OEN 2016 Tom Hulse Entrepreneurship Awards Page 6
Andrew Muse and His Tiny Home Adventure Page 10
Joe Wiegand as Teddy Roosevelt Page 16
NORTHEAST OREGON BUSINESS NEWS Business, Ar t, Culture, Outdoors, Travel & Enter tainment
Connecting Communities Throughout NE Oregon & Beyond Volume 3 - Issue 6 free
Serving Baker, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa Counties
Free Nov/Dec 2016
Variable Speed New Hydropower Facility at Spaur Sign Test Underway Ranch Produces Clean Energy While in Eastern Oregon Promoting Rural Resiliency
New hydropower facility at Spaur Ranch produces clean energy, promotes rural resiliency Local officials celebrate the second project at Northeastern Oregon ranch
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n a first of its kind project in Oregon, ODOT highway managers are testing new variable speed signs to provide a greater margin of safety during winter weather on Interstate 84. Over the past few weeks, crews from ODOT have been installing variable speed signs in a critical 30 mile corridor of Interstate 84 from Ladd Canyon to Baker City. These electronic message boards indicate a safe speed limit for vehicles when weather conditions turn adverse. Computers collect data regarding temperature, skid resistance (ice) and average motorist speed to determine the most effective speed limit for this area and then present that speed on the variable speed signs. This gives motorists additional information about their drive in order to remain safer on the highway. The signs will lower and raise speeds automatically to meet observed conditions on the roadway. Currently, the new variable speed signs are in a test phase and are expect to go live on November 1. At that time, they will indicate the speed limit which will be enforceable by state and local police. Motorists may notice these signs as they traverse the highway and various on-ramps between Ladd Canyon and Baker City.
paur Ranch celebrated its second small hydropower facility today. Oregon State Senator Bill Hansell, local landowners, government officials, and tribal, nonprofit and utility representatives attended Nils Chrisoffersen, Marti and Vern Spaur, Betsy Kauffman Photo courtesy of Energy Trust of Oregon the event in recognition of the Kyle Petrocine, Matt King and efforts by the ranch and others began operating earlier this Nils Christoffersen of Walaround the state to modernize month. The ranch’s first hydropower plant was installed lowa Resources Community their irrigation systems. Solutions, and engaged local “This is a great exam- in 2011. “With not one but two contractors during installation. ple of collaboration and innosmall turbines on their ranch, “Innovation like the vation to benefit landowners the Spaur family is leading Spaur Ranch hydropower and our local economy,” said the way forward in micro-hyfacility, which uses an agriState Senator Bill Hansell, cultural irrigation system to R-Athena. “This project offers dro energy development in Wallowa County,” said Chrisprovide renewable energy for a vision for other landowners, toffersen, executive director, a local small business, is helpranchers and farmers in Waling to sustain economically vilowa County to produce ener- Wallowa Resources. “Small renewable energy projects brant rural communities,” said gy on-site and receive multilike these help save farms, Vicki Walker, state director, ple benefits. The partnership businesses and school districts USDA Rural Development. that was able to form between Energy Trust and Spaur Ranch millions of dollars per year in “Energy costs can consume Wallowa County.” a large part of a business’s is one that can be used as an The Spaur Ranch budget. By providing funding example for future projects.” for projects like this, USDA is The renewable energy hydropower facility will generate approximately 82,000 helping to improve the bottom produced by the 11-kilowatt kilowatt hours of renewable line for small businesses while facility will be used to offset electricity annually, and was also reducing greenhouse gas the electricity needs of SPS, made possible by a $60,000 pollution and creating jobs.” a truck and automotive repair cash incentive from Ener This project is an exbusiness that is part of Spaur gy Trust of Oregon and a ample of the hydropower opRanch. Property owners Vern $30,000 grant from the U.S. portunities that can be created and Marti Spaur are expected through the modernization of to offset nearly 100 percent of Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Oregon’s agricultural water their annual energy consumpProgram. The project’s total tion. The hydropower plant Hydropower cost is estimated at $125,000. — Spaur Ranch’s second — Continued on Page 8 The project was developed by
My View
Northeast Oregon Business News
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here is never a lack of stories when it comes to writing about Northeast Oregon, but there is the lack of time to write them all. With 2016 quickly coming to a close I guess it is time to think about the future and what it may hold. The amount of support I continue to receive has been very inspiring. I’d like to thank both Trish Yerges and Marc Robins for writing great articles for me to included within the pages of both Northeast Oregon Business News and The Gorge Business News on a regular basis. I appreciate their view of the world and I always look forward to what stories they capture. Life is about change. I will soon be having one of those big birthdays...you
know the kind, one of them with a zero in the number. I am looking forward to the new year and will actually be glad to put this last year of my youth behind me. Change isn’t always easy, but I think for the most part it is always necessary. Thank you all for taking the time to read my publications. As always, please feel free to write, or call with questions, suggestions, opinions and story ideas. Here’s to tucking 2016 into our memory banks and moving forward toward 2017. Happy Fall. Sincerly, Lori
Volume 3 - Issue 6 November/December 2016 Publisher Lori Kimbel lorikimbel@neobn.com PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827 541-910-7482 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 $18 to Studio 6 Designworks PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827
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Agriculture
Northeast Oregon Business News
Things Are Hopping for Oregon Dept of Ag. Inspectors W
hile you quietly sip a beer this month, it’s more than likely that Judy Parent and Erin Harding are painstakingly picking out leaves and stems from the Oregon hops that might be an ingredient of that brew. The two women aren’t necessarily cleaning up the hops but, in fact, inspecting samples of this year’s harvest for seeds, leaves, and stems– the undesirable elements of hops. It’s an annual six-week ritual performed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Inspection Program. The state’s $34.5 million hop industry depends on grading done by ODA. “ODA provides an invaluable service,” says Michelle Palacios, administrator of the Oregon Hops Commission. “Hops are sold on contract. In order to market the product, growers need an accurate
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analysis of their crop. The greater the accuracy, the greater the confidence brewers have in Oregon hops.” Each “lot” of hops grown in Oregon is sampled and inspected for seed, leaf, and stem content. That’s the job of a close-knit team of inspectors– some of whom are retirees who have already given years of full-time service to ODA in other jobs. Now they work hard and fast, but only in August and September after hops are harvested. Once inspected, the grower receives a certificate for that lot. The sale to the brewer is based on that certificate. The lower the percentage of seed, leaf, and stem, the better the price of the hops. ODA inspectors are considered third-party participants. They don’t take sides in the process, but merely determine the percentage.
