Your Local Guide to the
T tal S lar Eclipse August 21st
2017
Enjoy the Path of Totality in Northeast Oregon published by BLACK LOGO
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2017 Total Eclipse
text
Xinhua He Changshan/TNS
A total solar eclipse is pictured on March 9, 2016, from Belitung Island, Indonesia
Disappearing Act ■■On the morning of Aug. 21, the moon will block the sun briefly, turning day to night By Jayson Jacoby
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
It might be the biggest show ever in Baker City, and it’ll all be over in two minutes. Or slightly less, or more. The main attraction will be, anyway. But the total solar eclipse that will transform day into night at about 10:23 a.m. on Aug. 21, a sight visible from most of the county, is the climax of an event that could lure 50,000 people to Baker County starting a few days before eclipse. Which happens to be slightly more than three times the county’s population. August 2017
And it’s this potentially unprecedented influx of people over several days that will have the greatest effect locally — much greater, certainly, than that brief moment when the summer sky goes black. Questions abound: • Where will all these people stay? • What will they eat? • Where will they refuel their vehicles? • Where will they dispose of their trash and other more, well, organic waste (the sort that typically gets flushed down a toilet)? See Prepare/Page 6 Page 3
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2017 Total Eclipse
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PREPARE
Continued from Page 3
• How will police and fire agencies respond to emergencies — including, possibly, wildfires — if highways resemble Los Angeles freeways during rush hour? It’s these potential problems — and a bunch of others besides — that local officials have been pondering for several months, said Jason Yencopal, Baker County’s emergency services manager. The eclipse also prompted the Baker County Commissioner to approve a disaster declaration — six weeks before the event. “We can declare a state of emergency for the county if we consider there’s an imminent threat,” Yencopal said in early July. “We know that there’s a lot of people coming.” One of the primary concerns, Yencopal said, is that the county’s emergency service agencies lack the manpower and equipment to deal with a threefold increase in population. That challenge is likely to be exacerbated by the eclipse’s path. The center of the path of totality — inside which the moon will completely obscure the sun — runs through the sparsely settled southern part of the county. The two incorporated cities nearest the center of the path are Huntington, population 445, and Unity, population 75.
HOW LONG WILL THE TOTAL ECLIPSE LAST? The answer depends on where you are. The area in which the total eclipse will be visible — the “path of totality” — cuts a swath across most of Baker County. The exceptions are in the northern part of the county — go much farther north than Haines, for instance, and the moon won’t completely block the sun. The starting time of the total eclipse also varies — about 10:23 a.m. + 23 seconds in Unity; 10:24 a.m. + 29 seconds in Baker City; and 10:24 + 53 seconds in Huntington. Length of total eclipse:
• Baker City: 1 minute, 35 seconds • Haines: 40 seconds — the edge of the path of totality is about three miles north of Haines on Highway 30 • Richland: 1 minutes, 20 seconds • Halfway: only partial eclipse — edge of path of totality is near the top of the Halfway Grade along Highway 86 between Richland and Halfway • Sumpter: 1 minute, 47 seconds • Hereford: 2 minutes, 8 seconds • Unity: 2 minutes, 7 seconds • Huntington: 2 minutes, 9 seconds
See Prepare/Page 16 Page 6
2017 Total Eclipse
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While enjoying the Solar Eclipse • Permanent damage can occur by viewing the eclipse without proper protection • Only view the eclipse/sun through a properly rated solar filter • Ordinary sunglasses, even dark ones, can NOT be used to view the eclipse • NEVER look at the eclipse through an unfiltered camera, telescope or binoculars • Welding shields must rate at a 14 or greater to view the eclipse 541-523-5858 2150 Third Street, Baker City
August 2017
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VIEWING THE ECLIPSE SAFELY
Lisa Britton/For the Baker City Herald
It’s dangerous to view the solar eclipse — or the sun at any time — without proper safety lenses.
