LOCAL
BAKER CITY HERALD • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022 A3
Rate
Continued from A1
“We recognize that increas-
ing rates at a time when Orego-
nians are already dealing with
high inflation presents chal-
lenges for many customers,”
said Megan Decker, PUC chair.
“Unfortunately, global events
drive the price for utilities to
purchase natural gas. There’s
simply no way to avoid these
higher prices impacting cus-
tomers. However, there may be
options available to residential
customers to help reduce the
bottom line impact.”
The rate hikes will boost
Cascade Natural Gas revenues
by about $22.2 million, accord-
ing to PUC.
However, that increase is
intended to cover the com-
pany’s higher cost for buying
natural gas, what PUC calls a
“Purchased Gas Adjustment”
or PGA.
“Each local natural gas
company purchases gas for
delivery to its core custom-
ers,” according to a PUC fact
sheet. “The cost of this gas is
a ‘cost of doing business’ for
the gas company and is not in-
tended to allow the company
to make any profit from the
purchases. The costs for gas
purchases are recovered annu-
ally through a Purchased Gas
Adjustment.”
Mark Hanson, a spokesman
for Cascade Natural Gas, said
the company’s request for this
year’s PGA, which has a much
higher increase than usual, re-
flects a variety of factors that
have boosted the price the
company pays for natural gas.
Since the pandemic has
eased, demand for natural gas
has risen faster than the supply,
which is still increasing, Han-
son said.
This summer the demand
for natural gas to produce elec-
tricity reached a record high,
Hanson said, due in part to
the closure of many coal-fired
power plants whose produc-
tion has largely been replaced
by plants powered by natural
gas.
Natural gas demand in Eu-
rope has also risen since that
area is getting less from Russia
since its invasion of Ukraine
this winter.
“This has become a global
impact on the market,” he said.
A PUC report from Oct. 14,
summarizing Cascade’s PGA
request, also cites as contribut-
ing factors a June 8, 2022, fire
at the country’s second-largest
liquefied natural gas export fa-
cility near Galveston, Texas.
Projections for next spring
are more positive, Hanson said,
with supply potentially topping
demand, which should reduce
wholesale prices.
In the meantime, though,
Hanson acknowledged that
a 25% increase in residential
rates, with wintry temperatures
arriving earlier than last year, is
unfortunate.
“It’s not a great time with
inflation hitting everything,”
he said.
PUC estimates that a typi-
cal residential customer using
an average of 62 therms per
month will see their monthly
bill rise by about $15.09, to
$74.90.
The PUC approves adjust-
ments annually to the rates of
the state’s three regulated natu-
ral gas companies — Cascade
Natural Gas, Avista Utilities,
and NW Natural, to reflect
changes in the actual cost of
wholesale priced natural gas,
known as the purchased gas
adjustment (PGA).
This allows companies to
pass through their actual cost
of purchasing gas to customers
without a markup on the price.
The PUC has also approved
rate increases for Oregon’s two
other natural gas companies.
Avista, which has a service
area including La Grande,
is raising residential rates by
18.4% starting Nov. 1. NW
Natural is increasing residen-
tial rates by 14.4%.
To increase energy efficiency
and save on future bills, cus-
tomers are encouraged to view
Energy Trust of Oregon’s low-
cost and no-cost tips to reduce
energy consumption.
For information about bill
payment assistance options,
newly available utility discount
programs, and the Budget Pay
Program that equalizes bill
payments across winter and
summer months, contact Cas-
cade Natural at 888-522-1130
or view information online at
www.cngc.com/customer-ser-
vice/low-income-
assistance-programs/.
Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald
Powder Valley High School sophomores Tucker Martin, left, and Marli Lind work with CTE instructor Seth Bingham during the shop section of Geometry in Construction. The first
hour of the course is geometry with Matt Richardson.
Building
Continued from A1
“It’s fun — other than all the
glued fingers,” he said.
After completing their
model, the students get to
work on actual construction.
The first year, Bingham
said the class constructed two
buildings, but decided to focus
on smaller projects completed
by groups of two or three.
“That seemed to get every-
one really engaged,” Bingham
said.
Last year, the GIS students
built four sheds, each with
a front door, windows and
porch.
Two have already sold —
destined to become chicken
Above: A scale model of
a house. Right: Geome-
try in Construction stu-
dents in the 2021-2022
school year at Powder
Valley High School built
four sheds, and proceeds
from the sales will go
back into the program.
One will be sold during
the FFA’s live auction on
Facebook Nov. 17.
Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald
coops — and one will be fea-
tured in the FFA’s Facebook
live auction on Nov. 17. (For
details, check the page for
North Powder Schools —
Home of the Badgers.)
The fourth shed is still avail-
able for $1,800 — anyone inter-
ested can call the school, 541-
898-2244 and talk to Bingham.
“People can finish them how
they want,” he said.
Proceeds from the sales re-
turn to the CTE program.
“We try to sell it close to
materials cost and then roll it
back into the program,” Bing-
ham said.
This year’s class will build
six duck blinds.
“We have a lot of hunters in
this group,” Bingham said.
Read your news @ bakercityherald.com
Campaign
Continued from A1
$50, April 23
• $500, Wilson Cattle Company
Inc., April 14
Alderson’s largest single con-
tribution is a $5,000 loan from
John S. Wilson on Sept. 12, ac-
cording to campaign finance re-
cords. The Garrick committee’s
biggest contribution is a $3,558
loan from Garrick himself.
Following are summaries
from each campaign dating to
February 2022:
• $500, Randy Guyer, April 14
Shane Alderson for
Baker County
Commissioner
committee
• $1,430, Elkhorn Media Group,
Oct. 12
CONTRIBUTIONS
• $175, Facebook, Sept. 19
• $300, Randall D. Dodson, Oct. 12
• $125, Facebook, Sept. 15
• $200, Randy Guyer, Oct. 12
• $667.60, Buildasign.com, Sept. 14
• $200, Peter Johnson, Oct. 12
• $125, Facebook, Sept. 12
• $250, Stephen F. Haberle, Oct. 3
• $600, Oregon Secretary of State’s
office, Aug. 23
• $500, William A. Tiedemann,
Sept. 30
• $500, Tabor Clarke, Sept. 29
• $300, John Z. Wilson, Sept. 29
• $500, Judy Welding LLC, Sept. 27
• $500, Randall Daugherty,
Sept. 22
• $50, Randy Guyer, Sept. 17
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$100, Sept. 17
(Oregon law does not require
individuals who contribute less
than $100 to be identified by
name on campaign finance re-
ports.)
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$52.99, March 30
• $200, Fred Warner, March 18
• $800, Shane Alderson, Feb. 22
EXPENDITURES
• $4,702.63, Aspen Digital Ser-
vices, Oct. 12
• $78.98, Jackson’s Food Store,
Oct. 3
• $237.64, Facebook, Sept. 28
• $150, Facebook, May 16
• $296, Elkhorn Media Group,
May 6
• $300, KCMB radio, May 6
• $151.82, Hells Canyon Journal,
April 27
• $194.40, Vista Print, Feb. 22
• $545, Buildasign.com, Feb. 17
Dan Garrick for
Commissioner
(Campaign finance records show
no account activity since June)
CONTRIBUTIONS
• $500, Fred Warner, Sept. 16
• $300, Lorrie Harvey, May 2
• $500, Baker Truck Corral, Sept. 16
• $100, Claudia K. Ehmer, May 2
• $200, Aletha G. Bonebrake,
Sept. 16
• $200, Raymond Sohn, May 2
• $150, Clair F. Button, Sept. 16
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$500, Sept. 16
• $40, Shane Alderson, Sept. 14
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$100, Sept. 12
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$50, Sept. 9
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$100, Sept. 8
• $50, Jason Bland, Aug. 31
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$50, Aug. 17
• $200, Doris Alderson, Aug. 9
• $500, Stephen Ridenour, June 6
• 200, Doris Alderson, May 12
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$50, May 9
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
• $250, Deon Strommer, April 29
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$120, April 29
• $250, William Harvey, March 25
• $200, Raymond Sohn, March 25
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$600, March 25
• $500, Raymond Sohn, Feb. 26
• Miscellaneous cash contribu-
tions of less than $100, totaling
$200, Feb. 26
EXPENDITURES
• $672.40, U.S. Postal Service,
May 2
• $771.60, U.S. Postal Service,
May 2
• $855.29, Vista Print, April 4
• $146, Vista Print, March 24
• $3,558.11, Vista Print, March 14
• $300, Baker County Fairgrounds,
March 1
• $141.59, Baker City Herald,
Feb. 26
Gerald Omer Maxwell
September 29, 1932 - October 8th, 2022
Gerald Omer Maxwell passed away on
October 8th, 2022, after living a full life of
90 years.
