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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2020)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 BIGHORNS Continued from Page 1A B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 ■ Baker County Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m.; Commission meetings will be streamed live. A link will be available on the county’s website, www.bakercounty.org T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald December 1, 1970 Sig Ellingson, co-owner of Ellingson Lumber and Tim- ber Co., said yesterday he hopes to reopen the Ellingson plywood plant shortly after the fi rst of the year. Speaking before a noon luncheon of the Rotary Club, Ellingson explained that housing starts have increased in the last few months. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald December 1, 1995 The power is on again, but the fi nal cost from Monday night’s blustery snowstorm won’t be available until next week. Electricity was restored to the last customers, Elton and Loretta Cook of Keating Valley, about 10 p.m. Wednesday, said Ken Kissell, Baker District superintendent for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald December 1, 2010 Baker County employees are moving out of the water- damaged Courthouse today to set up temporary offi ces in the former North Baker School building at 2725 Seventh St. The Baker School District and the county are fi nalizing details of an agreement for use of the building today, said Karen Spencer, the county’s information assistant. An earlier plan to move county services to the former Extension building on Grove Street fell through after it was discovered that wiring had been pulled from the building. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald December 2, 2019 A pair of snowstorms, one starting the day before Thanksgiving and the other two days after the holiday, have kept snowplowing crews from the Baker City Public Works Department busy. “There’s a lot of snow out there,” Michelle Owen, the city’s public works director, said this morning. A nine-person crew started at midnight Sunday to plow and haul away snow from sections of several downtown streets and other higher-priority routes such as Campbell, Broadway and 10th streets, Owen said. Crews also plowed streets near schools to prepare for this morning’s rush. A day crew was working today, and workers will be out overnight again to continue hauling away snow from temporary berms, Owen said. Trucks are dumping snow at the Ellingson Lumber Company property off Broadway, and at the Baker County Fairgrounds. Owen said she’ll decide later this week whether to have residential streets plowed. Warmer temperatures, with daytime highs in the upper 30s, are forecast for much of this week. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, Nov. 28 22 — 25 — 30 — 38 — 39 — 48 Next jackpot: $5.1 million POWERBALL, Nov. 28 8 — 12 — 18 — 44 — 51 PB 10 Next jackpot: $231 million MEGA MILLIONS, Nov. 27 4 — 10 — 27 — 35 —58 Mega 10 Next jackpot: $229 million WIN FOR LIFE, Nov. 28 14 — 58 — 64 — 72 PICK 4, Nov. 29 • 1 p.m.: 0 — 6 — 0 — 7 • 4 p.m.: 4 — 6 — 6 — 1 • 7 p.m.: 9 — 2 — 3 — 4 • 10 p.m.: 5 — 3 — 9 — 8 LUCKY LINES, Nov. 29 2-7-12-15-18-23-28-29 Next jackpot: $39,000 Sheep from two other do- mestic fl ocks near Richland, at the north end of the Lookout Mountain unit, were tested earlier this year and none was carrying the Mycoplasma ovi- pneumoniae bacteria, Ratliff said. A llama owned by a resident along the Snake River Road was also tested, and was also negative for the bacteria. The owners of those animals volunteered for the tests, which ODFW paid for, Ratliff said. He welcomes owners of sheep and goats in either area to call the ODFW offi ce at 541- 523-5832 if they’re interested in having animals tested. Ratliff said it’s also plausible that the Baker County big- horns were infected by contact with other bighorn sheep, possibly from Idaho. The bottom line, he said, is “we just don’t know” the source of the bacteria that infected the two bighorn herds. Ratliff is confi dent, however, in saying that whatever the source, sheep from the Lookout Mountain herd were infected fi rst. The reason, he said, is tim- ing. Lookout Mountain bighorns were infected some time before Feb. 13, the day biologists, responding to a report from a passerby, found a dead bighorn ram lying on the Snake River Road near Connor Creek, about 18 miles north of Hun- tington. Ratliff said the fi rst evidence of illness in Burnt River Can- yon bighorns didn’t show up until October. Although he acknowledges it’s possible that bighorns from each herd were infected sepa- rately, from different sources, Ratliff said he thinks that’s highly unlikely. He’s skeptical of that sce- nario largely because evidence is mounting that Burnt River Canyon and Lookout Moun- tain bighorns