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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 2019)
LOCAL & STATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019 VIRUS “Although the risk of contracting West Nile virus is low, people can take simple Continued from Page 1A precautions to keep these insects at bay The fi rst positive test was from a if they’re headed outdoors.” “pool” of mosquitoes trapped July 9 in DeBess offers these tips: • 2018 — no positive tests Keating Valley. • Eliminate sources of standing water • 2017 — 9 mosquito pools A pool consists of about 50 mosquitoes. that are a breeding ground for mosqui- • 2016 — 9 mosquito pools No mosquitoes trapped in Baker toes. This includes watering troughs, Valley, or elsewhere in the 200,000-acre bird baths, clogged gutters and old tires. • 2015 — 4 mosquito pools Vector Control District, which includes • If you’re outdoors, especially around • 2014 — 8 mosquito pools most of Baker, Bowen and Keating val- dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are 4 human cases, 1 horse leys, have tested positive for the virus most active, protect yourself by using • 2013 — 13 mosquito pools this summer. mosquito repellents containing DEET, • 2012 — no positive tests District manager Matt Hutchinson oil of lemon eucalyptus or Picardin, and • 2011 — no positive tests said employees have been spraying for follow the directions on the container. mosquitoes in the Keating area, and • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long • 2010 — no positive tests will continue to do so until mosquito pants in mosquito-infested areas. • 2009 — 12 mosquito pools numbers drop. • Make sure screen doors and win- There have been three confi rmed hu- dows are in good repair and fi t tightly. man cases of West Nile virus in Oregon About one in fi ve infected people may this year — two in Malheur County and Anticipating that many people will be show signs of West Nile virus. People at one in Harney County, according to the outside during the Labor Day weekend, risk of serious illness include individuals Oregon Health Authority. state health offi cials advise residents to 50 and older, and people with immune- The virus has been found this sum- take precautions to reduce their chances compromising conditions, such as diabe- mer in mosquitoes in three counties in of being bitten by mosquitoes. tes and high blood pressure. addition to Baker — Morrow (47 pools “It’s very easy for people to prevent West Nile symptoms may include have tested positive), Umatilla (7 pools) bites from mosquitoes that may carry fever above 100 degrees and severe and Malheur (4 pools). West Nile virus,” said Dr. Emilio DeBess, headache, stiff neck, mental confusion, One horse in Union County has been veterinarian at the Oregon Health muscle weakness, shaking, paralysis or infected as well. Authority’s Public Health Division. rash. West Nile virus in Baker County HUNTER 3 p.m. and began looking for the search and rescue member Continued from Page 3A to let him know he was safe, Three Search and Rescue Galiszewski said. volunteers were deployed to Owens was in good condi- the Desolation Unit where tion. Owens was last known to be “He was fi ne, he had just hunting to begin looking for been hunting,” he said. him about 10:30 a.m. Monday, The pickup truck was found Galiszewski said. A deputy based on three “good tips” also joined them along with searchers received — two in Grant County searchers. response to social media posts One of the volunteer search- and one from a person the ers found Owens’ white 2018 Sumpter area. Toyota Tacoma pickup truck Owens had been hunting Monday afternoon and trav- in the Desolation Unit about eled to a site where he could 6 miles west of Olive Lake, call out on his cellphone. The which sits about 15 miles west searcher left a fl ier on Owens’ of Granite, Galiszewski said. pickup while he left to make With the knowledge that the call. Owens was safe and not ever While the searcher was lost in the fi rst place, Galisze- away making the call, Owens wski took the opportunity to returned to his pickup about remind people who enjoy the outdoors, whether they be hunting, hiking or camping, to have a check-in plan for letting others know where they are and when they’ll return. Galiszewski says specifi c details such as “if you don’t hear from me in so many days ... this is when you should start to worry,” will help avoid concerns. “Tell people where you’re camping,” he said. “They don’t need to know your secret game spot, but let them know the coordinates of where you’re parked.” Hunting apps that can be downloaded and used offl ine can be useful to pinpoint your location, not only for others, but also for yourself, Galisze- wski said. Topographical paper maps also are available from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. “Make sure whoever’s keep- ing the home fi res burning knows what you’re doing,” he said. Galiszewski said he under- stands that plans can change. But in that case, a simple text message with the new information can help soothe concerns. Even if there is no cellphone service at a particu- lar spot, a simple text will go through once you move into an area that has service, he said. “We’re just trying to pro- mote safety,” Galiszewski said. “We want everybody to be safe out there. “When we know where to start to look for you, it makes it a whole lot easier.” BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A COUNCIL changes to put on the May 2020 ballot. Continued from Page 1A The city will lease a new 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, equipped to accom- modate a drug dog, for $62,910 over three years from Emergency Respond- er Services Inc. of Nampa, Idaho. The city would then buy the vehicle for $1. City charter changes The Council also dis- cussed a plan to ask city voters to change the city charter with a measure tentatively planned for the May 2020 election. Among the proposed changes councilors dis- cussed involve the char- ter’s clauses about the city selling excess real estate or personal property such as vehicles. The charter requires the city to get voter ap- proval to