Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2022)
BAKER CITY HERALD • THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 A5 LOCAL & STATE Local Briefing County commission candidates debate April 23 All five candidates for the Baker County Board of Com- missioners have confirmed they will participate in a de- bate on Saturday, April 23, at 6 p.m. at the Sunridge Inn, 1 Sunridge Lane. The public is invited to attend the event, which is sponsored by Baker County United. The primary election is May 17. Candidates will be re- sponding to questions sub- mitted in advance, and also taking questions from the audience. Three candidates are vy- ing to replace Bill Harvey as commission chairman, the only full-time position — Shane Alderson, Dan Gar- rick and Joe Johnson. There are two candidates for com- mission position 2, a part- time position held by Mark Bennett — Kody Justus and Christina Witham. Neither Resolution Continued from Page A1 Alex Wittwer/The Observer, File Gerald Hopkins, president of the Elgin Historical Society, pauses for a moment under a lantern Saturday, May, 1, 2021, within the former Elgin Jail at the Elgin Museum. A retired educator, Hopkins is also the author of two volumes of “Humor in the Class, or Why Christopher Co- lumbus Sailed Away from His Wife.” New book includes priceless gems from children BY DICK MASON The Observer ISLAND CITY — Gerald Hopkins retired as an educa- tor about five years ago, but he has not stopped sharing the joy he experienced while serving as a teacher and a principal for 33 years. Book two of his series “Hu- mor in the Class, or Why Christopher Columbus Sailed Away from His Wife,” is proof. Volume 2, like volume 1, is filled with quotes from chil- dren in the schools where Hopkins worked, which are as humorous as they are heart- warming and enlightening. Volume 2 features many gems teachers at Hopkins’ schools passed on, such as the answer a teacher received from a child asked to name the four seasons: “Salt, pep- per, mustard and vinegar.” Participating in such ex- changes or hearing them brought delight to Hopkins’ career. “Trying to see and hear the world through the eyes of a child adds zest and enjoyment and keeps all of us feeling young at heart. Seeing these special individuals share their lives and humor often brought a tear of happiness to my own life,” Hopkins wrote in the in- troduction of his new book. Hopkins wrote down com- ments from students as soon as he heard them. He would grab anything available to re- cord them. “Sometimes I would even write on napkins,” Hopkins said. He said that such steps were critical because memories can be fleeting. Kids say the darndest things Some of Gerald Hopkins’ fa- vorite quotes from children in the new second volume of his “Humor in the Class, or Why Christopher Colum- bus Sailed Away from His Wife”: Teacher: How can you delay milk turning sour? Student: Keep it in the cow. Teacher: What does vari- cose mean? Student: Nearby. Teacher: What is a seizure? Student: A Roman emperor. Teacher: Why don’t ants get sick? Student: They have anti- bodies. “Often I would hear my fellow educators laugh and share what one of their stu- dents might have said, and remark that they would never forget that special moment,” Hopkins said. But, he noted, “Time takes its toll, so I have attempted to record another collection of these comments in my sec- ond book.” Most of the student com- ments in Hopkins’ new book are ones he heard personally, but there are others that were shared with him, including by his wife, Mary, also a re- tired educator. Hopkins gathered the com- ments in his books during his time serving as principal of Huntington Elementary School and North Powder El- ementary School. Commission Chairman Bill Harvey and Commissioner Mark Bennett voted in favor of the resolution. Commissioner Bruce Nich- ols, who said he agrees with most of the sentiments in the resolution, voted no because he disagrees with the way Baker County United ini- tially presented its version to commissioners in December 2021. “I agree with the Second Amendment, I agree with not having vaccine mandates and almost everything else (in the resolution),” Nichols said. “The way this was portrayed initially to me was the main reason that I will not sign this resolution. “I felt you were trying to force this on this commission, and that’s what makes me get angry about it,” Nichols said. Harvey said he thinks the resolution is beneficial to county residents. “I believe this is a good position and stance for the county and to strengthen our position as far as saying to the public that we will not come after you for something that you believe is unconstitu- tional,” Harvey said. Harvey said that as a gov- erning body, the commis- sioners are “here not to en- force anything that offsets the Constitution.” “We already have never enforced anything on a citi- zen that is against their con- science, based on the Consti- tution