mingle more often than biologists had believed. Nick Myatt/Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2011 Photo A bighorn sheep ram photographed in the Burnt River Canyon. animal was infected with the same strain of bacteria. But the more signifi cant part of the story, he said, is that he’s all but certain — again, pending lab confi rmation — that the dead ram wasn’t from the Lookout Mountain herd but rather from the Burnt River Canyon herd. Ratliff said the ram, which was 9 to 10 years old, is about one-third smaller, both in body size and horns, than a typical mature ram of the Rocky Mountain subspecies. The ram’s size was con- sistent, however, with the smaller California subspecies, and Ratliff believes the ram migrated from the Burnt River Canyon herd — further evidence that the two herds mingle. What’s impossible at this point to determine, Ratliff said, is how the bacteria spread from the Lookout Mountain herd to the Burnt Recent ram death River Canyon sheep. deepens mystery Either Lookout Mountain Ratliff said that on Nov. sheep crossed the freeway and 19, ODFW biologists found a mingled with Burnt River dead bighorn ram near Little Canyon sheep and infected Deacon Creek, a few miles the latter, he said, or Burnt west of Brownlee Reservoir River Canyon sheep made the and near the geographic cen- journey, became infected from ter of the Lookout Mountain contact with Lookout Moun- herd’s range. tain sheep, then returned to Ratliff said the ram defi - the Burnt River Canyon and nitely died from pneumonia, spread the bacteria among although he has yet to receive that herd. a lab result confi rming the Ratliff said biologists found The two herds generally are 10 miles or so apart, and with Interstate 84 between them. But early this summer, two young rams from the Burnt River Canyon herd tried to cross the freeway from the south (Burnt River) side to the north, Ratliff said. One of the rams was hit by a car and killed. A tissue sample from that ram did not contain the Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. Ratliff said that had he been asked a year ago to estimate the relative risk of Baker County bighorns contracting a bacteria or virus from domestic sheep, he would have rated the Burnt River Canyon as more vulner- able because of the proximity of domestic sheep in Durkee Valley. “I would have been wrong,” he said, citing his belief that the Lookout Mountain big- horns were infected fi rst. O BITUARY Kenneth Johnson Formerly of Baker City, 1928-2020 Kenneth G. Johnson, 92, of Dallas, Oregon, and a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 20, 2020, at the Salem Hospital. Private family interment with military honors will take place at the Wil- lamette National Cemetery in Portland. Kenneth Ken was born Johnson on Feb. 22, 1928, at Baker, the son of Sydney and Clarissa Gates Johnson. He grew up at the family farm near Pleasant Valley and later moved to the family ranch at Muddy Creek outside of Haines. Ken gradu- ated from Baker High School in 1946 where he excelled at foot- ball and basketball. He attended both the University of Oregon and Eastern Oregon University, where he played basketball. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Oregon and a master’s degree at the University of Oregon. He served in the Oregon National Guard for 30 years. He retired at the rank of captain in 1988. He served in various admin- istrative posts in the Baker and Dallas school districts, where he was principal of Dallas High School from 1971 to 1986. He also served as juvenile counselor of Baker County. Ken married Marilyn Dorthey Muller in 1952. She S ENIOR M ENUS ■ WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti with beef sauce, caulifl ower, garlic breadsticks, green salad, pudding ■ THURSDAY: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli- blend vegetables, roll, macaroni salad, cheesecake ■ FRIDAY: Barbecued ribs, baked beans, corn, roll, coleslaw, cookies ■ MONDAY (Dec. 7): Boneless chicken with cream gravy, mashed potatoes, roll, baby carrots, ambrosia, lemon squares ■ TUESDAY (Dec. 8): Chicken cordon bleu, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, roll, brownies Lunches at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75, under 60. 