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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2016)
Fair Book inside this week Enterprise, Oregon Wallowa.com Issue No. 7 Spending on lobbying up; transparency still murky Health care sector biggest 2007-2015 spender By Hillary Borrud Capital Bureau SALEM — Businesses, special interest groups and governments have increas- ingly invested in lobbying Oregon lawmakers and oth- er state officials over the last nine years. And based on spending data from the state, those groups appear to have concluded lobbying is a good investment: reported annual spending on lobbying increased 15 percent from 2007 to 2015, when adjusted for inflation . Yet despite the millions of dollars involved, it’s nearly impossible for Orego- nians to get details on how lobbyists spend that money to achieve payoffs for their $1 June 1, 2016 clients, because Oregon law allows lobbyists and their clients to disclose little in- formation about how they influence state laws and spending. See SPENDING, Page A8 Lobbying cash spent in Oregon, 2007-15 A wide range of entities, from hospitals and nursing homes to utilities and the governor’s office, reported spending more than $251 million on lobbying Oregon lawmakers and other state officials from 2007 through 2015. $35.9 (All sectors, millions of dollars) million 33.9 31.1 29.8 27.2 26.8 25.6 21.2 19.9 Up 31.7% from 2007 NOTE: Totals not adjusted for inflation. 2007 ’09 ’11 ’13 2015 Source: Oregon Government Ethics Commission Hillary Borrud and Alan Kenaga/EO Media Group HONORING THE FALLEN Scot Heisel/The Chieftain Steve Tool/Chieftain The Eagle Cap VFW Post 4307 Memorial Day ceremony and reading of the fallen held Monday at the Wallowa County Courthouse. VISIT WALLOWA.COM TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY OF LOCAL CEREMONIES. A girl shows a moment of reverence for fallen veterans just before the Memorial Day ceremony led by local veterans at the Joseph Cemetery on Monday. Impressive Enterprise grads embark on the future By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain “It feels like a million years ago when we fi rst walked through the door ... and yet it seems like just yes- terday,” said 2016 Enterprise valedictorian Dawn Mist Movich-Fields during Satur- day’s graduation ceremony. It was a comment that seemed to perfectly explain the emotions of the gradu- ates: thrilled to be moving on, tearing up as they hugged the friends they were leaving, afraid and excited at once. Twenty-four students walked across the stage to accept their diplomas and handshakes from Superinten- dent Brad Royse and School Board Chair Keli Christman. High School Principal Blake Carlsen listed each student’s college or employment plans and the many scholarships won by 2016 graduates, and then either hugged them or See GRADS, Page A9 Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain “ IT FEELS LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR, AND YET IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY valedictorian Dawn Mist Movich-Fields Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain The proud mom of two Ford Scholarship grads, Bette and Eyreus Rooney, who will have 90 percent of their four-year college costs covered. High School Principal Blake Carlsen cried when his daughter graduated, School Board Chair Keli Christman gave each grad a warm congratulations, and Brad Royse enjoyed his last turn on the graduation podium, delivering a moving speech about facing the hardships of adulthood and keeping your balance while moving forward. One last hurrah for Joseph seniors 11 students take first steps as high school graduates following Friday’s ceremony By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Steve Tool/Chieftain Friday was a day of major change for Joseph High School seniors as 11 donned robes and mortarboards to mark their transition into the next phase of their lives. Around 200 people crowded into the JCS gym to witness the event. From the opening strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” courtesy of the school band, to the graduates’ exit Joseph Charter School’s 2016 graduating class, from left: Raymond Seal, Jesse Woodhead, Deni Van Winkle, Satori Albee, Natalie Williams, Sam Beckman, Amanda Blessing, Cody Stone, Wyatt Smith, Kendal Kreutzer-Horton and Christian Zurita. took all of 40 minutes. Principal Sherri Kilgore let noth- ing of substance be omitted from the affair. The choir sang “All my Tomorrows” and co-valedictorians Raymond Seal and Deni Van Winkle spoke of their school memories and hopes for the future, as did salutatori- an Natalie Williams. Scholarships were announced, with Seal earning nearly $15,000 for his hard work. Jesse Woodhead was awarded $13,500 and Van Winkle se- cured $13,000. When seniors received their diplo- mas, hats were fl ung and seniors left See JOSEPH, Page A9