“We have a very good relationship with the growers,” says Randy Black, who manages the seasonal inspection program. “They know we are unbiased, honest, very precise, and accurate.” Each sample is identified by a number corresponding to the appropriate grower. Most of the
hops come from nearby fields as a majority of the crop in Oregon is grown in the area between St. Paul, Woodburn, and Mt. Angel. The Salem-based “inspection facility” is not some kind of high-tech clean room with white
Hops Continued on Page 15
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Northeast Oregon Business News
HAPO Credit Union
Never Give Up on Something You Cannot Go a Day Without Thinking About
~Unknown
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Northeast Oregon Business News
Oregon Business Recognizes Life Flight
Life Flight Network Named the #1 Large Nonprofit to Work for in Oregon L
ife Flight Network was recognized last week by Oregon Business as the best large nonprofit to work for in Oregon. For the seventh year in a row, Life Flight Network has been ranked in the top 15 best large nonprofit employers to work for in Oregon. This is the second time Life Flight Network has been ranked #1. More than 22,000 Oregon-based nonprofit organizations were eligible to compete. More than 5,000 employees from competing organizations completed an anonymous survey about their employer, accounting for 83% of the each organization’s score. The survey analyzed several aspects of each organization. Results were combined with an employer survey of benefits and workplace practices to calculate the overall ranking. Results of the employee survey show employees of nonprofits have high rates of pride and belief in the mission of their organization. Employees also appreciate the fun, energized, and creative culture of nonprofits.
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“We are proud and humbled to be recognized as the #1 large nonprofit employer in Oregon,” states Michael Griffiths, RN and CEO. He adds, “Making Life Flight Network an exceptional place to work requires a team effort. The culture within Life Flight Network is something our employees are proud of. We come to work every day and give our best effort, and it shows in our employees and the service we provide to our patients and customers.” ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK: Life Flight Network, a nonprofit air medical service, has 22 helicopters bases, six fixed-wing bases, and several ground ambulances throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and employs approximately 600 people. The orga-
nization is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health & Services. Aviation services are provided by Life Flight Network, Metro Aviation, and Jackson Jet Center. For more information about Life Flight Network or to become a member, visit www.lifeflight.org.
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Northeast Oregon Business News
Entrepreneurship
OEN and the Tom Holce 2016 Entrepreneurship Awards walking into a conversation at the local post office lobby...(small town humor). t’s no secret that I come The main event would not from a small town in Northeast start for another hour, which left Oregon... Elgin, Oregon to be me time to visit with newfound exact. Elgin is like many of the friends and learn about some small towns in America, more of the entrepreneurs that were often than not it is peaceful, safe showcasing their business and/ and friendly, so when this small or product. Bull Run Whiskey town lady decided to spend a was my first stop. I always enjoy night on the town in the big city hearing about the process taken of Portland, it was, to be honest, to create a product and the gentlepretty exciting and at the end of man behind the counter was more the night I realized that Portland, than happy to explain the subtle believe it or not, is a lot like Eldifference between the various gin. bottles of whiskey, one of my fa My adventure started vorite spirits. I decided on a sip of when I climbed onto the Max in the Oregon Single Malt Whiskey; Beaverton. Now to people who it was smooth and left me wanting ride the Max every single day, I more, but I wandered away after am sure this sounds like no big thanking him, making my way to deal, but to me….this was a big the complimentary drink station deal. I’ve been on cattle drives next to the whiskey station. and gone to more rodeos than I After ordering a sangria, can count. I’ve seen four cougars, the unmistakable smell of fire three bears and one wolf, but I’d roasted s’mores filled my senses. never ridden the Max by myself, James, from Nineteen 27 S’moespecially knowing I would be res, gave me a quick rundown of going back…at night (insert dunt the business that he and his wife, Kelly, started late in the summer of 2015. The unmistakable fire that burns within the heart of every entrepreneur was evident in James. The S’mores experience reminded me of sitting around the fire at my brother’s ‘elk camp’…..well, maybe that was the whiskey I’d just shot, either way, once again, I was reminded of home. I made my way through the crowd, stopping in at each table to learn a little bit about each business owner and why they had decided to become entrepreneurs. I sampled delicious bar-b-que sauces of Felton and Mary’s Artisan Foods, tasted some wonderful peanut butter at Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters, had a bite of some spicy beef from James of Nineteen27 S’mores Don Felipe Products and drank some of the best hot cocoa I’ve dunt duahh music here). I kept ever had from Treehouse Chocotrack of the stops on my phone late. and loaned a pen to a young man I knew I had to save room who had misplaced his. All in all for dinner, so networking was next the people seemed….like people. on my agenda. I met some great Stop after stop, and a darpeople throughout the evening and ing race through a tunnel 260 feet thoroughly enjoyed learning about below the surface, I finally arrived what their passions were and what at my destination. As luck would made them want to be a part of have it the Max stopped within 50 the evening dedicated to Oregon or 60 yards of the front door to the entrepreneurs. Throughout my Oregon Convention Center, where career and the many networking the Oregon Entrepreneurs Netevents I have attended, I find that work Tom Holce Entrepreneurship just being from Oregon and havAwards were taking place. ing that commonality is enough Shaking off the raindrops of a connection to start lasting that had gathered on my jacket, friendships. Oregonians are proud I stepped inside and it was as if of their state. Who wouldn’t be? they knew I was coming. “What is We have Mt. Hood, Wallowa your name,” the young lady asked Lake, Multnomah Falls, the Come. “Kimbel,” I said. “Lori Kimlumbia River Gorge, the Oregon bel.” As it so happened a gentleCoast, Portland…..and Elgin. We man, also with the name Kimball are also proud of the people who was right in front of my, so he and call Oregon home and who have the young lady had already been dedicated their lives to making the discussing me, it made me feel world a better place. like I was back in my hometown Once the ceremony started
