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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2019)
OPINION Wallowa County Chieftain A4 Wednesday, August 7, 2019 A letter to anonymous D ear Anonymous Wallowa County Community Member, On July 25 you took the time and trouble to respond to the Chieftain’s editorial “Clearing the trail along the urban rural divide.” Thanks for writing. In your letter, you noted that what drew you to Wallowa County from a more urban life was the “special community essence that is instantly felt when visiting a place like Enterprise, Joseph, or Wallowa.” And yet you chose to write anonymously “out of fear of a metaphorical scarlet letter that could otherwise be attached to my name in this community as a formerly urban newcomer.” These two statements seem antithetical. I’d love to talk with you about your letter over coffee, but I can’t because you pro- vided no contact information. And I can’t publish it because it’s anony- mous and also far exceeds our 300- word limit. So in the hope that you’ll read this, I’m inviting you to call, email, or stop by The Chieftain so we can chat. This is what neighbors do. You took umbrage at my question about whether a trail-runner who mis- took a pruning saw for a fi shing rod was also cognizant of the condition of of the incredible community you have built; we respect your rural way of life and want to be a part of that, not as the surrounding forest, and whether outsiders or “urban people” but as 1st she was able to recognize the tree spe- generation Wallowa Countian’s roll- cies in the woods. “The larger ques- ing up their sleeves and in unity.” Yes, tion,” I wrote, “is whether she was indeed. You should know that we wel- connected to the landscape.” This come your contributions to our com- does not castigate urban-dwellers. It munity. The energy and vision of new- just asks whether a person, who could comers provide a vitality that small live in Enterprise or New York City, communities has taken the need to pros- ‘THE “UNITY” THAT YOU SEEK IS trouble to per and grow. observe, learn Also, lots A TWO-WAY STREET. AND THIS IS and think of Wallowa WHERE THE “URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE” about the County res- OFTEN LIES. WE WILL LEARN FROM landscape — idents of all the trees, for- generations – YOU. AND, AS A NEW RESIDENT ests, animals, fi rst through YOU ARE LEARNING FROM US.’ and ecosys- 6th — wear tems — that “Nikes” – aka support us. And when I say “support” trail-running athletic shoes—use ear- I mean holistically — supply clean buds and recreate in the backcoun- water, clean air, wildlife habitat, and try. This is in no way a distinction open spaces for recreation, as well as between urban and rural. But lots of economic sustenance. us — and lots of recent arrivals such “New people, some of them urban, as yourself — also observe, listen to, some of them wearing Nikes, are and think about the places we traverse. The “unity” that you seek is a two- today uprooting their lives and invest- way street. And this is where the ing in Wallowa County….seeking a “urban-rural divide” often lies. We connection and building prosperity,” will learn from you. And, as a new you wrote. “We have come because VOICE of the CHIEFTAIN Another summer, half gone A nother Chief Joseph Days has come and gone probably marking the mid- point of summer for us. The week of CJD is pretty frantic for a lot of people in the county. Hard to believe a bunch of committee men and volunteers can pull it off. Thanks to all, it wouldn’t happen with- out you and brings a lot of money into the county. Pendleton goes through a week of mayhem during the roundup and after the festivities are done you could shoot a can- non down main street and never hit anyone. I recently read that Hamleys has gone broke and been sold to the Indians. I hope they can make it work. Hamleys has been an icon in the Northwest for many years and it would be like closing a museum if it failed. Par- ley Pierce and his partner had a great vision for Hamleys and the great steak house they attached to it. They did a wonderful job building a destination spot for fi ne dining and top notch cowboy gear. It seems they were just a little too big for a town the size of Pendleton to support. Best of luck to the new owners, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. Unlike Pendleton, Joseph and the rest of this county do not turn into a ghost town after the rodeo. We still have another two months of lots of visitors and then a month OPEN RANGE Barrie Qualle or so of hunters. At my house we have had three weeks of visitors. Two weeks before CJD our daughter and son in-law along with 2 grandchildren ages four and seven arrived for a visit. After two days the daughter and son in-law left for a week in Montana and left the kids with us. The kids were great till their parents returned and then became evil. The fi rst wave of visitors left and the next one began arriving with CJD week approaching overfl ow. Five grandchildren ages 19 to 22, one friend of my grandson, one rodeo family and old friends from Cal- ifornia camped here for the week. I guess it was a lot of work for my wife but I thought it was a great