A2 — BAKER CITY HERALD
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
August 9, 1971
Approximately 500 acres of sagebrush and grazing land
were blackened by a fast-moving fi re on the Coffee lands
in Haines Saturday afternoon.
Breaking out at 2 p.m., almost simultaneously with fi res
in North Powder, Medical Springs, Sumpter and Halfway,
the fi re was fought by BLM staffers, the Haines volunteer
fi re department and landowners.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
August 9, 1996
The Sloans Ridge fi re blossomed from a slow-moving
40-acre blaze Thursday morning into a 1,460-acre inferno
Thursday night.
It is no longer a prescribed natural fi re — one the U.S.
Forest Service monitors rather than fi ghts.
Instead, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has
ordered about 400 fi reighters, three bulldozers, two
retardant-dropping airplanes and two water-dropping
helicopters to try to prevent the blaze from spreading any
farther south and east.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
August 10, 2011
Bret Ruby usually tries to douse wildfi res but occasion-
ally he just watches the smoke and fl ames.
Ruby, who is the fi re staff offi cer for the Wallowa-Whit-
man National Forest, is playing the role of spectator rather
than fi refi ghter with regard to a blaze burning in the
Eagle Cap Wilderness about 11 air miles east of Cove.
Lightning started the fi re on Aug. 3.
It’s burning near the spine of Jim White Ridge. That’s
about a mile and a half west of the Minam River. So far
the fi re has spread over just half an acre.
But Ruby said Monday that he won’t be surprised if
the blaze, aided by a couple more weeks of relatively
warm, dry weather, creeps into a nearby thicket of ma-
ture subalpine fi rs.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
August 11, 2020
Kassaundra Meng has three children starting school
in less than a month, along with one computer and an
overstressed internet connection.
This will not be a normal fall in her household.
But last spring’s school term wasn’t exactly tranquil,
either.
Meng is among hundreds of local parents preparing
for a second stint of helping their children adjust to tak-
ing their lessons from teachers not in a classroom but
via a video screen.
Baker schools will open Sept. 8 with all online classes
for its 1,700 students, the same basic system the district
employed during the spring after the coronavirus pan-
demic closed schools nationwide.
District offi cials said the $600,000 spent on new com-
puter software and other equipment will make it easier
for teachers and for their students.
Although school registration was available online for
Baker students, schools opened Monday morning to
assist parents with the process and to answer the inevi-
table questions.
OREGON LOTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Aug. 7
WIN FOR LIFE, Aug. 7
4 — 6— 37 — 69
PICK 4, Aug. 8
• 1 p.m.: 5—1— 8 — 7
• 4 p.m.: 1 — 2 — 8 — 1
• 7 p.m.: 9 — 4 — 3 — 9
• 10 p.m.: 2 — 4 — 8 — 0
LUCKY LINES, Aug. 8
20 — 28 — 30 — 34 — 35 — 41
Next jackpot: $1.5 million
POWERBALL, Aug. 7
7 — 24 — 36 — 54 — 60 PB 23
Next jackpot: $241 million
MEGA MILLIONS, Aug. 6
9 — 18 — 40 — 46 — 69
Mega
9
Next jackpot: $208 million
4-7-12-14-17-23-26-30
Next jackpot: $53,000
SENIOR MENUS
WEDNESDAY: Chili cheese dogs with onions, carrots,
Jell-O with fruit, ice cream
THURSDAY: Old fashioned steak, red potatoes with gravy,
peas, rolls, green salad, cake
FRIDAY: Chicken ala king, rice, mixed vegetables, rolls,
macaroni salad, peach crisp
MONDAY (Aug. 16): Orange glazed chicken, rice, peas,
rolls, ambrosia, cookies
TUESDAY (Aug. 17): Ground beef with grilled onions and
gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, sauerkraut, apple crisp
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.
CONTACT THE HERALD
2005 Washington Ave., Suite 101
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
Public Works begins chip sealing
Baker City Herald
BAKER CITY — Beginning
Monday, Aug. 16, the Baker
City Public Works Department
will be chip sealing a number of
city streets.
Day one:
Quail Ridge Lane — Indi-
ana Avenue to Eagle Crest Way
19th — Broadway to Baker
21st — Baker to Campbell
21st — Broadway to north
side of Baker
Resort — south side of A
Street to B Street
Robert Thomas
Robert “Bob” Thomas
Halfway, 1950-2021
Robert “Bob” Thomas
passed away Wednesday
Aug. 4, 2021, at his home
in Halfway, Oregon, at the
age of 70.