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By Lori Kimbel
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Outgoing President and Executive Director of OEN, Linda Weston. I was swept up into the emotions products like food, beverages, of the evening. I have never met footwear, etc, and in bioscience/ Linda Weston, the outgoing presbiotech, clean tech, etc. There ident and executive director of are many more women entrepreOEN, but was sure that when we neurs---evidence was clear last do meet, we are going to have a night with 3 out of 4 of the wingreat visit. ners being women. And, there The annual awards cerare many more entrepreneurs of emony honors the skill and the color.” courage that it takes for entrepre This year’s Awards Cereneurs to create a business out of mony marks the final year of Linan idea. The event is intended to da’s remarkable 17-year tenure as not only celebrate entrepreneurs, President and Executive Director but to highlight their importance of OEN. She will be retiring and to the region’s economy. This launching a consulting company year’s Awards Ceremony, “Create at the end of 2016. Under LinYour Legacy,” also celebrated da’s leadership, OEN has expeOEN’s 25th year and paid tribute rienced significant growth and to Weston, who will be retiring at expanded its impact across the the end of 2016 after 17 years. state, serving more than 52,000 It was a night of inspiparticipants since 1999, generatration and entrepreneurial spirit ing $10,792,545 in donations and from start to finish. Weston set the sponsorship revenue, and securing tone as she highlighted what her more than $1.1 million in grant journey has been like over the past funding to expand access to OEN 17 years at the helm of Oregon’s Entrepreneur Network. Her passion for business and the people who create them was evident and it was obvious her presence at OEN will truly be missed by those who know and love her. “Over those 17 years, the entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting Roxana Campbell of Felton and Mary’s Artisan Foods entrepreneurs throughout the state has changed significantly for services in underserved areas. the better,” said Weston. “There In 2002 and 2005, Linda is far more education, support, was selected by Portland Business access to coaching and mentoring, Journal as one of 25 outstanding and access to a variety of kinds Women in Business. In 2005, she of capital then there was even was one of three national finalists 10 years ago. And, the kinds for the “Supporter of Entrepreof entrepreneurs we see are far neurship” award in conjunction different---it’s not just tech enwith Ernst & Young’s Entrepretrepreneurs. There are so many neur of the Year Awards. In 2007, more entrepreneurs in consumer she was recognized by Northwest
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Northeast Oregon Business News
Entrepreneurship Women’s Journal as one of “100 Most Powerful Women” in the Northwest. “It feels wonderful handing the baton to my successor, Maggie Finnerty,” said Weston. “We put a very specific process into place for succession. I gave the OEN board two years’ notice that I planned to retire in December of 2016, so we engaged in a very thoughtful process about how we wanted to approach everything from how we would conduct the search to who would handle the search and when we’d launch it, the timing of the announcement that I’d be leaving, and we planned for at least a 90 day transition with the new executive director. We were also very intentional about who served on the search committee---it was diverse in terms of sector represented, age, gender, race, and geography so that we had great input. Maggie has a perfect background and skill set to step into this role---she was a perfect choice, and she’ll do well in leading the organization. In terms of what’s next for me, I won’t fully retire. I plan to launch a consulting practice focused on helping both early-stage companies and non-profits.” The OEN Board ‘passed the hat around’ so to speak, and raised $16,000 for a ‘trip of a lifetime’ for Weston, who is an avid traveler. “The best part of the night for me,” said Molly Lindquist, founder and CEO of Consano, “was watching out-going executive director of OEN, Linda Weston, honored for her incredible contributions to the entrepreneurial community in Oregon. Linda was a key connector and mentor to me as I founded my non-profit Consano, and I know she has served in that role for countless other founders as well. It was wonderful to see the community celebrate her impact!” Weston however was not the only one to receive a gift during the award ceremony. Sam Blackman and Jesse Rosenzweig, co-founders of Elemental Technologies, presented a $150,000 check to OEN to support its services. From 141 nominees for the 2016 OEN Tom Holce Entrepreneurship Awards, the finalists were narrowed down to 20 after a series of interviews and reviews by OEN’s expert judging panels. The categories included Volunteers of the Year, Startup Stage, Development Stage, Growth Stage, Wyatt Starnes, and Entrepreneurial Achievement. The Game Changer Award was decided by the audience during the award ceremony and went to Nadya Okamoto of Camions of Care. Camions of Care is a youth-run global nonprofit that strives to manage and celebrate menstrual hygiene—through the
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global distribution of feminine hygiene products, and the engagement of youth leadership through a nationwide network of campus chapters. In the last two years, its network of over 2,200 volunteers has addressed over 24,000 periods through over 40 nonprofit partners. Bright.MD and Radar were the other two finalists in this
