Northeast Oregon Business News May/June 2016

Special Travel Oregon Issue

NORTHEAST OREGON BUSINESS NEWS Business, Ar t, Culture, Outdoors, Travel & Enter tainment

Connecting Communities Throughout NE Oregon & Beyond Volume 3 - Issue 3 free

Serving Baker, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa Counties

Free May/June 2016

Wildhorse Resort was Host to the 2016 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism in April

Carolyn Hill, Executive Director of the Crater Lake National Park Trust and CEO of Travel Southern Oregon, and Craig Ackerman, Superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, earned the 2015 Governor’s Tourism Award.

PENDLETON, Ore. – The Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2015 Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards, presented at the 2016 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Pendleton, Ore.

The annual awards recognize people and organizations across the state that go the extra mile to enhance the travel and tourism industry in Oregon. The award recipients are outstanding examples of professionals who, by virtue of their vision, perseverance and dedication, are a credit to Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industry.

The state’s most prized recognition is the Governor’s Tourism Award. This year’s award recognizes the sister park agreement between Crater Lake National Park and Wuyishan National Scenic Area (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in China). To honor their efforts in finalizing the agreement, the award was presented to Carolyn Hill, Executive

Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson was roped and branded at the Oregon Governor’s Tourism Conference by the Pendlton Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

Oregon Maverick - Lars Larson

L

By Lori Kimbel

ars Larson is well known around the Pacific Northwest; some people hang on his every word, others are known to disagree with him adamantly, this is what makes his local talk show the most listened to radio talk show in the northwest. He does not hide from controversy and seems to thrive on those who disagree with him.

“You have to have the courage to go toward a purpose, not just walk around being a jackass,” said Larson. “Once you decide you have a particular set of values it is easy to have a strong opinion.”

At just 16 years old, Lars Larson found his calling

at the Mighty 1590 KTIL radio station in Tillamook; radio has been a part of almost his entire adult life. He currently works at FM News 101 KXL from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. through Alpha Media’s Radio Northwest Network.

His local show airs on 19 stations in the Pacific Northwest. He has also hosted the National Lars Larson Show since 2003, which is syndicated by Compass Media Networks to more than 100 stations.

His tag line is ‘honestly provocative talk radio’.

He doesn’t hold back, is not known for his shyness, and always allows ‘nay sayers’ to go to the front of the line.

He touches on subjects others would rather avoid in a day-to-day conversation, such as racism, government

Lars Larson Continued on Page 3

My View H

ave you ever had on of those weeks where everything just came together? I had the good fortune of spending five days in Pendleton, Oregon, home of Eastern Oregon’s signature event, the Pendleton Round-Up. The RoundUp wasn’t happening at the time, but good old fashioned Pendleton hospitality was alive and well at the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

As I sat with 450 of my newest friends on Tuesday morning I had time to reflect on the events that had taken place over the course of the last five days. I was amazed at the chance encounters that will no doubt turn into solid, meaningful friendships. Equally amazing was the sense of family I encountered.

This group of people, who are all part of the travel industry in one way or another, are all there and held together with a common thread, the love of Oregon. I could have not been more thrilled to be surrounded by hundreds of people who love this great state as much as I do.

Northeast Oregon Business News

The conference itself was one of the best conferences I have ever gone to, but it really was so much more than that. I have been going through some pretty significant life-altering events lately and to take some time to connect with both new and old friends was invaluable at this stage of my journey through life. Not to mention I was able to visit with my all time favorite TV personality, Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel. I was completely star struck, but tried not to let it show as I welcomed her to Oregon and asked her to come back again soon.

In addition to the great time I had with all my new Travel Oregon friends I also had a wonderful time watching Ring of Fire at the historic Elgin Opera House. Once again this group of volunteers really knocked it out of the park.

I also had the pleasure of watching the dedication ceremony for the solar carports at

Hunt of a Lifetime Eastern Oregon Fundraiser

All Proceeds Benefit Local Program

June 25, 2016 Location: Lefty’s Taphouse 1934 Broadway St. Baker City, OR

Auction is free of charge & open to the public

Entertainment: Johnny and the Law Breakers www.neobn.com

Tamástslikt. It was a beautiful ceremony and I am honored to have been able to experience it.

Also, the Eagle Cap Excursion Train has their 2016 schedule set, so be sure and catch a ride with them sometime this spring, summer, or fall.

Until next time.....Carpe diem (Seize the Day) Lori

June 25, 2016 social hour: 5:30 pm | dinner: 6:30 pm | location: lefty’s taphouse performing: johnny & the law breakers live auction starts at 6:30 pm | over $25,000 in Auction items

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Page 2

Business

Northeast Oregon Business News

Oregon Maverick Lars Larson corruptness and cover-ups as well as the subject of transgender restrooms. No topic is off limits. For a sample of a typical day be sure to visit his website at Larslarson. com where podcasts of previous shows can be listened to.

One of the hot topics that he likes to touch on during his talk show is the divide between urban Oregon, and rural Oregon.

“The numbers are in favor of the urban areas and the urban areas have no reason to attempt to understand what is going on in rural Oregon,” said Larson.

“You could understand it, but I don’t think there is any incentive for people in the cities who are in positions of government to give a damn about what goes on in the rural areas of the state. They don’t see it as their constituency, and so they think they don’t have to care about it, so the result is, since they outnumber the rural side of the state, the rural side does not get represented.”

“There is a solution, and I can apply this to the forest at the very least, and I have proposed this for a long time. It is to have a timber dividend, to do kind of what Alaska has done, and that is when there is oil taken out of the ground in Alaska, some of the money flows into what I think is called the Alaska Permanent Fund, and that permanent fund pays a divided to every Alaska resident. At times it’s been as high as $1000 per person so a family of 4 gets a check once a year for $4000 from the permanent fund.

Oregon could have same kind of dividend idea, so that every year, every person in Oregon, that was considered a permanent resident, would get a check. Now let’s say one year the check is $500 and the next year the check is $300 and you say ‘how come my permanent divided went down because I was used to getting it’ and they say ‘it’s because the politicians in Salem decided to reduce the timber that was cut’. That would have an effect on the point of view of somebody living in a city as much as it does to somebody living in the rural areas, they would say ‘hold on, why did they decided to cut back on the number of trees’ and they would say, ‘oh, because the tree huggers don’t believe in cutting trees’. I think the reaction

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would be ‘well hold on a second, are there plenty of trees? Could we cut at this rate forever?’ ‘Yes!’ ‘Why don’t we cut more trees so my dividend check can go back to $500 next year or to $1000’.

So you can imagine some urban legislature that goes to a town hall meeting and half the people stand up and say ‘hey, how come our dividend checks are down?’ And the urbanite is used to only thinking of the problems of cities says, ‘Well I voted against the timber harvest plan because I think cutting trees is wrong, trees are beautiful.’ To which some people, sensible people, would say, ‘trees are beautiful, but you can cut them down and grow more and we get a better check’. It causes the constituency to care about it.

Believe me if you go to Alaska and say let’s cut oil drilling in half in Alaska, the first thing people in Alaska are going to do is ask what is that going to do to my permanent dividend check, ‘Well it’s probably going to cut it in half, ‘Well forget that, we aren’t doing it.”

According to Larson, this type of dividend would affect those in the urban areas of Oregon just as much as those in the rural areas.

This would cause those in the urban areas to take a new interest in what is happening in the rural portions of the state, where industries such as logging are more prevalent.

