Good morning!
Seven years ago on Oct. 1, my family acquired the Malheur Enterprise.
We weren’t looking for more work. Scotta Callister, my wife, was retired from her duty as editor of the John Day newspaper. I was on track to retire after decades with The Oregonian. Our plan was to tend to our rural ranch, host guests, and spend time on horses.
But we couldn’t abide the idea of another community losing its newspaper.
Much has happened at the Enterprise in those seven years.
Scotta retired – again – and I stepped in as editor and publisher after saying goodbye to colleagues at The Oregonian.
What’s changed?
*We added a robust website, now a go-to news source for all of Malheur County.
*We added social media channels
*We invested in Malheur County, acquiring the building that is now home to the Enterprise.
*We added employment, creating jobs in Vale.
*We partnered with national news organizations such as Pro Publica and Report For America to bring top journalism talent to Malheur County.
*We created a robust summer internship program to train the next generation of journalists, exposing some of America’s top young talent to rural life.
*We hosted Town Halls, providing a forum for key local issues.
*We became sponsors of everything from the Vale Rodeo to the Ontario holiday parade.
*We pursued watchdog journalism never seen in Malheur County so you know what public officials are doing with their authority and your money.
Scotta and I are so proud of our team at the Enterprise. They work hard to deliver a service worthy of your attention.
But more important, we’re deeply grateful for your support.
We vow to continue adhering to the highest ethical standards, to strive to be fair and accurate at all times, and to celebrate the successes of life in Malheur County. Let us know what you’d like the Enterprise team to do over the next seven years.
-Les Zaitz and Scotta Callister (email: [email protected])
Now, some recent work done by your team at the Malheur Enterprise.
Football scores
Vale 35, Ontario 25
Adrian 38, Crane 16
Echo 18, Harper 13
Nyssa 20, Rainier 8
‘Journey’ into local history
Our annual publication sharing history stories from Malheur County is out and you can get your free copy at the Enterprise office and local museums. You’ll learn about the people and places that have made our community strong.
Subscribe for $7.50 for award-winning news
The Enterprise isn’t part of a big corporate organization with deep pockets. We’re a family business that works to pay decent wages and provide the community a vital service.
The team at the Enterprise can do that because so many of you are subscribers, that you see value in quality news you can trust. If you don’t subscribe already, please do.
For $7.50 a month, you can get our digital service and keep up every day with news that is most important to you. The process is secure and takes just a couple of moments. Ready? Go HERE – and thank you!
Have a tip? Let us know….
We get some of our best stories and photos after tips from readers. If you have an idea on something we can report on or just have questions about something happening in the community, send an email to Editor Les Zaitz at [email protected].