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News
wallowa.com
DUNN
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Dunn emphasized he did
not want big changes in the
county, but wanted to maintain
the quality of life while mov-
ing forward.
“We don’t want to lose all
the things we have here, or
change all the things we have
here, but we do want to try to
build on what we have here,”
he said.
The candidate said he’s
seen a slight change of direc-
tion with the federal govern-
ment, which seems to listen
more to community concerns,
something he noted in the Wal-
lowa-Whitman Forest Plan
Revision. The county seriously
objected to several aspects of
the plan, especially grazing
management.
“After a meeting between
the commissioners, National
Marine Fishery services and
the USFS, the group found
what may be a negotiated
path to consensus recognition
for rural counties ... and this
is the first time we’ve gotten
the recognition,” he said. “I
think they’re starting to pay
attention.”
For the future, Dunn said
he visualizes the county mov-
ing forward in creating more
family-wage jobs and ways to
stem the “brain drain” that sees
young people going to col-
lege and never coming back
because of the lack of sustain-
ing work.
“I think we can do that if we
work at it,” he said. “Not just
December 6, 2017
talk about it but work at it.”
While Dunn recognizes
that tourism is a substantial
part of the economic base and
should be promoted, it isn’t the
county’s economic backbone.
“So much of our exis-
tence here is based on natu-
ral resources,” he said. “Tour-
ism is not paying the tax bill.
Tourism isn’t fixing the streets
in Joseph, and they have more
tourists than any place else.
We like the tourists spending
money and helping local busi-
nesses, but it hasn’t helped our
BOGGAN’S
FUNDS
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be our first choice.”
Bill and Ferrel are experi-
enced business people, with
backgrounds in business own-
ership stretching back to their
youth in Anchorage, Alaska.
As they matured into septua-
genarians, they continued to
manage Boggan’s by employ-
ing managers to do the “heavy
lifting.”
Much of their kitchen and
wait staff hails from Anatone,
Wash., a tiny hamlet 13 miles
up the road. One seasonal
worker comes all the way from
Pomroy, Wash., staying in a
camp trailer during season.
“A lot of our employees
have been here quite a while,”
said Farrel.
The cabins, trailer parking
and campsites up on the lit-
tle hill above the property are
filled through the summer with
campers, outfitters, anglers
and photographers. Flocks of
bicyclists and motorcyclists
have discovered Boggan’s and
meet there, and many go home
and write about their trip.
“The word of mouth keeps
spreading,” Ferrel said.
Boggan’s Oasis can be
In late October, news
emerged of $74 million in
possible overpayments to
the CCOs between 2014
and 2016. OHA has already
recouped $10.1 million of
that.
The errors are likely
due to misclassification of
certain patients who were
also eligible for Medi-
care, and it’s not clear how
much of the money the
state must repay the federal
government.
Other issues have sur-
faced since, bringing the
possible liability to $112.4
million in additional costs.
The repayments could also
impact revenue available
for the Wallowa County
project.
The Oregon Department
of Forestry estimates that
to-date, the 2017 fire season
has cost it $38.9 million.
Certain property own-
ers pay a state assessment
to help cover firefighting
costs in addition to money
the Legislature appro-
priates from the general
fund.
The state has also had an
insurance policy most years
since 1973 to help cover
firefighting costs.
But before it can tap
that coverage, the state has
to spend $50 million of
Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain
Where Dreamz Road meets Highway 126 just before it cross-
es the Grande Ronde River, dreams are being revitalized af-
ter Boggan’s Oasis burned down.
expected to continue to be a
going and growing concern,
the Vails said.
If they rebuild, it will be a
different Boggan’s. The his-
toric photos and artifacts that
graced the walls of the old café
are ashes. But the spirit of the
place and the joy of marking a
trip through the twisty and dra-
Introducing our
new Physician
Dr.
Kelsey
Allen
matic landscape of Rattlesnake
Grade with a stop at Boggan’s
Oasis would remain.
Some of the many rural
friends of the Vails figure that
locals, outfitters, ranchers and
vacationers may contribute
photos and other items to help
recreate the original ambiance.
