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Columbia Gorge News
Wednesday,August26,2020
3
Supporting essential workers
Long-time Dufur teacher LaVerna Bolton Harmier celebrated her
100th birthday Aug. 21.
Contributed photo
Former teacher
celebrates
100 years
Former Dufur resident LaVerna Bolton Harmier, a long-
time teacher in Dufur, hit the century mark with her 100th
birthday on Aug. 21.
Family members Randy and Laurel (Harmier) Slatt provid-
ed the following:
LaVerna was born in Wrentham, located about half way
between The Dalles and Dufur, where 15-mile Creek crosses
Wrentham Market Road, in 1920 to Guy and Violet (Benedict)
Bolton. LaVerna grew up on land homesteaded by her
great-grandparents, Absalom and Oliva Bolton, who came
west from Iowa in 1852, spending six months on the Oregon
Trail. Absalom and his friend, Horace Rice, became leaders
of a group to be called the Bolton-Rice Wagon Train. Upon
settling in the Dufur Valley, Absalom decided to raise wheat,
although his neighbors scoffed at this idea because they
thought wheat would not do well in the dry hills. Absalom
proved them wrong, and soon everyone was raising wheat.
Dufur has been home to LaVerna her entire life until 2013,
when she moved to the Portland area. Her brother, Hollis
Bolton, a World War II veteran and wheat rancher, was also a
lifelong resident of Dufur.
After graduation from Dufur High School in 1938, and
college in 1940, LaVerna’s teaching career began in January
1941, in Culver, followed by Sutherlin and Mosier. A chance
encounter with the Greyhound bus driver one morning
on her way to teach in Mosier was how she met her future
husband, Ron. They were married just seven months later on
June 7, 1945.
After 27 years teaching in Dufur, she retired in 1982.
LaVerna has been working on writing the story of her life,
including her early years on the farm, her father never having
motorized farm equipment. She was born the year women
won the right to vote. A time before electricity, television,
computers or cell phones.
If asked her secret to her longevity, she would tell you good
genes and “moderation” in everything.
Those wishing to send her birthday greetings may mail
them to 27487 S.E. Haley Road, Boring, OR 97009; emails to
ljslatt@comcast.net. She would enjoy reading your memories
of her and how you knew her.
An open-invitation party had been planned for her birth-
day, but the pandemic has put that on hold. Anyone who
would like to be updated on the party plans can contact the
family at the above address or email and they will let you
know when the party will be.
A collaborative partnership among several Gorge organizations, including The Next Door, One Community Health, and local health de-
partments, has sparked #Esencial. The campaign is meant to remind us how important migrant and seasonal farmworkers are to our food
industry and community and to keep them from being stigmatized during the COVID-19 pandemic, said a Next Door, Inc., press release.
“Stand in solidarity with Gorge farmworkers — an essential part of our community,” continued the press release. “Look for banners (like
that above) with art by Edith Belman, throughout the Gorge.” One such banner is currently displayed in front of the offices of The Dalles
Area Chamber of Commerce. To see more, like and follow Esencial Gorge on Facebook and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Next Door, Inc
CORRECTION
Regarding the Aug. 12 article COVID relief funding sources,
the City of Hood River has not received any unspent funds;
Assistant City Manager Will Norris clarified that “All CARES
Act Funds are held at the state level are released on a cost
reimbursement basis.” Norris also said that the one-time
property tax monies from pausing Urban Renewal Agency
collections will be received in November and not on a cost
NORCOR
Ice resistance
formed in 2017
Continued from page 1
with Gorge ICE Resistance.
“We must reverse the mili-
tarization of our borders and
dismantle ICE altogether in
defense of human rights. We
will continue opposing ICE
until all immigrants, asylum
seekers, refugees and mi-
grant workers are welcomed
with open arms.”
Gorge ICE Resistance
formed back in May 2017 to
support a group of immigra-
tion detainees who organized
a hunger strike to protest
poor living conditions. The
group has been picketing the
regional jail since, in addition
to organizing marches, rallies
and vigils calling for the jail
to terminate its ICE contracts.
reimbursement basis. Local property taxes are certain and
can be used for general city purposes if not for COVID
response.” Norris also clarified that discussions of possible
funding for Hood River Shelter Services happened between
City Manager Rachael Fuller and Sarah Kellems of Shelter
Services.
Additionally, local clergy
and immigration attorneys
have provided support for
immigrant detainees through
regular visits and fundraisers.
“I’m so grateful to our
NORCOR Board for taking
the high road,” said Red
Stevens, a volunteer clergy
member who visits with
people detained at NORCOR,
including ICE detainees.
“Hopefully, this signals a re-
turn to the rehabilitation and
rebuilding of our close com-
munity, without the need to
profit from the humanitarian
nightmares of outcasts and
refugees.”
NORCOR was the last
regional jail in the State of
Oregon to house federal
immigration detainees. ICE
does still operate a field office
and detention center out of
Sheridan, but the nearest
ICE detention centers to the
Gorge are in Tacoma.
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