LOCAL
City Councilors react to county’s
ambulance decision
BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER
soconner@bakercityherald.com
Baker County Commissioners approved at their special
meeting Wednesday morning to go with the Ambulance
Service Area (ASA) Request for Proposal (RFP) commit-
tee’s recommendation to pursue a contract with Metro
West out of Hillsboro for ambulance services.
This follows the Baker City Council’s decision in March
to end their ambulance services citing financial issues.
City Councilors offered their thoughts and reactions to
the decision.
Joanna Dixon
“After reviewing the two proposals
the county received, I think Metro West
will do an outstanding job of serving
the citizens of Baker City and Baker
County. I don’t believe the city will end
ambulance service any sooner than
Dixon
Sept. 30, with Metro West planning to
take over October 1.
“I am very confident that the staffing recommendations
from Chief Lee will be adequate for city residents. It has
been based on staffing examples from other fire depart-
ments with populations similar to Baker City.”
Johnny Waggoner Sr.
“Well it’s bittersweet to me. I loved hav-
ing local EMT’s because it was more per-
sonal in my opinion. I’m glad the county
got a experienced provider. I’m hopeful
it will save the county taxpayers some tax
money as well. I will not vote to suspend
any ambulance service unless we don’t
have staff to do so, or the county has a
contractor in place.”
Waggoner Sr.
Shane Alderson
“MetroWest, I think they have been in
business for a long time. I think they are an
adequate EMS company. I think the way
we operate in the field will change. And
our firefighters will have to get used to a
non-dual role application in the field. But I
Alderson
think they are adequate for our needs here.
I do have staffing concerns with the fire de-
partment, not so much the idea of the staffing but if we have
more people leave or we get too many people out sick at one
time, I think we could have a shortfall in an event like that.
So that has me concerned.
“As far as the September 30 date, I would assume the
county commissioners would allow us to run to that but
maybe not, I’m not privy to that. I think there’s another
meeting coming up on the county’s side. So, I don’t know.
We might be out of it sooner. And then as we have firefighter
paramedics leave, that might speed up the end date.”
Rain
Contract
Continued from Page A1
Nichols said Metro West
had an advantage of about 30
points, in the committee’s rat-
ing, over Capstone.
Several details remain un-
certain, including where Metro
West will garage its ambu-
lances, and when the company
will fully replace the Baker City
Fire Department, which has
operated ambulances for more
than half a century.
Nichols said those issues will
be part of the county’s contract
negotiations with Metro West.
Erin Miller, chief busi-
ness development officer for
Metro West, had not returned
a phone call by the deadline
for this story.
City notice in March kicked
off county’s search for
replacement
The county hadn’t been
looking for a new ambulance
provider until the Baker City
Council voted on March
22 of this year to notify the
county that the city intended
to curtail ambulance service
Sept. 30, 2022.
Under Oregon law, the
county, not the city, is respon-
sible for picking an ambu-
lance provider.
After talks between city
and county officials during
the spring failed to yield an
agreement for the city to con-
tinue operating ambulances,
commissioners approved a re-
quest for proposals.
Metro West and Capstone
sent formal proposals, al-
though Bennett said some
other companies had in-
quired with the county.
Bennett said he talked with
several members of the advi-
sory committee, and all were
disappointed that Baker City
didn’t submit a proposal.
The City Council voted 7-0
on May 10 to direct City Man-
ager Jonathan Cannon to write
a proposal for the city fire de-
partment to remain the ambu-
lance provider.
But during their May 24
meeting, at which Cannon was
preparing to distribute a draft
of the proposal, councilors
voted 4-2 to not submit a pro-
posal to the county by the June
3 deadline.
start off by proposing to of-
fill those openings due to the
fer shared staffing with Baker
planned staffing cuts.
Nichols said state law, which City Fire Department. We
Ambulance bill comparison
is reflected in the county’s re- would be willing to contract
The Baker City Fire Depart- quest for proposals, requires
with Baker City for Firefighter
ment charges these amounts
that for six months after a new EMTs and Paramedics to help
for ambulance transports:
staff our primary or back up
ambulance provider starts,
• Basic life support: $1,079
the provider has to give hiring units reimbursing the City for
• Advanced life support:
their time spent on units. We
preference to qualified em-
$1,550
ployees from the previous pro- would also offer to hire any
• Non-resident, basic life
fire Paramedics or EMT’s that
vider — the Baker City Fire
support: $2,144
lose employment with Baker
Department, in this case.