Advice your eyes will appreciate By Lisa Britton
For the Baker City Herald
Local eye doctors don’t want to see a flood of new patients on Aug. 22. Their concern is an event happening Monday, Aug. 21 — a total solar eclipse. Preventing eye injury is simple: don’t look at the sun without filters specifically designed to protect eyes during a solar eclipse. “Failure to use proper observing methods may result in permanent eye damage and severe visual loss,” said Sheryl Blankenship, optometrist at Baker Vision Clinic. She said that even if 99 percent of the sun’s surface is obscured — such as durPage 8
ing the partial phase of the eclipse — the remaining light can still damage the retina if viewed without eye protection. “There are no pain receptors in the retina, so damage can occur without any sensation of pain,” Blankenship said. There is no cure. “If you burn your retina, you burn your retina. There is no treatment,” Blankenship said. Dr. James Davis, an ophthalmologist in Baker City, compares the effect to focusing sunlight on a leaf through a magnifying glass. See Eyes/Page 10 2017 Total Eclipse
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TOTAL ECLIPSE OVER OREGON August 21, 2017
The sight of a lifetime. Watch it safely!
Watching the solar eclipse this summer in Oregon can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But watching it without proper protection for the eyes can cause a lifetime of vision damage. Looking directly at the sun can cause serious, permanent eye injury. The only safe time to look at the sun directly will be during the brief total eclipse when the moon covers the sun. Before and after the total eclipse, the sun should be viewed only through certified solar glasses or viewers.
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On August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible first from the Oregon coast and then move across the state in a 70-mile wide path.
Watch the solar eclipse safely by following these important tips: • Use certified solar eclipse glasses or • Supervise children using solar glasses or viewers. solar viewers when looking at the sun, except • Don’t look at the sun through a camera, during the brief total eclipse when the moon binoculars or other optical device while using covers the sun. Ordinary sunglasses will not solar glasses or viewers. provide adequate protection. Certified glasses • Remove glasses or viewers only when the moon and viewers will be marked with the covers the sun and it is totally dark. When the international standard mark ISO 12312-2. sun begins to reappear, use your glasses or viewer.
Where to get certified solar eclipse glasses or viewers You can buy ISO certified solar eclipse glasses at retail stores throughout Oregon. Be sure to look for ISO 12312-2. Certified glasses or viewers are also available online: American Paper Optics www.eclipseglasses.com Rainbow Symphony www.rainbowsymphony.com Total Solar Eclipse 17 www.tse17.com
For more information, ask your eye doctor or visit these websites: OAO@OregonEyePhysicians.org
Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology
EYE SAFETY Continued from Page 8
“The eyeball is an optical system like that,” Davis said. “The light from the sun can be focused on a very small area of the retina.” A person who suffers a retina burn will see a black spot in the middle of their vision. “It’s really bad,” Davis said. “And there’s nothing I can do for it.” Special eclipse glasses are available at various places in Baker City — both Baker Vision Clinic and Davis’ office, as well as the Baker County Page 10
OregonOptometry.org
Oregon Optometric Physicians Association
Library, 2400 Resort St., and many businesses in Baker City. The glasses are made with protective filters that contain a thin layer of chromium alloy or aluminum, Blankenship said. Davis said sunglasses and welding shields are not adequate protection for viewing the solar eclipse. “They aren’t made for looking at the sun,” he said. Blankenship said the glasses provided after eye dilation also are not adequate protection for looking a solar eclipse. 2017 Total Eclipse
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
Isabella Evans, left, played Peter Pan in the Missoula Children’sTheater production of Peter and Wendy in Baker City in June. Wendy, center, was played by Addie Flanagan with Meadoh Waldrop asTiger Lily.The Montana group will return to Baker City for a performance Aug. 18-19 at Baker High School.
Adding activities ■■A multitude of events give eclipse-watchers something to do before and after the big show AUGUST 17 • Third Thursday, downtown Baker City • We Like ’Em Short film festival, 7 p.m., Eltrym Theatre, 1809 First St., Baker City, welikeemshort.com • Eastern Oregon Regional Theater fundraiser, 8 p.m., at Lefty’s, 1934 Broadway St., Patsy Cline tribute, bakerlivetheatre. com
AUGUST 18 • We Like ’Em Short film festival, 7 p.m., Eltrym Theatre, 1809 First St., Baker City • Eastern Oregon Regional Theater fundraiser, 8 p.m., at Lefty’s, 1934 Broadway St., Elvis tribute • Eastern Oregon Regional Theater vintage movie weekend, Iron Gate Theater, 2101 Main St., 6 p.m. • Missoula Children’s Theater, 6 p.m., Baker High School auditorium, 2500 E St. See Activities/Page 23 August 2017
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wildfire concerns
S. John Collins/Baker City Herald file photo-August 2015
The Cornet/Windy Ridge fire was started by lightning in August 2015. Fire officials are worried about the potential for human-caused blazes this August when tens of thousands of people visit Baker County to see the solar eclipse.
