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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2019)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 Planners to consider cell tower proposal 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 11, 1969 HUNTINGTON — Visiting St. Francis, crippled with the loss of some key players, was no match for the powerful Huntington Locomotives Friday afternoon, Huntington won 96-0. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald October 11, 1994 Two school programs were among eight to receive a total of $69,000 from the Baker County Commission on Children and Families in recent grant awards. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald October 12, 2009 The union that represents close to half of Baker City’s workers wants the City Council to change the union’s contract to make those employees eligible for overtime pay or comp time if they work longer than their normal daily shift. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald October 12, 2018 At 6:30 Thursday morning, with bright sunshine but temperatures in the upper 20s, shoppers eager to sample Baker City’s newest grocery store were already lining up outside Grocery Outlet. About two and a half hours later, when the store of- fi cially opened at 297 Campbell St., just east of Interstate 84, Jaye Green became the fi rst customer to walk through the door. Green, 62, said she had been planning to attend the opening for two months and knew that she wanted to be fi rst in line. She has lived in Baker for 12 years and would often drive to the La Grande Grocery Outlet for her grocer- ies. Green said the Baker store will now become her main place for grocery shopping. Green was hardly alone in braving the chilly morning to have a look at the store that opened almost exactly one year after local offi cials announced that the California grocery chain had decided to build in Baker City. When the doors opened around 9 a.m., the line of shop- pers stretched to Windmill Road. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, Oct. 9 2 — 12 — 13 — 20 — 22 — 30 Next jackpot: $3.8 million POWERBALL, Oct. 9 5 — 18 — 33 — 43 — 65 PB 2 Next jackpot: $90 million MEGA MILLIONS, Oct. 8 5 — 8 — 10 — 17 — 48 Mega 23 Next jackpot: $60 million WIN FOR LIFE, Oct. 9 29 — 45 — 46 — 64 PICK 4, Oct. 10 • 1 p.m.: 4 — 4 — 8 — 7 • 4 p.m.: 5 — 9 — 9 — 5 • 7 p.m.: 1 — 7 — 3 — 8 • 10 p.m.: 0 — 1 — 2 — 1 LUCKY LINES, Oct. 10 2-8-10-13-17-24-25-30 Next jackpot: $15,000 S ENIOR M ENUS ■ MONDAY: Salisbury steak, potatoes and gravy, succotash, biscuits, fruit cup, brownies ■ TUESDAY: Stuffed cabbage rolls, parslied red potatoes, carrots, bread, pea and onion salad, ice cream ■ 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 The Baker City Planning Commis- sion will have a public hearing Wednes- day, Oct. 16, to consider an application for a 70-foot-tall cell tower on the north side of D Street between East and Clark streets. The hearing is set for 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1655 First St. Verizon Wireless is the applicant. Carney and Deborah Lansford own the 2.12-acre property, which has a storage building business. The Lansfords’ property is zoned general-industrial. According to the conditional-use per- mit application, Verizon wants to build a 70-foot-tall “monopole style tower ... with new panel antennas, mw dishes, and tower & grand mounted associated equipment cabinets and diesel genera- tor.” The ground equipment would be within a fence, according to the applica- tion. According to the application, Verizon wants to build the tower “to remedy capacity and coverage challenges in city of Baker City. The (tower) will improve coverage to the city of Baker City. This site will add needed capacity to this area so that customers will receive better service and faster data speeds. The proposed antenna tip height of 70 (feet) is the minimum height needed for the effective functioning of the proposed antennas.” GRAFFITI Continued from Page 1A Adam Nilsson, president of the Baker City Skateboarding Association, which he orga- nized, stated in a letter from the Association issued Oct. 4 to the city, the school district and police that the skate park sustained one of the worst rashes of vandalism during August and September, which included “scrawled profanity, drug references, insults, and hateful propaganda, including several swastikas.” Bornstedt said the com- munity service project aimed at cleaning up the skate park was scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29. Nine days earlier, on Sept. 20, three of the athletes who had signed up for the project allegedly painted inappropriate graffi ti of their own at the park, which is near Sam-O Swim Center. A police offi cer observed the students painting and they subsequently were cited on charges of third-degree crimi- nal mischief, said Baker City Police Chief Ray Duman. The crime, a Class C misde- meanor, accuses the students of tampering or interfering with the property of another by acting “with intent to cause substantial inconvenience to the owner or to another person, and having no right to do so.” District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff declined to fi le charges against the students, said Staci Erickson, Baker County Juvenile Department director. Erickson said the decision was based on several factors. “They went ahead and cleaned it up like they said they would and it was an agreement between the Dis- trict Attorney’s Offi ce and the high school,” she said. Erickson said a coach also gave the student athletes “quasi-permission” to tag the park with the understanding they would clean it up later. The community service Chris Collins / Baker City Herald The ramp on the left was covered with paint. The ramp on the right is unpainted concrete. work by athletes has been im- plemented at the high school by Buell Gonzales, who is in his fi rst year as the school’s full-time athletic director. “This is something we’ve started since I’ve been here,” he said. “We want to give back to the community that sup- ports us.” Gonzales said the students thought that they weren’t causing a problem at the skate park because they knew they would be covering up all graffi ti in the near future. “These are three kids who never do that,” he said. “There are great kids who never get into trouble.” The students did face the consequences, however, Gon- zales said. “We handled it and we fol- lowed our policy,” he said. Gonzales spoke favorably about the students while