• Non-resident, advanced life
Nichols said he hopes Metro City. Additionally we would
support: $2,550
be willing to lease space for
West can hire current Baker
• Mileage: $22 per mile
City Fire Department workers our units and staff at Baker
Most of the patients trans-
who will lose their jobs when City Fire stations. As part of
ported in city ambulances are
this partnership, we will of-
the city discontinues ambu-
covered by federal Medicare
fer training and classes at no
lance operation.
or Medicaid, which pay only
charge to the Baker City Fire
The Metro West proposal
about 20% of the amount the
Department to further solidify
addresses that issue, stating:
city bills.
our relationship with this im-
“As part of our staffing and
That low reimbursement rate experience model, we want to portant agency.”
is one reason that Baker City
Manager Jonathan Cannon
has cited for why he believes
Tammy Rae Blanchard
the city couldn’t afford to con-
October 4, 1961 - May 13, 2022
tinue operating ambulances.
It’s not clear how much pri-
Tammy Rae Blanchard passed
vate companies, such as Metro
away
on May 13, 2022, of natural
West, will receive from Medi-
causes
in her home at Nyssa, OR.
care and Medicaid patients.
She was born on October 4,
Metro West is proposing
1961, in Colfax, WA, and was
a flat rate of $1,500 for both
one of three children born to Patty
basic and advance life sup-
and Ed Nelson. After years in the
port transports, regardless of
Colfax area they moved to Baker
whether the patient is a local
City, OR, where Tammy excelled
resident.
The proposal also includes a
in sports such as basketball,
fee of $21 per mile.
volleyball and tennis. Tammy was
“These are our initial rates,”
also gifted in academics, social aspects, and leadership
the Metro West proposal
roles.
states. “We understand that
Growing up she enjoyed being on the family wheat
these rates will be in effect for
farm, raising horses and taking care of her animals.
the entire first year of the con-
After graduating from high school, she received her
tract. After the first year, rate
bachelor’s in education from Eastern Oregon University
increases will not occur more
and later received her master’s in education from
than twice in any (12) twelve
Northwest Nazarene University.
month period. We will com-
During her extensive education, Tammy excelled in
plete rate reviews to determine
school and focused on literature and writing. Over the
need for increase based on
past 25 years she has taught at the high school level in
Medicare fee schedule and cost
multiple districts in the Malheur area.
of doing business. We agree to
While at Eastern Oregon University she met the love
furnish a thirty (30) day notice
of her life, Kent Blanchard. Tammy and Kent married
to the Commissioners of any
in 1984 in Baker City, OR. Together they had three
rate increase.”
children, Patrick, Alec and Camryn, whom they raised
in Nyssa, OR. Throughout the children’s high school
Possible job opportunities for
careers, both Tammy and Kent were highly supportive
laid off city firefighter/
of their sons’ activities - always attending sports and
paramedics
Baker City’s proposed bud-
other extracurricular events.
get for the fiscal year that
Tammy was family oriented and loved cooking meals
starts July 1 reduces the fire
for her loved ones and hosting family gatherings. One
department staffing from
of her greatest passions was the yearly summer vacation
16.25 full-time equivalents
trip to the family cabin at Twin Lakes in Washington.
to 10.5.
Tammy would spend time at the lake, fishing, boating,
Three firefighter/para-
playing cards, and cracking jokes. During her free time,
medic positions are vacant,
Tammy’s hobbies included reading, writing, collecting
and the city is not recruiting to
Cheshire cat figurines, playing card games, hanging
with her two dogs, attending music events, and spending
time with Aurora, her granddaughter.
Phillips, which last fall
Tammy is survived by her husband, Kent; her sons,
reached its lowest level since it
Patrick,
Alec and Camryn; her mother, Patty; her
first filled in 1968, was at 19%
siblings, Denise and Randy; her granddaughter, Aurora;
of its capacity on June 9.
and other extended family.
There will be a blessing at Saint Bridget of Kildare
Catholic Church in Nyssa, OR on July, 9, 2022, at 10
Thom
a.m.
A notable exception is Phil-
Overall, the portion of the
county in severe drought went lips Reservoir southwest of
Continued from Page A1
from 38% to 54%. The remain- Baker City, a vital source of irri-
ing 2% — in the Elkhorns and a gation water for Baker Valley.
