FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
L OCAL B RIEFING
Police K9 program fundraiser Dec. 14
Residents could lose
food stamps this April
What’s New At
The Library
• 2400 Resort St.
FICTION
• “The Last Romantics,”
Tara Conklin
• “Old Newgate Road,”
Keith Scribner
• “Paranoid,” Lisa
Jackson
• “Backlash,” Brad Thor
• “At the Wolf’s Table,”
Rosella Postorino
By Dick Mason
The (La Grande) Observer
LA GRANDE — Some food
stamp recipients in Baker
and Union counties could lose
their benefi ts due to a new
federal rule set to take effect
April 1, 2020.
The rule will reduce the
food stamp benefi ts of able-
bodied adults 18 to 49 who
have no dependents if they
are not working or receiving
training at least 20 hours a
week.
Those who fall into this
category will not be allowed
to receive food stamp benefi ts
for more than three months
in a three-year period. The
rule means that at least
19,000 food stamp recipients
in Oregon could lose their
food stamp benefi ts, accord-
ing to a news release sent out
Friday by the Oregon Depart-
ment of Human Services.
This would be at least 3% of
Oregon food stamp recipients.
DHS statistics indicate
through June of this year an
average of 3,384 people in
Baker County received food
stamps each month — 3% of
this total would mean about
102 county residents would
no longer be eligible.
In Union County, 4,951
people received food stamps
each month — 3% of this
total is 149, meaning nearly
NONFICTION
• “A Pilgrimage to Eter-
nity,” Timothy Egan
• “Trump Vs. China,”
Newt Gingrich
• “The Rise of Wolf 8,”
Rick McIntyre
• “Touched by the Sun,”
Carly Simon
• “Sam Houston & the
Alamo Avengers,” Brian
Kilmeade
DVDS
• “Game of Thrones,
Season 8” (Drama)
• “How To Train Your
Dragon: Homecoming”
(Family)
• “The Party” (Comedy)
• “Ready or Not” (Hor-
ror)
• “Renoir” (Drama)
HOURS
• Monday through
Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
150 Union County residents
could lose their food stamps,
now offi cially known as
Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP)
benefi ts.
Wallowa County has an
average of 988 food stamp
recipients a month, and
Umatilla County has 15,075
recipients. Based on the 3%
formula, among those who
could lose their food stamp
benefi ts would be at least 30
people in Wallowa County
and at least 452 in Umatilla
County.
Audrey Smith, manager of
the Community Connection
of Northeast Oregon’s re-
gional food bank, based in La
Grande, said she believes the
new rule could have a dire
impact on Northeast Oregon
residents.
“I’m very worried about
how our houseless population
might be impacted,” Smith
said.
She noted the new rule
means people who are strug-
gling to get enough to eat and
do not have a residence are
not in a position to success-
fully obtain the employment
they will need to retain their
SNAP benefi ts.
“Being hungry and not hav-
ing a home address does not
help you ace a job interview,”
Smith said, noting people are
not at their best when they do
not have adequate nutrition.
Smith said people who do
not have homes will also be
hit hard by this rule because
they do not have the ability to
cook or store food, so they will
have to buy more expensive
ready-to-eat food items.
The new SNAP rule will
apply only to those who are
“able-bodied,” but Smith said
those who appear to be well
and capable of working are
not always in a position to
hold down a job.
“They may have hidden
disabilities, which may keep
them from being eligible for
jobs,” she said.
Smith also said this will
especially impact individuals
living in smaller communi-
ties. For example, the food
pantries in Union County’s
smaller towns are often open
only one day a month, while
in La Grande they are open
once a week.
Recipients of SNAP bene-
fi ts in Union, Wallowa, Baker
and Umatilla counties receive
an average of less than $4 a
day. The average SNAP ben-
efi t amount in Union County
each month is $113.18.
The average is $114.69 in
Wallowa County, $112.40 in
Baker County, and $110.44 in
Umatilla County, according
2019 DHS statistics.
Lostine logging project to Appeals Court
By Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-
peals was slated to hear oral arguments
Thursday regarding the destiny of the
Lostine Corridor Public Safety Project.
The hearing was set in Seattle.
The approximately 2,100-acre forest
treatment project, purported by the U.S.
