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wallowa.com
February 10, 2016
Wallowa County Chieftain
Committee OKs Oregon wolf delisting
Environmental
groups fear bill
will hamstring
recent lawsuit
By Mateusz Perkowski
Capital Press
SALEM — The removal of
wolves from Oregon’s list of
endangered species has been
approved by a key legislative
committee, potentially jeopar-
dizing a lawsuit that challeng-
es the delisting.
Last year, Oregon wildlife
regulators found that wolves
had suf¿ciently recovered to
delist them under the state’s
version of the Endangered
Species Act.
Because wolves remain
protected by the federal En-
dangered Species Act across
much of Western Oregon, the
state delisting only has effect
in the eastern portion of the
state.
Several
environmental
groups, which worry that del-
isting will eventually lead
to wolf hunting, ¿led a legal
Courtesy of ODFW
OR-3, a three-year-old male wolf from the Imnaha pack, is shown in this image captured from
video taken by an ODFW employee on May 10, 2011, in Wallowa County, Ore. The Oregon
House will vote on a bill ratifying the removal of wolves from the state’s endangered species
list.
complaint accusing the Ore-
gon Fish and Wildlife Com-
mission of ignoring the best
available science.
That lawsuit prompted two
lawmakers from Eastern Or-
egon to propose House Bill
4040, which would ratify the
commission’s delisting deci-
sion as having properly fol-
lowed the state’s endangered
species law.
On Feb. 9, that bill passed
the House Committee on Agri-
culture and Natural Resources
8-1 and is now heading for a
vote on the House Àoor with a
“do pass” recommendation.
Chair Brad Witt, D-Clats-
kanie, noted that H.B. 4040
was amended from its original
version to eliminate language
that would require wolf popu-
lations to decline substantially
before the species could be
re-listed as endangered.
Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Med-
ford, said that worries the del-
isting will lead to “automatic
slaughter” of wolves are un-
founded.
“This does not mean we’re
going to hunt wolves to extinc-
tion again,” he said.
Rep.
Chris
Gorsek,
D-Troutdale, was the com-
mittee’s only member to vote
against the bill.
While he doesn’t have a
problem with the delisting,
Gorsek said he was concerned
about the precedent set by the
legislature inserting itself into
the process.
Environmental groups that
are ¿ghting the delisting in
court — Oregon Wild, Casca-
dia Wildlands and the Center
for Biological Diversity —
fear that a rati¿cation by the
legislature will hamstring their
lawsuit.
Sean Stevens, executive
director of Oregon Wild, re-
cently argued that if the com-
mission’s decision was sci-
enti¿cally sound, there is no
reason to pass H.B. 4040.
While the plaintiffs groups
seek judicial review to deter-
mine if the commission acted
correctly, they have not asked
for an injunction and so the
delisting will remain effective
while the litigation is pending,
he said.
Laurel Hines, a member of
Oregon Wild, said that wolf
management in Oregon has
emphasized the protection
of the livestock industry, so
conservationists should be al-
lowed to proceed with the law-
suit to protect their interests.
The Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association disagrees with the
claim that H.B. 4040 will pre-
clude environmental groups
from obtaining judicial re-
view, said Rocky Dallum, the
group’s political advocate.
H.B. 4040 would not pre-
vent the plaintiff from ¿ling a
lawsuit, and since their com-
plaint has already been ¿led,
its merits will still be decided
in state court, Dallum said.
A judge may ¿nd the com-
mission acted properly regard-
less of the legislature’s action,
or may decide that the question
about the delisting’s legality
was answered by H.B. 4040, if
it passes, he said.
“It’s up to a judge to decide
whether the case is moot,”
Dallum said.
Get those cycling dollars into local coffers
BIZ BUZZ
Kathleen Ellyn
L
ast year several dozen people from
Union, Baker and Wallowa counties
attended a series of workshops
investigating how to further develop bicycle
tourism in Northeast Oregon. Among those
folks were Joseph Mayor Dennis Sands,
Penny Arentsen of Winding Waters River
Expeditions, Terry Edvalsen of Joseph Branch
Trail Consortium, Joella Arment of the Willows
Farm and Farm House, Heather Tyreman, Jerry
Hustafa, representatives from the Forest Service,
representatives from the Northeast Oregon
Economic Development District, Wallowa
Chamber of Commerce Director Vicki Searles
and Executive Director of Eastern Oregon
Visitors Association Alice Trindle.