“I tend to disagree with an awful lot of the conventional wisdom of the state which makes me sad. I think the state has so much potential, but I think the potential is being wasted. Because there are politicians who have their own idea of how things would work best here, and it’s unfortunate, but an awful lot of what they’ve been doing, that they think works best, demonstratively works terribly, so we have a state that has an abundance of timber we don’t cut, we have an abundance of minerals we don’t dig out of the ground, we have an abundance of farming activity that we could be doing that we are not, and there is really nothing that stops any of those things from happening except politics. There is a guy named Mike McClain from central Oregon who points out that there’s an alloca-

Lars Larson in his downtown Portland studio tion of water from the Columbia beginning he covered the Diane River that Oregon could be taking, Down’s murder trial. After his but the state, for some reason, stint at KVAL he began workchooses not to take, and he’s tried ing at KPTV 12 in Portland as a to get the legislature to sign off on reporter, and an anchor. He also increasing the allocation. He says produced documentaries and the we could open up 30,000 acres NW Report. During his television to agriculture and be growing career Larson worked at five difmore food, and for some reason ferent stations. the powers that be in Salem have

Radio was in his blood decided they don’t want however and he couldn’t seem to do that. To me there to stay away from it, so he began is no sensible reason for working at KXL radio, having a not doing it, because if talk show during the day and then you say why shouldn’t anchoring on the evening news on we grow more food, more television at night. crops, and afford more

Finally Larson knew he employment for more people, the had to make a decision. He also only reason would be that there knew that radio was so much a are some people that eat a meal part of who he was, so it was an three times a day, but they don’t easy decision to make; he left telebelieve in agriculture, they don’t vision and began working on the believe in growing food, they radio full-time. Over the years he think the land would be better off has work at a dozen radio stations. if humans didn’t touch it. And I

In his personal life he has think that same logic applies to been married to his wife Tina for the ocean would be better off if we didn’t fish it, the forests would 19 years and they have just welcomed their first granddaughter be better off if we didn’t cut it, and the land would be better off if into the world. we didn’t farm it, leaving Oregon “It’s exciting, it’s wonderto be one giant national park.” ful, it’s fantastic, there’s nothing

At the young age of 10, better,” said Larson about his new Larson lost his mother, who was grandparent role. killed by a drunk driver. “I cer Larson has accumulated tainly love my mom,” said Lar70 awards from the Associated son. “She’s been gone now for 47 Press, Society of Professional years. I think I feel responsible to Journalists and the National Press live up to what I think would have Club. He has also received two been her expectations of me. I do Emmy’s and one Peabody. literally think about that from time He is currently a weekto time. I think about is what I am ly guest on Fox News and has doing now, would that have made appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, my mother proud.”

Larry King Live, Scarborough

In 1983 Larson made a County, Fox and Friends, BBC break from radio and went to Radio and has been a guest on work at KVAL television station countless local radio shows in Eugene where right from the around the United States.

Page 3

Outdoor Life

Northeast Oregon Business News

Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute for teachers and students since 1994, and provides coursework

n June of 2016, six and curriculum that spans an teachers and 18 to 24 high school entire year including classroom students from rural eastern Orplanning and preparation for an egon communities will spend outdoor field-based project, the a week at Oregon’s newest and field experience itself, and folsecond largest state park, Cottonlow-up for data analysis and projwood Canyon State Park in eastect completion in the classroom. ern Oregon, as part of the second GO-STEM provides regional prosession of the Cottonwood fessional development focused on Crossing Summer Institute. Here the integration of STEM they will perform field studies in content areas in real-world apnatural resource education and plications. GO-STEM provides return to their communities to professional development; build connections and interest in supports teachers in developing rural sustainability and natural lessons within rigorous content resources. standards; and guide students to

Teachers and students utilize science practices (e.g., attending the six-day Summer questioning, problem solving, data Institute will spend most of their collection, etc.). time outdoors: tent camping,

The high school teachers outdoor cooking; and conducting will develop an augmented, outfield studies. Students will have door based curriculum for their access to laptop computers and students. The 9th to 11th grade video cameras to complete data students will participate in a week analysis, and to create posters of field studies in hydrology and other displays of their work. and biology with natural resource Participants will arrive on Sunday experts and instructors from Eastand be assigned to cohort groups. ern Oregon University.

The organizing theme for 2016 is

Teachers and students will One Million Drops, during which take the knowledge gained from the fate of a drop of water in the the Institute to replicate a similar watershed is explored. The specif- study within in their own commuic topic areas selected by particinity. College-level writing and art pating teachers for the 2016 instruction (e.g., photography, poInstitute are: macro-invertebrates; etry) will help the students explain riparian areas and stream health; the science behind the studies hydrology; and photography/writ- completed at the Institute to their ing. community. Results of their work

While the CCSI program will be shared with the public at is intended to serve the entire Cottonwood and within their own 10-county John Day Watershed, communities. most of the students in the pro The field studies portion gram are expected to come from of the Summer Institute will adjoining Gilliam, Sherman and take place over six days in June Wheeler counties.

(June19- 24, 2016). Upon comple The Institute will be tion, participants will complete a organized and led by a volunteer second natural resources project in steering committee composed of their home community that will representatives from Oregon Parks take place during the 2016-17 and Recreation, Oregon State school year.

Parks Foundation, Regional

What is the goal of CCSI? Solutions/Department of Environ- The goal of CCSI is to serve John mental Quality, Classroom WithDay Watershed area students and out Walls and Eastern Oregon educators with outdoor education University/GO-STEM (Science opportunities that enhance their Technology Engineering & Math) natural resource literacy and other Hub. The latter two organizalearning needs. CCSI was founded tions are experienced providers around the central idea of cultivatof professional development for ing a sense of place in rural comeducators. munities by developing pathways

Classroom Without Walls for students and teachers to partichas been leading authentic outipate in authentic outcomes-based comes-based learning experiences learning outside the classroom and

I

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in their community. The Oregon Parks and Recreation themes of Nature, History, and Discovery form the framework of the curriculum. There are specific objectives for each of the three audiences served through the CCSI: to offer professional development opportunities for six teachers and begin to form a rural network of K-12 teachers dedicated to developing and integrating authentic outdoor learning experiences into their classrooms using the local watershed; offer 24 students the chance to work on high-quality, long- term projects that deepen their knowledge and understanding of real issues in their watershed and community; and to build community connections and interest in rural sustainability and natural resources through place-based education. Consistent with best practices, CCSI offers authentic outcomes-based learning opportunities for students. Projects are rooted in real, relevant community issues, and connected to Oregon career pathways. Place-based education boosts student engagement and academic achievement and forges connections within the community by allowing students to make tangible contributions to real community problems. GOSTEM will work directly with the instructors and teachers to support the integration of grade level content standards and the development of inquiry-based lessons that can be implemented in the classroom. Throughout this professional development experience, teachers will be immersed in a practicum that models placebased education. CCSI will use best practices for professional development by providing an experience that employs active learning; models strategies that teachers can implement with their students; and provides an experience that builds teacher’s knowledge and skills.

The ultimate outcome of this program is an autonomous, supportive network of K-12 teachers from the watershed in a Professional Learning Community (PLC) dedicated to using experiential place-based education. Achieving this goal requires long-term sustainability of the program. To accomplish this, the steering committee is seeking

to develop a business plan that would provide for paid staff. CCSI staff would organize the event each year, develop a follow-up program to work with teachers who are integrating CCSI lessons into classroom curriculum, evaluate program success, work with EOU to develop career pathways for high school students toward degree programs, develop courses for EOU education or natural resource students to readily connect with CCSI, and expand the project to other watersheds in eastern Oregon.

Why is this project important for the John Day watershed community?

Many rural youth are exposed to a more limited view of career options than their urban and suburban peers. Rural economies do not support the variety of careers that exist and that students can aspire to achieve. It is an objective of CCSI to expose students to a broader view of what is possible for their futures and to inspire them to continue their education after high school if their goals require it. While rural living is often seen by the general population as synonymous with a healthy lifestyle, the numbers tell a different story. Rates of cancer deaths are higher in some of our rural communities and the increased risk has been associated with behaviors including physical inactivity. Rural adolescents have also been shown to consume less fruit and are more likely to be overweight than their peers.

CCSI exposes youth to outdoor adventure and life skills that can be transformative.

As a group, students in eastern Oregon perform about 5% below the Oregon average on their math scores for standardized tests. In addition, teachers in rural schools tend to be isolated from their peers. They often teach several subjects and may be the only teacher of a particular content area at their school. CCSI will build a Professional Learning Community for teachers around the concept of place-based learning which integrates math content into authentic real-world applications.

CCSI and Oregon Parks and Recreation would like to encourage and equip future generations

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Northeast Oregon Business News

Outdoor Life

Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute of Oregonians to live the life they dream of and to understand, value and be good stewards of our region’s public lands. CCSI extends classrooms into the outdoors, and connects students with the natural environment while supporting the achievement of the Oregon Environmental Literacy Plan. The interactions that will take place also help address the economic challenges faced by ranching and farming communities in rural Oregon.

Have you run this program before?

In June 2015, CCSI was successfully launched with 10 high school participants from Arlington, Condon, La Grande and Boise and five participating teachers from the John Day watershed. The students and their teachers camped out for five days and earned college credits while studying local plant species, archaeology, writing and photography. They also went rafting, gazed at stars, told stories, and held a chili cook-off.

OPRD archaeologist Nancy Nelson led groups on discovery and interpretation of stacked rock features within the park. Students learned how to take great care and practice responsible environmental stewardship when coming into contact with historic and prehistoric artifacts.

