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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain News wallowa.com Youth Arts Fest packs center By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain JOSEPH — With the beau- tiful spring weather in Wallowa County on May 2, the weather didn’t give many reasons for lo- cals to be indoors. That is, unless you wanted to experience the art of local youth at the 26th annu- al Wallowa Valley Youth Arts Festival housed at the Joseph Community Center. The festival received a steady stream of visi- tors throughout the day, accord- ing to Leah Johnson, co-chair of the Youth Arts Festival with Will Roundy. The event is open to all the county’s students and is spon- sored by the Wallowa Valley Arts Council. Johnson said the festival received over 900 art entries from students, approx- imately 300 pieces more than last year’s festival. Joseph Charter School sophomore Haven Johnson won the Judges’ Award (Best in Show), while JCS senior Amanda Blessing won the People’s Choice award for her painting, “Winter Solitude.” Steve Tool/Chieftain Third-grader Ariana Samples, 9, stands next to her 1st place “Taj Mahal” picture at the Wallowa Valley Youth Arts Festival on May 2. Both awards included a $50 prize. Haven Johnson expressed her pleasure in the ribbon and award for her encaustic painting. Encaustic painting is three-dimensional and entails using beeswax mixed with pig- ment as the medium. Amaz- ingly, Johnson only put about four hours into the work. “I only worked in short periods. You paint down the wax, then carve into it, put oil paint into the cracks, so you can build up layers. I just spent time build- ing up layers.” Johnson said she learned the technique from her mother, Leah Johnson. The record number of piec- es submitted this year pleased Leah Johnson. “The number of pieces submitted along with the great turnout today was just re- ally amazing. Since each child is only allowed to submit three pieces, nearly every child in the county must have entered,” Johnson said. The quality of the submitted pieces also made an impression on Johnson. She also praised musicians Casey Kiger and Ja- nis Carper who supplied music for the event. Volunteers play a large part in the event and Johnson singled out their work as well. “Our volunteers really helped, especially with the extra art work we had. We have the best volunteers,” Johnson said. Prize winners included: Artistic Merit Awards (decid- ed by judges): Kaylee Eaves, “Nature”, 1st Grade, Enter- prise; Tori Suto, “Still Life”, 8th Grade, Joseph; and Dylan Jen- nings, “Smokey Mountain”, 5th Grade, Wallowa. Directors’ Honorable Mention (decided by event co- chairs): Alternative Education Collaboration, tape/packing material people. Ben Lopez, “Scorpion”, 10th Grade, Joseph, and Sarah Thiel, sculpture, 12th Grade, Joseph. May 6, 2015 ODOT announces construction zones ahead for summer Travelers can expect to see RUDQJH WUDI¿F FRQHV DQG FRQ- struction workers throughout eastern Oregon this summer as about 30 Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) projects get underway. A half-dozen road and bridge projects have already begun and drivers are reminded WKDW WUDI¿F ¿QHV DUH GRXEOH WKH amount in all work zones, re- gardless of the presence of con- struction workers. Wallowa County projects in- clude the Deer Creek Road proj- ect which includes the replace- ment of Deer Creek Bridge and relocation of the old structure to Wallowa. Flaggers will be on site and drivers should expect up to 20-minute delays and de- tours. Work is expected to start in late summer or fall but may be delayed until 2016. The Wallowa Lake High- way (82) will also receive a pavement chip seal between Community Health Workers are there for you as Community Connection, Building Healthy Families, Winding Waters, Center for After the debacle of Cover Wellness, Bennett Insurance Oregon, Community Health or NEON. A trained CHW Workers (CHWs) are still will either help them navigate helping residents untangle the the thicket of information or details of their health insur- refer them to someone who ance. However, there’s good will. news, said Vixen Radford, a “Community Health CHW with Northeast Oregon Workers look at the whole Network (NEON). person or family and then help Not only are more CHWs community members connect being trained to assist Wal- with whatever agencies they lowa County residents in need,” Radford said. navigating their insurance ap- One bit of information plications, but the process is adults and parents with Or- EHLQJVLPSOL¿HGRYHUWKHQH[W egon Health Plan insurance few months. will be pleased to know is “Hopefully by the next that OHP does have a den- open enrollment period (No- tal plan provider in Wallowa vember 2015), the process