Wallowa.com Wednesday, December 16, 2020 THE WEEK IN PHOTOS THE BACK PAGE, A14 PSU STUDENT SEEKS LOCAL LOCAL REACTION TO STUDY SUBJECTS OSAA DECISION LOCAL, A3 136th Year, No. 36 A1 $1.50 SPORTS, A11 WINNER OF THE 2020 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Wednesday, December 16, 2020 COVID-19 Vaccine arrives in Oregon Summer Derrickson By GARY A. WARNER Oregon Capital Bureau Enterprise She paints pet portraits on ornaments ENTERPRISE — Summer Der- rickson is a newcomer to Wallowa County, but she already feels at home here. She and husband, Chris, moved here a little over a year ago from Corvallis. The Derricksons came here for Chris’ job with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. But they both fi t right in, she with her art. When inter- viewed, she had just picked up some clear Christmas tree ornaments she planned to paint with people’s pet portraits. She also works with a gal- lery in Joseph during the summer when it’s open. The young couple has no chil- dren — yet. “Maybe eventually,” Summer said. “But right now, we’re just hav- ing fun, getting out hiking and all that.” Real or fake Christmas trees and why? Real. We just love the smell of them. We don’t mind the mess and we love going out and fi nding our own. That’s always an adventure. What do you want for Christmas? Probably just to be able to hang out with all my family and friends. I don’t think the pandemic will be a problem. We’ll just visit with a few family members. What’s your favorite Christmas carol? I don’t really know them very well, but “O Holy Night” is one of my favorite songs. What are you hoping for the new year? That things will start opening up and that we don’t have to worry about this whole pandemic thing. Also, more peace in this world would be nice. What’s your favorite thing about Wallowa County? The mountains, for sure, and the hiking. I love horseback riding, too, so next year I hope to get out and do more trail riding. What’s your advice for people who are thinking about moving here? Defi nitely spend a winter here before you decide to move here. — Bill Bradshaw, Wallowa County Chieftain Indian Ridge, and Am’sáaxpa (a place of boulders). The prop- erty extends from the west- ern edge of the rodeo grounds nearly a mile south to just west of where Ski Run Road crosses Wallowa River. It includes the house, built in 1884, and SALEM — The fi rst of millions of expected vaccine doses needed to extin- guish the COVID-19 virus arrived in Oregon on Monday, starting a process that could last into fall 2021. The Oregon Health Authority issued a statement that the fi rst doses of the vac- cine manufactured by Pfi zer arrived in the state at 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14. Four facilities in or near Portland, along with a medical center in Ontario in Malheur County, were to each receive 975-dose packages by Tuesday. Oregon is slated to receive 35,100 doses this week. The remaining 30,225 Pfi zer doses will go to unspecifi ed hos- pitals later this week. Another 10,725 doses will go to unspecifi ed skilled nurs- ing facilities for vaccinations beginning next week. “Today, I can tell you that help is here,” said Gov. Kate Brown in a statement. The vaccine’s initial arrival comes as the state, like most of the nation, has seen a steep rise in COVID-19 cases since September. Through reports Monday, there have been 95,010 positive cases of COVID- 19 in Oregon and 1,161 deaths. Nation- wide, there have been nearly 16.6 million cases more than 302,000 deaths, accord- ing to Johns Hopkins University. In Wallowa County, there have been 74 cases and three deaths. While a sign of hope, getting the vac- cine to most of the more than 2.6 million estimated adults in the state is still a dis- tant goal. “The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel, but we will be in this tunnel for several months,” said Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen. Allen urged Oregonians to wear masks, physically distance, avoid gather- ings, and staying home if sick. The initial doses will go to what health offi cials around the country have said are the most important initial targets. “Starting with the frontline health care workers who have been our fi rst line of defense against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, and the long-term care facility residents who are among the most vulnerable, each day,” Brown said. See Nez Perce, Page A13 See Vaccine, Page A13 Ellen Morris Bishop/For the Wallowa County Chieftain The Nez Perce Tribe purchased the 148-acre Hayes Century Farm just west of Joseph on Dec. 9, 2020. The property holds great cultural and historical signifi cance for the Tribe. Coming home Nez Perce Tribe acquires historic Hayes Farm By ELLEN MORRIS BISHOP For the Wallowa County Chieftain J OSEPH — On Wednesday, Dec. 9 the Nez Perce Tribe com- pleted the purchase of the historic Hayes Farm just west of Joseph and south of the Chief Joseph Days rodeo grounds on Airport Road. The 148-acre property holds great cultural and historical sig- nifi cance for the Nez Perce. According to a press release, the property includes 3/4 of a mile of Wallowa River front- age that may be important in future fi sheries management, according to Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands Chairman James Monteith. Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman Shannon Wheeler and Secretary Rachel Edwards were there to com- plete the paperwork. “This has been a project in the works for some time, and there were several people involved in making this pur- chase a reality,” Wheeler said. “This purchase is a wonder- ful step in the reestablishment Nez Perce Tribe/Contributed Photo Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC) Chairman Shannon Wheeler, right, and Secretary Rachel Edwards complete the paperwork to purchase the Hayes Farm on Dec. 9, 2020. of a Nez Perce presence in the homeland of our people. We know our ancestors are smiling to see us returning home.” The property is the sec- ond-oldest Century Farm in Wallowa County. Located mostly along the terminal moraine just west of Joseph, it includes what is known as ‘Christmas Star’ to be visible during solstice Jupiter, Saturn come together Dec. 21 By BILL BRADSHAW Wallowa County Chieftain ENTERPRISE — The “Christmas Star” will become apparent for the fi rst time in nearly 800 years and — hopefully — will be visible over Wal- lowa County on Monday, Dec. 21, to coincide with the winter solstice and brighten up the darkest night of the year. About 45 minutes after sunset Monday, the two largest gas giants in the solar system are expected to appear to cross paths in the southwestern sky. Not since 1226 have they appeared so close, although they are in real- ity millions of miles apart. In 1226, Genghis Khan was taking over parts of Russia and the 5th Cru- sade was trying to recap- ture land in Egypt. According to kgw.com, the visible distance apart of the two planets can Pixabay/Contributed Photo It won’t be quite this bright in Wallowa County, but a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the southwest sky Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, will create a “Christmas Star” about 45 minutes after sunset. It’s the fi rst time the two have come together in about 800 years. be measured by degrees. Jupiter and Saturn will be about 0.1 degree away from each other, making them appear basically as one bright light in the sky. For perspective, the width of the full moon is about 0.5 degrees. The distance between Jupiter and Sat- urn from our perspective will be about 1/5 the width of a full moon. In the Northern Hemi- sphere, just after sunset, look in the southwest sky and you’ll be able to see the two neighboring lights above the horizon. Jupiter will be on the left and Sat- urn will be on the right. Of course, much of the See Solstice, Page A13