Wallowa County Chieftain
wallowa.com
News
January 7, 2015
A3
2014 IN REVIEW
REVIEW: Bike rally closes; Wallowas promoted
Continued from Page A1
posal to hold the biker gather-
ing on agricultural ground just
When the emergency call south of Enterprise was head-
ZHQW RXW WR RWKHU WRZQV¶ ¿UH ed for a brick wall with coun-
departments, responders had W\ ODQG XVH RI¿FLDOV WKRXJK
to contend with treacherous- so he eventually changed the
ly icy roads, forcing them to venue to the Wallowa County
reduce their speed. Arrival Fairgrounds.
10 minutes sooner wouldn’t
Wolves, never far from
have made a difference on this the spotlight in Northeast
blaze, however. The Grange Oregon, were noteworthy in
Hall and adjoining structure March for the Imnaha pack’s
owned by Norton Welding, loss of its status as a “breed-
ZKHUH WKH ¿UH VWDUWHG ZHUH ing pair,” meaning the pack
IXOO\ LQYROYHG LQ ÀDPHV DQG wasn’t currently carrying the
beyond saving.
required two-pup minimum.
Days later the Grange con- It apparently won’t matter for
¿UPHGWKDWWKHORVVZDVXQLQ- purposes of determining when
sured. Norton Welding alone Oregon wolf management can
would rebuild within the com- switch to Phase 2 of the state’s
ing months.
plan; it seems there were more
Winter brought a discour- than enough breeding pairs re-
aging piece of news about the maining to justify the switch
approaching summer visitor after new population counts
season: cancellation of the DUH ¿QDOL]HG H[SHFWHG WR RF-
annual Bronze Bike rally in cur early in 2015.
Joseph. Gary Bethscheider, a
Spring was a primary
bar owner in Joseph, quickly election season, and the 2014
stepped into the breach with election was unusual for its in-
an announcement of a new tensity in a normally little-con-
bike rally, the Wallowa County tested area: that for the GOP
Thunder Run. His initial pro- QRGIRUVWDWHOHJLVODWLYHRI¿FH
commissioners. The Novem-
ber ballot also saw rejection
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repair bond in Joseph, and an
Enterprise Cemetery District
proposal to hike its levy ap-
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irrigation.
Throughout much of the
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cials and local forest users
sparred intermittently with
the U.S. Forest Service over
the federal agency’s proposed
Photo by Chantal Anderson, courtesy TravelOregon.com
Blue Mountains Forest Plan
Alice Trundle sits on horseback in a photo to help promote revision. Critics feared the
“The Wallowas” as one of the “7 Wonders of Oregon” roughly 1,400 pages could fur-
campaign by Oregon Travel Commission/Travel Oregon.
ther establish the framework
for reducing motorized ac-
Oregon House candidate John lowa County’s Republicans cess. Wallowa County joined
Turner, a Pendleton-based ed- favored Barreto by a wide 10 other counties in formally
ucator who enjoyed the full margin.
opposing the proposal.
backing of retiring area repre-
Elsewhere on the Wallowa
Here are several other news
sentative Bob Jenson as well County ballot, incumbent items from 2014 from a much
DVVXSSRUWIURPRWKHULQÀXHQ- county commissioner Paul larger number that are all wor-
tial Republicans, might have Castilleja fended off a chal- thy of mention:
been a shoo-in in days gone lenge from Mark Stauffer in
• The Wallowas were pro-
by, but he was washed away ZKDWZRXOGEHWKH¿QDOUXQIRU moted by Travel Oregon as
in the grass-roots tidal wave D:DOORZD&RXQW\RI¿FHRQD one of “Seven Wonders of
that carried Tea Party-friendly partisan basis. In November, Oregon,” a boost to local tour-
Greg Barreto, a manufacturer the county’s voters approved a ism.
IURP &RYH LQWR RI¿FH :DO- switch to non-partisanship for
• The Oregon Department
of Employment permanently
closed the state employment
RI¿FHLQ(QWHUSULVH
• A feasibility study for a
contemplated project of devel-
oping a trail beside the rails of
the Wallowa-Union Railroad
line began in earnest with a
survey of adjacent landown-
ers and others, and a series
of public workshop meetings
was held in three towns along
the line.
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Enterprise Elks Lodge faced
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choices about their organi-
zation’s future. Although re-
building the damaged interior
was a given, an earlier goal of
establishing a bowling alley in
the basement appeared jeopar-
dized.
• Former Imnaha pack
member OR-7, the world’s
most famous wolf for his
highly publicized far wander-
ings, somehow found a mate
in his new Southwest Oregon
haunts and the pair was soon
FRQ¿UPHG WR KDYH DOUHDG\
produced offspring.
