Local
A2
Saturday, September 3, 2022
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
September 3, 1972
If Saturday’s intersquad scrimmage can be a valid indicator
the Baker Bulldogs are going to pepper enemy secondaries with
pinpoint deadliness this season as the two opposing quarter-
backs connected for an awesome 71 percent to steal the show
in the annual preseaseason peek.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 3, 1997
You can’t call Baker City a one-prefi x town any longer.
US West has assigned a companion to the familiar 523. So
far, though, only one business, BodyWork by Dee, is using the
new 524 prefi x.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 3, 2012
Remember rain?
If you can’t recall with precision the musical timbre of drops
drumming on the roof, you have a fi ne excuse.
Almost two months have passed since measurable rain fell
at the Baker City Airport.
Fifty days, to be specifi c.
Baker City Herald • bakercityherald.com
Fire closed I-84 Thursday afternoon
Vehicle fire spread
into dry grass,
brush
Baker City Herald
The eastbound lanes of In-
terstate 84 were closed for sev-
eral hours on Thursday after-
noon, Sept. 1, after flames from
a burning vehicle along Inter-
state 84 near Ontario spread
into dry grass and brush.
The fire started around
11:45 a.m. near Milepost 365,
about 61 miles southeast of
Baker City and about 10 miles
north of Ontario.
The fire burned about 800
acres, according to the Vale
District of the Bureau of Land
Management. Several aircraft,
including multi-engine tank-
ers and single-engine tankers,
dropped retardant to try to
Al Crouch/Bureau of Land Management
A fire burns along Interstate 84 near Ontario on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
slow the fire’s spread.
On the ground, crews from
the BLM and the Vale Range-
land Fire Protection Associa-
tion worked on the fire.
Vale Bureau of Land Man-
agement is working on sup-
pressing the 365 fire, a range
fire that started today, Septem-
ber 1st around 11:45am.
The eastbound lanes of the
freeway were initially closed
between Baker City and On-
tario. The closure was later ex-
Traffic signal
to be out
temporarily
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 4, 2021
Shawn Quentin Greenwood, the Vale man accused of
fi rst-degree murder in the January 2020 fatal shooting of An-
gela Parrish in Baker City, pleaded no contest to three lesser
counts on Friday, Sept. 3 in Baker County Circuit Court.
Five other counts, including fi rst-degree murder, were
dismissed, and Greenwood’s trial, scheduled to start Sept. 8,
was canceled.
Although Greenwood, 50, pleaded no contest rather than
guilty, the no contest plea has the same effect as a convic-
tion, Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter said.
Judge Matt Shirtcliff of Baker County Circuit Court sen-
tenced Greenwood to a total of 90 months in prison on the
three convictions, which include criminally negligent homi-
cide, a Class B felony, fi rst-degree burglary, a Class A felony,
and attempting to elude law enforcement, a Class C felony.
Greenwood will be credited for time already served. He
has been in the Baker County Jail since his arrest on Jan. 13,
2020.
None of the three charges for which Greenwood was con-
victed carries a mandatory minimum sentence, so he will be
eligible for a reduction in sentence based on good behavior
and other factors.
Baxter issued a press release early Friday afternoon. It
reads:
“The Baker County District Attorney’s Offi ce offered the
plea agreement in this case after it was apparent that many
important pieces of evidence would not be available at trial
due to the lead police investigator listening to privileged
telephone conversations between the defendant and his
attorney. The Parrish family members and the other victim,
Nathaniel Brown, supported this decision given that this was
the best possible sentence under the circumstances and that
Greenwood was willing to accept some responsibility for the
crimes he committed.”
“The state believed that at trial, that the defense would
have focused on the actions of Baker City Police Detective
Shannon Regan thereby clouding the evidence concerning
the crimes committed by Greenwood.
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SENIOR MENUS
MONDAY (Sept. 5): CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
TUESDAY (Sept. 6): Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes with
gravy, corn on the cob, biscuits, ambrosia, pudding
WEDNESDAY (Sept. 7): Chicken cordon bleu with hollandaise,
rice, broccoli, rolls, cottage cheese with fruit, bread pudding
THURSDAY (Sept. 8): Ground beef steak with onions and
gravy, mixed vegetables, rolls, green salad, ice cream
FRIDAY (Sept. 9): Spaghetti, broccoli, garlic bread, green
salad, tapioca
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.