Up to an inch of rain is pos- sliver at the northeast corner in
sible, with higher amounts in
Hells Canyon — was rated as
the mountains, according to
modest drought.
Carol
the National Weather Service.
Conditions have improved
September 6, 1943 – February 4, 2022
Thunderstorms are also
even more in Union and Uma-
forecast, and, as always, they
tilla counties.
In loving memory of my mother and best friend,
could boost rainfall totals in
No part of Umatilla County
Carol Thom. Born Carolyn Louise Reedy in Mantoo,
localized areas.
is in drought, and only a tiny
IL, on Sept. 6, 1943. She was raised in Myrtle Creek
If the weekend storm proves fraction of the county is rated
and Portland, Oregon. She passed Feb. 4, 2022, at the
as potent as predicted, June
as abnormally dry.
age of 78.
could become the third straight
Most of Union County, in-
She brought four children into the world, had five
month with above average
cluding the Grande Ronde Val-
grandchildren and and seven great-grandchildren. Carol
rainfall at the Baker City Air-
ley, is rated as abnormally dry,
lived life to its fullest and touched many people along
port. That hasn’t happened in
with smaller sections of mod-
the way. She always helped those around her who
more than a decade.
erate and severe drought in the
needed a hand up in life. She enjoyed being outdoors,
The last such period was
southern part of the county, in-
hunting, fishing, camping. She also enjoyed motorcycle
April through June of 2010.
cluding the North Powder Valley.
riding, pool and bingo. Her passion was music, as she
Rainfall in April 2010 totaled
Unlike Baker County, no
had a beautiful voice of a soprano and she would share
part of Union County is rated
1.83 inches (average is .80),
her gift, singing karaoke.
as severe or extreme drought.
1.76 inches in May (average
Carol worked most of her life. She would often
Recent rain, along with
1.42), and 2.19 inches in June
say she was a jack of most labor trades and master of
melting snow from the moun-
(average 1.26).
none. She retired at about age 70. Even though Carol
This year had an exceedingly tains, has swollen streams and
has passed, her spirit lives through those she loved
replenished many reservoirs.
dry start, with just .67 of an
and touched. A celebration of her life will take place
Thief Valley Reservoir east
inch of precipitation (rain and
of North Powder, and Unity
melted snow) from January
in September 2022, the place yet to be announced. All
through March. That’s 30% of Reservoir in southern Baker
people are welcome. Come share your story or respect
County, are both full.
average for that period.
for a spirit who is deeply missed.
But the situation reversed
starting in early April.
April’s rain total at the air-
Ralph H. Holcomb
port was 1.26 inches, and
Christian Church Minister
May’s was 2.05 inches.
June is also on pace to sur-
February 21, 1923 - April 23, 2022
pass its rainfall average, with
Rev. Ralph H. Holcomb passed away (Reedsport Christian Church), and at La
.43 of an inch through the first
peacefully
in Battle Ground, WA, at the Pine, OR, (High Lakes Christian Church).
nine days of the month.
age
of
99.
The
eldest of three children of He held week-long evangelistic meetings
The major shift in the
in 50 congregations in eight
Pleasant
Ralph
Holcomb
weather pattern this spring has
states, including Hawaii. He
and Florence Irene Johnston,
started to ease the drought that
also served on the boards of
he grew up in New Bridge
has plagued the county, and
several church associations.
and
Baker
City,
OR,
with
the rest of Eastern Oregon, for
sisters Doris (Baum) and
During retirement he
more than a year.
Velora (Morton).
took interim ministries at
In Baker County as of May
He was a graduate
Mountlake Terrace, WA;
31, the U.S. Drought Monitor
of Baker High School
Enterprise Christian Church,
rated 62% of the county, in-
cluding Baker Valley, as being
(1940), and Northwest
Enterprise, OR; Kern Park
in extreme drought, the sec-
Christian College (1947)
Christian Church in Portland,
ond-worst in the five-category
where he married fellow
OR; and Richland Christian
rating system (abnormally
student Velma E. Webb of
Church, Richland, OR.
dry, followed by four levels of
Sunnyside, WA, in 1945,
Survivors
include
drought — moderate, severe,
and he received an MDiv
daughters;
Bonnie
K.
extreme and exceptional). The
degree from Butler School of Religion Holcomb (husband, William Silverman) of
rest of the county (except a tiny
(1961). He and Velma had three daughters Bethesda, MD, Shirley Holcomb Duncan
sliver in the Elkhorn Moun-
while serving in pastoral ministry at North (husband, Greg Duncan) of LaCenter, WA,
tains) was in severe drought.
