One of two diesel engines of the Oregon Eastern Railroad moves down the track in Vale. (The Enterprise/Pat Caldwell) Let me explain why Malheur County’s latest effort to stiff arm public disclosure is troubling. It’s about $14 million. For more than two months, the Enterprise sought information from Malheur County[Read More…]
Tag: COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY: Help us break down the wall of silence in Malheur County affairs
Getting facts from Malheur County officials about public business is getting expensive. We could use your help. At the Enterprise, our news team has been dogged about tracking the county’s foray into industrial development. As they say, we follow the money. And that’s not easy. The Malheur County commissioners have taken[Read More…]
Editor’s note: The Enterprise takes no holiday from vital news
Viewers watch the dazzling show from the warmth of a bonfire New Year’s Eve. (Kat Seals-KnR Photography/Special to the Enterprise) When the Enterprise got word about a manhunt last week on the west edge of the county, our news team went to work. Never mind that it was New Year’s[Read More…]
Publisher’s Column: Helping a victim and having your say on county matters
Ronnell Hughes, the man stabbed at an Ontario truck stop, is out of the hospital and recovering and prosecutors press the criminal case against his attacker. His story has triggered a surge of community support for him, and that includes three restaurants who are devoting part of their New Year’s[Read More…]
COMMENTARY: Rural Oregon gets attention at big Portland summit
Rep. Lynn Findley (R-Vale). (The Enterprise/File) PORTLAND – Lynn Findley got his 15 minutes of fame at an extraordinary gathering in Portland last week. Findley, former Vale city manager who is now a state representative, took the stage to vent about Oregon’s treatment of rural issues. His forum was the[Read More…]
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Enterprise accused of criminal conduct again
Once again, a Malheur County official has accused the Enterprise of engaging in criminal conduct. Greg Smith, the county’s economic development director, made the claim regarding email traffic to the official email address of the Malheur County Economic Development. Smith reacted to emails from the Enterprise that were pressing for[Read More…]
How the Enterprise produced its story on county land deal, finances
Lorinda DuBois, Malheur County chief administrative officer, released this memo with portions redacted to protect “frank” communications with other public officials. The Enterprise has petitioned to have the redactions removed. Documents released by state agencies served as the foundation for our report published Dec. 10 about Malheur County’s efforts to[Read More…]
COMMENTARY: As doubts about press grow, local news retains trust
Malheur Enterprise staff – August 2019 As the country readies for nationally televised impeachment hearings, America’s trust in the press is more in doubt than ever. For those of us in the profession, that’s deeply troubling. If readers don’t trust what we report, the hard work of ferreting out the[Read More…]
COMMENTARY: Rural reporting project in Vale offers new opportunities, lessons
The call from California came with an offer. Would the Malheur Enterprise be willing to work with a half-dozen journalism students and two professors from the University of Southern California’s journalism school? The caller was Judy Muller, a veteran national television news correspondent. She now helps teach the next generation[Read More…]
Saturday’s Vale FFA auction builds on rich tradition
Baked goods are a hot item at the annual Vale FFA Auction, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12. (The Enterprise/file) VALE – The place to be Saturday morning is the Vale school bus barn, and bring your checkbook. It’s time, of course, for the big auction to boost the scholarship fund[Read More…]