2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019
DEQ fines Huntington couple $48,700
agency would have issued a
single penalty, rather than
The Oregon Department of two, had the couple been
Environmental Quality has
married.
fi ned a Huntington couple a
St. Clair noted that the
total of $48,700 for burning
complaints allege separate
an abandoned house one of
actions — that McCue, as
them owned in Huntington
the legal owner of the home,
without properly dealing
asked Young to burn the
with housing materials that structure, and that he actu-
contained asbestos.
ally did the burning.
The state agency on Oct.
McCue said she and Young
16 fi ned Tracy Jean McCue,
hope to meet with DEQ of-
who owned the home at 145 fi cials in December to discuss
Jefferson St., $22,450.
the situation.
The same day the DEQ
McCue said they will
fi ned Travis Young $26,250.
decide after that meeting
Both fi nes involved the
whether to appeal the fi nes.
same Feb. 24, 2019, incident
She doesn’t dispute the
in which Young burned the
basic elements of the DEQ’s
partially collapsed home at
complaints.
145 Jefferson St.
McCue said the roof of
McCue said she was both
her house at 145 Jefferson
surprised by the fi ne, and
collapsed under the weight
upset because although she
of the unusually deep snow
and Young have been a couple early in 2017.
for 19 years, they were fi ned
McCue said she had the
separately.
power disconnected to the
Anzie St. Clair, who works home, but over the next two
for the DEQ, said it’s not
years people had broken into
certain whether or not the
and vandalized the structure.
“It was very unsafe,” said
McCue, who worried that
a child might be hurt while
trespassing.
She said a Huntington of-
fi cial told Young that some-
thing needed to be done about
the house.
McCue said she asked
Young to burn it.
Only later did she learn
that a resident had reported
the incident to DEQ.
According to the com-
plaints against both McCue
and Young, the home’s ce-
ment board siding “contained
25% of chrysotile asbestos by
weight.”
Burning that siding, ac-
cording to the complaint, “re-
leases asbestos fi bers into the
air which, when uncontrolled
can settle out including onto
nearby surfaces.”
The DEQ also alleges that
from the day the house was
burned, Feb. 24, 2019, until
about April 15, 2019, burned
debris, including partially
burned siding, “was present
uncovered at the site of the
(home).”
McCue said that once she
learned about the DEQ’s
concerns, she hired a licensed
asbestos abatement contrac-
tor to remove debris from the
property.
“We’ve already spent close
to ($8,000) on this project,”
she said.
The DEQ complaints
against both McCue and
Young note that on May 15
and 16, the licensed contrac-
tor did that work.
McCue said she believed
that burning the home was
the most expedient way to
eliminate the hazard the
partially collapsed home
presented.
She said she didn’t realize
that state law required her
to hire someone to survey the
property for asbestos, and
to notify the DEQ at least
10 days before burning the
building.
“Hindsight is 20/20,” Mc-
Cue said.
SCHOOLS
at improving school climate.
• Hear a presentation by
Greg Mitchell, Baker High
School principal, on the applied
mathematics program in use
at BHS.
• Consider personnel reports
including the hiring of Alan
Glover, who has resigned as
District maintenance worker.
The Board is scheduled to
approve his hiring as head
groundskeeper, a confidential/
managerial position in the Dis-
trict Maintenance Department.
Classified new hires are
Zeila Baez, a paraprofessional
at South Baker Intermediate
and Emoke Marvin, Brooklyn
Primary secretary.
Extra-duty resignations in-
clude Cliff Demastus, BHS JV
basketball coach; Jeff Anderson,
BHS JV2 basketball coach;
Chelsea Hurliman, BHS varsity
volleyball coach; and Candice
Hoskins-Patton, BMS intramu-
ral basketball and track coach.
Amy Younger is an extra-
duty new hire, who will coach
the BHS JV2 girls basketball
team.
• Consider the first reading
of all district policies regarding
board governance, administra-
tion, facilities and negotiations.
• Consider approving an
adult meal price increase from
$1.70 to $2.60 for breakfasts
and from $3.10 to $3.90 for
lunches.
• Hear reports on a letter of
intent and executive summary
for a new international school
program from Tom Joseph,
director of specific secondary
programs, and a report on a
new school information system
from Geno Bates, South Baker
principal.
• Approve listing two pianos
from the BHS music depart-
ment as surplus.
By Jayson Jacoby
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR
THURSDAY, NOV. 21
■ Baker Rural Fire Protection District Board: 5:30 p.m. at
the Pocahontas Fire Station.
