A2 — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
Alleged racist remarks from La Grande
football team still under review
BAKER COUNTY CALENDAR
Baker Valley Vector Control District board of
director: Meeting Friday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at 1933 First St.
in Baker City.
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
December 16, 1971
In spite of the large number of packages set out yes-
terday by the local post offi ce, superintendent of mails
Vernon H. O’Neil says the number of parcels and post-
cards mailed has dropped considerably during the past
two years.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
December 16, 1996
LA GRANDE — Baker earned one tournament champi-
onship, two second place fi nishes, and a consolation title
Saturday at the annual Muilenburg Invitational wrestling
tournament at La Grande High School.
Ryan Brewster defeated Gabe Hoyt of La Grande 9-4 to
win the title at 119 pounds. Brewster was 4-0 during the
two-day tournament, with one pin.
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The (La Grande) Observer
LA GRANDE — Allegations of rac-
ism from the La Grande football team
remain under review.
Following a 34-12 playoff victory over
Gladstone on Friday, Nov. 5, at Eastern
Oregon University, La Grande’s players
were accused of using racial slurs during
the game in an article published by The
Oregonian. The ensuing investigation by
the Oregon School Activities Association,
La Grande School District and Glad-
stone School District is still ongoing.
A player and parent from the Glad-
stone football team spoke to The Orego-
nian on Nov. 11 regarding what they
claimed was a persistent use of racial
slurs from the La Grande team through-
out the entirety of the fi rst-round playoff
game. Near the conclusion of the game, a
verbal dispute ensued between the Glad-
stone sideline and players on the fi eld.
Following the accusations, a full-
blown investigation began led by an
independent investigator working along-
side OSAA. The investigation included
review of game fi lm, interviews with
those involved and amends between the
two school districts.
According to La Grande Superinten-
dent George Mendoza, the interviews
and investigative section of the review is
nearing completion and OSAA is work-
ing toward a fi nal decision on the allega-
tions. The La Grande School District
has cooperated in the investigation and
provided due diligence in getting to the
bottom of the accusations, Mendoza said.
OSAA Executive Director Peter We-
ber said that the independent investiga-
tor is nearing the tail end of conducting
interviews and research.
“I spoke with the investigator and he
is hoping to wrap that up pretty soon
here,” he said.
Weber noted that the Thanksgiving
holiday caused a slight delay, but that
the investigator has been collecting
information for the past couple weeks.
The allegations drew concern from
leading Democrats in the Oregon House
OBITUARIES
Sandy Watson
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
December 16, 2011
Baker County’s fi rst wind farm opened last month, and
two other companies are curious about whether local
gusts can prove profi table.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Baker Resource
Area has issued permits to the fi rms allowing them to put
up, on public land near Huntington, towers studded with
wind gauges.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
December 17, 2020
The familiar notes of Christmas carols echoed at South
Baker Intermediate School this week.
At least until the instrument froze in the December chill.
The potential for a weather delay wasn’t the only
unconventional thing about the concerts at the school that
teaches fourth-, fi fth- and sixth-graders.
South Baker students were treated to classic carols not
in the normal venue of the gymnasium/cafeteria, space
where it’s more likely to be stifl ing than frigid.
Instead they listened to the tunes outside as they fi led
into the school each morning this week.
The performer was their music teacher, Duncan Titus.
But Titus, in his fi rst year of teaching, wasn’t strum-
ming a guitar or drawing a bow across a violin or playing
any other instrument commonly associated with these
seasonal songs.
He performed the beloved melodies with the distinc-
tive deep rumble of the tuba, which usually adds a bit of
background to an orchestra but is not often employed as a
solo instrument.
But even something as formidable as the tuba can be
silenced by a Baker City winter.
“I’ll play until the instrument freezes up,” Titus said
Wednesday morning as he lubricated the tuba’s valves,
gathered his book of Christmas carols arranged for solo
tuba, and prepared to leave the warmth of the school for a
seat outside the front door.
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SENIOR MENUS
FRIDAY: Herb-baked chicken, rice pilaf, green beans, rolls,
coleslaw, cheesecake
MONDAY (Dec. 20): Chicken strips, mashed potatoes
with gravy, corn, rolls, beet-and-onion salad, pudding
TUESDAY (Dec. 21): Spaghetti, garlic bread, broccoli,
green salad, apple crisp
WEDNESDAY (Dec. 22): Ham and beans, mixed vegetables,
cornbread, cottage cheese and Jell-O salad, ice cream
THURSDAY (Dec. 23): Sweet and sour chicken, rice, rolls,
carrots, green salad, brownies
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
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Copyright © 2021
sist them. She felt great joy in
helping them and it earned her
Helen Sandra Watson, 72, many accolades.
