NORTHEAST OREGON
THURSDAY
SPRING SPORTS SEASON UNDERWAY AT BAKER HIGH SCHOOL: PAGE 5A
APRIL 15, 2021
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Serving Baker County since 1870 • bakercityherald.com
April 15, 2021
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COVID surge worsens
■ Baker County recorded 14 new cases on Tuesday, the highest one-day total since Dec. 28
By Jayson Jacoby
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Baker City working
on housing needs
analysis
Baker City residents
are invited to share their
thoughts about the city’s
housing needs for the next
20 years as part of a needs
analysis.
The Baker City Planning
Department has scheduled
an open house on the
topic for Monday, April 19.
Residents have two op-
tions for participating:
• Zoom meeting, 3:30
p.m. To access the meet-
ing, go to https://us02web.
zoom.us/81819675944. Or
call 1-253-215-8782 and
use meeting ID 818 1967
5944.
• Attend an open house
at 5:30 p.m. in council
chambers at City Hall, 1655
First St.
Baker County’s COVID-19 surge
continued on Tuesday, April 13 with
14 new cases, the highest one-day total
since late December, and the third-
most in any day during the pandemic.
Nancy Staten, director of the Baker
County Health Department, described
the situation as “alarming” during an
interview Tuesday morning, before
the day’s case total was
compiled.
Staten said a large
majority of the county’s
cases over the past
few weeks — includ-
Staten
ing those reported
Tuesday — have been
traced to parties and other social
gatherings.
She said she understands that
people, more than a year into a pan-
demic that has had such dramatic
effects on previously normal activi-
ties, want to socialize.
“People have COVID fatigue,”
Staten said. “People want to gather.”
But if too many residents cease
taking precautions — as the recent
rise in cases, and their origins, sug-
gests is happening — the effects can
be widespread, Staten said.
Besides increasing the risk for
vulnerable people to suffer severe
health effects — 13 county residents
have died after testing positive —
Staten pointed out that the surge
could push the county into a higher
risk level starting April 23, with
associated limitations on businesses,
particularly restaurants and bars.
Baker County YMCA Offers Variety Of Workouts At Fitness Center, Pool
Corey Kirk/Baker City Herald
Diane Wofford participates in a water aerobics class Wednesday, April 14 at Sam-O Swim Center.
Exercising Options
to do it safely, enjoy it and not have
injury,” said Elissa Morrison, the Y’s
Whether it’s swimming laps at the health and wellness director.
Sam-O-Swim Center, or adding more
At the fi tness center, Morrison
weight on a squat rack in the free
and her staff offer a variety of group
weight area at the fi tness center on
classes, which are free to Y members.
Pocahontas Road, the Baker County
“That is the one thing about our
YMCA is striving to give their mem- staff, they do it because they love
bers ways to achieve their fi tness
what they do, and they want to help
goals safely during the pandemic.
people, that’s their passion,” Morrison
“I really try to look for really tar-
said.
geted opportunities for people as they
Members can take a karate class
are pursuing maybe their favorite
one day, a cardio dance class another,
activity, but giving them information or choose tai-chi, a class Morrison
ckirk@bakercityherald.com
Today
60 / 29
Sunny
Friday
64 / 29
Sunny
Council
expresses
concern
over fees
soconner@bakercityherald.com
By Corey Kirk
WEATHER
See Surge/Page 2A
By Samantha O’Conner
Fundraiser for
Carmelita Holland
RICHLAND — A fund-
raising lunch and auction
are set for Saturday, April
17 in Richland for the
Carmelita Holland family,
who lost their home in
New Bridge to a fi re on
March 20.
Lunch starts at noon at
the Eagle Valley Grange
Park. Tickets are $10 for
roast pork, or $5 for a hot
dog meal. A silent auction
starts at noon; a live auc-
tion, with auctioneer Mib
Dailey, starts at 1:30 p.m.
Your guide to arts,
entertainment
and other events
happening around
Northeast Oregon
sees as benefi cial to anybody.
“It’s an excellent program to
address balance — everyone has bal-
ance issues, especially when we age,”
Morrison said. “Any time you work on
balance, you engage the brain so you
are helping with brain function.”
People who would rather strap on
swim goggles have multiple options
at Sam-O Swim Center, the city-
owned pool that the Y operates at
580 Baker St.
Baker City Council mem-
bers expressed concern about
proposed increases in water,
wastewater and other fees
during their regular meeting
Tuesday evening, April 13 at
City Hall.
Jeanie Dexter, the city’s
fi nance director, presented
the annual fee resolution.
Councilors are scheduled
to vote on the resolution dur-
ing their April 27 meeting.
Any fee changes would take
effect July 1, the start of the
2021-22 fi scal year.
In her report, Dexter said
proposed increases in water
and wastewater rates, and
a variety of fees at Mount
Hope Cemetery, are based on
the federal Consumer Price
Index, which increased by
1.9% for the 12-month period
ending in February 2021.
Councilor Heather Sells
asked whether city offi cials
had discussed leaving water
rates as they are since some
businesses have been closed
or severely restricted due
to state-imposed guidelines
designed to slow the spread
of COVID-19.
See Workout/Page 3A
See Fees/Page 3A
The space below is for
a postage label for issues
that are mailed.
Sheriff’s
Office
investigates
mail thefts
The Baker County
Sheriff’s Offi ce encourages
residents to check their mail-
boxes daily after a rash of
mail thefts along Highway 7
between Baker City and near
Sumpter.
On Sunday, April 11, a
citizen called Baker County
Dispatch after noticing
several mailboxes left open
in the area of Griffi n Gulch,
about a mile south of Baker
City, as well as mail scattered
on Highway 7, according
to a press release from the
Sheriff’s Offi ce.
Corey Kirk/Baker City Herald
Paula Moe, shown here at Sam-O Swim Center, is aquatics director for the Baker County YMCA.
TODAY
Issue 144, 22 pages
Business ...........1B & 2B
Classified ............. 3B-6B
Comics ....................... 7B
Community News ....3A
Crossword ........3B & 6B
Dear Abby ................. 8B
Horoscope ........3B & 6B
Letters ........................4A
Lottery Results ..........2A
See Thefts/Page 3A
News of Record ........2A
Obituaries ..................2A
Opinion ......................4A
Senior Menus ...........2A
Sports ........................5A
Weather ..................... 8B
INSIDE, 6A — POWDER VALLEY VOLLEYBALL CAPS A PERFECT SEASON