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 Fax: 541-833-6414 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 Copyright © 2020 the dead ram while working on a project to learn more about the prevalence of the bacteria in Lookout Mountain sheep. Biologists used tranquilizer darts to capture sheep, take tissue samples for lab testing, and attach tracking collars to the animals. Ratliff said ODFW has collared nine sheep during the operation, with about a dozen collars remaining. Collaring bighorns will allow ODFW to employ the “test/cull” strategy if the illness is so prevalent, and lethal, that it threatens the future of the entire Lookout Mountain herd. Biologists can track the collared sheep and test them occasionally for the bacteria. That’s important, Ratliff said, because some sheep are likely to be “intermittent shedders,” meaning they carry the bacte- ria but shed it only some of the time. Those that are actively shed- ding bacteria could potentially be euthanized to prevent them from infecting others. The Lookout Mountain herd was established in the early 1990s when a few dozen bighorns were captured elsewhere and released along Fox Creek. The animals have thrived in the steep canyons on the breaks of the Snake River. died in 1973. He later married Carol “Jean” Berry on June 29, 1974, at Dallas. Ken attended St. Thomas Episcopal Church at Dal- las. He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter with favorite hunting spots in the Elkhorn Mountains of Eastern Oregon. A voracious reader of both fi ction and nonfi ction, Ken would, upon retirement, travel extensively to many corners of the world. He was an avid University of Oregon fan and enjoyed working with his fl owers in later life. He was well known for his wit and puns, often being too hip for the room. Kenneth is survived by his brother, Tim Johnson of Clarkston, Washington; his sons, Kyle Johnson of Kalama, Washington, Kent Johnson and his wife, Phyllis, of Baker City; his daughter, Jeri and her husband, Ken Houle, of Hillsboro; his son, Greg and his wife, Christina Miller of Se- attle; his grandchildren, Robbie and Kerrie Houle, and Natalie and Jacqueline Miller; and his friend, Nancy Rosenbalm. He was preceded in death by his brother, Sidney Johnson. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Dallas Booster Club for the Dallas High School Athletic Department in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. To leave an online condolence for the family go to www.dallastribute.com N EWS OF R ECORD DEATHS Belva ‘Mickey’ Mae Reyn- olds: 98, of Baker City, died on Nov. 29, 2020, at her home. She will be interred at Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville at a later date. To leave an online condo- lence for Mickey’s family, go to www.grayswestco.com POLICE LOG Baker City Police Arrests, citations POSSESSION OF METH- AMPHETAMINE (Multnomah County warrant): Christopher John Carroll, 34, of Baker City, 4:07 a.m. Saturday, in the 1900 block of Main Street; cited and released. PROBATION VIOLATION (Two Baker County warrants): Alex- ander Allen Adams, 24, of 2375 Campbell St., 2:01 p.m. Friday, in the 1500 block of Campbell Street; jailed. Crime reports FIRST-DEGREE THEFT: At a Baker City motel in the 600 block of Campbell Street Sunday. Police Chief Ray Duman said Ashleigh Nelson, 20, and Daniel Schick, 20, both of Everett, Wash- ington, reported that a large suitcase fi lled with clothing was taken from the top of their 2007 Mazda 6 sedan about 6:40 p.m.; the loss is valued at $3,140. SECOND-DEGREE BUR- GLARY: At St. Francis Catholic Church, between Nov. 26 and Nov. 27. Police Chief Ray Duman said a burglar entered the church through a basement door and took a projector, rosary beads and other items. Duman said entry was gained through a door on the west side of the church. A second basement door was damaged in an unsuccessful attempt to enter the church. Duman said church offi cials will Jay & Kristin Wilson, Owners 2036 Main Street, Baker City 541-523-6284 • ccb#219615 take inventory to determine what else might have been taken. Oregon State Police Arrests, citations POSSESSION OF A FALSELY APPLIED FOR HUNTING LICENSE/ELK TAG and UNLAW- FUL TAKE/POSSESSION OF A COW ELK: William G. Frerichs, 43, of Herald, California, 1:16 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, on High- way 86 near Halfway; cited and released. HUNTING FROM A PUBLIC ROAD RIGHT OF WAY and UNLAWFUL TAKE/POSSESSION OF A COW ELK: William George Frerichs, 76, 1:16 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, on Highway 86 near Halfway; cited and released. FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM: Brandon Charles Harris, 41, of Halfway, 3:20 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at his home; cited and released. Baker City Fire Alarms Sunday, Nov. 29 6:04 p.m. — Firefi ghters responded to 295 Elm St. on a report of a fi re in a front-end loader belonging to Bill Harvey Jr. Fire Chief Sean Lee said the front-end loader had been plugged in to warm the engine and the fi re was caused by an electrical problem in the wiring. Firefi ghters spent about an hour extinguishing the blaze, Lee said. 5IF3IJOF.PTFMMF July 28 - August 7, 2022 Sail with Barry & Trisha Nicols Amsterdam to Basel 10-Night River Cruise Aboard the Imagery II Free upgrade to Panaroma Suite $ 4499.00 per person Call today for details Find YOUR Why Small Group Travel AKA: (Baker Valley Travel & Alegre Travel) 541 523-9353 & 541 963-9000
