2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019
McLay named superintendent of
Powder River Correctional Facility
B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16
■ Baker County Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m.,
Courthouse, 1995 Third St.
■ Baker City Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.,
Downtown at the Court Avenue Plaza.
FRIDAY, OCT. 18
■ Live Music by Keith Taylor: Ragtime piano, 4:30 p.m. to
5:30 p.m., Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, 2020 Auburn
Ave.; no charge; continues most Fridays.
MONDAY, OCT. 21
■ Baker School Board: 6 p.m., Council chambers at City
Hall, 1655 First St.; date moved from usual third Thursday.
TUESDAY, OCT. 22
■ Baker City Council: 7 p.m., City Hall, 1655 First St.
FRIDAY, NOV. 1
■ First Friday Art Shows: Baker City art galleries are open
late to showcase the month’s new artwork; opening times
vary between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Crossroads Carnegie
Art Center, Peterson’s Gallery and others.
MONDAY, NOV. 4
■ Haines Fire Protection District Board: 6 p.m. at the
Haines Library. (New time begins this month.)
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
October 10, 1969
A winning touch was added to homecoming weekend
at Pine-Eagle High School Friday afternoon as the Pine-
Eagle Spartans skinned the Union Bobcats by a score of
27-18 in Halfway.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
October 10, 1994
Orville Rohner, a Baker City dairy producer who died
Friday, will be among those honored as 1994 Diamond
Pioneers by the Oregon State University College of Agri-
cultural Sciences Oct. 19 in Corvallis.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
October 9, 2009
Opponents of what’s been called a “rural lights out”
or “dark sky” ordinance packed Thursday night’s County
Planning Commission meeting to testify and urge the
commission to drop it from a proposed revision of the
county’s subdivision ordinance.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
October 10, 2018
Baker County is over nine months late in submitting
its 2016-2017 fi scal year fi nancial audit to the state, and
the 2017-18 audit won’t be fi nished by the Dec. 31, 2018,
deadline either.
County offi cials say the delay has to do with the county
contracting with a different accounting fi rm to do the
audit.
The county’s tardiness has triggered a three-year-old
state law that allows the state to withhold 10 percent of
some revenue, such as cigarette and liquor taxes, that is
distributed to counties and cities.
The county receives about $81,500 per year in liquor
taxes and about $15,000 in cigarette taxes.
Amy Dale, the municipal audit manager for the Oregon
Secretary of State’s audit division, said Baker County has
been subject to the 10-percent revenue sharing withhold-
ing law since Sept. 1 of this year.
She did not know how much money, if any, has been
withheld. Dale said some agencies distribute revenue
sharing monthly, while others do so four times per year.
The county operates on a fi scal year that runs from July
1 to June 30.
O REGON L OTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Oct. 7
5 — 20 — 25 — 27 — 36 — 37
Next jackpot: $3.6 million
MEGA MILLIONS, Oct. 8
5 — 8 — 10 — 17 — 48
Mega
23
PICK 4, Oct. 8
• 1 p.m.: 6 — 1 — 9 — 9
• 4 p.m.: 1 — 8 — 1 — 1
• 7 p.m.: 7 — 8 — 8 — 6
• 10 p.m.: 7 — 9 — 4 — 6
Next jackpot: $60 million
LUCKY LINES, Oct. 8
WIN FOR LIFE, Oct. 7
9 — 11 — 21 — 34
4-5-10-13-18-24-25-29
Tom McLay, who has worked as act-
ing superintendent of the
Powder River Correctional
Facility in Baker City
since December 2018, was
named superintendent
of the minimum-security
McLay
facility effective Oct. 1.
McClay started his
career with the Oregon Department of
Corrections in 2001 as a correctional
offi cer at the Snake River Correctional
Institution in Ontario. In July 2017
McLay was promoted to institution
security manager at Powder River.
“Tom brings a vast knowledge of solid
security practices and works collectively
with all institution partners and com-
munity stakeholders to ensure process-
es are followed and that PRCF contin-
O BITUARIES
Thomas Nichols
Formerly of Baker City, 1930-2019
Thomas G. Nichols, 88, a
former Baker City resident,
died Aug. 27, 2019, at his
home in Springfi eld, Oregon,
after an extended illness.
His memorial service will
take place Saturday, Oct. 12
at 1 p.m. at the Baker City
Christian Church, 675 High-
way 7, followed by a short
graveside service at Haines.
Tom was born on Dec. 3,
1930, to Ulwin and Elsie
Nichols. Tom grew up in Bak-
er and loved the surrounding
mountains where he spent
years fi shing, hunting, hiking
and camping.