OPRD natural resource specialist Noel Bacheller also spearheaded a plant inventory in Esau Canyon, where students were able to track native and invasive species and then made comparisons to previous inventories to spot possible trends.

What is the future of the Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute?

Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is eager to continue working with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Regional Solutions Centers, North Fork John Day Watershed Council, Grande Ronde Model Watershed Council and the Oregon State Parks Foundation to grow a Summer Institute devoted to experiential education at the newly created Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Gilliam County, Sherman County and the Oregon Community Foundation

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Shawn Steinmetz with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indians delved into the meaning of Water Salmon, Deer Roots, Huckleberries and Water and how that vision steers restoration projects. have already made significant political and monetary contributions to the construction of an Experience Center, a facility expressly designed for information display, learning, and service to communities and citizens. Gilliam County has publicly challenged Wheeler and Sherman counties to provide funding to support education through the newly-constructed center.

Expected Outcomes of this Project

Teachers who participate in CCSI are expected to: ●Increase their knowledge and skills related to the watershed ●Increase knowledge and use of inquiry-based lessons ●Increase pedagogical knowledge and use of experiential placebased teaching methods ●Participate in a regional PLC

Students who participate in CCSI are expected to: ●Increase academic achievement and engagement in school ●Increase understanding and engagement with natural resource and community issues ●Enhance understanding about future natural resources career options

These outcomes are expected based on: ●use of best practices in professional development including active learning and modeling teaching methods

●sustained collaboration among teachers through the PLC ●implementation of place-based

and inquiry-based learning at the summer institute and in the classroom

Angler’s Rest Inn

1000 Division Street Elgin, Oregon 541-437-8982 www.anglersrestinn.com

Proprietors Ed & LaVeta Botz Page 5

Northeast Oregon Business News

Eastern Oregon University

EOU Millennial Community Sends Loupe, Attila to New York City

By Seth Dahle

P

eople come and go as they please, patiently strolling along Adams Avenue as the sunlight shrivels behind Morgan Lake. The Liberty Theater sign pops on, shimmering with its showy glow on the relatively quiet street. Travel a bit further down the avenue, and one shall find the radiance of the Granada Theater, lighting the pavement with its glamour and color.

Bright lights and headlights – two snippets of The Big Apple that aren’t exactly familiar faces in La Grande. Nevertheless, they are mere spectacles of an empire of a city that only a few are familiar with.

But in late March, a pair of Eastern Oregon University students in sophomore Miles Loupe and graduate student Kevin Attila received the opportunity to experience a much faster pace in New York City.

While many are cognizant that both Loupe and Attila are affiliated with the EOU men’s basketball team, most are unaware that they are also business leaders in the EOU Millennial Community.

The group is a segment of the National Millennial Community, a network of over 100 university students from 18 universities that, according to Loupe, change the conversation about their generation and help industry executives further understand millennial outreach.

Founded in 2015 by Bill Imada, the chairman of IW Group, the National Millennial Community provides networking that could lead to employment opportunities with some of the nation’s largest companies and brands.

On their three-day stay in New York City, both Loupe and Attila met other members of the organization, as well as executives from NBC Telemundo/Universal, Singapore Airlines, Verizon Wireless, and APCO Worldwide. The duo even got to experience the set of “Saturday Night Live.”

Attila, a graduate assistant for the EOU men’s hoops team, said that conversing with executives allowed him to gain knowledge for future business endeavors.

“I got the chance to pick the brains of some of the executives and other members of the community,” said Attila. “I learned so many things that I’ll be able to take with me into my future. Everyone, including the executives, was very down to earth and approachable, and that made it very beneficial.”

A point guard for the Mountaineers, Loupe said the biggest ‘culture shock’ was the change of pace and how citizens scurried around like ants.

“Everyone [in New York] is walking very quickly as if they are late,” said Loupe. “I am sure most are an hour early and just don’t want to waste a minute. In La Grande, the pace is much more laid back and mellow.”

Although the comparison between La Grande and The Big Apple is somewhat silly and farfetched, nothing can downplay the experience gained and the connections made on the business excursion.

Loupe said the trip allowed him to represent EOU on a national scale, broaden his network with peers and executives, and represent his personal brand amongst industry leaders and future colleagues.

While Attila has completed his MBA coursework and is currently working on his thesis, Loupe is slated to graduate in 2017 with a degree in business administration and a minor in communications.

For more information regarding the EOU Millennial Community, click here. To learn more about the National Millennial Community, visit www.nationalmillennialcommunity.com.

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Miles Loupe (left) and Kevin Attila (right)

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

Paulo Coelho Page 6

Northeast Oregon Business News

Northeast Oregon Venues

Barn at Tamarack Springs - A Venue with a View

by Trish Yerges

If you have ever dreamed of a picturesque wedding day surrounded by green pastures and a forested mountain backdrop, the red Barn at Tamarack Springs in Summerville would be the venue to book.

Co-owners Deana Coppinger and her daughter Tara Kunz are event and wedding planners at the Barn at Tamarack Springs, and this year, they have 16 weddings booked at the barn—the business of love is blooming.

Coppinger was introduced to the wedding business by her husband Kent’s grandmother, Dorothy McCurdy of Summerville.

“She was just trying to find ways to make money, so she started doing steak dinners,” said Coppinger, “like rib-eye steaks and The Barn at Tamarack Springs in Summerville hosts all sorts of events, but it seems to be a ringer

baked potatoes. She made home-made pies. for weddings, that is if you like a venue with a view.

She catered a lot of Boise Cascade meals, and were going to pour a new cement floor. Just faces with the public and promotes the Barn at then she started in with the weddings. Her at that point in time, an unusually fierce wind Tamarack Springs. place was called Tamarack Springs Lodge.” storm came through and picked up the whole

Whatever they are doing, they are do Coppinger was 18 years old and unbarn and set it down in the middle of the field. ing it right because Coppinger said business is married when she first started helping Mc Consequently, the Coppingers had to growing steadily and mostly through word of Curdy cater these events, and it was a lot of decide to rebuild or keep catering at the lodge. mouth. In 2015, Coppinger and Kunz hosted fun for the two women. Then Coppinger However, due to a booking they had for the 13 weddings at the barn, and this year, they married into the family, and in 1983, she and new site, the Coppingers decided to move already booked 16 weddings. her husband Kent moved into the lodge while forward with building a new barn. They hired “Our niche in this business is the sellcontinuing to host events and weddings there. general contractor Joe Seale to build the barn, ing mountain view,” said Coppinger. “It’s so

The Lodge was a popular venue for and Ron Ledbetter cut the blue pines from peaceful here.” private company dinners and weddings. “We their 40-acre forest.

It was a close call, but the

Coppinger said that the 2016 business did a lot of Christmas parties, summer picnics, new barn was finished within 30 days, just in year will include more improvements to the campfire dinners, and I did time to host the next wedding property’s landscaping, the building of a fire several Forest Service dinners “Our niche in this busiand all bookings after pit, finishing the saloon, adding more seating up there,” said Coppinger. ness is the selling mountain event that. areas and planting more deer-resistant flowers “She was known for her big

“The new barn is the like elegant white marigolds. view. It’s so peaceful here.” ole steaks, she purchased same floor plan as the old

“We’re also planning to remain open from Hill’s Meat. Today, we Deana Coppinger barn, and the stables are for winter events this year,” said Coppinger. have our own grass-fed beef.” where we were planning to

To learn more or to visit the Barn at

Catered parties at the Tamarack set up individual tables for steak dinners,” said Tamarack Springs, 69695 Craig Loop in SumSprings Lodge continued until the present Coppinger. “I love to cook, and I was going to merville, call Coppinger at 541-534-2881 or property came up for sale. The deed histocook dinners here in the barn.”

541-786-5228. ry shows that this property was formerly the

The Barn at Tamarack Springs Starns ranch. The tiny cottage standing near has hosted 120 guests at times, but the red barn was the Starns’ home. It’s handmany of the wedding ceremonies are milled lumber came from the nearby Blue set up outdoors, closer to the forest Mountains, and it gives the cottage its rustic and mountains. “Half the time, you’ll look. One of the walls is covered with nostalsee elk, deer and turkeys out there,” gic black and white photo pages from magashe said. “It’s amazing.” zines popular in the 1930s.

The old Starns home is used

The Starns family sold this property as a bridal cottage where the bride to Joe and Marjorie Jarvis, who later sold it to joint family buyers, Kent and Deana Copping- and her entourage can dress for the photo opps and the ceremony. On er and John and Linda Mola, all of Summerother occasions, the groomsmen have ville. used it too.