acknowledging they violated athletic program policy with their actions. “They don’t go around and tag things,” Gonzales said of the students. “They come to school every day and they’re good citizens. They just made poor choices.” Bornstedt said she worked with the student athletes to fi nd a suitable paint to use to cover up graffi ti at the park. “I researched what we put down before we put it down,” Bornstedt said. The product she chose is used to paint concrete and driveways and is designed to be slip-resistant, she said. Eight gallons of paint were purchased at a cost of $32.98 a gallon. But Nilsson tried to stop the community service project because he says the paint used was not a good choice and has made the surface slippery and dangerous. Nilsson posted a “cease and desist notice” seeking a mora- torium of any modifi cation or manipulation of the skate park until further discussions could take place. The notice was posted at the skate park on Sept. 28, the day before the student athletes painted over both their own graffi ti and the older graffi ti. Nilsson also sent a com- plaint about the students’ painting over the graffi ti. The complaint serves as “offi cial notice” to the Baker 5J School District, Baker High School, Baker City Police Depart- ment and Michelle Owen, both individually and in her capacity as the Baker City Public Works director, of the Skateboarding Association’s intention to pursue a civil complaint against them. “I was just trying to do my best to follow through with what the skatepark kids had pleaded — that concrete surfaces not be painted un- necessarily,” Nilsson wrote in an email to the Herald on Thursday. Caleb Wilde serves as the Baker City Skateboarding Association’s secretary. Other board members, fi lling out the fi ve organizational slots are Damon Rose, Luke Brown and Nilsson’s wife, Upekala Wijayratne. Their goal is to raise money to pair with matching grants to be used to repair, expand and possibly move the skate park. Nilsson, 48, says he only started skateboarding last July when his nephews came for a visit. He became involved with Baker’s park as a way to comply with terms of his probation on a conviction for criminal trespassing at the former cement plant at Lime near Huntington. That incident took place on Aug. 1, 2017. Nilsson pleaded guilty to the third-degree criminal mischief charge on Nov. 20, 2017. A second charge of criminal trespassing while in possession of a fi rearm was dismissed in a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Offi ce. Nilsson was placed on bench probation for 364 days and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service work. The former Baker City Council member, who also served on the city’s Public Arts Commission, said he had been advised that his service on the city’s behalf could be used to fulfi ll the community service requirement. District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff disagreed and issued an order requiring Nilsson to explain why he hadn’t com- pleted the community service work in a qualifying program and to face possible revocation or an extension of the proba- tion period. The issue was resolved by extending Nilsson’s probation period another 30 days while he began working to clean up and make repairs at the skate board park, working with the city staff. Nilsson also is scheduled to return to Baker County Circuit Court to ask the court to reconsider his third-degree criminal mischief conviction. The hearing is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 28. N EWS OF R ECORD DEATHS John B. Kempfer: 83, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and formerly of Baker City, died Oct. 8, 2019. Mass of Christian burial will take place Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City. Father Suresh Kumar Telagani will offi ciate. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. To light a candle in memory of John, or to leave a condolence for his family, go to www.grayswestco.com FUNERALS PENDING William L. Knight: A celebra- tion of his life will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. in La Grande. The fam- ily prefers casual dress. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loveland funeralchapel.com Evan Simonski-Davis: A celebration of his life will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. in Baker City. In lieu of fl owers, memorial contributions can be made to the YMCA through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814. To light a candle in memory of Evan, or to leave a condolence for his family, go to www.grays westco.com William L. Knight: 85, of North Powder, died Oct. 1, 2019, at a local care facility. A celebration of his life will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. in La Grande. The family prefers casual dress. A full obituary will be published later. Marjorie Ann Miller: Memo- rial service will be Saturday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. at the North Powder Grange. To light a candle in memory of Marjorie, or to leave a condolence for her family, go to www.graywestco.com Andy Dean Dennis: There will be a celebration of his life Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at the Elkhorn Baptist Church, 3520 Birch St. To light a candle for Andy or to leave a condolence for the family, go to www.grayswestco.com. Casey Ingalls: A celebration of Casey’s life and memorial service will take place Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maxgiving Center, 7225 W. Franklin Road in Boise, with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one’s choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Service, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. POLICE LOG Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce VIOLATION OF RELEASE AGREEMENT: Ty Darrius Helfrich, 20, 390 E. Jefferson St., Hun- tington, 6:02 p.m. Thursday at E. Jefferson and Fourth Streets in Huntington; jailed. PROBATION VIOLATION: Bradley David Waldrop, 38, 1130 Dewey Ave., 8:04 a.m. Thursday at the Baker County Jail, where he was already in custody on proba- tion violation charges. FAILURE TO APPEAR (Umatilla County warrant): Melissa Marian Carey, 33, 2787 Third St., 9:51 a.m. Thursday at the Sheriff’s Offi ce. For information, contact your nearest collection facility. Union County ... City Garbage Service 3412 Hwy 30, La Grande 541.963.5459 Baker County ... Baker Sanitation 3048 Campbell Street, Baker City 541.523.2626 Wallowa County ... Wallowa County Public Works 619 Marr Pond Ln, Enterprise 541.426.3332