By Chris Collins

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

County Clerk Tami Green has set the date for an election asking Baker School District patrons whether they want to recall two of their board members.

The election will be Tuesday, Dec. 11. Ballots must be returned to the County Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m. on that date.

They will be mailed out to voters on Nov. 23, Green said.

Proponents of the recall election, led by chief petitioner Kerry McQuisten, are asking voters to recall Lynne Burroughs, board chair, and director Mark Henderson.

The recall committee contends that the two overstepped their authority when they voted to censure fellow board member Kyle Knight.

Nelson Gene Foster

The Baker County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in finding a Hereford man who's been missing since Saturday, Nov. 10.

Nelson Gene Foster, 65, was last seen about 10:30 a.m. that day in Hereford, when he left his home intending to hitchhike to Baker City.

Nelson, who has family in Idaho as well as Hereford, did not have a large amount of money with him, according to a press release from Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick.

Foster is 6 feet tall and weighs about 148 pounds. He was last seen wearing brown coveralls and camouflage boots, jacket and hat.

Anyone with information about Nelson should call the Sheriff's Office at 541-523-6415.

S. John Collins / Baker City Herald The Veterans Day gathering at the Baker County Courthouse ends with Taps performed by Baker High School student Phineos Oglesbee.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jim Thomas, adjutant for the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Anthony Lakes post, spoke Sunday morning to about five dozen residents in front of the Veterans Memorial outside of the Baker County Courthouse.

Today, Monday, is the legal Veterans Day holiday this year. Sunday, however, was the true day of observance, which occurs during the 11th month, on the 11th day and at the 11th hour.

Veterans Day is devoted to remembering all of those who served, living or dead. Thomas devoted a significant portion of time talking about those who died while serving their country.

“I have been to this memorial countless time over the years and it shames me to say that I never took the time to really look at the names and connect them to people I know,” Thomas said while standing in front of it. 

He imagined how loved ones might remember veterans of various eras. The list contains the names of 35 World War I veterans, 90 World War II veterans, seven Korea War veterans and 11 Vietnam War veterans.

“Brothers, sons, fathers, family, friends. Real people. Our people,” Thomas said.

Third-graders learn to ‘work together for a common cause’

Photo by S. John Coilins

Brooklyn Primary School third-grade students help prepare care boxes for U.S. troops stationed overseas. Doug Dean, left, manager of Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida and owner of the Heilner building in Baker City, said the event Wednesday "encourages youth to work together for a common cause.'' Event planner Stephanie Kinzel said the combined efforts of both Baker City and Ontario offices send from 120 to 150 boxes each month containing snacks, letters, greeting cards, playing cards, toiletries and more. Three of teacher Jill Johnson's students filling bags are, above from left, John Grove, Dan Driscol and Cierria Brooks. Anyone who wants to donate items or add letters and cards can drop them off at the office at 1901 Main St. 

By Terri Harber

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

More than 100 people came to Baker High School on Tuesday evening to hear about the massive effort to bring an African warlord to justice.

The group Invisible Children has sent representatives across the Pacific Northwest to  talk about Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army — specifically how the LRA brutally victimized the populations of  east and central Africa.

By Terri Harber

Baker City Herald

There will be three new faces on the Baker City Council next year. And one that is relatively familiar to longtime residents. 

According to unofficial results from the Baker County Clerk’s Office, Kim Mosier garnered 2,404 votes. Richard Langrell, a former council member, received 2,125 votes. Mike Downing collected 2,120; and, Barbara Johnson earned 2,079.

 Top vote-getter Moiser is a former deputy district attorney for Baker County. Langrell is a business owner and served on the council during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Downing is in agricultural sales and a former pro-tem justice of the peace. Johnson is a retiree and member of the local group Concerned Citizens of Baker County.

Mosier said in her candidate’s statement that her main priority is “to be collaborative with other council members and make reasonable, thoughtful, and logical decisions. I have no agenda, but I do care greatly about the issues that improve the livability of Baker. This includes community safety, parks, and public services.”

Election results

Total Number Voting............................................................ 8192  

  Precincts Reporting............................................................... 17  

City Council  

  CITY OF BAKER CITY  

  Vote for 4  

  Terry Schumacher....................................................................................... 1495  

  Mike Downing............................................................................................. 2112  

  Kyle Knight................................................................................................. 1497  

  R Mack Augenfeld...................................................................................... 480  

  Milo Pope.................................................................................................... 1647  

  Barbara Johnson......................................................................................... 2076  

  Jack R Turner............................................................................................. 1196  

  Kim Mosier................................................................................................. 2397  

  Richard W Langrell.................................................................................... 2119  

  WRITE-IN................................................................................................... 83  

  WRITE-IN................................................................................................... 25  

  WRITE-IN................................................................................................... 14

Sheriff  

  Vote For 1  

  Mitchell Southwick...................................................................................... 5407  

  Dee Gorrell................................................................................................. 1817  

  WRITE-IN................................................................................................... 31  

  Total............................................................................................................. 7255  

  Justice of the Peace, Baker District  

  Vote For 1  

  Don Williams............................................................................................... 3824  

  Steve M Bogart.......................................................................................... 3244  

  WRITE-IN.................................................................................................. 37  

  Total............................................................................................................. 7105  

  WRITE-IN................................................................................................... 4  

  Total............................................................................................................. 15145

By Chris Collins

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Proponents of an effort to recall two Baker School Board members have gathered enough valid signatures to send the issue to voters.

“I feel like I met my goal,” Kerry McQuisten, chief petitioner, said Tuesday, a day ahead of the Nov. 7 deadline to submit petitions to the Clerk’s Office.

“Now it will be up to the voters,” she added. “I always thought this issue was appropriate for the voters to decide. They’ll have their chance now.”

 Nanette Lehman named Oregon Teacher of the Year

By Chris Collins

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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.

“I’m truly honored,” the 44-year-old Lehman told a full house of students, colleagues and community residents gathered for the assembly.

A Friday morning truck wreck brought a Saturday morning giveaway of fruits, vegetables and flowers to Baker City residents. (Kathy Orr/Baker City Herald)

A Friday morning truck wreck near Farewell Bend was a windfall for Baker City residents.

Superior Towing brought the wreckage to its Baker City garage and opened its doors to community residents Saturday morning.