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Serving Baker County since 1870 • bakercityheratd.com
May 8, 2015
iN mis aomoN: Local • Health@Fitness • Outdoors • TV
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ParentsOptingOntOf Vaccinations ForTheir Children
QUICIC HITS
A special good day to Herald subscriber Grace Gulick of Halfway. ccollins©bakercityherald.com
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Statistically speaking, parentsofkindergartners in Baker County schools continue to be among the highest percentage in the state to seek nonmedical exemptions for their children
from the state's immunization program. But those statistics, a 7.3-percent rate,includejust 11 students countywide, according to an Oregon Health Authority (OHAl report released May 1. The report, produced by
the Oregon Immunization Program,statesthat5.8 percent of all Oregon kindergartners (2,693 students) listed "religious, philosophical or other nonmedical exemption to one or more required vaccines." The numbers in 2014
were at 3,331 students, 7 percentstatewide,and placed Oregon at the top ofthelistofstateswhose parents sought nonmedical exemptions for their kindergartners. See Vaccines/Fbge 8A
Back In The Saddle (Safely) Oregon, 6A
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President Obama visits Portland.
Rachel Center fundraiser The Rachel Center's annual baby bottle fundraiser begins Mother's Day weekend and continues through Father's Day. During that time, plastic baby bottles will be set out at local churches and businesses throughout the county to collect change, cash and checks. "This is our main fundraiser for the year," said Alberta Darlington, center director. All proceeds support the center, which provides clothing for babies and children, diapers, formula and other baby-related items for those who need extra help with securing these supplies. The center also has a new kitchen, Bible studies, counseling about abortion, and parenting classes. Darlington said they hope to soon offer cooking and sewing classes for parents. She said donations of kitchen-related items are welcome. They also are need of more volunteers. She said the community is invited to stop in during open hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) to see the center's changes. For more information about the center, stop by at 2192 Court St. or call 541-523-5357.
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Moving van catches fire inmotel 1
70/34 Mostly sunny
Correction:A story in Wednesday's issue misstated the number of legislators on the state committee considering marijuana bills. There are 10 total members.
parking lot
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By Chris Collins ccollins©bakercityherald.com S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
Brooklyn Primary first-grader Chase Roy begins his turn at the Bike Rodeo courseWednesday. Safety while riding is the theme of the bike course organized and run by personnel with the Oregon Department ofTransportation, the Baker City Police Department, school staff and parent volunteers.
S. John Collins/ Baker City Herald
Billie-Jo Deal, ODOT traffic safety coordinator from La Grande, remindsyoung riders, like Maripaz Gonzalez, about proper hand signals when stopping and turning right or left.
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
First-grader Tori Hatfield receives a helmet from PhoebeWachtel, administrative assistant at the Baker City Police Department.
69/29 Sunday
Baker County's 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center is losing its leader. Sheila Thompson is stepping down as the center's directoreffectiveMay 15. Baker County Commission Chairman Bill Harvey announced her resignation at Wednesday's County Commission meeting. ''We want to thank her very very much for her service to the county," Harvey sald. Thompson has been the director ofthe 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center since 2012. Jason Yencopal, the county's emergency management director, will replace Thompson. Jerry Boyd, former 911 director, will also share Thompson's duties temporarily.
See DispatchIPage7A
68/33
Sunny, breezy
By Joshua Dillen Idillen©bakercityherald.com
"(Yencopall is going to
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be working into the 911 positionofleadership.Jason unfortunately doesn't have that knowledge overnight," Harvey said. He explained that Boyd will be coming out of retirement to be a consultant and technical advisor who will facilitate as much training as possible for Yencopal locally.
WEATHER
Sunny, breezy
VIBWS
Coun s 911 chief
Good Day Wish To A Subscriber
By Chris Collins
Black Mountain
Seven BakerCity fi refi ghters responded to a smoldering blaze in a U-Haul moving van parked at the Oregon Trail Motel Wednesday evening. Lt. David Blair said the fire was started by exhaust that was directed into the van's cargo box after a blown tire smashed the exhaust pipe. The exhaust caused household items inside the van tosmolder forseveral hours before catching fire. The van was driven by David Hardesty of Sun City, Ariz., who was helping move a frrend to Washmgton. The friend's name was not avail-
able. See FirelPage 8A
Executiveorderwill alect tey Forwardlnc. By Jayson Jacoby
that employs 46 people with intellectual and development A dass action lawsuit whose disabilities. plaintiffs include the federal Step Forward Inc. was governmentis putting presstarted in 1976. Itoperates in sure on a Baker City program Baker and Grant counties.
Step Forward's workshop at 3720 10th St. employs 46 clients as well as 78 other staff, said Gene Button, who has been the organization's executive director since 1991.
jacoby©bakeratyherald.com
TO D A T Issue 154, 28 pages
The class action lawsuit, filed in 2012 as Lane v. Kitzhaber, alleges that Oregon violates the federalAmericans with Disabilities Act by segregating workers with disabili-
tiesin"sheltered workshops" — Step Forward is an example — rather than helping them find jobs in mainstream businesses. See Step ForwardIPage 3A
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