ing him unemployed, unable to pay his debt, and evicted from his apartment. He eventually ended up in a homeless shelter. Tyrone founded NoAppFee.com to help combat unnecessary homelessness. NoAppFee.com revolutionizes the way renters find homes by screening potential renters against every vacancy in a market, eliminating the need for multiple, costly applications. “Over those 17 years, the The Entrepreneurial Achievement Award honors an enentrepreneurial ecosystem trepreneur or founding team with a strong record of success over the supporting entrepreneurs past 18 months. Monica Enand, Ceo and Founder of Zapproved throughout the state has was the recipient of this award. changed significantly for the Runners up were Oliver Alexander and Orion Falvey co-founders better.” of Orchid Health, as well as Trev~ Linda Weston or Mauch, founder of Carrot. “I believe OEN is important to Oregon because it lays the category. foundation for a collaborative and Volunteers of the Year healthy start-up ecosystem,” said where Terry St. Marie, Co-Found- Lindquist. “As someone who has er of Built Oregon, Ernie Bootsdirectly benefitted from the many ma, Parter at Ater Wynne, and Ann McQuesten, Corporate Asso- connections I’ve made through ciate at White Summers Caffee & my involvement with OEN, I can say that there is no way I could James LLP. have grown my organization so The Startup Stage Award, quickly without the invaluable which honors a company with collaborations and relationships projected revenue for the current I’ve developed within this dynamyear of less than $0.5 million, went to Hubb, which automates the complex workflows and tasks required to collect, manage and market content for your next conference or meeting. Runners up were Crystal Clear Technologies and NemaMetrix. The Development Stage Company Award honors a company with past-year revenue of at least $0.5 million and projected revenue for the current year of $0.5 - $8 million. Customer. io, which is a platform that uses application data and rules to message users, was the winner of this award. Senaptec and Wildfang were runners up. The Growth Stage Company Award honors a company with past-year revenue of at least $8 million and projected revenue for the current year of over $8 million. Ruby Receptionists, which is the only virtual receptionist service dedicated to making personal connections with your callers, was the recipient for 2016. FCR, iovation and Puppet were runners up in this category. The Wyatt Starnes Memorial Award honors the region’s most promising early stage tech entrepreneur. Runners up included Brian Martin of Recentia Health Corp, David Schaefer of eWind Solutions, and Dylan Vance of Jupiter Devices. The Wyatt Starnes Memorial Award winner was Tyrone Poole of NoAppFee.com. In 2005, Tyrone was training to become a firefighter at Portland Community College. He suffered an injury that badly damaged his left leg, leav-
ic community.” Then, just like that the, evening was over. I said goodbye to the people I’d bonded with over a chicken and mashed potato dinner and a bottle or two of wine, knowing we would be connected forever if only on LinkedIn. I slipped on my coat and walked out into the night air. I was downtown Portland and I felt safe after spending an evening with 500 of my newest friends. A few walked my direction toward the Max. I marveled at the glass towers of the Convention Center as I waited for the ‘Blue Line’ to arrive. Once on board I texted a friend explaining how I was on the Max leaving downtown Portland, but there was no need for her to worry about me, because Superman himself was seated within ten feet of me. Grant it he was about 20 years younger than most Supermen, and not quite as buff, but Superman just the same. Then Trudy arrived, she asked to sit beside me and told me about her evening experience at the Tony Bennett concert. “He is 90 years old and his voice is just as strong as ever,” she exclaimed. Yes, tonight, my wonderful night out on the town in Portland felt like home, Portland felt like El-
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Collaboration
Northeast Oregon Business News
Spaur Ranch Hydropower Facility Hydropower Continued from Page 1 delivery systems. Future projects across the state are being identified through the Irrigation Modernization Program from Energy Trust and Farmers Conservation Alliance, partnering with local organizations such as Wallowa Resources Community Solutions, The Freshwater Trust and The Nez Perce Tribe in Wallowa County. The Irrigation Modernization Program helps irrigation districts find the funding and resources they need to create state-of-the-art irrigation systems that replace open canals with pipes, saving water and leaving more water in-stream for fish and wildlife. Pressurized pipes allow irrigators to remove pumps, which saves electricity, maintenance and replacement costs and enables farmers to upgrade to more water-efficient irrigation systems. Excess pressure in water on its
way to delivery on farm can also be used to generate hydropower. “The Spaur Ranch project is demonstrating the potential of small hydropower at ranch and agricultural operations across Oregon,” said Betsy Kauffman, renewable energy sector lead, Energy Trust. “Assessments underway in other areas will reveal the potential for farms, ranches and irrigation districts to generate power and deliver multiple benefits, including saving billions of gallons of water every year.” Assessments of the potential benefits associated with modernization are now underway at 12 Oregon irrigation districts, identifying the renewable energy, energy efficiency, agricultural, water, environmental and economic benefits associated with modernization. In Wallowa County, assessment work is underway on the Westside/Poley-Allen ditches near Lostine, as well as the North Prairie Creek Ditch near Joseph. Other piping and hydropower projects are being evaluat-
ed along the Alder, Hurricane and Ruby Peak ditches. Six additional standalone hydropower projects are also being assessed. WALLOWA RESOURCES: Wallowa Resources develops, promotes, and implements innovative solutions to help the people of Wallowa County and the Intermountain West to sustain and improve our communities and our lands. This work includes land stewardship and business development, as well as education and research. Learn more at www. wallowaresources.org or call 541426-8053. USDA Rural Development: USDA Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. Through its loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs, Rural Development supports essential services such as housing; healthcare; first responder services and equipment; and water, electric, and communication infrastructure. The agency
also promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses and offering technical assistance to communities, agricultural producers, and cooperatives. USDA Rural Development has a $215 billion loan portfolio nationwide. Learn more at www. rd.usda.gov/or or call 503-4143300. ENERGY TRUST: Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power. Our services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas save nearly $2.3 billion on energy bills. Our work helps keep energy costs as low as possible, creates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.energytrust.org or call 1-866-368-7878.
LET THE SAVINGS SOAK IN Energy upgrades to irrigation systems and equipment can yield more than energy savings. They can earn rebates and cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon, too.
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Talk to your irrigation vendor, or visit www.energytrust.org/ag for more information. Serving customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.
