LOCAL
Wallowa.com
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
A3
Forestry department restricts land use for û re danger
Wallowa County Chieftain
LA GRANDE — As
conditions across Northeast-
ern Oregon have shifted to
warmer and drier weather
in the height of summer, the
Oregon Department of For-
estry — Northeast Oregon
District has increased public
use restrictions on lands pro-
tected by ODF, according to
a press release.
“This year has been
unique with a slow start to
warmer and drier condi-
tions,” said Matt Hoehna,
assistant district forester.
“However, with extreme heat
this last week, the vegetation
and fuels have changed dra-
matically. It does not take
long for a û re to ignite and
carry with the drier fuels
that we are seeing in the dis-
trict. We must consider our
options in reducing the num-
ber of preventable û res.=
Eû ective
Wednesday,
Aug. 3, the ODF added
restrictions for lands within
the district. The restrictions
aû ect both landowners and
the general public.
The regulated use closure
aû ects private, state, county,
municipal and tribal lands in
seven counties: Baker, Uma-
tilla, Union, Wallowa and
small portions of Grant, Mal-
heur and Morrow counties.
The restrictions include
the following û re-prevention
measures:
" Open û res are prohib-
ited, even at designated
campgrounds,
including
campû res, charcoal û res,
cooking û res and warming
û res.
• Nonindustrial use of
chain saws is prohibited.
• Internal combustion
engine use, except for motor
vehicles is prohibited.
• Smoking is prohibited
while traveling, except in
vehicles on improved roads,
in boats on the water or at a
cleared area.
• Use of motor vehicles,
including motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles is pro-
hibited except on improved
County energy planning launched
tiû ed by the Department of
Consumer and Business Ser-
vices and operated in com-
pliance with manufacturer’s
instructions.
Aside from these restric-
tions, also prohibited is the
use of exploding targets and
tracer ammunition. Debris
burning is prohibited, which
includes burn piles and burn
barrels.
These restrictions shall
remain in eû ect until replaced,
suspended, or terminated by
additional proclamations.
roads, except for the com-
mercial culture and harvest
of agricultural crops.
•
Cutting,
grinding
and welding of metal is
prohibited.
• Mowing of dried and
cured grass with power
driven
equipment
is
prohibited.
" Use of û reworks is
prohibited.
• Any electric fence con-
troller in use shall be listed
by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory or be cer-
Commissioners to start
psilocybin ban process
Wallowa County Chieftain
MORE
ENTERPRISE — Com-
munity input is being sought
for a comprehensive Com-
munity Energy Strategic
Planning process to proac-
tively plan and manage Wal-
lowa County’s energy future,
according to a press release.
The eû ort is being
launched in a collaboration
between the Wallowa County
Board of Commissioners and
Wallowa Resources Commu-
nity Energy Program, with
funding from Energy Trust of
Oregon.
The move comes after
years of quiet discussion,
energy development and
energy challenges, the release
stated, and focuses a special
eye on lowering energy costs
and stabilizing energy access
for the county’s “end of the
line” communities.
The eû ort will use the tag-
line, “We have Good Energy.”
Early estimates show
county residents currently
spend $30-$40 million annu-
ally for various types of
energy, according to Nils
Christoû ersen,
Wallowa
Resources executive director.
He said most of those dollars
currently leave the county.
“Finding ways to keep
some of them working here
creates real opportunities for
all of us,” he said.
The plan takes a hard look
IN BRIEF
Ranger from Nez
Perce park to
speak Aug. 9
JOSEPH — On Tuesday,
Aug. 9, at noon, a ranger
from the Nez Perce National
Historical Park will speak at
the Josephy Center for Arts
and Culture.
The park is unique in that
its sites are not all connected,
and not even all “owned” by
the National Park Service.
Some of them, including the
Old Chief Joseph Grave Site
at Wallowa Lake, the Joseph
Canyon Overlook and the
Dug Bar crossing site on the
Snake River, are in Wallowa
County.
