WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
COMMUNITY
FLAGGER
L OCAL B RIEFING
Continued from Page 1A
A fl agger was hit and
injured Sept. 11 on Highway
26 near Mount Vernon.
Alex Olsen-Smith owns
BSD Enterprises LLC Traffi c
Control Flagging. He started
his business 10 years ago in
Tillamook and is now based
at Dallas, west of Salem.
Olsen-Smith said two
AFADs make a unit and
each has two cameras, rear
and front facing, allowing
operators to see oncoming
and outgoing traffi c.
“We’re still here, we’re still
watching you,” he said. “We
can set these up on a timer
but it’s only recommended
to set these up on a timer in
shorter distances.”
AFADs stand about 8
feet tall and have a red and
yellow light. The arm is fl ex-
ible and if someone drives
through it, the arm will pop
off not causing damage to
the car.
When that happens, an
alarm goes off and the other
arm stays down to prevent
incoming traffi c until it is
reattached.
“Once the arm comes off it
Herald launches new website
The Baker City Herald launched an all-new website
Tuesday morning with a more streamlined look, more
photos and a format optimized for display on smart-
phones and tablets as well as desktop computers.
The site has simplifi ed menus that make it easier to
navigate among sections, including local news, obituar-
ies, opinion and sports. Check out the new site — the
address is the same, www.bakercityherald.com — and let
us know what you think.
Forest Service offi ce closed Thursday
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
The auto fl agger unit was set up recently at various locations along Old Highway 30
south of Baker City during a utility line installation.
shuts everything (down), it’s
an emergency,” Olsen-Smith
said. “And so all the other
sites won’t open, they won’t
do anything, even on an auto
timer it will just sit there.”
He said the light will turn
red and the cameras will
count how many cars run the
red light.
Flashing yellow means go,
solid yellow means prepare to
stop, and red means stop.
VIRUS
Continued from Page 1A
The health department also didn’t dis-
close the condition of the two people and
whether either had been hospitalized.
The virus generally causes mild fl u-like
symptoms, but it can also lead to severe
illness and in rare cases can be fatal.
The most recent confi rmed human
cases of West Nile virus in Baker County
were in 2014, when two women who live
at New Bridge, about 3 miles north of
Richland, were infected. Both women
recovered.
This year there have been fi ve other
confi rmed cases of Oregon residents
contracting West Nile virus while in the
state — three in Harney County and
two in Malheur County.
Earlier this summer four groups of
mosquitoes trapped in Baker County
Olsen-Smith said he’s been
testing AFADs since Aug. 8 to
fi gure out the “kinks, quirks,
and bugs” in their operation.
AFADs are waterproof and
can be out in rain, sleet, snow,
and other weather conditions.
Alex said they weigh 200
pounds, including batteries.
The Oregon Department of
Transportation has several
AFADs for use in Eastern
Oregon, and the agency is
tested positive for the virus. All of those
mosquitoes were trapped in the Keating
Valley, about 15 miles east of Baker City.
Health offi cials are advising people
in Baker County to take precautions
against mosquitoes to avoid the risk of
infection, including preventing mosquito
bites.
About one in fi ve infected people may
show signs of West Nile virus. People at
risk of serious illness include individuals
50 and older, and people with immune-
compromising conditions, such as diabe-
tes and high blood pressure.
West Nile symptoms may include
fever above 100 degrees and severe
headache, stiff neck, mental confusion,
muscle weakness, shaking, paralysis or
rash. People should contact their health
care provider if experiencing any of
these symptoms.
The incubation period is usually two
looking to buy more, said
Tom Strandberg, a spokes-
man for the agency in La
Grande.
ODOT is using the devices
on its maintenance projects,
and also talking to contrac-
tors about employing them,
Strandberg said.
A pair costs about $25,000,
an ODOT employee in Klam-
ath Falls told a TV reporter
in 2018.
to 14 days. Rarely, infected individuals
may develop an infection of the brain or
spinal column that can be severe or may
cause death. This is especially of concern
to those who have a compromised im-
mune system, or the elderly.
Dr. Emilio DeBess, veterinarian at
the Oregon Health Authority’s Public
Health Division, recommends people
and animals be protected against mos-
quito bites.
DeBess offers these tips:
• Eliminate sources of standing water
that are a breeding ground for mosqui-
toes. This includes watering troughs,
bird baths, clogged gutters and old tires.
• When outdoor at dusk and dawn
when mosquitoes are most active,
protect yourself by using mosquito
repellants containing DEET, oil of lemon
eucalyptus or Picardin, and follow the
directions on the container.
