The latest version of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s statewide map showing the wildfire risk for every tax lot in the state is controversial, as was the first version of the map, which the state released, then retracted, in the summer of 2022.

Baker County commissioners, along with their counterparts in several other counties in Eastern Oregon, are urging property owners whose parcels are designated as being both high risk for fire and within the wildland-urban interface to file an appeal with the state before the March 10 deadline.

The chief concerns with the map are that it could affect property owners’ insurance coverage and costs, and potentially require that they comply with state requirements for reducing the fire danger on their property and meet more stringent building code standards if they want to build a home.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/baker-county-commissioners-urge-property-owners-to-file-appeals-on-wildfire-risk-map/article_7d498190-f46e-11ef-bfab-2bab262b7361.html

The Baker City Council has decided to appoint a working group to discuss the possibility of changing the traffic configuration on Main Street downtown from two travel lanes in each direction to one, with a center turn-only lane, the same configuration on Campbell Street east of Main Street. The group will also look at options to increase parking spaces on Main Street.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/baker-city-council-agrees-to-set-up-working-group-to-discuss-main-street-traffic-pattern/article_0174791c-f3e2-11ef-9167-2722b3eb5296.html

Rain and warmer temperatures caused the Powder River and other local streams to rise, but the rivers receded relatively quickly and no flooding was reported.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/rain-melting-snow-raise-streams-no-flood-advisories-in-effect-in-baker-county/article_0b2884f2-f3a2-11ef-9e54-47a9b564c20d.html

The Baker County Health Department announced the winners of its “Say No To Vaping” poster contest. The department received 69 entries from fifth and sixth graders in the county.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/winners-named-in-baker-county-health-departments-say-no-to-vaping-poster-contest/article_d99a38ac-f498-11ef-9ebf-e753c43112f3.html

REMINDER: Although the Baker City Herald contributes stories each week to the East Oregonian print newspaper, published on Wednesdays, most Baker County news, including sports, the police log, opinion and local government coverage, is available exclusively on our website, www.bakercityherald.com.