At Robert’s
request
there will be
no memorial
service.
Robert
was
born
Robert
in Baker,
Thomas
Oregon,
on Oct. 29, 1950, to Robert
William Thomas and Marie
Christene Bennett Thomas.
He was educated at Halfway
Elementary and Halfway
High School. After graduat-
ing high school in 1969 he
went on to obtain his teach-
ing degree from Eastern
Oregon University.
Bob spent the majority of
his life as a rancher in Pine
Valley. Some of his fondest
memories were of running
cattle on Snake River.
Robert did get the chance
to see the United States and
some parts of Canada by
spending 17 years as a long-
haul truck driver. But his
heart was always at home in
Halfway.
He was an avid outdoors-
man and never passed up
a chance to go hunting and
fi shing. His favorite place
to be was in the mountains
on a good sure-footed stout
horse.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Robert and
Marie, along with three of
his four siblings.
Bob is survived by his
son, Lucas Thomas (Half-
way); daughter, Michelle
Thomas (Halfway); sister,
Francis Bennett; four
grandchildren, Katelynn
and Maximus Thomas and
Robert and Kayie Hack; and
numerous nieces, nephews
and cousins.
For those who would like
to make a memorial dona-
tion in memory of Bob, the
family suggests making
them to the Horse Stable at
the Pine Valley Fairgrounds
Resort — Campbell to A
Street
Plum — J Street to L Street
Day two:
Wabash — 4th to 2nd
Baker — 9th to 4th
Baker — 10th to 9th
12th — Campbell to D
Street
Baker — 21st to 19th
Broadway — 18th to 17th
Day three:
1st — Campbell to B Street
5th — G Street to H Street
5th — E Street to north
side of G Street
11th — Campbell to D
Street
Ohio — 4th to David Eccles
Road
Virginia — 5th to 2nd (-int)
According to a press release,
the work will last up to four
days.
The chip seal process
extends the life of a street by
restoring vital asphalt pave-
ment components that are
lost through the aging and
oxidation process. By sealing
the street, moisture is unable
to penetrate below the asphalt
surface.
A minimum of 48-hours
notice will be provided to
residents affected by the
street improvement projects.
According to the press release,
expect traffi c delays and pos-
sible rerouting of traffi c during
this project.
For further information,
contact Baker City Public
Works at 541-524-2047 or 541-
524-2046.
or the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation through Tami’s
Pine Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services, PO Box
543, Halfway, Oregon 97834.
friends. Online condolences
may be shared at www.
tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.
com.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin
and Sammy Davis Jr. He
also became acquainted with
other recording artists such
as Ray Charles, Paul Anka,
The Lennon Sisters, Elvis
and others.
Bill married Mary in 1960
and had three children: Ste-
ven, Kathleen and Stacy. By
the mid-1960s they moved to
San Mateo, California, in the
Bay area, where they lived
for fi ve years.
In 1972, looking for bet-
ter schools, cleaner air and
a smaller city, the family
moved to Pendleton, Oregon,
where Mary had a sister.
Bill had some time before
his job was to start, so they
decided to visit the ghost
town of Cornucopia, Oregon,
and upon fi rst sight of Half-
way, he said, “We’re moving
here!”
He immediately got a job
repairing TVs, appliances,
etc., and eventually started
his own TV repair shop.
In 1974, his son James
was born. Throughout his life
in Halfway, Bill’s knowledge
and passion for learning new
things led him to beekeep-
ing with Paul Springer, gold
mining in Oregon, Nevada,
Idaho and Arizona.
He started his own
orchard and vineyard at
Homestead, Oregon, on
the Snake River. He was
constantly inventing things
that were well before their
time. He even attended
CALPOLY University in San
Luis Obispo in 1976. He was
always willing to share his
knowledge and help with
others. But his main passion
and love was for his family.
He was preceded in death
by his parents.
Bill is survived by his
ex-wife, Mary Nagy of Baker
City; children, Steve Nagy
and his wife, Ronda, of Boise,
Idaho, Kathleen Nagy of
Halfway, Oregon, Stacy Nagy
of Baker City, Oregon, and
James and his wife, Ana
Marie, of Elko, Nevada; and
three grandchildren.
For those who would like
to make a memorial contri-
bution in memory of Bill, the
family suggests a charity of
one’s choice through Tami’s
Pine Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services ,PO Box
543, Halfway, Oregon 97834.
Online condolences may be
shared at www.tamispine-
valleyfuneralhome.com.
