100 YEARS AGO

June 17, 1915

Annual school meetings will be held next Monday, June 21, in every district in the county … Some of the most important school problems ever brought before the (Enterprise) district must be considered, and a comprehensive plan for the future growth of the entire local school system is likely to be studied. Since the Supreme court decided the old county high school property belongs to the county, the district must decide whether it cares to rent or buy the old building, or whether a new and modern structure is to be erected as soon as possible.

Shearing is now progressing rapidly at the large plants in the hills … Wool is coming rapidly to the warehouses in Enterprise and Joseph. About 90,000 sheep will be shorn, and the clip should total around 750,000 pounds. Most of this is fine wool; in fact there are few coarse wool sheep in the county at present … J.H. Dobbin and F.W. Falconer individually and in their partnerships have about 30,000 sheep.

With the purpose of arousing residents of the county to the great importance of fighting weeds, the county court is notifying land owners that the law requires them to do their part toward exterminating the pests.

The framework for the new Nazarene church building, which is being erected a block south of Rodgers Brothers’ garage, is up and Winchester Brothers, who have charge of the work, think they will have it ready for use by next month.

70 YEARS AGO

June 14, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Al Pickle received a telegram Tuesday morning announcing that their son, Pvt. William R. (Bob) Pickle, was killed in action on Mindanao in the Philippines on May 21. Bob was born in Enterprise on January 9, 1927, and was 18 years old at the time of his death. He attended the Enterprise school and enlisted on Nov. 20, 1944, when he was 17.

Owing to heavy rains and the melting snow on the higher ground on the east side of the river there have been several bad washouts on the Imnaha road above the Vern Warnock ranch and on up above the Wilson Wilde ranch. Henry Stumbaugh had just gotten home from town ahead of the washout but Vern Colvin and family were not so lucky, so they spent the night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Marks and were taken on horseback and by car to their home on Wednesday. The stage driver and his two passengers, Mrs. Vida Hager and Miss Estes, had to wade the water Wednesday evening to get across where a car could take them on up the river, and had to repeat that on Thursday morning. The state highway crew and the forest crew had a temporary crossing in by Saturday morning and as soon as the water goes down they will repair the damage.

50 YEARS AGO

June 17, 1965

At least three of the Wallowa County Jaycees have started “whisker gardens” to help arouse more interest in Chief Joseph Days. The beard growing contest is being sponsored by the Jaycees through a proclamation by the county court. The contest is open to the public and judging will be held at the Jaycee Breakfast at Wallowa Lake on the morning of August 1.

Robert Clegg, music teacher at the Enterprise school, received word last week that he had been the subject of an informal meeting of the State Board of Education and that he will be granted a teaching certificate for the 1965-66 school year. Clegg became the object of a diligent campaign on the part of several Enterprise residents when it was learned that he would no longer be granted a certificate because of the lack of a teaching degree. In granting the certificate the State Board indicated that Clegg would be required to attend summer school and set up other requirements. He indicated this week that he is complying with all the requirements of the Board.

The Enterprise municipal swimming pool opened on Tuesday to begin another summer of swimming recreation for local water fans. Dan Hays, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Hays, of Enterprise, will manage the pool for the summer with Mike Homan as his assistant.

25 YEARS AGO

June 14, 1990

Mary Goebel Grote, 25, who was elected Wallowa County district attorney in the May primary election has been disqualified, according to Jack Graham, director of the Oregon Elections Division … Graham said Grote was disqualified because (she) was not qualified to take office at the time of her election. Grote, who defeated incumbent district attorney Bill Reynolds by a margin of 1,341 to 1,003, failed the state bar exam prior to the election and thus is not licensed to practice law.

Three 14-year-olds participating in Teen Missions International until the end of August this summer are Melinda Lathrop and Louie Perry, Joseph, and Benji Boyd, Enterprise. Melinda and Benji are both destined for Philippines, though to different locations, and Louie’s eventual destination is Bermuda.

PHOTO CAPTION: A hot air balloon and Wallowa Lake combined for a picturesque scene early Saturday morning. The colorful balloon owned by Kent and Sondra Lozier floated over the lake for photographers in preparation for a brochure the couple is making to promote commercial flights which are planned this summer.