“At first, Kent saw it just as pasture for

As Coppinger’s partner, Kunz cattle, but I saw it as a new venue for my busihas been taking on a more visible role ness. I was either going to do it or forget the idea, but finally, Kent said, ‘Go for it.’ Luckily, in the business this year. She meets with the wedding couple and guides he helped me out a bunch in the beginning.”

The Barn at Tamarack Springs in Summerville has booked them through the event planning

The Coppingers cleaned out the old 16 weddings already this year. Some couples marry inside the barn, process.

Kunz also attends bridal barn and in order to bring it up to code, they shows in La Grande where she inter- while others marry outdoors and hold their reception inside.

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Northeast Oregon Business News

Energy Efficiency

Solar Carport Dedication at Tamastslikt Cultural Insti-

A

dedication ceremony inaugurating the new solar panel carports at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute will took place on Friday, April 22 Speakers from thevarious funders as well as the Umatilla Confederated Tribes and the Tamástslikt Trust Board were present and a blessing took place.

Tamástslikt’s solar energy project is called “Híisemtuks” in Nez Perce, meaning the sun (as well as moon or luminary).

“Last year’s construction of a wind turbine and the current addition of the solar panels recognize the how the sun and wind helped our ancestors preserve traditional foods

Solar panel carports and the windmill will continue to reduce enenergy costs at for storage. Now these same two resources are Tamástslikt Cultural Institute.

helping us care for the planet and reduce our

The 432 285-watt solar panels were For more information, go to www. electric bill,” says Bobbie Conner, Director of

manufactured by Solar World in Hillsboro, tamastslikt.org.

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute.

Oregon and will produce about 159,313kW

With a funding award of $350,000

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute is owned hours of electricity per year enough to from customers of Pacific Power’s Blue and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the power thirteen average Northwest homes.

Sky renewable energy program and a $78,138 Umatilla Indian Reservation. A Blue Star muHire Electric, who installed the 50kW wind cash incentive Energy Trust, Tamástslikt conseum, Tamástslikt is one of the many turbine at Tamástslikt in early 2014, built structed two solar carports with a combined museums across the nation that offers free the carports. Hire Electric has been installing capacity of 123kW as part of their ongoing admission to families of active duty solar and small wind systems in eastern Orequest to reduce the expense of energy servicemen and women year-round. gon and Washington since 2003. consumption at the non-profit.

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Page 8

Northeast Oregon Business News

Business

Fraud - What Does the Business Owner Need to Know?

By Scott Wallace Accounting Instructor, Blue Mountain Community College, Staff Accountant, Read & Bose PC Pendleton, OR

T

wenty three years ago I had a job interview with the owner of a small business in Seattle. The question she asked me was what could she do to protect her business from fraud? She really had very little idea and that concerned her. This leaves them vulnerable.

Back then, college programs did not educate about fraud and there were very little other sources of information to use to fight it. Fraud has been a growing problem, such that today, most universities have a fraud class and some even offer a program on fighting fraud. However, entrepreneurs most likely have not had any training in this area.

If your business could bring in an extra 7% of revenue as profit, would you like that?

How big is fraud? Eight years ago, when I started teaching my class Introduction to Fraud Examination

experts estimated fraud losses to be 6% of a company’s revenues. Today they estimate that it is 7%.

Large companies are able to afford to hire staff to audit for fraud, design and implement safeguards, or develop internal controls to reduce the chance of fraud and limit the potential losses. Small companies do not have the resources.

Some would assume that audits alone would solve the problem.

Audits can help, but they are not the solution. Studies have shown that they only catch about 20% of the frauds. Controls or procedures are very important, but every business is different, so one standard set of controls will not fit every company.

Here are some ideas that can help the business owner get started in protecting the business. First off, do not automatically trust your employees. Often the culprit was the one that most trusted and never would had been suspected of misdeeds. Maybe it took years to earn the trust of the owner, but that trust put them in a position of having the opportunity to commit fraud. Be wary of everyone, and not just your employees. Vendors and customers could be involved,

too.

Catch the fraud early to keep the losses small. As the fraudster gains confidence in their acts, they will increase the frequency and size of their theft. Be on the lookout; however the business owner cannot do it all. Most frauds are caught by coworkers who have received some training in fraud and the signs of its occurrence. The owner needs to communicate that fraud will not be tolerated, and that employees’ work is being reviewed. Stress that steps are being taken to prevent and detect fraud. Furthermore, the owner must set the example by doing things the right way. The owner has the responsibility to set the tone in the company.

How you handle a case is also important. The employees are watching what happens. If you let the wrongdoer off the hook with little consequences then you have communicated to all other employees that nothing will happen to them. This could lead to more problems.

Just termination is not a strong enough response. For example, last year it was reported that the IRS only fired 40% of agents who

cheated on their own tax returns.

Some even got promotions and raises. We don’t know if this is a problem but this is how a situation can be turned into a bigger problem.

Remember that the former employee might be able to move on to another job and possibly to better pay or responsibility. Legal action needs to be considered.

So what is an owner supposed to do?

The first step is to learn more about fraud. Get some training, visit with your accountant. Some investment in knowledge can help save the business from a large loss.

Spending some money on fraud prevention can have a huge return on investment. Consider what your financial statements are saying.

Does anything not look right? For example are you growing your sales while your profit is going down?

That is a big red flag that something is not right. Train your employees about the signs, and make it easy for them to give anonymous tips of suspicions. And finally, look for future tips in this newspaper.

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Page 9

Northeast Oregon Business News

Community Focus: Milton Freewater

Be Pleasantly Surprised at Fringe Salon and Boutique

By Lori Kimbel

Cosmetologist, Emily Hendricks stepped into a former beauty salon at 612 N. Main Street in downtown Milton-Freewater and her imagination took over. For decades the building had welcomed clients to come, sit, get beautified and rejuvenated under the name Vera’s Beauty Salon; Hendricks decided she would make that happen once again.

Her vision became a reality after significant remodeling and painting. She opened Fringe Salon & Boutique on April 17th, 2015 and since then her client list has continued to grow. Working alongside Hendricks is Kim Ellis who has been a hair stylist for 17 years.

In addition to haircuts, styling, and coloring the salon also offers waxing, tanning, all natural pedicures, along with gel pedicures, and massage by Chelsea Davis.

“I love the creative aspect of hair styling. I am a people person and I really like business, so this meshes all of my passions into one,” said Hendricks who is no stranger to the business side of life in Milton-Freewater. Her grandfather was one of the first to plant wine grapes in the area, and of course Milton-Freewater is now home to a plethora of vineyards.

The boutique itself offers a wide variety of unique, local and regional beauty and gift items from an array of artists. Papaya Art has a full line of clutches and hand bags. Farmhouse Soaps from Miles Away Farm offer handmade moisturizers, hand soaps and lotions. Peekaboo Chic has adorable slips and stockings.

Aggies candles are made with all natural soy with cotton wicks and quality fragrance oils.

Chubby Chap is oversized chap stick made with coconut oil, beeswax, honey and fra-

grance. Fringe Boutique also has a line of cards gleaned from Etsy.

Born and raised in Milton-Freewater, Hendricks, after being gone away from home for eight years, is excited about the opportunities her home town is giving her.

Fresh out of high school Hendricks decided to be a nurse; she went to school in southern Oregon, but soon realized something about her choice of careers was missing. She ended up going to beauty school instead and this is where she truly found her passion. She graduated from the Oregon Institute of Cosmetology in Medford and could not be happier about her decision to become a cosmetologist.

Her career has taken her to Reno, Winnemucca, and McDermitt, Nevada where she was given the opportunity to work with diverse clientele.

“It was a really good learning experience,” said Hendricks.

She attended an intense year-long training program that according to Hendricks, defined who she is as a hair stylist.

Life ended up throwing some curve balls like life sometimes does and Hendricks ended up back in Milton-Freewater. She waitressed at Wildhorse for a time, and became a 911 dispatcher.

“I liked the job, but I wanted to be my own boss,” said Hendricks. “I knew Emily Hendricks, owner of Fringe Salon & Boutique I wanted to get back to my passion and see what catches your eye in this eclectic shop. there was a need for a full-service salon in MilMake an appointment to get your hair done, ton-Freewater, so I quit my cushy job. I knew or your nails done, or maybe even to have a 100 percent I wanted to do this; I knew I had massage. You will be pleasantly surprised. to do this.”

