2A — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
RISK LEVEL
Continued from Page 1A
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
January 8, 1971
WASHINGTON (UPI) — Unemployment increased in
December to 6 percent of America’s workforce, the highest
level in nine years.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
January 8, 1996
The gate that for 21 days blocked the road leading to the
Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is open, and regardless of
what happens the rest of 1996 in Washington, D.C., it will
remain open.
That guarantee doesn’t apply, however, to most of the
243 federal employees from Baker County who returned to
work this morning after a three-week vacation they didn’t
ask for.
Congress has exempted the U.S. Bureau of Land Man-
agement center, as well as national parks and other visitor
attractions, from federal government shutdowns the re-
mainder of the year, said Gloria Brown, manager of BLM’s
Baker Resource Area. If there is a third partial closure in
1996, BLM will have enough money to keep the interpre-
tive center open.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
January 7, 2011
Sara Bates is reducing waste in the county one string of
twine at a time.
In her fi rst year of operating East Oregon Plastics, Bates
has collected, packaged and shipped more than 200,000
pounds of plastic agriculture waste such as baling twine
and plastic containers.
Her latest load in December had 33 bales of twine that
weighed about 32,000 pounds.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
January 8, 2020
Commissioners from Baker County and eight other
counties voted today to appoint Lynn Findley, a Repub-
lican from Vale, to replace Cliff Bentz as a state senator
representing Senate District 30.
Commissioners chose Findley, who is a state repre-
sentative for House District 60, over two other candidates
picked Saturday by Republican Party precinct committee
members from the counties in District 30 — Rod Runyon
of Wasco County and Eric Wattenburg of Sisters.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve
the people of Senate District 30,” Findley said in a press
release issued Monday afternoon. “I have worked hard to
represent the voices of Eastern Oregonians since I have
been in the House of Representatives and there is much
more work to be done. It has been an honor to serve the
people of House District 60 and I am looking forward to
this new challenge.”
Although party committee members nominate candi-
dates, the fi nal choice is made by commissioners from the
counties in District 30. That district, the largest geographi-
cally in the Oregon Senate, includes all of Baker, Grant,
Harney, Jefferson, Malheur and Wheeler counties, as
well as parts of Deschutes, Lake, Wasco, Clackamas and
Marion counties.
Each county is allocated one vote for every 1,000 regis-
tered voters or major fraction of 1,000 (more than 500).
O REGON L OTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Jan. 4
5 — 17 — 24 — 26 — 32 — 47
Next jackpot: $6.7 million
POWERBALL, Jan. 2
3 — 4 — 11 — 41 — 67 PB 5
Next jackpot: $410 million
MEGA MILLIONS, Jan. 5
20 — 43 — 51 — 55 — 57
Mega 4
Next jackpot: $490 million
WIN FOR LIFE, Jan. 4
2 — 6 — 28 — 33
PICK 4, Jan. 5
• 1 p.m.: 6 — 5 — 1 — 4
• 4 p.m.: 5 — 3 — 6 — 8
• 7 p.m.: 2 — 5 — 4 — 1
• 10 p.m.: 7 — 6 — 6 — 1
LUCKY LINES, Jan. 5
1-6-12-14-19-21-28-30
Next jackpot: $76,000
S ENIOR M ENUS
■ FRIDAY: Beef pot roast, baby red potatoes, green beans,
rolls, fruit, chocolate ice cream
■ MONDAY (Jan. 11): Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes,
winter-blend vegetables, rolls, Jell-O with fruit, lemon
squares
■ TUESDAY (Jan. 12): Turkey noodle soup and turkey
sandwich, pea-and-onion salad, brownies
■ WEDNESDAY (Jan. 13): Pork roast, red potatoes, green
beans, roll, fruit cup, ice cream
■ THURSDAY (Jan. 14): Chicken-fried steak, cream gravy,
mashed potatoes, roll, fruit cup, pudding
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. Meals must be picked up; 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 © 2021
During that same period
the county recorded 71 new
cases. However, 18 of those
were inmates at the Powder
River Correctional Facility in
Baker City, and those cases
aren’t included in the county’s
total if the prison cases would
move the county from the
high to the extreme risk
category.
With 53 “offi cial” cases, the
county would return to the
extreme category if there are
more than six new cases from
Wednesday, Jan. 6, through
Saturday, Jan. 9.
Baker County was in the
extreme risk category from
Dec. 3, when the four-level
risk system took effect, until
Jan. 1.
Baker County Commis-
sioner Mark Bennett, who
has served as the county’s
incident commander dur-
ing the pandemic, said he’s
concerned that fl uctuations in
case totals and test positivity
will leave the county, and its
business owners, stuck on a
“roller coaster for an extended
period of time,” a ride that
will move the county between
risk levels multiple times.
“In my discussions with the
Oregon Health Authority I’ve
argued that we really can’t
handle it this way,” Bennett
said. “It’s chaotic.”
Among other effects, Ben-
nett said changing regula-
tions would make it diffi cult
for business owners, and in
particular restaurateurs, to
know how much food and
other products to order in
advance.