OBITUARIES
Balazs “Bill” Nagy
Larry Wampler
1939-2021
Halfway, 1946-2021
Larry Wampler of Half-
way, Oregon, died on July
18, 2021, peacefully at home
from prolonged health issues
at the age of 74.
He was born Nov. 16,
1946, in Hutchinson, Kansas,
where he developed a hard
work ethic and love for
sports.
As an early teen, his
father moved his mother and
his sister to Denver, Colo-
rado, where Larry gradu-
ated his senior year in 1965
at Ranum High School. In
Denver as a running back he
helped his football team to
an undefeated season.
The following year, he
joined the National Guard
and attended Mesa College
in Grand Junction, Colorado,
on a football scholarship.
After college, Larry moved
to California and worked
various jobs. Throughout
the remainder of his life, he
worked for Todd’s Shipyard
at San Pedro Bay and in
general construction as a
framer, roofer, fl oor installer
and low-voltage communica-
tions technician.
He was an avid Harley
Davidson enthusiast and
spent much of his adulthood
coaching football and Little
League.
After moving back to
Colorado later in life, he
coached his Little League
team to a win at the Colo-
rado state championship. He
was a strong patriot for his
country and community.
Larry was preceded in
death by his parents, George
and Bea Wampler, and his
dogs, Attitude, Maggie and
Dixie (which he spoke of
often).
He is survived by his chil-
dren, David and Lisa; former
wife, Cheryl; and recent dogs,
Toby, Bear and Tonya.
There will be a small
private memorial for close
NEWS OF RECORD
DEATHS
Donna Hack: 80, of North
Powder, died Sunday, Aug. 8, with
her family by her side. Arrange-
ments are under the direction of
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home
and Cremation Services. Online
condolences can be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
FUNERALS PENDING
Robert Kent Nelson: Memo-
rial 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 contribu-
tions 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 the family
of Kent, visit www.grayswestco.
com.
Alberta Carolyn Bailey: 90,
of Baker City, died Saturday, Aug.
7, in Baker City. A visitation will be
held on Thursday, Aug. 12, from
noon to 4 p.m. at Gray’s West &
Co. Pioneer Chapel. A funeral
service will be held on Friday,
Aug. 13, beginning at 1 p.m.
at the Baker City Church of the
Nazarene, with Pastor Ron Kratzer
and Pastor Troy Teeter offi ciating.
A private vault interment will
follow the service at Mt. Hope
Cemetery, and a reception for
family and friends will be held
at the Baker City Church of the
Nazarene. Memorial contribu-
tions may be made to the Rachael
Pregnancy Center through Gray’s
West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500
Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
To leave an online condolence for
the family of Alberta, visit www.
grayswestco.com.
Balazs “Bill” Nagy passed
away peacefully at St. Luke’s
Regional Hospital in Boise,
Idaho, on July 20, 2021, with
his children
at his side.
Per Bill’s re-
quest there
will not be a
service.
Bill was
born on
Balazs
March 17,
Nagy
1939, in
Bakonszeg,
Hungary, to Balazs and
Ester (Uhaz) Nagy. Bill was
the only son and the second
of three children.
He was raised in various
towns and villages through-
out Hungary as his father
was a four-star general in
the Hungarian military.
Bill excelled in both
sports and school alike and
learned electronics at a very
early age. He even learned
how to obstruct or “jam” Ger-
man communications during
the Nazi Regime.
He had an insatiable
desire to learn as much as
he could, which would prove
evident throughout his life.
At age 17, Bill became a
“Freedom Fighter” during
the Hungarian Revolution
in 1956, fi ghting for his free-
dom and those of his fellow
countrymen. He escaped to
Austria where he petitioned
the USA to come to this
country. He was accepted
and fl own to Philadelphia,
PA.
He settled into a Hungar-
ian-speaking community, but
immediately learned English
to adapt into his new “home
country.”
He was then hired by the
U.S. military making listen-
ing devices that were being
used in Guam.
Bill continued westward
and moved to Los Angeles,
California, where he was
hired by a recording studio.
It was there he would meet
his future wife, Mary Ada
Dillow, as Mary’s sister was
part owner of the recording
studio.
In Hollywood, he built
the recording consoles for
the likes of the “Rat Pack” —
“So much of who we are is
where we have been.”
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
FAILURE TO APPEAR: James
Dewayne Reedy, 55, Baker City,
4:24 p.m. at Valley Street; jailed.
SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL
TRESPASSING: Michael Myers-
Gabiola, 30, Baker City, 9:45 p.m.
Sunday Aug.8 in the 500 Block
of Campbell Street: cited and
released.
Baker Valley Travel (541) 523-9353
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com