Baker County’s tranquil fire season turned a bit boisterous this week as lightning sparked a pair of blazes, both in rangeland northeast of Baker City, that briefly posed a threat to a handful of homes. Rapid response from volunteer fire districts, ranchers and multiple public agencies quickly stopped both fires, however, and there were no evacuations or damaged structures.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/ranchers-firefighters-quickly-corral-lightning-sparked-blaze-near-keating/article_133c5f60-13fd-11ed-ae7b-07ddf48ed300.html

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/wind-fanned-lightning-fire-prompted-precautionary-evacuation-notices-near-medical-springs-sunday-evening/article_d550558a-11b3-11ed-ba82-97127c9e9297.html

What was shaping up to be an interesting campaign for a position on the Baker County Board of Commissioners this fall won’t happen. One of the two candidates, Kody Justus, withdrew his candidacy after an exceedingly close primary race against Christina Witham, in which Witham had just three more votes out of more than 5,000 cast.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/kody-justus-withdraws-from-race-for-a-baker-county-commission-position/article_8d0f5440-1354-11ed-9584-d7e25da5a679.html

A Baker CIty couple opened a new business that features both a variety of leafy green plants and a cafe with small confections and a variety of drinks.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/a-growing-opportunity/article_2be733d6-11dd-11ed-bdcc-1f46da304d50.html

West Nile virus was detected for the first time this year in mosquitoes trapped near Keating, about 15 miles east of Baker City.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/west-nile-virus-found-in-baker-county-mosquitoes/article_5391a53e-143e-11ed-b713-2f471a420881.html