LOCAL
Bennett
Continued from A1
That’s Pondosa, just across
the Union County border
along Highway 203, where he
has lived since 1983.
Bennett’s hope, on this one-
hour flight, was to capture a
photo of Pondosa to compare
to a 1950s aerial image on
display in the Pondosa Store,
where he lives.
The difference is stark.
Once home to 500 resi-
dents, many of whom worked
at the sawmill, Pondosa
changed dramatically in 1959
when the mill closed and
houses were moved.
But the store, built in 1926,
when Bennett was three, re-
mains. It has 15 bedrooms,
which were rented to single
men during the mill’s opera-
tion.
Bennett’s wife Jean, who
passed away in 2015, inherited
the townsite from her brother,
Lester Gaddy, who died in
1982.
Open for business
Although the town has since
disappeared, the Pondosa
Store is still open for travelers
who need a refreshing drink
or snack on the drive between
Baker City and Union, a route
that also accesses several pop-
ular Forest Service roads.
The store is open daily from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
And it’s busy, Brock said.
“We’re really busy — we got
a liquor license so everyone’s
stopping,” she said.
Campsites cater to weary
travelers, and Brock said they
are planning to add a yurt, as
well.
She’s listed the camping on
hipcamp.com. Recently, people
from the Netherlands stayed in
Pondosa for a week.
“They were just camping
Oregon,” Brock said.
A delayed birthday
Bennett had to wait an
extra week to celebrate his
birthday thanks to the pesky
virus that has disrupted life
for more than two years.
His flight was Saturday,
July 2. On Sunday, July 3,
visitors were invited to stop
at the Pondosa Store to wish
him a happy birthday and
have a piece of cake deco-
rated to honor his service in
the U.S. Marine Corps during
World War II.
Brock posted news of her
dad’s birthday on the store’s
Facebook page, and she
hoped he would receive 99
birthday cards.
He’d opened about 25 by
July 2, and those brightened
his days, Brock said.
“He got cards from all
over,” she said. “He thought
that was neat, getting cards
from strangers.”
Anyone who would like to
mail a card can send it to Bob
Bennett, 50281 Highway 203,
Baker City, OR 97814.
For updates on the store,
check the Facebook page:
Pondosa, Oregon: the geo-
graphic center of the United
States.
Expansion
Continued from A1
“It’s been a long time coming,” Hayes said. “We are excited.
We’ll be more excited when we’re not under construction.”
The project had been in the planning stages even before Hayes
started as county manager almost four years ago.
Fundraising has been happening during that time, he said.
The impetus for the expansion is overcrowding in the Senior
Center’s main reception area, which also accommodates staff who
don’t have their own offices.
The building now has three offices. Hayes said the expansion
will remodel one office into a hallway and storage area leading to
the newly constructed offices.
Community Connection offers a variety of services to seniors,
and conversations are confidential, Hayes said.
When workers do an assessment now, in the reception area, it
can difficult with other people talking and machines making noises
around them.
“It’s going to be nice to be able to get some people some private
offices to increase confidentiality as well as privacy,” Hayes said.
Construction began in mid May, beginning with earth work,
moving irrigation lines, and more before workers started building.
Hayes said the project is projected to be completed by the end of
October.
“Sid Johnson Construction Company is the contractor and
they’re doing a really good job,” he said. “They do good work and
have a good reputation.”
The construction is not affecting lunches at the Senior Center,
Meals on Wheels, bingo nights and other services and programs.
“It’s all in the office, which is behind closed doors,” Hayes said.
In addition to contributions of $125,000 from Community Con-
nection of Northeast Oregon, and $25,000 from the local group,
Baker County Senior Citizens Inc., the project has received grants
from the Leo Adler Community Fund ($25,000, and a pend-
ing grant for almost $30,000), D.E. and Jane Clark Foundation
($10,000), Oregon Community Foundation ($10,000), and the Au-
tzen Foundation ($5,000).
Ambulance
Continued from A1
But on Thursday, July 7,
Baker City Manager Jonathan
Cannon updated a memoran-
dum he had originally written
on July 1.
