Cemetery Road Improvements

If you had the opportunity to visit the Enterprise Cemetery this past weekend, you should know that the stellar condition of the facility didn’t just happen.

There is a small army of people working as the Friends of the Enterprise Cemetery who have done an amazing job and deserve to be recognized.

The cemetery cleanup process this year –– like everything else –– was hampered by horrible weather. Fortunately it was scheduled over two weekends. Unfortunately, all the work had to be done in one weekend.

Sondra Lozier was good enough to help me with background on the friends group and the cemetery board and their accomplishments.

“We have come so far in the past two-and-a-half years considering from where we started,” Sondra said. “It is a very interesting story of volunteers coming together and getting the job done.”

Sondra provided more than a page of accomplishments –– 42 to be exact.

One of the highlights is having the water reinstalled. It had been cut off for more than four years, which caused lawn, plants and trees to die and created an ideal environment for hundreds of ground squirrels that devastated the lawn and headstones.

The system was brought up to state specification and last fall, an underground irrigation system was added at a cost of $141,000.

A $3,500 grant from Pacific Power Foundation was used to improve the south roadway at the cemetery. Deer protection was added around small lilac bushes, the exterior of the cemetery’s shop building was improved, the plumbing in the restroom was repaired, tilting and toppled markers were set aright … the list goes on.

Most of the work was done by volunteers under the leadership of Perry Davis, who has served as Sexton. He is also updating cemetery records.

Sondra told me the only paid person has been a part-time employee to help with mowing. “This project is one of those heartfelt success stories that a group of people with a vision and a plan were able to accomplish,” Sondra said.

The efforts are ongoing as the tax base doesn’t cover the cost of upkeep. Maintaining the grounds will require continued volunteer effort.

The cemetery volunteers are a great example of what can be accomplished by people dedicated to service to the community. There are many other such groups in Wallowa County. Doing for ourselves is part of the DNA of folks here.

Their work is also inspiration for solving problems remaining to be tackled. I’m think of the idea of creating a library district. The process is not for the faint of heart. It will take a minimum of two years to get a district fully functional and a whole lot of convincing.

Are there people out there who are willing to be as committed to that idea as the group that has made such a tremendous impact at the cemetery? Let’s hope so.

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Save the date: June 8. We will be having a party here at the Chieftain, and you are cordially invited.

It’s a Meet the Editor Open House 9-11 a.m. The idea is come, eat cake and drink coffee, chat and have a good time. Even if you’ve already met me, please come and help celebrate the beginning of a new era.

You will be seeing reminders throughout the newspaper in coming editions, we will also be sending email invitations. Looking forward to seeing all of you there.