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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2020)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020 HAINES STAMPEDE RODEO, FIREWORKS SHOW BOTH PLANNED FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND Haines ready to roll for the 4th By Sam Anthony santhony@bakercityherald.com B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR TUESDAY, JUNE 23 ■ Baker City Council: 7 p.m., City Hall, 1655 First St.; some councilors will attend in person while others will participate via Zoom video conferencing; members of the public may attend as social distancing limits allow. T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald June 12, 1970 The Baker County Community Chest has changed its name to the Baker County United Good Neighbors. This change was made fi nal at the June 4 meeting of the Com- munity Chest, reported Jean Simpson, publicity chairman. Baker was the last “Community Chest” in the State of Oregon and the last to include the Red Cross. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald June 12, 1995 The Baker City Council on Tuesday will consider chang- ing two streets near Wade Williams Field to alleviate traffi c and dust problems. Several residents of Main Street and Kathryn Lane have complained about the problems, said Randy Jones, the city’s public works director. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald June 11 2010 A proposal to close the Powder River Correctional Facil- ity in Baker City announced Wednesday by the Oregon Department of Corrections was dismissed on arrival by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. DOC offi cials proposed to close Powder River and two other minimum-security prisons, eliminating 232 jobs and releasing nearly 1,000 inmates, in response to Kulongos- ki’s call for agencies to submit plans to cut 9 percent from their budgets. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald June 12, 2019 Baker County Commission Chairman Bill Harvey and Commissioner Bruce Nichols say their decision to not extend the county’s contract with economic developer Greg Smith is based on declining revenue, not on Smith’s performance as the county’s contractor over the past several years. Both commissioners also said they were not concerned about potential confl icts of interests based on Smith’s con- tracts as an economic developer with adjacent counties, or his service as a state legislator. The Baker County Economic Development Council, which advises Harvey, Nichols and the third commis- sioner, Mark Bennett, voted Thursday not to renew Smith’s $96,000-per-year contract when the new fi scal year starts July 1. The reason, both Harvey and Nichols said on Monday, is that revenue from a tax collected from guests at motels and other lodging establishments has dropped substan- tially over the past fi scal year. That lodging tax revenue is the source of the money for Smith’s contract. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, June 8 4 — 11 — 18 — 33 — 38 — 44 Next jackpot: $2.5 million WIN FOR LIFE, June 6 1 — 13 — 29 — 33 LUCKY LINES, June 9 3-6-9-15-20-24-27-32 POWERBALL, June 6 Next jackpot: $12,000 1 — 17 — 38 — 68 — 69 PB 18 MEGA MILLIONS, June 9 Next jackpot: $22 million 1 — 5 — 9 — 10 — 23 Mega The Haines Stampede Rodeo and the Friends of Haines Fourth of July fi re- works show will both take place, bucking the trend of many traditional summer events canceled in Baker County due to the coronavirus pandemic. The rodeo itself, on July 3 and 4, will be the same event as usual. But the entertainment, beer garden and kids games that are usually put on during and after the rodeo will likely be canceled to comply with social distancing guidelines. “We’re going to try to do as much as we can to keep people safe,” said Ken Bain, one of the event organizers. “We’re going to mark off the grandstands so people know how far apart to sit.” Bain said there will also be hand sanitizer available, and a plastic barrier across the ticket booth window to protect both the workers and the attendees. Bain said the rodeo might be televised on Blue Mountain Translator District for those who won’t or can’t attend. The rodeo schedule: • Friday, July 3 — 5 p.m. (slack at 9 a.m.) • Saturday, July 4 — 1:30 p.m. There will be a work party at the rodeo grounds on Saturday, June 13, from 9 Kathy Orr / Baker City Herald fi le photo-2016 Bareback rider Austin Williams hangs on for a wild ride during the Haines Stampede rodeo in 2016. a.m. to noon. The Friends of Haines fi rework dis- play will follow the rodeo on July 4, start- ing about 10 p.m. at the rodeo grounds. However, due to the pandemic Friends of Haines volunteers haven’t been able to raise money as in the past, and the group needs help to reach its $15,000 goal to pay for insurance and other costs. Mosquitoes keeping crews busy 4 years the tax levy that sup- plies some of the district’s Summer is in full swing, budget (it also receives prop- and while for most people that erty taxes from a permanent means swimming, camping levy that doesn’t go before and fi shing, for Matt Hutchin- voters periodically). son it means something that Hutchinson said the recent can interfere with all those increase in mosquito num- activities — mosquitoes. bers, both inside Baker City Hutchinson is the manager and elsewhere, are “pretty of the Baker Valley Vector typical for the time of year.” Control District, a property While it’s impossible tax-funded district that in- to eradicate mosquitoes, cludes Baker City and most Hutchinson said he and his of the Baker, Keating and crew of seasonal employees Bowen valleys. do all they can to make sure The District was formed by the problem doesn’t get out of voters in 1975. hand. Voters in the May election “Every week we check all of decided to extend for another our larvae sites and