The revised memo states, in
part, that “Metro West indi-
cated in a phone conversation
on 7/6/2022 they will honor
FireMed memberships un-
til September 30, 2022. This
means if you ride in a Metro
West or Baker City ambulance
your FireMed membership
will be valid. If you receive
a bill from Metro West and
are a FireMed member then
you should call Metro West at
(541) 266-4300.”
That news came as a relief
to John Heriza of Baker City.
Heriza, who’s 90, said he
and his wife, Liz, have been
FireMed members for many
years.
They never needed to use
their membership until this
spring, when Liz, who’s also
90, was transported by ambu-
lance three times, John said.
Although the city fire de-
partment responded to two
of those calls (the third re-
sponse was by AMR, another
private company that the
county hired temporarily in
late May, prior to choosing
Metro West), John Heriza said
he has been concerned that if
he or his wife needs an ambu-
lance again, and Metro West
responds, they might not be
covered through FireMed.
He said he’s pleased to learn
that Metro West will honor
FireMed memberships.
Heriza said he’s still wait-
ing, though, to get the details
about Metro West’s program,
called LifeGuard, that’s similar
to FireMed.
According to Cannon’s up-
dated memo, “Metro West
will offer LifeGuard Member-
ships which are very similar to
FireMed Memberships. More
details will be released as they
become available on when and
how FireMed customers can
transition to LifeGuard.”
Metro West will replace the
city fire department as the am-
bulance provider for the Baker
Ambulance Service Area,
which includes Baker City and
about two-thirds of the rest of
Baker County.
Metro West will also be
responsible for the Hunting-
ton Ambulance Service Area
in the southeast part of the
county.
The situation stems from
the Baker City Council’s de-
cision on March 22, 2022, to
notify the county that the city
intended to cease ambulance
service Sept. 30, 2022.
Cannon told councilors that
he doesn’t believe the city can
afford to continue to operat-
ing ambulances because the
city collects only about half
of what it bills for ambulance
runs.
Under Oregon law, Baker
County, not the city, is respon-
sible for ensuring ambulance
service.
In response to the city
council’s notice, county com-
missioners sent out a request
for proposals for ambulance
providers. The county re-
ceived two proposals, and on
June 8 commissioners chose
Metro West, in part because
the company, unlike the other
applicant, is not asking the
county for any financial sub-
sidy during the five-year con-
tract.
The city council initially
voted to have Cannon prepare
a proposal as well, but coun-
cilors later reversed that de-
cision.
BAKER CITY HERALD • SATuRDAY, JuLY 9, 2022 A3
Pilgrimage
Continued from A1
just start knocking on doors.
“Most people that know
what you’re doing are happy
to share their yard for a
night,” Martin said. “If you
look, generally there’s a place
where you can stay.”
Martin said one of the
“high points” of his pilgrim-
age is meeting new people,
“trading stories with them,
just talking to them, hope-
fully inspiring a little more
interest in the trail.”
A trail (re)blazer
Martin’s journey started
on April 16 in Indepen-
dence, Missouri, a common
jumping-off point for west-
bound immigrants. Since
then he’s passed through
Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming
and Idaho.
It’s a long walk, but Mar-
tin said that’s not the reason
Clayton Franke/Baker City Herald
so few people complete —
Don “Dundee” Martin of Prineville with his wagon along Pocahontas Road near Baker City on July 6, 2022.
or even attempt — the hike
today.
interstates and others high-
Other long-distance hikes
ways, where walking is “not
in the West are longer, like
an idyllic experience.”
the Pacific Crest Trail or the
And many other parts of
Continental Divide Trail, but
the trail run through private
are frequented by hundreds
land.
of hikers a year.
“It’s not well preserved ev-
Those routes are designated
erywhere.” Martin said. “The
for hikers and horseback rid-
few parts that are on public
ers, and unlike the Oregon
land, because it’s never trav-
Trail, they haven’t been sup-
eled, are all back to sage-
planted by highways.
brush. It’s not something
Over 3,000 people per
that you’re going to be able
year attempt an Appalachian
to readily travel on foot.”