■ Baker School Board: 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers at City
Hall, 1655 First St.
FRIDAY, NOV. 22
■ Baker Community Orchestra: 7 p.m., Baker High School
Auditorium, 2500 E St.; free admission; everyone welcome.
■ Baker City Golf Board: 8 a.m., Conference Room
upstairs at City Hall, 1655 First St.
TUESDAY, NOV. 26
■ Baker City Council: 7 p.m., City Hall, 1655 First St.
THURSDAY, NOV. 28
■ Thanksgiving Day.
FRIDAY, NOV. 29
■ National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Family Fun
Day: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center 5 miles east of Baker
City just off Highway 86; the event includes pioneer games,
tall tales from the Oregon Trail and a selfi e station; for $3 per
person, make your choice of three seasonal crafts to take
home; hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Nov. 30.
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
November 21, 1969
ONTARIO — The Huntington Locomotives jolted the
Weston Tigers with nine touchdowns and fi ve conversions
for a 64-20 win in the B-8 state semifi nals here Friday
afternoon.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
November 21, 1994
The seven home lots that comprise Baker City’s subdivi-
sion should be ready for sale soon.
The Baker City Council will hear an update at its meet-
ing Tuesday on the Quail Ridge Subdivision.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
November 20, 2009
An Oregon state wildlife biologist videotaped a pack of
at least 10 gray wolves last week on Forest Service land in
Wallowa County east of Joseph.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
November 21, 2018
Carly Annable, who received the second most votes in
the Baker City Council election Nov. 6 and was in line to
serve a four-year term, has taken a job in Western Oregon
and will not serve as a city councilor.
Baker County Clerk Cindy Carpenter said Monday that
Annable, 28, had contacted the clerk’s offi ce. Annable has
accepted a job in Independence, near Salem.
The Baker City charter requires that councilors live
within the city limits.
Annable’s move likely will have two effects on results
from the election, during which city voters chose four of
the seven councilors.
First, because Annable was not sworn in as a councilor
(the city charter states that newly elected councilors begin
their terms at the fi rst meeting in January following the
election), the fi fth-place fi nisher in the election likely will
replace her.
Based on unoffi cial results, that would be Doni Bruland,
53, who had 958 votes.
The sixth-place candidate is Daryl DeMoss, 43, who
received 951 votes.
The second effect has to do with which of the four
newly elected councilors will serve a two-year, rather than
a four-year, term.
O REGON L OTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Nov. 18
3 — 17 — 20 — 25 — 30 — 46
Next jackpot: $6.3 million
MEGA MILLIONS, Nov. 19
22 — 33 — 44 — 47 — 66
Mega
22
PICK 4, Nov. 19
• 1 p.m.: 1 — 2 — 1 — 4
• 4 p.m.: 9 — 9 — 1 — 8
• 7 p.m.: 1 — 0 — 0 — 4
• 10 p.m.: 4 — 6 — 2 — 2
Next jackpot: $208 million
LUCKY LINES, Nov. 19
WIN FOR LIFE, Nov. 18
6 — 12 — 30 — 39
1-8-9-14-17-22-25-30
lion from the District’s capital
projects fund.
Continued from Page 1A
The committee agreed on
The bond would be repaid in the scaled-back proposal after
10 years. The cost to taxpayers reviewing information the
would be about 66 cents per
District collected from surveys
$1,000 of assessed property
and public meetings after a pro-
value, Superintendent Mark
posed $48 million plan was deci-
Witty stated in a press release. sively rejected in the November
That would mean the owner of 2018 election. Those responding
a home assessed at $108,320
to questions about the last
(the median price of a home
plan’s failure said any new bond
in Baker County) would pay
should be smaller, and include a
$71.49 per year to support the shorter payback term as well as
levy, Witty said.
remodeling existing buildings
Money raised by the bond
as opposed to new construction.
measure would be combined
In other business, the Board
with a $4 million state match- will:
ing grant and $5 million from
• Honor Promise Students
the Baker School District for a of the Month: Lance Kerns of
total of $16.5 million.
Haines Elementary School and
Witty said the District’s
Lilly Gately of Baker Middle
contribution would include $3
School.
million to be contributed from
• Hear a presentation from
Student Success Act funds,
Haley Hueckman of New
approved last spring by the
Directions Northwest on the
Oregon Legislature, and $2 mil- Challenge Day program aimed
O BITUARY
Raymond Jones Sr.
