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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2021)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 COVID-19 T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald March 20, 1971 Vern Jacobson, Baker City manager, was honored last night at a Rotary Club dinner in the Baker Hotel for “ten years of outstanding service to the city of Baker.” A dinner crowd of 86 gave Jacobson a standing ovation in appreciation for his service to the community. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald March 20, 1996 A Richland man has fi led a petition seeking to recall Baker County Sheriff Terry Speelman. Jim Rix-Anderson fi led the recall petition Tuesday. In his statement of reasons why Speelman should be recalled, Rix-Anderson alleges the sheriff illegally seized private property and allowed some to be sold to a close friend, and that he altered and ordered others to alter police records. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald March 21, 2011 Baker City Councilors will decide whether to join a group of more than two dozen Oregon communities to negotiate franchise agreements with Charter Communica- tions. Creating a consortium would allow up to 26 cities and counties to reach an agreement with the cable television provider, which generated controversy in Baker City last year by closing its local offi ce in late October, and deleting Boise’s NBC affi liate from its channel lineup at the end of November. Franchise agreements allow cable companies and other utilities to place their cables and other equipment on pub- lic rights-of-way. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald March 21, 2020 With schools, libraries, the YMCA, and other places closed due to the coronavirus, Baker County parents are striving to fi nd ways to keep their children safe and entertained. Harmony McAlpine, 45, decided not to go back to work and is staying home with her children. A concern McAlpine shares with other parents is her children’s education. “We’re more concerned about the school, if they are going to put them online for right now,” she said. “Them having their education is highly important to me,” said Ashlyn Gazley, 29, who is working with her children to learn at home while Oregon public schools are closed through at least April 28. Many parents are working on helping their children continue to learn outside of school with math, reading, and other subjects. And having spring break, which was scheduled to start Monday, extended for at least another month isn’t proving popular with some students. “I don’t like it, I want to go to school,” Gabby Wright, 11, said Thursday while she and her mom, Kristina Corr, were picking up meals at Baker High School. Parents are trying to keep their kids entertained as well as educated during this long, unexpected school closure. Board games are a big hit with some families. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, March 17 11 — 25 — 36 — 37 — 39 — 41 Next jackpot: $3.3 million POWERBALL, March 17 34 — 38 — 41 — 61 — 62 PB 19 Next jackpot: $200 million MEGA MILLIONS, March 16 10 — 41 — 46 — 52 — 69 Mega 8 Next jackpot: $105 million WIN FOR LIFE, March 17 26 — 28 — 35 — 68 PICK 4, March 18 • 1 p.m.: 6 — 0 — 2 — 8 • 4 p.m.: 2 — 4 — 6 — 1 • 7 p.m.: 9 — 8 — 6 — 4 • 10 p.m.: 0 — 0 — 3 — 9 LUCKY LINES, March 18 4-5-11-16-17-23-27-31 Next jackpot: $46,000 S ENIOR M ENUS ■ MONDAY (March 22): Chicken and gravy over egg noodles, biscuit, Jell-O with fruit, bread pudding ■ TUESDAY (March 23): Soup and sandwich (turkey sandwich, vegetable beef soup), fruit cup, cookies ■ WEDNESDAY (March 24): Spaghetti, zucchini and tomatoes, garlic breadsticks, green salad, birthday cake ■ THURSDAY (March 25): Pork roast, mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed vegetables, beet-and-onion salad, ice cream ■ FRIDAY (March 26): Boneless chicken breast, baked potato, winter blend vegetables, fruit cup, cinnamon roll 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 tions at the Baker County COVID-19 website, www. Continued from Page 1A bakercountycovid19.com or by Over the ensuing two weeks 12th death reported calling 541-523-0015 or 541- the county had no more than Although the case rate 523-8211.” four daily cases (March 8 and has declined recently, Baker All residents 18 and older 10) and there have been four County did have its 12th can sign up. days with no cases (March 6, COVID-19-related death this Baker County has exceeded 7, 15 and 18). week. the statewide average in The county’s positivity rate The OHA reported on vaccinating residents 65 and for the current measuring pe- Wednesday that an 81-year- older, a group for whom the riod is below 5%, as well (the old Baker County man had virus poses a vastly greater precise fi gure wasn’t available died on March 11 in a Boise risk of death. from the Oregon Health Au- hospital, three days after test- Of the 2,353 Oregonians thority