County: Chief Joseph Dental will be less confusing,” Rad- Clinic. For children under 18 ford said. years old, OHP covers rou- Open enrollment is for tine exams, x-rays, cleanings individuals who will have to DQGÀXRULGHWUHDWPHQWVHYHU\ pay for their insurance. Some six months and emergency Wallowa County residents exams and x-rays any time qualify for free coverage, can and as many times as need- enroll at any time, and still ed. Children under 16 are haven’t availed themselves of also provided with sealants WKHEHQH¿W if needed. Adults on the plan “We still have people who can get routine exams, x-rays, are uninsured and we don’t and cleanings once a year and know why they are unin- emergency exams and x-rays sured,” Radford said. “Know- ing if you qualify for OHP is better than not knowing.” Many Wallowa County children will qualify for free Environment friendly soil Oregon Health Plan insurance, injections targets through the Healthy Kids pro- Bronze Birch Borer, gram. Income requirements to Aphids, Pine Beetles, obtain free health insurance Webworms, Whitefly for children stretch from an and more. annual income of $47,997 for • Free Estimate a family of two to an income & Consultation of $97,509 for a family of six. • Disease Diagnosis $GXOWVPD\DOVR¿QGWKHLU • Hazardous Tree income within the qualifying Removal brackets. A couple making • Safety Trimming $21,707 a year may qualify • Stump Grinding and adults in a family of six that makes just $44,119 may qualify. Another problem that CHWs are addressing is the GLI¿FXOW\PRVWIDFHLQXQGHU- standing the plan once a fami- ly has been enrolled. The Oregon Health Plan handbook is 56 pages long, so it’s no surprise that people FDQ¶W ¿JXUH KRZ WR XVH WKH plan, Radford said. But there’s Marty Hamilton no need to remain confused. TREE CARE NORTH Wallowa County residents 541-432-4605 • Cell # 541-398-1925 can contact a CHW through Licensed • Insured • Bonded • #92910 many organizations such By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain as needed. 2539 or email at vradford@ 2WKHU EHQH¿WV PD\ LQ- neonoregon.org. FOXGH ¿OOLQJV URRW FDQDOV extractions, stainless steel crowns, dentures and more. AROUND ENTERPRISE Prior authorization from OHP may be required for these ser- THE BOWLBY BASH vices. SOAPBOX DERBY For those with OHP who is quickly approaching. would like more information, If you are interested in glory and contact either Advantage Den- eternal admiration (and some fun), tal at 866-268-9631 or ODS please find a way to build yourself Dental Plan at 800-342-0526. a ride and prepare for race day - Saturday July 11, 2015. To get assistance in enrolling Guidelines and entry forms can be in OHP, or for more informa- picked up at Wild Carrot Herbals tion contact Vixen at 541-398- W il de rne s s Adv a nc e d Fir s t Aid Co urs e J une 3 - 6 , 2 0 1 5 c o u r s e s p o n s o r T o enr oll, c ontact: A m y B us ch 541.426.8053 x 22 am y@wall owar eso ur ce s.or g wallowar eso ur ces.o r g Wallowa and Joseph from mile- post 46 through milepost 71.5. Travelers should expect lane closures, reduced speeds, day DQG QLJKW ÀDJJHUV SLORW FDUV loose rock on the roadway and delays up to 20 minutes. Work is H[SHFWHGWRVWDUWWKH¿UVWZHHNLQ June and take about three weeks to complete. ODOT has also announced XSJUDGHVRIWUDI¿FVLJQDOVLQ/D Grande will be made; there will be some work on OR 82 (Island Ave.); and travelers should ex- pect lane restrictions, occasional ÀDJJHUV DQG PLQRU GHOD\V RQ U.S. 30 between mileposts 1.5 and 2.7 in spring and summer. Intersection improvements and signal installation at U.S. 30 and McAlister Road (railroad crossing) east of La Grande at milepost 4.9 will result in lane FORVXUHVÀDJJHUVDQGGHOD\VXS to 20 minutes. That work is ex- pected to start in July. Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Do you feel hopeless or has the joy gone out of your life? I can help! Are you struggling to make your marriage work? A few sessions can make a big difference. Jeff Harman, MA., LPC Professional Counseling In A Private Setting www.jharmancounseling.com To schedule an appointment call Jeff Harman (541) 426-3067 Preferred Provider for Regence Blue Cross, ODS, Cascade Centers and many other private insurance and employee assistance programs. W ITH F ONDEST M EMORIES We remember those who have passed away and are especially dear to us. On Wednesday, May 20 we will publish a special section devoted to those who are gone but not forgotten. The names will be placed in alphabetical order and will be similar to the sample below: SAMPLE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TREES! Judy Andrews June 27, 1951 – May 23, 2013 May God’s angels guide you and protect you throughout time. Always in our hearts, John and Monda Andrews and Family Deadline: Friday, May 13, 2015 A3