Sandy had a huge love for
of Boise, died Dec. 4, 2021, at
painting, crafting and
Saint Alphonsus
gardening. She learned
Regional Medical
oil painting from watch-
Center with her
ing Bob Ross on TV,
daughter, Michelle,
and she would create
and her granddaugh-
beautiful nature scenes
ter, Alexis, by her side.
for years. Arts and
A celebration of
crafts were her world,
life with family and
Sandy
scrapbooking to cross-
friends whom she
Watson
stitch and everything
was loved and missed
in between; she created her
by will take place at a later
last Thanksgiving wreath from
date in Baker City.
Sandy was born on Sept. 23, scratch only weeks prior to
1949, in Lakeview to William her passing. In gardening, she
found peace. It was a place to
and Lois Strong. Growing
teach her daughters how things
up, life began with love for
grow or a quiet place to tend
her family; her father whom
and pray.
she adored, her mother and
Sandy’s family continued
younger brother, Doug. She
enjoyed sharing fond memories to be her fi rst priority; always
of riding motorcycles with Doug being the “best mommy” and
as adolescents and baking with advocate for Tracy in her strug-
her mom. Although her father gles with multiple sclerosis,
died when she was just a child, talking on the phone every day
her memories of him clung on to Michelle about everything
under the sun and hearing
for a lifetime.
After graduation from high about how her grandkitties and
doggie were doing, and loving
school, she attended Bible
college. While in her fi rst mar- her granddaughter, Alexis,
riage, she had her eldest child, more than she will ever know.
It was important to not just
Tracy, and while married to
be a mom, but to be a friend, a
Rodger Watson, she had Mi-
chelle. A Christian upbringing support and a prayer partner.
for their girls was important to Her greatest joys were to
Sandy and Rodger, so for years celebrate the achievements of
Sandy taught computer classes “three girls” and her son in love,
Kody, whether big or small, she
at the private school they at-
was always so proud of them.
tended to pay for the tuition.
When Sandy was just a
Her knowledge of computers
young girl, she began attending
was vast and she enjoyed
teaching students how to write church and created her bond
with God. Over the years, she
programming codes.
grew stronger in her faith and
When Tracy and Michelle
loved attending church, the last
were older, Sandy worked for
being Life Church. She taught
Blue Cross Blue Shield. One
her three girls how important it
of her main jobs was to assist
customers over the phone and was to keep Jesus fi rst and she
remained strong in her faith
although there was a quota
until her last breath, telling
to meet, she felt it was more
important to hear the customer, Michelle and Alexis “she was in
empathize and truly try to as- Jesus’ arms.”
Boise, 1949-2021
NEWS OF RECORD
DEATHS
Adriene Oster: 51, of Baker
City, died Dec. 13, 2021, at Saint
Alphonsus Regional Medical
Center in Baker City, surrounded
in love. Arrangements are under
the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home & Cremation Ser-
vices. Online condolences can
be shared at www.tamispineval-
leyfuneralhome.com.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker
County Circuit Court warrant):
Stavin William Smith, 29, Baker
City, 12:55 a.m. Wednesday, Dec.
15 at H and 13th streets; cited
and released.
SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL
MISCHIEF: Dale Rex Taylor, 80,
Baker City, 3:20 p.m. Tuesday,
Dec. 14 in the 2200 block of
Washington Avenue; cited and
released.
PROBATION VIOLATION
(out-of-county warrant): Randy
Alvin Townsen, 62, Baker City,
12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14 in
the 200 block of Bridge Street;
cited and released.
CONTEMPT OF COURT (5
Baker County warrants): John
M. Guthrie, 50, Baker City,
12:38 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14
in the 500 block of Campbell
Street; cited and released.
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
Arrests, citations
FOURTH-DEGREE ASSAULT
(Baker County Circuit Court war-
rant): Leigh Scott Carpenter, 34,
Baker City, 1:49 p.m. Monday,
Dec. 13 at the sheriff’s offi ce;
cited and released.
