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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com News July 8, 2015 A7 LODGE: Investors want to keep building interests local Continued from Page A1 It’s an idea that the current owner, Marc Zwerling, likes a lot. “I would love it,” he said. “Steve and I got involved with the lodge because we fell in love with the area. We’ve spent most of the last 10 years trying to ¿nd local people who would be involved. We tried as hard as we could. I welcome this development enthusiastically.” Monteith has already con- tacted the Oregon Department of Forestry, State Parks, the Department of Fish and Wild- life, the Nez Perce Tribe, and Eastern Oregon University to inform them of developments and elicit goodwill. These agencies would not be ¿nan- cial supporters, but would be cooperative agencies, he said. “They would have a direct interest in what would happen at the head of the lake,” Mon- teith said. The plan, such as it is in the current embryonic state, is that the lodge would re- main an operating lodge and the lands around would con- tinue to provide some public access. “The general consensus is that we keep the lodge as much as original as possi- ble — to not develop,” said Monteith. “We are planning on keeping the land around the lodge, 8.5 acres, open and preserving the habitat the land represents ¿sh habitat and wetlands for instance.” This is right in line with the values of both Marc Zwer- ling and the late Steve Larson. In fact, when the two ac- quired the lodge in 1989 it was shortly after Wallowa County had passed a compre- hensive new zoning plan that would have allowed “mas- sive development on all sides of the lake,” Zwerling said. “Steve was appalled by that. Steve wanted to do what he could to stop that plan.” The two ¿led an action that became known as Larson versus Wallowa County and found further support from 1,000 Friends of Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe. The litigation made its way through Land Use Board of Appeals and the Oregon Court of Appeals and Larson won. “I fancy we played a prom- inent role in slowing down the development around the lake,” Zwerling said. “Steve and I are very proud of the part we played in that.” Zwerling remains com- mitted to seeing the lodge in the hands of preservationists, but he also means to sell the lodge. The deadline for submit- ting a sealed bid on the lodge is July 29, and Monteith and his group are still “getting a sense of whether there are legs for this or not,” he said. There seem to be legs. Monteith reported that he gets calls almost daily and so far there is a brisk trade in “if you will, I will” pledges. “There’s an immense amount of interest in doing something locally with the lodge,” said Monteith. “There may be a meeting or two coming up in the next week, taking input and comments from people. I don’t know if anything will come of this but there is enough interest to ¿nd out. We have 12 people who have committed money at ¿ve or six ¿gures. We’re looking at a broad array of investors. We’re going to have $500 WYDEN: Senator talks trade, tourism Continued from Page A1 He added one of his big- gest concerns in that area was the spiraling costs of specialty drugs not covered by Medi- care section D. Wyden said he worried the costs could threat- en the budgets of several health care programs. Wyden said he is currently investigat- ing the phenomenon with Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Wyden was at his most an- imated defending the contro- versial TPP act, which signi¿- cantly reduces tariffs from 12 countries representing 40 per- cent of world markets. Partic- ipating countries include sev- eral from both Asia and South America as well as Australia and New Zealand. The act also covers intellectual prop- erty rights, environmental standards and labor concerns. Wyden argued that Oregon is economically dependent on trade with one in ¿ve Oregon jobs directly linked to trade. He also said, “My concern has always been that if we walk away from 40 percent of the global economy, the Chi- nese will step in and write the rules. We’re a force for boost- ing standards up in this effort with tougher environmental enforcement, and for the ¿rst time, this has human rights as a priority. I think people who have criticized trade agree- ments in the past had some very valid points, and I’ve tried to incorporate them in this new approach.” Wyden also said that for the sake of transparency, he insisted the TPP be made available for public inspection for 60 days before the presi- dents signs it. In other matters directly re- lated to the area, Wyden said he was working hard with the FCC to ensure that Internet and cell service carriers in ru- ral areas can obtain low-spec- trum wireless and high-speed ¿ber optic Internet. Wyden also said that as a member of the Healthcare subcommittee, he is work- ing on legislation in relation to Critical Access Hospitals (such as Wallowa Memorial Hospital). “Sen. Hatch and I are working closely to lift the ridiculous restrictions the government puts on Critical Access Hospitals. They need to be able to do their job of LOTS: 20 building areas planned Continued from Page A1 As for the property near the highway, “they should keep that area by the big dance hall open for Alpenfest,” he said. Thornberg, who wrote a let- ter in advance of the hearing, said his primary concern was that he did not see designated parking on the plan. “They’re subdividing property that is now existing parking lot. I didn’t see any proposed parking other than what exists now in the upper parking lot,” he said. As Thornberg points out, portions of the property along the highway have served as overÀow parking during peak tourist season. In response to parking concerns the owners, through Anderson, indicated they would continue using the bottom four lots as overÀow parking and further pledged to improve parking if need be. “Their own well-being with regard to their business is direct- ly connected to having parking,” said Anderson. “They would be foolish to do anything that would hamper that. The deci- sion of the owners is that there will be no net decrease in park- ing with this development as BOWLBY: Event Saturday Continued from Page A1 Art demonstrations are scheduled and sidewalk chalk art is encouraged. There will be games, music throughout the day, and downtown walk- ing tours. The Tour Through Time tours are guided and tourists will learn about the history of the Bowlby Stone and how it impacted the archi- tecture and buildings of the Enterprise community. Also, stop by the Odd Fel- lows Hall between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and view the silent auction items that Enterprise Community Connection will have on display for your high- est bid. Proceeds will bene¿t the Meals on Wheels program. The Bowlby Bash is an all-inclusive, free family-ori- ented event. Mark your calen- dar on July 11th to “Celebrate Community” at the Bowlby Bash in historic Enterprise. For the event schedule, exhibitor and vendor infor- mation contact Sondra Lozi- er at Favorite Finds on Main Street: 541-426-3229 or cell number 541-263-0104. Visit www.bowlbybash.org, like and follow Facebook. long as they own the place.” The tram corporation owns additional property along the front of the Edelweiss building and property south of that as well that could be developed for more parking if need be, Ander- son said. In addition, “There’s always the possibility that the Edelweiss building might disappear one of these days,” said Anderson. investors and we’re going to have $150,000 investors.” The investment, said Mon- teith, would not need to be an altogether altruistic one. “This is not a losing proposition,” he said. “Usually such a lodge would be in bad shape and unpro¿table — that’s not the case with the Wallowa Lake Lodge. Investors might not make a ton of money but it’s a viable business. Investors can know those are not problems we have. You can obviously make more money doing oth- er things, but for people who care about the lodge, this is not a losing proposition.” Monteith can be contacted at 541-432-3044. The family of serving their rural communi- ties,” Wyden said. County Commissioner Mike Hayward later remarked that the town hall was “one of the better town hall meetings I’ve been to. I thought there was a good range of ques- tions, and the senator gave good answers in that he gave us his perception of things, even if everyone didn’t agree with them.” HUBERT ALLAN 'AL' SLINKER, would like to thank all the friends for the outpouring of sympathy, cards, food and prayers. Thank you especially to the Wallowa Memorial staff and nurses for their unfailing attention and loving care in his final days. And toDr. Boyd and the Wallowa Mountain Medical staff for his care. At Al's request, no funeral will be held. A Celebration of his life will be held on July 18 from 1 pm til 4 pm at his airport hangar inEnterprise. Improved Diagnostics, Lower Radiation… t Ğ Ž ī Ğ ƌ Ă Ɛ ƚ Ă ƚ Ğ Ͳ Ž Ĩ Ͳ ƚ Ś Ğ Ͳ Ă ƌ ƚ ͕ d ^ Đ Ă Ŷ Ŷ Ğ ƌ ƚ Ž ď Ğ Ʃ Ğ ƌ Ɛ Ğ ƌ ǀ Ğ LJ Ž Ƶ • 64 slice capabilities es means me impr oved diagnostics • Fasterr, so you spe end le time on the table • New technology r educ amount of radiation / Ĩ LJ Ž Ƶ ƌ Ɖ Ś LJ Ɛ ŝ Đ ŝ Ă Ŷ Ž ƌ Ě Ğ ƌ Ɛ Ă d ^ ƚ Ś Ğ ď Ğ Ɛ ƚ ƚ Ğ Đ Ś Ŷ Ž ů Ž Ő LJ Ž Ŷ ƚ Ś Ğ ŵ Ă ƌ Ŭ Ğ ƚ ͙ W e trr eat e you like family f 601 01 Medical Parkway y , En Enterprise, E nterprise, ise, OR 97828 • 541-426-31 541-426- 1 1 • www w .wchcd.or g W allowa a Memoria al Hospital is an equal opportunity oppor pr ovider and employer