Letters to the Editor for March 8, 2010

Water wonder? Look at Elkhorns

As we look at the statistic and wonder about snowpack and water availability for the coming summer, I want to share some family lore about that topic.

My grandmother was Ethel Baldock Riley, born in 1889, granddaughter of Wm. Henry Baldock and his wife, Mary, who arrived in this valley over the Oregon Trail in 1862. She lived in Baker the whole of her life, and was 90 years old when she died in 1979.

This was her yearly mantra regarding snow and water, that has been passed down through subsequent generations, never to fail: “If there is still one patch of snow on the Elkhorns on the Fourth of July, we won’t run out of water!”

To this day, I think of that every year as summer rolls around, and always watch to see if there is still, at least, one patch of snow on the Elkhorns on the Fourth of July.

Sometimes the old folk knowledge and experience is quite worth knowing. Maybe you’ll watch with me this year?

Linda Wall

Baker City

Bogart should run

Can someone please help convince Steve Bogart to run for Baker County Commissioner. I’d even pay his $50 sign-up fee, we just need to do it by the deadline tomorrow.

Brian Addison

Baker City