Summer is here and I have to admit for some reason this year I welcome the change of the season more than in the past.

It seems like we’ve been gridlocked in a perpetual late winter/early spring weather scenario for the past few months, so the fact the weather is growing warmer is a welcome sign.

Summer remains an exciting time for many of us, and I can remember how much I looked forward to what seemed like endless day of blue skies and hot temperatures at the end of every school year.

While the season changes and we enter into summer, not much will shift for our combined news staffs stretched across Eastern Oregon. Our focus will continue to be to provide the best coverage we can on important issues that affect all of us.

We want to ensure that you, the reader, continue to be the focus as we tackle important stories and events. And there are plenty of summer events going on just about everywhere in Eastern Oregon. Each county we cover furnishes unique happenings during the summer and we will be there to let readers know all about each one.

I hope you have a great summer and, please, be safe.

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If you missed this week’s Wallowa County Chieftain then you missed the celebration of Memorial Day captured in photos by reporter Bill Bradshaw along with his business story about the reopening of a sheet medal business that has big plans for the future. Also, Jeff Budlong reported on the reaction to the shootings in Texas by local school superintendents.

Coming up next week, freelance writer Ann Bloom has the story of a new health care option opening in Enterprise that aims to serve people during their entire life journey.

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As always, I want to take this opportunity to thank our subscribers for their support of the Wallowa County Chieftain. We can’t do this work without you.