Fire crews prepare for August blazes By Isaac Gibson
igibson@bakercityherald.com
Lightning rather than people ordinarily is the biggest concern for many wildland firefighters in Northeastern Oregon. But this is no ordinary summer. No ordinary August, anyway. With about 50,000 people projected to visit Baker County to see the total solar eclipse the morning of Aug. 21, fire officials are worried about the potential for human-caused fires, which normally account for about 20 percent of blazes on public lands across the county. To combat this, the U.S. Forest Service has crePage 12
ated outreach programs to educate visitors about proper safety and fire prevention procedures. Education teams will be sent out to popular campsites, and an interactive story map detailing fire-prevention tips and high risk areas is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry website, said Chris Bentley, acting public affairs officer for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. In addition, firefighting crews will be placed in strategic spots during the long eclipse weekend, Bentley said. See Fires/Page 14 August 2017
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FIRES Continued from Page 12
“One of the things we try to keep in mind is that we do live in a fire-adapted ecosystem,” Bentley said. “And we usually know from past years’ data where lightning strikes will occur, but with the human variable we no longer have that luxury.” Moreover, the eclipse’s timing, in mid-August, coincides with the period when the potential for fires to grow usually reaches its yearly peak. Fire safety education will
be the primary deterrent, but the Forest Service has come up with other ways to ensure faster response times if fires do erupt. Strike teams will be operating off of radio communication because cell towers will be working overtime with the increased cell traffic before and during the eclipse. It’s likely that campfires will be prohibited in most places by the week of the eclipse, as well, so visitors should be prepared to cook without an open fire (stoves fueled with gas are allowed).
FIRE SAFETY TIPS • Secure tow chains. Make sure all vehicle parts are secure and not dragging. A loose safety tow chain or muffler striking a rock or pavement can send a shower of sparks into dry vegetation. • Check your tires and make sure they receive regular maintenance. Once a flat tire shreds, the bare wheel can shower sparks on roadside vegetation. • Maintain your exhaust system. A worn-out catalytic converter can cast off extremely hot pieces of material into dry roadside vegetation. • Check underneath your car. Make sure it’s free of oil leaks and that fuel and brake lines are intact. • Stay off the grass. Avoid parking or idling on dry grass. Vehicle exhaust and dry vegetation is a dangerous combination. • Stay on the road. Off-road driving is prohibited in most areas during fire season. • Be prepared. Keep a cell phone, water, a shovel and fire extinguisher with you in case a fire starts. • Always follow recreational forest laws (www.oregon. gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx). Report fires immediately to 911. Use TripCheck.com or call 511 to check your planned route. For more eclipse travel tips and links, visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Pages/Eclipse.aspx. Page 14
August 2017
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Path of total solar eclipse, Aug 21, 2017
Portland McMinnville
Lincoln City
Salem Depoe Bay
Newport Waldport
Lyons
Albany Lebanon Corvallis
North totality lim Eclipse center it Maupin Shaniko Long Creek Warm Springs Baker City Spray Detroit Mitchell Madras Prairie City Dayville John Day Unity Sisters Prineville Canyon City Redmond
South tota lity limit
Bend
Ontario Vale
Cross/WesComgraphic) News Service (GregGreg Cross/Bulletin
The Eastern Oregon Visitors Association has included tips for people planning to watch the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse in the region: • We are expecting a record number of visitors to the region over the weekend leading up to Monday’s solar eclipse. To avoid the traffic and fully experience Eastern Oregon’s slow-paced way of life, consider extending your trip by arriving on Wednesday or Thursday and departing on Tuesday or later. • Many of the best eclipse viewing areas are in or around small communities with limited gas stations, grocery stores and other amenities. It’s a good idea to fuel up
PREPARE
Continued from Page 6
“We expect Huntington to be a major focal point,” said Timothy Bishop, Baker County’s tourism marketing director. Although both Huntington Page 16
