A2 — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
August bucks summer sizzle
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
September 2, 1971
“They don’t stop for the crosswalk. I almost got hit
yesterday,” Mrs. Vivian Asbridge said concerning the
busy crossing at Tenth and C streets where she and
other Baker mothers have been stopping traffi c daily to
allow kids going to and from North Baker elementary
school to cross Tenth St.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 2, 1996
STARKEY — Like the fi res he came to observe, Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbitt swept across Northeastern Or-
egon rapidly on Wednesday, sparking new energy in the
camps and headquarters of overworked fi refi ghters.
And in the cooperative atmosphere of the camp and
fi re control centers, he found a role model for the way
government should work.
“The epicenter of concern now nationally,” he said at
a stop in Ukiah, “is the fi res in Idaho and Northeastern
Oregon. The president asked me to evaluate the resources
available to fi ght these fi res, and the way we are working to
control them.”
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 2, 2011
The fi rst week of school has not been without startup
glitches as the Baker School District rolled out new bus
routes, introduced new staff members and inaugurated a
new four-day week when classes got under way Monday.
Some students arrived late for class the fi rst day after
the bus drove past them and had to return to pick them
up. And another child was picked up 25 minutes earlier
than scheduled, said Superintendent Walt Wegener.
“There are going to be some kinks — there are some,”
Wegener said. “We’re going to solve some of these
problems. There were no major glitches — just here and
there.”
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 3, 2020
Utility boxes in Baker City are transforming into public
works of art.
The project started four years ago with the Baker City
Public Arts Commission. The initial idea was to wrap utility
boxes along Main Street with vinyl portraying various
types of art, including paintings and photographs.
Those boxes, though, are owned and maintained by
the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Before
the project gained approval from ODOT, the Commission
ran a year-long trial to make sure the vinyl wouldn’t affect
the inner temperature of the box and interfere with the
controls for traffi c signals.
The test showed no ill effects, and the multiyear project
became reality last week when Christy Witham of Oregon
Sign Company in Baker City installed the fi rst vinyl wrap
on a signal box at the corner of Main Street and Washing-
ton Avenue.
The image is a historic photograph from the collection
maintained by the Baker County Library.
This is a pilot project for the state.
“This is the fi rst one they’ve allowed in the state of
Oregon,” said Kate Reid, owner of Royal Artisan and a
member of the Public Arts Commission.
OREGON LOTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Aug. 30
MEGA MILLIONS, Aug. 31
WIN FOR LIFE, Aug. 30
13 — 64 — 66 — 77
PICK 4, Aug. 31
• 1 p.m.: 9 — 0 — 0 — 3
• 4 p.m.: 7 — 4 — 3 — 7
• 7 p.m.: 3 — 0 — 9 — 8
• 10 p.m.: 8 — 4 — 9 — 0
LUCKY LINES, Aug. 31
8 — 14 — 31 — 58 — 68
2-7-10-14-20-21-28-32
2 — 7 — 8 — 18 — 20 — 26
Next jackpot: $2.5 million
POWERBALL, Aug. 30
3 — 15 — 45 — 51 — 61 PB 8
Next jackpot: $345 million
Mega
15
Next jackpot: $323 million
Next jackpot: $76,000
SENIOR MENUS
FRIDAY: Pork roast, red potatoes, baby carrots, rolls,
ambrosia pudding
MONDAY: CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
TUESDAY: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with
gravy, mixed vegetables, biscuits, cottage cheese and
Jell-O salad, brownies
WEDNESDAY: Lasagna, green beans, garlic rolls,
ambrosia, ice cream
THURSDAY: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy,
carrots, rolls, fruit cup, tapioca
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 4:30 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
 After record heat
in July and July,
August was slightly
cooler than average
By JAYSON JACOBY
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Did you feel a trifl e
chilly in the waning days of
August?
The very question might
sound farcical considering
the sizzling summer Baker
County residents have en-
dured.
But it turns out that the
fi nal two weeks of August
offset the month’s torrid fi rst
half.
Indeed it did a bit more
than that.
August ended up cooler
than average, a decided re-
versal from July and June.
July was the hottest
month on record at the Baker
City Airport, with an average
high of 92.3 degrees.
June also set a record for
that month, with an average
high of 84.3 degrees. That
nipped the previous record of
84.1, set in June 1961.
And the summer has set
a record for the number of
90-degree-plus days, with
44 so far — 11 in June, 22 in
July, 11 in August.
The previous record was
42 such days, set in 2017. The
average per year is 26 days.
But the most recent
90-degree-plus day was more
than two weeks ago, on Aug.
16.
The cool conclusion to
August pushed the average
daily high temperature for
the month down to 84.1 de-
grees. The long-term average
is 84.4 degrees.