The park celebrates Nez
Perce history and culture,
and chronicles the path of the
War of 1877. The park head-
quarters and a visitor center
are in Spalding, Idaho, up the
Clearwater River from Lew-
iston. There are now 38 sites
in Washington, Montana and
Oregon as well as the origi-
nal ones in Idaho.
Those interested are
invited to come with their
questions about why some
places are in and others not.
Find out about battleû eld
commemorations and other
events celebrated by the
national park.
Teachers and educa-
For more information on
the planning process and
how to become involved,
contact members of the
leadership team or Basile at
joe@wallowaresources.org
or 541-426-8053, ext. 52.
Contributed Photo
Community input is being sought for a comprehensive
Community Energy Strategic Planning process.
at how all kinds of energy is
used in the county right now
and then û guring out what
residents can do to lower
energy costs for everyone,
how to put those saved dol-
lars to work locally, how to
ensure having stable, reli-
able access to energy for crit-
ical services in times of emer-
gency and at the same time,
how to be good stewards of
the environment, accord-
ing to Joe Basile, plan man-
ager and Wallowa Resources
Community Energy program
manager.
Critically important too,
Basile said, “this energy
plan will also deliver a com-
prehensive prioritized list
of local energy opportuni-
ties with short- and long-
term strategies and funding to
make projects happen.”
“This is a community-gen-
erated plan,” County Com-
missioner John Hillock said.
“We are wanting input and
assistance from interested
groups and individuals from
every sector of the commu-
nity — from homeowners
and renters to ag to business
and beyond.”
An 11-member leader-
ship team has been estab-
lished and team members are
now beginning to identify
key stakeholder groups and
interested individuals willing
to contribute some time and
expertise in small group work
sessions over the next several
tors are invited to stay for a
2 p.m. session on teaching
Nez Perce history and cul-
ture. The Josephy Center is
developing boxes of Nez
Perce teaching materials —
each elementary school in
the county will get its own
box of materials — and park
staû will be here to provide
more materials and informa-
tion for educators.
For
more
informa-
tion, contact Rich Wand-
schneider at the center at
541-432-0505.
display until Sept. 9.
What is a wild land-
scape? One thing that makes
Eastern Oregon so special is
untouched and undeveloped
landscapes. The Wild Land-
scape exhibit will celebrate
Imnaha’s diverse and wild
lands. This means the land-
scape is the focal point with
no human-made objects vis-
ible in the art works.
Award winners will be
announced during the exhib-
it’s opening reception from
7-9 p.m. Aug. 5. Hors d’oeu-
vres will be provided and
drinks will be available for
purchase.
Joseph City
Council meeting
moved to Aug. 11
JOSEPH — The regular
Joseph City Council meet-
ing for August has been
moved to Aug. 11, at 7 p.m.
at the Joseph Events Com-
munity Center, according to
a press release.
Agendas will be posted
at the city’s website by noon
Aug. 9 or sooner, the release
stated.
The council regularly
meets on the û rst Thursday
of each month.
New exhibit
reception at
Josephy Center
JOSEPH — A new exhibit
at the Josephy Center for Arts
and Culture focuses on Wild
Landscape Imnaha and is on
New 4-H club
brings back
familiar name
LOSTINE — There is a
new 4-H club in the lower
valley. The club includes
Cloverbuds (grades K-third)
and Juniors (grades fourth
through sixth).
The Junior division mem-
bers are working on large-an-
imal projects including pig,
goat and sheep projects for
the Wallowa County Fair. The
club meets at the Southfork
Grange in Lostine and mem-
bers volunteered as helpers at
the Southfork Grange’s May
Day event.
Club members are doing
a horticulture activity during
the spring season with volun-
teer instructor June Colony.
months, Basile said.
The team is headed by
Mike Hayward, a former
county commissioner and
past general manager of Wal-
lowa County Grain Grow-
ers. Members include Ryan
Sheehy of Fleet Solar; Sara
Miller of the Northeast Ore-
gon Economic Development
District; Travis Boyd of Wal-
lowa Valley Networks; Paul
Karvoski, Wallowa County
emergency services man-
ager; Stacy Beckman, Wal-
lowa County Grain Growers;
Andy McKee, a local devel-
oper; Joe Dawson, ag/real
estate; Franz Goebel, Wal-
lowa County planning direc-
tor; Jennifer Piper, of the
Wallowa County Chamber of
Commerce; Dan McCarthy,
Hospital Facilities Manager;
and Emily Bratcher, Wallowa
Resources Youth Education.