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Oregon.gov
Northeast Oregon Business News
Oregon to Convert Messages into Video Instructions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Residents Oregon state government is launching a new effort to support deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians. Held quarterly, New American Sign Language (ASL) video workshops tap native-speaking ASL interpreters to convert agency messages into video instructions that improve access to online services for these traditionally underserved residents. In recent years Oregon has increased accessibility to Oregon.gov websites for blind and disabled residents. This new effort illustrates a continued desire to expand access, this time for Oregon’s deaf and hard of hearing population. “It is so important that government services are accessible to all citizens. For too long, deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians have struggled to access programming and services that many of us take for granted. This new development is a first step
towards righting that injustice and ensuring that every Oregonian is treated equally. This is great news!” said State Senator Sara Gelser. The Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Program, the State Chief Information Officer’s E-Government Program and Salem CCTV partnered to deliver the two-day workshops at no cost to state agencies. The centralized approach allows agencies to better support the deaf community without worrying about the video tools, training, skills, or budget for ASL interpreters. “Agencies arrive with their script and leave with an ASL video that will support our deaf and hard of hearing residents.” said Ashley Carson Cottingham, Director of Aging and People with Disabilities for the Department of Human Services, “By making this as easy as possible for agencies, we will begin to see needed im-
provements as the year progresses.” “Senator Gelser challenged us to find a better way to support this community. The former President of the Oregon Association for the Deaf, Chad Ludwig, taught us the importance of an educated native ASL signer. Salem CCTV enthusiastically offered their free services to our programs and will also air the videos on their local Comcast channel. It’s a truly collaborative effort that’s unique to Oregon.” said Wally Rogers, Oregon E-Government and Transparency Manager. About the Oregon E-Government Program The Oregon E-Government Program was established through Governor’s Office Executive Order in 2001 and is administered by the Department of Administrative Services. The Oregon Legislature further supported the program by enacting legislation in 2011 that established
an Electronic Portal Advisory Board to advance the effectiveness and delivery of new online services to the public. The program works with Oregon government organizations, helping them to conduct state business online and improve public access to government information. About the DHS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program The Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) program provides interpreters for clients that are members of the deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing communities. The Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Committee (ODHHAC) assists the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Program (ODHHSP) by providing information and expertise on issues affecting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
215 Elm Street La Grande, Or 97850
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Adventures
Northeast Oregon Business News
Andrew Muse and His Tiny Home Adventure
By Lori Kimbel
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wenty six year old Andrew Muse is living a life full of adventure and excitement. A life many would love to have just a taste of. Traveling the country with his golden lab, canine companion, Kicker, Muse is seen grinning from ear to ear with each new-found, adrenaline-charged quest and Kicker is right alongside him in almost every video or photo posted to Instagram @andrew_muse. Muse is famous…Instagram famous. With 30.1 thousand followers, Muse and Kicker always have a great photo, or video to share with their adoring fans. Traveling around in their 4 x 4 adventure van, jumping out from time to time to go snowboarding, kiteboarding, rock climbing, or hiking, these two constant companions are anything but boring. Their adventures will soon be released by GoPro with Season two of Tiny Home Adventure, which is set to be release by Fall 2016. But wait! This story doesn’t start here. Yes, it’s still in the beginning stages, after all Muse is just 26 and has a lifetime of adventures waiting for him, but this is more like Chapter 2, or maybe even Chapter 3. Chapter 1 was spent growing up in Massachusetts with his mom and sister where Muse would spend hours in the woods building forts and exploring.
“I wanted to get further west and ride bigger mountains with more snow than what I was used to on the east coast,” said Muse. “I’d never been further west than New York, so I started traveling just after high school. My dream was to be a ski guide, so I moved out west and started taking avalanche courses and this and that. I bought a GoPro about five years ago and started creating edits. I learned how to take videos, edit them and turn them into something that people would want to watch, and then I got hooked up with Rosignal as a snowboard athlete, and I also got sponsored for kiting.” Chapter 2 began when Muse1 purchased a $500 truck camper and began remodeling it. Kicker of course was not even a thought in his mind; Booter was his sidekick back then. Like Kicker, Booter was a golden lab and he too was more like a best friend than a pet. While remodeling the camper Muse decided to film the entire process. Tiny Home Adventure Season One was born. “Every two weeks I’d release an edit,” said Muse. “I did all the editing and all the
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filming.” I’m sure Booter helped keep him on track and entertained while Muse worked away on his computer. When Muse was not remodeling his camper, he was finding ways to boost the adrenaline that coursed through his veins. Rappelling off of a bridge, long boarding for miles, snowboarding, and white water rafting were just a few of the activities that kept his body in a naturally induced state of euphoria. Of course Booter fed off of Muse’s excitement and was a willing participant in almost every activity. It’s hard to put into words what this young man and his friend Booter are all about. So please stop reading this, pull out your smart phone and check out some of these links to get a feel of what a typical day in the life of @andrew_muse is all about. Like the old 60’s song, Andrew Muse was ‘born to be wild’ with his dog Booter at his side of course. “My real dream was to become a professional athlete,” said Muse, “but I just didn’t really have the foundation and the skill set to get there, so content creation kind of became the way for that to work. Assuming that it would have some value with brands I could live the kind of lifestyle that I always wanted, but never really thought possible. This is really working toward something that I didn’t think was realistic. I’ve gotten little nuggets and rewards along the way that made me think maybe this will work, so I decided to really push for this athlete, content, creative thing and I just buckled down and started focusing on it.” And focus on it he has. “The first Tiny Home Adventure project and the whole remodel process really showed me how hard I could work,” said Muse. “I would wake up at about six in the morning without an alarm and I’d work until about
12 o’clock at night. That was a pretty big eye-opening experience. If I’m passionate about something, and I have a vision, I can work super hard and it doesn’t feel like work at all.” Season one of Tiny Home Adventure can be seen on YouTube as well as Vimeo. Amazing footage is captured by Muse. You won’t be disappointed if you check it out. “I filmed season one in six months with 12 episodes; it was the wildest and craziest adventure ever.” Of course with every great story comes great tragedy. After filming the final episode of Tiny Home Adventure, Muse and Booter headed toward home. Two hours before reaching their destination, at 60 mph, Muse slams into the back of a semi that was going just 40
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Northeast Oregon Business News
Adventure
