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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2017)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com LETTERS Conservation & Management Plan requirements had been met; even exceeded by the Shamrock pack for such a take. This ODFW refusal gave the impression the Shamrock pack was not and should not be of concern to private property owners. There is also the fact pri- vate property owners are in no way obligated to provide habitat or safety zones for Ore- gon’s latest predator new-com- er. This is stated in the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Man- agement Plan. It is actually an Oregon Statute; ORS 496.192(1): “Nothing in the Oregon ESA is intended, by itself, to require an owner of any private land to take action to protect a threat- ened species or an endangered species, or to impose addition- al requirements or restrictions on the use of private land.” So, the coyote trap was set on private property, and lo-and-behold, a Shamrock pack Canadian Grey wolf was caught in the very trap set for coyotes. Maybe the same coy- otes who were getting blamed for livestock killings? Given these facts, it looks like this incidental take can be laid at the feet of ODFW. Justice sometimes prevails. Kerry Tienhaara, Oregon Wolf Education Joseph Continued from Page A4 Although Rep. Walden championed Trump’s tax avoidance scheme referred to as “Trumpcare” and would repeal the Affordable Care Act, it found no support in the legislature and was canceled. Walden has a large constituen- cy of ACA voters who would have lost health care coverage. So much for representation. Trump’s “white suprema- cy” attitude and policy of de- porting Latinos has resulted in a severe labor shortage in the construction industry, with supply not meeting demand and new housing prices being consequently increased. Lati- nos who have been U.S. res- idents for decades are fearful of leaving their homes, they have been targeted, deported and families separated. Labor shortage in agriculture and the food supply will be next. Contact your representa- tive and let him know you are a concerned voter. David Ebbert Enterprise Another side to the wolf story OR48, a recently collared male Canadian grey wolf of the Shamrock Pack here in Wallowa County died as a re- sult of biting into a cyanide powder trap set for coyotes. This coyote trap was set by a USDA Wildlife Service trap- per. It was set on private prop- erty. Of course there has been a chorus of outraged howling put up by those who have no working knowledge or person- al investment in the manage- ment or removal of predators. Even Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife expressed their shock and dismay that the unintended or “incidental tak- ing” of a Canadian Grey wolf has occurred. This shock and dismay is odd given the history of ODFW’s behavior regarding their management of the pred- atory wolves. A quick examination of ODFW’s management of the Shamrock pack reveals nu- merous wolf vs. livestock dep- redation investigations being performed. The majority of these “investigations” result- ed in livestock killings being categorized anything but a confi rmed wolf-caused killing. Coyotes or “other” predators were suggested as being the culprits responsible for the loss of livestock. If it is deemed by ODFW that most all livestock killing problems can be laid at the feet of coyote or “other” reasons who may argue with them? From personal experience chal- lenging ODFW thought process can be a mostly futile effort. There has been a near-re- fusal by ODFW to share collar GPS location data with area livestock owners. One can as- sume U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees are also kept in the same degree of “blackout” in- formation silence. A requested lethal removal of livestock killing or harass- ing Shamrock Canadian Grey wolves was refused outright by ODFW decision-makers; even though all Oregon Wolf Clean up after your pets I’ve returned to this lovely mountain hideaway to fi nd that the discourteous dog-owners are starting to take over! I go for a walk, along my normal route of South Main and then into town, only to fi nd many remnants of dog defeca- tion. Coming from a town used to having winter, I recognize the telltale roadside poo-piles. Too much snow to hide night- time dog defecation evidence in your neighbors’ yards. Come on, you dog owners, pick up your pets’ poo! Audra Bellefourche Joseph Fundraising auction a success A fundraising auction was held April 1 at the Imnaha Store and Tavern to at least partially defray the expens- es of an initiative to train and equip a team of volunteers re- sponding to medical emergen- cies in the Imnaha area. The auction was a resound- ing success with more than $6,000 raised for the program. The program will be a col- laborative between Project Heartbeat and Wallowa Me- morial Hospital Emergency Medical Services to extend the capabilities of EMS with fi rst responders who can assess and treat victims until the ambu- lance arrives. I thank all those who or- ganized and ran the auction and especially Kendra Staigle, primary organizer, and Lee Daggett, who did an excellent job as auctioneer. I would also like to send my gratitude to the many who came out to support this important project. Dick Burch, director, Project Heartbeat Enterprise Opinion/News April 5, 2017 MidValley Theatre group seeks permanent home By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain After 23 years of pro- ducing high-quality amateur theatre, MidValley Theatre Company believes it may be time to acquire a permanent theater. The question is: “What does Wallowa County think?” If patron support is any- thing to go by, this may be an idea with legs, even given the estimated half-million dollar price tag. “We’ve been in business since 1995 when we put on our fi rst production, ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,’” said creator and director Kate Loftus. That fi rst, nearly 30-kid production, ran for