A2 — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021
SURGE
T URNING B ACK THE P AGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
July 30, 1971
Oregon Game Department workers were at the Baker
airport yesterday loading fi sh into an airplane. The brook
trout were loaded into a special tank in Don Doyle’s Cessna
for transport of 54 pounds of fi sh, or nearly 14,400 fi sh, to
fi ve lakes.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
July 29, 1996
“Nanook,” the infamous AA fuel altered dragster will be
one of the featured attractions during the Thunder Moun-
tain Motor Sports races Aug. 25.
The races, at the Baker City Airport, will be held in
conjunction with the 1996 Memory Cruise and Show and
Shine Aug. 24-25 at Geiser Pollman Park and downtown
Baker City.
The racing competition is open to all vehicles. Gates
open at 8 a.m.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
July 29, 2011
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative customers will pay
more for power starting Oct. 1, but the rate hike won’t be
as steep as one earlier estimate.
Here’s why: The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA),
from which OTEC buys almost all of its electricity, isn’t
boosting its wholesale price as much as it had projected.
This spring, BPA offi cials said during a public meeting in
Baker City that the wholesale cost hike could be as much
as 15 percent.
But this week the federal power marketing agency an-
nounced that the actual increase will be 7.8 percent.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
July 30, 2020
Superintendent Mark Witty isn’t ready just yet to change
plans for reopening Baker schools, with limited in-person
classes.
But based on recent trends in the number of COVID-19
cases in Baker County, the new state requirements that
Gov. Kate Brown unveiled Tuesday could force school
district offi cials to revise their plans before classes start,
likely on Sept. 8.
The school district plans to offer in-person classes
for elementary students in Grades K-6 Monday through
Thursday. Students in Grades 7-12 are to be divided into
two groups to rotate through in-person and online instruc-
tion every other day, Monday through Thursday. Families
who preferred total online instruction for their children,
regardless of grade, also would have that option.
Under Tuesday’s guidelines as announced by Dr. Dean
Sidelinger, state epidemiologist, schools can have in-
person instruction, including the hybrid model Baker has
proposed for grades 7-12, in counties where the weekly
COVID-19 infection rate is 10 or fewer per 100,000 popula-
tion for three straight weeks.
The county’s rate of positive tests must also be 5% or
below for three consecutive weeks, and Oregon’s state-
wide positivity rate must also remain at 5% or below for
three straight weeks.
“Each of these metrics must be achieved for three con-
secutive weeks in order to roll out our 20-21 instructional
plan,” Witty stated in a press release Tuesday.
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S ENIOR M ENUS
■ FRIDAY: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans,
rolls, green salad, ice cream
■ MONDAY (Aug. 2): Chicken strips, mashed potatoes with
country gravy, corn, biscuits, cottage cheese and Jell-O
salad, ice cream
■ TUESDAY (Aug. 3): Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes
with gravy, peas and carrots, rolls, ambrosia cookies
■ WEDNESDAY (Aug. 4): Meatloaf, au gratin potatoes,
mixed vegetables, rolls, coleslaw, lemon squares
■ THURSDAY (Aug. 5): Breaded pork loin, red potatoes,
carrots, rolls, fruit cup, cinnamon rolls
Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $5 donation (60 and older), $7.50
for those under 60.
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
almost all recent cases are
people who are not vacci-
Continued from Page A1
nated.
Staten said the surge is not
Tuesday’s total of 19
merely statistical.
cases was four more than the
She said Health Depart-
county reported for the fi rst
ment offi cials have heard
half of the month, July 1-15.
from people who have had
From July 16-28, the
severe symptoms, including
county’s total was 27.
shortness of breath, fever and
More than half of those
nausea, and sought medical
cases — 17 of 27 — were
treatment.
among people in their 20s (six
“We’ve had people tell us,
cases), 50s (fi ve) or 60s (fi ve).
‘I’ve never been this sick
The age breakdown of the
before,’ ” Staten said. “This
27 cases, followed by Baker
is not just a simple cold. We
County’s vaccination rate for
fi nd the symptoms people are the age group, and then the
experiencing right now very
Oregon average:
concerning.”
Ages 20-29
Although Staten said the
Six cases; Baker County
health department doesn’t
vaccination rate, 29.3%; state-
yet have data showing how
wide rate, 58.1%
many of the county’s recent
cases were the delta variant,
Ages 50-59
state offi cials said this week
Five cases; Baker County
that an estimated 80% of
recent cases statewide are as- vaccination rate, 41.2%; state-
wide rate, 68.5%
sociated with that variant.