Forest Service to aid in protecting both
campers and corridor residents from
wildfi re, was highly controversial from
the start.
Nearly as soon as the project was an-
nounced in 2017, environmental groups
Greater Hells Canyon Council and
Oregon Wild used legal means to try to
thwart the project. The groups fi led an
appeal to the project in May of 2017,
essentially calling it a thinly disguised
commercial logging venture.
The groups also accused the USFS of
skirting National Environmental Policy
Act regulations by improperly labeling
the project with a “categorical exclusion”
moniker to avoid formal environmental
analysis of the project.
Wallowa County applied for and
received status as an intervenor in the
case, which allows it to act as a third
party.
The environmental groups lost the ini-
POWER LINE
surance... that the spread of
existing weed infestations is
Continued from Page 1A
prevented.”
Two La Grande groups
In its response, Idaho
last month fi led a lawsuit in Power, referring to the coun-
federal court seeking to block ty’s claim that the noxious
the B2H project. The plain-
weed protections are insuf-
tiffs, the Stop B2H Coalition fi cient, describes the county’s
and Greater Hells Canyon
contention as “inaccurate,
Council, contend the Bureau unsubstantiated, and lacks
of Land Management and
specifi city.” The noxious weed
U.S. Forest Service, which in plan, Idaho Power writes, is
2017 approved a proposed
“a highly developed plan with
route for the line, failed to
suffi cient detail...”
properly review the potential
County offi cials also argue
environmental effects of the
that Idaho Power should be
project.
required to pay for a security
Idaho Power is not a defen- bond, in place for 10 years
dant in the lawsuit.
after the line is built, to
Baker County offi cials are “secure its weed management
among those who submitted obligations.”
written comments regard-
Idaho Power offi cials
ing the Council’s draft order
refused the county’s request
released on May 22, 2019.
for a security bond, writing
Among the topics county
that the county’s request “as-
offi cials addressed are what
sumes, without substantive
they see are inadequate pro- evidence or specifi city, that
tections against the spread of the implementation of Idaho
noxious weeds resulting from Power’s Noxious Weed Plan
the power line.
will be ineffective.”
The county requested “as-
The Boise company had
VFW Christmas &
Awards Dinner
Friday,
December 20th
5 PM
Main Course:
Turkey & all the stuffi ngs
Please bring desserts, side dishes and salads
Come meet our “Voice of Democracy”
and “Patriot’s Pen” winners!
tial hearing presided over by Magistrate
Patricia Sullivan in District Court. A
further appeal to U.S. District Judge Mi-
chael Simon upheld Sullivan’s decision.
Undeterred, the environmental
groups went up the ladder and appealed
Simon’s decision to the court of appeals.
Although preliminary work had started
on the project, the groups also fi led an
emergency motion for injunction to stop
the work ahead of the appeals court
hearing.
Both the USFS and Wallowa County
fi led their opposition to the injunction
request. The court rejected the emer-
gency injunction without comment.
a similar response to Baker
County’s comments regarding
the potential visual effects of
the power line.
The county writes that
“Baker County is known for
its scenic quality, and a 500
kV transmission line will be
detrimental to those qualities,
which will in turn harm both
the Baker County tourism
industry and the scenic quali-
ties residents enjoy.”
In response, Idaho Power
offi cials write: “Idaho Power
respectfully disagrees with
the county’s statement that
a number of the resources in
Baker County will be signifi -
cantly impacted. Idaho Power
analyzed potential impacts to
scenic resources using a thor-
ough, reasoned methodology
developed by visual resources
experts.”
County offi cials also
contend that the draft order
doesn’t require Idaho Power
to do enough to reduce the
risk of wildfi res that could be
sparked by crews building
the line.
“Given the high fi re risk
and the minimal available
public services, (Idaho Power)
needs a more robust Fire
Prevention and Suppression
Plan,” county offi cials write.
In their response, Idaho
Power offi cials write that the
company would try to con-
tract with private fi refi ghting
companies if it can’t reach
an agreement with a public
agency to provide fi refi ghting
response during construc-
tion.”
The Stop B2H Coalition
also submitted extensive com-
ments to the draft order, one
of which questions whether
Idaho Power has even justi-
fi ed the need for the power
line under the Energy Facility
Siting Council’s “Least Cost
Plan Rule.”
