Christina Wood remembers when she moved to her home just north of Baker City 23 years ago and signed up to receive the seven television stations offered via antenna to subscribers of the Blue Mountain Translator District.

These days the 64-year-old serves on the nonprofit special district’s board of directors, a group of elected officials who volunteer their efforts to ensure dependable television service to customers. The BMTD now offers 26 high-definition stations in Baker County and 34 in Union County, including Spanish language channels. Major broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, and other specialty stations featuring classic television programs, movies and comedy shows, are included.

The service has been provided since 1978 through translator towers on Mount Fanny and Mount Harris in Union County and Beaver Mountain in Baker County.

Wood points to the District’s 2017-18 budget of $100,000 as one of the biggest obstacles facing the District’s continuing operation. After all the bills are paid, the District expects to have just $18,300 left over at year’s end, barring any emergency expenses.

Revenue includes membership fees of $86,860.

“The problem is we should have more money,” Wood says, based on the number of people who receive the service compared with the number who actually pay the $100 annual fee.

For the complete story, see the June 28 edition of The Observer.