Firefighters from Baker and Union counties were called to a Friday fire that destroyed the home of Jay “Billy” and Peggy Browne near North Powder.

 The fire, which started in a living room wall, is thought to have been caused by an electrical short, said Colby Thompson, North Powder Rural Fire District assistant chief. No one was injured.

Every weekend, members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church are spreading the goodness of fresh produce around Baker City.

The church buys nine Bountiful Baskets, which volunteers collect each Saturday at the drop-off site at Brooklyn School.

The Bountiful Basket program, based out of Arizona, delivers fresh fruit and vegetables each week to those who ordered a share earlier in the week. Each basket costs $15.

Cascade Natural Gas personnel digging to reach and shut down a gas line leak Wednesday morning are Todd Welter, left, and Ron Coffell, CNG new construction coordinator. (Baker City Herald/S. John Collins)

The loud hissing sound of escaping gas could be heard several blocks away from the vacant building at 2250 10th St., formerly occupied by Bad Boy Buggies.

Gypsy McFelter is looking forward to unveiling the holiday transformation of the Flagstaff Gallery at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center during Sunday’s 20th annual Holiday Open House.

She’s dubbed the exhibit “a gallery of unique trees,” which will be decorated with ornaments crafted from all types of recycled paper and serve as the backdrop for refreshments served from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. during Sunday’s free event.

Fewer people than expected turned out for free Thanksgiving Day dinners offered by community businesses and the Calvary Baptist Church, but those sponsoring the meals plan to repeat the events again next year.

Pastor Dave Deputy said more than 100 people were served full turkey banquets by 15 to 20 volunteers, including several who were not members of the congregation, but who simply wanted to contribute to the effort.

A team of federal officials that President Obama tasked with speeding up the permitting process for seven proposed power lines will conduct a site visit next week for an Idaho Power Company line that’s slated to bisect Baker County.

The president’s “Rapid Response Team for Transmission” will be in Boise on Dec. 6, and in Ontario on Dec. 7.

The team is not scheduled to travel to Baker County.

Mark Bennett, the county’s planning director, said he will attend some of the meetings.

Rice cakes, peanut butter and seeds are quick and easy ingredients to make crispy, gooey bird feeders. Eager to please the birds Friday during Family Fun Day at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center were, from left, Janelle Boothby; her daughter, Hadley, 4; niece, Mason, 3; and daughter, Ella, 7; and husband, Casey. Sara Durflinger, right, helped youngsters get started and wrapped bird treats to be taken home.

By CHRIS COLLINS
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Brothers Mark and Casey Boothby brought their families home to Baker City for the Thanksgiving holiday and were among those to participate in Family Fun Day at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Friday.

Seven-year-old Ella Boothby and her little sister, Hadley, 4, toured the center with their parents Casey and Janelle Boothby, who traveled from Boise. Mark and Amy Boothby made the trip from Homedale, Idaho, with their two girls, Logan, 8, and Mason, 3.

By TERRI HARBER
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Downtown businesses will try to woo local shoppers using a variety of methods during the holiday season.

Black Friday promotions usually grab attention, but business owners know that it takes more than one good day of sales for small businesses to turn a healthy profit.