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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2020)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A L OCAL B RIEFING Boy Scouts picking up Christmas trees What’s New At The Library • 2400 Resort St. FICTION • “David Wolf mystery series,” Jeff Carson • “Darkdawn,” Jay Kristoff • “Sword of Kings,” Bernard Cornwell • “The Library of the Unwritten,” A. J. Hack- with • “A Cry from the Dust,” Carrie Stuart Parks NONFICTION • “I Am C-3PO,” An- thony Daniels • “How to Sell Your Art Online,” Cory Huff • “Grit & Grace,” Tim McGraw • “Face It,” Debbie Harry • “Exonerated,” Dan Bongino DVDS • “Abominable (Fam- ily) • “Ad Astra” (Sci-Fi) • “Downton Abbey : the Motion Picture” (TV series) • “It, Chapter Two” (Horror) • “Overcomer” (Drama) Tumbleweeds trap traffic Tri-City Herald ARREST Chamber awards banquet Jan. 11 The 90th annual Baker County Chamber of Com- merce Awards Banquet is set for Saturday, Jan. 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Tickets are $40 and are available at the Chamber, 490 Campbell St. More information is available by call- ing 541-523-5855. By Annette Cary RICHLAND, Wash. — Thousands of blowing tumbleweeds trapped cars driving on State Route 240 northwest of Richland on New Year’s Eve. The tumbleweeds were so deep and thick that the state Department of Transporta- tion had to bring out plow trucks to clear the roadway, according to the Washington State Patrol. The highway was closed for about 10 hours, from Tuesday evening through about 4:30 a.m. New Year’s Day. WSP Trooper Chris Thorson posted on Twitter about 8:30 p.m. that several cars had become trapped in tumbleweeds. One driver called the state patrol to report she had abandoned her car in a ditch and gotten a ride with an- other driver, but the tumble- weeds were so deep the state patrol had not been able to fi nd her car by 2:30 a.m. The state Department of Transportation plow trucks were leaving piles of the weeds along the roadsides 20 to 30 feet high in places, Thorson said. “No collisions. No injuries,” Local Boy Scouts will be picking up Christmas trees in Baker City on Saturday, Jan. 4. Residents should leave their tree at the curb or near the street. Dona- tions will be accepted. Farmers Market meeting set for Feb. 5 The Baker City Farmers Market will have its an- nual membership meeting on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Baker County Library, 2400 Resort St. Anyone who wants to help the market be successful in 2020 is welcome to join. OTEC changes design of monthly bills Washington State Patrol photo A monster pile of tumbleweeds forced a 10-hour closure of State Route 240 in Eastern Washington on New Year’s Eve, trapping several drivers before they could be freed by state Department of Transportation workers. Thorson posted about 2:30 a.m. “The plow truck driv- ers also did a great job of working around abandoned vehicles without hitting them, which was a daunting task as they were very hard to see in the thick brush.” After daylight, Depart- ment of Transportation workers found and unburied a car at the side of the high- way that had been hidden from sight after plowing topped the roof of the car with several feet of tumble- weeds. No one was in it. The road closure at its County grand jury. Gonyer is currently charged with Continued from Page 1A these crimes, totalling 20 separate Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce deputies counts related to the sexual assault of searched Gonyers’ property at 35002 a child: fi rst-degree rape; second-degree Stices Gulch Road, about 12 miles south rape; third-degree rape; fi rst-degree of Baker City, on Dec. 24, according to a sexual abuse, two counts; second-degree press release from the Sheriff’s Offi ce. sexual abuse, two counts; third-degree The Sheriff’s Offi ce applied for the sexual abuse, two counts; fi rst-degree search warrant after receiving a report sodomy, two counts; second-degree sod- on Dec. 12 regarding the sexual abuse omy, two counts; third-degree sodomy; of a minor. After conducting the search, second-degree unlawful sexual penetra- deputies learned that Gonyer was in tion, two counts; using a child in display Boise, and they worked with Idaho po- of sexually explicit conduct; luring a lice to arrange for Gonyer to be arrested. minor; and contributing to the sexual The case will next go to a Baker delinquency of a minor, two counts. peak was about 20 miles long. Lanes in both directions were closed from State Route 225 about 10 miles north- west of Richland to State Route 24. The National Weather Station reported wind gusts coming from the west at 30 to 40 mph throughout most of the night in the area. To the west of the closed section of road is the open land of the Hanford Reach National Monument; to the east is the production por- tion of the Hanford nuclear reservation. Eleven of the charges carry manda- tory minimum prison sentences upon conviction. They are each count of fi rst- degree sodomy, sexual abuse and rape, Class A felonies, eight years and four months in prison; using a child in dis- play of sexually explicit conduct, also a Class A felony, fi ve years and 10 months; and second-degree sodomy, sexual abuse and rape, Class B felonies, which carry mandatory minimum prison terms of six years and three months. The Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce was assisted by the Ada County Sheriff’s Of- fi ce, Idaho State Police, and the Boise VA Medical Center Police. Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative has changed the design of its monthly bills. Features of the new design include areas highlighted in red or yellow to make them easier to see. These include account number, total amount due, due date, remaining balance (if any) and the date on which power could be disconnected due to charges. The graph at the upper right corner of the bill, which shows each member’s energy usage over the past year, has been revised as well. More information is available on OTEC’s website, www.otec.coop, by clicking on “Sample Bill.” Programs at Interpretive Center The BLM’s Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is open Thursday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a variety of programs and pioneer demonstrations scheduled. The Center, just north of Highway 86 about 5 miles east of Baker City, offers a pioneer story program at 2 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, and pioneer demon- strations Fridays and Sundays at 2 p.m. A ranger-led program, “Oregon Fever!” is offered at 11 a.m. each day Thursday through Sunday. The Center’s network of 4.2 miles of paved trails is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trails are not cleared of snow. RODEO Continued from Page 1A “This is a big deal for our community, and we just didn’t want it to go away,” Pierce said. “We believe we have the right person who can take this horse by the reins and take us forward, hopefully into greener pastures.” The goal, Pierce said, is that “you’ll get the same show you’ve always got, if not better.” Jason Mattox of Rose- burg started the Coastal Farm & Ranch Challenge of Champions Tour (cct- bullriding.com) The company has been producing bull-riding events for more than a decade, according to its website. Variety of new laws now in effect in Oregon By Jade McDowell East Oregonian Several new Oregon laws take effect with the start of the new year, including mea- sures aimed at making voting as easy as possible for Oregon voters. Others address plastic bags, revenge porn and mari- juana convictions. When a new year starts, it can be easy to miss the memo on changes to the law. Ignorance of the law is not a defense for breaking it, how- ever, so here are a few handy guidelines for 2020: Sales tax In July, Washington stopped granting Oregonians an exemption to sales tax at the register. But as of Jan. 1, Oregon residents who have been saving their receipts can fi le a tax return for the amount of sales tax they paid to Washington in 2019. To qualify, applicants must be a resident of a state that does not have sales tax, must have purchased the items for use outside of Washing- ton, and must be requesting reimbursement for more than $25 in taxes paid (at 6.5% state sales tax, that means spending at least $384.62 on qualifying items). They will have to submit receipts and information about the time and place of each purchase, in addition to proof of residency. Each person is only allowed to apply for reimbursement once per calendar year, for taxes paid in the previous year. According to the Washing- ton Department of Revenue’s media relations offi ce, the necessary forms will go online in January under the “gen- eral public” heading on their can hold them back from be allowed to force employees obtaining jobs and housing. to sign nondisclosure agree- After Jan. 1, people who ments restricting them from have “qualifying marijuana talking about harassment or convictions” can petition the discrimination they experi- court to set aside their con- enced at the company. Plastic bags viction and seal the record, Starting Jan. 1, stores making it as if it never hap- Minimum wage will no longer be able to give Minimum wage will in- pened. As long as the convic- out single-use plastic bags tion fi ts under the defi nition crease once again in July, as Calling 911 at check-out, although bags laid out by the law, the court part of a law passed by the Using the police as a weap- must grant the motion. legislature in 2016 that set used for meat and produce Voting on to harass someone will be will be exempt. Stores will up regular increases through A qualifying conviction In 2020, Oregon will con- a risky move starting Jan. 1, means the person was also be required to charge 2022. This year, minimum tinue its quest to make voting as a law takes effect allowing found to possess less than 1 wage in Oregon will increase at least 5 cents per bag for people to seek civil