THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
LOCAL & STATE
Live jazz concert Friday at Churchill
BOND
A new tradition of showing mov-
ies outside Churchill School, 16th and
Broadway streets in Baker City, has led
to a live jazz concert this Friday, Aug. 21.
The show, featuring saxophonist Rob
Scheps and pianist Matt Cooper, will
be streamed on the big screen outside
Churchill. Parking is limited and dona-
tions will be appreciated through Venmo
(Robert-Scheps-2) or at the concert.
The parking lot opens at 7:30 p.m. The
music will start around 7:45 p.m. The
audience can tune into FM 91.1 to hear
the music. To stay updated on events at
Churchill, follow their Facebook page
Submitted photo
(Churchill School Art, Music, Recreation-
Saxophonist Rob Scheps, right, and pianist Matt Cooper will perform a con-
Baker City, OR). Baker County Safe
Communities Coalition also posts about cert that will be livestreamed on a big screen outside Churchill School Friday
evening. Spectators can also tune in to hear the concert on the radio.
drive-in movies.
Students in Grades 3-4
would have moved to South
Baker and kindergartners
through second-graders
would have remained at
Brooklyn.
Safety and security
upgrades would have been
made throughout the
District along with other
improvements.
During a meeting earlier
this month, Superinten-
dent Mark Witty asked
Board members for permis-
sion to gather information
about the possibility of
proposing another bond
measure for May 2021.
Districts must seek a bond
of at least $4 million to
qualify for the $4 million
matching state grant, Witty
said.
In November 2018
voters rejected by a more
than 2-to-1 margin a $48
million bond that would
have raised money to build
a new elementary school.
At the time of the
Board’s last meeting, the
deadline to apply for the
state grant was set for
Sept. 1, which would have
put the District on a fast
track to prepare its applica-
tion. Directors had planned
to schedule a special meet-
ing soon to consider the
District’s next move.
But Witty said Tuesday
RESOURCES
Continued from Page 1A
“If there are not very many ongo-
ing fi res, the chances of getting the
resources you request are higher than
if everyone is busy at the same time,”
Crouch said.
Other factors also affect how many
aircraft, if any, are available for a par-
ticular fi re.
For instance, fi res that threaten
people and property always have the
highest priority, Crouch said.
A recent example is the fi re near
Mosier, in the Columbia River Gorge,
that destroyed 36 structures and threat-
ened about 660 others.
When the Indian Creek fi re started
late Sunday morning in Malheur
County, along Highway 20 between Jun-
tura and Vale, aircraft were immediately
available from several bases, said Larisa
Bogardus, public affairs offi cer for the
BLM’s Vale District.
On Sunday, nine aircraft, including six
single-engine tankers and three multi-
engine tankers, dropped retardant to try
to stem the spread of the fl ames.
Aircraft have been dispatched from
Ontario, Burns, John Day, La Grande
and Redmond in Oregon, as well as from
Boise, Idaho, and Moses Lake in Eastern
Washington, Bogardus said.
Having those aircraft available to
work on the Indian Creek fi re, which
has burned about 14,000 acres of grass
and sagebrush, also ended up augment-
ing the initial attack capability on a
new fi re sparked by lightning Monday
evening.
Several airplanes dumped retardant
ahead of the Baldy fi re north of Ironside,
near the border between Baker and
Malheur counties, Bogardus said.
“The ability to get aircraft support to
the incident as quickly as possible is in-
credibly important in slowing the spread
of the fi re,” Crouch said.
Despite the aerial assault, the Baldy
fi re, aided by gusty winds, hot tempera-
tures and low humidities, grew to an
estimated 5,000 acres on Tuesday.
Crouch said the increasing competi-
tion for fi refi ghting resources resulting
from the rash of new blazes affected
efforts to slow the Baldy fi re on Tuesday.
Although single-engine air tankers
were available, larger tankers, which
Bureau of Land Management photo
Crews conduct a burnout on Wednesday morning at the Indian Creek fi re.
can drop considerably more retardant,
were working on other fi res Tuesday
afternoon and evening.
Ultimately it’s ground-based fi refi ght-
ers who extinguish blazes, Crouch said,
but aircraft, which travel considerably
more rapidly than a pickup truck or a fi re
crew that has to hike to the scene due to
terrain or a lack of roads, can make the
ground crews’ task much easier.
“It’s a great tool in our toolbox,” he
said, meaning both airplanes that drop
retardant to stem the forward movement
of fi res, as well as helicopters, which can
dump water directly on fl ames.
Meyer said the ability to summon
aircraft has been especially important
this week, with lightning likely to spark
new fi res in grass and sagebrush dried
by the past several weeks of mainly dry
weather.
“This is kind of the worst that we’ve
seen so far this summer,” Meyer said.
Fire managers closely watch the com-
puter model that estimates how much
heat a fi re would release — known as the
“energy release component.”
