2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
■ Baker County Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m.,
Courthouse, 1995 Third St.
TUESDAY, APRIL 2
■ Local Community Advisory Council (LCAC): 1 p.m. to
2 p.m., at the Community Connection meeting room, 2810
Cedar St.; lunch will be provided.
MONDAY, APRIL 6
■ Haines Fire Protection District Board: 7 p.m. at the
Haines Library.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
■ Baker County Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m.,
Courthouse, 1995 Third St.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
■ County Commission: 9 a.m., Courthouse, 1995 Third St.
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
March 28, 1970
Pacifi c Northwest Bell Thursday fi led a request with the
Oregon Public Utilities Commissioner for reclassifi cation of
Baker, Durkee and Sumpter to the next higher rate group.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
March 28, 1995
If you can imagine Baker City’s attempt to build the
Court Avenue park as a pole vault competition, the Or-
egon Department of Transportation’s latest move is akin to
cutting the city’s pole in half.
Just as the city neared the bar.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
March 29, 2010
After a one-year hiatus in 2009 prompted by the reces-
sion, an expanded Wings Over Baker air show is returning
this summer with more food vendors and family activities
than ever.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
March 29, 2019
Danean Riley, 54, was a drug addict for 20 years.
Now after almost 23 years of sobriety, she wants to
provide more help for those in addiction recovery. With
help from the Baker City and Halfway communities, Riley
is opening One Transition At A Time.
The nonprofi t organization is housed at 2425 10th St.,
the former 10th Street Market building and acts as an
upcycle art gallery and goods shop as well as a women’s
sober living home.
Upcycle is in the process of taking materials that would
normally be thrown away and fi nding a use for them. For
Riley that use is art.
“We have to change the way we think about what we
throw away,” Riley says.
The most common art Riley makes includes drawers
with broken, everyday items in them and painted a single
solid color that hang on the wall. Some of which are cur-
rently on display at HatchLab.
In her time preparing to open the shop, Riley has made
nearly 300 pieces of art to sell. In addition to selling the art
at the shop, Riley plans to sell it through her website.
“People either like them or hate them,” she said.
O REGON L OTTERY
5 — 9 — 27 — 39 — 42 PB 16
PICK 4, March 26
• 1 p.m.: 7 — 9 — 8 — 4
• 4 p.m.: 9 — 5 — 2 — 8
• 7 p.m.: 2 — 4 — 3 — 8
• 10 p.m.: 4 — 8 — 0 — 5
Next jackpot: $160 million
LUCKY LINES, March 26
WIN FOR LIFE, March 25
1 — 23 — 35 — 48
2-8-11-15-18-22-25-30
MEGABUCKS, March 25
2 — 23 — 25 — 36 — 46 — 48
Next jackpot: $1.2 million
POWERBALL, March 25
Next jackpot: $22,000
S ENIOR M ENUS
■ MONDAY: Chicken cordon bleu with hollandaise sauce,
baked potato, Brussels sprouts, biscuit, fruit cup, apple
crisp
■ TUESDAY: Spaghetti with beef sauce, caulifl ower, garlic
breadstick, green salad, ice cream
■ WEDNESDAY (April 1): Parmesan chicken, potatoes &
gravy, corn, rolls, carrot-raisin salad, bread pudding
■ THURSDAY (April 2): Beef pot roast, baked potatoes,
broccoli-blend vegetables, rolls, green salad, brownies
■ FRIDAY (April 3): Sausage gravy over biscuit, ham,
cheese and egg frittata, hash browns, orange slices,
cinnamon roll
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. Due to the coronavirus crisis, meals must
be picked up; there is no dining on site.
C ONTACT THE H ERALD
1668 Resort St.
Open Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone: 541-523-3673
Copyright © 2020
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 Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays 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:
Baker City (97814), $10.80; all others,
$12.50.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker
City, OR 97814.
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
EO Media Group announces layoffs
EO Media Group, the par-
ent company of the Baker
City Herald, The Observer
in La Grande, and 11 other
newspapers across Oregon,
announced Wednesday that
it is reducing its workforce by
47 employees, according to a
press release.
Three jobs are affected at
the Herald, and the others
are spread across the rest of
the newspaper chain. Overall,
the company is reducing its
workforce by 18%.
“It’s been an extraordinary
few weeks as the COVID-19
pandemic has taken over
our daily lives and business
operations,” said Chief Op-
erating Offi cer Heidi Wright
on Wednesday. The revenue
losses due to the closing of
commercial businesses to
prevent the spread of the
virus has created a ripple ef-
fect across the nation, forcing
layoffs in many industries.