Staten said on Wednesday
morning, July 28, that health Ages 60-69
Five cases; Baker County
department workers, with
vaccination rate, 51.9%; state-
assistance from the Oregon
Health Authority (OHA), had wide rate, 74.6%
not interviewed all of the 19
Ages 40-49
people whose positive tests
Four cases; Baker County
were reported on Tuesday, so
vaccination rate, 38.5%; state-
it’s not clear whether any of
those people was vaccinated. wide rate, 67.8%
Staten said there have
been several “breakthrough” Ages 10-19
Four cases; Baker County
cases in the county — fully
vaccination rate (ages 12-19,
vaccinated people who are
people younger than 12 aren’t
infected — but across the
state and nation, offi cials say eligible to be vaccinated),
20.5%; statewide rate, 49.6%
Ages 30-39
Two cases; Baker County
vaccination rate, 29.2%; state-
wide rate, 64.4%
Ages 80 and older
One case; Baker County
vaccination rate, 68.1%; state-
wide rate, 78.0%
Baker County has recorded
about 1,076 cases during the
pandemic. Health experts say
people who were infected also
have protection, by antibod-
ies, against reinfection. That
total is about 6.4% of the
county’s population.
Until the health depart-
ment has fi nished contact
tracing, Staten said she
doesn’t know whether some
of the 19 cases reported Tues-
day are connected to a specifi c
event or gathering.
In response to a rise in
new cases in many states, the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention on Tuesday
recommended everyone,
including people who are fully
vaccinated, wear a face mask
in indoor public places.
The OHA followed suit
with the same recommenda-
tion, although this is not a
requirement as was the case
prior to June 30, when Or-
egon Gov. Kate Brown lifted
statewide mandates.
Staten said she under-
stands the CDC and OHA
recommendations.
“I’m fully vaccinated but
I choose to wear a mask be-
cause I care about the people
I’m around,” she said. “I don’t
want to be exposed, or to
potentially expose anyone.”
Staten emphasized, howev-
er, that the vaccines are very
effective at protecting people
from all variants of the virus,
including the delta variant.
Even though people who
are vaccinated have a small
risk of being infected, and
then potentially spreading
the virus, Staten said she
wants to personally reduce
that risk, including by wear-
ing a mask even though she’s
vaccinated.
“That is another means to
lower the risk of transmis-
sion,” she said.
Staten said she under-
stands that the new rec-
ommendations, that treat
vaccinated and unvaccinated
people the same, could create
confusion or resentment.
She said she continues
to encourage Baker County
residents to be vaccinated.
“It is the best thing we can
do,” Staten said.
Baker County’s vaccination
numbers have been relatively
steady over the past three
weeks, averaging about 10
doses administered per day.
The county’s overall vac-
cination rate ranks eighth-
lowest among Oregon’s 36
counties.
O BITUARIES
Nancy Curtiss
her stepsons, Don Jr., Mark
and Joe Curtiss; and her
Nancy Curtiss, 66, of Baker brother-in-law, Dave Curtiss.
City, died July 19, 2021, in
In lieu of fl owers, the family
hospice care.
suggests donations be made
Her graveside service took to Heart ’N Home Hospice.
place Tuesday, July 27 at
Allen Stevenson Jr.
Mount Hope Cemetery.
Nancy was born on Oct. 28, Baker City, 1953-2021
Allen Dean Stevenson Jr.
1954, at Irumagawa, Japan,
(PAPA), 68, of Baker City,
to Fred L. and Dorothy I.
(Mosley) Norwood. Being the died July 17, 2021, at his
daughter of an Air Force pilot, home.
The family will have a me-
Nancy lived in New Mexico,
morial service
Abilene, Texas, and Las Ve-
gas, Nevada, before marrying for Allen and
his late wife,
the love of her life, Donald
Vickie, who died
Curtiss, on Aug. 13, 1983, at
in January 2021,
Caliente, Nevada.
They then moved to Don’s on the afternoon
of Saturday,
hometown of Baker City.
Allen
Sept. 4 (Labor
Nancy loved spending time
Day weekend) at Stevenson
huckleberrying with Don,
1101 Red Willow
time with their grandchil-
dren, gardening, and having Road in Kendrick, Idaho.
Allen was born on May 11,
visits from friends. She had a
kind heart and helped anyone 1953, at Glendale, Califor-
who needed it. She also made nia, to Dean and Phyllis
Stevenson. Allen was raised
and donated lap quilts to
in California with his sister,
cancer patients.
She is survived by her sis- Linda and brother, Gary.
ters-in-law, Wanda Norwood Allen graduated from high
and Eilene Curtiss; her broth- school in Porterville, Califor-
ers-in-law, Archbishop Elden nia, in 1971.
While working in Oregon,
Curtiss and Tom Curtiss; her
he met the love of his life,
stepchildren, Jim (Janice)
Vickie. She was a waitress
Curtiss, Michael Curtiss,
at the restaurant he fre-
Theresa Curtiss and John
Curtiss; 12 grandchildren and quented, and the attraction
was immediate. Vickie was a
25 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death single parent to four children,
and soon after meeting, the
by her husband, Donald L.
whole family packed up to
Curtiss; her parents, Fred
be together in Bend. Allen
and Dorothy Norwood; her
brother, Fred L. Norwood Jr.; was only 21 years old when
Baker City, 1954-2021
N EWS OF R ECORD
FUNERALS PENDING
Audrey Magill: A visitation
will be Friday, July 30 from noon
to 4 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co.
Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey
Ave. To leave a condolence for
Audrey’s family, go to www.
grayswestco.com.
Denny and Charlie Oliver:
Memorial service and celebra-
tion of their lives, Saturday, July
31 at noon at the Pine Haven
Cemetery in Halfway. Friends
are invited to join the family for
a reception immediately follow-
ing at the Halfway Lions Hall.
Laurie Gulick: Memorial
service Sunday, Aug. 1 at 10
a.m. at the Gulick Ranch on Pine
Town Lane in Halfway. Online
condolences can be made at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
Robert Kent Nelson:
Memorial service, Aug. 14 at 11
a.m. at the Baker City Church
of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes
Lane. A reception will follow the
service at the Nazarene Church’s
Family Life Center. Memorial
contributions can be made to
the Burnt River Community
Church or the Northeast Oregon
Compassion Center through
Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer
Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker
City, OR 97814. To leave an
online condolence for Kent’s
family, go to www.grayswestco.
com.
Stan Grove: Celebration
of his life, Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. at
Quail Ridge Golf Course, 2801
Indiana Ave. There will be a no
host bar and some of Stan’s
favorite foods.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker
County Circuit Court warrants):
Leigh Ann Hunter, 40, Baker City,
11:34 p.m. Monday, July 26 in the
1500 block of Campbell Street;
jailed.
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker
County Circuit Court warrant):
Chuck Wayne Briney, 28, tran-
sient, 9:13 a.m. Monday, July
26 on Broadway Street east of
Resort Street; cited and released.
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
MALHEUR COUNTY WAR-
RANTS: Aaron James Langley,
32, Huntington, 11:48 p.m. Mon-
day, July 26 in Huntington; jailed.
he became an instant Dad to
Craig, Kim, Kerri and Kristi.
Allen was an avid fi sherman
with many memories of fam-
ily fi shing trips. One of them
was a yearly trip to Ontario,
Oregon, to spend a week
camping in a cow pasture
and to fi sh the Snake River
for catfi sh. These were some
of the family’s happiest times
and provided many great
memories.
Allen was a loving son,
brother, father, and grand-
father. He loved his children
and grandchildren uncondi-
tionally. Allen’s greatest joy
was spending time with his
grandchildren. He made sure
to attend every activity and
birthday possible, even if he
had to travel to do so. Base-
ball being his favorite, you
could see him in the stands
at every game, cheering them
on.
Allen was a hard worker.
His entire career was spent
as a driller/blaster. He
enjoyed it when friends and
family would come out to
watch one of his shots. He
took a lot of pride in his work
and truly enjoyed what he
did. His work ethic was an
inspiration to his children
and grandchildren.
Allen was married to
Vickie for 47 years. Their
home was fi lled with love,
loudness, laughter, and joy.
Unfortunately, Vickie passed
away in January of 2021, and
the family fi nds comfort in
knowing that he will now be
forever with his soulmate.
Allen is survived by his
mother, Phyllis Stevenson
of Bend; his daughters,
Kim (Pete) Nelson of Baker
City, Kerri Robinson (Cur-
tis Tatlock) of Baker City,
Kristi (James) Shoman of
Benton City, Washington,
foster daughter, Lori Ebright
(Dary) of Warrenton, Or-
egon; his grandchildren,
Lindsey Mawhinney (Red),
Taylor Nelson, Brady Nelson,
Landon Nelson, Anthony
Simmons (Christina), Trever
Simmons, Taber Baldwin,
Dillon Baldwin, Jake Mor-
ris, Harley Morris, Emily
Tatlock, Sam Tatlock, and
Caistyn Brooks; 12 great-
grandchildren; his brother,
Gary Stevenson; his sister,
Linda Wolf; his brother-in-
law, Byron Hodges (Gloria);
his sister-in-law, Sharon Frye
(Rob); and several nieces and
nephews.
Allen was preceded in
death by his wife, Vickie
Stevenson; his father, Dean
Stevenson; his son, Craig
Robinson; his grandson,
Joshua Nelson; his great-
grandson, Morgan Mawhin-
ney; his father-in-law, Wallace
Hodges; and his mother-in-
law, June Wallace.
In lieu of fl owers, the fam-
ily suggests memorial contri-
butions be sent to the Baker
City Lions Club through
Grays West & Co. Pioneer
Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.,
Baker City, OR 97814.
To leave an online condo-
lence for Allen’s family, go to
www.grayswestco.com.
Funeral for
Laurie Gulick
August 1st at 10:00 a.m.
At the Ranch on Pine Town Ln., Halfway
*Shade will be provided
BOOK SIGNING ~ by local author!
Meet
Deb Sue
Stevenson-Hamby
discuss the book
and get it signed!
August 7th, 11 am -1 pm
Royal Artisan, 1912 Main St., Baker City, OR
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com