This was the coolest
August since 2010, when the
average high was 81.8.
Adrian superintendent fi red for obeying mask mandate
speech to an emotional crowd.He said
that he had at times failed to communi-
cate well, and that board members had
ADRIAN —Kevin Purnell was fi red
Monday, Aug. 30 as superintendent of
at times failed to communicate in a civil
the Adrian School District just one week
manner.“Ultimately, I feel that I have
after students returned to school.
lost my way, and it began to consume
The Adrian School Board, conven-
me,” Purnell said. “I have become tired.
ing in a special meeting, voted 4-1 to
Tired of disappointing myself, my
terminate Purnell Monday night after
family, my friends, my colleagues.”The
meeting in executive, or closed door,
Austin Johnson/The (Malheur) Enterprise confl icts Kincade and Purnell alluded
session for less than half an hour to
Kevin Purnell gives an emotional
to emerged amid rising COVID cases in
consider the matter.The board provided farewell to the Adrian community
Malheur County and continued opposi-
no public explanation for its surprise
tion to government-mandated mask-
after the Adrian School Board fi red
decision to oust a superintendent who
wearing in Adrian. Purnell has said
him after meeting in executive, or
has been on the job for three years and closed, session for about 10 minutes he is not in favor of Gov. Kate Brown’s
in the district for 14 years.Board Chair on Monday, Aug. 30.
mandates, but he was described in com-
Eddie Kincade said after the meeting
ments by Adrian residents as a “rule fol-
the motion to terminate Purnell while
that the decision was because of Pur-
lower” who would enforce them anyway.
nell’s failure to follow board directives. Eric White opposed it. They took the
No one has yet been named inter-
vote without comment.After the board im superintendent.
He declined to elaborate.Kincade and
emerged from executive session and
board members Bobby Davis, Ryan
had its vote, Purnell gave an emotional
Martin, and Quinten Shenk voted for
See, Adrian/Page A5
By LILIANA FRANKEL
Malheur Enterprise
OBITUARIES
Nancy Stephens
also enjoyed playing mahjong, reading,
Sudoku, taking long walks, and working
on her rose bushes.
Nancy (Howe)
Nancy is lovingly remembered by her
Stephens, 80, formerly of
children, her sons, Ron Stephens and his
Sumpter, died peacefully
wife, Melissa, of Greer, South Carolina,
at her home in Spring-
and Rick Stephens of Springfi eld and
fi eld on Aug. 26, 2021,
Nancy
his former wife, Valerie Webb; and her
after valiantly battling
Stephens
daughter, Caryn Stephens of Spring-
vascular dementia.
fi eld. Nancy was blessed to have a large
No services are
extended family and is survived by her
planned.
sisters, Carolyn Castagnola and Jessie
The daughter of Robert and Gladys
Holguin; her brother, Warren Howe, and
Howe, Nancy was the youngest of six
children. Born in Akron, Ohio, she moved his wife, Jan Karon; her grandchildren,
Stormy, Philip, Sara and Cassandra; 10
to Santa Barbara, California, at age 12.
great-grandchildren; two great-great-
After graduating from Santa Barbara
granddaughters; and many nieces and
High School, she met and married Ron-
nephews.
ald Stephens with whom she had three
Nancy was preceded in death by her
children, before they later divorced.
beloved granddaughter, Melanie Beth
Although she loved Santa Barbara,
she also appreciated the rugged beauty of Stephens; and her brothers, Frank Howe
the high desert in Eastern Oregon, where and Norman Howe.
her father had built a cabin before he
passed away, so Nancy chose to raise her Roger Kirkland
children in both locations: Santa Bar-
North Powder, 1944-2021
bara and Sumpter. Nancy was fi ercely
Roger Kirkland,
independent and worked full-time as
77, of North Powder,
a single parent while attending Santa
died Aug. 25, 2021, at
Barbara Business College where she
Providence St. Mary’s
completed an accounting certifi cate. She Medical Center in Walla
Roger
worked as a food server, bank teller, offi ce Walla, Washington.
Kirkland
manager, and purchasing assistant. She
A celebration of
cared about making her community a
Roger’s life will take
better place and volunteered at Transi-
place Saturday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. at his
tion House in Santa Barbara and served home in North Powder.
on the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restora-
George Roger Kirkland was born on
tion Project.
Feb. 20, 1944, at La Grande to George
Nancy enjoyed writing and had two
and Maxine Kirkland. Roger attended
stories published in “Venus Rising,” a
school in North Powder and gradu-
small independent journal based in San- ated from North Powder High School.
ta Barbara. Nancy enjoyed playing cards, He joined the Army and served from
especially pinochle, with her siblings. She 1966 to 1968. Roger married Karen Lee
Formerly of Sumpter
NEWS OF RECORD
DEATHS
Alexandra ‘Sandy’ Boyd
Palmer: 91, of Baker City, died
Aug. 26, 2021, at Memory Lane
residential care in Baker City. A
memorial service in her honor will
take place Saturday, Sept. 11 at
2 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal
Church, 2177 First St. The Rev.