“As you can imagine, the
revenue pullback across the
company has been dramatic,
with many businesses closing
their doors and events being
canceled throughout the
region,” Wright said. “Many
of the big box stores have
canceled their advertising,
until further notice. We are
taking action now in order to
stabilize our operations and
keep our staff intact as much
as possible, during this time
of crisis.”
“We believe that this is the
best course, but do not take
this action lightly,” Wright
said. “While this is painful, it
could be short-lived if, by some
miracle, the economy bounces
back after the corornavirus
runs its course and we see
local retailers reopen and
begin advertising again. But
there are no promises. This
economic downturn could be
with us for a long time.”
EO Media CEO Steve
Forrester said, “Our company
is in a survival mode. While
none of us have seen a pan-
demic and its economic effects,
our company has weathered
economic challenges such as
the Great Depression, the
Astoria Fire of 1923 and,
within our lifetimes, the Great
Recession of 2008.”
“Throughout these existen-
tial moments, our mission has
not changed. And it will not
change during this calamity,”
Forrester said. “Our newspa-
pers and our digital sites are
beacons within our commu-
nities and regions. We are
leaders in gathering informa-
tion and analysis, and we offer
businesses audiences for their
messaging.”
EO Media purchased the
Baker City Herald and The
Observer in June 2019 at
a bankruptcy auction from
Western Communications.
O BITUARIES
Ken Grafham
Ken Jr. and Ruthie thank the staff at
Meadowbrook Place as well as Saint Al-
Ken Grafham, 91, of Baker City, died phonsus Hospital, including Julie Daly,
on March 19, 2020, after a brief struggle Dr. Lamb, and nurses Charity, Gabe,
with pneumonia.
Kim and others for their loving care of
A memorial service will
their dad. Thanks also to Dan Martin of
be scheduled later in the
McEwen church, Larry and Peggy Pear-
year, as circumstances
son, Mary Andersen and many others
allow.
who provided support. Maxine contin-
Ken was born on Dec.
ues to live at Meadowbrook Place.
21, 1928, in the Melbourne,
Memorial contributions can be
Australia, suburb of Box
Ken
made to the McEwen Bible Fellowship
Hill to Reginald and Grace Grafham through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer
Grafham. As a young adult
Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave, Baker City,
he felt the call to church ministry, and
OR 97814.
he came to Portland, Oregon, in 1954 to
To light a candle in memory of Ken,
attend seminary. It was in the Portland or to leave a condolence for his family, go
area that he began work as a Baptist
to www.grayswestco.com
minister, at which time he also met his
Loretta Cook
fi rst wife, Willetta. The family moved
Baker City, 1928-2020
to Baker City in 1961, where Ken was
Loretta May Cook, 89, of Keating,
pastor of Calvary Baptist Church until
died March 21, 2020, at her home.
1965.
A memorial service will
After living in Australia for a year,
take place later, with the
Ken and his family came back to the
time and place to be an-
U.S. and he continued as a pastor in
nounced.
Eugene and then at Denver. In 1973,
Loretta was born on
the family relocated to Carol Stream, Il-
March 25, 1930, at Baker
linois, and Ken began work at Tyndale
Loretta
City to Harvey Blair and
House, a Christian publisher. During
Cook
Irma VerHaege, the 10th of
the next 20 years, Ken was national
12 children. She graduated
sales manager and then sales rep for
from St. Francis Academy in 1948.
Southern California, retiring in 1999.
In 1966, when the kids were 5 and
Ken and family were friends with
Maxine and Harry Hathaway and their 6 years old, the family took a pack trip
into the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Loretta
two sons for many years. A few years
after Maxine’s husband, Harry, passed didn’t enjoy the horse ride in but she
away, things came full circle as Ken and loved the mountains and high lakes.
Maxine married in 2010, and Ken came She traveled with her family to almost
to live again in Baker City. Maxine’s two every named lake that had a horse
trail in the wilderness over the next 15
sons, Brad (Terri) and Bryon (Anita),
years. When her son, Michael, started
and their children and grandchildren
hunting at age 10, Loretta started as
welcomed Ken into their hearts.
well because she wasn’t going to stay
Ken found the people of Baker City
home. Over time she took many deer,
to be welcoming, and he felt at home.
elk, and a few antelope with her open-
He met regularly with friends from
the 1960s, as well as with new friends. sight .300 lever-action rifl e, often with
only one shot. She loved to argue with
Ken and Maxine attended McEwen
Elton about what tree or wide spot in
Bible Fellowship in Sumpter, and just
the road to sit on a stand while the rest
two weeks before he passed away, Ken
preached his last sermon at the church. of the hunting party made the walk
Ken is survived by his son, Ken Jr. of around.
