Residents recall dentist
Search for Steven Bauer continues at area reservoir

By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:41 AM PDT

The office of well-known area dentist Steven Bauer was closed Monday. Bauer was reported to be missing at Brownlee Reservoir after a boating accident Sunday. Police officials were still searching for Bauer in the reservoir today.

NYSSA — As personnel from several area sheriff’s offices continued today to sift through the waters of Brownlee Reservoir for Nyssa resident Steven Bauer, people in this small Eastern Oregon town reflected on the future and shared memories regarding the well-known local dentist.

At least one resident still held out hope Bauer, 48, would be found alive.

“Just because they haven’t found him, doesn’t mean they won’t,” Nyssa Chamber of Commerce Secretary Cleta DeBoer said. “I’m trying to think positive.”

Bauer was reported drowned at Brownlee Reservoir Sunday. The incident began when the Baker County Sheriff’s Office received a cell phone call Sunday afternoon alerting them to the drowning. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office personnel forwarded the information to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Baker County Undersheriff Warren Thompson said he believed the cell phone call may have come from a person on one of the two boats involved in the incident, though he wasn’t sure.

“From what I gathered, the boys may have fallen out of the boat and the father went to help. It’s fairly common to fall out of the boat,” Thompson said. “But I’m not sure that that’s what happened.”

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The search, which was assisted by Adams County, Baker County, Malheur County and the Idaho State Police, continued throughout the day but was called off after darkness fell.

“Our marine guys left at 9 p.m.,” Thompson said.

He said the Baker County Sheriff’s Office deployed one boat, two marine officers, two divers and 10 search and rescue support people to the scene Monday.

The incident occurred 100 yards from the bank by the Mountain Man Lodge on the Idaho side.

“It’s just about the middle of the reservoir, between the dam and Huntington,” Thompson said.  This is not the first time the reservoir has been the target of a search.

“About a year ago, we had a gentleman fall out of his boat,” he said.  

Survival was a key theme for several Nyssa residents who are holding out hope for Bauer’s safe return. DeBoer said Bauer was popular with a lot of friends in the area who will be saddened if the reservoir claimed his life.

“He’s been here quite a few years,” she said. “If that is what happened, he’ll be missed.”

Nyssa City Hall Billing Clerk Marla Roberts echoed Bauer’s community ties.

“He’s had his business here for many years, since at least ‘94 or ‘95,” she said.  In January, Bauer linked up with other local dentists to assist with a free dental day to benefit Nyssa seniors citizens. The dental day was created as part of Nyssa High School student Whitney Peterson’s senior project.

The program offered exams, cleanings, simple extractions and fillings at Bauer’s office, located at 310 Bower Avenue. The office was closed Monday afternoon, with no timeframe on when it will reopen.

“It’s very sad,” local dentist Charles R. T. Bond said.

Bond also spoke about his past with Bauer.

“We went to dental school together, he was a year ahead of me at Oregon Health Sciences University,” he said. “He is married with two boys that are either high-school age or just beginning college.”