A6 — BAKER CITY HERALD
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
OREGON
Findley, farmers hope
Walmart removes guns from
drought relief will come up its shelves in Oregon stores
during legislative session
for refusing to sell fi rearms
to residents under the age of
21, including residents in St.
LA GRANDE — It is
Helens and Medford in 2018,
unclear why, but Walmart
has stopped selling guns and who had tried to purchase
a fi rearm, only to be turned
ammunition in its Oregon
away by store associates.
locations.
The Oregon Bureau of
Walmart could not be
reached for comment, but did Labor and Industries slapped
release a statement to KATU Walmart with a fi ne of
news stating, “We are proud to $5,000 after refusing to sell a
fi rearm to Hannah Brumbles,
serve hunters and outdoors-
18, according to reporting
men and women and will
by The Oregonian. After a
continue to serve them with
circuit court ruled in favor
an assortment that refl ects
of Walmart, it was struck
our heritage of supporting
down in the Oregon Court of
hunting and outdoor sports.”
Appeals earlier this year, and
The retail giant stopped
returned to the lower court.
selling fi rearms following a
Similar retail stores such
policy change in November.
Before that, the store had seen as Dick’s Sporting Goods and
Bi-Mart also implemented a
some complaints against it
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
By LESLIE THOMPSON
(Ontario) Argus Observer
ONTARIO — For the sec-
ond time this year, Gov. Kate
Brown has called a special
session for the Oregon Legis-
lature. This time around, the
aim is to prevent evictions
for several thousand renters
during the upcoming winter.
There also is the potential
that drought assistance
will be taken up during the
legislative session.
Lawmakers will convene
on Dec. 13 in Salem with
the primary focus being the
state’s rental assistance pro-
gram. Oregon’s $289 million
in federal COVID-19 relief
funds for that program were
said to be nearly spent or
pending request by Dec. 1.
Brown said that during
the week of Nov. 21, Oregon
Housing and Community
Services and partners had
paid out close to $150 mil-
lion of those funds to more
than 22,000 households. In
the two weeks prior to that,
nearly $20 million was said
to have been paid. There
remains more than 25,000
applications which are still
under review.
In addition to extending
safe-harbor protections for
those who have applied for
assistance, Brown pro-
poses to ensure landlords
are paid in full for what
they are owed, provide up
to $90 million in additional
assistance for low-income
tenants through the winter,
and provide $100 million to
transition to long-term local
eviction prevention services.
Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale,
who was on his way to a
town hall in Jefferson Coun-
ty on Friday, Dec. 3, spoke
with the Argus Observer in a
phone call about the coming
session.
He said that while the
measures for rent relief,
especially that landlords “be
made whole” are “critically
important,” he is opposed to
going into a special ses-
sion. The reason, Findley
explained, is that he believes
it could be dealt with at an
Emergency Board meeting,
as has been done several
times for several matters
throughout the pandemic.
“A special session will cost
thousands of dollars for us to
all come to Salem,” he said,
adding that it could be done
“virtually much faster and
cheaper.”
Brown has indicated that
other time-sensitive issues
which will require action
before the short session from
Feb. 1 to May 7 may also be
addressed.
Findley said some of
those issues — which include
drought relief for Oregon
and are in negotiations with
discussions occurring “as we
speak” — could also be done
by the Emergency Board.
“I’ve been calling for an
Emergency Board meeting
for three months for drought
relief,” he said.
In Malheur County, many
farmers were impacted by
the drought and high heat
this year.
Paul Skeen, a local onion
farmer and president of the
Malheur County Growers
Association, said in a phone
interview on Friday after-
noon that every crop in the
county was down this year.
“We had extreme heat
and on top of the heat, we
had the smoke from all the
fi res on the southwest side
of Oregon and northern
California,” he said.
That smoke-choked vis-
ibility — and subsequently
stifl ed growing — hit before
the fi rst of July, which is
much earlier than normal.
“The onion crop is down
signifi cantly in size and
yield,” Skeen said.
Furthermore, wheat
yields, corn, seed crops and
sugar beets all were down,
he said, with the latter not
being hit as hard.
