Local
A2
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
November 7, 1972
The Athletic Committee of the Baker County Chamber
of Commerce unanimously passed a resolution last night
urging the Chamber’s Board of Directors to sponsor the
1974 Oregon State Babe Ruth tournament. The Babe Ruth
Association gave Baker the clear swat at the classic, which
would be Baker’s fi rst if the board votes in favor of the
tournament.
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
November 7, 1997
Baker City’s population is about a dozen families short of
reaching 10,000 for the fi rst time in almost 40 years.
The city’s population as of July 1 was 9,960, according
to a preliminary estimate from the Center for Population
Research and Census at Portland State University.
If the preliminary fi gure stands, Baker City’s population
would be higher than at any time since the 1960 U.S. Cen-
sus, when 9,986 people lived in the city.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
November 7, 2012
Nanette Lehman, a second-grade teacher at Haines
Elementary School, has been named Oregon’s 2012-13
Teacher of the Year.
Lehman was honored at an all-school assembly Tuesday
at Haines. The award was presented by Rob Saxton, the
Oregon Department of Education’s deputy superintendent
of public instruction.
After receiving honors and recognition of their own,
Haines students were all smiles when Lehman was called to
the front of the gymnasium to receive her award.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
November 9, 2021
The black-and-white fl ag that honors America’s military
members who are prisoners of war or are missing in action
has a direct connection to Baker City.
The connection is Michael George Hoff.
Hoff, who was born in Baker City on Sept. 11, 1936, was
fl ying an A-7 Corsair over Laos, a country bordering Vietnam,
on Jan. 7, 1970.
Hoff’s jet was shot down.
Hoff, a 33-year-old commander in the U.S. Navy, was
listed as missing in action.
He was never found, alive or dead.
His wife, Mary Helen Hoff, waited in her Florida home
with the couple’s fi ve children, the oldest just seven, the
youngest not yet two.
The second-youngest of Michael Hoff’s children, and the
only daughter, is Suzanne Hoff Ogawa. She was just two
when her father’s plane was shot down.
“I have no memories of my father at all,” Ogawa, who lives
in Bowling Green, Kentucky, said in a phone interview on
Nov. 4.
But as she grew up, Ogawa learned not only about her
dad, but about her mom’s diligent efforts to ensure that
the families of other missing aviators, soldiers, sailors and
Marines had a way to publicly display their plight.
“My mother was really an amazing lady,” Ogawa said.
(Mary Hoff died Nov. 10, 2015.)
Mary Hoff had seen the Blue Star and Gold Star banners
hanging in windows.
Blue Star banners are for families who have a member
serving in the armed forces.
Families with a Gold Star banner have had a member
killed while serving.
But it was the families who, like the Hoffs, were mired in
the purgatory where there only questions, but no answers,
that Mary Hoff was thinking about.
OREGON LOTTERY
Wildfires burned far fewer acres,
but smoke was still a big problem
BY MICHAEL KOHN
The Bulletin
The amount of forestland
burned by wildfire in the Pa-
cific Northwest fell by two-
thirds this year compared to
a year ago, due in part to wet
spring weather.
More than 549,000 acres
burned in Oregon and Wash-
ington this year compared to
the more than 1.5 million acres
burned a year ago, according
to data from the Deschutes Na-
tional Forest.
The steep decline comes af-
ter years of increasing wildfire
activity in the west that has de-
stroyed towns and burned mil-
lions of acres of forest in Cali-
fornia, Oregon, New Mexico,
Colorado, and other states.
Two years ago, wildfires in
Oregon burned 1 million acres,
destroyed more than 3,000
buildings, and killed 10 people.
Last year the massive Bootleg
Fire burned 413,765 acres, the
third-largest fire in state history.
This year’s largest fire in Or-
egon was the Double Creek
Fire in Wallowa County. Trig-
gered by a lightning strike, the
fire eventually burned through
161,591 acres. The state’s sec-
ond-largest fire was the 127,311-
acre Cedar Creek fire, which
burned on the Willamette and
Deschutes National forests.