of the United States,” Harvey said. “This is just reaffirming our position as a county government that Baker County will not go marching into the stores and say, that person is not wear- ing a mask, we’ll put them down, shove a mask on their face just to enforce a law or whatever it might be. That’s not our role nor is it our au- thority.” When Baker County United submitted its pro- posed resolution to commis- sioners in December, an exec- utive order issued by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown requiring people to wear masks in most indoor public settings was still in place. That require- ment ended March 12. pay at the door. Cost is $10 per person. David Cowan, an OSU Ex- tension master gardener since 2005, will conduct the work- shop. Topics include the role turf can play in a sustainable landscape, tips for proper in- stallation and revitalization, sound cultural practices for maintaining a lawn, minimiz- ing the risk of pests, and sug- gestions for selecting useful turf care tools. Hells Canyon Clean Up set for April 30 Jake Brown of Halfway, “Changing that from the a member of Baker County 13th amendment to the United, said he was disap- 14th, gives it the opposite pointed by the deletions and effect of what we intended,” other changes that commis- Brown said. sioners made to the original The 13th amendment, rati- proposal. fied in 1865, abolished slavery Brown said he and others in the United States and pro- who brought the vides that “Neither original resolution slavery nor involun- to commissioners do tary servitude, ex- not support the ver- cept as a punishment sion commissioners for crime whereof passed, and do not the party shall have want their names as- been duly convicted, sociated with it. shall exist within the Harvey “It was our hope United States, or any that we could have place subject to their a local government jurisdiction.” that would stand up The 14th amend- and ally with us,” ment, adopted in Brown said. 1868, has five sec- Both resolutions tions, one of which have a list of activ- granted citizenship ities that are “not and equal civil and Nichols allowed or toler- legal rights to Afri- ated within Baker can Americans and County.” enslaved people who Baker County had been eman- United’s proposal cipated after the has 12 such items, American Civil War. whereas the ver- That section of sion commissioners the amendment approved has 10. states: “All persons Bennett The latter version born or naturalized combines two parts in the United States, from the former into one sec- and subject to the jurisdic- tion, both of which deal with tion thereof, are citizens of the gun rights. United States and of the state The combined section in wherein they reside. No state the resolution commissioners shall make or enforce any law approved reads: “Expanding which shall abridge the privi- requirements regarding reg- leges or immunities of citizens istration of personal firearms, of the United States; nor shall contrary to 2nd Amendment any state deprive any person protections, nor the confis- of life, liberty, or property, cation of firearms without without due process of law; probable cause, due process, nor deny to any person within and Constitutionally compli- its jurisdiction the equal pro- ant warrants issued by an au- tection of the laws.” thorized jurisdiction.” County counsel Kim There’s also a difference in Mosier explained why she the wording preceding the list changed the reference from of prohibited activities. Baker the 14th amendment to County United’s version re- the 13th. fers to these as “abuses,” while “That medical treatment the county’s version calls piece, I did some research them “acts.” on that, and in the original it Brown said each section in references the 13th amend- Baker County United’s (BCU) ment,” Mosier said. “I did find original resolution was some case law regarding the closely linked to an amend- 13th amendment and coer- ment in the U.S. Constitution. cive medical treatment and He objected to the coun- the cases that I see that relate ty’s version dealing with the use of “Force, threaten, co- erce or deceive, a citizen to receive any medical treatment against their will.” The county’s version says this is guaranteed in the 14th amendment, while BCU’s cites the 13th amendment. to the 13th amendment are Supreme Court cases that say that you can’t require medical providers to treat and that is a violation of the 13th amend- ment. “The 14th amendment, there is a 1905 case that says the government cannot force, threaten, coerce, or deceive a citizen into receiving med- ical treatment against their will. So, that is counter to the Constitution under the 14th amendment,” Mosier said. BCU’s original resolution included a clause stating that “Baker County Commission- ers proudly join the Constitu- tional Sheriffs and Police Of- ficers Association and that the undersigned commissioners do hereby denounce any acts or agencies that promote