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.
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Telephone: 541-523-3673
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Serving Baker County since 1870
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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
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