Wallowa County Chieftain News wallowa.com THREE minutes with ... Marks BONNIE MARKS RETIRED IMNAHA POSTMASTER AND VOLUNTEER September 20, 2017 Bonnie Marks of Imnaha was raised in the Herm- iston area and became a permanent Imnaha resident when she married Don Marks, a native Imnaha man, 43 years ago. The couple had one daughter, Darla Marks, who is now a 4-H Extension Agent in Char- lotte County, Virginia. Don ranched 2,000 acres in Imnaha with his father on Marks and Marks Ranch. He is now retired. Bonnie went to school in Hermiston and college in Pendleton where she took accounting courses –– always a good choice for a ranchers wife. She also worked as librarian at the branch library and was the relief postmaster and then the postmaster for 24 years. She retired as postmaster in April. She’s been active as a 4-H leader for 35 years and is still a resource leader; along with her husband was a charter member of the Joseph FFA Alumni and was treasurer for that organization; is currently on the Wallowa Valley Library Foundation Board as the Imnaha representative working to get the service district on the ballot; and is active in her church, the Imnaha Christian Fellowship, where she is secretary and treasurer. Q. What is it you most enjoy about living in Imnaha? A. The community. The fact that people care about each other and what happens. When you have trouble people will step up and help out. A small community is different than other places. For instance, when Don had a stroke last fall and we needed a ramp, a couple of fellows pitched in and A7 helped my brother, Richard Bondurant of Hermiston, put it together. Also, Don goes down to the store in Imnaha fi ve days a week to meet with some other, mostly retired fellows. They meet in the morning to have coffee and visit and solve the world’s problems. Q. What did you like best about your many years serving the community? A. In 4-H, I would say seeing the kids grow and develop and learn life skills they would use all through life. It was rewarding to see how they grew and learned. As a postmaster I saw a lot of changes over the years. When I went to work there was no phone. Port- land couldn’t call me. They called the store and they hollered at me to come over and answer it. Now it’s all computer. I enjoyed seeing the people who came in and giving them good service. Q. What do you look forward to in the future? A. I think we’ll see mostly more of the same in Imnaha. The people change but the community stays quite a bit the same. It’s a slower way of life. People come in and when they fi rst come they’re kind of stand-offi sh and sort of “nobody needs to know my business,” but as they are here awhile they realize it’s just that people care. We’re more willing to go visit one another in our community. I also look forward to doing what I want to do. I’m a quilter and quilting is my pastime. We’d like to travel, too. I’d like to go visit my daughter. Hayes honored in Maxville showing Six drawings and two maps, done by 95-year-old art- ist Gene Hayes of Wallowa, are displayed at Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in Joseph in a special presentation of the Hayes historical work. Hayes is a painter, with an art gallery in Wallowa, and has been integral in support- ing Maxville. He has con- tributed artwork of Maxville scenes that are printed on note cards for sale at the Interpre- tive center. Hayes knew many of the individuals he portrays in his artwork of Maxville. Hayes lost his right hand in a feed mill accident in 1947, and learned to paint with his left the following year. The display is already up, and will be added to over the next few months with a larger show opening by the fi rst of the year. One of the maps on display is an expansion on an original map created by Wal- lowa County Historian Irene Barklow of Lostine. Barklow’s early map was not to scale but showed where many of the historical homes were and the names of the peo- ple who lived there. This week’s Athlete of the Week is Enterprise Middle School student Alex Rowley. The sixth grader competes in cross-country for the school. During last week’s 41st annual Catherine Creek Scamper held in Union County, Rowley turned in a sixth-place performance despite losing both shoes in a mudhole on the course. Proudly Sponsored By: Eastern Oregon’s Full Service Propane Supplier Courtesy photo 201 E. Hwy 82, Enterprise 541-426-0320 www.edstaub.com Gene Hayes notecard available at Maxville Gift Shop. Hayes embellished the map and more historical names and places were added. The maps are now sold in miniature at the museum. In addition to the artwork, an interview of Hayes at the original Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in Wallowa will be presented. “When we were in that space (the old city hall) Gene had created a large fl oor mural of a cross section of a log, 6 foot in circumference,” Max- ville Director Gwen Trice said. “Just imagine Gene lying on the fl oor, using the stump of one arm as a brace as he’s painting on the fl oor and tell- ing stories and explaining things as he painted.” That artwork was covered over after Maxville moved to Joseph, but before that hap- pened, Trice interviewed Gene as he and his wife sat in chairs on that fl oor. That video will be part of the historical display when it is completed. Maxville Heritage Interpre- tive Center is at 103 E Main in Joseph. IN BRIEF Finalists were required to submit an application detailing their academic record, partici- pation in school and commu- nity activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employ- ment and honors and awards. eral recommended Access and Habitat projects to improve wildlife habitat on private land in Oregon. IDA offered to area students More than 125 people in Wallowa, Baker and Union counties have helped fi nance their higher education or small business using the Individual Development Account pro- gram, offered by Northeast Oregon Economic Develop- ment District. The program provide a 3-to-1 savings match –– an individual who saves $1,000 and completes the pro- gram will receive $3,000. A student who saves money for three years and graduates high school can have funds for tuition and fees at any accredited education program. Youth can also save to start or improve a business. The district’s executive director, Lisa Dawson, said it is essentially a fi nancial-re- sponsibility program. The matched funds can go toward Alex Rowley Rowley still managed to turn in a season record performance as she ran the entire race in her socks! education or pay for the equip- ment, signage, computers or other investments needed to launch or improve a business. There are income and net worth limitations. Info: 541-426-3598. Hobbs named scholar finalist Sebastian G. Hobbs, a student at Enterprise High School, has been named one of 16,000 semifi nalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. He will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. Wallowa County Changes coming in game regs The Fish and Wildlife Commission has adopted Big Game Regulations for 2018. There are a few changes including shifts in sea- son dates. The commission updated language to make it clearer that mechanical and moveable blades are not law- ful to use for archery hunting. The commission declined to expand the prohibition on night vision optics until they further explore the issue. The commission also approved funding for sev- HEALTH LINE Births A daughter, Caroline Borgerding, was born September 6, 2017 in Enterprise to William and Marquise Borgerding of Enterprise. Grandparents are Wren Brown, Linda Madigan, and Christopher Borgerding. 301 W. Main, Enterprise • 541.426.3177 When Gambling is Out of Control... If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there is help. It’s FREE It’s CONFIDENTIAL and it WORKS 519 W. 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