Wallowa County Chieftain

With hot, dry weather forecast to continue, the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests are tightening public use restrictions, including limits on campfires. Both forests are moving to phase B — as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 17, on the Umatilla, and 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 18, on the Wallowa-Whitman. Under phase B, campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds and recreation sites. Stoves and heaters that burn liquid or bottled gas are allowed.

Festival is July 30-Aug. 1 in Enterprise ENTERPRISE — Film, jazz and an afternoon of music fill Enterprise for the annual OK Fest July 30-Aug. 1. This “festival of community, music and film” begins Thursday, July 30, with film night featuring Erich and Kyle Roepke from 7-9 p.m., followed by a jazz cabaret in the Funk Building ballroom from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Silver Spring, MD, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), the first oral inhibitor of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or “bad” cholesterol, in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

Washington, D.C., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Protect Democracy released Deceive, Disrupt, Deny in Full Effect, an update to its March report Executive Override, which predicted how the administration would turn federal power against the 2026 midterms. The update tracks four months of developments against those predictions and lays out what to watch heading into the fall, including weaponized intelligence releases and distrust of voting systems.

BELLEVUE, Wash., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seattle Humane is proud to announce the recipients of their inaugural Community Awards, who will be recognized on September 25 at the Together for Pets Luncheon, an inspiring new event celebrating the people, partners and supporters who make Seattle Humane’s lifesaving work possible and featuring advocate and pet parent Antoni Porowski.

ENTERPRISE — The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Wednesday, July 15, overturned a county planning commission decision to allow the division of a parcel near Wallowa Lake. The decision was in reaction to an appeal of the findings in the case of Anderson Woods LLC vs. Wallowa County that would have allowed the Anderson Woods family to divide a parcel near Wallowa Lake into four parcels to allow for homebuilding.

Reno musician touring his new album ‘Dog Run’ ENTERPRISE, BAKER CITY — Spencer Kilpatrick has played in a rock ‘n’ roll band in Reno, Nevada, since 2010, and now he’s hitting the road to share his solo album with audiences across the region. When he’s not solo, you can find him playing with his “garage soul” band The Sand Gators, which formed in 2024. This month, he first heads to Enterprise to play at the Ranger Rider, 107 NW First St. in Enterprise at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23.

ELGIN — Reecse Ripsom, of Joseph, is the 2027 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon. The Miss Rodeo Oregon Inc. Foundation announced on Tuesday, July 14, the winners of the 2027 Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant. Ripsom was crowned Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon following three days of competition. The pageant, which ran July 9-12 in La Grande and Elgin, took place alongside the Elgin Stampede. Judges evaluated contestants on horsemanship, speech, appearance, personality and rodeo knowledge.

Las Vegas, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Miracle Flights continues to strengthen its executive leadership and build the capacity needed for its next chapter of growth, the organization today announced the appointments of Stephanie Ceccarelli as Chief of Impact and Emily Hancock, CFRE, as Chief of Philanthropy.

Mountain View, California, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), the global research and advisory firm focused on staffing and workforce solutions, today launched the Healthcare Staffing 100 recognition program. Now one of the fastest-growing and most strategically important workforce sectors, healthcare staffing has grown 105% since 2016 while the overall US temporary staffing market declined over the same period.