OUTLAW GIRLS BRING THE HEAT
Wallowa Valley softball opens league play on a high note
with a pair of away victories versus Burns/Crane | A8
Enterprise, Oregon
Wallowa.com
134th Year, No. 52
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Legal victory over grazing fees on
eve of family’s 100th anniversary
By KATY NESBITT
For the Capital Press
A federal judge has ruled that
grazing should be allowed to con-
tinue on four allotments in the
Hells Canyon National Recre-
ation Area.
Magistrate Judge Patricia Sul-
livan on March 22 released her
fi ndings on a lawsuit brought by
the Greater Hells Canyon Coun-
cil of La Grande claiming cat-
tle grazing on the Hells Canyon
allotments were imperiling the
Spalding’s catchfl y, a rare wild-
fl ower found only in the inland
Northwest.
Sullivan granted a motion for
summary judgment to the Forest
Service and the interveners in the
case, the McClaran family, which
holds permits to the allotments,
and Wallowa County.
“We are really pleased
the magistrate supported our
National Environmental Policy
Act planning efforts, and we feel
it is a good decision,” said Dis-
trict Ranger Kris Stein.
In her fi ndings, Sullivan dis-
agreed with the plaintiff’s asser-
tions that the Forest Service
lacked suffi cient baseline mon-
itoring data for the catchfl y and
that the agency was required to
consider an alternative that would
eliminate grazing in all areas
where catchfl y grow.
Sullivan’s
fi ndings
also
denied the plaintiff’s claim that
the Forest Service violated the
$1
OPEN RANGE
FISH HAVE WAY BIGGER
PROBLEMS THAN
COMPETITION
WITH CATTLE
Ranchers are
burdened with
restrictions thought
up by people with
no regard for the
practicalities of
Barrie Qualle
ranching.
Opinion, A4
See Cattle, Page A7
A REASON TO BE PROUD
Christopher Nobles signs letter of intent to play basketball at Corban College. Behind
him are his parents Darell and Amy. To his right is Gus Ramsden with parents Mark and
Amy; next is Austin Brockamp with parents Kristen and Matt. Gus and Austin will be
playing football at George Fox University.
Photos by Ellen Morris Bishop
Wallowa High School shop students (left to right) Michael Diggins, Ryan Hafer, Zane
Mallory and Zeb Ramsden excel at welding. They have already passed the profi ciency
tests in metal inert gas (MIG) and/or arc welding given at the end of college-level training.
Wallowa High School fi nds pride and purpose in athletic, academic success
Christian Ambroson
Wallowa County Chieftain
On Wednesday, April 3, the students,
teachers and administrators of the Wal-
lowa School District had good reason
to be proud as both Superintendent Jay
Hummell and Principal David Howe
stood by with a confi dent disposition and
unmistakable expression of pride as their
teachers corralled the student body into
the Wallowa Gym shortly after 3 p.m.
The confi dent mood extended beyond
the administrators. Even though the weath-
erman apparently missed the memo —
with snow still piled around the school yard
— there was an energy in the atmosphere.
With three of four quarters of classes
behind them, students and faculty alike
seemed to be able to see light at the end
of the tunnel. More than the coming
advent of summer, the Wallowa School
District had much to be proud about.
Propped up by seemingly sound guid-
ance of the district educators, administra-
tors and coaches, the young people of the
district seem to be thriving in across an
array of subject matter.
Mr. Howe initiated the event as the
afternoon’s emcee, during which he cred-
ited the academic and athletic accomplish-
throughout the remainder of the assembly.
Everyone knew what was coming,
and so Howe wasted little time getting to
what felt like the headline event: “Now I
‘I GUESS I’M TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO
THE REST OF YOU: YOU CAN DO THIS. THIS
OPPORTUNITY IS GOING TO BE OPEN TO
YOU. AND THIS IS LIKE MONEY IN YOUR
POCKET. COMING TO SCHOOL PAYS.’
Principal David Howe
ments of the Wallowa students. It was no
secret that the assembly had a rare and
special purpose on April 3, but before get-
ting to that agenda, Howe noted the criti-
cal roles of the teachers, parents and com-
munity members who each played a part
in the education of the district’s students.
And with that the proud principal
began laying the foundation of an import-
ant theme that would continue to unfold
want to recognize three athletes and their
parents.”
As the principal called the athletes by
name the honorees took their seats front
and center and surrounded by the support
of their parents as each athlete prepared to
sign a letter of intent to continue develop-
ing their abilities at the college level.
Christopher Nobles will play bas-
ketball at Corban College, while Austin
Brockamp and Gus Ramsden will remain
teammates on the George Fox University
football team.
“So it’s kind of unusual to have a stu-
dent from any school recognized for their
athletic ability to play at the next level,”
said Howe, eluding to the rarity of any
Wallowa County athlete playing sports
beyond high school.
Noting Wallowa High School’s
approximately 60 students, the princi-
pal expressed gratitude “to have three
extremely good athletes who are going
to play at the next level.” More than the
three offers to play college level athletics,
the three also defi ed any sense of proba-
bility as they each at one point or another
earned “Player of the Year” honors from
the Old Oregon League.
And keeping his focus on the underlying
theme of the assembly, Howe reminded his
audience that many athletes — even great
ones — won’t have this same opportunity.
All three of the athletes were also good stu-
dents with good grades.
See Athletes, Page A7
SEI MEE TEA
A taste of Japan in Wallowa County
By Kana Oliver
For Wallowa County Chieftain
Photos courtesy of Sei Mee Tea
Sei Mee Tea’s ambitious group of travelers dressed up in traditional
kimono for a tea ceremony demonstration.
Kiyomi Koike, owner of local
business, Sei Mee Tea, came to the
United States 25 years ago from
Japan and now is a United States
Citizen and proud Wallowa County
resident.
“In Japanese, Sei Mee means
‘Pure Beauty,’ which refl ects our
desire to provide our customers
with pure, beautiful, and authentic
tea,” Koike explained. “We want
to encourage a healthy lifestyle
through the products and informa-
tion we provide.”
With Koike leading the way,
nine adventurous travelers from all
over the United States embarked on
a week-long journey to Japan along
with Koike’s business, Sei Mee
Tea. Although each was diverse and
unique, the travelers came together
through their love for and apprecia-
tion of Japanese tea.
Sei Mee Tea was honored to
have Tea Master Bruce Richard-
son from Kentucky join their explo-
ration. Richardson has authored a
dozen books on tea culture. Also,
See Tea, Page A7