Good morning….
Education issues continue to make headlines here in Malheur County, across Oregon and in the country.
The fallout from the pandemic continues. Student scores are down. Chronic absences from the classroom are up. Teachers are pressing for better pay. And the country is seeing a growing parents’ rights movement.
That’s why the Malheur Enterprise is fortunate to dispatch education reporter Steven Mitchell to a national conference in late May.
We’re proud to say Steven was awarded a scholarship by the national Educators Writers Association to attend the training session. He competed with journalists from across the U.S., and that he earned this scholarship says much about his work covering local schools and our commitment to do so.
“Many believe education issues could decide the 2024 election. The Education Writers Association plans to use this pivotal moment in time to better prepare its members for what’s to come,” the association writes in describing the conference.
Few small news organizations get this opportunity.
Dispatching Steven to Nevada is important for our news team but it’s even more important for you, the reader. We strive always to sharpen our skills, to improve journalistically, to serve the community with care and professionalism.
Speaking of education, the Nyssa School Board has settled on the person it wants to run the school system there. It was by a divided vote the board picked Ryan Hawkins, who is the interim superintendent.
The Treasure Valley Reload Center took another hit last week when the Libertarians came out criticizing the project. The party wants the public money returned.
And a group that wants to build up local militias did convene in Vale recently. They met at the local library but few details are emerging on what happened.
Local property owners got permission to split their parcels for additional homes. This is the first application of a new law for Malheur County to adjust the use of some farmland. The Malheur County Court on Wednesday, March 20, will hold a public hearing on yet another effort to open a gravel mining operation on the Oregon Slope north of Ontario.
If you know barbecue, Derek Engleman would like to talk. He’s trying to organize a big cook-off competition in Vale this spring. So far, he’s having a hard time rounding up teams.
Coming up next weekend is the Owyhee Off-Road Challenge. You don’t have to be an endurance athlete or competitive runner to have a good time at this annual event in Adrian.
In the next few days, our news team will share a story on how revisions to Oregon’s drug laws will land in Malheur County. We’re also developing a report for you on a major new health clinic planned for the community.
Our small news team is on top of the news that you care about.
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