Stop in at Fringe Salon and Boutique to

Wholly Guacamole That Was Good - El Sirloin

By Lori Kimbel

Milton-Freewater is home to one of the best Mexican food buffet’s one could hope for; El Sirloin located downtown Old Town MiltonFreewater.

With a huge variety of tasty dishes you will want to be sure and bring a hearty appetite.

Choices include enchiladas, chili relleno, chicken, beef, and shrimp fajitas, the list goes on and on.

The homemade tortillas are also a favorite among customers.

With so many items to choose from it might take several visits to El Sirloin to get

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through them all.

Great place to eat

El Sirloin is located at 503 N. Main and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m to 8 p.m.

For more information call (541) 861-3411.

Page 10

Northeast Oregon Business News

Community Focus: Milton Freewater

By Lori Kimbel

L

ocated at the base of the Blue Mountains is the city of Milton-Freewater, which has a lot to offer whether you are a resident or someone just passing through.

With a growing season that lasts from May until October, Milton-Freewater is a favorite among those in one of the many agricultural fields. Orchards, wheat fields, canola fields, and vineyards are a common sight and provide an economic boost in the northeast Oregon city. Apples, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, peas, alfalfa, and corn are also grown here, and Milton-Freewater is the largest shipper of apples in Oregon.

With 19 wine producers, three winery facilities and a new

AVA, The Rocks District, Milton-Freewater will continue to be a force in Oregon’s wine industry. If you are passing through be sure to visit one of the fine winery’s, which include Don Carlo Vineyard, Tero Estates and Flying Trout Wines, Tulpen Cellars, Watermill Winery, and Zerba Cellars.

Milton-Freewater also has the Blue Mountain Cider Company and Dragon’s Gate Brewery.

If you are looking for a little rest and relaxation be sure to stop in at one of the wonderful parks that are found throughout Milton-Freewater. Yantis Park, Marie Dorian Park, Freewater Park and Orchard Park are all well taken care of and will offer you some peace on your travels. If you come through on a Wednesday’s from June to September, be sure to check out the Farmer’s Market at Orchard Park.

Fraizier Farmstead Museum is also a great place to spend some time learning about Milton-Freewater’s past.

Some of the unique businesses that call Milton-Freewater home are Sager Shoes, Clay in Motion Pottery Studio, 3 Diva’s Beads, Fringe Salon & Boutique and Shangri-La Boutique & Gift Store.

Of course we can’t forget to mention the chocolate. Petite Noirs has some of the finest handmade chocolate in the northwest.

Do yourself a favor and stop in and have a taste. I am sure you will purchase extra to take home with you and share with your friends…. well…maybe you will want to keep them for yourself, it’s up to you.

Shopportunity Sales During Sweet Onion Festival Saturday June 8th During Brews by the Blues Friday July 8th - Saturday July 9th During Milton Freewater Rocks Saturday August 20th Annual Holiday Open House Saturday November 12th - Sunday November 13th Special Hours 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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Community Focus in Upcoming Issues of Northeast Oregon Business News www.neobn.com

July/August 2016 Boardman Sept/Oct 2016 Echo Nov/Dec 2016 Joseph Jan/Feb 2017 Hermiston

Mar/Apr 2017 La Grande

Page 11

Northeast Oregon Business News

Events

Pendleton Bike Week Ready to Rumble Pendleton P

endleton Bike Week is rumbling into the Round-Up City July 20-24, 2016. Riding on an extremely successful inaugural year, Pendleton Bike Week is expanding all the events and rides that made the 2015 week so popular. 5800 motorcycle enthusiasts registered in 2015 making it the largest motorcycle rally in the Northwest.

Pendleton Bike Week begins with a tribute to legendary lawman, Sheriff Til Taylor.

The “Til Taylor Memorial Ride” begins in Salem and ends in Pendleton at the Memorial for Fallen Law Enforcement Officers in Til Taylor Park. Other features include the “45 Caliber Poker Run”, Seattle Cossacks Precision Motorcycle Drill Team, Rattlesnake 400 Ride, West Coast Bikini Bike Wash Championship, Vintage and Custom Motorcycle Show, and an expanded Vendor Village at the Pendleton Convention Center. A huge addition to Pendleton Bike Week is “Nitro in the Blues Hillclimb”.

Three Dog Night headlines the list of rock bands performing at Bike Week. The rock

legend will perform in Happy Canyon arena, Saturday July 23. A total of six bands play during the 5 day motorcycle rally. A Harley Davidson “Bagger” bike show is planned for downtown Pendleton on Friday night, July 22 on Main Street.

Event organizer Eric Folkestad announced that Pendleton Bike Week will donate a Ford Escape SUV to the Blue Mountain Action Council to help with their veterans outreach program. The Council will use the car to take local veterans to medical appointments. Folkestad said, “We decided it was a great way to give back to the Pendleton

community. Pendleton Bike Week is a fun event for all generations, and showcases the growing sport of motorcycling in a positive way. Pendleton made us feel so welcomed and we are giving back to them”. Sponsors for the vehicle include Oxford Suites, Rattlesnake Mountain Harley-Davidson, RideNow Powersports, Hill Meats, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Hodgen Distributing, and Pendleton Bike Week.

Tickets, passes and full schedules are available online at wwwpendletonbikeweek. com. The general public is welcome.

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Page 12

Northeast Oregon Business News

Fish & Wildlife

Senate Passes Bipartisan Energy Bill with Big Benefits for Fish and Wildlife Sportsmen have been fighting for years to move these conservation priorities across the finish line

T

he Senate has just passed a comprehensive energy reform bill that includes key conservation provisions to benefit fish, wildlife, and sportsmen’s access. This is a true bipartisan achievement that highlights our uniquely American conservation values.

“Sportsmen’s groups, including the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and virtually all of our partners, have been working for years to pass comprehensive legislation that enhances access and conserves vital habitat,” says Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the TRCP. “This bill succeeds on both measures, and hunters and anglers should applaud its passage as an indication that enthusiasm for conservation is very much alive in Washington.”

“The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015” would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a critical program for enhancing public access to the outdoors. It also includes a provision known as “Making Public Lands Public,” which specifies that 1.5 percent of LWCF dollars are to be used to establish and expand recreational access to national public lands, in particular.

“Permanent reauthorization of the Theresa Smolkowski with a Chinook Salmon from Lookingglass Creek north of Elgin.

Land and Water Conservation Fund means we never again have to experience uncertainty for the program,” says Bethany Erb, a Mule Deer and wetlands and the disappearance of key from strategic federal land sales to protect Foundation board member. “Over the past 50 breeding habitats in the Duck Factory.” high priority federal conservation areas that years, the LWCF has enhanced public ac Recreational anglers would also get a preserve important fish and wildlife habitat, cess for hunters and urban families alike, and increase recreational opportunities, and protect boost from the amendment, which authorizes the ‘Making Public Lands Public’ provision the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act. our nation’s special places.” Prior to its expiwould ensure that improvements for outdoor ration in 2011, FLTFA leveraged strategic fed- The program was created to foster partnerships recreation—a robust driver of spending—are eral land sales to fund 39 priority conservation that improve conditions for fish species and adequately funded.” enhance recreational fishing opportunities.

“These investprojects, including many

This is the first energy that expanded sportsmen’s “The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act ments have major reform legislation passed in the access to world-class hunt- brings together state and federal agencies as upper chamber in nine years—a on-the-ground iming and fishing opportuni- well as conservation organizations to better feat in itself—but hunters and pacts for the mancoordinate watershed restoration activities,” ties. anglers are especially pleased says Steve Moyer, vice president for govern The amendment also to see that many elements of agement and conserment affairs at Trout Unlimited. “It’s really reauthorizes the North the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s vation of wetlands just a commonsense approach to restore and American Wetlands ConAct of 2015 (S.405) have protect fish habitat, that also creates great opservation Act (NAWCA), for waterfowl and finally found a way forward portunities for the angling community. We’re grant program through awhich through an amendment offered other wildlife.” thrilled to see it be approved by the Senate.” each federal dollar

by Senators Lisa Murkowksi

The energy reform package must now -John Devney invested is matched an (R-Alaska) and Maria Cantwell be reconciled with the House bill (H.R. 8), average of three times (D-Wash.) It passed 97-0 yeswhich was passed in December 2015, and sent over by non-federal dollars. “These investterday. to the president’s desk before the end of this ments have major on-the-ground impacts for

The amendment permanently reauthothe management and conservation of wetlands Congress. rizes the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation for waterfowl and other wildlife,” says John

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Act, “a critical conservation tool for Western Devney, vice president of U.S. policy for Delta Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of orgalands,” says Larry Selzer, president and CEO nizations and grassroots partners working Waterfowl. “In the prairie potholes region, of The Conservation Fund. “We applaud this together to preserve the traditions of hunting for example, NAWCA dollars could mean the bipartisan action to advance the permanent difference between the protection of grasslands and fishing. authorization of FLTFA, which uses proceeds

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Page 13

Northeast Oregon Business News

Travel Oregon

Travel Oregon Announces Recipients of 2015 Travel & Tourism Industry Achievement Awards - Happy Canyon Earns Oregon Heritage Tourism Award

Director of the Crater Lake National Park Trust and CEO of Travel Southern Oregon, and to Craig Ackerman, Superintendent of Crater Lake National Park.