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visiteasternoregon.com your vehicle on your way into the region and keep the tank topped off. • Be sure to pack enough water, food, and any medications for all members of your group in case of local supply shortages. Temperatures in August regularly reach the 90s or above, so plan to bring a larger supply of water than you think you will need. • Unplug during your visit. While most of our communities do have cell phone
and Unity have fuel and food, the quantities are limited. Bishop points out that items that might be necessities for some people — prescription medication and medical care, for instance — are available 2017 Total Eclipse
service, coverage will be limited in many areas due to increased demand on our towers. By unplugging for the weekend, you’ll help keep the lines open for those needing emergency assistance. • Keep in mind you may not be able to rely on e-navigation and roadside assistance will be limited. It’s a good idea to check your spare tire, share your travel plans with a friend or relative, and carry a first aid kit and a state map. • Never look at the sun without eclipserated eyewear (see Page 8). While many local businesses will carry eclipse viewing glasses or filters, it is possible they may sell out before the event.
only in Baker City. Bishop said local officials, in preparing for what he describes as “a crazy weekend,” have to rely on projections. It’s impossible to know how many people will actually be August 2017
in Baker City. And something as simple as widespread cloud cover or wildfire smoke in Central or Western Oregon could result in significantly more eclipse watchers traveling to Eastern Oregon, Bishop said. Page 17
STOCKING UP ON STAPLES
Locals should lay in food supplies, fuel their cars in advance By Isaac Gibson
igibson@bakercityherald.com
If you thought Baker City grocery stores were busy around the Fourth of July, you’ll likely have to adjust your personal scale for what amounts to busy if you’re around during the total solar eclipse Aug. 21. Both Albertsons and Safeway stores in Baker City are preparing for the waves of visiting eclipse watchers, as well as the locals who plan on stocking up before the going gets rough. Which is precisely what grocery managers, along with Baker County officials, are urging residents to do. “It would be a huge help on us if everyone stocked up on everything they needed by Wednesday (Aug. 16),” said Brandon Sweet, who manages the Safeway store. “We would be much better suited to handle the rush if we only had to worry about the outside customers.” Sweet said the onslaught of visitors, which might have no parallel in recent county history, makes it difficult to prepare. “We usually try to run the Page 18
numbers and try to base our inventory stock from last year’s data,” Sweet said. “But there’s just nothing to compare it to — we are expecting it to be four times the size of the Fourth of July.” Sweet said the Baker City store will be receiving help from other Safeway locations in Oregon that are outside the path of totality because it would not make sense to hire extra employees for just a week.
Getting Gas Baker County officials also recommend local residents top off their vehicles’ fuel tanks the week before the eclipse. Powering Up Neither Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, which supplies power to most of the county, nor Idaho Power Company, which has customers in the eastern part of the county, expects the temporary boost in population will tax their power supplies. See Stock Up/Page 22 2017 Total Eclipse
August 2017
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AN ECLIPSE TRIP 26 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Why Baker City? ■■Hugh Warren has been an eclipse enthusiast for decades, and he thinks this is a perfect place to watch By Jayson Jacoby
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Hugh Warren has known for 26 years that he would witness the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse. But it was much more recently that Warren decided he would be in Baker City when the moon blocks the sun. Warren, who lives with his wife, Karen, in Thousand Oaks, California, a Los Angeles suburb, has been Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald an eclipse aficionado Hugh Warren looks over issues since the couple and of the Herald from June 1918 their sons, Thomas and that deal with the solar eclipse Andrew, watched a total that happened that month. solar eclipse in Mexico on July 11, 1991. That event, Warren