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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2017)
FALL SPORTS SEASON UNDER WAY Enterprise, Oregon — MORE ON PAGE 10 Wallowa.com Issue No. 33 Wolf plan to receive first airing November 29, 2017 $1 JINGLE THROUGH JOSEPH By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain The subject of wolves is front and center for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency released the working draft of its wolf management plan to stakeholders Nov. 17. The draft highlights changed wording from the draft released last April. ODFW media representative Michelle Dennehy said that the plan will be discussed at a Dec. 8 ODFW’s wild- life commission meeting that will include a panel of stakeholders but no public comment. The results of that meeting will be worked into a draft to be presented at the commission’s Jan. 19 meeting, which will include pub- lic comment. Dennehy said that the present revised version reflects the concerns of the plan’s stakeholders, includ- ing the public and com- mission mem- bers. She named a number of the plan’s significant changes, includ- ing the addition of several sections. For example, the role of wolves in ecosystems and how it might apply to Oregon wolves. Additional sections include wolves as special status game mammals. The agency is following the lead of the legislature, which changed the status of wolves from protected nongame wildlife to game mammals in 2009. “It recognizes the wolves’ distinct history in extir- pation and conflict,” she said. “It’s based on Oregon’s management success with respect to other large carni- vores ... but also recognizes the factors that make the wolf different from other large carnivores.” Paul Wahl/Chieftain Santa and Mrs. Claus were a hit riding in the Jingle Through Joseph Parade on Nov. 25 and waving to children of all ages. Local sources report the two closely resemble Joseph resi- dents Dennis and Mary Welch, but sources at the North Pole say it is only a coincidence. Christmas celebration underway Paul Wahl/Chieftain Raider Heck of Joseph was one of almost a dozen men who volunteered to erect the Joseph Christmas Tree on Main Street on Nov. 24. The crew worked much of Friday morning getting the tree in place along with lights and decorations in time for Saturday evening Jingle Through Joseph Parade. The tree was cut from the Joseph park. More images on Page 5 and at wallowa.com See WOLF, Page A16 Math, motivation challenges for area schools By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain J oseph, Enterprise and Wallowa school districts are doing a stel- lar job teaching science and remain in the top 10 percent of schools in the state for graduation rates. All of the schools also rated an “above average achievement” rat- ing, a measure that takes into account student improve- ment over time, when the Oregon Department of Education recently issued its “report cards.” The reports provide educators with an oppor- tunity to communicate directly with parents and community members about how local schools are performing. Some challenges remain, particular in teaching math. All three Wal- lowa County dis- tricts have been addressing the issue with new math programs and teaching tools. Enterprise School District Wallowa School District Joseph School District Enterprise, with a K-12 enrollment of approximately 419, posted a 92.6 percent graduation rate. Science: 88.2 percent of students in grades 5, 8 and 11 are meeting standards in com- parison to a 66 percent state average. English Language Arts: The district scored above state averages in all grades except fourth. Math: Enterprise stu- dents scored well in math, with only grades three and four scoring below the state average. Grades six through eight showed steady gains in the last three years and grade 11 scored more than 20 percent above state averages. Wallowa School District, with 190 students K-12, can still boast a 100 percent grad- uation rate. English Language Arts: The district suffered nearly across-the-board with only grades five and six showing a higher than state average of students meeting or exceeding standards. Science: Wallowa boasts excellence in science in grades five and eight, but student scores slipped by grade 11 with only 50 percent meeting or exceeding standards com- pared to a state average of 57.8. Math: math results were equally in flux with third, fourth and 11th graders far below state averages. Joseph School District, with 235 students K-12, grad- uates 86 percent of its students on time. English Language Arts: Joseph students scored well in early grades, but numbers declined in grade 7 before rebounding in grades 8 and 11, ending in grade 11 with 69 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards — the same as the state average. Science: Science scores for grades five, eight and 11 are 6 to 10 percent higher than state average. Math: Scores are strong in the early grades but decline precipitously in grades six to eight before rebounding up to above state averages by grade 11. See ENTERPRISE, Page A16 See WALLOWA, Page A16 See JOSEPH, Page A16 Plans for new city hall in Enterprise emerge By Kathleen Ellyn Enterprise Fire Department will be receiving a new home replac- ing this build- ing, constructed in 1957. A fire on July 10 left con- siderable damage to the fire hall and city hall. Wallowa County Chieftain Enterprise City has received approval from City County Insur- ance Services to replace the fire sta- tion and city hall structure destroyed by fire July 10. This means the 1957 concrete block building can be torn down and a new structure built on the same 1,000-square-foot area. The city has a replacement limit of $1.3 million on the old building at 108 NE First. “It’s very early to be discussing what we might do,” said City Admin- istrator Michele Young. “Right now, we’re leaning toward a steel building.” Senior engineer Bret Moore of Anderson Perry & Associates of La Grande is investigating designs that Kathleen Ellyn/ Chieftain will suit the city’s needs. He will meet with city planning and other city officials in mid December to brain- storm ideas. One plan is to have the new struc- ture dedicated almost entirely to the fire department with a combined fire hall meeting room and city council chamber. New city hall offices would then be constructed across the street from the fire hall on the empty lot at the corner of North River Street and NW North Street, which the city owns. A new city hall building would have to be paid for through grants or loans, but Young has made some calls and said she likes the city’s chances of qualifying, given that Enterprise lost its building due to disaster. In the meantime, city offices will remain at 117 E. Main Street on the main floor of the EM&M building in downtown Enterprise across from the Wallowa County Courthouse. The offices were formerly those of Dr. Rusty Woods. City council and other city meet- ings are held at the Abundant Life Assembly of God building, at 207 E Main Street in Enterprise. After an investigation by the Fire Marshall, it was determined the fire was caused by a fluorescent light in the city administrator’s office. The hot ballast fell on a seat and the nearby air conditioner fanned the fire quickly.