“I applaud Carolyn Hill and Craig Ackerman for their efforts to further strengthen the bond between Oregon and her sister state in China, the Fujian Province,” said Oregon Governor Kate Brown. “By achieving greater understanding of our respective natural environments, we cultivate mutual respect for and understanding of each other’s cultures.”

The 2015 Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards were announced in these categories:

The Oregon Heritage Tourism Award recognizes outstanding incorporation of Oregon’s authentic cultural or natural history as a way to draw visitors to the state. Distinguished as America’s longest running community pageant, the Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and Wild West Night Show and its 800 volunteers lauded this year’s award. Volunteers recreate the history of Pendleton, beginning with the proud traditions of its first citizens, the peoples of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla nations. They then trace the arrival of settlers in search of a new promised land, and the coming of the cowboys who have forever left their mark

Happy Canyon Board of Directors accept the Oregon Heritage Tourism Award on the frontier town. The pageant runs annually in conjunction with the Pendleton Round-Up.

The Gene Leo Memorial Award was established in 1994 to honor the late Gene Leo, known for his Oregon tourism contributions as Director of the Oregon Zoo, Portland Rose Festival and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association (now Travel Portland). Gene revered Oregon’s natural beauty, loved her people and

enjoyed the outdoors with gusto. This award recognizes an outstanding contribution for a tourism-related activity or attraction focused on Oregon’s natural beauty or outdoor recreation.

The award was presented to the Willamette Riverkeeper, for its efforts to protect and restore the Willamette River. The group also provides opportunities to learn and explore the river through paddling trips and presentations from

restaurant in downtown Pendleton and if you haven’t had an opportucompletely and you came ready to learn, you came ready to inspire, you nity to eat there, come back, stay came ready to connect. We are part- longer, do whatever you need to do.

It is a fabulous restaurant, the cuners, we’re a family really. In fact some of this refer to this as our fami- linary scene in Pendleton is really ly reunion, I will tell you the image I really blossoming, and Cimmottis is am most drawn to is that of a family evidence to that. In talking to Jennireunion because for me it depicts the fer the owner of Cimmiatios I also goal that we are all striving for as an learned that the night of our awards gala, she came here, put on a tuxedo industry. shirt and waited tables. ….She’s the

As I said yesterday morning owner of the restaurant in downtown nothing happens by accident at the Oregon’s travel and tourism industry, Pendleton but she also came out here to help serve dinner, so that she they happen because we have been could support and be part of that addeliberate, we have been strategic ditional family so she could help put and we have been humbled. And I on a conference of this size here. believe that for our family, humility

So this reminds me again that is the most important. All of us, you there are no small players in Oreand me, all of us, humble ourselves gon’s travel and tourism industry. in service to one another and to the needs of our visitors. I was reminded And we must continue to insure that only big thinking propels us forward. during this conference of that very fact. I had a chance to meet Jennifer Thinking that ignores geo political boundaries were necessary, thinking the owner of Cimmiattis a fabulous

that will perpetually and effortlessly position us as not some singular, isolated, stand-alone entity but as really a pivotal, beautiful interwoven fabric of Oregon’s travel and tourism industry. It’s exactly the kind of thing that our industry in Oregon is known for and building upon the success that we’ve established is going to require tenacity, and vision, but most of all its going to take trust. So as each of prepares to depart from this year’s conference join me please join me in recommitting yourself to deliberately and strategically remaining open to new ideas, communicating directly and productively and keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the prize. The prize of performing as one so we can go fast and working together so we can go far and when necessary…. take a walk.

Todd Davidson

CEO Travel Oregon

Our hosts have welcomed us

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Page 14

Travel Oregon

Northeast Oregon Business News

its River Discovery Education Pro- Oregon. The Jupiter Hotel earned gram. the award for its efforts to position

The Outstanding Oregon itself as the epicenter of Portland’s Tourism Volunteer Award recogartisan community by focusing nizes the significant commitment on local partnerships. The hotel’s #Portland blog focuses on by an individual or a group of local beer, food, music, arts and individuals who exemplify the positive impact volunteers have on travel and its “Portland Experience” packages Oregon’s travel and tourism inRoy Raley and Anna highlight these dustry. The award same destination Minthorn Wannassay was presented to activities.

Marie Longfelwrote the script for the The Outlow of Cottage Orpageant 100 years ago. To standing egon Social Grove, for her be honored by Travel Media Program work leading the city’s graffiti rapid Oregon is humbling for Award recogthe best response team. the 800 volunteers who nizes international or Longfellow voluntarily assists the put on the Happy Canyon domestic social city in removing Indian Pageant & Wild media program graffiti from covthat engages or West Show. The award inspires potential ered bridges and other high-traffic recognizes outstanding travel to Oregon. locations to keep incorporation of Oregon’s For the second Cottage Grove consecutive authentic cultural history year, the award beautiful.

as a way to draw visitors was presented The Internato Oregon’s Mt. to our state.

We pride tional Sales and Hood Territory. ourselves on authenticity It’s “Win BigDevelopment Award recogfrom our tribal cast and foot’s Dream nizes excellence Date” two-month their regalia to the wagon in the creative campaign netsales, marketing our oxen team pulls, one ted 995 contest and development thing we are, is authentic. entries and 416 new email subof Oregon as a

Corey Neistadt scribers while destination in the international Happy Canyon engagements on Facebook, Instamarketplace. The Publicity Director gram and Twitter award was given swelled. The to Lorna Davis, interest in Bigfoot from this short Executive Director of the Greater campaign has spurred integration Newport Chamber of Commerce.

An ambassador for the state, Davis into future marketing strategies.

The Outstanding Oregon helps sell Oregon to visitors across Visitor Guide Award celebrates the globe through creative and collaborative efforts at internation- the best domestic or international trade shows and by facilitating al content program that inspires familiarization tours. potential travel to Oregon. Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory earns the

The Oregon Tourism award for its 2015 Travel Planner.

Development Award recognizes creation of an innovative program, The 36-page book was created as a trip-planning resource, but its phopromotion, or product, utilizing tography, local voices and easily best practices, sustainability, and digestible content inspire visitors creative problem-solving. This to keep the publication as a point year’s award was presented to the of reference and to display it once Redfish Rocks Community Team for their efforts in creating a Scuba their journey is complete.

The Oregon Outstanding fill station in Port Orford. As a result of this new infrastructure, an Advertising Award recognizes superior advertising communicaadditional 135 miles of coastline tion, regardless of budget size or are now easier to access for Scuba activities to take advantage of year- medium. The award was presented to the Tillamook County Creamery round diving conditions.

Association for their Co-Op adver The Outstanding Oregon tising campaign that targeted dairy PR Initiative Award recognizes the best domestic PR program that lovers everywhere who believe in the power of real, honest food, and resulted in quality earned media encourages these everyday people coverage and inspired travel to

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Samantha Brown of the Travel Channel was the Keynote Speaker. Samanthas Travel Channel shows include: Great Hotels, Girl Meets Hawaii, Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America, Green Getaways, Passport to China, Great Weekends and Samantha Brown’s Asia to make decisions about the company’s products.

The Outstanding Oregon Website Award celebrates websites that utilize industry best practices in design, technology, strategy and content to impact travel to Oregon. The City of Seaside Visitors Bureau earned the award for www. seasideor.com. In a colorful, simple and informative format, the website allows visitors to navigate easily so they can spend less time online and more time walking the Promenade, enjoying the carousel or riding the waves where surfing conditions are known as some of the best in the Northwest.

The Outstanding Overall Oregon Marketing Program Award recognizes the best integrated domestic or international overall marketing program or campaign that attracted visitors to Oregon. The award was presented to the Central Oregon Visitors Association for its “Adventure Calls” campaign.