This plan is intended as a
blueprint for the next 10-20
years, Hayward said. “We
want the people who will be
impacted to be part of the
planning. Stay tuned.”
The club members are also
interested in learning about
photography, cooking and
sewing.
The adult leader of the
club is Sadie Kennedy. Los-
tine Rascal 4-H Club oû cers
are: President Camelia St
George, Vice President Dil-
lon Wortman, Secretary Che-
noa Brockman, Treasurer Tai-
lynn Clary, Sergeant of Arms
Edith Kennedy and Reporter
Lydia Hawkins-Hogrefe.
Joseph Chamber
to meet Aug. 5
JOSEPH — Now that
Chief Joseph Days is over,
the Joseph Chamber of
Commerce is gearing up for
the town’s next event, the
Wallowa Mountain Cruise
scheduled for Aug. 26-27.
The chamber will hold a
meeting to discuss the event
— and other business — at
8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at the
Wallowa County Museum.
Volunteers are being
sought to set up beforehand
and tear down after, includ-
ing adding and removing
no parking signs and barri-
cades. Volunteers are asked
to sign up to help.
Also on the agenda will
be marketing, music, the
annual and a nominating
committee.
The chamber, which
meets the û rst Friday of each
month, will next meet Sept. 2.
4 Chieftain staû
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Public hearings
to precede
ballot measure
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — Two
public hearings will be
held this month prior to
approval by the Wallowa
County Board of Commis-
sioners of an ordinance to
declare a ban on psilocy-
bin service centers and the
manufacture of psilocybin
products within the county,
the county website states.
The
commissioners
will hold the û rst hear-
ing Wednesday, Aug. 3,
at 11 a.m. following their
regular 9 a.m. meeting.
The second hearing will be
at 10 a.m. on Aug. 17.
The hearings are a nec-
essary step to get the matter
on the Nov. 8 ballot to give
voters in the county the
chance to ban psilocybin.
Oregon voters in 2020
approved Ballot Measure
109, which created Ore-
gon Psilocybin Services
as a new section within
the Oregon Health Author-
ity. The commissioners’
intended action would ban
psilocybin in unincorpo-
rated areas of the county.
Municipalities have the
option to approve or deny
psilocybin services.
Another public hear-
ing is planned for Aug. 3.
The county is complet-
ing an Emergency Small
Business and Micro-Enter-
prise Assistance Grant Pro-
gram funded with Commu-
nity Development Block
Grant funds from the Ore-
gon Business Develop-
ment Department, accord-
ing to the county website.
The location of the project
is throughout the county. It
is estimated that the proj-
ect has beneû ted at least
29 people of whom 100%
were low or moderate
income.
The purpose of the hear-
ing is for the commission-
ers to obtain citizens views
about the project.
In other matters at the
Aug. 3 regular meeting, the
commissioners plan to:
• Consider an easement
request by Ryan Lingard
for a new driveway and
culvert on Hurricane Creek
Road.
• Approve Stacey Muel-
ler’s separation from ser-
vice in the Information
Technology Department
and then be rehired on a
temporary basis.
• Approve a salary
change for Wes Garth as
a reserve deputy with the
Wallowa County Sheriû 9s
Oû ce.
• Approve the hiring of
Samuel Witherup as a tem-
porary youth employee.
Births
A son, Henry Joseph
Perren, was born July 20,
2022 in Enterprise to
Matthew and JoAnna Perren
of Enterprise. Grandparents
are Virginia Patton, Tim
Patton, Christina Girtz
and Brian Perren.
301 W. Main, Enterprise • 541.426.3177
This week’s featured book
Tracy Flick
Can’t Win
by Tom Perrotta
107 E. Main St. Enterprise OR
541-426-3351
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