time. Scott McCulough from Idaho and his wife and two boys aged 4 and 7 were the rodeo family visiting and the two boys had a ball. They spent morn- ings fi shing at Kinney Lake and the after- noons fl oating the ditch above our house. resident you are learning from us. If you want to “be part of our rural way of life,” it’s more than just admiring the majesty of the Wallowa Moun- tain skyline. It’s the capacity to under- stand your wild as well as your human neighbors. It’s a commitment to pre- serve open spaces, private and public, both for scenic value and their vital economic contribution to Wallowa County. Why? First, because this liv- ing landscape is an important part of our community. And second, because newcomers and 6th generation-ers alike will face ballot initiatives, elec- tions, and land use planning deci- sions upon which the survival of the economy, ecosystems, and yes, scenic beauty that brought you here, depend. Will we all have the same opinions? Of course not. But we all, including ear-budded, Nike-shod trail-runners, need the forests and grasslands and rivers. And to have them, we need to observe them, learn about them and understand them, just like any other valued community member. The num- ber at the Chieftain is 541-426–4567. I hope we can sit down over coffee and talk sometime soon. WHERE TO WRITE WASHINGTON, D.C. Evenings they built a fi re in the teepee I set up in the pasture and roasted marshmal- lows. Ryle, the seven year old, stood on the deck with his hands on his hips and looked around. He smiled and declared he loved this place and Oregon was his favorite place. The boys brought bows made out of half inch PVC and arrows and pretty much shot up the place. Ryle proudly showed me his new teeth coming in the front of his mouth. I have heard of pulling teeth by tying string to your tooth and then to a doorknob and slam- ming the door to jerk the loose tooth out. Ryle has a great imagination. He tied the fi f- teen foot string to his tooth then to an arrow and shot the arrow which took the tooth with it. The fi rst one was a success so he did the same for the second. Ranch kids are pretty tough but it’s a wonder any of them survive. It appears this might be a pretty good year for irrigation thanks to a not bad snow- pack. I feel sorry for the ditch walkers when the water starts to get short. They have a bunch of irrigators they have to juggle water to and the logistics can get tough. Unfortu- nately, people can become pretty irrational about irrigation water and an otherwise sane neighbor can become a hated enemy. As they say whiskey is for drinking and water is for fi ghting over. The White House — 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456- 1111; Switchboard: 202-456-1414. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart Senate Offi ce Build- ing, Washington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. E-mail: wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Web site: http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. E-mail: senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-228-3997. Oregon offi ces — 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Port- land, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278- 1129. Fax: 503-326-2990. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R (Second District) — 1404 Longworth Building, Washington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct e-mail because of spam. Web site: www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Med- ford offi ce: 14 North Central, Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. Pending Bills — For information on bills in Congress, Phone 202-225-1772. SALEM Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Web site: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). State Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove (District 58) — Room H-384, State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1458. E-mail: rep.gregbarreto@state.or.us. Web site: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/barreto State Sen. Bill Hansell, R (District 29) — Room S-423, State Capitol, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1729. E-mail: Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us. Web site: www.ore- gonlegislature.gov/hansell. LETTERS to the EDITOR Rails to Trails: Don’t burden farmers with more problems In the Trail project article 7/31 edition, Ms Millar states one reason they decided to withdraw the appeal was “the decision of the commissioners to keep the record open until July 1 for the submission of new/clar- ifying evidence.” However when JBTC fi led their appeal, THEY requested that pro- cess. At the June 17 commission meeting Commissioners decided to grant this JBTC request. Proponents and opponents of the Trail could submit materials. Only oppo- nents of the Trail made the effort to submit information. Trail proponents did not use the opportunity THEY asked for. It’s hard to “disprove negative possi- bilities” that ranchers brought up because it is diffi cult to disprove facts. She states they are working on “grants” to hire an employee to “manage this project and get it where we want to go.” Do they plan to