Bicycle enthusiasts already love our area,
have a number of biking options here and
have money to spend. In fact, studies have
been done that show bicyclists spend more
money per person than the average tourist.
What Wallowa County needs to know is
how to get more and more of these folks out
here.
Work groups were developed during that
last round of workshops to look at what each
county needed to best develop bike tourism.
One of the key needs identi¿ed by the
counties was both online and printed maps for
gravel roads, paved roads and trails.
Another area of focus was how to advertise
the counties and what they have to offer to
lure bicyclists to the area.
A lot of work has already been done on the
advertising front and the 7 Bikes 7 Wonders
program last summer was part of that work.
We came that close to having the Cycle
Oregon come through again before wild¿res
forced a last-minute detour.
The Wallowa Lake Triathlon brought in
cyclists from across the nation.
An advertising focus also has been created
with the Ride Oregon Ride site (http://
rideoregonride.com). From that page bikers
can branch out and read about the Oregon
Scenic Bikeways Program, the only one of its
kind in the nation.
Let me pause a moment and repeat that:
The Oregon Scenic Bikeways Program is the
only one of its kind in the nation.
Wallowa County is represented on the
Oregon Scenic Bikeways “gravel riding”
pages with the 128-mile Joseph Canyon ride,
the 95.8-mile Joseph Loop ride, the 43.7-mile
Imnaha North Star ride and the 24.9-mile
West Union Elementary Loop (Imnaha) ride.
These rides are mostly paved with some
gravel.
That’s great. But let’s not stop working
with the Forest Service to develop a Wallowa
County Scenic Bikeway that makes the
Oregon Scenic Bikeways list.
Port Orford and Ashland just made the list
in 2015.
We actually do have a scenic bikeway —
it’s just not on that great advertising page, yet.
Our own contribution to riding heaven is
in hell — Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, that
is. Find out more about that 208-mile loop at
hellscanyonbyway.com.
Side note: on that site you’ll also read that
Grind TV gave winter in the Wallowas a good
report.
But back on the Ride Oregon Ride site,
you can read about a brand new event this
year — the “Oregon Triple Crown Series.”
It’s a total of 300 miles and 25,000 feet of
climbing made from parts of three routes from
some of Oregon’s best races: Oregon Gran
Fondo (Cottage Grove), Willamette Gran
Fondo (Bellfountain) and the Oregon Coast
Gravel Epic (Waldport).
No reason we can’t have a length of gravel
right through the county included in some
future series, is there?
The bene¿ts of developing our online
presence with the Travel Oregon and Ride
Oregon Ride sites get pretty business speci¿c,
too. As part of this marketing of riding
opportunities, a list of “bicycle friendly”
businesses is being developed for publication.
It’s all coming together.
And you can learn how help make it
happen.
A second series of workshops is scheduled
and the original work groups who have
been working on the triple development of
agritourism, bicycle tourism and arts/culture/
heritage tourism will be continuing the work
to put Wallowa County on the tourism map in
a big way.
Members of the public are being
encouraged to sign up for those workshops by
Feb. 26. Visit http://tinyurl.com/jxofx5m to
sign up.
Please send your Biz Buzz news tips to
Kathleen Ellyn at kellyn@wallowa.com.
Remaining occupiers release defiant videos mocking FBI
By Terrence Petty
Associated Press
PORTLAND — The last
four occupiers of an Oregon
wildlife refuge have posted
a series of de¿ant videos in
which one of them calls FBI
agents losers, shows a defen-
sive perimeter they have built
and takes a joyride in a gov-
ernment vehicle.
The videos were posted
Sunday on a YouTube chan-
nel called Defend Your Base,
which the armed group has
been using to give live up-
dates. The holdouts are among
16 people charged with con-
spiracy to interfere with feder-
al workers in the armed stand-
off over federal land policy
that has surpassed ¿ve weeks.
In one of the new videos,
occupier David Fry says the
FBI told him he faces ad-
ditional charges because of
defensive barricades the four
have built.
