THE WEEK
IN
PHOTOS
THE BACK PAGE, B8
136th Year, No. 25
VOLUNTEERS READY NEW CHIEF NOVEMBER BALLOT NEARLY
JOSEPH TRAIL BRIDGE READY FOR WALLOWA COUNTY
LOCAL, B1
NEWS, A3
WINNER OF THE 2020 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
Wallowa
County
Voices
Enterprise
By Katy Nesbitt
For the Wallowa County Chieftain
She’s concerned
for fi re victims
J
Photo contributed by Ellen Morris Bishop
OSEPH — The Wal-
lowa County Museum
celebrated a milestone
over the weekend hon-
oring Ann Hayes as its
curator for 25 years.
The museum opened
in October 1976, spear-
headed by Hayes’ mother, Grace
Bartlett, a local historian. In 1995,
the keys were passed on, from
mother to daughter.
On Sunday. Sept. 27, a crowd
assembled in the museum to honor
Hayes and introduce her replace-
ment, Jude Graham.
The event was originally sched-
uled for last fall, but a torrential
downpour interrupted the plans for
a hamburger barbecue complete
with a selection of Wallowa County
pies. Scott McClaran, a museum
board member, said that while the
event was postponed a couple times,
it was important to give Hayes the
recognition she deserved for her
tireless effort over the years.
“The world could use a lot more
of Ann Hayes,” he said.
He compared Hayes to a three-
legged stool.
“Her family are sled-pullers of
the community. Her faith called her
to be a founder of St. Patrick Epis-
copal Church and her community
contribution is generational, as her
mother was the fi rst keeper of the
keys of the museum,” he said.
Hayes recalled the time the ceil-
ing fell down in the Nez Perce Room
on the main fl oor and how Janet and
Ken Hohmann of Wallowa helped
to secure it before a contractor could
be called. She also credited her sis-
ter-in-law, Donna Butterfi eld, and
niece, Karen Patton, for helping
frame many of the historic photo-
graphs on display upstairs — many
depicting school graduating classes
over the county’s 133-year history.
When it comes to changing the
lights, hung from the very high ceil-
ings, Hayes said she could count on
her son, Blaine, to help. He even
mows the lawn, on occasion, she
said.
Hayes said her mother moved to
Wallowa County in 1932 and soon
became interested in the county’s
history, making friends with Harley
Horner, a former county tax assessor
and self-made historian. Hayes said
Horner died in 1953, but not before
he and her mother had the opportu-
nity to write a couple articles for the
“Oregon Historical Quarterly.”
McClaran said Bartlett had some
of what has become known as the
Wallowa County Museum Board President Scott McClaran holds up a plaque presented to Ann Hayes at
her retirement reception on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.
See Museum, Page A8
ENTERPRISE — Lela Payton lives across
from the Enterprise Safeway now, but has
lived in Wallowa County for 35 years, most
of that time at Salt Creek Summit outside of
Joseph.
“My husband (Tom) hurt his back so he
couldn’t do some of the work, so we ... moved
into town” she said. “And we love it here.”
Tom Payton died about a year and a half
ago ago, so she now lives alone. She does,
however, have numerous extended family
members in the area, including grandchil-
dren, great-grandchildren, nieces and neph-
ews. Her daughter died eight years ago.
She has worked 20 years part time for
David and Lee Manuel at their museum,
where many of David’s bronze works are on
display.
“I do wax chasing, it’s one of the processes
in making bronzes,” she said.
She recently shared her thoughts on liv-
ing in Wallowa County.
Photo contributed by Ellen Morris Bishop
Ann Hayes, right, shares some thoughts with the new Wallowa County Museum Director Jude Graham, at
the reception honoring Hayes’ 25 years of work for the museum on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.
Now that the smoke seems to have
cleared, how does that aff ect you?
Do you know anyone personally
aff ected by the fi res?
The smoke clearing made me happy. I just
feel so sad for those people who are aff ected
by the fi res.
With one grandchild going to
school, are you concerned about the
spread of COVID-19 in the schools?
No, I fi gure the schools are taking enough
safety measures. I just wish they wouldn’t
make them wear their masks during P.E.
What’s your favorite thing about
Wallowa County?
It’s the hospitality. Ever since we moved
here from California, from the moment we
got here, everybody was just so friendly and
helpful. They wondered why we moved here
since there were no jobs, but I found one right
away. It worked out well. My husband was
retired from the sheriff ’s offi ce in Sacramento.
In fact, the people we bought our property
from were from the same high school I went
to in Oroville, Calif. Quite a coincidence. I love
the scenery, I love the valley and I love the
people.
What’s your advice for people who
are thinking about moving here?
We just picked it out on the map because
it was isolated. They may do that. I say wel-
come. After all, I came in from out of state. I
advise to just be friendly and don’t talk about
anybody. … When people move to a small
community like this, they surely have counted
the cost, checked how many jobs might be
available. … Some may have relatives to help
them until they get settled. Just be a little bit
prepared.
— Bill Bradshaw
Wallowa County Chieftain
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Wallowa County
museum honors
Ann Hayes’ 25
years as curator
Lela
Payton
With today being the fi rst day of
fall, what are you planning? Do you
hunt?
No, but I have lots of nieces and nephews
and grandkids who do. But I really don’t have
any plans beside going back to work and tak-
ing care of my home.
$1.50
Lottery sales still not up to snuff for dam
Sales rebounded,
but not enough
to fund projects
By Bill Bradshaw
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — Funding to
rebuild the Wallowa Lake Dam
remains on hold as the anticipated
September report on state lottery
revenues came in below what was
needed to fund it and 36 other
projects selected by the Oregon
Legislature last year.
Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena,
said Thursday, Sept. 24, the Sep-
tember lottery forecast came in
the previous day and it did show a
$2 billion rebound from what had
been projected. However, that’s
not enough to fund all the projects.
“The way it was described to
me it was all or none,” according
to the way the Legislature set the
budget, Hansell said.
The dam and other projects
were put on hold when the June
lottery report came in below the
4-to-1 ratio needed to sell bonds
to fund them. That means $4 mil-
lion in lottery revenue must come
in to sell $1 million in bonds. At
that time, the report came in at
only 3.1 to 1.
Hansell said he hadn’t yet
seen the report, but if what he’s
been told is accurate, there are
See Dam, Page A8
Staff photo by Bill Bradshaw
The Wallowa Lake Dam is awaiting a $16 million refurbishment that is
being held up by fl agging lottery revenues needed to pay for the bonds to
fund the project.