said, a scouting trip to Baker City was “absolutely spectacular.” in early June. The period of totality, Although the period of when the moon completely totality is slightly longer in obscures the sun, lasted for southern Baker County — almost 7 minutes. There about 2 minutes, 7 seconds won’t be a longer eclipse until in Unity — Warren said he 2132. determined that the sidewalk This year’s event will be in front of the Eldorado Motel much shorter — the period of is a fine vantage point. totality in Baker City will be From there he’ll be able to about 1 minute, 35 seconds. see not only the eclipse, but But this in no way diminalso the shadow as it slides ishes Warren’s enthusiasm. eastward. “The phenomenon itself is well worth it,” he said during See Why Baker?/Page 22 Page 20
2017 Total Eclipse
August 2017
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WHY BAKER? Continued from Page 20
He recommends all eclipse viewers find a spot with an expansive vista to the west so they can watch the shadow in the half minute or so before totality. As in 1991, Warren won’t be watching this year’s eclipse by himself. In fact the 2017 event will be a three-generation gathering rather than two. He and his wife will be joined by their son, Andrew, who lives in Seattle, his wife, Catherine, and their two daughters, Vivian, 12, and Irina, 10. Warren said he reserved two rooms at the Eldorado in December 2016. He first visited Baker County in January 2016. Warren said he focused on Eastern Oregon because the
STOCK UP Continued from Page 18
The bigger concern is that if the power goes out, line repair crews won’t be able to get to the site due to traffic gridlock on roads and highways, said Lara PetitclercStokes, OTEC’s manager for communications and government affairs. “There should be plenty of electricity,” Petitclerc-Stokes said. “But if an outage occurs, will we be able to get to where the outage is?” She said OTEC will ensure that ample crews are availPage 22
weather isn’t as reliable west of the Cascades, and because all available lodgings had been taken in Central Oregon. “The Madras area had been booked solid for three years,” he said. Warren has talked several times with Jason Yencopal, Baker County’s emergency management director, about other potential viewing spots. Warren said he was especially interested in learning about the conditions of roads in the county’s more remote areas. Although he explored many of those, Warren said he finally settled on the Campbell Street sidewalk. “My wife is not eager to travel on the backroads, and having civilized plumbing handy is a big plus,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve done my homework.” able in case of outages during the eclipse weekend. “We are not expecting an appreciable change in demand due to the large number of people coming into the area to watch the eclipse – certainly not enough to impact us from an operational standpoint,” said Brad Bowlin, a spokesman for Idaho Power. “They keep hotel rooms cold all the time, and the campers won’t use much electricity.” Jayson Jacoby of the Baker City Herald contributed to this story. 2017 Total Eclipse
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
An eclipse viewing celebration is planned Monday, Aug. 21 at the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park.
ACTIVITIES Continued from Page 11
AUGUST 18 • Pioneer Days, Huntington, visithuntingtonor.org/solareclipse-2017.html • Dr. Balthasar at Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 541-5231825
AUGUST 19 • We Like ’Em Short film festival, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Eltrym Theatre, 1809 First St., Baker City • Baker City Eclipse Festival, Geiser-Pollman Park, vendors and booths • Elkhorn 50 long-distance running race, elkhorncrest.com • Pioneer Days, Huntington, visithuntingtonor.org/solareclipse-2017.html • Dr. Balthasar at Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 541-5231825 • Sumpter Valley Railroad train robberies, sumptervalleyrailroad.org • Mysteries of the Eclipse lecture series, Geiser Grand Hotel, Baker City, 541-523-1889 • Eastern Oregon Regional Theater vintage movie weekend, Iron Gate Theater, 2101 Main St., 6 p.m. • Missoula Children’s Theater, 3 p.m., Baker High School auditorium, 2500 E St. See Activities/Page 24 August 2017
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S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
The OregonTrail Interpretive Center, five miles east of Baker City along Highway 86, will be open during the eclipse weekend, including a viewing party on Monday, Aug. 21.