1809 1st Street • Baker City
 December 17-23 
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GHOSTBUSTERS AFTERLIFE (PG-13)
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OPENING WEDNESDAY 12/22
“THE MATRIX: RESURRECTIONS” (R) &
“SING 2” (PG)
**SHOWTIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. VISIT
OUR WEBSITE OR CALL AHEAD TO VERIFY**
www.eltrym.com
Survivors include her
daughters, Tracy Fass of Boise,
and Michelle Watson and Kody
Robinson of Waldport; her
granddaughter, Alexis Watson
of Waldport; her nieces and
nephew, Dawn Strong, Shawn
Strong, Heather Coliten and
William “Billy” Strong; several
great-nieces and nephews and
multiple nieces and nephews
from her former marriage to
Rodger.
Sandy was preceded in
death by her parents, William
and Lois Strong; her brother,
Douglas Strong; and her former
husband, Rodger Watson.
Memorial contributions can
be made to PXE International
through Coles Tribute Center,
1950 Place St., Baker City,
OR 97814. Pseudoxanthoma
Elasticum (PXE) is a disease
which Sandy battled her whole
life. In her last moments, she
expressed how much is yet
unknown; please help fund re-
search in honor of her. To light a
candle in Sandy’s memory, go to
www.colestributecenter.com.
Janyce Foersterling
Baker City, 1951-2021
Janyce Foersterling, 70, of
Baker City, died Dec. 8, 2021,
at her home, surrounded by
family.
Janyce was born on Oct. 23,
1951, in Prairie City. She was
raised and educated in John
Day until she was 17. She then
moved to Baker where she
graduated from Baker High
School in 1970.
She married Terry L. Foer-
sterling on Aug. 2, 1974. She
then became a stay-at-home
mother who poured her heart
into her family.
She was a member of The
Ladies of the Grand Army Re-
public and for a time presided
as their State President.
Janyce enjoyed gardening
with her husband. She adored
lilies and could grow some of
the biggest you’d ever seen.
She also loved to travel, play
bingo, slot machines, and watch
hummingbirds. Janyce liked to
sew rag quilts and give them
away, including to Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital in order to
make their stay more com-
fortable. She
loved all of her
animals and
grand-animals
and referred
to herself as
the “cat whis-
perer.”
Janyce
Memorable Foersterling
dates in her
life included celebrating both
hers and Terry’s birthday every
year at the coast where they
would play bingo and slots at
the various casinos throughout
Oregon. Another highlight in
her life was when she received
a certifi cate stating that she
was cancer-free. Her smile was
beaming on that day and she
was so happy and proud of her
achievement.
Most of all, Janyce loved
spending time with her fam-
ily, attending all their sports
games and never missing
important times with her
grandchildren. She will be re-
membered for her large heart
of gold, sassy attitude, laughter
and her love for her family.
Janyce is survived by her
husband of 47 years, Terry L.
Foersterling of Baker City; her
daughter, Kim (Justin) Plumb-
tree of Baker City; her broth-
ers, Delo (Lisa) Simmons, and
Jeron (Charlene) Simmons,
both of Baker City; her sister,
Evelyn (Tony) Johns of Prairie
City; and her grandchildren,
Austin (Makayla) Plumbtree
and Morgan Plumbtree.
Janyce was preceded in
death by her parents, Jack and
Colleen Simmons.
For those who would like to
make a donation in memory
of Janyce, the family suggests
Best Friends of Baker (pet
rescue) through Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home & Cre-
mation Services, P.O. Box 543,
Halfway, OR 97834. Online
condolences can be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
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of Representatives, who emphasized
that House Bill 3409 was passed in 2019
to advocate for fair play and equality in
high school athletics. According to The
Oregonian, House Speaker Tina Kotek,
House Majority Leader Barbara Smith
Warner and Rep. Janelle Bynum were
a part of the statement. House Bill 3409
instructs OSAA to investigate com-
plaints regarding racism and iron out
the issue within 30 days.
The La Grande and Gladstone school
districts worked together with OSAA to
gather information from players, chain
crews and offi cials. A statement from the
three entities on Nov. 16 detailed ways
that the districts are looking to mend the
relationship between the two schools. A
big emphasis from the school districts
has been promoting clarity on both sides
during the investigation process.
The La Grande and Gladstone boys
basketball teams are scheduled to com-
pete against each other at the Gladstone
Holiday Tournament at Gladstone High
School on Dec. 20.
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