try to get By Sam Anthony santhony@bakercityherald.com only, demand has remained relatively high. It’s no secret that COV- Hayes said that before the ID-19 has hit older people the pandemic, the Center served hardest, but senior centers, 60 to 80 meals per day, with a including Baker City’s, are peak of about 110 meals. striving to ease the problems Takeout meals have aver- many of the elderly may face. aged 45 to 55 per day, up to a Joe Hayes, manager of maximum of 82 meals. Community Connection of The fl uctuation in daily Baker County, which oper- numbers is often due to what ates the Senior Center at entrees are being served, 2810 Cedar St., said that Hayes said. although the Center had “Our cod and clam chowder to switch in March from is our most popular entree,” in-house dining on weekdays he said. to providing takeout meals While many restaurants By Sam Anthony santhony@bakercityherald.com 22 O BITUARY S ENIOR M ENUS Rex Weems 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 them ahead of time,” he said. Hutchinson’s top priority is to kill mosquito larvae before they hatch into adults. Hutchinson said mosqui- toes are mostly popping up in areas with heavy fl ood irriga- tion, such as Chandler Lane and Wingville Lane between Baker City and Haines, so that’s where the District staff has been focusing its efforts. Employees routinely ex- amine mosquito traps set up around the District, including in Baker City. Hutchinson said he hasn’t found enough mosquitoes in traps in and near town to warrant widespread spraying. But he encourages resi- dents to take simple steps to prevent mosquitoes from hatching on their own proper- ties. “With all the rain lately, it’d be a good idea for homeown- ers to dump things that hold water, like cans, bird baths and bucket — anything that can hold stagnant water,” Hutchinson said. Residents can report mos- quito infestations by calling the District at 541-523-1151, or online at www.bvvcd.org The website also has infor- mation about the District’s tactics, West Nile virus and other related topics. Senior Center still serving meals Next jackpot: $20 million ■ FRIDAY: Baked cod, cup of clam chowder, mixed vegetables, roll, coleslaw, cheesecake ■ MONDAY (June 15): Spaghetti with beef sauce, caulifl ower, garlic breadsticks, green salad, bread pudding ■ TUESDAY (June 16): Chicken-fried steak, potatoes and gravy, broccoli-blend vegetables, bread, sauerkraut salad, cake ■ WEDNESDAY (June 17): Barbecued chicken, parslied red potatoes, peas, roll, cottage cheese with fruit, cinnamon roll ■ THURSDAY (June 18): Breaded pork loin, potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables, roll, broccoli-bacon salad Garla Rowe, a member of Friends of Haines, has started a GoFundMe on Facebook where residents can contribute to the show. They are also doing mail- in contributions, and Rowe said any amount helps. Attendees are asked to not bring fi re- works of their own or leave trash on the side of the roads. North Powder, 1959-2019 Rex Weems, 60, died on Nov. 4, 2019, while working on his home in North Powder. A graveside interment and memorial service will take place Saturday, June 13, at 3:30 p.m. at the North Powder Cem- etery. Those who knew him are welcome to attend. Rex Rex was born on April 9, 1959, at Weems Prescott, Arizona, and graduated from Thurston High School in Springfi eld, Oregon. He was a hardworking caring man and loving father who sacrifi ced much to give his children, Erin, Thomas and Josh, a good start in life. He is also survived by his mother, Veronica Weems; his sisters, Monica and Wendy; his brothers, Daniel, Brian and Shawn; and seven grandchildren. Rachel Pregnancy Center are struggling to get beef at a reasonable price because of shortages, Hayes said that thanks to some foresight and quick thinking, Community Connection stocked up on hamburger, which has al- lowed the Center to maintain its regular menus during the pandemic. In addition to its takeout meals, Community Connec- tion has continued its Meals on Wheels program, and Hayes said demand for that service has “stayed consis- tent, as it’s vital and often the only hot meal many of them get.” The Senior Center requires all employees and drivers to wear masks and gloves when interacting with the public, and when seniors ride the Community Connection buses they are required to wear face masks to protect both themselves and their fellow passengers. With stores running out of critical supplies at the beginning of the pandemic, Hayes said the situation was looking bleak. But now that they’re starting to restock and things are starting to go back to normal, the situation is looking brighter. “The hardest thing is this is an activity center for seniors, and our doors are closed,” Hayes said. He doesn’t expect the Senior Center to reopen until phase 3 of the state’s reopen- ing plan. Baker County started phase 2 on Saturday, and state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger said in a recent press conference that he expects phase 2 will last for “several months.” N EWS OF R ECORD DEATHS John C. Duffy: 83, of La Grande, died May 30, 2020, at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center- Baker City. Arrangements are un- der the direction of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. To light a candle in memory of John, or to leave a condolence for his fam- ily, go to www.grayswestco.com Mobile Service Outstanding Computer Repair 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. Open for all your computer needs during the COVID-19! All services free & confidential. All credit cards accepted 10 am - 5 pm (closed for lunch) Fast & Reliable Call or Text 24/7 Dale Bogardus 541-297-5831 www.outstandingcomputerrepair.com Refurbished Desktop & Laptops For Sale House calls (let me come to you!) Drop Offs & Remote Services are Available
