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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2021)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2021 DRUG LAW Continued from Page 1A T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald February 6, 1971 HALFWAY — Phil Turner tossed in a rebound shot and sank a free throw with two seconds to go in the ball game as the Pine-Eagle Spartans won their second Wapiti league ball game last night from the Elgin Huskies, 57-55. Roger Gulick was the top scorer for the winners as he tossed in 18 points. He was followed by Turner with 11. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald February 6, 1996 The artistic ability of a 10-year-old Baker City boy has won — for the second time in two years — an all-expense paid trip for him and his family. But Adam Scura’s family is not the only benefi ciary of his prize-winning work this time. As a grand prize winner in the M&M/Mars “Make a Monster” drawing contest, Adam also won a $10,000 contribution for his school. He is a fi fth- grader in Tom Busey’s class at Brooklyn Elementary. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald February 7, 2011 An Asheville, N.C., woman has been named supervisor of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Monica Schwalbach will succeed Steve Ellis as head of the 2.3-million-acre Wallowa-Whitman, based in Baker City. Schwalbach is scheduled to start her new job April 4. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald February 6, 2020 Baker City’s newest playground, an “all-inclusive” de- sign that will be accessible to children in wheelchairs and open to all, is scheduled to be built May 11-15 at Geiser- Pollman Park. The city recently received a $23,010 grant from the Ford Family Foundation that brings the budget to the full esti- mated cost of $308,000, said Joyce Bornstedt, the city’s technical administrative supervisor. The city also hopes to receive a $5,000 grant from Northwest Farm Credit Services, Bornstedt said. Earlier grants, the largest being $164,000 from the Or- egon Parks and Recreation Department, allowed the city to order playground equipment late last year. Most of that equipment has arrived and is in storage, Bornstedt said. The artifi cial turf surface in the new playground, which will overlay a shock-absorbing rubber layer, will be sent to Baker City just before the installation contractor arrives, Bornstedt said. (That part of the park now has wood chips, which aren’t compatible with wheelchairs and walkers.) The new playground surface will be similar to what’s in place under the playground equipment that was installed at Geiser-Pollman in May 2014. The all-inclusive play equipment will be installed to the south of the current playground, in the area just north of Madison Street that’s underlain now by wood chips. City crews have removed the tall metal swing structure that has been in the park for about a century. It no longer meets safety standards, Bornstedt said. Workers also removed the three metal-lattice play domes, a structure that includes two short slides, and the longer, taller single slide. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, Feb. 3 4 — 13 — 15 — 18 – 37 — 38 Next jackpot: $1.5 million POWERBALL, Feb. 3 5 — 37 — 40 — 64 — 66 PB 5 Next jackpot: $30 million MEGA MILLIONS, Feb. 2 13 — 37 – 38 — 40 — 67 Mega 10 Next jackpot: $54 million WIN FOR LIFE, Feb. 3 4 — 11 — 33 — 43 PICK 4, Feb. 4 • 1 p.m.: 7 — 9 — 5 — 9 • 4 p.m.: 4 — 0 — 0 — 0 • 7 p.m.: 5 — 0 — 2 — 0 • 10 p.m.: 9 — 1 — 4 — 8 LUCKY LINES, Feb. 4 4-7-10-15-17-22-25-32 Next jackpot: $18,000 Those amounts are: • Heroin, 1 gram or less • Cocaine, 2 grams or less • Methamphetamine, 2 grams or less • MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), less than 1 gram or fi ve pills • LSD, less than 40 user units • Psilocybin, less than 12 grams •Methadone, less than 40 user units • Oxycodone, less than 40 pills, tablets or capsules. The ballot measure was approved statewide by a vote of 1,333,268 (58.46%) in favor and 947,313 (41.54%) opposed. In Baker County, mean- while, voters soundly rejected the measure by a margin of 5,956 (62.4%) to 3,590 (37.6%). The law comes with a strat- egy for helping people receive treatment for substance abuse. Both local law enforcement offi cers and treatment provid- ers, however, are concerned that the law took effect before that strategy is fully ready. While reducing punish- ment to a $100 fi ne for those found with user amounts of illegal drugs, the law also of- fers the option for the person to forego the fi ne and instead complete a health assessment with an addiction treatment professional. Proponents of the new law hope the health assessment will lead to treatment for the drug user, but there is no re- quirement for that to happen. At this point, a person cited on the Class E drug posses- sion violation who chooses not to pay the fi ne is directed to receive an assessment by di- aling the Addiction Recovery hotline: 503-575-3769. The hotline will be open around the clock every day, accord- ing to the Oregon Health Authority. Baker City Police Chief Ray Duman and Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash said their offi cers will make the phone Duman number avail- able to those who want an assessment. “We will be able to provide a telephone