“It’s been a tough year,
and then you ask, is there
any relief, and I talk to Lynn
[Findley] a lot and I don’t
think he knows (yet),” Skeen
said.
The local farmer said
he is hearing from a lot of
people who have been grow-
ing onions that they aren’t
growing anymore because
they haven’t made money for
a while.
“Every day, I hear another
good-size farmer say he’s not
growing onions anymore,”
he said, adding that in Vale,
some people are selling their
dairies, too.
“It’s been bad,” Skeen
said. “I worry about all my
young farmers. I’m a few
weeks from being 68, and if
I can’t make it, it’s my own
fault. But the young guys
who are trying to get started
that don’t have a lot behind
them — they are our future.
Somebody has got to feed us.
It scares me a little.”
He said there were
some federal COVID relief
programs, such as PPP that
helped.
This year’s growing sea-
son was about 21 to 22 days
ahead in heat units, Skeen
said, explaining that the
onions essentially shut down
because of it and before they
had grown to size.
“That’s why the yields are
down,” he said.
policy where they refuse to sell
fi rearms to residents under
the age of 21, but continue
to keep ammunition and
guns for sale. Walmart stores
in Washington and Idaho
continue to sell fi rearms and
ammunition through their
stores, however.
The decision for Walmart to
deny the sales of fi rearms and
ammunition to those under 21
came after a deadly shooting
in 2018 at Stoneman Douglas
High School in Parkland, Fla.
which killed 17, including
14 students and three staff
members.
It is unclear if the removal
of fi rearms and ammunition
at Walmart will affect sales on
local gun shops.
WRESTLERS
“It’s great for him to run
• Sage Darlington, 1-0,
into some guys that are at that 126
next level, which is what he is
• Riley Martin, 0-2, 132
Continued from A5
striving toward,” Young said of
• Samuel Nelson, 0-1, 132
Martin. “This is only Jaden’s
• Cole Hester, 101, 138
Senior Gauge Bloomer
third year of wrestling. He is
won both his matches, by
• Jimmy Sullivan, 0-2, 145
also looking into competing in
forfeit against Vallivue and
• William Brown, 1-0, 145
wrestling at the college level.”
by pin against Columbia,
• Gavin Stone, 1-1, 160
The Baker girls also com-
and fellow senior Alex Ritter
• Ben Coburn, 0-1, 160
pinned his Vallivue opponent. peted.
• Graison Stone, 1-1, 170
Young said they had a
“They are both wrestling
• Ryan Brown, 1-0, 170
tough night against Columbia,
very aggressively and will
• Simon Tryon, 1-0, 170
which won the Idaho state
have a great opportunity to
• Cody Eskew, 0-2, 182
title last year.
win state this year,” Young
• Connor Jensen, 1-0, 182
“It was a great experience
said of Bloomer and Ritter.
• Ethan Morgan, 1-0, 182
Bloomer was the Class 4A for them to be able to compete
• Tristan Mulkey, 0-1, 182
state champion at 195 pounds against other girls at that high
• Gauge Bloomer, 2-0, 195
level,” Young said.
in June 2021.
• Adrian Allen, 1-0, 195
He said Baker’s JV
Young said Ritter gave
• Alex Ritter, 2-0, 220
up one of his matches to give team”probably had the best
• Jayden Clark, 1-0, 220
performance of the night.”
Bloomer a second match
• Billy Kargianis, 1-0, 220
“They were gritty and just
against Columbia, even
• Jaden Martin, 1-1, 285
got after it,” Young said.
though it was against a
• Russell Walden, 1-1, 285
Individual Baker results:
heavier opponent.
Jaden Martin, who was
Girls
runner-up at the state tour-
Boys
• Lilly Collins, 0-3, 138
nament in June in the heavy-
pounds
• Joey Duncan, 3-1, 106
weight division, wrestled an
• Sarah Plummer, 0-3,
pounds
Idaho state champion from
155
• Marcus Chamberlain,
Columbia on Wednesday.
• Sheylin Karolski, 0-2,
2-1, 113
Martin nearly had a
155
• Aldo Duran, 1-1, 120
takedown but ended up in a
Baker is competing in the
• River Clark, 0-2, 126
bad position and lost by pin,
Calhoun Classic in Nyssa
• Michael Endersby, 1-1,
Young said.
this weekend.