Trail “thru hike” — com-
Clayton Franke/Baker City Herald
Picking a specific histori-
pleting the entire trail in
Don “Dundee” Martin uses a GPS unit to track his progress along the cal route is difficult, Martin
one year — which Martin
said, because the trail was
Oregon Trail and allow people to follow him via social media.
completed previously and is
a “living, breathing thing.”
And he means that liter-
about the same length as the instead of riding in them.
Pioneers changed the route
Martin said early settlers
ally — tens of thousands of
Oregon Trail.
frequently based on weather
people died and are buried
Last year, 451 people sum- picked the easiest route on
conditions or environmental
purpose — that’s how “tod-
along the trail, many in un-
mited Mount Everest in the
factors for that year.
dlers, elderly and women
marked graves.
Himalayas. But Martin said
That’s why Martin plans to
and babes in arms” were able
he knows of fewer than 10
write an Oregon Trail guide
to complete the trail, he said. Preserving the past
who have walked the entire
to help and inspire future
The reason the hike isn’t
Oregon Trail since modern
hikers after he finishes the
Martin not only wants to
more popular today, Martin
roads were constructed.
trail himself.
preserve the historical and
said, is because people have
And its lack of foot traf-
With Martin’s GPS map-
cultural aspects of the trail,
forgotten about it.
fic isn’t because of difficult
ping a current route to the
but the physical trail itself.
“After the trail went out of
terrain, either, Martin said.
coast, he’s a pioneer of the
Today, the trail isn’t so
use, people almost immedi-
He said some sections with
modern Oregon Trail —
much a footpath as an
ately forgot about it,” Mar-
hills are more difficult than
re-blazing a trail with hopes
“imaginary line,” Martin
others, but for the most part, tin said. “It did not occur to
others will follow.
said, much of it covered in
people that this would be a
he’s just walking.“Physically
really significant event that
it’s very non demanding,”
ought to be preserved in
Martin said.
Marlene Eleanor (Sprague) Jacobson
According to Martin and
some way.”
February 19, 1934 - June 27, 2022
against popular belief, most
“Arguably, the trail should
people on the Oregon Trail
be 2,000 miles of hallowed
We lost our beloved mother,
walked beside their wagons
ground,” he said.
Marlene Eleanor Jacobson.
Mitchel Trent Thomas
April 17, 2022
Mitch Thomas, 47, of Baker
City, passed away Friday, April 17,
2022, at his home in Baker City. A
celebration to honor his life will be
held on Friday, July 22, at 6 p.m.
at the Junior Show/Pioneer Posse
Grounds in Milton-Freewater,
Oregon.
Mitch was born in Walla
Walla, WA, to Monte and Dawn
(Kayser) Thomas. He was raised
on the family ranch in Milton-Freewater, with his older
brother, Terrill. He attended school in Milton-Freewater
and graduated from McLaughlin Union High School
in 1994. Following high school, he attended Walla
Walla Community College and then Washington State
University. After earning his undergraduate degree in
Animal Science, he went to work for the Forest Service
in Prairie City, Oregon and Fallon, Nevada. In 2002, he
earned his master’s degree in Rangeland Science from
the University of Idaho.
Due to the efforts of his brother, Terrill, and sister-
in-law, Heidi, he met his future wife, Katy Coddington,
at the Pendleton Round-Up in 1999. Katy and Mitch hit
it off right away and were married in March of 2003.
Their daughter, Neah Lane Thomas, arrived in
September of 2004. During this time Mitch worked for
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a Range
Management Specialist, in Vale, Oregon. Between 2008
and 2009 the family moved to the Baker Field Office, in
Baker City, which allowed them to be closer to family
and the ranch. Their son, Payson Reed Thomas, was
born in February 2012.
Mitch loved his family more than anything and he
loved to help his dad and brother on the ranch. When he
wasn’t working for the BLM, he was working for them.
He also loved to travel and explore the world.
His curiosity for seeing new places and meeting new
people was insatiable. Neah and Payson were named
for places he enjoyed along the way.