mph. His truck and tiny home were destroyed. Everything he owned lay scattered along I-15 in Utah. Digging through the rubble he found Booter, he was severely injured and died in Andrew’s arms. “At the scene of the accident I literally lost everything I owned that was in the truck camper. It destroyed my truck, my camper, I had no money and I lost Booter. I would have done anything if I could have kept Booter around.” Life at that moment and for the days and weeks to follow felt like it was beyond repair for Muse. His best friend, his constant companion, was gone. His career, which relied heavily on the comradery of the two together, seemed to be over. “The paramedics who were on the scene of the wreck were trying to make small talk about climbing and this and that and I was just sobbing and I didn’t want to talk to anybody. One of the firefighters came over and put his arm around my shoulders and said, ‘Dude I get it man, I’ve lost dogs and it’s like the worst thing.’ He had compassion to the situation. You could tell he was the only person that really got it. I really connected with this firefighter and he knew nothing about me and I knew nothing about him, so I asked for his contact information so I could show him what Booter and I were doing. I told him we had a really special bond and we had this series we were filming together. So we kept in touch for a few weeks and then he called me up randomly about two months later and said I have an interesting opportunity for you. I lost a dog tragically when I was your age and I ended up with a new dog and it really helped me through the situation. We breed dogs, we breed golden labs and labradoodles and if you want a dog you are welcome to the pick of the litter. That’s how Kicker came into my life. It was a small world experience with a firefighter and a family who are the kindest people.” Chapter 3, life was beginning to feel more like an adventure again. “Kicker’s been great,” said Muse. “He’s been super healthy and I put him in a lot of interesting situations whether it’s in snow or water. He just goes everywhere with me. He’s been snowboarding, kiteboarding. He just kind of lives the same life I do and seems to enjoy it.” Muse is back in the thick of adventure seeking. Recently Muse participated in the Kiteboarding4Cancer event in Hood River. One project he took on was to paint a kiteboard that would later be auctioned off to raise money for the event. “This was my first year participating in Kiteboarding4Cancer and being active in it. I just saw last year what a fun positive event it was, so I decided to paint a board and try and contribute as much as I could.” Once again life dealt Muse a blow. “The second day I was painting my board I got a phone call from my mom saying she had just been diagnosed with cervical cancer,” said Muse. “So it become something that at first it was like, ‘okay I’ll do this because it’s nice and I want to be part of this cool event and help raise money’, to like, something that
was a lot more serious to me. It made things feel like a lot more close to home. Thankfully the situation with my mom had about as good a prognosis as possible. She had surgery and they were able to remove everything and there is just a small chance that it could return. So that was nice. During the Kiteboarding 4 Cancer event everything was still in the air and we weren’t sure how bad it was and so it was pretty scary. It’s terrifying when it happens to you and it’s super sad and scary.” The Kiteboarding 4 Cancer event raised $194,000 in a single weekend. “It’s insane how much money they were able to raise and how many good people they bring together,” he said. So what does the rest of the book…er…video of @ Andrew_Muse look like? Only time will tell, but so far things are looking pretty good. Once Muse arrived home after his car accident he was trying to figure out what he was going to do with his life. He had gotten a job offer to be the video coordinator for the US Ski Team, but he had planned on coming home and figuring out how to make season two of Tiny Home Adventure sustainable if possible. He was totally broke, his equipment was gone and he’d lost his business partner. It was beginning to look like he would have to take the position with the US Ski Team simply because it seemed like his only option. But then he opened up his email and saw that GoPro had sent him something. “GoPro reached out to me and asked if they could pick up season two,” said Muse. They wanted to know how much Muse would charge. “So I gave them a num-
I really like to inspire people and tell them you can do what you love, and make a career out of it if you are really willing to work hard enough and make sacrifices, like superficial sacrifices. I feel that for an exceptional life you have to be willing to go down a road that most people haven’t gone down and take the risk to get there. ~Andrew Muse
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ber that was close to what I would be making with the US Ski Team and they accepted it. Is was a pretty crazy email to have GoPro hit you up and say, ‘hey, there are so many opportunities for us to work together our head is spinning’…I was like, ‘is this real?’”. Muse has sent more than 50 hours of footage to GoPro and season two of Tiny Home Adventure should be available online by this fall. “I would like to do Season three,” said Muse. “There is talk of either going to New Zealand, South America or Europe, or a sailboat trip in the Caribbean. Who knows we are just trying to get the season two off the ground and hopefully get a good response from people and if it does well than hopefully we will continue to travel the world and see a bunch of cool stuff and inspire some people to really do some cool stuff as well.” Of course Kicker will be right by his side. “My goals for the future are to continue this lifestyle of doing what I love and inspiring people to do the same. That’s kind of my big thing. I really like to inspire people and tell them you can do what you love, and make a career out of it if you are really willing to work hard enough and make sacrifices, like superficial sacrifices. I feel that for an exceptional life you have to be willing to go down a road that most people haven’t gone down and take the risk to get there. I think inevitable you can be successful if you are willing to work hard enough and be willing to put enough of positive energy into it,” said Muse.
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Northeast Oregon Business News
Growing Community Capital
Holiday Inn Express and to Open in November in Hermiston
By Lori Kimbel
Artist rendering of the Hermiston Holiday Inn Express and Suites
N
ovember 15 is the target date for the opening of Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Hermiston, located at 245 North 1st Street. There are 93 rooms at the Hermiston Holiday Inn Express, which include 17 suites. A pool, guest laundry, fitness center, and 374 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space are also a part of this new property. Wireless internet and a 24-hour business center will make it easy for those who travel for business, or for those who need to stay connected. “We do a really good job of knowing what the customers want and delivering on it,” said Holiday Inn Express General Manager Steve Arrasmith. “We make it easy to buy this brand. We are consistent, which makes it great when you are traveling; it takes some of the mystery out of where you are staying. At Holiday Inn Express our service becomes the real focus. We add a local touch by hiring people from the area that know where to eat, where to shop and what places to visit. It gives it more of a personal touch the way hospitality used to be.” Holiday Inn Express has recently gone through a rebranding. “We have a brand new vision with a very modern look,” said Arrasmith. “It is a totally different design concept than the older Holiday Inn Express brands. Inside the lobby modular pods create a more private check in experience, with a truly one on one feel. A ‘market’ has been incorporated with items such as food, wine, beer, sodas and sundries, all of which can be purchased, or simply charged to your room. The breakfast area has been upgraded to include a variation in the heights of the tables, which creates an atmosphere of connectivity among guests. The full continental breakfast is included with your stay and is just what travelers need before they continue on with their journey. “If you have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express before, you should really come to this property to experience our improvements” said Arrasmith. “This will be a really good fit for Hermiston.” A grand opening is planned for some time after the holiday season.