126
The 3rd Annual Crossroads Carnegie Art Center “Oktoberfest”
We would like to thank the following individuals, businesses and
community organization for their help and support of our 3rd Annual
Oktoberfest Drive-Thru Dinner and Virtual Auction.
We were so excited that so many people participated in the event, from near
and far, to help Crossroads fulfill our mission:
The mission of the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit
founded in 1963, is to create opportunities for the entire community to be
engaged, inspired, and transformed by the arts through participation in classes,
workshops, exhibits, mentorships, and partnerships – A welcoming place where
people meet and the arts speak.
SNOW TIRES
are cheaper
than a wreck
Come and see us or call to schedule an appointment
Lew Brothers Tire Service
541-523-3679
210 Bridge St. Baker City, OR
Oktoberfest Sponsors
Anthony Lakes Mountain
Resort
John and Molly Wilson
Sorbenots Coffee
Barley Brown’s
Copper Belt Winery
Sweet Wife Baking
Davis Security and
Electric
Baker Vision Clinic
Lew Brothers/Les
Schwab Tires
Bannister, Sharon A.
Gregg Hinrichsen/State
Farm Insurance
Strehlou, Terry
Baker City Rotary Club
Intermountain Law PC
Hearts & Petals LLC
Lori Wood
Baker City Realty
Elkhorn Media Group
Baker Lions Club
Baker AAUW
Campfire Creations
CASA Of Eastern
Oregon
1st Annual Potato Fun
Run Sponsors
Timm, Gary/ Agrihaus
Farms
Ward Ranches
Brown, Sam & Stephanie
Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home
Landmark Contracting
LLC
Baker High School
Cross Country and
Track Participants and
Parents, Coach Suzy
Cole.
Donors and
Contributors
Michele Alaspa
Jenny Albright
Garwood Allen
Nancy Ames
John Anderson
Jeff & Jessica Anderson
Anthony Lakes Mountain
Resort
Denis & Mary Apple
Travis and Katie Ash
Terri & Dennis Axness
Sandi Baer
Baker City Downtown
Baker City Float Center
Baker City Realty
Baker City Rotary
Baker Floral & Botanicals
Baker Vision Clinic
Sharon Bannister
Rebecca & Robert
Barrington
Kevin and Terri Bell
Joel & Mary Elizabeth
Bigelow
Martin Birnbaum
Mike & Cynthia Blank /
Roberts
Tammy Bloom
Travis & Tish Bloomer
Bloomer Blooms
Larisa Bogardus
Mark Bogart
MJ. & Eva Bohn /
Sorenson
Aletha Bonebrake
Brooke Bottger
Madhavi Bradford
Tony & Benita Britt
Lisa & Jason Britton -
Jacoby
Diana Brown
Daniel Brown
Stephanie and Sam
Brown
Andrew Bryan
Pattie Burrows
Courtney Burton
Clair Button
Erin Callahan
Campfure Creations
Amanda & Neil Carroll
Charlene and Michael
Chase
Richard & Kathleen
Chaves
Jennifer Cikanek
Emmy Clausnitzer
Joy Cleaver
Tom Clement
Jacque & Josh Cobb
Donald Cody
Brian Cole
Dave Colton
Krista & Travis Cook
LuAnn & Ed Cook
Bryn & Robin Crowell
Adam & Courtney
Crowell
Dru & Raven Davis
Davis Security and
Electric Group LLC
Dean & Sharon Defrees
Jess Defrees
Defrees Ranch
Lessie Dickinson
Terry & Bill Drever Gee
Kaitlin Duke
Gail & Ray Duman
Mickey & Steve Edwards
Alan & Ann Egger
Dianne & Robert
Ellingson
Ann Eriksmoen
Alyssa & Jordan
Ferguson
Thomas & Kathleen Fisk
Sharon Freeman
Debbie Friedman
Glacier 45
Carol Glaser