Mitch was involved in many organizations over
the years including 4-H, FFA, Cayuse Junior Rodeo
Association, NHSRA, PRCA, Boy Scouts of America,
the Cattlemen’s Association and the Society for
Rangeland Management. He gave his time to these
organizations when he could. In his younger days he
enjoyed competing in rodeos as a calf roper, team
roper and steer wrestler. As the family grew his focus
turned more toward ranching, seasonal firefighting and
building a beautiful life for his family.
We will greatly miss his silly sense of humor, quiet
persistence, curiosity for life, his down to earth and
genuine nature and how he loved the people around
him. Survivors include his wife, Katy; daughter, Neah;
son, Payson of Baker City, his mother, Dawn Thomas,
sister-in-law, Heidi Jones-Thomas and niece, Macy
Thomas of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and numerous
relatives and friends in the Northwest.
He is preceded in death by his father, Monte Thomas
and brother, Terrill Thomas, of Milton-Freewater.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to either the Milton-Freewater Junior Show, P.O.
Box 379, Milton-Freewater, Oregon, 97862 or to the
Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, OHSU
Foundation, P.O. Box 29017, Portland, OR 97296.
A longtime resident of Baker
City, Oregon, she passed away
at age 88 on June 27, 2022, at
Settler’s Park. A celebration of
life will be held at a later date,
time and place TBA.
Marlene was born on Feb.
18, 1934, in Guttenberg, Iowa,
to Eldred and Dorthea Sprague.
Marlene was the fourth of 12
children. While in her teens, the family relocated to
Salem, Oregon.
It was in Salem that she met her great love, Cliff.
Having Cokes with her sisters at a diner, she was taken
by a man in a uniform sitting at the counter. She insisted
her sisters return with her to the diner, “hoping to see
that handsome soldier again.” Four months later, in
April 1951, she and Clifford married.
In 1958 Marlene and Clifford settled in Baker City.
Together they had three children: Debbie, Lorrie and
Michael.
First and foremost she was devoted to her family
and was constantly caring for us. A self-taught cook,
she whipped up delicious meals in a matter of minutes
in a tiny kitchen. On holidays, she did so dressed in
pantyhose, high heels, a silk dress and jewelry, for fear
of running late and not “looking nice at the table.” And
the pies! Perfect crust with fresh berries from sister
Arlene’s farm.
Marlene was in constant touch with her brothers and
sisters. Driving across the state at a moment’s notice in
an hour of need and for happy gatherings. We picture
them with heads together deep in conversation or doing
the jitterbug together. It seems she was most relaxed
when with them. The same goes for Dad’s family: She
adored them and never missed a family reunion.
Marlene was a natural gardener. We cringed to find
her in the yard standing on a kitchen chair weaving
clematis and ivy through a trellis. She called them “viny
things.” The rose was her favorite flower. Every fall she
dug and wrapped them to be stored and replanted the
following spring. A farm girl at heart, she never shied
away from physical labor and maintained a trim figure
on her 5-foot-2 frame.
She loved antiques and became an aficionado,
collecting chandeliers, silver, jewelry and china in blue,
her favorite color. Her keen eye led to the opening of
her own shop, The Treasure Trove, in 1984 in Baker
City. It was a lifelong dream come true.
Marlene remained active and embraced the joy of
her grandchildren, Kareen and Kamren Harris, and
great-grandchildren, Caitlyn, Alayna, Loren, Julian and
Zan. Caitlyn could not pronounce “Great Grammy” and
called her “Grapes.” She loved her new nickname.
Mom taught us to stick up for ourselves, be kind to
the underdog and know every birthstone in the calendar
year.
Clifford preceded her in death in 1986, as did her
son, Michael, in 1988 and son-in-law, Ken Harris, in
2014.
She is survived by her daughters, Debbie Jacobson
Harris and Lorrie Jacobson Kramedjian; son-in-law,
Simon; and all the grandchildren.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations
be made in Marlene’s name to the Special Olympics
through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and
Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR
97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.
tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.