelly Cutler, executive direc-
tor of the Baker County Chamber
of Commerce and Visitor Center,
said although she’s disappointed the
rally is canceled again, she’s opti-
mistic it will return in 2023.
“It’s a hit to our summer tour-
ism for sure,” Cutler said. “It’s an
incredible event that brings a lot
of revenue to the county and busi-
nesses. I do not expect another
summer to go by without the rally.”
Forecast for Pendleton Area
| Go to AccuWeather.com
TODAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Very cold with
plenty of sun
Mostly sunny and
quite cold
Cold with clouds
and sun
Cold with
abundant sunshine
Mostly cloudy and
chilly
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
28°
8°
26° 16°
30° 13°
41° 13°
44° 25°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
33° 14°
31° 21°
36° 16°
44° 13°
OREGON FORECAST
45° 23°
ALMANAC
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yest.
HIGH
LOW
TEMP.
Seattle
Olympia
39/23
23/2
29/10
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
27/10
Lewiston
39/14
33/16
Astoria
40/21
Pullman
Yakima 25/11
38/16
29/11
Portland
Hermiston
38/21
The Dalles 33/14
Salem
Corvallis
39/14
Yesterday
Normals
Records
La Grande
21/3
PRECIPITATION
John Day
Eugene
Bend
39/15
22/0
23/2
47°
30°
52°
29°
75° (1995) 9° (1957)
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
Albany
38/16
0.05"
0.36"
0.87"
1.89"
2.92"
2.41"
through 3 p.m. yest.
HIGH
LOW
TEMP.
Pendleton 17/-6
40/19
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
HERMISTON
Enterprise
28/8
35/16
40°
32°
49°
31°
69° (1988) 2° (1894)
PRECIPITATION
Moses
Lake
38/16
Aberdeen
20/4
27/11
Tacoma
Yesterday
Normals
Records
Spokane
Wenatchee
37/22
Ontario
38/16
Caldwell
Burns
WINDS (in mph)
37/16
29/3
Trace
0.03"
0.67"
0.96"
1.08"
1.81"
Today
Boardman
Pendleton
Medford
45/14
Wed.
NNE 8-16
NNW 7-14
N 4-8
W 6-12
SUN AND MOON
Klamath Falls
35/5
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
6:46 a.m.
5:32 p.m.
none
9:38 a.m.
Last
New
First
Full
Feb 23
Mar 2
Mar 10
Mar 17
NATIONAL EXTREMES
She said she understands Dukes’
concerns.
Cutler also pointed out that even
without the rally, the roads that
brought the event to Baker County
more than 15 years ago remain
an attraction for riders, and she
expects many motorcyclists will
visit the county this spring and
summer.
That happened last summer
despite the rally being canceled,
she said.
“They still come to Baker, just
not in the masses that we would see
with the official rally,” Cutler said.
Also on the positive side of the
ledger, Cutler said all other major
summer events are slated to happen
as usual, including the Baker City
Cycling Classic in June, Miners
Jubilee and the Bronc and Bull
Riding competition in July, the
Shrine All-Star Football Game and
Baker County Fair in August and
the Sumpter flea markets during
Memorial Day and Labor Day
weekends.
Moreover, an event that also
was canceled in 2020 and 2021 —
the Baker City Memory Cruise car
show — is back on the schedule for
Aug. 20 in Geiser-Pollman Park.
A new event planned for the
weekend of May 20 is the Chau-
tauqua Music Festival in Richland.
The event will include a variety
of live music at the Eagle Valley
Grange Community Park, as well
as artisans selling handcrafted
items and specialty foods.
“I think we still have a lot of
good things going on,” Cutler said.
Ready for influx of visitors
Cutler is optimistic the 2022
spring and summer tourist season
will be a busy one in Baker County,
as people from across the nation,
as well as foreign travelers, take
advantage of the waning pandemic.
That was the case during spring
break 2021, she said.
“Last spring break was the
busiest traffic I’ve seen in the six,
almost seven, years I’ve been here,”
Cutler said. “People were so ready
to get out, and I expect that trend
to continue, as people are feeling
safer.”
Among travelers visiting the
county this winter, Cutler said about
40% were from the East Coast.
“People are still taking road
trips,” she said.
Cutler said very few people
who call the Chamber’s Visitor
Center ask about mask or vaccine
mandates. But she’s still pleased
Oregon’s indoor mask mandate will
end no later than March 31, accord-
ing to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown.
The Oregon Health & Science
University last week forecast the
number of COVID-19 patients in
hospitals would drop below the
400-person threshold for ending the
mask mandate by March 20.
“We always impress upon people
who call that Baker County is open
for business and we’re excited to
have them back,” Cutler said. “I
think we’re all excited to get back
to normal.”
Summerville woman receives
prestigious Helen Keller award
Feb. 14 presented Oliver with
the Helen Keller award, one of
the most prestigious a Lions
ELGIN — Kathy Oliver Club member can receive,
has a limited amount of free Hopkins said. Clubs are able to
time, which is understandable present the Helen Keller award
because she has a lot on her only if they make a $1,000
plate — including virtually donation to the Oregon Sight
all of Eastern Oregon.
and Hearing Foundation.
Oliver, a member
Elgin Lions Club
of the Elgin Lions
members voted to
give Oliver the award
Club, is serving as
in an election where
governor for Lions
Clubs International’s
ballots were cast
District G in Oregon.
secretly. Oliver was
The district, which
caught off guard when
has 30 clubs, encom-
told she had won the
passes almost all of
Oliver
award.