This index, rendered as a number, fl uc-
tuates based on the amount of moisture
in various types of fuels, ranging from
grass, which burns readily but quickly,
to mature timber, which isn’t as easily
ignited but can burn for a long time.
There are separate numbers for each
of six regions in the Blue Mountains, a
system that refl ects the considerable dif-
ferences in terrain and fuel types.
The energy release component tends
to be higher, for example, in the “juniper-
sagebrush” region, which includes some
of the lower, hotter and drier parts of the
Blues.
On Tuesday the number for the juniper-
sagebrush area was 76 — higher than for
any of the fi ve other regions.
The average for mid-August is about
69.
The energy release component num-
bers for the other regions ranged between
70 and 75. Those are slightly above
average for four of the fi ve regions, the
exception being the canyon grasslands
area — mainly in Hells Canyon — where
the number is just about average.
Meyer said the fi re season has been
about average so far.
The Blue Mountain Interagency Dis-
patch Center in La Grande catalogs fi res
on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
and parts of the Umatilla National Forest,
parts of the BLM’s Vale District, private
and state lands on which the Oregon De-
partment of Forestry is the lead fi refi ght-
ing agency, and the Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Through Tuesday the Dispatch Center
reported 125 fi res for the year — 79
sparked by lightning and 46 human-
caused.
The total acreage burned was 580.8
— 433.9 acres burned in human-caused
fi res, and 146.9 acres burned by lighting-
sparked blazes. Those numbers are well
below average.
The annual average for the Wallowa-
Whitman alone, from 1970 through 2018,
was 23,381 acres burned total.
Of the 6,617 fi res reported on the Wal-
lowa-Whitman from 1970 through 2018,
about 78% were caused by lightning.
New program issuing $500 relief
checks for COVID-19 income loss
license, that prove they are
currently living in Oregon.
Oregon residents facing
• Attest that they are
fi nancial hardship from the
experiencing severe fi nancial
COVID-19 crisis are eligible
hardship directly or indirectly
for $500 one-time checks in a due to the Governor’s “Stay
program beginning Wednes- Home, Save Lives” executive
day, Aug. 19.
orders issued in March.
The $35 million plan cre-
• Have earned $4,000/
ated by the Legislature will
month or less pre-tax prior
use federal coronavirus relief to their income loss due to
funds to issue checks to up
COVID-19.
to 70,000 residents. The pro-
• Not received all unem-
gram is separate from regular ployment payments they are
state and federal unemploy- owed.
ment programs.
For information on the
Checks are available by
program, go to emergency-
visiting one of 150 locations
checks.oregon.gov or dial 211
of participating fi nancial
and ask for information on
institutions and fi lling out
the “Emergency Relief Check
an application. If approved,
Program.”
a cashier’s check or in some
The program requires
cases, cash, will be issued on in-person visits to participat-
the spot.
ing banks and credit unions
Participants include
in order to reduce the risk
Umpqua Bank, Columbia
of fraud in the program.
Bank and members of the
While applying, applicants
Northwest Oregon Credit
must adhere to public health
Union Association.
rules, including wearing a
To be eligible, applicants
mask and maintaining social
must:
distancing.
• Be a current resident of
Senate President Peter
Oregon and 18 or older.
Courtney, D-Salem, and
• Be able to provide
House Speaker Tina Kotek,
documents, such as a driver’s D-Portland said in a joint
By Gary A. Warner
Oregon Capital Bureau
statement announcing the
program that it was intended
to be a faster way for Orego-
nians in need to receive relief
funds amid a backlog caused
by over 400,000 people fi ling
for unemployment since
March.
The Employment Depart-
ment has experienced long
delays — in some cases
months — in getting aid to
applicants.
“The Governor’s order
prevented thousands of
COVID-19 cases and saved
hundreds of lives,” Courtney
said in the statement. “But it
also impacted many people’s
income. With such a huge
jump in unemployment, some
people are still waiting for
their benefi ts. We know $500
isn’t going to solve all of these
problems, but if we can help
a family buy groceries for the
month, pay for child care, or
cover an unexpected repair,
it’s worth it.”
Kotek spokesman Danny
Moran said each branch of an
institution is limited in the
number of checks it can issue.
“There will be a daily capac-
ity limit in the sense that each
Local options
Two Baker City
fi nancial institutions
are participating in the
program to distribute
COVID-19 aid:
• Umpqua Bank, 1990
Washington Ave.
• Old West Federal Credit
Union, 2036 Broadway St.
Continued from Page 1A
that the deadline to apply
for the grant has since been
pushed back to December,
which will offer more lee-
way for decision making.
One proposal might be to
seek voter approval of a $4
million bond, to be paid off
in fi ve years, with the add-
ing of the matching state
grant for total funding of $8
million.
The District would use
the money for safety and
security improvements as
well as basic infrastructure
work such as that under-
way at the former North
Baker School this summer.