sell real estate worth more than $5,000, and personal property worth more than $10,000. City Manager Fred Warner Jr. said the $10,000 limit, which dates back several decades, doesn’t refl ect current values for equipment such as backhoes. “But it really, it’s kind of an arduous thing to have to get it on an election, so the topic here was to look at taking something to the voters to change the charter,” Warner said. Other possible changes include removing the clause that pays council- ors $10 per meeting, to a maximum of $150 per year. The Council will sched- uled work sessions later to decide which proposed New well Councilors approved a task order for $252,022 over the next two fi scal years for fi nal design and construction of a new drinking water well to be drilled at Quail Ridge Golf Course. The city’s 2016 Water Facilities Master Plan recommends drilling the well, which will increase the water supply and help the city deal with poten- tial temporary reductions in water from its water- shed. In other business Tues- day the Council: • Heard an update from the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation on potential future projects on 10th Street and at the Hughes Lane/Pocahontas Road intersection. • Approved a coop- erative agreement with ODOT, which plans to build new sidewalks and wheelchair-accessible ramps under Interstate 84 at the Campbell Street interchange next summer. The city will be respon- sible for maintenance. • Approved Fire Chief John Clark’s request to sell two surplus vehicles, a 2002 Ford Crown Victoria four-door sedan, and a 1997 Ford F-350 ambu- lance. • Discussed complaints about noise from recent concerts. Councilors do not plan to make changes to the city’s noise ordinance. • Approved a grants of $500 to assist with install- ing a new awning at 2024 Main St. FIRE Continued from Page 2A The blaze, which has burned in a spotty fashion over about 4,800 acres since it was started by lightning July 14, hasn’t grown much over the past six days. “The incoming hot, dry and windy weather will result in some harder runs towards the ridge top and potentially a visible smoke column on the east side,” said Adam Wing, who is serving as incident commander for the fi re. “We expect to see single and group tree torching in the coming days, but the fuels along the east fl ank become more sparse the further the fi re progresses up the Minam valley.” Near the Minam River the fi re has been smoldering in the scattered fuel along an avalanche chute. Offi cials say the fi re could spread into pockets of more dense timber in that area this week, but its progress likely would slow if it reaches the scar from a 2010 blaze. That fi re 9 years ago had the same effect that Forest Service fi re managers say the Granite Gulch fi re has had — consuming some of the logs, limbs and other debris that have accumulated over the past several decades. “If all goes as expected, the increased winds should help the fi re continue to meet the resource benefi t objectives,” Wing said. Allowing lightning fi res to reduce fuel loadings is the basis for a policy that’s been in place since the early 1990s enabling the Forest Service to apply a different strategy with blazes in the Eagle Cap Wilderness than the traditional effort to douse every fi re as soon as possible. Over the past 20 years the agency has allowed more than a dozen lightning fi res to burn, more or less naturally, in the Eagle Cap, which is Or- egon’s largest wilderness at 365,000 acres. Combined those fi res have covered several thousand acres. $ The Granite Gulch fi re is the largest, although Forest Service offi cials say that within its roughly 4,800- acre perimeter some areas haven’t been burned. in Your Herald Get your 2019 Round-Up magazine FREE ($5 value) when you purchase the Sept. 4 edition of the Baker City Herald newspaper. To subscribe, call 1-541-523-3673 or log onto www.bakercityherald.com FRIDAY TRIP TO TWO PEA KS PROVIDES VAS TLY DIFFERENT QUICK HITS Good Day Wish To A Subscribe r A (37,0*$-(3160 594,0&( :%$- (3&,59+(3$.'& 1/ 1&$. : ($.5+ & Fitness : 65'1134 : Construction Affec ts Emergency Depa rtment special good day to Herald subscriber Harvey Crim of Baker City. By Jayson Jacob y jjacoby@bakercit yherald.com 1-844-533-9173 BEST LEW BROS. 210 Bridge Street 541-523-3679 AFTER HOURS: 541-518-7100 Skeeter scourge leads to fogging An infestation of mosquitoes promp ted the Baker Valley Vector Control District to bring in what amounts to its artillery Thursday heavy night in the northwestern part of Baker City. The District’s foggin g Continued from Page 3A WE GLADLY MAKE APPOINTMENTS Fog-shrouded Lakes Lookout near Anthony Lakes ■ Vector Control sprayed parts of west Baker City Thursday night across Hells Can- yon Dam will be limited Aug. 19-22 while crews do maintenance on the dam. This will limit access the Forest Service to ’s visitor center and boat launch below the dam. Idaho Power Co. crews will be installing large beams, called stop logs, which control water fl ow through the dam during maintenance. A large DONATE YOUR CAR Cannot be combined with other offers. Limited time. Terms & conditions apply. Entrance At Sain t Alphonsus BRIEFING PALMER A/T $1.50 Travel restricted over Hells Cany Dam Aug. 19-2 on 2 Travel Your Family Deserves The e BACK COUNTRY TV 142,5$. +6)).,0 * Local, 2A Two North Powde r students have won top honors for their entries in a statewide contes sponsored by the t Oregon Mayors Association. Imagine The Difference You Can Make LT275/65R-18/10 123S 1B August 16, 2019 IN THIS EDI TION: GET 100 INSTANT REBATE ON A SET OF 4 Palmer declined to comment about the ethics complaint. Palmer wrote on Face- book he intends to fi ght the allegations. “I will be staying on until the end of my term,” he wrote, “and as long as this behavior continues, I will continue to seek reelection. I will be asking the voters for an unprecedented 6th term as your Sheriff.” Grant County Judge Scott Myers said Palmer’s resigna- tion was never formalized. “Until I had it in writing and the ink was dry, I never even considered it a feasible statement,” Myers said. 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