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137th Year, No. 40
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
WALLOWA.COM
Bobbie
Rhodes
Wallowa
Senior
caregiver
says county
is ‘home’
ENTERPRISE — Bobbie Rhodes
has lived in Wallowa all of her 41
years.
“It’s home,” she said, adding that
she’s never really considered living
anywhere else.
She’s a caregiver at the Wal-
lowa Valley Senior Living Center
in Enterprise, having studied nurs-
ing at Walla Walla Community Col-
lege after graduating from Wal-
lowa High School. She works in the
memory care ward, helping resi-
dents who have Alzheimer’s Disease
and dementia with their day-to-
day hygiene, care and keeping their
memories active.
Rhodes recently shared her
thoughts about living in Wallowa
County.
What’s your favorite thing
about Wallowa County?
The mountains. They’re beauti-
ful. That’s why I like them.
What are you looking
forward to in 2022?
To be healthier.
Did you make a New Year’s
resolution?
No, it seems like I always fail at
them.
Did you get what you
wanted for Christmas?
Love and to be with my family.
What’s your advice for
people who are thinking
about moving here?
Don’t. We don’t need any more
people. They can come and visit,
and then go on their way. We have
enough (people). I want it to be
more like it was back in the old days
when we had friendlier people. The
county seems to be getting less
friendly.
— Bill Bradshaw,
Wallowa County Chieftain
Destiny Wecks will be crowned
as Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon
during an event at the Elks
Lodge in Enterprise on
Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.
Jeff Wong/Contributed Photo
ASSUMING OFFICE
Destiny Wecks
offi cially steps
into role as
Miss Teen
Rodeo Oregon
By RONALD BOND
Wallowa County Chieftain
J
OSEPH — Destiny
Wecks is offi cially in
the saddle as Miss Teen
Rodeo Oregon, a title
the former Chief Joseph
Days co-queen will hold
throughout 2022.
Wecks, 18, will be honored
during an event at the Enterprise
Elks Lodge at 5 p.m. Saturday,
Jan. 15, unoffi cially kicking off
a year of promoting the sport she
has come to love.
“Yes, it’s kind of exciting,”
Wecks said during a Dec. 30
interview of settling into the role,
“but also (at) the same time a lit-
tle nerve-racking … not exactly
sure what the year has to bring
Robert McLean/Contributed Photo
Destiny Wecks, shown with Opie, will be crowned as Miss Teen Rodeo
Oregon during an event at the Elks Lodge in Enterprise on Saturday,
Jan. 15, 2022.
and what to expect.”
One thing Wecks does know
is that she will be busy. She has
a goal of trying to attend a rodeo
almost every weekend, and at
each one will be doing what
she can to help the events she is
attending.
“My plan is to go to as many
rodeos across the Pacifi c North-
west as I can,” she said. “I will
be doing grand entry with the
other rodeo queens, I can help
with selling programs, autograph
signing during and after, as well
as if they need help in the arena
moving cattle, setting up barrels,
(or running a) sponsor fl ag. I will
be able to speak on radio if other
rodeos need it, (or) luncheons for
myself promoting tryouts.”
It’s the third of what Wecks
hopes eventually will be fi ve
rodeo titles. She previously has
donned a crown in her rodeo
career as Miss Rodeo Oregon
Sweetheart and Junior Miss
Rodeo Oregon. The next one
hopefully on the slate is Miss
Rodeo Oregon, and the top hope
is Miss Rodeo America, which,
if garnered, would make her
the fi rst Oregonian to hold each
honor. Mackenzie Carr Ivie is
the only Oregonian to be named
Miss Rodeo America.
Wecks wants to use her posi-
tion in promotion to help the next
generation learn about rodeo and
the lifestyle of the West. One of
her dreams, she said, is “to really
See Rodeo, Page A13
Cattle investigation continues Dead wolf
found in
Wallowa
County was
likely shot
Owner’s wife blames
the ranch manager
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
WALLOWA COUNTY —
Wallowa County Sheriff Joel Fish
said his offi ce’s investigation con-
tinues into possible animal neglect
at Dean Oregon Ranches and other
cattle stranded in the mountains
by snowstorms remains ongoing.
“I do not have any specifi c
number of cows that have been
gathered or died,” Fish said. “The
staff for Dean Oregon Ranches
are collecting the cattle. Most of
the cattle belong to Dean Oregon
Ranches.”
The sheriff said he expects the
investigation to take time as his
offi ce gathers statements from
those involved.
County Commissioner Todd
Nash, who is a rancher and often
addresses agricultural issues on
the Board of Commissioners, said
Fish’s statement of Dec. 31 that
the county was “moving toward
seizing the Dean Oregon Ranch”
was not exactly accurate. Nash
said it’s the cattle — not the ranch
itself — that may be seized and it
EO Media Group
Craig Stockdale/Contributed Photo
This cow had to be euthanized after being stuck in deep snow in the
Upper Imnaha area recently. A massive eff ort to rescue the cows and
their calves on the Bob Dean Oregon Ranch has been made by ranch
workers, county offi cials and volunteers.
is unknown if the small number
of cattle owned by other ranchers
would be included.
“We’re looking at seizing the
livestock,” Nash said. “We’re in
the process of considering that.”
He said there is no timeline
in sight, as the proper legal mea-
sures must be taken, such as Fish’s
investigation.
“We need to have all our ducks
in a row,” the commissioner said.
Wife speaks up
But Karen Dean, wife of Bob
Dean, the owner of the ranch in
the Upper Imnaha area where
cattle have been freezing or res-
cued from it for the past few
weeks, was defensive of her ail-
ing husband during a telephone
interview from her Georgia
home.
See Cattle, Page A13
Oregon State Police are seeking
information about a dead wolf that
was found in Wallowa County after
apparently being shot by a fi rearm.
A citizen reported the wolf car-
cass to OSP about 10:36 a.m. on
Saturday, Jan. 8. The wolf was
along Parsnip Creek Road about
six miles southeast of Wallowa.
The wolf, which was fi tted with
a tracking collar, is a two-year-old
female that had dispersed from the
Chesnimnus Pack, according to a
press release from OSP.
The initial investigation showed
the wolf had been fatally shot.
OSP is urging anyone with infor-
mation regarding this case to call
the Oregon State Police TIP line
at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677),
or email at TIP@state.or.us. Refer-
ence case No. SP22006179.