Targeting young adults in the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest, the print, digital and social campaign

connected with travelers interested in adventure, trying new things and making memories. Website sessions increased 141 percent and the California audience grew by 334 percent. Most telling of the campaign’s success, occupancy rates rose by 4.9 percent.

The Oregon Tourism Leadership Award recognizes individuals who champion the value of tourism and whose leadership behind the scenes contributes significantly to the recognition and impact of Oregon’s travel and tourism industry. Paving the way for the next generation to gain knowledge and a growing passion for tourism, Melissa Steinman, owner of the Kayak Shack in Waldport, earned the award. A Waldport High School teacher, Steinman runs and operates the Kayak Shack alongside her students in an effort to educate them on tour operating.

She has also received a grant to fund tourism curriculum to allow students to learn more about getting jobs in coastal tourism and rural marketing.

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Northeast Oregon Business News

Travel Oregon

Out and About Across Oregon with Tour de Mike

By Samara Phelps

Bicycle tourism is alive and well throughout Oregon

H

ow could it not be with awe inspiring landscapes from corner to corner? Do not be fooled, the success of cycling in Oregon is no accident. Passionate cyclists, dedicated community advocates and visionary agencies work to welcome cyclists from around the world in ways that strength economic vitality across the state. Beauty is the obvious reason people come to Oregon to bicycle but the hard work to connect cyclists to routes can be overlooked.

In April Tour de MIKE highlighted Oregon’s Mike the Bike (above) world class cycling and statewide network of proponents as it rolled from Springfield to Pendleton for the Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Touching Adventure Cycling’s TransAmerica route and five scenic bikeways the itinerary showcased some of Oregon’s best cycling product.

Tour de MIKE celebrated the one year anniversary of the first visitor information center bike created by Travel Lane County. The Mobile Information Kiosk Explorer (MIKE) is a fully functional visitor center that embodies bicycle tourism.

Designed to celebrate the sometimes overlooked efforts to build bicycle tourism, Mike the Bike in Central Oregon (above) Tour de MIKE included a community event each night and local riders joined for portions of the ride. Three riders completed the entire 360 miles and 22,000 feet of elevation with a total of twenty six riders joining for portions of the ride. Riders represented Travel Lane County, The Mt Hood Territory, State Parks, Cycle Oregon and Travel Oregon along with local ride clubs and Scenic Bikeway proponents. Successful bicycle tourism is built by the dedicated work of these individual groups plugging away in their corners of the state. Tour de MIKE illustrated the powerful and inspiring way that bicycle tourism is connected throughout the state bringing representatives of these groups together on the road and in the communities where the work is done and hospitality delivered. Individual communities like Cottage Grove and Estacada with established Scenic Bikeways welcome Fossil and others along the new Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway to the club. These communities know firsthand that when the hard work is done and the Bikeway signs go up it is really just the beginning. The community is now a part of a network promoting the Bikeway Natalie Inouye chair of the scenic Bikeway committee to bring cyclists to their town. With hospitality like Pendleton, (above) Heppner, Fossil, Madras, Sisters and McKenzie Bridge rolled out for Tour de MIKE there is no doubt that cyclists from near and far will want to come and stay in Oregon. Oh and it’s also really beautiful here too.

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Shelly Batty Bike Concierge from Oregon City and Kara Wilson Tourism Commissioner opening the Scenic Bikeway

Clarno Unit

Page 16

Business

Northeast Oregon Business News

Oregon SBDC Network Awarded National Accreditation

T

he Oregon Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network has been awarded national accreditation without conditions by America’s SBDC, its national association. Blue Mountain Community College hosts the local SBDC for northeastern Oregon.

Every five years, SBDC networks throughout the country are required to go through an accreditation process with the Accreditation Committee of America’s SBDC, which represents the nationwide network of SBDCs. Nearly 1,000 SBDC service centers, like the one at BMCC, are hosted around the country at local colleges and universities and state economic development agencies. They are funded, in part, by the U.S. Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBDCs offer assistance to local businesses, such as business plan development, counseling, training and more.

“This accreditation without conditions is a wonderful accomplishment by the Oregon

SBDC Network and reflects well on our BMCC Small Business Development Center,” said BMCC President Cam Preus. “This is a proud moment for all of those in Oregon’s SBDCs who have worked so hard to serve local small business communities for so many years.”

Last November, Oregon SBDC staff and advisors met with the accreditation team comprised of regional and state SBDC directors: Al Salgado, Southwest Texas SBDC (Team Lead), Michael Myhre, Florida SBDC, and Katie Sewell, Idaho SBDC. The accreditation process requires the state network to meet a rigorous set of Baldridge based accreditation standards developed and deployed in cooperation with the SBA.

Based on the on-site review, final report and presentation by the accreditation team, the Accreditation Committee voted at its January 29 meeting to accept the recommendation of the team to fully accredit the Oregon SBDC Network with no conditions. The

Accreditation Committee stated in their letter, “Numerous examples of innovative thinking and actions are detailed within the reports, as well as a number of important recommendations for the Oregon SBDC to consider implementing. The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network is commended for both its dedication and commitment to the pursuit of continuous improvement.”

Volume 3 - Issue 3 May/June 2016 Publisher Lori Kimbel lorikimbel@neobn.com PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827 541-910-1096 10,000 distributed every other month.

Serving Baker, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa Counties www.facebook.com/neorbn www.linkedin.com/in/lorikimbel Twitter - neobnlori www.studio6designworks.com www.neobn.com www.lorikimbelphotography.com Northeast Oregon Business News is owned and published by Studio 6 Designworks, A Creative Publishing & Marketing Company POSTMASTER: send address changes to Studio 6 Designworks PO Box 295, Elgin, Oregon 97827 Subscription Rates: To subscribe to Northeast Oregon Business News c/o Studio 6 Designworks Mail $24 to Studio 6 Designworks PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827

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Investing

Northeast Oregon Business News

Dengue, Ebola and Zika.....Oh My!

by Marc Robins CFA

N

othing confounds me more than the fact that our collective society (and government) is (are) more worried about “Climate Change”, “global warming”, or “Climate Disruption” that may occur some 25 to 50 years out in the future (and the operative word is “may”), while zoonotic viral diseases are killing mankind right now!

Not heard about this scourge that threatens the very existence of our society?!

Oh, yes you have! When I mention Bird flu, swine flu, or H5N1 Avian flu; you get it. These diseases are infections that have been somehow transferred from animals to humans. But then you think, ‘Well, that’s not so bad. It’s just the flu….. We’ll get over it.’

Au Contraire! Ever heard of Monkey Pox, Dengue Fever or Zika? Have I got your attention yet?

How about my mentioning of HIV, Ebola or Spanish flu. You should be one paragraph away from being scared witless.

Yes Martha, Television programs and movies like The Andromeda Strain, The Last Ship and World War “Z” have a real basis in fact. What I mean to say is with every passing year (tropical rainy season to be more accurate) there is an increasing threat of some kind of mutating viral disease about to be passed from a sick and dying animal to a human host.

Juxtaposed to the threat, the ever increasing encroachment of humans into tropical forested and jungles increases likelihood of humans catching some disease and the availability of inexpensive and available air travel gives rise to quicker and broader spread of these diseases.

In a new book called Pandemic by Sonia Shaw, the author cites a study in which, “90% of epidemiologists believe a global pandemic will sicken one billion and kill up to 165 million within the next two generations.” This event would make the Spanish flu of 1918, which killed 20 to 30 million, look like a dry rehearsal by comparison. In the meantime, we’ll have to buck-up against simple outbreaks of Ebola or Zika that kills or maims merely tens of thousands.

Now, this is a

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column about small, equity investments. So, it has to be an upbeat story and not one to cause national panic. Well, there is a very real and “un”qualified medical answer to new, possibly pandemic problems. The FDA is very aware of this medical device. DARPA is financing research and production of a treatment variant to specifically combat sepsis (or blood poisoning) in battle-wounded warriors’ right at the MASH unit. Hospitals overseas have used the device to treat, and often successfully cure HIV, Hepatitis C and Ebola.

What is this treatment? The company is called Aethlon Medical, Inc., (NASDAQ: AEMD-$5.60) and their remarkable device is called the Hemopurifier. It tackles viral infections in a wholly different manner than vaccines. In a medical setting, the professional runs a sick patient’s blood through the “HP”, much like dialysis patients having their blood cleared of chemical contaminants. But this device actually subtracts-out viral germs and their sub-particles from the blood based not on size or molecular charge—like most filtrations procedures, but on the complex sugar structure that cloaks all human viruses. Two important items: a) All viruses that infect human, to date, have exterior structures made of this similar material; and b) The HP appears to only remove “bad things” from the blood—not good particles, has no side-effects and does not add the potential of drug toxicity or drug-drug interactions, and when used on very ill patients seems not to have any detrimental effect.

