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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2020)
COMMUNITY THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 TRACK Continued from Page 1A The black lettering backed in red proclaims notice of a temporary order: “Play structures and school grounds closed until further notice by governor’s executive order 20-12.” The notice continues “all sport and community group practices and games are cancelled. All athletic fi elds and outdoor spaces are closed to programmed and permitted uses.” Harvey says he doesn’t under- stand how any of that relates to people walking on a track that many community residents helped pay to build. He believes the track should be available to the public as a safe way to get fresh air and to exercise as has been encouraged by Gov. Kate Brown as well as city and county offi cials. Harvey says he visits the area daily because his mother lives across the street from the track. She walks short distances on it frequently and it provides a safe alternative to walk- ing in the streets for her and other older adults as well as people with young children. “It’s a beautiful track, a beautiful place to walk and a safe place,” he said. Harvey said he’s planning to start walking on the track and he’s encouraging everyone he knows to walk on it. Not all schools in the area have interpreted state restrictions in the same way. The La Grande School District, for example, has not closed its track to the public, said Joseph Waite, the District’s facilities and maintenance director. FIREWORKS Continued from Page 1A Haines City Recorder Val- erie Russell said she checked with ODOT offi cials Monday, and she was told the agency is not issuing permits for pa- rades on state highways now. Rowe said that although she’s disappointed about the cancellation of the parade and other events, she remains optimistic about the potential for the holiday’s crowd-pleas- ing culmination. The fi reworks display is different from the parade and other events in that many spectators watch from their cars, she said. “If we can get the fi reworks up in the air I think it would be a huge uplift for the com- munity of Haines and the people of Baker City,” Rowe said on Tuesday. “Our energy is going to be focused on the fi reworks.” The other big draw in Haines during the Fourth of July is the two-day Haines Stampede rodeo. As of Tuesday, rodeo orga- nizers were still preparing for the event, set for July 3 and 4, according to a post on the Haines Stampede’s Facebook page. “We are working with the County to see if we can comply with the reopening requirements,” the post reads in part. Colleen Taylor, a member of Haines Stampede & Rodeo Association Inc., said the organization had no further comment. Baker County Commis- sioner Mark Bennett said he talked with Taylor on Monday about the possibility of putting on the rodeo. Whether that’s possible depends largely on factors that simply can’t be predicted today, almost two months before the holiday, Bennett said. “I know people like dates, but we really just don’t know “I have had no instruction to close it or to put up any signage on the track,” Waite said. He says he drives by the track fre- quently and there are usually people walking on it, including couples walking together and those who walk individually. Seldom does he see more than fi ve people at a time on the track, he said. Harvey fi rst took his concerns to Baker School District Superinten- dent Mark Witty, who later referred Harvey to Chris Hawkins, Baker School Board chairman. After several email conversations with Hawkins and still no action, Harvey said he called Shannon McKone of Elkhorn Media Group radio station. On Friday, Hawkins issued a response to McKone and the email later was forwarded by request from the School District Offi ce to the Herald. Hawkins’ letter stated that the District “has closed its athletic facili- ties as required by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) and in compliance with the Governor’s executive order.” Hawkins said he understands how frustrating it must be for those who live near facilities such as city and county parks, the Baker Sports Complex and community businesses they are used to frequenting. He stated, however, that violating the OSAA restrictions could put the District “at risk of being penalized therefore negatively affecting our students involved in OSAA activi- ties.” “Our students are our priority, they have been through a lot this at this point,” Bennett said. A key issue is when Oregon Gov. Kate Brown approves Baker County’s reopening plan, which county offi cials sent to the governor’s offi ce on April 24 and revised earlier this week. Brown has previously set May 15 as a date for poten- tially allowing counties such as Baker, with few confi rmed cases of coronavirus, to begin reopening. The governor announced Tuesday that daytime use of some state parks would resume Wednesday. The list didn’t include Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area, or Unity or Farewell Bend state parks in Baker County. Brown said day use could begin at some other parks starting next week. Baker County’s plan has three phases, and calls for advancing from one phase to the next within two weeks presuming there is not a rash of local cases or a large outbreak elsewhere. Bennett said that if the county reaches the third phase of its plan, an event such as the Haines Stampede could possibly happen, al- though likely with some level of social distancing or other precautions. All other things being equal, the later in the sum- mer the event the more likely the county will reach the third phase of its reopening plan, Bennett said. He said county offi cials have had frequent discus- sions about the Baker County Fair, set for the fi rst week of August. If Brown OKs the county’s plan around May 15, it’s quite possible that the Fair could happen on schedule, Bennett said. There could be fi nancial challenges, however. The Oregon Lottery, which supplies revenue to several county departments, has seen cuts of about $20 million BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A year and we hope our community can support our position with the closure of the high school track, ” Hawkins stated. In an email to the Herald, Peter Weber, OSAA executive director, stat- ed that “the OSAA Executive