The cause of the fire has not
been determined, though the
Vails themselves suspect it will
be something to do with older
portions of the electrical wir-
ing. The cafe has been remod-
eled twice, but some of the
wiring was still old, Bill said.
NUAL
THE AN TOY
Call Dr. Allen to
schedule your appointment today!
Mountain View Medical Group
Steve Tool/Chieftain
This is the remains of a
truck that caught fire and
exploded near Troy, killing
its owner, Ryan Sullivan of
Baker City, on Nov. 29.
Baker man
killed in
bizarre
accident
By Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
A Baker County man
died in a grisly accident at
a Grizzly Flat campground
near Troy during the early
morning hours of Nov. 29.
Ryan “Sully” Sullivan, 37,
Baker City, died when his
Chevrolet duel cab pickup
accidentally rolled to a stop
over a live campfire and
burst into flames with Sulli-
van inside.
He and another Baker
City man were on a fishing
trip to the area.
According to Wal-
lowa County Sheriff Steve
Rogers, personnel from
the sheriff’s office, the
county’s district attor-
ney’s office, Oregon State
Police, U.S. Forest Ser-
vice, Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife, Ore-
gon State Fire Marshal and
the Wallowa County Med-
ical Examiner investigated
the scene.
Rogers stated that the
reason for the truck roll-
ing over the campfire is yet
unclear.
Sullivan left behind his
wife Nicole, and two small
sons, Declan and Jack, as
well as a child on the way.
A gofundme site has
been established: gofundme.
com/ryan-sullivan-memori-
al-fund.
DRIVE
Bring am unwrapped toy to Les Schwab Tire
Center Now through December 20th and
541-426-7900
(next to Wallowa
Memorial Hospital)
Enterprise, Oregon 97828
its own money, according
to Ken Armstrong, public
affairs director at the Ore-
gon Department of Forestry.
The additional mil-
lions would likely have
to be appropriated in
2018.
In addition, Eastern Ore-
gon lost one of its staunch
supporters when Presi-
dent Trump appointed for-
mer state Republican Rep.
John Huffman to lead the
Agriculture Department’s
rural development office in
Oregon.
Huffman’s
district
included territory from The
Dalles on the north to Sis-
ters on the south and as far
east as Spray.
Several other changes
in personnel that could
have been key to a success-
ful grant proposal in 2018
have also been moved to
other positions, according
to Wilson.
Wilson said he believes
the project has a solid
chance of receiving fund-
ing, given the remote loca-
tion of the county and the
sparsity of health services,
particularly in mental health
areas.
The funding would be
requested through the com-
mittee process in the leg-
islature and would have to
be forwarded to the floor in
both the house and senate to
be approved, then signed by
the governor.
Les Schwab is partnering with
Enterprise Christian Church for
Dr. Allen is a doctor of
osteopathic medicine, and
completed her residency
in family medicine.
She is now accepting
new patients!
603 Medical Parkway
base infrastructure at all.”
Dunn said he’s not moti-
vated to run for the position
because of a lack of something
better to do.
“I realize it’s not a glory
position at all,” he said. “To
say this is a stepping stone
to higher and better things --
I don’t think so. I’ll try very
hard to help the county like
I’ve been trying to do for the
30 years that I’ve been here.”
Diane Daggett has also
announced her bid for the
seat.
Wallowa County Chieftain
Help fill the box!
Joseph Clinic
100 N. East St. Joseph
541.426.7900
802 NW 1st St.
Enterprise
541-426-3139
Jonah Phillips
This week’s athlete of the week is first-year wrestler Jonah Phillips, a
five-year-old on the Northeastern Oregon Wrestling Club. At the club’s
home meet at Quinn Court in Enterprise on Saturday, Dec. 2, Jonah
won his first match of the year. Phillips pinned his Elgin Extreme Team
opponent in short order for the win. After the match, Phillips said he
was enjoying his first year experience. Asked if he planned to return
next year, he answered, “Yeah.” Phillips is the
son of Mitch and Vanessa Phillips..
CALL Jeff Courtney 541-379-6400
ON APPROVED CREDIT
ON APPROVED CREDIT
ON APPROVED CREDIT
201 E. Hwy 82, Enterprise
541-426-0320
www.edstaub.com
ON APPROVED CREDIT
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