In 1948, he married his
wife, Bernadine, and they
were blessed with four
children, Doug, Dan, Terry
and Cindi. He was employed
by Safeway for 13 years at
which time he resigned his
assistant manager position
and moved his family back
to Baker where he fi nished
his working career as a union
carpenter.
Tom is survived by his
wife of 70 years, Bernadine;
his sons, Doug and his wife,
Mary, of Hillsboro, and Terry
of Springfi eld; his son-in-law,
Rick Spriet of Springfi eld;
his brother and sister-in-
law, Gary and Kitty Nichols
of Vancouver, Washington,
and sisters-in-law, Mildred
Peterson of Baker City and
Fern Beck of Portland; eight
grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren; and
many nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death
by his mother and father, and
his daughter, Cindi Spriet.
‘Bill’ Knight
La Grande, 1934-2019
William “Bill” LeRoy
Knight, 85, of
La Grande, died
Oct. 1, 2019, at a
local care facility.
His Funeral
will be Saturday,
Bill Knight
Oct. 12 at 10
a.m. at Loveland
Funeral Chapel,
1508 Fourth St. in La Grande.
A lunch reception will follow
at Island City Hall. Friends
and family are welcome to
gather at Wendy and Kelly’s
home in North Powder any
time following the reception.
Bill was born May 12, 1934,
in Wallowa County to George
and Vera (Smith) Knight. The
family homesteaded on Eden
Bench at Troy. George was a
farmer along with his father,
William Joseph Knight. The
family moved to La Grande
in 1944 when Bill was 10 to
a farm his parents bought in
the Grande Ronde Valley. One
of his fondest memories was
riding out of Troy on horse-
back with his grandfather.
Since they had no way to
truck the three horses, they
saddled up two of them, put a
pack on the third and went by
the way of Lookout Mountain,
Elgin and Summerville in
three days. W. J. was about
83 years old at that time. He
lived to be 107.
Bill attended school at
La Grande from fi fth grade
until he graduated in 1952.
He rode the school bus until
he learned to drive and got
his car. High school students
didn’t have cars except for a
few farm kids. Since Bill was
a farm boy, he had a little
1930 Model coupe which he
later traded for a 1948 Stude-
baker coupe.
His fi rst job for someone
else was on top of Ladd Can-
yon in a house, doing miscel-
New Hope for Eastern Oregon Animals
Fundraising Banquet
Saturday, October 26th
Community Connection
2810 Cedar Street, Baker City
Spaghetti Dinner at 6 pm, followed by Auction
Tickets $15 adults, $12 youth age 12 & under
Tickets available at Betty’s Books
Proceeds benefi t Powder Pals dog &
Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Programs
Questions? Call 541-403-2710
Next jackpot: $13,000
S ENIOR M ENUS
■ THURSDAY: Beef tacos, Spanish rice, refried beans, fruit
cup, spice cake
■ FRIDAY: Barbecued ribs, scalloped potatoes, mixed
vegetables, roll, carrot-raisin salad, apple crisp
Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75 for
those under 60.
C ONTACT THE H ERALD
1668 Resort St.
Open Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone: 541-523-3673
Copyright © 2019
Fax: 541-833-6414
Regional publisher
Christopher Rush
crush@eomediagroup.com
Publisher
Karrine Brogoitti
kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.
com
Jayson Jacoby, editor
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Advertising email
ads@bakercityherald.com
Classifi ed email
classified@bakercityherald.com
Circulation email
circ@bakercityherald.com
ISSN-8756-6419
Serving Baker County since 1870
Published Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays except Christmas Day by the
Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media
Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807),
Baker City, OR 97814.
Subscription rates per month are:
$10.80; by mail $12.50.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker
City, OR 97814.
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Baker City, Oregon 97814
ues to be recognized as Oregon’s largest
drug and alcohol treatment provider
for adults in custody,” Colette S. Peters,
director of the Oregon Department of
Corrections, said in a press release.
Powder River houses about 366
inmates who are within four years of
release. It includes the 128-bed New
Directions drug and alcohol treatment
program.
winners
Week of October 2nd
William Hanks
Missed 2
Wins $25
Scott Martin
Missed 5, beat tiebreaker
Wins $15
Pat Guymon
Missed 5, missed tiebreaker
Wins $10
Tie-Breaker:
La Grande 34 @ Baker 21
laneous ranch duties at age
14. Bill worked for his father
during high school in the
Knight’s tire shop which was
located on Adams Avenue at
the time (where the Chevron
station is now.) He would
work until after dark, recap-
ping tires. The tire shop later
moved out to Island City,
eventually becoming Larry’s
Tire Service. He continued to
work there until he was laid
off during a recession in 1962.