Huntington, 1933-2019
Raymond Dale Jones Sr., 86, of Hun-
tington, died Nov. 15, 2019, at his home.
His funeral is scheduled at 9 a.m.
PST, Friday, Nov. 22, at the Huntington
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Hall.
Vault interment will take place afterward
at the International Order of Odd Fellows
(IOOF) Cemetery in Huntington.
Raymond was born on
Shirley Nixon, Raymond Jones Jr., LaVe-
March 16, 1933, at Wilson,
ra Jones and Wayne Jones; three brothers,
Oklahoma, to David Samuel
David Jones, Coy Jones and Riley Jones;
Jones and Ethel Etta Evans
fi ve grandchildren, 11 great-grandchil-
Jones. He married Lavenia
dren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Churchwell on Oct. 24, 1949,
He was preceded in death by his par-
Raymond ents; and two brothers, Billy and Clinton
at Portallas, New Mexico.
Jones
The couple moved to Hun-
Jones.
tington 26 years ago.
Condolences may be sent to the family
Survivors include his four children:
at Haren-Wood.com
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Lewis Felix Warren: 91, of
Baker City, died Nov. 16, 2019.
Interment will take place at 11:30
a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Mount
Hope Cemetery in Baker City.
Afterward there will be a funeral,
also on Saturday, Nov. 23, begin-
ning at 12:30 p.m. at the Baker
City Christian Church, 675 High-
way 7 in Baker City. There will be
a reception at the church after the
service. Memorial contributions
in honor of Lewis may be made
to Missions of Hope International
through Gray’s West & Co. Pio-
neer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.,
Baker City, OR 97814. To light a
candle for Lewis or to leave a
condolence for his family, go to
www.grayswestco.com
John M. Fouts: 71, of Baker
City, died Nov. 13, 2019, at his
residence at Settler’s Park Assist-
Next jackpot: $17,000
S ENIOR M ENUS
ed Living Community. Arrange-
ments are under the direction
of Gray’s West & Co. To light a
candle in memory of John, or to
leave a condolence for his family,
go to www.grayswestco.com
Donald Massey: 61, of Port-
land, died Nov. 15, 2019, at his
home. There will be a celebration
of his life in July 2020. Memorial
contributions my be made to the
Haines United Methodist Church
through Gray’s West & Co. Pio-
neer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.,
Baker City, OR 97814. To light a
candle in memory of Donald or
to leave a condolence for the
family, go to www.grayswestco.
com
FUNERAL PENDING
■ THURSDAY: Roasted turkey, stuffi ng and gravy, cranberry
sauce, green beans, roll, broccoli-bacon salad, dessert
■ FRIDAY: Barbecue ribs, macaroni and cheese, mixed
vegetables, roll, coleslaw, cheesecake
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
winners
Violett May Caviness: Her
graveside memorial service will
take place Friday, Nov. 22, at 1:30
p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Pastor Tim Fisher of Elkhorn
Baptist Church will offi ciate. After
the service, friends are invited
to join the family for a celebra-
tion of her life at the Baker City
Eagles Lodge, 2935 H St. To light
a candle in memory of Violet,
or to leave a condolence for her
family, go to www.grayswestco.
com
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Crime reports
FIRST-DEGREE CRIMINAL MIS-
CHIEF: In the 2600 block of Baker
Street, 12:08 p.m. Monday; Elcine
Hutton, 76, of Baker City, reported
tires on her vehicle were slashed.
FIRST-DEGREE CRIMINAL
MISCHIEF and THIRD-DEGREE
THEFT: In the 1900 block of Clark
Street; Kathleen Mitchell, 89, of
Baker City, reported Friday that a
vandal cut and removed 10-feet
of ether net cable and the shears
used to cut it from her property;
police said the total value of the
loss was estimated at $55.
Week of November 11th Best Friends of Baker
Saturday Market
Terry Schlaich
Missed 1
Wins $25
John Heriza
Missed 1, Beat Tiebreaker
Wins $15
Doug Schimke
Missed 1, Missed Tiebreaker
Wins $10
Tie-Breaker:
Navy 20 @ Notre Dame 52
Open EVERY Saturday 8 AM - 2 PM
DONATE BAGS OF UNOPENED
PET FOOD AND GET 10% OFF!
2950 Church St, Baker City (fi rst left after Broadway turns into 10th)
We accept debit, credit, cash & checks!
Donations accepted Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 9-1
(All proceeds benefi t the animals of Baker County)