COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021
STUDENTS
Continued from Page 1A
The events are designed to
teach students about being
safe around electricity, and
also show them the career
opportunities available in the
industry.
And, as with the fi re hose
demonstration, to have fun.
Students were divided
into smaller groups to cycle
through the stations, includ-
ing operating the control
panel on an OTEC line truck,
and learning from Baker City
Fire Department paramedics
how to splint a broken bone.
OTEC lineman Chris Pep-
pers showed students how
to operate the truck’s control
panel, and he let them explore
the truck and its features,
including a very loud horn.
Inside the church, line-
men Mark Dyer and Myles
Schwebke had a safety station
where they showed students
what happens if a kite is
fl own too close to power lines.
Schwebke had a small
switch he would step on that
sent electricity through the
station table, showing the
electric shocks.
They also demonstrated the
dangers of a ladder bumping
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
COUNCIL
“South Baker students
were able to take away a
great discussion of how
these safety careers are
such a great future choice
for the students.”
Continued from Page 1A
— Kristin Schwin,
sixth-grade teacher, South
Baker Intermediate
into power lines, an over-
turned car beneath active
lines, and other scenarios.
Sixth-grade teacher Kristin
Schwin said the students
loved the event. Schwin said
it was a great experience for
the students to learn both
about safety precautions,
and the roles that emergen-
cy responders play.
“It’s things they’re not re-
ally exposed to very often, so
it’s very nice for them to get
a chance to be exposed and
learn how this equipment all
works,” Schwin said.
Around 30 South Baker
students participated, and
Schwin said they were grate-
ful for the break from the
classroom and to be able to
be outside to learn.
“South Baker students
were able to take away a
great discussion of how
Samantha O’Conner/Baker City Herald
Quinton Wellman operates an Oregon Trail Electric Coop-
erative truck with lineman Chris Peppers.
these safety careers are such
a great future choice for
the students,” Schwin said.
“Many loved seeing what it
would be like to work as a
lineman, a fi reman, or an
EMT. The students loved the
public service element and
how many of these workers
are out there saving lives and
rescuing others on a daily
basis, often at great risk to
themselves. Very eye-open-
ing.”
Harvey’s ethics case set for Friday
and re-elected to a second
four-year term in 2018,
Oregon’s Government Ethics Commis- used his position to benefi t
sion is scheduled to determine Friday,
himself, his son and his son’s
June 11 whether Bill Harvey, chairman of business, and that the elder
the Baker County Board of Commission- Harvey failed to disclose con-
Harvey
ers, violated state ethics laws last year.
fl icts of interest as required
The Ethics Commission was initially
by state law.
slated to review Harvey’s case April 30,
In a written response to the Commis-
but he had scheduling confl icts that day
sion, dated May 27, Harvey wrote that
and the matter was rescheduled for the
“the thought that I used my County Com-
June 11 meeting.
mission position to benefi t myself is ab-
Susan Myers, an investigator for the
surd. Who would ever want to work seven
Ethics Commission, recommends the
days a week, for two months away from
Commission make a preliminary fi nding my family, and ignore what was required
that Harvey committed eight violations of of me at home as a father, grandfather and
ethics laws. Myers wrote in her report that husband? As a salaried elected offi cial, all
she found a “preponderance of evidence”
of the extra hours and workload was done
that Harvey, who was elected in 2014
at no additional pay for myself.”
By Jayson Jacoby
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
FRUITS
Harvey asks that the Ethics Commis-
sion give him a warning on one confl ict
of interest allegation, that he hired his
son, William Shawn Harvey, to haul boat
docks to the county’s Hewitt Park near
Richland in August 2020.
Bill Harvey also proposes that the
Commission warn him for discussing the
possibility of hiring his son to do demoli-
tion work at the building the county
bought in August 2020 and that now
houses the Baker County Health Depart-
ment.
The county did not hire William Har-
vey for that work, and Bill Harvey, who
made the proposal, did not participate in
the discussion.
See Harvey/Page 5A
“I just can’t see how
either side could have a
problem with it going on
the ballot because both
sides of this argument
think that the community
wants what they want
and they think what their
opinion is is best for the
community,” McQuisten
said. “So if both sides think
that, why not toss it out
there?”
She said she’s commit-
ted to complying with the
will of the voters, and if a
majority of voters favor the
city applying for a quiet
zone, she would support
that.
A local group, Neighbors
for a Safer, Quieter and
Healthier Baker City, in
2019 submitted to the city
council a petition signed by
more than 230 people who
support the city pursuing a
quiet zone.
“This group is very pas-
sionate but I’m hearing
from others in town who
are just as passionately
against this,” McQuisten
said. “And I’m probably
hearing from more of those
folks probably because
they are coming to me in
grocery stores, on Face-
book, and not coming here
to speak. I’m very aware
the community is divided
and they are very divided.”
Councilor Joanna Dixon
said that although there
will always be sources of
noise, she is sympathetic
about South Baker Inter-
mediate, which is beside
the railroad tracks.
“Maybe that would be
the one place in town that
we do put these barriers
they’re talking about and
the quiet zone from that
point on,” Dixon said.
To qualify for a quiet
zone, the city would need to
upgrade the safety barriers
at public railroad crossings,
These WIC benefi ts can be used
This program provides $24 in
on fresh, frozen, and canned fruit
vouchers to be spent from June to
Continued from Page 1A
and vegetables at the grocery store. November.
“You can use it anywhere in
To learn more about WIC and the
Oregon,” said Mandy Peterson, a
Farm Direct Nutrition Program, call Double Up program
registered dietician
A statewide program called “Double
541-523-8211.
nutritionist who works
Up Food Bucks” started in 2015 to
Program for seniors
match SNAP benefits up to $10 at
with the local WIC
Another program, called the
farmers markets.
program.
Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Pro-
SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition
In Baker County,
WIC at the store
gram, helps senior citizens purchase Assistance Program — can be used
that includes the
Peterson
At the grocery store, WIC partici- fruits and vegetables from farmers
Baker City Farmers
to purchase food at farmers markets.
pants have extra money for fruit
markets and farm stands.
Market (Wednesdays,
The SNAP/EBT card is swiped at the
and vegetables due to the American
To be eligible for the program,
3-6 p.m.), Hedge Rose Farm in
market manager booth, and tokens
Halfway, and Val’s Veggies in Baker Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
seniors must meet all the following are provided to purchase food that is
For the next four months — June criteria:
City.
eligible for the SNAP program, said
through September — the WIC
• Be at least 62 years old by April Jake Sunderland, press secretary for
The voucher is given directly
fruit and veggie benefi t is $35 per
1 of the current year;
the Oregon Department of Human
to the vendor, who cashes it like a
participant.
• Be receiving either SNAP ben-
check.
Services.
The regular benefi t is $11 for
efi ts and/or Medicaid on April 1 of
Peterson said local WIC partici-
The Baker City Farmers Market
pants redeemed $4,444 in vouchers pregnant, breastfeeding or postpar- the current year;
started participating in the Double Up
through the Farm Direct Nutrition tum women, and $9 for children
• Have income below 138% of the program in 2020, and this summer is
ages 1 to 5.
Program.
Federal Poverty Level in the current part of a pilot program that increases
“That means lots of fruit and
“We spent more of ours last year
year;
the match to $20.
veggies for these families,” Peterson
• Be living in a situation where
Molly Notarianni is the execu-
than the state average,” Peterson
said.
food is not provided for them.
tive director of the Farmers Market
said.
Fund, which supports the Double Up
program. She said that since 2015,
data showed a one-to-one use of Double
Up (people were using $10 in SNAP
benefits for the $10 match)
In 2020, usage jumped to a ratio
of 2-to-1, meaning SNAP recipients
were spending twice as much of their
benefits at farmers markets.
“There were a lot more SNAP
dollars used at farmers markets,”
Notarianni said.
This data spurred the idea to in-
crease the Double Up match to $20 this
year at select markets including Baker
City, Joseph, La Grande and Pendleton.
Notarianni hopes to continue the
$20 match if data supports the need.
“We hope to sustain it at a higher
level,” she said.
More information about the pro-
gram can be found online at double-
uporegon.org.
This website has a list of partici-
pating markets, and will note which
markets are matching up to $20.
She said the statewide redemp-
tion rate was 44.27%. Baker
County’s rate was 60.35%.
Vouchers can be used to purchase
fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and
fresh cut herbs. It cannot be used
for processed foods (jam, honey,
dried fruit), live plants, meat, fi sh,
eggs, or non-food items.
Jay & Kristin Wilson, Owners
2036 Main Street, Baker City
tDDC
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to ensure vehicles couldn’t
reach the tracks when a
train is in the area.
Train engineers could
still sound their horns
when they determined
that was necessary, if a
vehicle was on the tracks
or in other emergencies.
About 24 trains per day
pass through Baker City.
Councilor Lynette Perry
suggested the city sched-
ule a town hall meeting
to allow people to voice
their opinions prior to an
election.
“I think that would be
the best way to handle it,”
Perry said.
Five residents attended
Tuesday’s meeting to
express their support for
a quiet zone, and for the
safety improvements to
existing railroad crossings
that would be required —
Eric Layton, Peter Fargo,
Suzanne Fouty, Bev Calder
and Dick Haynes.
Layton, who is a
member of Neighbors
for a Safer, Quieter and
Healthier Baker City,
asked the council to delay
any action on the matter
until the group has made a
presentation.
“We haven’t been able
to share the opportunities
and concerns with you
and we’d like to do that
before this goes to a ballot
measure,” Layton said.
Calder said she was a
city council member when
the council fi rst discussed
the idea of a quiet zone
around 2001. At the time,
estimates for the cost of
crossing improvements
was around $500,000.
When the city put the
issue on the ballot in May
2002, 82% of voters op-
posed the city pursuing a
quiet zone.
But Calder pointed out
that La Grande, which like
Baker City has fi ve public
crossings, spent about
$200,000.
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2021
PHOTO CONTEST
Official Rules:
Photo Contest open now and closes at
11:59 pm Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Staff will choose the top 10. The public can
vote online for People’s Choice from 12:01
am Monday, June 21 through 11:59 pm
Thursday, June 30.
Cost is $ 2.00
Digital or scanned photos only, uploaded
to the online platform. No physical copies.
June 26-27, 2021
For more information, questions or an
application please call Jodie Radabaugh at
541-524-9358 or 541-403-4933
All state and county regulations will be followed.
MKT-P0108
EASTERN OREGON
This is an outdoor camp with horseback
riding and outdoor adventure for youths
ages 12-15 years old.
(that's right only $2.00 dollars)
© 2020 Inogen, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Only photographers from Oregon may
participate.
The contest subject matter is wide open but
we’re looking for images that capture life
in Eastern Oregon.
Submit all photos
online at:
Entrants may crop, tone, adjust saturation
and make minor enhancements, but may
not add or remove objects within the
frame, or doctor images such that the final
product doesn’t represent what’s actually
before the camera.
The winners will appear in the July 8th
edition of Go Magazine; the top 25 will
appear online.
Gift cards to a restaurant of your choice
will be awarded for first, second and third
place.
bakercictyherald.com/photocontest