Bennett noted that public
health administrators from
six counties, including Nancy
Staten from Baker County,
in late December sent a
letter to the Oregon Health
Authority, asking offi cials to
make the high risk category
the most severe level, and to
give county health offi cials
the authority to determine
COVID-19 restrictions in
their counties.
Gov. Kate Brown an-
nounced on Dec. 29 that
the county would remain in
the extreme risk category
through Jan. 14, but the
governor’s offi ce reversed that
a day later, saying the county
would drop to the high risk
level (the two other levels are
moderate and lower risk).
The county qualifi ed for the
high risk designation based
on its 7.9% positivity rate
from Dec. 13-26.
The county recorded 68
new COVID-19 cases during
that period; however, state
offi cials didn’t initially recog-
nize that nine of those who
tested positive are inmates at
Powder River.
Deducting those nine cases
dropped the county’s total to
59 — the maximum allowed
for high risk counties.
The difference in restric-
tions between the high and
extreme risk levels applies
largely to restaurants, bars,
fi tness centers and gyms,
theaters and museums.
per table. Required closure at
11 p.m.
• High risk: Indoor dining
allowed, with a limit of 25%
of capacity or 50 people,
including customers and staff,
whichever is fewer; required
closure at 11 p.m.
Indoor fi tness centers,
gyms, theaters and
museums
• Extreme risk: Prohibited
• High risk: Maximum of
25% of capacity or 50 total
people, whichever is fewer
Faith institutions, funeral
homes, mortuaries,
cemeteries
• Extreme risk: Indoor
maximum of 25% of capacity
or 100 people, whichever is
fewer; 150 people outdoors
• High risk: Indoor
maximum of 25% of capacity
or 150 people, whichever is
fewer; 200 people outdoors
Restaurants and bars
• Extreme risk: Indoor din- Long-term care facilities
ing prohibited; outdoor dining
• Extreme risk: Outside
visits only
allowed with a maximum of
50 people, six people, from no
• High risk: Visits allowed,
more than two households,
including indoors
O BITUARY
Harley Derrick
Formerly of Baker City and Halfway, 1934-2020
Harley Sidney Derrick, 86, of Fruit-
land, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City
and Halfway, died on Dec. 29, 2020, at
Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.
Due to COVID restrictions, the family
will postpone a memorial service until a
later date.
Harley was born on Aug. 27, 1934,
at Ontario to Margaret
(Wilburn) Derrick and
Marve Derrick. He spent
his early years with his
parents on a ranch near
South Crane, Idaho. Later
Harley
he went to third grade
Derrick
in Caney Valley, Tennes-
see, then moved to Lime,
Oregon, where he attended grade school
in Lime and middle school in Hunting-
ton. In 1946, Harley started high school
in Baker, where he graduated in 1952.
He joined the Army in 1954. He was fi rst
stationed in San Francisco, and later he
served in the Intelligence Division at
the Headquarters of the United Nations
Command in Tokyo.
After serving in the Army, Harley re-
turned to Baker City in 1958. Upon his
return, he married Sharon Cathey, and
they made their home in Baker. Harley
then made use of the GI Bill and earned
his bachelor’s degree at Eastern Oregon
College in 1962, majoring in Secondary
Education. During this time, Harley
and Sharon welcomed twin daughters,
Kathy and Karen, in 1959 and son,
Michael, a year and three weeks later.
Harley often worked two and three jobs
to make ends meet while earning his
degree; he truly believed in the power
of education to enrich and change a
person’s status in life and did his best
to help all of his children and grandchil-
dren reach their individual education
goals later in life.
After earning his degree, Harley
accepted a position teaching civics, gov-
ernment, and history at Halfway High
School (later Pine Eagle High School)
in Halfway. Harley held this position
his entire teaching career, from 1962 to
1992. He loved teaching and helping his
students learn, and his students loved
him. Harley was also a true lifelong
learner; he was an avid reader and
always had two or three books at a time
he was reading, generally on topics such
as history, geography or current affairs.
Harley was not one to settle on just
one livelihood; in 1967 he and Sharon
purchased their dairy farm outside of
Halfway. Harley rose at 4 o’clock every
morning to milk cows, fi nished and went
on to start his day teaching, milked
again in the evening, and participated
in many extracurricular activities at the
high school after milking chores were
done in the evening. He also attended all
of his children’s many sports activities
as well, all in the span of a day. Inter-
spersed in all of this was time spent
farming and raising beef. During this
time, Harley and Sharon also helped
raise their twin nieces, Darla and Karla.
Harley retired from teaching in 1992
and he and Sharon sold the dairy herd
in 1995; they moved to Ontario to be
closer to their next adventure — grand-
children.
Harley lovingly cared for Sharon
during her nine-year battle with cancer.
After her death, he became active with
the Ontario Seniors, and enjoyed at-
tending the various senior dances in the
local communities. He developed many
friendships, and worked with son Mike
at Mike’s business in Ontario right up
until his death.