The front desk of the Forest Service’s Whitman Ranger
District, in the David J. Wheeler Federal Building at
1550 Dewey Ave. in Baker City, will be closed Thursday,
Sept. 26, while employees attend fi scal year-end meet-
ings.
The desk will open as usual on Friday.
Firewood cutting permits will be available on Thurs-
day at D&B Supply, 3515 Pocahontas Road, and Forest
Service maps are sold at The Trailhead, 1830 Main St.
Astronomy talk, night photography lesson
Go Wild: American Adventures, a local tour company,
is selling tickets for an event Saturday that will include
an astronomy talk, night photography lesson and live
music at Copper Belt Winery in the Keating Valley east
of Baker City.
The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The as-
tronomy talk and night photography lesson are sched-
uled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with guided star viewing and
photography from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Unity fall harvest bazaar October 5
UNITY — Unity’s fall harvest bazaar is set for Sat-
urday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community
Hall in Unity, the Baker County town along Highway 26
about 50 miles south of Baker City.
Vendors will be offering artisan crafts, new clothing
and jewelry. Door prizes will be awarded at 2 p.m. (must
be present to win).
The Burnt River 4-H Club will be serving coffee, muf-
fi ns, and biscuits and gravy in the morning while sup-
plies last. Starting at 11 a.m. the Club will serve lunch
for $8 per person, with a menu including spaghetti with
homemade sauce, a bowl of salad, a slice of garlic bread
and a drink. Cookies and pies will also be for sale, by the
whole pie or by the slice with ice cream. All proceeds will
go to the 4-H Club.
Smart Driver class scheduled for Oct. 24
There will be an AARP “Smart Driver” class Thursday,
Oct. 24, at the Baker City Senior Center, 2810 Cedar
St. The class will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an hour
break for lunch. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20
for nonmembers. People who complete the course might
qualify for a discount on their auto insurance. To register,
call the Center at 541-523-6591.
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Richard Martin Strange: 89,
of Baker City died on Sept. 19,
2019. Arrangements are under
the direction of Gray’s West &
Co. Pioneer Chapel. To light a
candle in memory of Richard
or to leave a condolence for his
family, go to www.grayswestco.
com
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLU-
ENCE OF INTOXICANTS and
DRIVING WHILE OPERATOR’S
LICENSE SUSPENDED (Baker
County Circuit Court warrant):
Daniel Jose Harding-Ortiz, 19, of
La Grande, 11:02 p.m. Monday,
in the 900 block of Campbell
Street; jailed.
VIOLATION OF RESTRAINING
ORDER: Kirk William Roberts, 46,
of 2439 Estes St., 3:33 p.m. Mon-
day, at his home; jailed and later
granted a conditional release.
SECOND-DEGREE DISOR-
DERLY CONDUCT: Jacob Lee
Mccusker, 39, no fi xed address,
10:49 a.m. Tuesday, at Campbell
and Main streets; cited and
released.
FOURTH-DEGREE ASSAULT
(Domestic) and UNLAWFUL
POSSESSION OF METHAM-
PHETAMINE: Mayron J. Harding,
O BITUARIES
Continued from Page 2A
earlier in his own recovery at
Shriners Hospital.
On Nov. 24, 1956, Gene
Gene and Gwen continued
married Gwendolyn Thomas, in their faithful service to
at Ardenwald Congrega-
the Lord upon their return
tional Church in Milwaukie, to Oregon. Gene pastored
Oregon. The two were
at Haines Baptist Church of
introduced by Gene’s mother Haines, Oregon, for 15 years
who worked with Gwen at
before his retirement. He also
Wallowa Lake Lodge near
shared his love of Jesus with
Joseph.
27 different congregations
Theirs was a love that
traveling throughout Oregon
would last a lifetime and
fi lling pulpits as a “substitut-
would carry them into the
ing” minister. Gene could not
headwaters of the Amazon
have a conversation without
jungle, where for many years mentioning God’s boundless
they served the tribal peoples love for humanity.
of Ecuador with Wycliffe
Bible Translators/Summer
Good Luck
Institute of Linguistics.
with fall
As support staff, Gene was
engaged in teaching indig-
sports, kids!
enous tribes farm and timber
Have Fun
management skills in a fran-
tic effort to bridge the chasm
& Be Safe
between prehistoric culture
and the 20th Century with
the central goal of preserving
their independent livelihoods
on their own lands.