change the law regarding EFU Zones? Repeal the Supreme Court decision which affi rmed the decision of the Planning Com- mission? Where do farmers in this county go to get grants and free attorneys to fi ght to keep our farms in business? Materials from the Ag sector note serious confl icts between the proposed Trail and the viability of working farms. Special interest groups have many sources of funds to fi ght your farming neighbors. Farmers spend their OWN time and money. People trying to make a living and keep farmland viable are being forced to defend their livelihood from those who want another place to recreate. Do you really want to burden farmers with more problems? Rebecca Wolfe Wallowa Better coverage due Wallowa’s Fourth of July Celebration I told myself before July 2019 is history to write the Wallowa County Chieftain about a matter that has been in my mind and on my heart for quite some time! The City of Wallowa has celebrated July 4th—our nation’s birthday—with a parade, BarBQ, quilt show and vendors for a num- ber of years now! However, I have yet to see front page cover pictures and writeup; continued on another inside page-with more pictures, in the Chieftain—next issue following this grand occasion. After all—shouldn’t the birthday of “The land of the free and the home of the brave”— the “United States of America” warrant such newspaper coverage? Aleta Neal Lostine Speak out against cruelty and injustice The senior clergy of the National Cathe- dral in Washington, D.C. recently issued a statement asking all sides of the politi- cal spectrum to respond to the racist rheto- ric coming from the President of the United States. They ask the question: “When will Americans have enough?” They recall a time in America’s his- tory when Senator Joseph McCarthy stoked fears of Communism, destroyed the careers of many, and bullied a submissive nation into silence until U.S. Army attorney Joseph Welch asked one of the most famous ques- tions to come down through time: “Have you no sense of decency?” In retrospect, the clergy think the ques- tion was directed at the American people as much as it was McCarthy. Out of fear, most were silenced then. But this question woke the populace and McCarty ended with his career and reputation in ruins. As it should. The clergy continue: “As leaders of faith who believe in the sacredness of every sin- gle human being, the time for silence is over. We must boldly stand witness against the bigotry, hatred, intolerance, and xeno- phobia that is hurled at us, especially when it comes from the highest offi ces of this nation. We must say that this will not be tolerated. To stay silent in the face of such rhetoric is for us to tacitly condone the vio- lence of these words. We are compelled to take every opportunity to oppose the inde- cency and dehumanization that is racism, whether it comes to us through words or actions.” We present these words as citizens of Wallowa County’s Newspaper Since 1884 M EMBER O REGON N EWSPAPER P UBLISHERS A SSOCIATION Published every Wednesday by: EO Media Group VOLUME 134 USPS No. 665-100 P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828 Offi ce: 209 NW First St., Enterprise, Ore. Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921 Contents copyright © 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. this country and this county who have full faith in the promise of America, and in all citizens to come together in tolerance and love of neighbor and speak out against cru- elty and injustice in all its forms. Catherine Matthias and Stewart Jones Joseph Free CDs much appreciated! Refl ections on the Lostine Dump As we write this, we are listening to “Pink Flamingos” by Rickie Lee Jones from her CD, Traffi c from Paradise (1993). Running from Mercy is a phenomenal cut as well. Being of an advanced age, the last song we remember by Rickie was Chuck E.s in Love (1979). There have been many refl ections in the Chieftain over the 8 years that we have lived here, extolling the beauty and ben- efi ts of Wallowa County life. This let- ter is to thank the anonymous donor who left a brace of CDs at the Lostine Trans- fer Station with a small, hand-written sign, “Free CDs.” If you are having sec- ond thoughts about your decision to unload Rickie (not to mention The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions), we are sure we can work out a shared arrangement to our mutual satisfaction. Ron and Terry Polk Lostine Periodical Postage Paid at Enterprise and additional mailing offi ces Subscription rates (includes online access) Wallowa County Out-of-County 1 Year $45.00 $57.00 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery General manager, Jennifer Cooney, jcooney@wallowa.com Editor, Ellen Morris Bishop, editor@wallowa.com Publisher, Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Reporter, Stephen Tool, steve@wallowa.com Administrative Assistant, Amber Mock, amock@wallowa.com Advertising Assistant, Cheryl Jenkins, cjenkins@wallowa.com See the Wallowa County Chieftain on the Internet Wallowa.com facebook.com/Wallowa twitter.com/wcchieftain POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wallowa County Chieftain P.O. Box 338 Enterprise, OR 97828