The Observer paper 10-28-15

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Inside

Owyheeplanprom ts fears, 18 Union/Cove aims or title, 8A S ERVING UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTIES SINCE t 8 9 6

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• A look at the effects of drought, wildfires on

• NORTHEAST OREGON'S AGINDUSTRY

• Conservationists question legality of wolf delisting process By Kelly House

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PORTLAND — Wildlife Participants of the Eastern Oregon Delegation Tour chat Tuesday following a presentation at the Joseph Canyon overlook. Presentations Tuesday ranged from topics on forest collaboratives to fire to wolves.

Todd Nash, center, the Oregon Cattlemen's Association wolf committee chair, speaks about the presence of wolves in Wallowa County on Tuesday, near the Flora area and near Sheep Creek Ridge.

• West side delegates visit Wallowa County to learn about life in Northeast Oregon By Kelly Ducote The Observer

ENTERPRISE — Elected officials from acrossthe state— and acrossthe aisle — learned a bit about life in Northeast Oregon this week. Five state legislators joined Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove, and Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, for a natural resources tour in Wallowa County Tuesday, following a water and irrigation tour in the lower Columbia River Basin Monday. Wolves dominated Tuesday's conversa-

tion, even as a suspected depredation occurred in the county this week. A range riderfound a dead calfTuesday morning, Wallowa County Commissioner Susan Roberts said. "So we had an active (depredation event) while we were talking," she said. Delegates met with several landowners, who expressed their frustration and fear when it comes to wolves. Chelsea Matthews, who lives with her familynear Redmond Grade in northern Wallowa County on Anchor Bar Ranch,

told the delegates she learned a lot during the Grizzly Bear Fire but was more worried now about what came afterward. "We had wolves come in right aker the fire," she said."I have obvious concerns about our kids. They like to play up in the draw." Two of the family's dogs were attacked this summer. Though the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife did not confirm they were wolf attacks, the family had recently spotted wolves. A day before the See 1bur / Page 5A

officials preparing to decide whether gray wolves should lose Endangered Species Act protections in Oregon have been asked to withhold judgment until independent scientists weigh in. In a letter sent Thursday to leaders in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, conservation group OregonWild's executive director argued it's illegal to decide wolves' fate based upon a staff report that hasn't been vetted by independent scientis ts. The lette rcitesa state statute requiring all delisting decisions to be based on "documentedand verifi able scientific information."A separate department rule See Wolves / Page 5A

State wildlife biologists are expected to recommend one of three options. They could advocate for removing or loosening Endangered Species Act protections statewide, containing changes to the Eastern part of the state where most wolves live, or making no changes to the animal's status in

Oregon.

OGEC dismisses Garcia complaint • Ethics commission cites 'insufEcient evidence' in ruling Inside

By Pat Caldwell For the Observer

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission elected last week to dismiss a complaint filed against former Union County Commissioner

Bill Rosholt.

Photos by Kelly Docote/The Observer

State Rep. Greg Barreto speaks to participants of the Eastern Oregon Delegation Tour on Tuesday in Wallowa County. He and Sen. Bill Hansell brought out five west side Democrats to tour the county. The group also toured the lower Columbia River Basin on Monday.

INDEX

WE A T H E R

Business ........1B Horoscope..... 6B Sports ............8A Classified .......4B Lottery............2A State...............7A Comics...........3B Obituaries......3A Sudoku ..........3B Crossword.....6B Opinion..........4A Wallowa Life.. 6A Dear Abby ...10B Record ...........3A Wonderword...3B

F ull forecast on the back of B section

Tonight

Thursday

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A shower or two

The ethics complaint, filed in August by local resident Eddie Garcia, asserted Rosholt used his influence while a Union County commissioner to secure a job as the director of the Eastern Oregon Workforce Investment Board. The commission made its decision on a unanimous vote and after it pondered a preliminary review on the matter. The preliminary review stated,"Information available during preliminary review See Ruling / Page 5A

CONTACT US

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Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to newsllagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A.

Issue 127 3 sections, 38 pages La Grande, Oregon

RIDAY IN HEALTH VALLEY INSURANCE AWARDED $10,000 GRANT

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Walgreens is buying rival Rite Aid for about $9.41 billion in cash, creating a drugstore giant with nearly 18,000 stores around the world. Page 7A

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