$1.50 OLD FAVORITE HAS TWO-WEEK FREEZE GOES NEW OWNERS, INTO EFFECT TODAY BUSINESS, A6 STATE, A15 THE WEEK IN PHOTOS THE BACK PAGE, A16 136th Year, No. 32 Wallowa County Voices Tom Beckman Enterprise Thankful for post-election peace, family WINNER OF THE 2020 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Wednesday, November 18, 2020 Seaside police chief accepts job in Enterprise David Ham to replace Sheriff -elect Joel Fish By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain ENTERPRISE — David Ham, chief of police in Seaside, has accepted an offer by the Enterprise City Council to become the new police chief here, according to a press release. Ham has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, including six years as chief in Sea- side. He accepted the position Friday, Nov. 13. The position of chief is becoming vacant since cur- rent Chief Joel Fish Ham won the election to become Wallowa County sheriff. He takes his new position Jan. 1. Ham anticipates being able to take over for Fish on that date, provided all the prehiring checks are completed and a fi nal offer is acceptable. “If everything goes according to plan, I will start Jan 1,” Ham said in a telephone interview with the Chieftain Monday, Nov. 16. “That could work.” He said the job description seemed to fi t what he was look- ing for, as he would prefer more hands-on police work. “They were looking for a work- ing chief in addition to the adminis- trative duties,” he said. He does more administration in Seaside, though he occasionally assists patrol offi cers. “It’s not that I’m so removed from it I don’t know how to do it anymore,” he said. Ham’s current position in Sea- side has him supervising a larger department than in Enterprise, where there are four offi cers work- ing with the chief. The Seaside Police Department maintains a min- imum of two patrol units on duty, 24 hours a day. The patrol division consists of three patrol sergeants supervising 14 offi cers, according to its website. But why did he pick Enterprise? See Police chief, Page A7 ENTERPRISE — Tom Beckman, of Enterprise, has lived here about 12 years, and works as kitchen manager at Friends Restaurant on Main Street. He has a child on the way — next month — and his par- ents and some siblings live in the area, so he is well tied to Wallowa County. He recently shared his thoughts on living in Wallowa County and some recent or upcoming events. What do you think about the results of the local elections? I voted, but I haven’t been keep- ing up on things too much. (The Enterprise school bond passing) sounds good to me, but I haven’t been keeping up on stuff lately. Everything’s been so chaotic, so I guess I’m a little out of touch with it. As for moving Wallowa County into Idaho, (which failed) I need to do some more research on that. As we near Thanksgiving, what’s one thing you’re thankful for? I’m thankful for my family and I’m thankful that our little town hasn’t been too disrupted by the rest of the country’s crap that’s going on right now. Of course, it’s everywhere, but here it’s easier in some ways. What’s your Thanksgiving tradition like? Big dinner, get-together with family, trying to get family to come into town. Do you think it will be disrupted by the COVID pandemic? Yeah, in a way, but I don’t think too much. When is too early to start hearing Christmas music? Seems like around here it always starts too early. I used to live in Joseph for a long time and it seems they get to blaring that stuff all around town early on. — Bill Bradshaw, Wallowa County Chieftain Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain Always alert, Kangal guard dogs Zahara, left, and Callie keep watch Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, at the Allen Canyon Loop home of Benny and Jan Hileman southeast of Wallowa. That alertness against predators is what the Turkish-bred dogs are known for. Protecting against predators Turkish-bred Kangal shepherds dogs hold record for strongest bite By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain A LLEN CANYON — In an area where predators are far from uncommon, what’s the best defense? Dogs, says one couple, who recently acquired two Kangal shepherd puppies to replace their aging rottweilers. “They’ll protect all the animals and your children,” said Jan Hile- man, who with husband, Benny, lives along Allen Canyon Loop southeast of Wallowa. “That’s what they’re bred for.” The rare guard dogs are native to Turkey. Not so much herding dogs, they’re more to keep an eye on their territory — and those in it — and protect what’s there. “We’re griping about cows get- ting killed, and I think it’s time peo- ple fi nd out there is something that can really help,” Jan Hileman said. The Hilemans have nine dogs total — fi ve they regularly let out- side and four that are more indoor dogs. In addition to the two Kan- gals, they have two rottweilers, an old border collie, two chihuahuas, a Boston bull terrier “and a fuzzy dog” mutt, Benny said. Several are getting quite old, and their days are numbered. Some may see having such a large pack as a problem, but the Hilemans don’t. “All of our dogs stay here because we watch them all the time,” Jan said. “And they teach each other things.” “But somebody has to be the Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain Kangal shepherds Callie, left, and Zahara show aff ection to rottweiler Reco while their owners Jan, left, and Benny Hileman watch Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. The 5-month-old Kangals are guard dogs the Hilemans recently got to guard their Allen Canyon Loop home southeast of Wallowa. pack leader, and I’ve already done that with our dogs,” Benny added. He said they’ve both been work- ing with the Kangals — two females that are about 5 months old. They’ll be advantageous to replace the older rottweilers. “Once they get more grown up and trained better,” he said. “I have been trying to walk them around the fence line and teach them that that’s the end.” Benny said that training is important, as the Kangals are more likely to stay home than his rottwei- lers, who have been known to go off gallivanting around the woods. They’re even showing a natural instinct to simply survey the sur- rounding area and watch for any- thing alarming. “That’s what we’re fi nding out,” Jan said. “For the past two or three weeks, Callie would just sit here and look over the area.” The Hilemans said the girls — Callie and Zahara — have been rel- atively easy to train. “I put those dogs on a lead and Callie backed up on me a little, but Zahara tromped right along. I could’ve taken her to the show ring,” Benny said. “I stop; she sits down. Callie, I have to tell her to sit down. They’re really getting to learn.” Jan said they do come with challenges. “They’re so stubborn,” she said. But, she said, she’s impressed with how the pups are already so observant. “It’s a natural instinct that they stay right here and protect their turf,” she said. “Callie was sitting here this morning just looking over the valley. They always, always know what’s going on around them. … They notice everything.” See Kangal shepherds, Page A7