The latest from the Malheur Enterprise

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Good morning and I’m glad you’re here.

Halloween is fast approaching. Organizations and companies all over Malheur County are planning special events and treats.

If your business or a nonprofit you are associated with is planning something, send us details so we can share with the community. We need the basics – date, time, location. We need a description of what’s going to happen and a way for us to contact someone if we need more information. Email that to [email protected].

Meantime, here is some of the other news reported by your local team in recent days.

malheurenterprise.com
A frugal life, a passion for education leads Nyssa woman to quietly boost local groups
Work is underway to improve the sidewalks and entry to the Nyssa Public Library. And the legacy of Clarice Poor lives on. The Nyssa woman died more than three years…
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
A frugal life, a passion for education leads Nyssa woman to quietly boost local groups
Work is underway to improve the sidewalks and entry to the Nyssa Public Library. And the legacy of Clarice Poor lives on. The Nyssa woman died more than three years…
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Vale’s FFA auction puts students on path to success
Vale FFA supporters say there will be plenty of great items at the Oct. 19 auction, but the best reason to go is to support the dreams and plans of…
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Vale’s FFA auction puts students on path to success
Vale FFA supporters say there will be plenty of great items at the Oct. 19 auction, but the best reason to go is to support the dreams and plans of…
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Veteran Ontario educator named Teacher of the Year by state migrant ed program
A longtime Ontario educator was honored by the Oregon Migrant Education Program as its “Teacher of the Year.” Emiliano Beagarie, a language development coach and summer school teacher, has been…
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Veteran Ontario educator named Teacher of the Year by state migrant ed program
A longtime Ontario educator was honored by the Oregon Migrant Education Program as its “Teacher of the Year.” Emiliano Beagarie, a language development coach and summer school teacher, has been…
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Treasure Valley relief workers helping with hurricane relief efforts
A pair of relief workers from the Treasure Valley among hundreds helping in the south recover from Hurricane Helene.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Treasure Valley relief workers helping with hurricane relief efforts
A pair of relief workers from the Treasure Valley among hundreds helping in the south recover from Hurricane Helene.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Nyssa News: Watch for changes at the library
The Nyssa Library is getting a new look and some new staff. Meanwhile, it’s homecoming week at Nyssa High. Correspondent Susan Barton has the details.
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Nyssa News: Watch for changes at the library
The Nyssa Library is getting a new look and some new staff. Meanwhile, it’s homecoming week at Nyssa High. Correspondent Susan Barton has the details.
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Ontario police chief announces he is retiring
Mike Iwai, police chief in Ontario for 2 1/2 years, on Monday announced he is retiring from the job at the end of October. “After nearly 28-years of law enforcement,…
14 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Ontario police chief announces he is retiring
Mike Iwai, police chief in Ontario for 2 1/2 years, on Monday announced he is retiring from the job at the end of October. “After nearly 28-years of law enforcement,…
14 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Voter guide: Measure 119 – Cannabis unions
In a series about Oregon ballot measures, the Oregon Capital Chronicle examines the proposal to make it easier for cannibis workers to unionize.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Voter guide: Measure 119 – Cannabis unions
In a series about Oregon ballot measures, the Oregon Capital Chronicle examines the proposal to make it easier for cannibis workers to unionize.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Four Rivers girls soccer team continues to dominate, remains undefeated
The Four Rivers girls soccer team remains perfect in league and overall play with an 11-0 record.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Four Rivers girls soccer team continues to dominate, remains undefeated
The Four Rivers girls soccer team remains perfect in league and overall play with an 11-0 record.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Top-ranked Adrian stands at 7-0 as football regular season winds down
The Adrian High School football team is 7-0 and ranked first in Oregon as the Antelopes head into the season’s final stretch.
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Top-ranked Adrian stands at 7-0 as football regular season winds down
The Adrian High School football team is 7-0 and ranked first in Oregon as the Antelopes head into the season’s final stretch.
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Sports scoreboard
The latest scores and results from area high school sports teams.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Sports scoreboard
The latest scores and results from area high school sports teams.
15 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Obituaries for the Enterprise, for the week of October 16, 2024: Darwin Roner, Barbara Morgan, Charlene Jackson, and Jack Spradlin
Darwin Clifford Roner Aug 20, 1945 – Sept 27, 2024 Darwin was born in Waterloo, Iowa to Clifford R. Roner and Florence M. (Fink) Roner. His parents moved to Scio,…
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Obituaries for the Enterprise, for the week of October 16, 2024: Darwin Roner, Barbara Morgan, Charlene Jackson, and Jack Spradlin
Darwin Clifford Roner Aug 20, 1945 – Sept 27, 2024 Darwin was born in Waterloo, Iowa to Clifford R. Roner and Florence M. (Fink) Roner. His parents moved to Scio,…
16 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Vale nonprofit has ambitious plans to grow into a community service center
Leaders at the Vale Food Bank want to convert its new building into a service center to provide services that people now have to go to Ontario to get. Meantime,…
9 Oct 2024
malheurenterprise.com
Vale nonprofit has ambitious plans to grow into a community service center
Leaders at the Vale Food Bank want to convert its new building into a service center to provide services that people now have to go to Ontario to get. Meantime,…
9 Oct 2024

