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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com News October 21, 2015 FOUSTE: Plea bargain leads to dismissed charges S UPERHEROES USE POWERS FOR SCAVENGER HUNT Continued from Page A1 Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain The Joseph Volleyball team, attired as superheroes (including Capt. Underpants) headed out to show some spirit in a scavenger hunt in downtown Joseph before their Oct. 2 double-header. Barns in all their forms By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Anyone who enjoys the sight of a nice country barn can spend a lot of time driving around the county in search of just about every kind of barn imaginable. Or you can save the gas and drive over to the Josephy Center in Joseph and see them gathered in one place for convenient viewing. Not just photographs, but paintings and line drawings as well. “Barns in the Rural Land- scape” is the theme of the center’s 2nd annual Art and Agriculture series, which fea- tures local artists, as well as, local barns for the most part. Dozens of art a¿cionados in various sophistication of dress crowded into the center for the Oct. 9 opening, enjoy- ing live music, hors d’oeuvres and of course, the art in all its forms. A number of the artists themselves attended and min- gled with the patrons. The barn art came in dif- Steve Tool/Chieftain Just a few of the dozens who visited the “Barns in the Rural Landscape” exhibit at the Josephy Center Oct. 9. ferent sizes and portrayed barns in various mediums from both the past and mod- ern eras. The artwork showed barns during the county’s different seasons, as well as, showing the diverse Wallowa Area agritourism development project underway Agritourism is growing. People want to know where their food comes from and have an authentic rural ex- perience. Rural communities can bene¿t from this desire by working with Janet Dod- son of Sunnyslope Marketing LLC to develop and market culinary and agricultural. Dodson will work with businesses and tourism part- ners in Wallowa, Union, Baker, Umatilla and Mor- row counties as part of a North East Oregon Eco- nomic Development District (NEOEDD) year-long agri- tourism development project. Agritourism in Eastern Oregon includes services such as lodging and camp- ing on farms and ranches; agriculture tours; on-farm hunting and ¿shing; restau- rants and events that feature local foods on the menu; lo- cal breweries, distilleries and wineries; and farmers mar- kets, farm stands, pumpkin patches and corn mazes. “Many tourism businesses see an opportunity to expand their market by partnering with farms and ranches. And lots of people want to know more about how their food is produced or to experience the rural lifestyle,” said Dodson. “This project seeks to bring together those three sets of interests and make good things happen.” One of Dodson’s ¿rst tasks will be organizing a working group for Baker, Union and Wallowa Counties. The meet- ings will begin in November. Interested farmers, ranchers and businesses should con- tact Dodson now. Workshops will be offered in early May to respond to the technical assistance and resource needs identi¿ed by the working groups and part- ners participating in the proj- County landscape in all its glory. Center director Cheryl Coughlan was pleased with the turnout and the variety of barns on display. “People suggest things all A9 the time for this series, and the board decided this ¿t the com- munity’s interests.” Coughlan said. “This show was done by invitation only and features local artists.” Artists were limited to submitting three pieces and Coughlan estimated she re- ceived 45 submissions for the show. Photographer Da- vid Jensen and artists Rodd Ambroson, Sam Collette and Dennis Reinke were among the local artists on display for the event. Coughlan said one of the center’s missions is to expose local talent to the Wallowa County public. “We have some real tal- ent here in the county that Àies under the radar, and that needs to change,” Coughlan said. The exhibit runs from Oct. 9 through Nov. 11. The center’s hours are Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Many of the exhibit pieces are for sale. Four other charges were dismissed as part of a plea ar- rangement. Fouste was accused of grabbing his girlfriend at the home they shared in Imnaha River Woods on May 11 and shoving her against a truck, bruising her shoulder and back. He also threatened her with a running chainsaw and waved a .357 magnum handgun with which he threatened to shoot police. Four law enforcement agencies and a SWAT team re- sponded to the incident. When required to explain what led to the actions and to admit his guilt, Fouste ¿rst pleaded “no contest.” Denied that plea by the judge, replied he had an argument with his girlfriend “that everyone else who touched it, it got blown all out of proportion and I’m here today on charges that should never have been there.” Dretke sharply correct- ed Fouste and required him to start again. “What you’ve told me is that you did nothing wrong. That’s not taking re- sponsibility,” Dretke said. Judge Dretke then required Fouste to explain how he came to assault the victim to which Fouste replied, “I defended myself.” Judge Dretke then stated in absence of an admission of guilt, Fouste required a 12-per- son jury trial and made ready to schedule one. At that point Fouste’s law- yer, William E Perkinson, Jr., asked for, and was granted, a recess to confer with his client. When Fouste returned he began reading from a prepared statement but was denied that option by Dretke. “You don’t need to read notes, you were there,” Judge Dretke said. When asked to explain why he threatened to use a gun against law enforcement, Fouste replied, “I was drunk and, I guess, just spouting off.” Given Fouste’s lack of criminal record, and the pros- ecution’s request that the plea bargain be honored, Judge Dretke allowed that this was a case where “something just snapped,” and accepted the State’s plea bargain. A number of restrictions come with his probation, in- cluding having no contact with the victim, a requirement to at- tend the Wallowa County Bat- terer’s Intervention Program and a requirement to submit to a mental evaluation and any treatment recommended as a result of that evaluation. He is also required to get a full-time job or combination of training and a job, denied the right to possess a ¿rearm, to change address without notice, or to leave the state without written permission. He is to write an apology to the Wallowa County law en- forcement of¿cers. The charges dismissed were a second count of unlaw- ful use of a weapon, a second count of menacing, a charge of pointing a ¿rearm at another, and a charge of harassment. Fouste will be allowed to petition for reduction of his class C felony charge to a mis- demeanor after the successful completion of his probation. The victim testi¿ed in Fouste’s behalf, emphasizing his lack of criminal record. She said her relationship with him was over, and that she wished he be allowed to remove his belongings from the house because she intend- ed to sell the home they had shared and move into Joseph. This was allowed provided she was not present at the time Fouste retrieved his be- longings. LalouSalon UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP! 541-432-HAIR Anita, 541-398-1335 • Panky, 503-799-5973 102 W McCully St. Joseph LUNCHES SERVED DAILY Now serving breakfast burritos & biscuits! Winding Waters Clinic 105 SE 1st St. • Enterprise • 426-3790 Pet of the Week L Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain A pair of Belgian mules plow a field in Joseph during the annual spring plowing exhibition. ect. Dodson will help create plans to market the unique offerings of each region. Contact Dodson at janetd@ eoni.com or 541-786-8006. ucky is a well-mannered mature gentleman. Give him a basket of toys, and he will entertain you and himself. He loves to go on walks and meet new friends. He is an Australian Shepherd mix, and in need of a Forever Home. Contact Mary of the Wallowa County Humane Society at 541-426-4170 www.wallowacountyhumanesociety.org An IRS 501 (C)3 ORGANIZATION OHSU Resident Brian Park, MD 11/2/15- 12/11/15 Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am to 7:00pm Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm 603 Medical Parkway Enterprise, OR 97828 Gambling Problem? Signs & Symptoms • Deterioration of work performance • Problems in concentration • Missing deadlines and important activities • Frequently borrowing money • Gambling to escape boredom, pain or loneliness • Lying to loved ones about gambling • Trying to win back money lost If you or someone you care about is experiencing a gambling problem, HELP IS AVAILABLE It's Free – It's Confidential – It Works. Call today: Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness 541-426-4524 • Or 1-877-My-Limit (24 hour Helpline) 207 SW 1st, Enterprise, OR 97828