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>N >H>saD>i'>oN: Local • Business @AgLife • Go! magazine s< lori McNeilCrownedMrs.EasternOregon
QUICIC HITS
A special good day to Herald subscriber Deryl Leggett of Baker City.
Oregon, 5A PORTLAND — Oregon's business, union and political interests risk opening a permanent rift if they don't come together and negotiate a plan to withdraw contentious ballot measures slated for next year's election, Senate President Peter Courtney said Monday. The Salem Democrat warned that "Oregon is on the verge of its own civil war" pitting the state's most powerful and wealthy interests against each other.
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The annual children's Christmas program is scheduled for this Sunday, Dec. 20, at 9:45 a.m. at the Baker City Nazarene Church, corner of Hughes Lane and Cedar Street. The church will have a Christmas Eve candlelight service on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. More information is available by calling the church office at 541-5233533.
WEATHER
Today
33/16 Snow showers
Thursday
31 /30 Snow, possibly heavy
GO! Magazine Your guide to events happening around the region
BAICERTECHNICAL INSTITUTE CAREER AND TRAINING PROGRAM
• Baker City woman using her position to promote literacy
By Chris Collins ccollins©bakercityherald.com
The Baker School District has announced a new partnership between its career and technical training program and an environmental consulting service. Doug Dalton, the district's chief financial officer, said the partnership between the Baker Technical Institute iBTIl and Farallon Consulting came aboutas a resultofa conversation he had with Peggy Browne. Browne recently merged her busiDalton ness, Browne Consulting of Baker City, with Farallon, which has its corporate office at Issaquah, Washington. Dalton said Browne was aware of the work students at BTI were doing on brownfield cleanup in the community and posed the possibility of forming a partnership with Farallon Consulting. In addition to the Baker City office at 1940 Valley Ave., Farallon has offices in Portland and Bend, Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, and at Oakland, Sacramento and Irvine, California. awe are excited to partner with Farallon Consulting, an environmental consulting firm built on a foundation oflasting connections in the communities they live and work in," Dalton stated in a press release. "Students will work closely with professionals from the very fields that they hope to work with." The partnership will provide BTI students with opportunities for internships, career information and job shadowing.
Master Gardener program starts in 3anuary
Children's Christmas program Sunday at Nazarene
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BRIEFING
The Master Gardener program, offered through the OSU Extension Service, will be heldTuesdays from Jan. 12to May10, meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Occasional Saturday field trips are also planned. This program is held in La Grande, but will be broadcast live each week in Baker City. Participants will gather in the small meeting room at the Baker County Extension Office, 2600 East St., Baker City. The course includes more than 50 hours of high-quality gardening education, and then Master Gardeners "give back" by volunteering in the community to share their knowledge. Cost is $150with a $50 rebate for completing 40 hours of volunteer service. To register, or for more information, call 541-523-6418.
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Serving Baker County since 1870 • bakercityheratd.com
December 16, 2015
Good Day Wish To A Subscriber
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See PartnersIPage8A Colleen Cahill Studios photo
Lori McNeil of Baker City was named Mrs. Eastern Oregon and she's competing for the title of Mrs. Oregon.
the Baker Heritage Museum during the Historic Homes Tour. Lori McNeil is using her time as Mrs. She's been reading to children quite a bit, Eastern Oregon to promote literacy and a tal k ing about the importance ofliteracy and visiting with parents about book recomloveoflearning acrosseightcounties. "Every contestant needs a mendations. "What aumque "I'm working with a lot of platform — what a unique libraries and a lot of schools," opportunity to speak about Oppot.turuty tozppag what I'm passionate about," she said."I'm developingreally aboutw hat I m strong relationships all over." she says. McNeil, 37, lives in Baker P~~~orlat~ a"out She already has several City. She first discovered events booked for Dr. Seuss Lon McNeji the Mrs. Oregon competition Mrs. Eastem oregon Week i n early March. while researching scholarCommunity involvement shipsfor graduate school. and commitment to family is a She even contacted the director of the big p art of Mrs. Oregon. "Fifty percent of my score is determined event, but then postponed pursuing it due to family circumstances. beforeIeven hitthestage,"she said. But in 2014, the director for Mrs. Oregon Tha t " stage" is the Mrs. Oregon pagfollowed up. Although McNeil had finished e a nt on April 9 in West Linn. The woman crowned Mrs. Oregon goes on to the nagrad school by this time, she was ready. She applied and found out she was tional Mrs. America competition in July. The April 9 event will include interviews selected as Mrs. Eastern Oregon in late with the judges iMcNeil has a list of 500 August. "I have a huge binder of policies and poss i ble questions to study), competitions in swimsuit and evening gown and "overall procedures," she said. Included is the contestant dress code. For health and wellness." instance, during the winter months McNeil Whi l e many of the outfits are issued to must wear either a red or white pea coat con t estants — including the swimsuitduring appearances, such as when she rode each woman will bring her own"introducon the Baker City fire truck during the tion d r ess." Twilight Parade. This is where she gained her first sponsor — Merri Lee Williams, who owns One & Promoting Literacy Only in La Grande. Williams is designing Since August, McNeil has scheduled six th e dress, which will remain a secret until to eight appearances each month at librart h e pageant. "It will be very unique," McNeil said. ies and events across Eastern Oregon. "She's an amazing designer." Just last Saturday, she participated in storytime at Cook Memorial Library in La Grande followed by an appearance at See McNeil I Page 3A By Lisa Britton
For the Baker City Herald
T ODAY Issue 95, 30 pages
BAICER SCHOOL BOARD MEETSTHURSDAY
School Board to review audit By Chris Collins ccollins©bakercityherald.com
The Baker School Board will hear the 5J district's annual audit report when it meets Thursday night. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the District Office, 2090 Fourth St. Mitch Saul of the Oster Professional Group of John Day will present the report. And the board will take action to accept it during Thursday's session. In other business, the board will: •Act on a"charge for the district'sFacilities M aster Planning Committee." Superintendent Mark Witty said the district will charge the committee with spending the next year providinginput to school administrators about a 10yearplan fordistrictschoolsand grounds. The committee will be composed of two school board members, six community members and employee representatives along with administrative and support stafF as needed. The committee will report to the superintendent and make periodicreportstothe board. • Recognize staff members new to the district in 2015-16. They are Jason Todd, Karen Tannehill, Brenda Martin, Sharon Foster, Lisa Ensworth, Amy Younger, Mandi Rose, Dana Marlia, Hannah Violette, Tom Joseph, Bibiana GifR, Aysha Vidale, Cynthia Stevens, Margaret Leatherbury, Griffm Judy and Hope Watts. • Honor Jesse Maldonado of Haines School as the Promise of Baker Student of the Month. • Conduct the final reading of district policy regarding student discipline.
Business........1B2B, 9B Comics.......................3B Dear Abby.... ...........10B News of Record... .....2A Senior Menus ...........2A Calendar....................2A C o m m u nity News ....3A Hor o scope........6B & 7B Ob i t uaries..................2A Sp o r ts .............. 7A & SA Classified............. 4B-SB C r o ssword........6B & 7B L e t t ers........................ 4A O p i n ion......................4A We a t her ................... 10B
Full forecast on the back of the B section. 8
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