num- Ash ber for the as- sessment center line, where the individual can have an assessment and the addictions center will provide them with a letter to take to the court and have the fi ne waived,” Duman stated in an email to the Herald. To help further the hope that those cited will continue in the next step to enroll in treatment, the law also re- S ENIOR M ENUS ■ MONDAY: Chicken-fried chicken, country gravy, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, roll, ice cream ■ TUESDAY: Lasagna, zucchini, garlic breadsticks, pasta salad, cookies ■ WEDNESDAY: Chicken cordon bleu with hollandaise, rice pilaf, broccoli, roll, beet-and-onion salad, tapioca ■ THURSDAY: Barbecued ribs, baked beans, corn, roll, broccoli-bacon salad, apple crisp ■ FRIDAY: Baked ham, candied yams, mixed vegetables, roll, macaroni salad, cheesecake 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 $10.75 for print only. Digital-only rates are $8.25. 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 “For drugs to occur at a higher rate — nothing good comes from that.” — Shari Selander, CEO, New Directions Northwest in Baker City quires the establishment of at least one addiction recovery center in each of the state’s 15 existing coordinated care organization service areas. The centers will be funded by tax money generated by the state’s legal marijuana industry. Shari Selander, CEO of New Directions Northwest in Baker City, said her agency is eager to staff one of those cen- ters, but again, the logistics are complicated. The widespread Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization includes Baker County and 11 other counties ranging from Lake County to Wheeler County to Wallowa County. How just one center would serve all of those residents — some living more than 200 miles from Baker City — including helping transport them to one site, is a question yet to be answered, said Shad Thomas. Thomas is a licensed clini- cal social worker and Level III drug and alcohol coun- selor who directs addictions programs for New Directions. Thomas also noted that there have been no changes to the state administrative rules that govern how the agency’s programs are run as a result of the new law. Chief Duman and Sheriff Ash along with Baxter Baker County District Attor- ney Greg Baxter fear that the treatment portion of the law could be doomed to fail without any infrastructure in place as the offi cers start issu- ing citations for drug posses- sion violations that Duman equates to a parking ticket. And without the clout of the legal system to help moti- vate addicts to enroll in treat- ment and follow it through to completion, the law enforce- ment offi cials have little hope that those cited will take that next step beyond the medical assessment. On the other hand, Duman points out, people cited can forego even the assessment if they choose to simply pay the $100 fi ne. The law required the es- tablishment of a 21-member Oversight and Accountability Council by Feb. 1. Council members, who were ap- pointed by the Oregon Health Authority, will oversee the centers, which must be up and running by Oct. 1. “We don’t even have a pro- cess in place, but the law has been enacted,” Duman said. New Directions is expand- ing its programs and as part of that effort, the company recently hired two “recovery peer mentors” to help bring people to treatment, Thomas said. “They will engage those with issues who are on the fence about getting treat- ment,” he said. “They are people who can go and meet with clients at their homes or take them out for a cup of coffee and mentor them in the recovery process.” Both Thomas and Selander said they could not support the ballot measure as it was written despite their involve- ment in treating and sup- porting those battling drug addiction. “Decriminalization has its place, but it needs much stronger ties to treatment than what Ballot Measure 110 provides,” Thomas said. Selander bases her views on personal experience. “I know fi rsthand what drugs and alcohol can do to individuals and families,” she said. “Are we going to see a high increase in the numbers due to this? Or will we see more people in treatment?” Selander agrees with law enforcement offi cers who expect to see a rise in other crimes as the possession of hard drugs becomes a Class E violation. “For drugs to occur at a higher rate — nothing good comes from that,” she said. Duman points out that since Oregonians voted to legalize marijuana for rec- reational use in 2014, Lance Woodward, the police depart- ment’s School Resource Offi cer, has seen an uptick in the availability of the drug among teens, including those as young as middle schoolers. Duman expects the new law to do the same for the list of illegal drugs that now carry a citation for a Class E violation. Selander and Thomas join law enforcement in wonder- ing how the new law will affect their clients and the community, including its young people. “If you can help individu- als to prevent addictions to substances, that’s where I like to focus as much as I can,” Selander said. “I am concerned about what the effects of Measure 110 will be in the long term.” Thomas also believes it will be more diffi cult to en- gage those who are addicted to drugs and struggle to remain in treatment without the “external motivator” of the legal system. And looking