Eastern Oregon.
“It had not entered
The Summerville resi- my mind. It was a total
dent, who is about three surprise,” said Oliver, whose
months from completing her husband, Steve, also is a
one-year term as governor, has member of the Elgin Lions
handled her responsibilities as Club and a past District G
District G governor master- governor.
fully, according to Gerald
Hopkins said the award is
Hopkins, a member of the one Oliver richly deserves.
Elgin Lions Club.
“She is a great person.
“She is doing a wonderful Everyone in the club really
loves her,” said Hopkins, also
job,” he said.
Hopkins credited Oliver a former District G governor.
with making many connec-
Oliver has been a member
tions and getting Lions of the Elgin Lions Club for 15
clubs in the district to work years, including several years
together despite the COVID- as its president. She has helped
19 pandemic.
lead a number of club events,
The Elgin Lions Club on many of which raise money for
By DICK MASON
The Observer
the Lions Sight and Hearing
Foundation.
“She is working on proj-
ects all the time. Whenever
we have an event she is always
there,” Hopkins said.
Lions Clubs International
has a 97-year connection to
Keller, who although blind
and deaf, was a tireless advo-
cate for those with disabilities.
Keller spoke at the the Inter-
national Lions Clubs Conven-
tion in Ohio on June 30, 1925.
She challenged the Lions to
become “Knights of the blind
in the crusade against dark-
ness.’’ The Lions accepted the
challenge and today has many
internationally recognized
programs aimed at prevent-
ing blindness.
Oliver said the award is
especially meaningful to her
because it is named in honor
of the woman who inspired the
Lions Clubs International to
become what it is today.
“It means a lot to me,” she
said. “I feel very honored.”
Oliver hopes to help her
club continue reaching out to
people in need around North-
eastern Oregon after she steps
down as governor.
“There are so many people
here who need help,” she said.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 96° in Del Rio, Texas Low -17° in Rolla, N.D.
IN BRIEF
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Sheriff’s sergeant finds body
of missing Baker City man
BAKER CITY — Baker County Sheriff’s
Office on the afternoon of Feb. 15 found the
body of a Baker City man about two days after
the man’s brother reported him missing.
The body of Andrew Levi Myers, 44, was
in a grassy area near the eastbound on-ramp at
the North Baker City Interstate 84 interchange.
There is no indication of foul play, Sheriff
Travis Ash said, and the death doesn’t appear
suspicious.
Myers’ brother had reported him missing
about 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, said Sgt. Wayne
Chastain of the Baker City Police Department.
Myers’ brother hadn’t seen Andrew for
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
-10s
-0s
0s
showers t-storms
10s
rain
20s
flurries
30s
snow
40s
ice
50s
60s
cold front
E AST O REGONIAN
— Founded Oct. 16, 1875 —
70s
East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals
postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to
East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801.
Copyright © 2022, EO Media Group
90s
100s
warm front stationary front
110s
CORRECTION: The Feb. 12 front page article, “Units in Eastern Oregon prisons
still quarantined,” misspelled Tara Herivel’s last name in one instance and inaccurately
stated her role in litigation against the Oregon Department of Corrections. She led a legal
campaign that resulted in hundreds of lawsuits against DOC since the start of the pandemic.
high low
Circulation Dept.
For mail delivery, online access, vacation stops
or delivery concerns call 800-781-3214
ADVERTISING
Classified & Legal Advertising
Regional Sales Director (Eastside) EO Media Group:
Classified advertising: 541-564-4538
• Karrine Brogoitti
541-963-3161 • kbrogoitti@eomediagroup.com
211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211
333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed major holidays
EastOregonian.com
In the App Store:
80s
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Local home
delivery
Savings
(cover price)
$10.75/month
50 percent
52 weeks
$135
42 percent
26 weeks
$71
39 percent
13 weeks
$37
36 percent
EZPay
about three days, which was an unusually long
period, and when he went to Andrew’s apart-
ment to check on him, Andrew wasn’t there.
Two days earlier, on the afternoon of Feb.
11, Sgt. Eric Colton of the sheriff’s office had
seen Myers walking on North Cedar Road near
the A Frame trailer park and the freeway, Ash
said.
Chastain said at least one other person also
saw a man, who they believed was Myers, in
that area about an hour after Colton did.
Ash said a possible ping from Myers’ cell-
phone on Feb. 14, gave a location in an area that
included the North Baker freeway interchange.
Colton was driving in that area the next day
when he found Myers’ body, Ash said.
— EO Media Group
Single copy price:
$1.50 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Multimedia Consultants:
• Angel Aguilar
541-564-4531 • aaguilar@hermistonherald.com
• Melissa Barnes
541-966-0827 • mbarnes@eastoregonian.com
• Audra Workman
541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com
Business Office
Legal advertising: 541-966-0824
classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com
NEWS
• To submit news tips and press releases:
call 541-966-0818 or email news@eastoregonian.com
• To submit community events, calendar items, engagements,
weddings and anniversaries: email community@eastoregonian.com,
call 541-966-0818 or or visit eastoregonian.com/community/
announcements.
• To submit sports or outdoors information or tips,
email sports@eastoregonian.com.
COMMERCIAL PRINTING
• Dayle Stinson
Commercial Print Manager: Holly Rouska
541-966-0824 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com
541-617-7839 • hrouska@eomediagroup.com