Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2021)
A8 LOCAL Wallowa County Chieftain Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Joseph youths raise donations for humane society By RONALD BOND Wallowa County Chieftain JOSEPH — Nine-year- old Rylee McKee and her friend Peyton Fough, 10, both students at Joseph Char- ter School, love animals, and are often wanting to help animals. “She’s always been look- ing for ways to raise money for animals,” said Peyton’s mother Tiana Fough. “The two of them found each other and that is all they want to do is go play with animals,” said Rylee’s mom, Vanessa McKee. “They are wanting to rescue something.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic started, the two girls had plans in place for a small dog-walking business. In February, the two went to the Wallowa County Humane Society, looking to join on as junior volunteers. The girls were turned down only because of their age — junior volunteers can- not start until age 12. “We just felt that 12 is more an age where you can start doing things without a parent, they’re more mature Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain From left, Mary Gassett, cat coordinator and board member for the Wallowa County Humane Society, receives donated pet-related items and $16 from Rylee McKee, 9, and Peyton Fough, 10, on Friday, April 2, 2021. The girls collected the goods from fellow students at Joseph Charter School, then brought the donations to the Humane Society in Enterprise. at that age,” Humane Soci- ety board member Mary Gas- sett said. “We feel at that age they can start handling things, doing events, helping with the animals, they are more mature at that age. “Maybe we’ve been proven wrong with these girls.” The preteens were at fi rst disappointed, but they didn’t allow that to stop them from fi nding a diff erent way to help the Humane Society. “Miss Peyton here decided to write a letter to the princi- pal begging for a space here to take donations to the soci- ety,” Vanessa McKee said. After an attempt to do a bake sale at the school was held up because of COVID regulations, they set up a donation box at the school so people could bring by toys, food, or money for the society. “We thought that since we go to a good school, we could get a lot more donations, and we knew our principal would allow a fundraiser,” Peyton Fough said. Principal Sherri Kil- gore approved the plan for the donation box. The duo enlisted two friends to help make posters and decorate the station and box. “They made posters, put posters up all around the school. It was amazing — all by themselves,” Gassett said. “Their mom contacted us and said, ‘Look what they are doing.’ It was really over- whelming that these girls did this.” Over the course of a few weeks, donations came to the set up at the school. When it was all said and done, the girls on Friday, April 2, took their haul to the Humane Society. The con- tents included dog and cat food, treats, toys, a cat bowl and $16 in cash donations. All told, Gassett estimated there were more than $200 in goods. “It really shows that these kids are raised right, to take it upon himself to do that shows what big hearts these kids have,” Gassett said. “We are 100% run on donations and volunteers. Our Humane Society really runs on about 15 people. I was so impressed by these girls. That little bit will go a long ways for us.” Rylee said she was happy for those who donated to the cause. “We were excited that a lot of people care about animals and they were able to help with that project,” she said. Both moms beamed with pride about their daughters, too. “It was all their idea, their own self-motivation,” Vanessa McKee said. “It was a defi nitely proud parent moment.” Tiana Fough added she is used to her daughter behav- ing in this fashion, and wasn’t surprised. “She’s always been like this. It does make me proud, but she does have a giving heart. I could see her someday starting her own nonprofi t. We have a pretty strong faith, and we have raised our chil- dren to have giving hearts, so I think part of that is what God’s put on her heart to do, and (with) her personality, it’s natural for her.” Hope Farm Fire Ellen Morris Bishop/For the Wallowa County Chieftain Featuring beautiful cabinetry designed and manufactured by e m i t g n i r Sp s t n e m e v o Impr wait! A Get ready to be inspired Let us help you design the kitchen and bath that matches your vision and your budget. Our team of experts can create everything from entry-level, value cabinetry to semi-custom and custom designs. Creative Spaces. Refreshing Places. 800 S. River Enterprise, OR www.carpetone.com 541-426-9228 Clayton Lamm Cabinet & Countertop Specialist Sales & Installation Clayton@CarpetOneEo.com Enterprise volunteer fi refi ghter Tyson Samples aims his hose at a still-warm fuel-tank while other fi refi ghters cool down and mop up the debris at a fi re at Hope Farm on Liberty Road in rural Joseph on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The fuel tank was a special concern, Samples said, and fi refi ghters wanted to ensure that it was cool and safe. The fi re spread from a pile of hay and grass that was being burned as part of spring cleanup to a century-old wooden granary. The fl ames were controlled before they could spread to the house and barn, Enterprise Assistant Fire Chief Dan Niezen said. BARGAINS OF THE MONTH ® While supplies last. FINAL PRICE 29.99 27.99 SALE PRICE -3.00 INSTANT REBATE Scotts® 4,000 sq. ft. Turf Builder Triple Action Fertilizer Kills broadleaf weeds and prevents crabgrass all season. L232 545 1 10,000 sq. ft., 59.99 after $5 instant rebate* L235 544 1 *Limit 2 per offer with True Value Rewards Card. Consumer responsible for taxes. M-F 8AM-5:30PM • SAT 8AM-5PM • SUN 9AM-3PM Hurricane Creek Road Enterprise, Oregon 541-426-3116 Sale Ends 4/30/21