SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
L OCAL B RIEFING
First semester honor roll students
announced at Eagle Cap School
Invasive weed of the week
By Jeffrey Pettingill
The Enemy
Flowering rush (Botomus
umbellatus)
Volunteer training sessions planned this
month at Baker Heritage Museum
The Strategy
This perennial ornamental
plant invades waterways and
is found in the Mid-Columbia
Basin water system, but not
locally, YET. This plant has
triangular stems and produc-
es pink to white fl owers that
are shaped like an umbrella.
This rhizomatous plant needs
to have its bulbous roots in
water or mud and can grow 3
to 5 feet above the water sur-
face. The leaves of this plant
will spiral toward the tip but
are normally not noticed as
the plants stems dominate
the appearance.
Attack
The plant can grow into
thick vegetative pockets thus
prohibiting the water from
fl owing as well as interfere
with motor boats. In irriga-
tion systems it can replace
the holding capacity of the
system. The plant can wind
itself around propeller shafts
and plug jet boat motor
intakes. When it appears in
marshy areas, it normally
dominates as it is undesir-
able for food and the wildlife
selects and out competes the
forageable plants (even cat-
tails), which leaves the rush
behind to grow. It also causes
an increase in mosquitoes
due to the amount of undis-
turbed water.
Defense
The greatest defense for
The Baker Heritage Museum will have a series of
volunteer training sessions during March. The training
is for all volunteers, both new and returning.
All sessions will be at the Museum, 2480 Grove St. in
Baker City.
The schedule:
• Monday, March 8, 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 10, 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 16, 10 a.m.
• Thursday, March 18, 6 p.m.
Registration is recommended, but not required. To
register, call Gracie Hardy at 541-523-9308 or email
ghardy@bakercounty.org
High school, middle school students
planning fundraisers for future trips
Jeffrey Pettingill/Contributed Photo
Flowering rush is a perennial that can invade waterways.
Once established, digging
this plant is diffi cult but
may be your only option.
Herbicides are a challenge
as this plant has very little
leaf surface and herbicides
may not be used in many
situations. Most groups
use mechanical control as
either chaining or possibly
a specialized buck/rake on
an excavator. Help stop the
spread of the weed by not
moving the plant to new
sites.
Jeffrey Pettingill/Contributed Photo
Flowering rush produces pretty blooms but its effects
are nothing to celebrate.
this weed is to not spread it
around. It has been found
in some ornamental ponds,
so don’t plant it or move it
to another site. Ensure that
Jeffrey Pettingill is the weed
control supervisor for Baker
County. He encourages people
with noxious weed questions to
your watercraft is clean of
plant material when leaving call him at 541-523-0618 or 541-
519-0204. He also encourages
the launching site (throw
people to like the Baker County
the plants onto the ground,
Weed District’s Facebook page.
not into the water).
Counties that move into extreme risk
level get grace period from restrictions
By Gary A. Warner
Oregon Capital Bureau
Counties that might fall
back into the state’s most
restrictive extreme risk level
for COVID-19 spread will be
given a two-week grace period
on heightened restrictions,
Gov. Kate Brown announced
Thursday, March 4.
Brown said the state’s low
overall infection rates and its
steep trend downward since
the winter holidays allowed
for “a bit more time” for some
state trouble spots. The state
currently ranks 49th of the 50
states in new infections per
100,000 people — only Hawaii
scores better. With a positive
test rate of 3.9%, Oregon is
fi rmly on track for numbers to
continue downward state-
wide, and 1 million vaccine
shots have been administered
to residents.
The governor said she
made the decision to waive
the restrictions “recognizing
the challenges businesses en-
counter when facing a switch
back and forth between
extreme risk and other risk
levels,” Brown said.
The drop to the higher risk
Eagle Cap Innovative High School has announced its
fi rst semester honor roll recipients.