in time for this story). ing positive. who have died after testing The man did not have un- That’s due in part to a positive for COVID-19, 91% testing clinic that took place derlying conditions, according were 60 or older, and 77% during the Baker County to the OHA. Of the 11 other were 70 or older. Health Department’s most county residents who died In Baker County, about recent largescale vaccination after testing positive, 10 had 4,716 residents — about 28% clinic on March 12, County underlying conditions, the of the population — are 65 Commissioner Mark Bennett agency reported. or older. As of Friday, about said. More than 100 people 76% of those residents were were tested during that event, Vaccinations continue to partially or fully vaccinated. rise he said. The breakdown by age Baker County has vacci- range: Differences between nated its residents at a higher • 80 and older, 1,028 people lowest and moderate risk rate, per 10,000 residents, — 89% partially or fully vac- level than all but one of Oregon’s 35 cinated The county’s move from other counties. • 75 to 79, 876 people — lowest to moderate risk on As of Friday, the county had 79% partially or fully vac- March 12 didn’t have dramat- administered the fi rst dose cinated ic effects on restaurants, bars of either the Pfi zer-BioNTech • 70 to 74, 1,264 people — and other businesses. or Moderna vaccine to 3,169 83% partially or fully vac- The main change is that people, and 2,525 people had cinated restaurants and bars have to either received both doses or • 65 to 69, 1,548 people — close at 11 p.m. rather than the single dose of the Johnson 61% partially or fully vac- midnight, and their indoor & Johnson vaccine, which cinated dining, though it remains at requires only one shot. Bennett said he is sched- 50% occupancy, also has a cap The total of 5,694 people uled to testify on Monday, of 100 people. But most if not means almost 34% of the March 22 during a public all local restaurants are small county’s 16,800 residents are hearing before the Oregon enough that the capacity limit either fully or partially vac- House Subcommittee on CO- doesn’t affect them. cinated. VID-19. He said he’ll be talk- Moving back to lowest risk The vaccination rate of ing about resources counties could affect youth sporting 3,385 per 10,000 residents need to help businesses, and events, as counties at the ranks behind only Wheeler how Baker County is handling lowest risk can have up to County’s 3,450. vaccinations. 300 people attending outdoor “The Health Department Bennett said he’s grateful events, instead of 150 people continues, along with our com- for the work county employees for counties at moderate risk. munity partners, to vaccinate and dozens of volunteers have For indoor sporting events, people as quickly as possible,” done. the capacity for counties at Staten said. “We encourage “This has been a tough and moderate risk is 50% or 100 anyone who is interested to tragic year, but we’re working total people, while for counties get on the list for vaccina- hard as a county,” he said. at lowest risk the only crite- rion is 50% of occupancy. BUILDINGS • 1933 Court Ave., $2,000 for window installation and interior work. Continued from Page 1A Owner Andrew Bryan said most of The building is owned by Nemec the work allowed under the federal Enterprises LLC. grant has been done. • 120 Bridge St., $2,350 to replace the He said that project has led to other roof. renovations on the building, known as Loran Joseph said his mother, Linda the Pantatorium. Joseph, bought the historic home and “We had to take out two levels of drop plans to replace the roof in May to ceilings in order to get to the inside of prevent further damage inside before the facade in order to do the work,” he beginning the interior remodel. said. “So it became a little more exten- “That is the only thing this year,” sive project.” Loran Joseph said. • 1829 Main St., $2,000 to repair The two-story home once housed a windows and skylights. brothel, he said. The building, also known as the NURSERY They sent an initial inquiry to OARN in October Continued from Page 1A 2019. The next fi ve months Use of the nursery is vol- involved community plan- untary, and families qualify ning and assessing local through an interview process needs. with the director. Eligible A letter of intent was sent families are identifi ed to have to OARN in May 2020 and fi ve or more stressors. the application was approved The OARN has compiled in July 2020. statistics based on use of After receiving several relief nurseries. From 2008 grants and donations, Rae- to 2010, 99.6% of children Ann Butler was hired as in a relief nursery had no the program coordinator in maltreatment after engag- October 2020. ing in services. From 2014 to Although the relief nursery 2016, 95% of children had no model serves ages 0 to 5, foster care placements after the Baker Relief Nursery is engaging in relief nursery focusing on ages 0 