ACTIVITIES Continued from Page 23
AUGUST 20 • We Like ’Em Short film festival, 1 p.m., Eltrym Theatre, 1809 First St., Baker City • Music in the Meadow, Sumpter, noon to 8:15 p.m. • Sumpter Valley Railroad train robberies, sumptervalleyrailroad.org • Baker City Eclipse Festival, Geiser-Pollman Park, vendors and booths • Dr. Balthasar at Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 541-5231825 • Mysteries of the Eclipse lecture series, Geiser Grand Hotel, Baker City, 541-523-1889 • Pioneer Days, Huntington, visithuntingtonor.org/solareclipse-2017.html • Powder River Music Review, Geiser-Pollman Park, 4 p.m. • Eastern Oregon Regional Theater vintage movie weekend, Iron Gate Theater, 2101 Main St., 6 p.m.
AUGUST 21 • We Like ’Em Short film festival, 7 p.m., Eltrym Theatre, 1809 First St., Baker City • Eclipse viewing celebration, Sumpter Dredge State Park See Activities/Page 26
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2017 Total Eclipse
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August 2017
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Eclipse preparation Baker County Emergency Management
Traffic will be heavy and lines for local services such as restaurants, gas stations, grocery and retail stores may be longer than usual. Things to consider doing in advance to make life a little easier during the heaviest congestion periods: • Errands and appointments: Schedule your errands and appointments early, before Thursday the 17th if possible. Check ahead if you have plans for Monday the 21st; some services may be closed or have limited hours during this time. By scheduling your errands early, you will beat the crowds and give our local stores and businesses time
to restock before the eclipse visitors arrive; this includes grocery shopping, doctor/dentist/veterinary appointments, prescriptions, etc. • Supplies: Overall, supplies may be limited due to the high demand; which may mean the items you want are not available during the impact days. If there is something important you want, get it early. • Gas: If you normally fill up your gas tank Friday – Monday, be sure to do that task early, before Thursday, Aug. 17. • Cash: If you regularly use cash or want some on hand, consider visiting your local bank or ATM before Thursday, Aug. 17.
ACTIVITIES Continued from Page 24
AUGUST 21 • Sumpter Valley Railroad Eclipse Express, sumptervalleyrailroad.org • Eclipse viewing party, Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 541523-1825 • Mysteries of the Eclipse lecture series, Geiser Grand Hotel, Baker City, 541-523-1889 • Pioneer Days, Huntington, visithuntingtonor.org/solareclipse-2017.html • Dr. Balthasar at Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 541-5231825 • Eastern Oregon Regional Theater vintage movie weekend, Iron Gate Theater, 2101 Main St., 3 p.m. • Tunes After Totality live music, downtown Baker City, afternoon and evening Page 26
2017 Total Eclipse
Be Prepared
Please program the following emergency numbers into your phone: Emergency: call 911 Structure fire Medical emergency Crime Aggressive dog Gun shots Vehicle accident Impaired driver
Non-emergency: call 541-523-6514 Lost or loose animals Vehicle break-ins Unpermitted burning Noise complaints
Road Conditions: call 511 Community Resources: call 211
Offline map of Baker County available on mobile devices
Baker County has developed a map with information around the county as to where gas stations are (some have limited supply, so plan ahead), grocery stores (very small “convenience stores,” small, medium and large), public restrooms, RV dump stations, information stations and some road information. This map will continue to receive updates as they are available. Prior to coming into Baker County, download the most recent version. Can be downloaded and viewed offline. Download Avenza Maps app and follow the instructions below:
Apple Devices: Make sure you are in the “Maps” section of the app. Press the + button at the top of the page near search field area. Select “Tap to enter a URL of a map” and enter the following link:
Android Devices: From the Maps page, select the large + sign in the lower right hand area of the screen. Select “Download or import a map.” Select http:// and enter the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/bakereclipsemap
August 2017
Page 27
Hospital gearing up for influx of eclipse watchers By Lisa Britton
For the Baker City Herald
As Baker County prepares for a projected 50,000 visitors who want to see the total solar eclipse Aug. 21, St. Alphonsus Medical CenterBaker City, the county’s only hospital, is also bracing for an increase in visits to the emergency room. “That’s where we expect the biggest influx,” said Shauna Cline, the hospital’s regulatory coordinator and safety officer. A typical ER shift includes one doctor and two nurses. During the days leading up to the eclipse, the ER will have two doctors and “many nurses” on duty, Cline said. Also, a LifeFlight helicopter will be stationed at the hospital. Ordinarily, these helicopters fly in from La Grande or Ontario when needed for an emergency. “We’re really excited to have that support from LifeFlight,” Cline said. She’s been attending the monthly meetings with local emergency service providers. “We’re collaborating with them for the best response,” she said. Page 28