In the late 1960s while
Gene was working with
the “Auca” (now known as
Waodani), a polio virus hit
the tribe. For the fi rst time
Gene reported feeling blessed
in being a polio victim, as he
was uniquely suited to lead
the Woadani victims through
all the physical therapy
2390 Broadway, Baker City
routines he had learned years
541-523-5223
‘Gene’ Zacharias
Formerly of Haines, 1936-2019
18, of 880 Elm St., 11:15 p.m.
Tuesday, at Fourth Street and
Washington Avenue; jailed.
PROBATION VIOLATION
(Baker County Circuit Court
warrant): George Patrick Wesley,
44, of 2323 Third St., 2:51 p.m.
Monday, at the jail where he was
being held on other charges; he
later was granted a conditional
release.
Oregon State Police
FAILURE TO DRIVE WITHIN
LANE and DRIVING UNIN-
SURED: Kaitlan M. Galvan, 21, of
Haines, 7:09 p.m. Sept. 13, on In-
terstate 84, about 10 miles south
of Baker City; police said Galvan
was traveling eastbound in a
Ford Taurus when the vehicle left
the highway and rolled at least
twice. The crash damaged about
100 feet of Oregon Department
of Transportation fence. Galvan
and her two passengers, Jacob
Anthony Galvan, 40, and Frank
Nathan McNair, 39, of Baker City,
all declined medical treatment,
police said. They were transport-
ed from the scene by a friend.
When he wasn’t preaching,
Gene could often be found
driving some sort of farm
implement or working in the
woods somewhere. His most
prized possession, next to his
Bible, was a John Deere Gator
given to him by his brother,
Bob.
Gene loved holding grand-
children in his lap and driving
them around in that Gator.
Survivors include his
beloved wife, Gwen, daughter,
Gloria Zacharias Steele, and
her husband, Bill Steele, all of
Salem; sons, Timothy W., and
his wife, Karen, of Redmond,
and Mark V. of Baker City;
brothers, Bob of Joseph,
William “Bill” of Oregon
City and John of Salem; and
sister, Patricia “Pat” of Salem;
11 grandchildren, 11 great-
grandchildren, and two more
greats ‘en route’ for whom he
faithfully prayed for daily.
The family asks that in lieu
of fl owers, memorial contri-
butions be made to Shriners
or March of Dimes, and that
people ensure their children
and grandchildren are im-
munized.
“I would not want anybody
to deal with what I have,”
Gene said. “It makes me
want to cry to see these little
ones that are being exposed
to things no one would get
if they would only be vacci-
nated.”
Baker County Sheriff
OREGON STATE PAROLE
BOARD WARRANT: Michael Allen
Payne, 36, transient, 4:53 p.m.
Monday, at the sheriff’s offi ce;
jailed.
Best Friends of Baker
Saturday Market
COUNCIL
Continued from Page 1A
Councilor Randy
Schiewe was absent
Tuesday.
Warner told councilors
that his staff report in
their packet was mistaken
in estimating the poten-
tial savings to the city if
he continued to work after
retiring from the Oregon
Public Employees Retire-
ment System (PERS).
Warner wrote that the
city would save about
$33,000 in contributions
to his retirement account.
But he told councilors
Tuesday that the savings
would be about $6,000 per
year.
“I thought if you retired
before December 31st of
2019 the city wouldn’t
have to pay the defi ned
benefi t piece of the PERS,
they are now saying that
any retiree that is hired
back will pay regardless
of when they retired,”
Warner said.
“I think it’s a good thing
for me, it’s not as good
a thing for the city now
but it still saves the city
money,” he said.
In other business
Tuesday:
• Warner said the city
will fi nalize its purchase
of property for a new
wastewater lagoon on
Thursday.
• Gary McManus,
chairman of the Sally’s
Addition Homeowners
Association in southwest
Baker City near the city’s
water reservoir, asked
the city to pave 75 to 100
yards of Indiana Avenue
near Reservoir Road.
McManus said there is
heavy traffi c on the street,
which has been chip-
sealed but not paved.
• Penny Rienks of
Baker City said she’s con-
cerned about the number
of cats roaming free.
“People say cats need
to be allowed to run free,”
Rienks said. “Allowing
cats to run free puts the
cats at risk from dis-
ease and it irritates the
citizens.”
Rienks suggested fol-
lowing Australia’s law re-
quiring cats to be licensed,
fi tted with a computer
tracking chip, be spayed
or neutered and be subject
to a curfew.
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