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138th Year, No. 3
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
WALLOWA.COM
MEMORIAL DAY 2022
Thomas
Townsend
Minam
He loves pristine
quality of county
ENTERPRISE — Thomas Townsend
has a unique job he fi nds fascinating,
working seasonally at the Minam River
Lodge in Wallowa County’s northwest
end.
It’s only his second tourist season
working there, but he’s looking forward
to it just the same.
“We work six days a week with one
day off and we reside out there at the
Minam River Lodge,” he said.
He’ll be doing what he describes as
“guest services” at the lodge this year.
“If you were to fl y in, I’d be the one
to pick you up at the grass airstrip out
there,” he said. “I’ll be making sure some
of the amenities we make available
to our guests are fully operational —
wood-fi red hot tub, a wood-fi red sauna,
making sure that the wood is stocked
and the grounds are kept looking nice
for the guests.”
Originally from the Willamette Val-
ley, he also lived in Alaska for a while.
“I’ve been in Oregon pretty much
ever since,” he said.
Townsend’s favorite thing about the
county is its geography.
“It’s gorgeous,” he said. “The Wal-
lowas themselves are incredible. I was
driving over from La Grande this morn-
ing and this time of year with the moun-
tains turning green and all the wildfl ow-
ers start popping up and you’re getting
pristine sections of water throughout
the entire drive, it just gets better the
closer you get to the Eagle Cap.”
But it’s more than just the land.
“These small communities are fan-
tastic,” he said. “The people are fantastic.
You can’t say enough about the people.”
Townsend is glad we’re fi nally get-
ting out of the long winter and spring
we’ve had.
“I saw a lot of snow and rain; it was
pretty miserable weather out here,” he
said.
He spent part of the winter as care-
taker at the lodge and then worked the
preseason.
“It was pretty cold and wet,” he said.
“You suff er through those cold and wet
winters and springs, but then you get
blue sky like today.”
Now that better weather has arrived,
he’s looking forward to being able to see
more of the county.
“I can just throw on my backpack
and go north river or south river and
around every bend, there’s always some-
thing really fantastic to see,” he said.
For anyone who is thinking of mov-
ing here, Townsend has some simple
advice:
“Be kind, be generous,” he said. “Oth-
erwise, you won’t fi t in around here.”
— Bill Bradshaw,
Wallowa County Chieftain
Photos by Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
From left, Kim Hutchison, of the Enterprise Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, salutes while Holly Hutchison, of the VFW Auxiliary, and Johlona Nelson,
also of the VFW, take turns performing the Reading of the Fallen during Memorial Day ceremonies Monday, May 30, 2022, at the Wallowa County
Courthouse. Several dozen people braved drizzly weather to remember those who have given all for their country.
ALWAYS REMEMBER
A youth choir from Christ Covenant Church led by Pastor Terry Tollefson,
right, sings “My Country ’Tis of Thee” during Memorial Day ceremonies
Monday, May 30, 2022, at the Wallowa County Courthouse.
Members of the Enterprise Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars fi re
a salute to the fallen Monday, May 30, 2022, during Memorial Day
ceremonies at the Wallowa County Courthouse in Enterprise. Trace Evans
and Randy Morgan wait to play taps on trumpets.
Wooden tombstones bearing the names of 47 Wallowa County veterans from each of America’s wars back as far as the Black Hawk War of 1832 —
when Abraham Lincoln received his limited military service — stand outside the Wallowa County Courthouse over Memorial Day Weekend. There was
even one to remember those designated POW/MIA.
Stockgrowers host Lane County in ranch tour
Event brought
diverse ranching
communities
together
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
WALLOWA COUNTY
— Cattle ranchers from
opposite ends of Oregon
got together here recently to
learn more about the chal-
lenges each faces and fos-
ter a sense of unity among
the Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association.
Members of the Wal-
lowa County Stockgrow-
ers Association hosted an
Todd Nash/Contributed Photo
Ranchers from Wallowa and Lane counties take in the view
from the historic Buckhorn Lookout during a ranch tour
Saturday, May 21, 2022.
exchange with members of
the Lane County Livestock
Association mostly on Sat-
urday, May 22, consisting
of a bus tour of Wallowa
County sites, including
ranches, the Zumwalt Prai-
rie, the historic Buckhorn
Lookout and other sites per-
tinent to the local livestock
industry.
“I thought it was a great
tour,” said Todd Nash, a
Wallowa County commis-
sioner, rancher and presi-
dent of the OCA, on May
23. “We got to see some
really diverse ranching.”
More than 25 ranchers
from Lane County were
among the approximately
60 people who took part
in the tour. Three com-
missioners of the Oregon
Department of Fish and
Wildlife; ODFW staff ; state
Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo,
and an aide; and an aide
to Republican U.S. Rep.
Cliff Bentz also took part.
In addition to the bus tour,
there were meals and social
time at the Cloverleaf Hall
in Enterprise.
Lane County abuts the
Pacifi c Coast and is the
fourth-most
populated
county in the state with the
highly urban Eugene at its
heart. This is in contrast to
Wallowa County tucked
away in Oregon’s northeast
corner and the state’s fi fth-
least populated county.
But both are known for
their fertile soil and agricul-
ture, giving them something
in common.
“Beyond having a won-
derful time with ranch-
ers from Lane County,
we had relevant discus-
sions on issues of the day,”
Nash said.
See Tour, Page A7