While the Cedar Creek fire
did not destroy any struc-
tures it created a toxic pall of
smoke that hung over the city of
Oakridge for most of September
and October.
In Oakridge, wildfire smoke
was the main reason why the
city experienced 37 days of air
pollution that was unhealthy
for sensitive groups or worse.
That was by far the worst in the
state, followed by Eugene, which
experienced eight days of air
that was unhealthy for sensitive
groups or worse.
Two firefighters died in Ore-
gon this year from falling trees:
one in the Big Swamp Fire in
Brentwood Reid/Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team, Contributed Photo
Firefighters on the Double Creek fire near the Imnaha River on Sept. 7, 2022.
Northeastern Oregon fire season
The Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center in La Grande,
which covers most of the public and private land in Northeastern
Oregon, recorded 213 wildfires this year — 160 started by lightning,
and 53 human-caused.
A total of 212,766 acres were burned — 210,037 acres by lightning
fires.
More than half of the blazes — 118 total, 103 started by lightning
— were on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Another 55 fires were on state land or private land protected by
the Oregon Department of Forestry. Forty of those fires were started
by lightning.
Douglas County and the other
in the Rum Creek Fire in Jose-
phine County.
The quieter fire season across
the Western U.S. allowed Ore-
gon to keep most fire crews and
resources in the region, which
helped teams put out most fires
Climate Vigil hosting
free dinner Nov. 10
Climate Vigil is hosting a free dinner
with live music Thursday, Nov. 10 from
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Crossroads Carn-
egie Art Center, 2020 Auburn Ave. “We are
serving vegan chili, corn bread, homemade
ice cream, live local music, and hope for the
future,” said the organizer, Peter Fargo.
WIN FOR LIFE, NOV. 5
Turkey Trot set for Thanksgiving
3 — 25 — 29 — 39 — 43 — 44
Next jackpot: $1.3 million
42 — 53 — 57 — 74
POWERBALL, NOV. 5
• 1 p.m.: 3 — 7 — 6 — 8
• 4 p.m.: 8 — 7 — 5 — 5
• 7 p.m.: 4 — 2 — 4 — 2
• 10 p.m.: 3 — 8 — 2 — 6
The 15th annual Turkey Trot run/walk
happens Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24, in
front of Kicks Sports on Main Street.
Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and the
event begins at 9 a.m. Participants are asked
to bring a non-perishable food item to do-
nate.
Proceeds from the event support the
Northeast Oregon Compassion Center.
Entry is $15 per person. Register online
at www.neoregoncompassioncenter.org or
find a link on the Facebook page, www.face-
28 — 45 — 53 — 56 — 69 PB 20
Next jackpot: $1.9 billion
MEGA MILLIONS, NOV. 4
2 — 20 — 47 — 55 — 59
Mega 22
Next jackpot: $154 million
LUCKY LINES, NOV. 6
4-6-12-14-18-23-25-31
Next jackpot: $23,000
SENIOR MENUS
WEDNESDAY (Nov. 9): Tuna salad, croissant chips, pickle
wedges, green salad, pudding
THURSDAY (Nov. 10): Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with
gravy, carrots, rolls, green salad, apple slices
FRIDAY (Nov. 11): Barbecued ribs, baked beans, rolls, corn,
coleslaw, peach crisp
MONDAY (Nov. 14): Salisbury steak, au gratin potatoes,
green beans, rolls, broccoli-bacon salad, cheesecake
TUESDAY (Nov. 15): Stuffed peppers, scalloped potatoes,
peas, cottage cheese with fruit
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.
CONTACT THE HERALD
2005 Washington Ave., Suite 101
Open Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ISSN-8756-6419
Serving Baker County since 1870
Publisher
Karrine Brogoitti
kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.com
Jayson Jacoby, editor
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Advertising email
ads@bakercityherald.com
Classifi ed email
classifi ed@bakercityherald.com
Circulation email
circ@bakercityherald.com
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
book.com/NortheastOregonCompassion-
Center. Participants can also register the day
of the race from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Awards will be given for the top overall
finishers and teams.