Plains, OR, Central Christian Church, and Renee Holcomb Wurgler (husband, Joel
But a week later, on June 7,
Portland OR, and First Christian Church at Wurgler) of Berwyn, IL; grandchildren,
the percentage of the county in
Windfall, Indiana. Ralph was a professor Darcy Adams, Kristin Wurgler, Rachel
extreme drought had dropped
of New Testament and Homiletics at San Schafer, Erica Pollock, Sean Duncan,
from 62% to 44%.
Jose Bible College, San Jose, CA, for five Emily Wurgler, Braden Silverman, Erin
The biggest change was in
years. He returned to pastoral ministry at Relova, Jeana Duncan; sister, Nancy
Baker Valley, which moved
First Christian Church in Caldwell, ID; Smith; nephew, Craig Morton; nieces, Gail
from extreme to severe drought.
Concord Christian Church in Milwaukie, Reynolds, and Karen Baum Tricomo, and
OR; First Christian Church of Lakewood, thirteen great-grandchildren.
CA; First Christian Church of Madras,
Services will be held at Baker City
OR; and Baker City Christian Church, Christian Church on Saturday June 18
his home church, where he was when at 2 p.m. All are welcome. Memorial
The most valuable and respected source of
he retired in 1988. He helped start two contributions: Baker City Christian
local news, advertising and information
for our communities.
new churches, one at Reedsport, OR, Church, 675 OR-7, Baker City, OR 97814.
eomediagroup.com
BAKER CITY HERALD • SATuRDAY, JunE 11, 2022 A3
Virgil Ridenour
September 18, 1935 - May 26, 2022
Virgil Marion Ridenour, 86, died
at his home in Baker City, Oregon,
on May 26, 2022. A celebration of
his life will be held at a future date.
Virgil (Mert to his family and
friends in Texas and Oklahoma)
was born in Spanish Fort, Texas,
on Sept. 18, 1935. His father was
Jacob Allen Ridenour from Grady,
Oklahoma, and his mother was
Ona Rich of Spanish Fort, Texas. He had three older
brothers and two younger sisters. The family lived in
Roland, Texas, and moved to Henrietta, Texas, where
he started school. They moved to Stanfield, Texas, then
to Humphreys, Oklahoma, where he graduated high
school in 1954.
Virgil joined the U.S. Navy in July 1954. He
was trained as an aviation technician, served with
Fighter Squadron 84, went to Cuba twice and to the
Mediterranean and England. He received an honorable
discharge in July 1962. Virgil went to Cameron Jr.
College in Lawton and Oklahoma State University
in Stillwater and earned a bachelor of science degree
in Electronic Engineering. In Sept. 1963, he started
working for the Bonneville Power Administration in
Portland, Oregon, then North Bend, Oregon, assigned
to Power System Control.
While he was in Portland he met Judy Hawley
and they married July 12, 1964. They have a son,
Hayden Scott, and a daughter, Bethany Corinne. The
family lived in North Bend/Coos Bay, then Eugene,
Dexter and Pleasant Hill. They traveled to Texas and
Oklahoma frequently to visit family and friends. When
Virgil retired from BPA in 1990, after 32 years, he and
Judy moved to Terrebonne in Central Oregon and raised
Angus and longhorn cattle for several years. They
retired again and moved to Baker City in 2019.
Virgil enjoyed fishing, gardening, working with his
property, playing cribbage, and his pet cats and dogs.
Special highlights of his life included when he and Judy
traveled to Hawaii for their 25th wedding anniversary,
when he went to Australia in 1996 to visit Hayden, and
when Virgil and Judy enjoyed a cruise to Alaska with
Hayden and his wife Bala, granddaughter Maya, and
Bala’s parents in 2004.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends,
near and far.
Virgil is survived by his wife, Judy, his son, Hayden,
his daughter, Bethany, and granddaughter, Maya
and grandson, Rohan, one brother, Jacob Theophilas
Ridenour, and one sister, Nona Nadine Smith.
For those who would like to make a memorial
donation in honor of Virgil the family suggests either the
Baker City Christian Church, Heart n’ Home Hospice
or the Baker County Ambulance Dept. through Tami’s
Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway,
Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.