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“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” ~George S. Patton Page 12
Northeast Oregon Business News
Entrepreneurship
LG Gains New Second-Hand Store - Patty Cake’s Corner P
By Trish Yerges
atti Cake’s Corner, 2701 Bearco Loop in La Grande opened for business Sept. 1 as a sole proprietorship by Patsy Hoadley, who has five years of experience in retail, second-hand merchandising. “I’ve had a retail second hand shop years ago called Island City Trading Post,” Hoadley said. “I took a break from it, but after a few years, I wanted to open another store up. Jim May had this space as a second hand store, and after he passed away in July, I decided to lease the space from Monty McIntosh.” Hoadley and her volunteer assistant and cousin, Brandon Myers, operate the store together. “We strive to help others and especially veterans,” said Myers. If their first day in business was any indicator, Hoadley’s inventory is going to be fast moving because she buys what she knows customers are looking for, and she prices her merchandise to resell quickly. Once a month she also holds a box sale to move smaller household goods out of inventory. In a second hand store, Hoadley knows what people need: furniture, dining room tables and chairs, beds and bed linens and blankets, framed pictures, lamps, TVs, movies, book shelves and books. She sells everything for the kitchen, including coffee pots, mixers, blenders, toaster ovens, microwave ovens and other appliances; Patti Cake’s also bathroom accessories, linens Corner is open and toiletries. “There will Monday through be clothing and Saturday from 8 shoes too,” said a.m. to 6 p.m. Hoadley just as someone stopped by to donate a pair of like new tennis shoes. “We take donations during our store hours,” she added, “but items must be clean and in good working condition. Things are sold ‘as is’, and there are no warranties offered on the inventory.” Local deliveries will be made upon request for a minimal charge to cover costs. In the second-hand retail business, Hoadley knows that friendships and trust are built as customers return frequently to view the newest inventory. “If you get here and don’t see what you want, let us know what you’re looking for and your price range, and I’ll try to find it for you and give you a call when it’s in,” she said. Patti Cake’s Corner is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We want to welcome everyone to come in to see us, and get acquainted,” said Hoadley.
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Be Prepared
Northeast Oregon Business News
Oregon Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics Team Up to Teach Tsunami Preparedness O
regon’s Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics released their newest collaboration just in time to prepare for the Great ShakeOut. This 16-page colorful story sequence teaches tsunami preparedness. SALEM, Ore. -- Oct. 12, 2016 -- Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics team up to prepare for the Great Oregon ShakeOut on October 20 and introduce Without Warning: Tsunami, a new comic touting tsunami preparedness. The 16-page comic strip sequence chronicles a mother/daughter camping trip on the Oregon coast when an earthquake and resulting tsunami strike. The duo stays safe and helps others in danger. Without Warning: Tsunami is the second time that the partners have come together to collaborate on bringing preparedness messaging to youth. In 2013, OEM’s Geologic Hazards Program Coordinator Althea Rizzo approached Dark Horse with a proposal. An avid comic book fan herself, Rizzo knew that it was a good way to reach a new target audience. In August 2014, Without Warning was released, telling a story of an Oregon teen who reunites with her family after a major Cascadia Earthquake. “The events in Tohoku, Japan in 2011 brought new awareness to the reality of what could happen in Oregon in the aftermath of a Cascadia quake,” said Rizzo. “The first Without Warning comic helped to educate young people about what to do in the aftermath of a high-magnitude earthquake. This second comic about tsunamis is a logical follow up and story continuation.”
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Rizzo came up with both stories. Dark Horse Editor Shantel LaRocque then worked with writer Jeremy Barlow and artist David Hahn to have them scripted and illustrated. Oregon is located in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600-hundred mile earthquake fault stretching from offshore Northern California to Southern British Columbia. According to scientists and other experts, a large 9.0 or higher earthquake could strike Oregon at any time. “Dark Horse is proud to support emergency preparedness and Oregon Emergency Management with the Without Warning: Tsunami comic,” said Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics president. “We enjoy partnering with an organization dedicated to making Oregon’s residents safe and prepared for a natural disaster, and are proud to contribute our talent and resources to the cause.” Without Warning: Tsunami was released on October 12 and available online at http://bit.ly/2dWuS0G. Printed copies can be obtained through local county emergency management offices.