The students are: Abagail Densley, Ethan Fletcher,
Seth Hammons, Sage Joseph, Mackenzie McMurdo,
Marquesa Peterson, Luke Tracy, Evelyn Bedolla,
Hannah Dustin, Kyle Handyside, Reggie Anderson,
Malachi Miller, Aiden Rush, Jaden Martin, Hailey Mc-
Murdo, Kaci Anderson, Chase Berndt, Rebecca Frazier,
Grant Gambleton, Cadance Penning, Gavin Stetcher
level meant that restaurants
could offer limited indoor din-
ing, a key change during the
cold, wet winter months that
have stretched into March.
Higher numbers would
have required a return to the
tighter restrictions on busi-
nesses, dining, and activities.
Brown’s message did not
include any changes to rules
covering counties already in
the extreme risk level.
Brown had announced
Feb. 23 that 10 counties had
dropped out of the extreme
risk level, the highest of
the four-tier rating system
that also includes high risk,
moderate and lower. The
higher the risk level, the more
restrictions are in place on
businesses, dining and activi-
ties.
It was a dose of good news
after a period in which most of
the state had been in extreme
risk at one point or another.
“For the second time in a
row, we are seeing great prog-
ress in stopping the spread of
COVID-19 across Oregon and
saving lives,” Brown said on
Feb. 23.
Of the counties on the
extreme risk rating prior to
Feb. 23, Brown announced
seven had dropped one step to
higher risk: Crook, Jackson,
Lane, Marion, Polk, Umatilla
and Yamhill counties. Mal-
heur and Union dropped to
medium, while Wasco fell all
the way to lower risk.
Five counties — Benton,
Coos, Douglas, Jefferson and
Josephine — are currently on
the extreme list.
Risk level adjustments are
made every two weeks. But
measurements are taken ev-
ery Friday and analyzed each
Monday. The numbers are
published weekly, with the pe-
riod between reassignments
called “the warning week.”
With the next assignment
of risk levels set to be an-
nounced March 9 and go into
effect March 12, state offi cials
evidently saw some counties
trending back up to extreme
risk.
Brown’s offi ce did not
say what counties were of
concern. The “warning week”
numbers indicate trends, but
the fi nal status would also be
determined adding in the as-
yet unknown statistics of this
week through Friday.
Of those that dropped out
of the extreme risk category
but are showing a reverse
in trends during the warn-
ing week are Jackson and
Malheur counties. Among
medium and small counties,
Baker showed an increase in
cases and infection rate.
Less clear is the status
of Marion County, which
includes the state capital of
Salem. It has seen a moder-
ate upswing in numbers.
State health offi cials and the
governor will make the fi nal
decisions based on the most
recent data.
The drop in infections was
part of the recent good news
that has seen overall new
infections down from their
winter holiday period highs.
A third vaccine, made by
Johnson & Johnson has ar-
rived in the state and the fi rst
100 doses sent to each county,
with a total of 34,000 expected
to immediately follow.
But there was cautionary
news as well. Two potentially
more virulent and easier to
spread versions of the virus
showed up in Oregon.
State fines hotels for price gouging during fires
PORTLAND (AP) — Four Oregon
hotels will pay $105,600 in penalties
and reimburse at least 100 customers to
settle allegations of price gouging dur-
ing wildfi res last year.
The fi res burned more than 1 million
acres and forced thousands of Orego-
nians from their homes. Some people
reported sharply increased hotel prices
and Gov. Kate Brown issued a directive
to crack down on price gouging.
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum
said Thursday, March 4, that the hotels
have agreed to settle price-gouging al-
legations by paying fi nancial penalties,
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
The Department of Justice says
Capital Inn & Suites in Salem typically
charged $60 to $80 a night for rooms
but was charging as much as $146
during the wildfi res. Capital Inn has
refunded $1,342 to those customers and
has agreed to reimburse others. The
hotel will also pay a $38,000 penalty to
the state.
Le Chateau Inn in Florence raised
rates more than 15% for at least 18
rooms during the wildfi res, offi cials
said. The hotel will pay nearly $2,200
to those customers and $21,600 to the
state.
The Rodeway Inn Willamette River in
Corvallis raised rates more than 15% in
15 rooms, the state said. The Rodeway
will pay $918 in refunds to 23 custom-
ers and $15,000 in state penalties.