He was born in Baker City, Oregon, on
September 29th, 1932, to
Omer and Pansy (Long)
Maxwell. He was raised
and spent most of his life on
his family farm, established
by his grandfather in 1880,
located outside of Haines,
Oregon. Gerald grew
up tending to the farm’s
gardens, fields, and many
different animals and
equipment. He transitioned
from driving teams of
horses to tractors. He
showed livestock in 4-H
and journeyed through all
the ranks of the Boy Scouts to earn the
prestigious Eagle Scout Badge. Gerald
attended Muddy Creek School grades 1st
through 9th, and then transitioned to the
North Powder High School, where he
earned his high school diploma in 1950.
After high school, he attended college
at Oregon State University for a year. Then
he decided to join the Coast Guard, where
he served for three years. After his service,
he continued his education at the Oregon
Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls,
Oregon, for another two years. During
this time, he met and married the love of
his life for 66 years, Farrell Adams. They
met on the Stampede Hall dance floor
during the Elgin Stampede rodeo and were
married on February 6th, 1956. After a
short stint of living in Elgin and working
for Farrell’s father, Earnest Adams, they
returned to Haines to work on the home
ranch for Gerald’s father, Omer, and uncle,
Glen Maxwell.
Gerald and Farrell purchased a small
home with about 30 acres from Champ and
Lois Bond, located about a half mile south
of Gerald’s family home where he grew up.
Gerald and his father-in-law, Earn Adams,
remodeled and built a significant addition
to the house during the late 1960s to
accommodate Gerald and Farrell’s family
of three children, Cheri, Alan, and Marci.
Farrell still lives in this same home today.
Gerald and Farrell eventually purchased
the ranch from his father and uncle and
raised their children with the same work
ethics and experiences as Gerald had
growing up. Gerald and Farrell provided
their children with horses and taught them
to ride. They involved their children in 4-H,
FFA, Scouts, Rifle Club, and swimming at
Radium Hot Springs. They regularly took
their children hiking, exploration driving,
fishing, and hunting for birds, deer, and
elk in the mountains. Gerald and Farrell
purchased a boat and took their kids
fishing, water skiing, and boating. They
loved to take their boat, and eventually
their motorhome, to the Snake River and
other reservoirs.
Snow skiing was a large part of
Gerald’s life. He started at Little Alps Ski
area helping Champ Bond with operations,
then helped with the development of the
Anthony Lakes Ski area in
1962. He became a proud
member of the Anthony
Lakes Ski Patrol, where
he made many lifelong
friends. Some referred
to him as Gerry. All the
family became good skiers
because they “had to go
skiing” every weekend.
Gerald ended his Ski
Patrol service as Regional
Director of the National
Ski Patrol. Gerald served
on several committees
throughout his life, such
as the Haines Cemetery Board, the Soil
& Water Conservation District, and the
Powder Valley Water Control District.
He was greatly involved in developing
the NPRC-South gravitational pipeline
system. For many years, Gerald contributed
his time and cooking talent to the Haines
4th of July celebration and was honored
to lead the parade as Grand Marshal one
year. Gerald loved animals, especially his
pets, and everything outdoors. He is now
with the many family members and friends
who passed on before him. And he will be
missed greatly by those he has left behind.
Gerald was preceded in death by his
parents, Omer and Pansy (Long); his
father-in-law and mother-in-law, Earnest
and Francis (Gilkeson) Adams; his son-in-
law, Frank (Cheri) Sanborn, his brothers-
in-law, Harold Hoye and John Ticknor;
co-brother-in-law Marvin Erickson and
step-grandchild Lana Sanborn.
Gerald is survived by his wife of 66
years, Farrell (Adams) Maxwell, his
daughter Cheri Sanborn, son and spouse,
Alan and Pam ( Scarbrough) Maxwell;
and daughter and spouse, Marci and
Billy Cunningham. All of his siblings
also survive him, sisters Peggy Hoye and
Belva Ticknor, and his brother Dewey
with his spouse Bonnie Maxwell. Gerald
was also blessed to be survived by two
grandchildren, two step-grandchildren
and two foster grandchildren, seven step
and foster great-grandchildren, and many
nieces and nephews with wonderful
families.
Please join us in celebrating Gerald’s
life at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 1st,
2022, at the Haines Cemetery. A reception
will follow at the Haines Methodist
Church reception hall. In lieu of flowers,
please consider donating to the Haines
Methodist Church or Anthony Lakes Ski
Patrol through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer
Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City,
OR 97814.
To leave an online condolence for
the family of Gerald, please visit www.
grayswestco.com.