the aforementioned practices.” Brown said earlier this year that BCU deleted that clause from its proposed resolution. Nichols, responding to pre- vious questions from BCU members who asked commis- sioners to reaffirm their oath of office, said he believes he does that every time he recites the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of a meeting. Nichols also asked sup- porters of the original BCU resolution to recognize that although many people sup- port that document, other county residents have differ- ent opinions. “We’re supposed to be rep- resenting all of the people,” Nichols said. “Whatever we do, there is always somebody that disagrees with us. I don’t care what it is, there’s always somebody that disagrees.” Bennett pointed out that although the resolution states that “no agency established by the U.S. Congress can develop its own policies or regulations which supersede the Bill of Rights or the Constitution,” county commissions do not determine whether or not an action is constitutional. That task, Bennett said, is delegated in the Constitution to the judicial branch of gov- ernment. Bennett nor Harvey is seek- ing reelection. In both commission races, if one candidate receives more than half the voters, that per- son would be elected. If no candidate receives at least half of the voters, the top two can- didates in both races would advance to a runoff in the Nov. 8 general election. The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization with an active chapter in Baker County, is supporting efforts to help Ukrainian refugees. To learn more, go to kofc.org/Ukraine. Workshop on lawn care set for April 23 A three-hour workshop on growing and maintaining a lawn is set for April 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Baker County Community Events Center, 2600 East St. Participants can register by calling the OSU Extension Service at 541-523-6418 and OXBOW — Idaho Power Company is looking for vol- unteers to help with its an- nual Hells Canyon Clean Up event on Saturday, April 30. Volunteers will meet at the Oxbow School before 9 a.m. PDT, rain or shine. They will then head out to pick up trash along the Snake River, roads and campsites. Vol- unteers should wear sturdy BHS baseball ‘Pink walking shoes and bring gloves, sunscreen and water. Night’ for breast A free barbecue for volun- cancer awareness teers will take place at Idaho The Baker High School Power’s Copperfield Park fol- baseball team will have its Pink lowing the clean up, which Night, to raise awareness about commemorates Earth Day. breast cancer and honor those “Conditions are great for camping in the canyon right affected by it, on Monday, now,” said Jared Farrens, a April 25, when the Bulldogs play Heppner/Ione at 5 p.m. at resource professional for Idaho Power. “To reserve a the Baker Sports Complex. Baker players will wear pink spot, visit idahpower.com/ uniforms and hats. Everyone recreation, and then join us is invited to attend and to also for the clean up Saturday morning.” don pink clothing. Your guide to arts and entertainment around Eastern Oregon Read more at GOEASTERNOREGON.COM Reelect David Baum Oregon Trail Electric Board, Position 8 2022 I Northeast Oregon PHOTO CONTEST Visit bakercityherald.com and enter today! STATEMENT TO VOTERS: The electric utility industry is seeing significant changes due to increased demand, new technologies, government mandates, high prices of natural gas and oil, and weather renewables (solar and wind). Weather renewables work only when the Sun is shining and the Wind is blowing. Currently OTEC purchases 100% of its electrical power from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and some of the lowest electrical rates in the country. But BPA is being challenged with increasing costs, reduced revenue, and threat of the removal of the four lower Snake River dams. As the board member involved with the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, we have aggressively pushed forward with the drafting and finalization of a Wildfire Plan. As we negotiate a new contract with Bonneville (BPA), my legal experience is a valuable evaluation tool. My focus will be to continue to work diligently in areas of Power Supply, Transmission and Distribution. I will strive to keep your electrical rates low. Our CEO, Les Penning and staff with board support will not be raising your electrical rates for 2022. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to serve as your representative on the board of Directors. I have grained a signifi- cant knowledge and experience about cooperatives during this time. I will continue to work hard at keeping electric rates low while providing safe and reliable electricity to our members along with excellent customer service. I have knowledge, experience, energy and time to serve. I ask for YOUR VOTE and look forward to our future challenges. Paid For By David Baum / The Committee to Reelect David Baum