A note from the editor

Getting information for you gets harder and harder.

A big reason is that public officials increasingly dodge the press.

Some won’t give live interviews. They insist on written questions.

Written questions about tough subjects usually aren’t worth the typing.

Public officials often ignore the questions or provide a response that doesn’t answer the question.

Other agencies insist reporters formally request government records.

And then they drag their feet about giving up the records.

The worst locally about going into the cone of silence is the Ontario School District. We sought comments about its state tests. We asked Board Chair Bret Uptmor. Silence. We asked Superintendent Nikki Albisu. Silence. We asked Taryn Smith, communications director. Silence.

We took photos at Ontario High School’s homecoming last Friday. As of Wednesday evening, district officials hadn’t provided names of those on the students on the homecoming court.

And then up the road are the officials at Eastern Oregon University.

We’ve been investigating the university’s ties with Greg Smith, the former Malheur County economic development director. The image developing is that the university bungled, costing taxpayers money and small businesses true help.

University officials repeatedly decline interviews to explain.

President Kelly Ryan and Dean Scott McConnell ignore written questions.

And the university’s communications manager doesn’t communicate.

And even though the university has its own staff attorney, the university is spending $405 an hour on a Portland lawyer to direct responses to the Enterprise’s requests for public records.

This all contradicts the university president’s declaration last July: “I appreciate and respect the role of the media in educating the public and as a source of information for our community.”

And the university’s actions don’t seem to align with its principles.

One such principle is integrity: “We uphold the foundation of professionalism, honesty, respect, and sincerity in all of our interactions,” says its website.

Another principle is quality, pursuing “the highest standards in all endeavors.”

The university, though, recently charged the Enterprise more than $2,000 for public records. Twice, Ryan and her team have ignored requests for an invoice to justify that cost.

This sort of conduct by a public university should trouble you.

Transparency in government is vital.

Consider this from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics: “Transparency plays an essential role in strengthening trust in government.”

Or this from the American Legislative Exchange Council: “Transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens that is needed to make informed decisions and hold officials accountable for the conduct of the people’s business.”

And then there is the Institute for Local Government: “Transparency is a key element of public trust and confidence. A commitment to transparency demonstrates to the community that an agency and its officials have nothing to hide.”

We’re not looking for secrets or personal information. We’re seeking documents and explanations regarding spending of public money. We’re seeking honest answers about public business. Officials with “nothing to hide” don’t fear such questions.

We ask not because we’re nosy. We ask because that’s what you and other readers expect of us.

-Les Zaitz, editor and publisher

Count us for news you can trust…..

At the Enterprise, our trained reporters bring you stories based on interviews, public documents and statements. We don’t charge you to read press releases put out by the government. That’s not journalism. 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 to subscribe – and thank you!

Have a tip? Let us know….

Send an email to Editor Les Zaitz at [email protected].

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