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- i Serving Baker County since 1870 • bakercityherald.com
November 28, 2014
iN m is aonioN: Lo cal • Health@Fitness • Outdoors • TV $ QUICIC HITS
BaKerCity's Pndlic Arts Commission
Good Day Wish To A Subscriber
CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
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A special good day to Herald subscribers Phyllis Lew of Baker City.
BRIEFING
• City buys painting, also looking for ideas for old merry-go-round
Kiwanis Club Santa photos Saturday, Dec. 6
By Joshua Diken
Kids can have their picture taken with Santa Claus Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Baker County Event Center, 2600 East St. The event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club in partnership with the Festival of Trees Family Day, which takes place at the same venue. Cost is $10 per exposure and includes two 5-by-7-inch or three 4-by-6-inch prints.
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Friends of the Baker County Library are looking for volunteers to help sort books on Dec. 4, to work as cashiers during the first weekend of the winter book sale, Dec. 5-7, and to pack books on Dec. 15. Volunteers can sign up at the circulation desk at the library, 2400 Resort St., or by calling 541-523-6419.
"Every day counts ... in the life of a child in foster care." The motto is a driving force behind the Citizen Review Board iCRBl of the Oregon Judicial Department. According to the department's website the CRB, legislated in 1985, is a statewide foster carereview program made up ofcitizen volunteerstohelp statecourtsensure thatcase plans and services meet the needs of children in foster care. Each county in the state has at least one CRB that performs reviews on a case-by-case basistoprovide information tothe courts. Eastern Oregon Counties CRB Field Manager John Nichols has a simple yet powerful motivation. "I do this workbecause I don'twant to see kids fall through the cracks," he said."And that's why the CRB exists." Baker County has four volunteers on its
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Library friends need volunteers
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local CRB. Nichols would like to see at least two more volunteers join it. Nichols explained that CRBs iand their reviews) help to ensure that these children have the best chances of success in spite of the tragic circumstances of their lives. '%e'rehere tosee thatalloftheneedsof children are met," Nichols said. He also said the findings in these reviews help to shape how cases are dealt with in the court systems. They provide crucial evidence at hearings to determine whether a foster childwillbekeptin fostercareorreturned to the home they were taken from due to abuse or neglect. After six months in foster care and every six months thereafter until a child leaves foster careiplaced in a permanent home),casesare reviewed by a county's CRB. Main qualifications to be a CRB volunteer include an interest in the welfare of children and families, the ability to maintain confidentiality and to cope with sensitive and emotional cases and be available to attend reviews regularly. Oregon's Chief Justice appoints local CRB volunteers. These areselected from a listprovided by the local presiding circuit court judge who then approves the candidates. CRB volunteers come from many walks of life, according to certified public accountant and BakerCounty CRB volunteerKent Bailey. They may be mothers or fathers, former foster parents and even those who were adopted as children. Bailey is a father to three children — one of them adopted. "It's not an easy job, but it's a critical job," he said. Bailey said the job brings him fulfillment. 'You see all the problems — it's just a raw situation — and your gut read is that this isn't going to work," he said, "and you may see parentsthat are strugglingforwhateverreason and there's just a little tiny glimmer." Bailey went on to say that seeing those families get to the end and you see the parents have turned things around and the kids are doing well in school, "that's when you see that it's worth it. That's why we do this." 'The end" he is talking about is decided in a court oflaw. Federal law requires children who have beenplacedin fostercaretohavea permanency hearing after being there for 12 months. This hearing is required to determine whether the child/children will be placed for adoptionorreturned to the careoftheparents or guardians they were taken fiom. This is when parent's rights may be terminated.
Police, Salvation Army collecting food, toys The Baker City Police Department and The Salvation Army are again collecting nonperishable items for Christmas food baskets to be distributed to families in need during the holidays. A Christmas tree decorated withAngelTree gift tags has been placed in the lobby of the police department, at1768Auburn Ave. Anyone who would like to participate in the gift tag program is asked tochooseatag, buythe wished-for gift and return it unwrapped to the police department or call to have an officer pick the item up. Nonperishable food items also may be dropped off in the food barrel or picked up by an officer. For pickup service, call the police department reception desk at 541-524-2014.The lobby is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 10am.to5 p.m. The last day to turn in a gift or a nonperishable food item is Friday, Dec. 19.
Rain at times
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S. Jahn Collins/BakerCity Herald
This painting by Alyssa Peterson is one of three in the artist's Geiser-Pollman Park series. Two of the paintings, including this one of the slide at the park, are on loan from Peterson and are displayed at City Hall. The city bought one of the three paintings.
By Lisa Britton For the Baker City Herald
aker City is seeking someone to give a new life to the merrygo-round that was removed from Geiser-Pollman Park this spring. The piece, which is more than 50 years old, was part of the equipment replaced in May with new play structures. The merry-go-round was removed intact and saved. Now the City's Public Arts Commission is accepting proposals from artistswho have an idea on how to preserve the merry-go-round. Proposals will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2015.
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Those submitting proposals areasked to design a project that is unique to Baker City and"becrafted ofdurablematerials that will withstand the elements, as well as be resistant to theft, vandalism and deteriorati on." Other specifications include: •M ust be designed tolastfor 20 years • Materials can include fiberglass, castma terials,fabricated m etals and recycled plasticor wood products • Must be three-dimensional • Must be free from unsafe conditionsorfactorsthatcould bear upon public liability and the safety of the community • Must be affrxed to a perma-
nent mounting location The RFP also needs to includethe projected costand details about engineering. "It really needs to be fully fleshed out," said Brian Vegter, who is on the Public Arts Commission. He said no specific space has been designatedforthisproject, although the commission members have been researching possible sites for public art. "There are so many options," he said. After the deadline, the Commission will review the proposals and select four finalists. See Art For AII/Page 8A
Turkey Trotdraws551entries For the Baker City Herald
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By Lisa Britton
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ODFW seeks board member
The sunny Thanksgiving morning drew 551 participants forthe seventh-annual Turkey Trot in Baker City. Of those, 119 registered in the hoursbefore the event started. The Turkey Trot is a 5K fun run/walk, with proceeds going to the Northeast Oregon Compas-
sion Center to help feed the hungry in the area. The event raised more than $6,000 and brought in 900 pounds of food. "That's enough to cover two months worth of food outreach," said Brian Vegter, who organizes the event with his wife, Corrine. '%e would also like to thank all thesponsorsand participants for making the seventh-annual
another success." Vegter said thisyear'srace included participants from Germany and Ecuador. The Northeast Oregon Compassion Center takes donations all year long and anyone who didn't get to take part this year and would like to make a donation, can call541-523-9845,or stop by 1250 Hughes Lane.
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Issue 85, 24 pages
Classified 1B-6B Comics....................... 7B
Community News....3A Crossword........... 3B-4B Dear Abby ............... 10B
Health .................. 5C-6C Jayson Jacoby..........4A News of Record ........ 2A
Sports .................. 6A-7A Television ............ 3C-4C Weather ................... 10B
Obituaries.................. 2A Opinion......................4A Outdoors ............. 1C-2C
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