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Northeast Oregon Business News
Oregon Agriculture Hops Continued From Page 1 tables and antiseptic walls, but it is appropriate for what needs to happen. Up to a half dozen inspectors gather daily during the season to do what they do best– picking through the hops with tweezers in search of leaves and stems. “It’s a fairly easy job to do and just a matter of looking closely at the hops to be sure you pick out all the leaves and stems from the sample,” says Parent, who has come back every summer for 15 years to help out. This is after three decades of service to ODA as the agency’s payroll coordinator. “My only challenge in this job is that I laugh a lot,” says the 20-something Harding, who also does other commodity inspection work for ODA. “If you laugh, cough, or sneeze when your face is close to the hops, those hops blow everywhere.” The inspectors typically pick through between 80 and 110 grams at a time after the hops have been put through an eighth-inch screen to remove the fine debris. Once all the leaves and stems have been removed from the sample, a percentage is determined after the hops are reweighed. A separate process is designed to find seeds. A sample that is between 40 and 60 grams is baked for two hours at 118 degrees. After baking, the sample is threshed until individual seeds remain. They are counted and another percentage is calculated. It all sounds like an old-fashioned recipe for some unique brew. In fact, the only thing cooked up are some numbers and percentages that
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translate into the price of the crop– something important to both grower and buyer. “Buyers could start docking the grower right off the top if there is more leaf, stem, or seed than the contract calls for,” says Black. “If there is too much, the lot can be rejected.” Growers receive premiums if the samples are cleaner than average or deductions if they aren’t. ODA inspection means quite a bit to both parties. Oregon ranks second, only behind Washington, in hop production. Last year, 6,600 acres produced 10.6 million pounds of hops in Oregon. The Pacific Northwest produces nearly all of the nation’s hops and about 30 percent of the world’s supply. This year’s acreage strung for harvest has increased 16 percent compared to 2015. Acreage has gone up 57 percent the past five years while the value has remained relatively steady. The 2016 crop appears to be average quality. Warm spring temperatures led to some early bloom for certain aroma-type hop varieties, but the mild July helped to steady the growth. With the arrival of a booming craft brewing scene in Oregon, the rest of the US, and internationally, the world of hops has changed a bit. “The hop industry has several large dealer/merchants that growers contract with
to purchase their hops,” says Palacios. “Over the course of the past decade, growers have increasingly marketed at least a percentage of their crop directly to craft brewers. The success of the craft industry can be attributed, in part, to success in telling their story to their customer. And when a brewer can directly source hops from a grower, they can continue to tell that story through the hops and the beer they make with those hops. Generally, craft brewers seek the connection to their raw materials. With the Oregon hop growing region in such close proximity to Oregon’s craft brewers, the relationship between the two industries has continued to grow.” Just as ODA’s commodity inspectors are a band of specialized workers, so are those who grow hops in Oregon. There are only about 30 multi-generational family farms producing hops in the entire state. A few new hop growers have emerged in recent years as the strong market attracts farmers who might want to consider getting into the business. However, hop production on a commercial scale requires a significant up-front investment, which is a limiting factor for many would-be growers. It is truly an industry that remains all in the family. And for the inspectors who look at the product? For six weeks each year, it’s like a family reunion.
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Northeast Oregon Business News
History Comes Alive Joe Wiegand Amazes Crowd as the Virtual Teddy Roosevelt by Betty Jane Holt A mesmerizing performance was given by Joe Wiegand at the financial event sponsored by Marc Robins of the Robins Equity Roundup. I was tired and just wanting to go back to the Hampton Inn and get in the hot tub until the introductions were made for the Joe Weigand and Bill Schaub of Robins Equity Roundup. 32nd president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. He stepped up and walked onto the stage and having recently watched the Ken Burns series on the Roosevelt family my mouth fell open for before me was the spitting image of Teddy Roosevelt, pince nez eyeglasses, three piece suit, pocket watch in place, and for over an hour, an hour and twenty minutes, the audience was treated to a spectacular account of President Roosevelt’s life or as he preferred to be called, Colonel Roosevelt. The accent, the grandiose gestures, the homilies all from the 30 books written by Roosevelt and the dozens written about him made me believe that Teddy himself Live Plays Throughout the Year was superimposed onto Joe Wiegand. This camera obscura made the image complete. There was an overview of all the National Parks established by Roosevelt, his sickly beginnings as an asthmatic and puny child, the high jinks of the Roosevelt children and even the story of stripping to the buff with the French Prime Minister in order to cross the creek on the Roosevelt property. The Frenchman wore only his gloves and when asked why, his response was that he wore them in case they were to meet some ladies. Always the Second Full Weekend in July He related how Teddy’s mother died and his wife died when he was a young man of 25, all during the same week. He spoke of Roosevelt’s heartache and then relates the story to the children in his audience who have some of the same experiences and he sees the light in that child’s face. He knows the child is thinking if this man can do those things and become president then I can too. He relates Roosevelt overcoming his spindly childhood ill health. He spoke about working hard and Scenic Views Around Every Bend playing hard and not mixing up the
VisitElginOregon.com
The Historic Elgin Opera House
The Elgin Stampede
The Eagle Cap Excursion Train
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two. Even as I write this it is difficult to accept that the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt did not flow down around and into Joe Wiegand so complete was his presentation. Joe Wiegand, born in Illinois, began as the third son in a family of four boys and a girl. His father, Jim, a former sheet metal worker, moved his whole family to Hollywood. He was successful as a stand up comedian and became a comedy writer for David Letterman, George Carlin, and Robin Williams. This background formed the foundation for Joe’s dramatic skill in story telling. Interested in history, he entered the political arena, organizing campaigns for Illinois politicians and finally running himself and becoming an Illinois State legislator. It was during that time that he honed a speaking skill that was part story, part fact, and all fun, weaving information in such a way that kept his audiences awake. He had always had an interest in Theodore Roosevelt and residing in the land of Lincoln with all the political significance of Reagan, Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, Adlai Stephenson it occurred to him that he could make young people understand history from the perspective of the person himself. It became his calling. He performs at schools and historical societies, with the express purpose of exciting people about all the facets of this president’s life. He pops back and forth across the country performing hundreds of shows each year in an amazing act of energy and commitment. He was scheduled to appear the next night in Maine and had to be up at 4 am to catch an early morning flight. He will be returning to Oregon October 9 to perform before the Oregon Historical Society. He was impressive in his dynamism, talking to him later the Boston accent was replaced with the solid dialogue of his mid-western roots. He still expressed the enthusiasm for this vocation that he has created for himself. And for all the rest of us. Watch this space for the date and time of one of the best experiences of your life, Joe Wiegand as President Theodore Roosevelt. “I’ve got the Elgin Opera House in my sites! I would be honored to bring my TR Show there,” said Wiegand.
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