W ALLOWA C OUNTY ’ S FRONT PAGE HEADLINES IN 2014
JANUARY
Jan. 1
Rail-with-trail hearings may begin in
March
Stauffer to run for commission
Bus crash victims seek $700 million
Responses on guns, water rates high-
lighted 2013 news
Jan. 8
Schools gain tech ed cash
Larry Davy returns as health district
CEO
Round-Up royalty for Kylie Willis
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New Year’s polar ritual
Jan. 15
Forest work countdown begins
Farewell to Jack (McClaran)
City faces expensive street repair
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Motorcycle rally canceled for 2014
Jan. 22
Motorcycle event needs county’s OK
Crowd turns out for Lostine Tavern’s
open house, feed
Street repair meeting important for
Joseph
Tippett halts council recall campaign
Republican challenger of Walden to
speak
Jan. 29
Grant fuels health training
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Group to talk forest restoration
Wolves traveling closer to residences
Chamber honors citizen leaders
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5
Wolves kill ewe
Crowd scopes forest plan
Local snowpack numbers highest in
the state
Turner focuses on jobs, economy
Bike rally organizer looks for new site
Feb. 12
Inferno shocks town
Depredation counts as ‘qualifying
incident’
Council sets meeting on street repair
Barreto decries costly, intrusive regs
Feb. 19
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Ski tour ends in tragedy
Good hay trumps transport cost
Photo contest winners
Weed program too liked
Wallowa school cheers vo-ag grant
Feb. 26
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ESA burden alarms locals
Senior Living shifts controls
Health clinic expands to Wallowa
MARCH
March 5
Pack loses ‘breeding pair’ status
Court drops suit against former editor
Storms bolster snow packs
Thunder Run looking to move to county
fairgrounds
Dickenson scheduled for sentencing
March 5
March 12
Dickenson receives 16-month sentence
The Wallowas promoted as one of ‘7
Wonders of Oregon’
Forest Service seeks input on revised
plan
New community health worker role
progresses
Snake River pack avoids lethal control
March 19
State investigates fatal fall
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Joseph Hardware moves to new home
Elks seek bowling alley funding
Joseph Charter School to add class-
rooms, gym
March 20 Blue Forest Plan meeting set
Local aftermath of groceries’ merger
unknown
March 26
Locals to USFS: We distrust plan
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Local distillery wins award for best
whiskey
APRIL
April 2
College has big role in rail/trail study
Locals want say in ESA roll-out
Future bright for EHS shop program
Novel rail rider trips could begin in May
Circle 100 Club raises $11,800 for
incubator
April 9
Top employer hires new leader
Turner, Barreto agree on big issues
Joseph bans medical marijuana
facilities
Water project’s completion date passes
Studies expected to give biomass the
edge
‘We Love Our Kids’ dinner this Friday
April 16
Swart wins another round
Suspect from Idaho nabbed
Auction raises $23K for (school)
programs
Railrider enterprise clears insurance
hurdle
Seniors’ local champ to retire, volunteer
April 23
More moratoria on pot dispensaries
Rinehart reigns as 2014 CJD queen
Wallowa pleased by project progress
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Joseph shown visions of its future
April 30
Supervised work-crew program coming
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Forest projects approved
House candidates Barreto, Turner stake
out positions
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MAY
May 7
Motorcycle rally wins city grant
Joseph dubbed culture district
Mule Days names second-generation
grand marshal
BOC compromises on tax ordinance
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PGG to get out of retail business
May 14
Voters need to mail ballots earlier
Jean Johnson to celebrate 100th
Old Town Café welcomes new owners
Enterprise High School strikes academ-
ic silver
Famous wolf OR-7 no longer lonely
May 21
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Joseph council OKs 2 CUPs
Railriders roll out with service between
Joseph and Enterprise
Vali’s to celebrate 40th year at Wallowa
Lake
May 28
Merchants oppose vendors on city lot
Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts marks
32nd year
Local employer council earns award
Memorial fund makes splash for therapy
Castilleja, Barreto win their races
Wallowa County’s veterans honored
JUNE
June 4
Guentert takes helm at Community
Connection
Dog-heavy lot rankles neighbors
‘Taste of Joseph’ to spotlight busy town
Asphalt ordered, plant ready for work
Hospital installs new CT scanner
June 11
County OKs moraine development
Drive starts for neutral board
‘Remembering WWII’ exhibit opens
Bank robbery reprised
Obamacare will bare its teeth next year
June 18
Neutral BOC question advances
Feds delay repair of Wallupa Road
Debbie Hadden retires from EHS ‘home
ec’ classroom after 41 years
Norton Welding begins to rebuild after
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City raises sewer rate $1
June 25
Home building surges in county
Parkinson’s patients stress positive
attitude
Firewood supplier looks to city land-
owners
Pam Latta steps down as Joseph
School District’s drama director
Chieftain hires sales consultant
JULY
July 2
Peggy Gentle will be parade’s royalty
Loggers active on Hancock property
County poised for a jam-packed 4th
Board limits locations for moraine builds
July 9
Bowlby Bash toasts Enterprise’s past
Wounded warrior honored in Fourth of
July parade