at how the services at New Directions have been affected by the legalization of marijuana, Se- lander can’t help but wonder how lessening punishment for possession of illegal drugs will affect New Directions Northwest. “There is an increase in mental health and substance abuse services since the marijuana law went into effect,” she said. “And there have been more individuals experiencing psychosis that has not been there before. “I’m very concerned about our adolescents as well and the long-term impact,” she said. “That contributes to my own fears about Bal- lot Measure 110. As this is starting to roll out we’re still not sure how that is going to play out.” Sheriff Ash said his deputies will be focusing on prevention, especially among the community’s young people. That will come in the con- tinuation of the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, but also in routine interactions to build relation- ships with youth throughout the county, he said. “This is not an opportunity to try drugs,” Ash says of the decriminalization of posses- sion of heroin, cocaine and other hard drugs on the list. “The drugs are still danger- ous. “We’re looking at every- thing we can do to bolster prevention,” he said, includ- ing with adults. “I’ve seen nothing good come out of drug use or abuse.” He added, however, that he would be happy if the law proves successful. “Somebody who is addicted has a medical condition. If we could get them help and get them better, that would be great,” he said. Still, he is concerned that there is no infrastructure in place to coincide with the enactment of the new law. Selander said the 21 mem- bers of the Oversight and Ac- countability Council were just announced Tuesday, Feb. 2. “Obviously we are very concerned,” she said. “Just to have a health screening does not require treatment.” Selander said she recalls that before the November election, the ballot measure was being touted as providing better and easier access to treatment. “I’m not actually sure this is going to do that,” she said. Selander echoes the concerns of Duman, Ash and Baxter, who say they expect the decriminalization of possession of user amounts of illegal drugs to lead to an increase in other crimes. The Baker County Narcot- ics Enforcement Team, which includes city and county of- fi cers with help from the state police and District Attorney’s offi ce, is still working cases in Baker County, Duman says. See Drug Law/Page 3A O BITUARY Andrea Patacini Formerly of Baker City, 1981-2021 Andrea (Cloudt) Pata- cini, 39, a former Baker City resident, died unexpectedly of natural causes on Jan. 22, 2021, at her home in Kenne- wick, Washington. Andrea was born on July 28, 1981, at Baker City to Steven and Karen Cloudt. She grew up in Baker and Andrea graduated from Patacini Baker High School in 1999. After graduation, she went to Boise State University for two years then transferred to Oregon State University at Corvallis to complete her degree in nutrition. Her last year of education was spent in Omaha, Nebraska, where she completed a nutrition internship. Her fi rst job as a registered News of Record on Page 5A dietician was at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Baker City where she worked for one year. Her next job was at Sunnyside Hospital in Washington where she worked for four years. Andrea most recently worked for Trios Health Sys- tem as a registered dietician and just received recognition for serving the system for fi ve years. While working at Sun- nyside Hospital, she met her husband, Robert Patacini, af- ter being introduced through his mother. Andrea and Rob- ert reside in Kennewick with their two children, Lena, age 8 and Mason, age 6. Andrea, Robert and the kids enjoyed boating on the Columbia River and travel- ling. Andrea loved to dance, hike and visit with friends. Andrea was always joking and making people laugh. Andrea developed type 1 diabetes at the age of 9. As an adult she was an active member and advocate for juvenile diabetes research. As a registered dietitian and fellow diabetic, she loved guiding and educating new diabetics. Andrea en- joyed planning and facilitat- ing the annual Trios Health diabetes day camp for children. Additionally, she was a certifi ed insulin pump trainer, and she taught many people with diabetes how to use their new insulin pump. Throughout her life, Andrea was known for her great laugh, friendly nature and her ability to make those around her laugh. She enjoyed watching reruns of “The Offi ce” even though it irritated her husband! She touched a lot of lives in her short time with us, her fam- ily said. She is survived by her husband, Robert; her chil- dren, Lena and Mason, and her stepdaughter, Amy; her parents, Steve and Karen Cloudt; her brother, David; her sisters, Christy and Amy; and four nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Joe and Lena Frericks, Avery Cloudt and Wealtha Silvera; her aunt, Nikki Rankin, and her uncle, Bruce Cloudt. A friend from high school has set up a GoFundMe ac- count as a gift to the children and to pay for any other expenses needed. To donate to the fund, search for “In Memory of Andrea Patacini” on gofundme.com. Donations to the American Diabetes Association would also be ac- cepted in honor of Andrea. “You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com
