Congressman Cliff Bentz, the Republican who represents Baker County and all of Eastern Oregon in the U.S. House of Representatives, heard boos as well as applause during his 90-minute town hall on Feb. 19, at Baker High School.

Audience members were vocal in their opposition to the Trump administration’s effort to trim federal spending, including the recent firings of 30 or so employees from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, based in Baker City.

Bentz said he generally supports his fellow Republican’s cost-cutting measures, although he expressed sympathy for people who lost their jobs and said courts will ultimately decide whether Trump has exceeded his constitutional authority.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/congressman-cliff-bentz-fields-questions-about-trump-federal-firings-musk-during-baker-city-town-hall/article_c175edca-eee4-11ef-9d93-73f45c281e2b.html

Several U.S. Forest Service employees who were fired recently talked about their experience, and their concerns about the effects of shrinking the agency’s workforce.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/fired-forest-service-employees-fear-effects-on-cattle-grazing-firefighting-recreation/article_a015aa1c-efb6-11ef-b047-4f241d07adb1.html

Kindergartners at the Baker Early Learning Center showed their artistic skills in preparing for a fundraising auction March 7.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/glow-art-an-auction-and-more-baker-early-learning-center-plans-fundraiser/article_96ed6576-ee47-11ef-93e2-0b004aaab5d7.html

Linda Peterson, a 52-year-old Baker City resident, disappeared almost six years ago, in March 2019, and police continue to investigate what they deem a homicide. Linda’s relatives can only wait for a resolution to the mystery, although both they and police believe that Linda was killed by people she knew.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/an-enduring-mystery-what-happened-to-linda-peterson-in-march-2019/article_d707b770-f067-11ef-8d1c-53e135b61292.html