The Days Inn in Roseburg had rooms
that typically cost no more than $150
a night going for $200 to $300 a night
during the wildfi res, state offi cials
said. The hotel will repay $4,860 to 31
customers and pay $31,000 in penalties
to the state.
Oregon is investigating other allega-
tions, according to the Justice Depart-
ment. It’s also looking into hotel price-
gouging allegations during last month’s
ice storm.
“We also are trying our best to
make it clear that Oregon businesses
shouldn’t try to take advantage of peo-
ple during diffi cult times,” Rosenblum
said in a written statement Thursday.
Baker High School and Baker Middle School
students are planning several fundraisers to support
future EF Tours, which provide the opportunity for stu-
dents to visit foreign countries as well as Washington,
D.C., and New York City.
The fi rst fundraiser is selling fresh tulip bouquets
from the Woodburn Tulip Farm. Bouquets will cost $7
for a bunch of 10 tulips. Flowers will be delivered the
week after Easter. Orders must be in by April 2.
The second fundraiser is a raffl e to win a handmade
blanket donated by Wendy Ballou’s family. The purple-
and-gold blanket measures 46 inches by 60 inches.
Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Raffl e tickets must be
turned in by April 2.
Anyone interested in supporting these fundraisers
can contact Chelsea Hurliman at Baker High School,
541-524-2600. Or email her at chelsea.hurliman@
bakersd.org.
Baker County Library District offers
email alerts when new items arrive
The Baker County Library District is offering to send
free “Wowbrary” email alerts to patrons that showcase
the district’s newest items, including books, movies,
music CDs, audiobooks and more.
“This is a great new way to enjoy and use your public
library more,” said Perry Stokes, director of the library
district. “People are truly amazed when they see in
one place just how many great new titles we purchase
each week, which they can reserve and borrow at no
cost. And we cover all age groups and many diverse
interests.”
Stokes said the Wowbrary alerts, in addition to show-
ing newly arrived items, note whether the item has
been checked out from any of the district’s branches.
The emails help people interested in specifi c topics,
said Missy Grammon, the district’s youth specialist.
“It only takes a mouse click to see the newest arriv-
als appropriate for your child or teen,” Grammon said.
Wowbrary alerts are free and do not require a library
card. Go to www.wowbrary.org to sign up or learn more.
For more information, visit www.bakerlib.org or call
Stokes at 541-523-6419.
Prekindergarten preenrollment starting
April 1 for Haines Elementary School
HAINES — Haines Elementary School has an-
nounced that preenrollment for its prekindergarten
program will begin April 1.
Students must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2021, to
enroll for the 2021-2022 school year, a press release
stated. Priority will be given to students residing in the
Haines enrollment area.
From there, it will follow the policy on the District’s
website under Board Policies, Students, Remote Rural
Schools Enrollment at policy.osba.org/baker/J/JC%20
R%20D1.PDF
Pre-K hours are 7:45 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Monday
through Thursday. More information is available by
calling Kathleen Christensen, school secretary, at 541-
524-2400.
New At The Library
Patrons can reserve materials in advance online or by
calling 541-523-6419. Drive-in hours at 2400 Resort St. are
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday
and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
FICTION
• “Dark Sky,” C. J. Box
• “Colors of Truth,” Tamera Alexander
• “A Simple Murder,” Linda Castillo
• “The Affair,” Danielle Steel
• “An Unexpected Peril,” Deanna Raybourn
NONFICTION
• “Beyond Order,” Jordan Peterson
• “Walk in My Combat Boots,” James Patterson
• “The Movement,” Thomas Holt
• “Good Enough,” Carly Newberg
• “Three Wise Men,” Beau Wise
DVDS
• “Every Night’s a Saturday Night: the Rock ‘n’ Roll Life
of Legendary Sax Man Bobby Keys” (Documentary)
• “First Ladies Revealed” (Documentary)
• “Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism”
(Family)
• “The Best of Enemies” (Drama
• “The Pirates of Penzance” (Musical)