The hospital has been stocking up on supplies since May. In addition to more ER staff, an additional five rooms will be available, for a total of 11. The actual effect of the eclipse, however, remains a mystery until the time comes. “There’s nothing to compare it to,” Cline said. “We’ve had enough Fourth of Julys and rodeos to prepare for those. This, we have no idea.” She said every hospital department is increasing staff for the week that includes the eclipse. A few of the maladies they expect to see are dehydration, COPD/asthma, cardiac conditions due to the elevation, and burns from campfires. An increase in vehicles could also mean an greater chance of car accidents. “We’re going to plan for the worst and be ready for what comes,” Cline said. “We’re very well prepared.” Internally, hospital staff has been encouraged to stock up on food, gasoline, water and prescriptions prior to the event. “And we encouraged them to stay home if they aren’t working,” she said. 2017 Total Eclipse
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
Ashly Pearce, left, and Kate Jesenko hope theT-shirt design that Jesenko created (see page 30) will generate hefty sales to help finance the 2018 graduation party for Baker High School seniors.
Eclipse artistry By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
Kate Jesenko has lived most of her 16 years in Baker City and is especially proud of the community’s historic character and the mountains that provide the perfect background for an artist’s eye. So it wasn’t surprising that she combined two of her favorite downtown businesses with the Elkhorn Mountain ridge when she set about designing a T-shirt for the solar eclipse that will briefly put Baker City in the dark on Aug. 21. Her design, which was voted the favorite of her soon-tobe senior classmates, features a mountainous backdrop and the eclipse-darkened sun with August 2017
Barley Brown’s Brewpub and the Geiser Grand Hotel dominating the foreground. “Those places are really iconic to me,” Kate said. “If you come to Baker City, you have to go to Barley Brown’s and the Geiser Grand.” And she’s always happy to see the mountains when she returns home after being away. Kate, who’s never taken an art class, was one of five students to offer a design for the competition that will be part of the fundraising effort for next year’s senior class alcohol and drug free graduation party. See Art/Page 30 Page 29
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
Kate Jesenko’s T-shirt design for the Aug. 21 eclipse.
ART
Continued from Page 29
Kate’s two contest entries took first and second place in the class vote on the T-shirt design contest. Her other design included a deer, the mountains and the sun. Kate created the winning image using charcoal with “a little bit of ink” against a black background. “I worked on it off and on for about a week,” she said, creating at least three different versions of the Geiser Grand. “I tried a new angle of Barley Brown’s and came up with the shape I wanted the drawing to take on,” she said. “Everything kind of came together after that.” Ashly Pearce, whose daughter Page Pearce is a member Page 30
of the Class of 2018, said the idea for the T-shirt art contest came about in a recent meeting of senior parents who were looking at ways to earn money for next year’s senior party. Kate is especially thrilled at the prospect of people buying a T-shirt bearing her design as a keepsake of the event. As an added bonus, she received a $50 Visa gift card from the parent group. “This is the first time I’ve put (my art) out there and there’s been a pretty good response to it, so that’s been encouraging,” Kate said. The shirts will be available during a special drivethrough barbecue dinner on Aug. 19 at the high school (modeled after the FFA drivethrough meal). 2017 Total Eclipse
Eldorado Inn In Historic Baker City
Close to downtown Easy freeway access The gateway to Baker County and our many historical attractions. • Free Wifi • Free Continental Breakfast • Indoor Pool 695 Campbell St • 541-523-6494
August 2017
Page 31
Total Solar Eclipse
August 21, 2017
Enjoy this once in a lifetime event in Baker City! Stop by our award winning Tap-Room and Brew Pub!
Taproom
2200 Main Baker City 541-523-BEER
Brewpub
2190 Main, Baker City 541-523-4266
Open 2 pm Daily
Open 4 pm Mon-Sat
Winner of
over 107
National & International Beer Awards www.barleybrownsbeer.com Page 32
2017 Total Eclipse