Wallowa County Chieftain
News
wallowa.com
December 2, 2015
A7
Akenson reinstated to Wildlife Commission
By Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
The Oregon State Senate
recently voted 22-8 to rein-
state retired wildlife biologist
Holly Akenson of Enterprise
for another four-year term
on the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife Commis-
sion. Con¿rmation of Aken-
son, along with commissioner
Michael Finley of Medford,
was delayed from April 2015
due concerns by some of a
lack of ODFW Commission
budget oversight as well as
pressure from sport-¿shing
and stockgrowers groups to
appoint commissioners with
their interests at heart.
The seven-member com-
mission consists of one per-
son from each congressional
district plus one person from
each side of the Cascades.
The commission determines
ODFW policy and wildlife
management practices. The
ODFW Commissioners serve
a maximum of two four-year
terms.
The 22-8 vote came as
somewhat of a surprise to Ak-
enson.
“It (the no votes) was a lit-
tle more than I expected, but
I guess that’s politics in Sa-
lem,” she said.
Akenson attended high
school in Baker City before
attending college at Eastern
Oregon University, where
she earned degrees in biology
and secondary education. She
earned her master’s degree at
the University of Idaho.
Akenson has lived and
worked as a biologist in both
Dispatch log
Steve Tool/Chieftain
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission member Holly Akenson of Enterprise.
Idaho and Oregon. She has
never been a full-time ODFW
employee.
“I had a short-term posi-
tion and did some contract
work,” she said.
She also served as ¿eld sta-
tion manager/scientist for the
University of Idaho, where
she did research and ran pro-
grams for college students.
In 2011, the of¿ce of *ov.
John Kitzhaber contacted
Akenson to see if she was
interested in serving on the
commission. The vetting pro-
cess included an appearance
before the state Senate Rules
FOR THE RECORD
determined to be unfounded.
5:29 p.m.: Lost dog reported
in Joseph; reunited with owner.
7:45 p.m.: 911 call for possible
electrical ¿re in Enterprise.
lost between Joseph and Enter-
prise on Highway 82.
10:37 a.m.: Cougar sighting in
Enterprise.
5:06 p.m.: 911 call reporting
traf¿c crash with property damage
in Wallowa.
Nov. 23
2:12 p.m.: Found lab cross
dog with GPS collar; owner
located
Nov. 24
2:11 p.m.: Baker City police
arrested William Gabriel Roger,
35, of Joseph on a Wallowa
County parole violation. Trans-
ported to Union County Jail.
8:48 p.m.: Lost Springer
Spaniel in Enterprise.
9:13 p.m.: Vehicle in ditch
outside of Enterprise.
Nov. 25
7:41 a.m.: Report of property
damage in rural Joseph.
10:44 a.m.: Report of two
trees cut on private property in
rural Joseph.
11:35 a.m.: Theft in rural
ek
e
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e
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t
f
o
t
n
e
tud
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Emma Carlsen
Enterprise High School
Enterprise.
12:26 p.m.: One-vehicle acci-
dent on Highway 3.
Nov. 29
9:52 a.m.: Report of red bag
Committee and other senators
before her original nomina-
tion was con¿rmed by the en-
tire Senate. During her recent
re-con¿rmation hearing, Ak-
enson met with some senators
before the vote.
Akenson said she appreci-
ates the role the commission
plays in Oregon wildlife man-
agement and mentioned sev-
eral important issues she took
part in during her ¿rst term
— the most critical being
wolf management. She was
among the four commission
members who voted to delist
the wolf from state Endan-
gered Species Act protections
in November.
“I think the wolf downlist-
ing is a positive thing for Or-
egon that won’t stop wolves
from being protected but will
allow for us to continue to use
the wolf plan,” she said.
Conservation
manage-
ment of non-game wildlife
also is important to Akenson,
as there’s not direct funding
to do work in that area. The
ODFW Must ¿nished updat-
ing a 10-year plan that gives
private individuals and orga-
nizations ideas on what could
bene¿t a variety of important
non-game species in Oregon.
“I’ll be working to ¿nd
other funding sources for that
plan,” she said.
Sage *rouse protection
also is a very controversial
subject in the West, some-
thing the ODFW Commission
also tackled.
“I was pleased that the col-
laborative stakeholder groups
that had different interests
came together and helped de-
termine how Oregon protects
Sage *rouse while provid-
ing viable opportunities for
employment and agricultural
interests. The result of that
plan contributed to the (U.S.)
government deciding not
to list (Endangered Species
/ist) the Sage *rouse, which
makes it easier on folks in Or-
egon.”
Akenson cited the example
of the Sage *rouse issue pro-
viding mutually bene¿cent
aid to the grouse and ranchers
by allowing for the removal
of Juniper trees which soak
up valuable ground water as
well as encroaching on sage
brush, as well as providing
monies to both ¿ght and pre-
vent rangeland ¿res.
She said her ability to
bridge gaps and ¿nd common
ground with opposing fac-
tions is her greatest offering
to the commission.
“I’ve had people tell me
I have communication skills
that work well in controver-
sial situations. I like being
able to communicate with
people of different perspec-
tives and feel like we’re con-
necting and not just ignoring
each other. As long as we can
keep talking and communicat-
ing, it helps people feel better
about a given situation.”
Nov. 26
10:30 a.m.: Report of lost dog
in Enterprise.
4:40 p.m.: Vehicle in the ditch
on Hurricane Creek.
Nov. 27
11:05 a.m.: 911 call reporting
verbal domestic dispute in rural
Wallowa.
11:22 a.m.: Vandalism report-
ed in Wallowa.
Nov. 28
1:58 p.m.: Report of injured
elk in rural Lostine.
4:54 p.m.: Possible wold dep-
redation reported in rural Lostine;
Emma Carlsen has earned a 3.91
cumulative GPA while at EHS.
She has taken two years of foreign
language Algebra II and College
Math. She has excelled in the
Sciences taking Physics, Animal
Science and College Biology. She has
challenged herself with AP Language
and Composition and College Writing
121. She has enjoyed Psychology,
Band and is a four year Agricultural
Sciences student. She has completed
16 college credits and is currently
enrolled in Chemistry and Writing
122. Thank you Emma for making
EHS a better place.
The Wallowa County Chieftain
2015 The GRAND PRIZE WINNER
GRIDIRON will be announced in the
CONTEST December 9th Edition!
Jim Clegg won the week 11 football
contest with 11 correct picks!
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Luxury Coach & Lodging
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Wallowa Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
Catch the Bus!
• Intercity Transportation to La Grande
Monday and Thursday Weekly ~ Cost $5.00
each way. Free access for veterans medical
appointments in La Grande.
• Mealsite Bus ~ providing transportation to
Senior Center for lunch ~ Cost $1.00 round trip.
• Tuesday & Thursday Shopping Bus
provides transportation for shopping and
errands throughout Wallowa County ~
Cost $3.00 from Wallowa/Joseph,
$2.00 Enterprise only.
C OMMUNITY C ONNECTION
OF W ALLOWA C OUNTY