to 2. services. “We’re starting with a modest program with just a The process few families,” Mosier said. After meeting with the The board hopes to expand Malheur ESD and the East- to serving 25 families by the ern Oregon Early Learning end of 2021. HUB, Mosier and a group As a certifi ed relief nursery, of like-minded volunteers the Baker center will be eli- helped start the process to gible for state funding — but establish a relief nursery in not until its second year. Baker County. “This whole fi rst year we The board of directors don’t have any state funding. includes Mosier, Tammie It’s all donations and grants,” Blessing, Tammy Pierce, Kelli Mosier said. Wright, and Beth Quinn. The funding is a public- COVID-19 vaccinations in Baker County, by age group As of Friday, March 19, a total of 5,694 Baker County residents — 33.9% of the population — had received either a fi rst dose, or both doses, of a COVID-19 vaccine. Most have had either the Pfi zer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, both of which require two doses. A total of 265 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one shot, have been administered. The breakdown of doses: • 80 AND OLDER: 916 (16% of total) • 75 TO 79: 689 (12.1%) • 70 TO 74: 1,053 (18.5%) • 65 TO 69: 939 (16.5%) • 60 TO 64: 433 (7.6%) • 50 TO 59: 612 (10.7%) • 40 TO 49: 484 (8.5%) • 30 TO 39: 353 (6.2%) • 20 TO 29: 176 (3.1%) • 19 AND YOUNGER: 39 (0.68%) White House, is owned by 5th Street Rental LLC. • 1705 Main St., $1,000 to repair concrete sills and decorative features. This is the Baker Tower, the 10-story former Hotel Baker at the corner of Main Street and Auburn Avenue that is the tallest building east of the Cascades in Oregon. Owner Patrick Rhea said the money will pay for repairs that aren’t all visible from the ground, including repairing one of the decorative concrete eagle heads. He said the work will start this spring or summer. private partnership. Of the annual operating cost for most relief nurseries, 30% is provided through the Oregon Department of Education, 30% by grants, and 40% by private donations. By statute, a 25% cash match is required from the local community. “For every dollar we raise here, we get three dollars from the state,” Mosier said. The Baker Relief Nursery is eligible to receive up to $150,000 in funding from the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Learning Division. This means $37,500 must be raised through dona- tions and grants. The nursery is a nonprofi t organization. dler to stay at the nursery. The classroom teachers will schedule home visits to assess that basic needs are met, and to help connect families with community resources. The nursery also includes a diaper bank, food bank, and baby clothing bank — all stocked with donated items. Currently the nursery has an infant class on Wednes- days from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., along with scheduled respite care and home visits. How to help The board of directors has several open positions, including secretary and at- large members. Other ways to help include The nursery volunteering time during Baker Relief Nursery is the respite hours, or making located at 1925 16th St. It a donation to support the will start with one classroom nursery. designed for young children. For more information, “When you’re six months call 541-239-5054 or email old, your job at school might bakerreliefnursery1927@ be learning to sit up,” Mosier gmail.com. said. Monetary donations can Families will also schedule be mailed to PO Box 1176, respite time for a baby or tod- Baker City, OR 97814. N EWS OF R ECORD DEATHS Julia Kautz: 72, of Baker City, died on March 18, 2021, at her home, surrounded by the love of her family. Arrangements are under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Crema- tion Services. Online condolenc- es can be made at www.tamispi- nevalleyfuneralhome.com FUNERALS PENDING Tommy G. West: Graveside services will be Wednesday, March 24, at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, with military honors. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Tom- my’s memory can direct them to a charity of one’s choice through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814. To light a candle in memory of Tommy, go to www.colestributecenter. com. Arlene Mae Schoorl: Cele- bration of her life, with a potluck, will take place on Saturday, April 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Unity Community Hall. To offer online condolences, go to www.grayswestco.com. POLICE LOG Baker City Police Arrests, citations FRAUDULENT USE OF A CREDIT CARD (Baker County Circuit Court warrant): Keyan Wayne Woodcock, 19, Baker City, 5:22 p.m. Thursday, March 18 at Auburn Avenue and Main Street; cited and released. VIOLATION OF RESTRAINING ORDER: Adam Troy Shelton, 47, 5:51 a.m. Wednesday, March 17 at the Sheriff’s Offi ce; jailed. “You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com