One day in the 1950s, while riding my horse as a teenager on The Divide rounding up cattle, I approached one of our ponds at the head of Bear Gulch. Unexpectedly an ancient species, an adult cougar, loped up over the pond lip, looked at me, proceeded to take a good long drink and then loped …
As Wallowa County and the state of Oregon grapple with the critical shortage of workforce housing, at least a couple of points have become clear: First, this is a problem that has been years i…
Thanks to Ken Parsons for his letter pointing out the deficit. Much of that is thanks to the tax giveaway by the previous administration.
Regarding the political cartoon of Jan. 11 depicting two elephants (Republicans) and a donkey in drag (Democrat): It is insulting, demeaning and downright dangerous.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, wants to keep an important part of American history alive for future generations.
More than 30 years have passed since a native Oregonian was sworn in as our state’s governor.
We’re not saying anything you don’t already know when we note that winters in Wallowa County can be challenging.
For all Oregon’s serious public concerns, some legislators want to slip a convoluted new voting system past us.
As you read this, the Oregon Legislature has convened for its 2023 session, and lawmakers already face a heavy load: Estimates last week were that more than 2,000 bills, memorials and resoluti…
I note in the Chieftain another Greater Idaho effort ("Greater Idaho effort eyes county again," Wednesday, Jan. 4).
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, wants to keep an important part of American history alive for future generations.
In Jim Rice's letter ("Columnist appears to have issues with exercising God-given rights," Wednesday, Dec. 28), he said, Roger Hockett "appears to have taken offense at someone exercising his …
I invite all ethical hunters to join The 500 Club. This club is for hunters who agree to not take shots at game animals more than 500 yards away. After a lot of reading and research, I found a…
Hypocrisy is the kindest word I can think of to describe the political left. Maybe they all suffer from cognitive dissonance because what they do doesn’t make logical sense. The latest example…
When Gov.-elect Tina Kotek started her “One Oregon Listening Tour” in Yamhill County last month, local residents weren’t invited.
We like to think it is an act of desperation, the abandonment of animals — at the front door of a veterinary hospital, or at the top of a lonely mountain pass. We imagine that it’s the action …
Many Western states have declared they will achieve all-renewable electrical goals in just two decades. Call me naïve, but haven’t energy experts predicted that wind, sun and other alternative…
I spent my first 50 years in Eastern U.S. cities and I’m a Democrat. Given those two facts, when I encounter a problem I cannot fix on my own, my first thought is to pick up the phone and cont…
Maybe you saw the news story this past week about the New York state woman who posted a video on the internet in which she tried to recalibrate everyone’s expectations for 2023.
I would like to respectfully respond to David Burns' letter ("Measure 114 continues to cause issues, should be reversed," Wednesday, Dec. 28) regarding Measure 114.
Tina Kotek was in her element: listening closely, jotting notes, asking questions both broad and detailed, and along the way giving clues for how she will govern Oregon.
Roger Hockett's column ("Guns in America and originalism," Wednesday, Dec. 14), appears to have taken offense at someone exercising his God-given right to bear arms in a local restaurant.
As of Dec. 2, there were over 42,000 Oregonians waiting to purchase a firearm. Once again, the misguided folks who supported Measure 114 have become the biggest sellers of guns in Oregon. How …
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, wants to keep an important part of American history alive for future generations.
An interesting thing happened last week in this neck of the woods: Dan Rayfield, the Corvallis Democrat who serves as speaker of the House of Representatives, ventured east of the Cascades to …
I have long admired my grandmother for her ability to adapt to change. She was born when man could not fly, and saw men walk on the moon. She was born when the thought of minorities being trea…
Kudos to Steve Culley. I too am a Vietnam vet (Can Tho '66) and although not a rifleman, as he, I was armed with a M-14 and a .45. In boot we learned the mechanics of an M-1 Garand and how to …
It’s been gratifying this holiday season to witness, once again, the generosity of Wallowa County residents.
We enter 2023 in an uncertain economy. Will inflation slow? Is a recession coming? If so, can we minimize its depth and duration? These questions weigh on all of our minds.
In our communities, the Blue Mountains are more than just a special place to us.
My hat’s off to the women and men of the Oregon Department of Transportation. They’re worth their salt. But, salt on the roads? Fine, if it doesn’t stick under vehicles.