Aletha Bonebrake will conduct
the ceremony. Friends are invited
to join the family for a reception
following the service. Memorial
contributions can be made to St.
Alban’s Episcopal Church Colum-
barium Fund through Gray’s West
& Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500
Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
To offer online condolences to
Sandy’s family or to light a candle
in her memory, go to www.gray-
swestco.com.
FUNERALS PENDING
Tharrell Tilgner: Graveside
service with military honors will
take place Thursday, Sept. 9 at
11 a.m. at the Eagle Valley Ceme-
tery in Richland. Arrangements are
under the direction of Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home & Cremation
Services. Online condolences can
be made at www.tamispinevalley-
funeralhome.com.
David Coughlin: Celebration
of life, Sunday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. at
the Quail Ridge Golf Course, 2801
Indiana Ave. in Baker City.
Donna Weir: Graveside
service will be Saturday, Sept. 25
at 11 a.m. at the Eagle Valley Ceme-
tery in Richland. Arrangements are
under the direction of Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home & Cremation
Services. Online condolences can
be made at www.tamispinevalley-
funeralhome.com.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
SECOND-DEGREE THEFT,
GIVING FALSE INFORMATION TO
A POLICE OFFICER: Alexie Richard
Staggie, 30, Boise, 10:10 a.m. Tues-
day, Aug. 31 in the 2200 block of
Resort Street; cited and released.
FIRST-DEGREE CRIMINAL
TRESPASSING: Tattiana Gabriel
McKenzie, 28, Baker City, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 30 in the 2600 block
of 17th Street; cited and released.
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Umatilla
County warrant): Paul Adam Heller,
50, Baker City, 4:13 p.m. Monday,
Aug. 30 at Fifth and Campbell
streets; cited and released.
CONTEMPT OF COURT (Baker
County Justice Court warrant):
Joseph Allen Charbonneau, 41,
Baker City, 1:36 p.m. Monday, Aug.
30 at Madison and Clark streets;
cited and released.
CONTEMPT OF COURT (Baker
County Justice Court warrant):
Chad Michael Cox, 40, transient;
5:48 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30 in the
2500 block of Ninth Street; cited
and released.
Montgomery on April 4, 1968, in La
Grande.
They moved to Cascade Locks in
1968 where he worked at Cascade
Locks Lumber Company until they
closed in 1980. They moved back home
the day Mount St. Helens blew up —
May 18, 1980. Roger worked for Brook-
shire Logging for a few years then went
to work at the North Powder sawmill
where he was the head sawyer until
they closed. He then went to work for
Jeff Hines at HNS until his retirement.
Roger enjoyed riding 4-wheelers,
picking mushrooms, and hunting. In his
younger days he enjoyed riding snow-
mobiles. Roger loved spending time with
his grandkids and great-grandkids.
Survivors include his wife and best
friend of 53 years, Karen Kirkland of
North Powder; his puppy, Hunter; his
daughters, Stephanie and Frank of
Twin Falls, Idaho, and Shawna and
Brian of Union; his son, Shane and Me-
lissa of Enterprise; nine grandkids and
11 great-grandkids; his sister, Marilyn
Weatherbie of Bend; one adopted broth-
er, Jeff and Michelle Hines of Union;
and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; his sisters, Faye Carlson, Dee
Harn and Iola Irvin; his brother, Dave
Kirkland; and his son, George Wesley
Kirkland.
For those who would like to make a
donation in memory of Roger, the family
suggests any veterans group through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Half-
way, OR 97834. Online condolences can
be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuner-
alhome.com.
Appreciation for Naomi’s Village and Friends
We continue to be humbled by the overwhelming support
of our neighbors and friends in the fight against Naomi
Jane’s leukemia.
The recent benefit for our one-and-a-half-year-old in
Baker was attended and celebrated beyond any reasonable
expectation.
There have been an extraordinary number of donations to
her fund including donations to the benefit auction -- and
purchases therefrom. Alongside the tireless efforts of the
event organizers, their assistants, and the many, many kind
folks who showed up just because a small and happy child
has cancer, we are grateful beyond measure but
also left without words to adequately express our
gratefulness to the so very many kind people in our
various communities and counties.
Naomi’s struggle will continue and, God willing,
succeed, but as a family we will never succeed in
appropriately thanking the friends who love our
Naomi just because she’s Naomi, and just because
she’s ours.
We understand now that your hearts go out to
us, but please believe also that ours are with you.
Please keep praying.
Thank you so very, very much.
The Becktold Family
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com