Board, in alignment with the Governor’s Executive Orders, has instructed member schools to close their athletic facilities.” He said there is no expectation for schools to monitor public compliance at all facilities, adding that “we’ve had a good response from schools in following the order.” “As for the risk of being penalized, certainly that’s not our goal in put- ting out this guidance,” Weber said. “Ultimately our Executive Board does have authority to penalize schools but our intent is for schools to abide by the directives until such time that the Governor and the Oregon Health Authority permit opening things back up again.” Hawkins said the news Tuesday that the governor was allowing the limited reopening of some state parks, outdoor recreation and day- use areas in the state could make the issue a moot point in the coming days. He said if phase 1 of the county’s economic reopening plan is allowed to proceed on May 15, the school dis- trict will be awaiting further instruc- tion from OSAA and the governor as well. “And we’ll be back to some kind of normal and can take the signs down,” Hawkins said. But in the meantime, he said: “We’re asking that folks abide by the closure.” per week from video lottery, which has all but ended with the closure of bars since March 17. About one-third of the Baker County Fair Board’s annual revenue — $55,000 — comes from video lottery revenue. Bennett said he’s also concerned that sponsors and other contributors to the Fair won’t be able to help as much as usual this year because they’ve suffered economic losses from the pandemic. Bennett said he under- stands that organizers of Driver seriously hurt in crash on Interstate 84 A California man was fl own by Life Flight to a Spokane hospital Tuesday afternoon with life-threatening injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 near North Powder. Sr. Trooper Andrew McClay wrote in his media log that he responded to the crash at 12:58 p.m. Tuesday at Milepost 289. The Nissan Sentra sedan involved in the crash was driven by Ryan D. Ziegler, 34, of Lan- caster, California. A witness told McClay that COUNTY In other business Wednesday, commissioners: Continued from Page 1A • approved an ordinance al- Bennett said the county has lowing the county to administer addressed the criteria that Gov. permits and reclamation plans Kate Brown listed as require- for its gravel quarries rather ments for approving county than relying on a state agency reopening plans, including avail- for approval. able ventilators and additional “This is only for Baker Coun- hospital capacity. ty property, this is not anybody “We also have worked with else’s property we’re addressing,” a local hotel that if you need to Commission Chairman Bill be isolated and you really don’t Harvey said. have the home setting to do that, • approved the purchase of the county would put you up at two satellite communication that hotel and we’d make sure systems for $25,110.37. The you got food and everything,” he money comes from the state said. “Or, if you have impaired rather than the county budget. immune system or you’re in The equipment will ensure the high risk and the house has communication is available dur- folks that are impacted, we can ing emergencies in areas with locate them there.” limited or no cell coverage. some events have to decide well in advance whether to go ahead, while others have the fl exibility to decide not long before. He said the county is look- ing at assigning someone to serve as a coordinator help- ing event organizers with their planning. “Our goal is to have all of these events going,” Bennett said. Some have already been canceled, including the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally in July, and the East-West Shrine All-Star Football Rachel Pregnancy Center 2192 Court Avenue, Baker City • 541-523-5357 Services Provided: Free Pregnancy Tests A resource center for Referrals for Free Ultrasounds families Pregnancy Options Counseling Adoption Referrals Prenatal, Infant Care & Parenting Classes Maternity & Baby Clothing Post Abortion Recovery Helping women & men in an Open Tues -Thurs unplanned pregnancy. All services free & confidential. Ziegler’s vehicle left the west- bound freeway lanes, went into the median where it struck a bridge, and then traveled end over end into the river on the other side of the freeway. Ziegler was traveling with a pet python in his vehicle, Mc- Clay said. The snake was taken to a veterinary clinic for evalua- tion. Ziegler’s vehicle was pulled out of the river by RoadRunner Towing. No other information about Ziegler’s condition was available in time for this report. Game scheduled for Aug. 1. Shelly Cutler, executive director of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce, said the Miners Jubilee is still being planned for July 17-19, and the new organizer of the Baker City Bronc and Bull Riding events said those ro- deo competitions are also still slated for July 17 and 18. Bennett said he under- stands that regardless of which events happen as planned, attendance could be down as people remain leery of being in large groups. He said the county’s goal with its plan is to be in a position where individu- als can choose the types of events they want to attend, rather than being precluded, by government orders, from attending any type of gather- ing. Bennett noted that the county’s plan, even as it eases restrictions on businesses and events, calls for encour- aging people to follow social distancing guidelines when possible and to use proper sanitation in all situations. “We believe our plan both protects people and is aggres- sively moving us forward,” he said. Perdy up the horse fer mom... 10 am - 5 pm (closed for lunch) Best Friends of Baker Saturday Market an’ ride on down to the Thank You to all those on the front lines.... Grocers, Gas Station Attendants, Medical Staff and First Responders. We will open soon. Until then, Stay Home and Stay Safe! TAKE OUT Mother’s day weekend 8th, 9th & 10th Open sunday at noon Prime rib with triple chocolate dessert $28 PLEASE PREORDER FORALL 3 DAYS Regular Menu Items Available Open 4:30 Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 3:30 Sat and 12:30 Sun Open at 12:00 on Sun mothers Day www.hainessteakhouse.com We stand together even when apart. Celebrating Nurses & Healthcare Week May 10-16, 2020 Our calling is you.