fi ve per- formances and packed the Lostine Presbyterian Church to standing room only for ev- ery performance. “We’ve put on ‘Best Christmas Pageant’ four times since,” said Loftus. And performances contin- ue to play to full houses. But a cast of 30 wasn’t the biggest cast the theatre com- pany has launched. “The Music Man” called for 58 people on stage when it ran in 2012 with John Mc- Colgin of Joseph as Professor Harold Hill and Kelly Weese as Marion Paroo, Loftus said. Other ambitious produc- tions have included “The Miracle Worker,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Diary of Anne Frank,” “Cheaper by the Doz- en,” “The Egg and I,” “I Re- member Mamma,” “Desperate Ambrose,” and many more. This summer the company plans to stage “Oklahoma,” a production with 27 speaking roles, parts in the men’s and women’s choruses, cowboys and ladies dancing groups and stagehands who can sing with the choruses. Loftus has been director on all but three of the 32 shows. The other three directors were Jennifer Hobbs, Stuart Vencill and Craig Strobel. According to Loftus, the standout performance over the years goes to Richard Hobbs who played Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and had a three-page monologue to memorize in addition to other long monologues. Hobbs may be the standout for the most diffi cult mem- orization, but according to Loftus, “everyone has a star on their door as far as I’m concerned. I tell everybody, ‘if you think you’re a star and can do anything without the back stage you’ll go on stage naked and in the dark.’” And that is no doubt why her stage manager (Ingrid Cook), technical director (Da- vid Cook), set designer (Lyn Westhoff), sound and light technician (Justin Burns), costume designer (Gwen Menton) and other backstage performers have remained with the group year after year. “We’ve developed such Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain Left to right: Scenic designer Lyn Westhoff, sound man Justin Burns, director Kate Loftus and Pehmah (the Shih Tzu) show off some of the more than 3,000 costumes in the storage shed owned by the MidValley Theatre group. a camaraderie,” Loftus said. “We’re all friends. We have a synergy with a bunch of people who want to do good amateur theatre – they are so dedicated.” Part of the draw of the MidValley Theatre Company is that anyone taking part in a production is getting an ex- cellent education in practical theatre arts. “We teach acting and all phases of theatre,” Loftus said. “It’s a joint effort, it’s an educational opportunity, it’s a cultural opportunity, it’s a social opportunity, for the the- atre company people and for the audience as well.” The company has present- ed productions in a variety of places, beginning with the Lostine Presbyterian Church, moving to the old South Fork Grange and currently play- ing in the barn-like gym of the Providence Academy of Christian Education. What the company needs now, Loftus said, is a perma- nent place that they can re- model to suit specifi c needs, house the more than 3,000 costumes, warehouse sets, store supplies and upgrade bathrooms, heating, lighting, ‘W e’re all friends. We have a synergy with a bunch of people who want to do good amateur theatre – they are so dedicated.’ Kate Loftus, director, MidValley Theatre sound and other features. “We would like to do three shows a year, with one in the summer,” Loftus said. “We have a very good base, we’ve had really good relationships with the providers of our lo- cations.” The Fundraising Commit- tee of the 501c3 nonprofi t is scheduled to gear up soon but believes there is no reason to wait until the perfect venue has been identifi ed. “We need a grant writer,” Loftus said. “We need some ‘angels’ to step forward with ‘in-kind’ donations for re- modeling or construction needs, and we need donations for the purchase price of the Jennifer Kassahn Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings ANTLERRANCHBP@GMAIL.COM Are you struggling to make your marriage work? & HOPE Heating Comfort to your home & Convenience or business, for every lifestyle the Safe Way A few sessions • is Stoves Fireplaces • the • Best Way! • Fireplace Inserts • • Ductless Heaters • can make a big difference. To schedule an appointment call Jeff Harman (541) 426-3067 w w w.j h arma n cou ns el in g.co m 6 p.m. Grace and Dignity (Womans Mtg) Joseph United Methodist Church St., Corner Church 3rd 301 S. Lake St, Basement & Lake, Side Stairs on Lake St. 7 p.m. Enterprise Group 113.5 E Main St. THURSDAYS When it comes Jeff Harman, MA, LPC Professional Counseling In A Private Setting TUESDAYS WEDNESDAYS 201 East Hwy 82 541-426-0320 Enterprise, OR 82 97828 201 E. Hwy 541.426.0320 Enterprise, OR UNDERSTANDING Do you feel hopeless or has the joy gone out of your life? MONDAYS 7-8 p.m. Enterprise Group (Big Bk Study) 113.5 E Main St. GET HELP 12-1 p.m. Enterprise Group 113.5 E Main St. 7 p.m. All Saints (Mens Mtg) 113.5 E Main St. FRIDAYS Call NOW for information about Energysaver® Direct Vent Wall Furnaces. JOSE P H 7 p.m. Enterprise Group 113.5 E Main St. TUESDAYS 12-1 p.m. Enterprise Group 113.5 E Main St. 360-601-4302 Joseph, Oregon right venue.” They also need some com- puter wizardry to help create and manage a web page. The theatre company is running in the black. Kathy Johnson of Silvercreek Finan- cial Services is the treasurer. To donate to the cause, send your tax-deductible do- nations to MidValley Theatre Company, 64707 Lostine Riv- er Road, Lostine, OR 97857 and label it for the “New The- ater Fund.” The company is also list- ed at www.donationplanet. org/charity/midvalley-the- atre-company. For more information, con- tact Loftus at 541-569-2302. W AL L OW A COUN TY E N TE R P R ISE Are you feeling stress and overwhelmed? A5 7 p.m. Enterprise Group 113.5 E Main St. SATURDAYS 7 p.m. Enterprise Group 113.5 E Main St. WEDNESDAYS 12 p.m. Rambling Grace and Roses Dignity (Womans Mtg) 301 S. Lake St., Church Basement W AL L OW A SUNDAYS 7 p.m. Wallowa Assembly of God Church 205 S Alder St.