“We just got done talking
with the FBI,” said the
27-year-old
Blanchester,
Ohio, resident. “They consid-
er fortifying a crime.”
Fry said he, Jeff Banta of
Nevada, and husband and wife
Sean and Sandy Anderson of
Idaho have “every right” to
defend themselves from the
“oncoming onslaught of peo-
ple with fully automatic riÀes
(and) armored vehicles.
“I’m tired of you guys tell-
ing us what we can and can’t
do,” he says.
Then Fry shows govern-
ment vehicles they have been
using without permission. He
walks up to a white truck and
says, “I think I’m going to
take it on a little joyride.
“Now you’ve got another
charge on me FBI. I’m driving
your vehicle.”
FBI spokeswoman Beth
Anne Steele said the agency
had no comment on the videos.
The four have refused to
leave the Malheur National
Wildlife Refuge in eastern
Oregon since the compound
nearly emptied out after the
Jan. 26 arrests of group leader
Ammon Bundy and other main
¿gures. The group seized the
property on Jan. 2, demanding
federal lands be turned over to
locals.
The traf¿c stop on a remote
road outside the refuge also
led police to shoot and kill
Robert “LaVoy” Finicum. The
FBI says the Arizona rancher
was reaching for a pistol in his
pocket, but Finicum’s family
and Bundy’s followers dispute
that and say his death was not
justi¿ed.
Authorities surrounded the
refuge after the arrests. The
FBI has been negotiating, but
the holdouts have said they
won’t go home without assur-
ances they won’t be arrested.
In another video posted
Sunday, Sean and Sandy An-
derson are sitting together and
the husband says they feel like
hostages because they can’t
leave without being arrested.
“What are they to do with
us?” Sean Anderson says.
“They either let us go, drop
all charges because we’re
good people, or they come in
and kill us. How’s that going
to set with America?”
Meanwhile, Ammon Bun-
dy’s attorneys on Monday
released an audio recording
in which the jailed occupa-
tion leader called on elected
of¿cials in eight states to visit
arrested occupiers from those
states and show support for
their rights to free speech, as-
sembly and civil disobedience.
While federal authorities
say the refuge occupation is
illegal and Bundy’s followers
had threatened violence and
intimidated federal employ-
ees, Bundy contends the take-
over was a peaceful protest.
Vault Grand Opening Feb. 13
The Vault Health and Fit-
ness will be hosting its grand
0pening Feb. 13.
The new gym is located in
the old Sterling Bank building
at 106 1st St. in Enterprise.
Owners Noelle and Franz
Hovarth had hoped to open in
November, but the details of
operation took more time than
expected to ¿nish.
The new gym is the larg-
est in Wallowa County and
features equipment for ev-
erything from cardio to heavy
weights to cross-¿t workouts.
Yoga and Zumba classes
also will be offered.
The old bank vault itself is
being transformed into a boul-
dering room for climbers. In
addition to offering 24-hour
¿tness equipment, supple-
ments, classes and personal
trainers, the Hovarths hope
to attract outdoor enthusiasts
and help develop events they
enjoy.
Fliers on Dragon Boat
racing on Wallowa Lake also
will be available at the Grand
Opening.
For more information,
check the Vault’s Facebook
page or visit vaulthealthand-
¿tness.com.
Public Meetings
at City Library, City Hall or Com-
munity Center. www.josephore-
gon.org
Thursday, Feb. 11
• Wallowa County Compen-
sation Committee: 3 p.m. at the
Thornton Conference Room of
the Wallowa County Courthouse.
Monday, March 7
• Enterprise School Board: 7
p.m. in the Home-Ec room at the
high school.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
• Wallowa County Commis-
sioners: 9 a.m. at Thornton Room
at the courthouse. http://tinyurl.
com/jo8bcya
• Wallowa City Council, 7 p.m.
at council room in City Hall.
Wednesday, March 2
• Lostine City Council, 7:30
p.m. at City Hall.
Thursday, March 3
• Joseph City Council: 7 p.m.
Monday, March 14
• Joseph School Board, 5:30
p.m. at the school library. www.
joseph.k12.or.us
• Wallowa School Board, 7
p.m. at the high school library.