Loretta retired from Oregon Trail
San Francisco; grandchildren, Laura
(Nate) and John, as well as great-grand- Electric Cooperative in 1997 after 36
years. She enjoyed being retired and
son, Arlo; his daughter, Ruthie (Greg)
Richardson of Wheaton, Illinois; and his is best known for her amazing wood
niece and nephew and their families in carvings and paintings. Her talent for
creating and bringing birds and nature
Australia.
to life made her artwork collectors’
His parents and two sisters, Audrey
items. She taught herself and spent
and Valmai, passed away before Ken.
Baker City, 1928-2020
many hours honing her abilities includ-
ing carving ducks of all kinds, life-size
pheasants, quail, owls and hawks.
Every Christmas season she would
carve a Santa Claus partaking in a
certain activity that was meaningful for
her family that year. She would gift one
to each of her children and they are a
special reminder of family memories.
Her other hobbies included camp-
ing, fi shing, reading, and being with
her family. Loretta’s grandchildren
remember her teaching them card
games, especially solitaire, on summer
camping trips and how she would pick
up a toy or trinket at least once a week
on the way home from work in town
for her dear grandchildren. Cody Cook
especially remembers when grandma
would encourage her to test her balance
on the carpeted spindle Loretta used as
a foot stool at her house. Cody quickly
learned to walk the spindle back and
forth in the living room to earn spare
change from her grandmother. Over
the last several years Loretta espe-
cially loved to visit with her great-
grandchildren. It could be making pies,
playing with toys, or eating fresh fruit
from the trees in the yard; Loretta took
immense joy in sharing life with these
little ones.
She was immeasurably proud of her
family and leaves behind nothing but
beautiful memories. She will be deeply
and greatly missed just as she was
deeply and greatly loved.
Loretta is survived by her husband
of 59 years, Elton Gerald Cook; her
son, Michael Cook, and his wife, Cathy
Cook; her daughter, Cindy Lenhart,
and her husband, Clark Williams; four
grandchildren, Travis Cook, and his
wife, Krista, Cody Cook and her hus-
band, Tom Jury, David Lenhart and his
wife, Becca, and Whitney Lenhart and
her partner, Trevor George; fi ve great-
grandchildren, Nathan, Leah, Beckett,
Paxton and Hartleigh; her sister, Jea-
nette Beck; her brother, Al Delepierre;
and numerous nieces and nephews
who knew her as Aunt “Retta.”
For those who would like to make
a donation in memory of Loretta the
family suggests Hunt of a Lifetime
through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral
Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box
543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condo-
lences can be made at www.tamispine
valleyfuneralhome.com
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Diana L. Preston: 73, of
Baker City, died March 26, 2020,
at her residence in Meadow-
brook Place. Gray’s West & Co.
Pioneer Chapel is in charge of
arrangements. To light a candle
in memory of Diana or to leave a
condolence for the family, go to
www.grayswestco.com
“Youʼll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
FUNERALS PENDING
Ron Buxton: Due to the
coronavirus situation, Ron’s
family has decided to postpone
the memorial service until June.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the family to help with
his fi nal expenses. To leave an
online condolence for the family
of Ron, go to www.grayswestco.
com
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com
POLICE LOG
Still running
unsupported
Windows 7?
We’ll help you
avoid critical
issues by installing
Windows 10!
Computer not
running as
fast as when
it was new?
Let us install
lightning-fast
solid state drive!
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
SECOND-DEGREE BUR-
GLARY: Jon Kevin Noble, 56,
transient, 10:25 a.m. Thursday, in
the 2800 block of E Street; cited
and released.
SECOND-DEGREE THEFT:
Edward Allen Braswell, 44, tran-
sient, 11:17 a.m. Thursday, in the
2000 block of Fourth Street; cited
and released.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS (Two
counts): Jon Kevin Noble, 56,
transient; cited and released
Thursday afternoon on charges
of trespassing at Albertsons
and Safeway grocery stores on
Campbell Street.