Broadway, Second
intersection will
revert to a 4-way
stop
Baker City Herald
Photos by Yasser Marte/East Oregonian
A combine harvests wheat Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, on a field northeast of Pendleton off Highway 11. Don
Wysocki, extension soil scientist for Oregon State University in Pendleton, says yield should be 20%
above average.
Spring rains lead to
bountiful wheat harvest
BY JOHN TILLMAN
East Oregonian
UMAPINE — What a difference a year
made to dryland wheat growers.
The drought of 2021 caused near crop-fail-
ure conditions in some wheat-growing areas
of the Pacific Northwest. Don Wysocki, ex-
tension soil scientist for Oregon State Univer-
sity in Pendleton, said last year’s crop was 60%
or less than usual in some areas. But 2022 has
a bumper crop.
“This year is well above average in most
areas, and the quality is really good,” he said.
“Last year it was low, with grain shriveled by
drought.”
Harvest should last a week to 10 days later
than usual, Wysocki said, thanks to the re-
cord-breaking spring rains and two August
thunderstorms. The Basin Agricultural Re-
search Center near Adams received eight-
tenths of an inch of rain from the storm on
Aug. 11
Wheat harvest wrapped up by the end of
August in Umatilla County, he added.
“It’s already over in the drier areas,”
Wysocki noted. “Conservatively, yield should
be 20% above average. In some areas, 30% to
40% higher. Some growers say they cut the
best yield they’ve ever had. And the price is
better than last year as well.”
All wheat planted in Oregon in 2021 to-
taled 720,000 acres, down 3% from the previ-
ous year, the National Agricultural Statistics
Service reported in January. Harvested area,
at 705,000 acres, was also down 3% from
2020. Production totaled 31.7 million bushels,
down 32%. Yield was estimated at 45 bushels
per acre, down 19 bushels from 2020.
All wheat production in Idaho totaled 76.5
million bushels, down 32% from the previous
year as well. Yield fell an estimated 29.1 bush-
els from 2020.
In Washington, production totaled 87.2
2005 Washington Ave., Suite 101
Open Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 541-523-3673
ISSN-8756-6419
Serving Baker County since 1870
Publisher
Karrine Brogoitti
kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.com
Jayson Jacoby, editor
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Advertising email
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Classifi ed email
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Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays except Christmas Day by the
Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media
Group, at 2005 Washington Ave., Suite 101
(P.O. Box 807), Baker City, OR 97814.
Subscription rates per month are $10.75
for print only. Digital-only rates are $8.25.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker
City, OR 97814.
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
Copyright © 2022
Stacks of straw bales sit Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, on
several fields near Adams off Highway 11. Straw
buyers stack up the bales, then transport them
to their ultimate users. Stacking partially shields
some bales from rain.
million bushels, down a whopping 48% from
2020. Yield plummeted a shocking 33.3 bush-
els from the previous year.
“We had a good crop,” Umapine rancher
Tim Leber said, “thanks to the rains.”
No. 1 soft white wheat was unchanged at
Portland on Aug. 19, averaging $8.64 per
bushel for current delivery, according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. A year be-
fore, the price was $10.29.
National average wheat reached $11.78 in
May, up from $4.81 in June 2020.
But costs have risen as well. Diesel fuel av-
eraged $5.06 per gallon in Pendleton on Aug.
19, down from $6.29 on July 3, but still up
from $3.57 a year earlier.
U.S. white wheat production was projected
at 289 million bushels, up 3 million from the
July estimate and 44% higher than last year’s
drought-stricken crop, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Wheat Outlook reported on
Aug. 16.
Production for soft white winter, soft white
spring and hard white spring were all improved
from a year ago based on conditions in Wash-
ington, Idaho and Oregon. The comparison
would have been even more stark, but hard
white winter production was lower than in
2020, with most of the loss in drought-affected
regions, mainly in Kansas and Colorado.
Starting Tuesday, Sept.
6, the traffic signal at Sec-
ond and Broadway streets in
Baker City will be temporarily
turned off, the Oregon De-
partment of Transportation
announced.
Traffic will be controlled
at this intersection by a four-
way stop, and the right lanes
on Broadway will be closed
in both directions between
First and Third streets. This
temporary change will allow
the contractor installing curb
ramps to work on all four cor-
ners at the same time.
Sidewalks will be closed
along Broadway at First and
Third streets, with temporary
pedestrian access directed
around the work zone. Busi-
nesses will remain open.