Idaho Power offi cials
dispute that claim, writing:
“The commenter’s argument
is incorrect as a matter of law
and of fact.”
Tickets are available for the Baker City Police De-
partment’s fourth-annual fundraiser for its K9 Drug
Prevention program. The event will be Saturday, Dec.
14, at 4 p.m. at the Baker County Event Center, 2600
East St. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for kids 6 to
12 and free for kids under 6. Tickets are available at
the Police Department, 1768 Auburn Ave., at Barley
Brown’s Tap House and Thatcher’s Ace Hardware.
Durkee Christmas program Dec. 15
DURKEE — A Christmas children’s program and
a potluck are set for Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Durkee
School. The annual potluck starts at 4:30 p.m., and
will be followed by the program. Santa Claus will also
make an appearance.
Local BMCC students earn honors
More than a dozen Baker County students earned
academic honors for the fall 2019 term at Blue Moun-
tain Community College
President’s List (GPA of 3.75 to 4.0)
O’Keeya Brown, James Dunlap, Tammy Fry, Chris-
topher Kyriss, Elisabeth Munsell, Taylor Price, Rachel
Talbor, Amelia Wentz, Tiana Williams
Vice President’s List (GPA of 3.5 to 3.74)
Cierra Bork, Dallas Hardesty, Deanna Johnson,
Kelly Shank
Democrats plan holiday party Dec. 19
The Baker County Democrats will not be having
their monthly meeting at Rogers Fellowship Hall as
usual. They will instead be having a holiday party at
the home of treasurer Ramon Lara. Dinner will began
at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19.
If you wish to attend call Peter Hall at 541-519-
7274.
Bazaar supports Upward Sports program
A Last Chance Bazaar that supports the Upward
Sports Program is set for Dec. 20 and 21, from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. both days, in the Family Life Center at the
Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes
Lane. Lunch options will be provided by the Upward
Sports Program.
Lane restriction
continues at
Ladd Canyon
The Oregon Department of Transportation will
continue the Interstate 84 westbound lane restrictions
through the Ladd Canyon construction zone over the
next two to three weeks.
Motorists should slow down in this area and be
prepared for congestion 10 miles east of La Grande be-
tween mileposts 273 and 270, from the top of the steep
downhill grade to the bottom. The two eastbound lanes
in this area will not be impacted and remain open.
“We had planned to remove the westbound lane re-
strictions by November, but discovered late in October
some unexpected conditions,” Mike Remily, ODOT proj-
ect manager, said in a press release. “The fi nal 120-foot-
long section of the new Brush Creek alignment we
are constructing was supposed to have bedrock, but
it didn’t. The solution is to construct a concrete lined
channel, which required one lane to remain closed for
part of December.”
Brush Creek is currently routed along a temporary
alignment in the project area which includes a section
of pipe not large enough to handle increased water
volumes anticipated in the spring.
“The creek detour we created to accommodate con-
struction was never meant to remain in place through
the winter and won’t be able to handle springtime wa-
ter fl ows,” Remily said. “We need to complete the Brush
Creek realignment now and our contractor, Knife River
Construction, is putting in the extra time needed to get
the work done as soon as possible. We plan to have the
freeway completely open by December 21.”
The project, which will also include construction
of a third lane on the uphill grade and replacing an
ice-prone bridge with a box culvert, is more than half
fi nished, according to ODOT. The third lane, intended
to reduce congestion due to slow traffi c, will be built in
2020.
Hop e You r Christmas
Tur ns ou t just right!
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Denture
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is here to help you!
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Go to our website at www.elkhorndenture.com to purchase Sparkle Denture Cleaner
Come see us for a free consultation.
C u r t i s Ta t l o c k , L D
2535 Myrtle St. • Baker City
(541) 523.4747 or 1(877) 523.4747
Here’s our foolproof recipe for a perfect holiday season:
Take One Part Cheer
Add Two Parts Joy
Throw in Our Very Best Wishes
And Serve In Generous Portions To A Fine Mix of People Like You!
Sweet tidings and many thanks to all.
Open 6 AM - 3 PM Christmas Eve
8 AM - 5 PM Christmas Day
221 Bridge St, Baker City • 541-523-5844