Harley was a wonderfully witty, wise
man who loved his family and friends
with his whole heart. He was a hard
worker who loved deeply and always
did his best to help those he cared for
with all that he had. His family was
so very precious to him, and he was
proud of each child and grandchild and
the unique things that made each one
special. He will be deeply missed by all
those who loved and enjoyed the very
special person that he was.
Harley is survived by his brother and
sister-in-law, Lee and Susan Derrick of
Payette, Idaho; his sister and brother-in
law, Sandy and Gary Geils of Ontario,
and sister-in-law, Verla Boles of Baker
City; his daughters and sons-in-law,
Kathy and Steve Iida of Ontario, and
Karen Derrick and Kirby Wood of
Urbandale, Iowa; his son and daughter-
in-law, Michael and Diahann Derrick
of Ontario; his special niece, Karla
Cathey of Sacramento, California; and
six grandchildren, Chelsey Iida, Chase
Iida, Dashel Ross, Sophia Ross, Daniel
Derrick and Katie Derrick.
Harley was preceded in death by his
beloved wife, Sharon; his parents; his
brother, Tim; his sister, Shirley Dorrah;
and his niece, Darla Cathey.
In lieu of fl owers, donations may be
made to the American Cancer Society,
www.cancer.org
In a tribute to Harley, his family wrote
that he would like you all to know that
his work here is done. He had a call from
God that could not exactly be ignored.
And, he had a date with Sharon, the love
of his life, that he was dying to make.
This teacher’s last assignment
guarantees a perfect reunion with his
wife, Sharon, mother, Margaret, father,
Marve, sister, Shirley, brother, Tim,
and a host of other family and friends.
The syllabus includes no restrictions
on travel, no social distancing, and
no masks. Bonus of this assignment
includes a brand-new body, dancing with
Sharon, endless storytelling, and incred-
ible farming.
His last lesson plans included instruc-
tions to his children, Kathy (Steven),
Karen (Kirby), Mikey (Diahann), Karla,
and grandchildren, Chelsey, Chase,
Dashel, Daniel, Katie and Sophie, that a
summer family celebration is to be held
in his beloved Halfway. This party is to
be full of laughter, memories, and love.
We want Harley to know that he was
an amazing Daddy and Grandpa and
we are so happy that he is home. We
will always remember the lessons he
taught us: that there is no substitute for
honesty and integrity, that life’s greatest
treasures cannot be purchased, that true
love is giving of oneself and serving oth-
ers, and that trials and failures are some
of life’s greatest gifts.
His warmth, passion, and love of
life will be remembered by his family,
friends, colleagues, and students.
As the fi nal bell has rung, please
know that you were our beloved Daddy
and Grandpa, mentor, counselor, and
friend. You, Daddy, were one for the ages,
and we are grateful for all your lessons
and love.
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Agnes Heck: 84, of Baker City
died on Jan. 5, 2021, at Memory
Lane Homes with her family at
her side. Arrangements are under
the direction of Tami’s Pine Val-
ley Funeral Home & Cremation
Services. Online condolences can
be made at www.tamispine
valleyfuneralhome.com
FUNERAL PENDING
Kathleen Mitchell: Reci-
tation of the rosary will be
Thursday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. at
St. Francis de Sales Cathedral
in Baker City. Mass of Christian
Burial will be Friday, Jan. 15, at 1
p.m. at St. Francis de Sales. Inter-
ment will take place afterward at
the Haines Cemetery. Attend-
ees are asked to wear masks,
and social distancing will be
observed at both services. Dona-
tions in Kathleen’s memory can
be made to St. Jude Children’s
Hospital through Coles Tribute
Center, 1950 Place St., Baker City,
OR 97814. To light a candle in
Kathleen’s memory, go to www.
colestributecenter.com
tilla County warrant related to
charges of possession of meth-
amphetamine and second-de-
gree criminal trespass): Jessica
Dianne Striker, 42, transient, 2:39
a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, in the 1500
block of Campbell Street; cited
and released.
CONTEMPT OF COURT (two
Baker County Justice Court
warrants): Craig Anthony Willey,
42, of 2440 15th St., 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, at Fifth and Campbell
streets; cited and released.
Crime reports
SECOND-DEGREE BUR-
GLARY: In the 900 block of Elm
Street between 1 p.m. and 4
p.m. Jan. 4; Matthew Dinger, 37,
of Baker City, reported that the
door of his garage was kicked in
and numerous items, including a
television set, a camera, jewelry,
silverware and boots, were re-
moved from his garage. Damage
to the garage door was esti-
mated at $500. Police Chief Ray
Duman said Dinger is compiling
an inventory of items taken in
the break-in and an estimated
value of the loss.
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
Arrests, citations
MENACING CONSTITUTING
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Travis
James Sprague, 23, of Baker
City, Monday, Jan. 4, at the Baker
County Parole and Probation
Offi ce; jailed.
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.
10 am - 5 pm
(closed for lunch)
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Uma-
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com