It is very risky to discuss a medical company that has not cleared all the FDA hurdles necessary to make a treatment available in the USA. The device has been successfully used in over 200 patient treatments and the following list of uses shows the broad therapeutic applicability and potency of the HP

And, did you notice that the Hemopurifier was used successfully on an Ebola patient?

Yes, in December of 2014, Dr. Mawanda, a physician treating ill patients in Africa, caught the disease, was so ill that several organs shut down, he was on respiratory assistance and in a coma. He was treated in Germany once with the HP, for 6½ hours to remove the germs.

The therapy was so effective the patient’s own immune system kicked in and he returned home a weeks later.

Aethlon in currently running the Hemopurifier through a “safety study” in one of the major Da Vita dialysis centers in Houston.

They are testing it on End State Renal Disease patients that also have Hepatitis C to both examine any potential harm that the device might inflect on patients as well as to measure its ability to remove HepC germs from very ill dialysis patients. This 10-patients trial mimics the similar trial performed in India about three years ago where it produced some exceptional, therapeutic results.

The stock is at the low end of its 18 month range and has all the characteristics needed to be a “10-bagger” stock. During the furor of the Ebola outbreak, the shares zoomed to $35 (share adjusted) but it now is down almost 85%. On one hand, the Company’s balance sheet is puny and weak. But on the other hand, DARPA just re-jiggered research monies to help fund HP production stream-lining and quality control standards for the manufacture of the device. ​

Mr. Robins consulted with Aethlon for three years ending December, 2014. At this time, he has no financial connections with the Company but Robins and all members of his family own shares and may buy or sell shares at any time in the market for portfolio management purposes.

Northeast Oregon Business News

Historic Theaters of Oregon

Ring of Fire at the Elgin Opera House Sizzles with Talent

Ashley O’Toole performs ‘A Boy Named Sue’ during a Saturday Night Performance,

By Lori Kimbel

credible and very touching. Cry! Cry! Cry! performed by Staci Lynn Elguezabal was truly fabulous. Tucker Murphy was the master of music whether he was singing, or playing whichever instrument that happened to be in his hands. Steve Tognoli also did a stand out job each time he performed. Gia Tognoli was adorable as she sang Tennessee Flat Top Box alongside Jeannette Smith. Teresa Zyla, Maddie Hale, Abby Hale, Naomi Medly, and Gia Tognoli were great as the Carter family and Brady Morgan played the fiddle like a pro and left the audience wanting more.

The chorus was also simply amazing. This group of people sang their hearts out and they were spot on time and time again.

Of course I cannot leave out the band. Andy Steele on drums, Roger Barnes on bass, and Luke McKern on guitar tied the performances together as they gave just the right amount of accompaniment. Their solos were amazing and I’m looking forward to watching them play again before it has run its course.

I cannot say enough good things about Ring of Fire, or the Elgin Opera House. If you haven’t seen the play....you really need to call Carol at 541-663-6324 to reserve your tickets, and if you have seen it, for goodness sakes...go see it again, I know I am going to. Speaking of Carol, she really is an amazing woman. She works hard to make sure the seats are filled for every performance, even on those days when the world seems to be crashing down upon her. Thank you Carol for all you do for Elgin and the Elgin Opera House.

Terry Hale....Kudos my friend. You have taken this brick building that holds so many cherished memories to so many people and turned it into something even more spectacular. The play tonight was world class and I believe it is only a matter of time before the Elgin Opera House really gets discovered and become a must see Oregon destination. I am so glad that you and Stephanie decided to move to Elgin and raise your family here. You have changed the course of our beloved town and I could not be more thrilled. I’m proud to call you my friend and I am excited to see what the next ten years brings.

Ring of Fire debuted the last weekend in April at the Historic

Elgin Opera House. It depicts Johnny Cash’s remarkable life story, and is told through his music.The cast and crew at the Elgin Opera House once again put on a performance that will be hard to beat. I don’t know how they do it, but they manage to improve on perfection time and again. It really was an unforgettable performance by each and every member of the cast.

My mom always had music playing when I was a kid. Elvis, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Pardon, The Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Charley Pride and of course Johnny Cash. Family legend has it that my dad watched Johnny Cash perform in a wheat field before he became famous, so Johnny has been a part of my life my entire life. To experience this man, who was so troubled, so loved, so generous, and so talented, in an entirely new way was a highlight of my week, and I’ve had a dang good week.

When I know I am going to write something about the plays at the Elgin Opera House I look for the stand out actor, the one that really steals the show. Right away I knew who it was....at least I thought I did.

As the show continued I realized they were all stealing the show; each and every actor gave a stand out performance; there was no best of the best. It was that good and the talent was that strong. I was however personally moved by I Still Miss Someone, performed by Jocelyn Berado and Ashley O’Toole, and Janis Carper’s rendition of Sunday Morning Coming Down was also absolutely beautiful.

Brent and Jeannette Smith are both so talented and the Opera House is so blessed to have them as part of the Opera House family.

Jeannette is always a ray of sunshine on stage and Brent’s version of Johnny Cash was completely believable. Ashley O’Toole portrayed the younger version of Johnny, and he owned the stage whenever he stepped onto it. Lyle Witherite did an amazing job with 25 Minutes to Go, and for a guy about to die he was full of energy and really left it all out on the stage.Ted Hays soulful performance of Why Me was in-

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Northeast Oregon Business News Two Rivers Bonus May 28

Following the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers as they tumble their courses and join together at Rondowa, our Two Rivers ride is our standard trip, and the scenery is fantastic! This bonus trip takes you further and lets you enjoy more scenery than our standard ride. Travel from Elgin to Minam and back to Elgin.

Lunch and a special end-of-the-trip treat are included. Departs from Elgin Depot at 10 a.m. and returns at about 3:30 p.m.

Miles Traveled = 53 Price Code B: Adults = $80/ Seniors 60+ = $75/ Youth, 3 to 16: = $40 (under 3 ride free!)

Wine and Cheese Train Saturday, June 4

This scenic train ride offers exceptional spring scenery, with the many shades of green and wildflowers galore. The rivers are full and tumbling. It’s a wonderful time to relax and unwind.

Passengers taste a variety of regional wines,served by Earth & Vine of La Grande. Umapine Creamery serves a sampling their artisan cheeses, made at their dairy near Milton –Freewater. The ride is in the early evening, when the scery is sublime and wildlife comes out of the shadow. Even if the day is warm, bring a jacket in case the evening mountain air feels chilly. Departs from Elgin Depot at 4 p.m. and returns passengers to the depot by 8 p.m.

Miles traveled: 40 Price Code A: Adults = $70/ Seniors 60+ = $65/ Youth, 3 to 16 = $35 (kids under 3 ride for free!)

Elgin Stampeder’s Train Robbery Saturday, June 18

There are bandits out there in the hills, and they are looking for an excuse to flag down the train and climb on board. As it happens, the sheriff is transporting a notorious villain on this train and that can lead to mayhem and mischief. It’s hard to tell who is friend and who is foe. So, hide your valuables and keep your camera handy! Boxed lunch is served during the return leg of the trip. Tomorrow is Father’s Day! Two father passengers will win the opportunity to ride in the engine cab.

Miles traveled: 40 Price Code A: Adults = $70/ Seniors 60+ = $65/ Youth, 3 to 16 = $35 (kids under 3 ride for free!)

I Love America Veteran’s Train Saturday, July 4

It’s Fourth of July Weekend, a great time to honor and thank the veterans who have made our freedom possible. For this trip, veterans ride for free, and they may bring one guest for just $35. This train ride departs from the Elgin Depot and follows the shore of the Grande Ronde River north, then travels up the Wallowa River a few miles. At the Kimmell siding, passengers can leave the train to stretch their legs and enjoy the river. Then it’s “All Aboard!” for the ride back to Elgin. You will cover 40 miles, round trip, in about 4.5 hours. Lunch is included, thanks to our sponsors. Departs from Elgin Depot at 10 a.m. and returning at 2 p.m.

Miles traveled = 40 We expect this trip to sell out to veterans and their guests. If any seats are available after July 1, they will be available at our regular prices of Adults = $70/ Seniors 60+ = $65/ Youth, 3 to 16 = $35 (kids under 3 ride for free!)

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