Bill was a member of the
National Guard from shortly
after high school until 1961.
Bill married Dolores Jean
Humlicek on Aug. 30, 1953,
at Milton-Freewater, and
they made their home in La
Grande. They had three chil-
dren, Brian, Kemit and Lisa.
Brian Merrill passed away
in 1956. Bill and Dolores
divorced in 1981.
Bill became interested in
learning to fl y a helicopter
and have his own business
after his father laid him off in
’62. He helped with the local
forest fi refi ghting crews while
with the National Guard and
got the idea of the helicopter
being used for agriculture
here in the valley. He went
to Yakima, Washington, and
bought his fi rst helicopter,
a Bell 47-D1 bubble nose,
in 1963 where he began his
training. While learning
to fl y, Bill worked in south
central Washington for a few
months, learning how to mix
farm chemicals and other
aspects of Ag spraying. He
started Rambling Rotors, Inc.
in 1963 at the age of 28.
By 1985, Rambling Rotors
Inc. had seven Helicopters
and 16 employees. He was
the FBO for the Union
County Airport for one year.
Bill also founded the Life-
guard III Air Ambulance at
the Pendleton Fire Depart-
ment. Bill was well-known as
an outstanding pilot and his
abilities were not just limited
to only agricultural fl ying.
He fl ew many jobs with
OTEC, ODF&W, BLM, Forest
Service, many rescue mis-
sions and countless others.
His helicopters were con-
tracted to fl y camera crews
on the movie sets of “Paint
Your Wagon”, “Samson and
Delilah” and the “Incredible
Journey 2.”
He married Hilda (Vander-
wall) Haufl e on Jan. 7, 1986,
at Stateline, Nevada. He
became a great fatherly infl u-
ence to Hilda’s daughters,
Wendy and Amanda. He
and Hilda made their home
in North Powder, where they
owned a farm and raised
Belted Galloway cattle. Bill
loved hunting, fi shing and
boating.
In 1991, Bill experienced
some heart complications
and was concerned about
continuing his medical certi-
fi cation to fl y. This was when
he had his fi rst thoughts of
retirement or other options.
In 2008, Bill had a rup-
tured brain aneurism that
changed his and everyone’s
lives tremendously.
Bill was a son, dad, mentor,
grandfather, great-grand-
father and more… Often
referred to as “one of the best
pilots many have known.” He
will be missed, but he WILL
be remembered.
He is survived by his
wife, Hilda; his children:
Kemit and his wife, Linda
Knight of Starkey, Lisa and
her husband, Leigh Wright
of Island City, Wendy and
her husband, Kelly Secl, of
North Powder and Amanda
and her husband, Travis
Bowman of La Grande; 11
grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren; his
siblings, Georgia Danly of
Walla Walla, Barbara Waliser
of La Grande, Gary Knight
of Milton-Freewater, Marilyn
and Duane Staat of Wood-
burn, and Linda and Corky
Walker of Hermiston.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, George and
Vera (Smith) Knight; his son,
Brian; and his brothers-in-
law, Harry Danly and Larry
Waliser.
Online condolences may be
made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com
BAXTER
“I grew up around
the law and gained
an appreciation for
it. I understand the
importance of the fair
application of the law for
all people.”
Continued from Page 1A
He has served as a deputy
district attorney in Union
and Wallowa counties for the
past seven years. During that
time he has developed a close
relationship with law en-
forcement offi cers throughout
Eastern Oregon, he said.
“I have been encouraged by
law enforcement offi cers, law-
yers, public offi cials and citi-
zens to run for this position,”
Baxter stated in the press
release. “I have spoken with
the district attorney about
his offi ce and I am gathering
input from as many sources
as possible so that I can
continue the good work being
done by law enforcement.
“I actively welcome
information that will allow
us to do an even better job
of protecting the citizens of
Baker County in the future,”
he said.
Baxter’s father was sworn
in as the Baker County dis-
trict attorney on his seventh
birthday, he recalls.
“I grew up around the law
and gained an appreciation
for it. I understand the im-
— Greg Baxter
portance of the fair applica-
tion of the law for all people,”
he said. “I strive to handle
my criminal cases with com-
mon sense and dignity. I look
forward to the election in
May 2020.”
Baxter served a two-year
mission for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in Brazil from 2004
to 2006. He graduated from
Brigham Young University
in 2008. He attended and
graduated from Florida
Coastal School of Law in
2012.
Greg Baxter and his wife,
Kacey, have four children,
ages 11, 7, 5, and 2. He is an
active member of the Rotary
Club, coaches his children
in sports, and serves in his
church.
News of Record on Page 3A