Mayor answers critics of vendors’ use
of lot
City of Wallowa, Maxville part ways on
empty USFS compound
July 16
Hurricane Creek #2 Fire grows
Trail-with-rails study clock starts
Upper Valley real estate sales up
Drum contest featured at 24th Tam-
kaliks
Joseph street project to be on ballot
July 23
Hurricane Creek ablaze
Rancher named grand marshal
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Chesnimnus area
69th annual ‘rip-roaring’ Chief Joseph
Days begins
July 30
Fires held in check
Parents save toddler with dispatcher’s
help
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Wallowa County Fair opens Saturday
City steps back from longstanding
auditor contract
AUGUST
Aug. 6
Five Mile Fire grows near Imnaha
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Counties pan plan to manage Blue
Mountains
Bronze, Blues & Brews comes of age
Aug. 13
Tide turns on Somers Fire
Blaze closes Elks Lodge
Enterprise tunes up for car show, street
dance
County digs in against new USFS plan
‘If’ operative word in Land Trust
agreement
Aug. 20
County to ‘require’ feds’ cooperation
McClaran Ranch receives Grassman
honor
Innovative IBR continues to grow
Thunder Run expected to draw hun-
dreds of riders
Aug. 27
Work starts at Joseph school
Rail trail ideas probed
Juniper Jam-tastic
Enterprise woman dies in early morning
crash
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3
Castilleja, two mayors face challengers
Airport upgrades wing tip clearance
For the love of mules
Teacher retirements cause classrooms
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Sept. 10
Poll: County tourism on the upswing
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150 people to improve their health for
$99
Chieftain hires new reporter
Sept. 17
Revitalization grant boosts Joseph
school, community
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Clinic applies to become community
health center
Fire crews gain upper hand on West
Fork blaze
Vehicle rolls quarter-mile in fatal wreck
near Troy
Sept. 24
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Three earn inclusion as CJD royalty
Alpenfest adds polka lessons
Voters to decide if cemetery gets water
OCTOBER
Oct. 1
Joseph to vote on street-repair bond
Loop Road nears lengthy closure
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emerging
Chrisman brothers’ prominence grows
in low-income housing
Ec-dev’s ‘Community Capital’ makes
headway
Oct. 8
Meth comes roaring back, from Mexico
Mysterious ailment causes local actor to
lose his voice
Oregon wolf numbers could trigger
delisting
Tippett ends run for mayor
Falling snag kills Enterprise woodcutter
Sam Bowman
Oct. 15
Senior Living confronts cost hikes
Voters’ forum planned Oct. 20
Feds not interested in Forest Service
buildings
Tribe, irrigators celebrate success with
restoring Chinook salmon
Oct. 22
Citizens vote on local tax measures
WMH in the black
Woodcutters not meeting demand
County’s voters hear from candidates
Oct. 29
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Private NP psych practice to open
Deputy forest supervisor promoted to
top post
Wallowa Memorial Hospital prepares
for Ebola
Barreto opponent warns voters: be wary
NOVEMBER
Nov. 5
Hancock-Boise Cascade future veiled
Quake ripples through county
Public learns options for bike/ped routes
around lake
Firemen to stump for food banks
Veterans Day events planned
Nov. 12
Street bond fails; gov’t regroups
Rappel crew’s exit appears certain
Hwy 3 rollover kills motorist
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TMP-related comment deadline nears
Nov. 19
Forest starts clock for project comments
$50K grant helps streets
Elks Lodge weighs tough choices
Doctor guides lifestyle changes to
improve health
Judge dismisses couple’s suit against
sheriff, county
Nov. 26
Avalanche victim’s memorial fund
boosts information center
Council wants schedule change at
public works
Longtime Red Cross volunteer retires
Low number here get food assistance
Stringing the downtown trees
DECEMBER
Dec. 3
Guilty fraud plea linked to copter crash
Wellness Center continues to grow
Giving program hangs on
Moraine buy may need congressional
assist; Walden voices support
Dec. 10
County prepared for road funds’ loss
Unity hastens forest project
2014 (Winterfest) lineup will include
karaoke
Public educates trail study group
Dec. 17
Santa visits Winterfest
Resident lives a life of music
New K-9 on hold
Creek project won’t wait for fuel reduc-
tion funds
City waste manager resigns
Roberts signs up for road-use charge
Dec. 24
Circuit Court balks at sale of its desks
Hancock, Boise mum on expiring forest
contract
Train operators want to extend runs to
Wallowa
County’s new work crew program: it’s
working
Season’s best-decorated residence
Dec. 31
Worldwide trek lands doctor at Winding
Waters Clinic
Seat belts credited with saving lives in
3 accidents
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Photo contest begins Jan. 1
Wallowa Mountain
Quilters’ Guild
New members
& visitors welcome
– come join us!
We meet the second
Thursday of
every month.
Next meeting:
Thursday, Jan. 8
6:30 pm. Toma’s
Conference Room
in Enterprise.
Thank You
Thanks to all of my
friends and Riverquest
family, I am home.
Horses, dogs,
chickens, goats all
cared for by you in my
absence. I feel so
honored and humbled
to be the recipient of
this love.
Gail Murphey
Wallowa County
HEALTH LINE
519 W. North Street, Enterprise
541.426.3413
Mon-Thurs 9 to Noon/1-5pm; Fri. 9-1
207 SW 1 St. and 603 Medical Parkway
Enterprise, OR 97828
Phone: 541-426-4524
Mental Health Crisis Number 541-398-1175
Monday – Thursday 8am to 5pm Friday 8am to 12pm