Baker County Garden Club
meets Wednesday
The Baker County Garden Club will
meet Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Community
Connection, 2810 Cedar St. at 10:30 a.m.
Helen Loennig will be the guest speaker and
discuss Medicare Part D.
Please put on your thinking caps for sug-
gestions about topics for 2023 meetings.
Lunch will be available.
Livestock Producers Association
awards 3 scholarships
Thanks to memorial contributions, the
Baker County Livestock Producers Foun-
dation has awarded scholarships to three
Baker County second-year college students
who are pursuing an agriculture-related de-
gree.
• Ty Morrison, who has completed his
associate’s degree in agriculture business,
plans to complete his bachelor’s degree at
Eastern Oregon University.
• Kylie Siddoway is attending Texas A&M
University and majoring in agriculture lead-
ership development. Her goal is to pursue a
career in marketing and to work with pro-
ducers and consumers.
• Kaylee Dalke has dual enrollment with
Eastern Oregon University and Oregon
State University, majoring in agriculture sci-
ences. Her goal is to teach and advocate for
the agriculture community.
The Livestock Producers Foundation was
created by and is affiliated with the Baker
County Livestock Association and Baker
County Cattlewomen. Donations from me-
morials and other private donations make it
possible to offer scholarships each
year without using any of the foundation’s
principal.
News of Record
DEATHS
Paul Schon: 69, of Baker City, died Nov.
4, 2022, at his home. Arrangements are
under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley
Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Online condolences can be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Michael Randolph, 51, Durkee,
12:51 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 on Express
Road; jailed.
CONTEMPT OF COURT (Baker County
Justice Court warrant): Dyllan Jacoby
Simonis, 31, Baker City, 9:18 a.m. Friday,
Nov. 4 in the 1600 block of Third Street;
cited and released.
NEWS, SPORTS & OBITUARIES @
bakercityherald.com
FUNERAL PENDING
John Vernon Hays: A visitation will
take place Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 4 p.m.
to 6 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer
Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Recitation of
the Rosary will follow, at 6 p.m. at Gray’s
West & Co. Mass of Christian burial
will take place Wednesday, Nov. 9 at
11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral,
with Father Rob Irwin officiating. Vault
interment will follow the mass at Mount
Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions
can be made to the Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association through Gray’s West & Co.
Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker
City, OR 97814.
POLICE LOG
Telephone: 541-523-3673
before they had a chance to
reach out-of-control levels. At
the start of the fire season, it was
announced that Central Oregon
would receive $41.3 million in
federal funding over the next
three years to increase forest
management activities.
Larry O’Neill, an associate
professor at the Oregon State
University College of Earth,
Ocean, and Atmospheric Sci-
ences, said the lower number
of fires and burned acres can
be attributed to Oregon’s wet-
ter-than-normal spring, when
the state received late-season
rain and snow.
In May alone, the Upper De-
schutes and Crooked River ba-
sins had precipitation that was
202% of normal.
“The wet spring I think really
helped push back fire season,
especially in the Cascades,” said
O’Neill.
“While it didn’t help as much
with the drought in a lot of
places it really pushed back fire
season by a few weeks in the
higher elevations.”
Local Briefing
MEGABUCKS, NOV. 5
PICK 4, NOV. 6
Baker City Herald • bakercityherald.com
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
FOURTH-DEGREE ASSAULT: Oisin
Thomas Moore, 23, Baker City, 2:51 a.m.
Sunday, Nov. 6 in the 900 block of
Elkhorn Drive; jailed.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
INTOXICANTS: Oisin Thomas Moore,
23, Baker City, 1:41 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6
in the 1200 block of Campbell Street;
cited and released.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office
Arrests, citations
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