The building at 2725
Seventh St. is being remod-
eled for use as the Baker
Early Learning Center,
which is scheduled to open
in October. Improvements
at the site include new win-
dows, electrical upgrades,
fresh paint and new fl oor-
ing. Ground improvements
and a new parking area
also are part of the renova-
tion project.
That work is being paid
for by grant money along
with state and district
contributions.
Witty said the Board
will continue the discus-
sion about placing a bond
measure on the May 2021
ballot at its next regular
meeting, which is set for
Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. The
Board meets using the
Zoom computer app.
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Juanita May Martin:
87, of Baker City, died Aug.
18, 2020, at her home sur-
rounded by her loving family.
Contributions in honor of
Juanita can be made to St.
Jude Children’s Research
Hospital through Gray’s West
& Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500
Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR
97814. To light a candle in
memory of Juanita, or to
leave a condolence for her
family, go to www.grays
westco.com
FUNERALS PENDING
Mary Morin: There will be
a graveside service/dedica-
tion at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21,
at Mount Hope Cemetery in
Baker City. Due to COVID-19,
those attending are asked to
bring their own chairs and
masks. Arrangements are
under the direction of Tami’s
Pine Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services. Online
condolences may be made at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral
home.com
Elizabeth “Betty” Wood:
There will be a celebration of
her life at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug.
21, at the Baker Christian
Church, 675 Highway 7. The
family suggests memorial
contributions to the Baker City
Fire Department or the Baker
City Ambulance Fund, the Ra-
chel Pregnancy Center or the
Baker City Christian Church
through Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home and Crema-
tions Services, P.O. Box 543,
Halfway, OR 97834. Online
condolences may be made at
www.tamispinevalley
funeralhome.com
Raelene Florene Mad-
dox: Her memorial service
will take place Sept. 5 at 11
a.m. at Gray’s West & Co.
Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey
Ave., with Pastor Lennie
Spooner of the Baker City
Nazarene Church offi ciating.
To light a candle for Raelene,
or to leave a condolence for
her family, go to www.grays
westco.com
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
STRANGULATION: Bran-
don Ray Davis, 33, of Baker
City, 1:02 a.m. Wednesday, on
Campbell Street; jailed.
HINDERING PROSECU-
TION (Baker County Circuit
Court warrant): Tamara Kay
Fine, 46, of Baker City, 9:20
p.m. Tuesday, on Elm Street;
cited and released.
DRIVING UNDER THE IN-
FLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS:
Dale Lawrence Lyman, 53,
of 1635 Cherry St., 8:29 p.m.
Monday, in the 2300 block
of Resort Street; cited and
released.
CRIMINAL TRESPASSING
and UMATILLA COUNTY
WARRANT: Dominic Michael
Silva, 27, a transient resident
of Pendleton, 12:18 p.m.
Monday, at 1226 Washington
Ave. Police Chief Ray Duman
said Silva was transported to
Pendleton where authorities
agreed to hold him in the
Umatilla County Jail on the
outstanding warrant.
CRIMINAL TRESPASSING:
Justin Shelton, 30, 400 Sec-
ond St.; and Mariam “Evee”
Collard, 19, of Baker City,
were both cited and released
at 12:18 p.m. Monday, at
1226 Washington Ave.
Crime report
FIRST-DEGREE THEFT: At
the Super 8 Motel, about 1:45
p.m. Monday, a male subject
reportedly entered the lobby
of the motel and took a brass
colored statue valued at
$500.
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
Arrests, citations
UNAUTHORIZED USE OF
A MOTOR VEHICLE: Kyle An-
drew Waldron, 35, of Baker
City, 2:39 p.m. Tuesday, at
the Green Acres Apartments,
1560 Indiana Ave. in Baker
City; cited and released.
Waldron is accused of tak-
ing a Chevrolet S-10 pickup
truck from the home of Bernt
Anderson, 34, of Haines. The
pickup truck was recovered
and returned to Anderson.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
(Baker County Justice Court
warrants): Larry Keith Corn-
wall, 44; and Heidi Mary Kaf-
ton, 44; both were cited and
released at 7 p.m. Monday, at
their home in Huntington.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary
of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution
branch can only take so many
in-person applicants per
day,” Moran said. “Those who
developed the program went
to great lengths to ensure
there was statewide repre-
sentation in all regions of the
state. We’re hopeful this will
provide an opportunity for
Oregonians in all corners of
the state to access the funds.”
Residents are strongly
urged to check with the banks
and credit unions to verify
that they are involved in the
program and that walk-in
service is available. Some
branches may require an
appointment to ensure social
distancing and room capacity
limits are met.
“The Suffrage Movement
in America”
A Reader’s Theater
Written by Gloria Holland, Salem, Oregon
Sharing the Stories of Remarkable Women
Told in the Voice of the Women and Their Time
Performances
Park Pavilion in Geiser-Pollman Park
6 p.m. August 15, 2020
6 pm. August 21, 2020
Oregon Trail Interpretive Trail Center
1:30 p.m. August 27, 2020
Baker City, Oregon