dam- paper, reusable bags or other as convenient as possible by ounce of marijuana or other to $12 in “standard” counties not charging for postage to alternatives. ages from someone who sum- behavior described in ORS (mostly on the west side of mail in ballots. During the moned police with the intent 475B.301, the offense hap- the state), $13.25 in metro Real ID next election, Oregonians will to infringe on the person’s counties, such as Clackamas pened before July 1, 2015, As of Oct. 1, 2020, regular simply be able to drop their rights, discriminate against and Multnomah, and $11.50 and the person fully com- Oregon driver’s licenses will ballot in the mail without a them, cause them to feel ha- plied with the requirements in rural counties, including no longer be valid to board stamp. rassed or embarrassed, expel of their sentence. Baker County. a commercial fl ight, enter a them from a place where they Employment secure federal facility, such as Bicycling are legally allowed to be or Starting Jan. 1, bicyclists Employees in Oregon a military base, or do other damage their reputation or are allowed to proceed will receive a variety of new activities where a federally fi nancial standing. JANUARY 3 - 9 through an intersection with approved form of identifi ca- The law was put in place to protections in January. ELTRYM a stop sign or traffi c signal Pregnant workers will be tion is required. address reports of incidents HISTORIC THEATER without stopping, providing After Oct. 1, Oregonians in which white callers called among those who receive 1809 1st Street, Baker City who want to take a fl ight will they proceed at a safe speed 911 on people of color for legal new protections under the www.eltrym.com have to use another form of and yield to vehicles and law. Employers will be re- activities, such as holding a approved identifi cation, such pedestrians. quired to provide reasonable barbecue. accommodations, such as as- as a passport, or apply for a Revenge porn Marijuana convictions sistance with manual labor new type of driver’s license PG As of 2020, it will be a Starting in January, the or more frequent bathroom called a Real ID. The state FRI-SUN: (12:45) (3:45) 6:45 crime in Oregon to distribute aptly named Senate Bill 420 breaks, to pregnant employ- hopes to have the federally MON-THURS: 6:45 ees. They will also be prohib- approved Real IDs available intimate photos or videos of a will allow people with past STAR WARS: person without their consent. marijuana convictions to through the Department of ited from denying someone THE RISE OF The photos or videos qualify petition to clear their record. employment, requiring them Motor Vehicles starting in SKYWAKER PG-13 The bill was passed in July after fi nishing a “major as revenge porn under the to take a leave of absence or FRI-SUN: (12:30) (3:30) 6:30 recognition that while Or- otherwise retaliating or dis- IT overhaul,” according to the law if they show a person’s MON-THURS: 6:30 “intimate parts” or show egon legalized possession of criminating against them for department’s website. JUMANJI: THE them engaging in a sex act, user amounts of recreational requesting accommodations Real IDs will be optional, NEXT LEVEL PG-13 the subject is identifi able, marijuana in 2015, many for their pregnancy. and those getting them FRI-SUN: (1:00) (4:00) 7:00 MON-THURS: 7:00 they did not give permis- people have criminal records Employers will also be will be required to pay the ( )Bargain Matinee based on possession pre- DMV’s fee for replacement of sion and could reasonably required to create anti- Show Times: 541-523-2522 be expected to be “harassed, 2015. Those convictions, for a driver’s license, plus a yet- harassment policies for their Offi ce: 541-523-5439 humiliated or injured by the something that is now legal, workplace, and will no longer to-be-determined additional Real ID fee. The newly issued disclosure.” “Youʼll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR Previously, the law only Real ID will have the same covered posting such content expiration date as the per- son’s current driver’s license, to a website, but now adds any other methods of dissemi- so people whose licenses expire soon after the Real IDs nation, such as text message, 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com home page. For now, what information is available can be found at dor.wa.gov/fi nd- taxes-rates/retail-sales-tax/ sales-nonresidents. are available are advised they may want to wait until it is time to renew their license. Should someone choose not to upgrade to a Real ID, a standard Oregon driver’s licenses will still be good for activities, such as driving, purchasing alcohol, register- ing to vote or applying for benefi ts. email, private messaging in apps or handing out physical copies. It also allows victims to sue for up to $5,000 in damages. The crime is a Class A misdemeanor for a fi rst offense and Class C felony it the perpetrator has a prior record of such offenses. LITTLE WOMEN