This temporary traffic pat-
tern is expected to end around
the middle of October.
Baker City
mayor plans
to resign late
this year
Baker City Herald
Baker City Mayor Kerry Mc-
Quisten wrote in an email
Thursday, Sept. 1 to her fel-
low councilors, City Man-
ager Jon Cannon and City
Recorder Dallas Brockett that
she will be moving outside
the city limits late this year
and will no longer be able
to serve as a councilor, per a
clause in the city charter.
“As you know, my term
as mayor ends with the end
of this year, and my position
on council continues two
years past that,” McQuisten
wrote.
“This note is just a heads up
many weeks in advance that
around the end of my mayoral
term, I will be moving outside
the city limits. Per the City
Charter, my new address will
mean I no longer qualify to
serve on Council, so I will be
resigning at that time.”
News of Record
DEATHS
CONTACT THE HERALD
tended to La Grande and then
to Pendleton as parking areas
for trucks were filled in Baker
City and La Grande. The west-
bound lanes were closed for
more than an hour between
Baker City and La Grande.
The eastbound lanes were
reopened around 7 p.m., ac-
cording to the Oregon De-
partment of Transportation.
Fire restrictions are in
effect for all Vale District
BLM-protected lands, which
includes Bureau of Recla-
mation lands around the
Owyhee Dam. More informa-
tion on fire restrictions can
be found at www.blm.gov/
orwafire or by calling 541-
473-3144.
The fire was 100% con-
tained by 2 p.m., Sept 2, hav-
ing burned 1258 acres. Both
lanes remain open.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Sackos: 66, of Sumpter
Valley, died Aug. 30, 2022, at his home.
His funeral service will be Friday, Sept.
9 at 2 p.m. at Coles Tribute Center, 1950
Place St. in Baker City. Private family
vault interment will follow at the Haines
Cemetery. Donations in Tony’s memory
can be made to the Powder River Rural
Fire District through Coles Tribute Center,
1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814. To
light a candle in Tony’s memory, go to
www.colestributecenter.com.
Mary ‘Dulcina’ Robertson: 94, of
Baker City and formerly of Halfway,
died Sept. 1, 2022, at her residence in
Meadowbrook Place assisted living.
Services are being arranged and will be
announced once confirmed. To leave an
online condolence for Dulcina’s family,
go to www.colestributecenter.com.
FUNERALS PENDING
Frank William Hermann: A celebration
of his life will take place on Sept. 9 at
1 p.m. at the Harvest Christian Church,
3720 Birch St. in Baker City. To leave an
online condolence for Frank’s family, go
to www.grayswestco.com.
Peggy Anna Pittman: Graveside
service Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at Mount
Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to
join the family for a reception afterward
at the Baker City Christian Church, 675
Highway 7. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions can be made to Smile
Train, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or
Shriner’s Children’s Hospital through
Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500
Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814. To
light a candle in Peggy’s memory, or to
offer online condolences to her family,
go to www.grayswestco.com.
Cass Robertson Vanderwiele:
Celebration of life/anniversary
celebration, Sept. 10 from 4 p.m. to
6 p.m. at the Thomas Angus Ranch
party barn, 42734 Old Trail Road, north
of Baker City. It will be a time to visit
with Cass’ family and offer them love,
support and condolences. Friends and
loved ones are welcome to stop by at
their convenience between those times.
Memorial contributions can be directed
to Colton Accounting, on Church Street
in Baker City. Cass loved making sure the
children of Baker, who were in need, had
a great Christmas. A foundation will be
created to honor his wishes in his name.
To leave an online condolence for Cass’s
family, go to www.grayswestco.com.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASSING:
Dale Rex Taylor, 81, Baker City, 12:47 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 2 in the 1200 block of
Campbell Street; cited and released.
SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL
TRESPASSING, PROBATION VIOLATION:
Timothy Kelly Slaney, 33, Baker City,
1:26 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 in the 1200
block of Campbell Street; jailed.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office
Arrests, citations
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Hood RIver County
Circuit Court warrant): Jason Lee Troyer,
46, Baker City, 9:59 a.m. Wednesday,
Aug. 31 at the sheriff’s office; cited and
released.
THIRD-DEGREE THEFT (Albany Municipal
Court warrant): Zachary Aron Carter,
24, Baker City, 9:57 a.m. Wednesday,
Aug. 31 at the sheriff’s office; cited and
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com