Joelene Griffin
Beth Grimes
Randy & MaryJane Guyer
Hearts & Petals LLC
Donna Helman
Anne Hindman
Amy Hindman
Gregg Hinrichsen
Claire & Nathan Hobson
Paul Hoelscher
Gordon Holman
Jan Hufnagel
Julie Huntington
Intermountain Law PC
Mark & Heather Johnson
/ Palmer-Johnson
Janet Kahn
Katie Kahn
Janet Kavanagh
Hailey Keller
Jessica & Judson Keys
John Koble
Karen Kolb-Schoeningh
Kyra K. Rohner Attorney
at Law
Sophia Laakso
Robin Laakso
Trudi Lahaie
Dr. Eric & Katie Lamb
Landmark Contracting
LLC
Andrew Larkin
Angela & Wayne Lattin
Maura Laverty
Sarah & Tom LeCompte
/ Novak
Lew Brothers/Les
Schwab
Margaret & Rod Lewis
Rebecca Litke
Helen, Marge & Kate
Loennig
Kevin & Kim Luckini
Karla & Levi Macy
Mad Habit Boutique
Marble Peak
Construction
JoAnn Marlette
Blake, Dana, Paige, &
Landon Marlia
Helen & Bob Marsh/
Middleton
Amy Martin Friedman
Linda McClinton
Karen McClinton
Teresa McQuisten
Senator Jeff Merkley
Barbara & Mike Meyer
Francis & Thayer Mohr
James Morris
Kim and Charlie Mosier/
Tracy
N7 Brewing Company
Doug & Cynthia
Newman
Oregon Trail Landscape
and Nursery
Kathy Oster
Michelle Owen
John & Karen Owen
Betty & Robert Palmer
Kathy Pennington
Mandy & Royce Peterson
Pam Petterson
Valerie Potter
Marlene Prowell
Quail Crossing Studio &
Gallery
Queen City Modern
Heidi & John Quintela
John Rademacher
Bruce & Wanda Raffety
Joan Rasmussen
Rick & Ginger Rembold
Sue Richard
Jan/Rick Richard/
Teegarden
Mary Sue Rightmire
Ann & Ron Rowan
Dr. Eric & Kristy Sandefur
Ginger, Kerry and Lee
Robert Savage
Cindy Schildknecht
Becky & Tim Schuette
Brooke Shevlin
Stephen Silvis
Danae & Richard
Simonski / Taie
Jana Simpson
Paula Southwick
Alyson Spiering
Holly Spiering
Spiering Land and Cattle
Company
Barbara Stiff
Mary Stiglich
Judith Stoffer
Philip & Andrea Stone
Terry Strehlou
Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home
Daphne Thomas
Dan Thorndike
Be & Bill Tiedemann
Timm, Gary/ Agrihaus
Farms
Jim & Mary Tomlinson
Maurizio & Allison
Valerio
Vance RailRiders
Cherie & Craig Ward
Fred Jr. & Cammie
Warner
Brian & Susan Watt
Well Kneaded Massage-
Kim Jonas
Megan White
White House Art &
Design
Julianne Williams
Jack & Meredith Wilson
John & Molly Wilson
Jackie Wirth
Joey Wirth
Lori Wood
Sandra Zimmer
Special Thanks to
Baker High School
National Honor Society
Baker County Fair Board
Baker City Road
Department
Baker County Dispatch
Baker City Police
Department
Winspire
Robin Crowell
Cindy Kencke
Crossroads Oktoberfest
Committee
Katie Lamb and Janet
Kahn, Co-Chairs
Crossroads Board of
Directors
Brian Watt, Chair
Mary Burns Tomlinson,
Vice Chair
Kathleen Chaves,
Secretary
Terri Bell, Treasurer
Terry Drever Gee
Gordon Holman
John Rademacher
Kathy Sanchez
Crossroads Staff
Ginger Savage,
Executive Director
Karen Owen, Office
Manager
Alyson Spiering,
Community Art
Director
Katie Ash, Education
Coordinator
Stan Smith, Custodian
Karen McClinton,
Karma Driven Designs,
Graphic Design
Jana Simpson,
Bookkeeper
Daphne Thomas,
Shopkeeper
We apologize if we
missed any donor!
2020 Auburn Avenue, Baker City, Oregon • 541.523.5369 • www.crossroads-arts.org