REGION
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3A
HERMISTON
Preus takes Dancing with the Stars trophy
Event raises more
than $8,300 for
BMCC Foundation
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Cam Preus took a bow
and then lifted the coveted
mirror ball trophy over
her head as she celebrated
winning Dancing with the
Hermiston Stars.
With a melon-sized
grin, Preus, president of
Blue Mountain Community
College, was dancing for the
school’s foundation. More
than $8,300 was raised,
which will go towards schol-
arships for students in need.
Still claiming to have two
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night in the Hermiston High
School auditorium, credited
the win to her dance partner.
Seth Ward of the Utah
Ballroom Dance Company,
Preus said, was extremely
patient in teaching her. And,
the coaching continued
while they quick-stepped
across the stage.
“You couldn’t hear him,
but he was giving me quiet
directions on stage,” Preus
said.
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— who was runner-up for the
event — was Dan Briscoe,
whose chosen charity was
Vange
John
Memorial
Hospice.
Performing the Argentine
tango with Trina Morago,
the two were one point shy
of a perfect 30, receiving 10s
from judges Phil Hamm and
T.J. Hansell, while Jackie
Peterson, a local dance
instructor, gave the couple a
nine.
Presented by Desert Arts
Council, winner of the event,
which is in its fourth season,
was determined through
a combination of judge’s
scoring, audience votes and
donations made on behalf of
each star. With each dollar
counting as one vote, all of
the dancers’ selected chari-
ties were winners — raising
a total of more than $15,000.
Between
Preus
and
Briscoe, the other dancers
Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini
Shannon Snyder gets
down while disco danc-
ing during Dancing with
the Hermiston Stars.
Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini
Cam Preus reacts after learning she won Dancing with the Hermiston Stars Saturday in the Hermiston High
School auditorium.
Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini
Blaine Ganvoa performs
the swing with Marina
Hattan of the Utah Ball-
room Dance Company.
Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini
Dan Briscoe, runner-up of Dancing with the Hermiston
Stars, begins the Argentine tango with partner, Trina
Morago of the Utah Ballroom Dance Company.
and included Debbie Cissna,
Blaine Ganvoa, Jesus (Chuy)
Rome and Shannon Snyder.
Collin Palian got Cissna
ready to rumba for Preg-
nancy Care Services, where
she is the center director.
Peterson was impressed with
Cissna’s fancy footwork
with the dizzying dance,
while announcer Mark
Lowes, executive director
of the Utah Ballroom Dance
Company, asked if she felt
like she survived a tornado.
Goodness
gracious
“Great Balls of Fire,”
Ganvoa jived the swing with
Marina Hattan. Dancing for
Martha’s House, Ganvoa
scored on Peterson’s dance
card.
“You can be my partner
any time,” she said.
With a wild white wig
and a bit of “Weird Science,”
Rome created his partner,
Haley Wayt. Had he been
judged for his facial expres-
sions while doing the cha
Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini
Jesus Rome dances the cha cha with Haley Wayt of the
Utah Ballroom Dance Company.
cha for CASA — the Court
Appointed Special Advocate
Program of Head Start —
Rome would have carried
the trophy home.
“The best part was your
face ... but it took away from
what was going on down
there,” Peterson said.
Rocking a pair of white
go-go boots while the beat
of “Disco Inferno” blasted
through
the
speakers,
Snyder shimmied with Joey
William. Born during the
height of the disco era, the
dance may not be dead, but
Snyder was winded after the
performance.
“I can’t breathe now,” she
said with a laugh.
Hansell called Snyder’s
moves a “weapon of mass
seduction.” And, before
revealing her score, Hamm
tricked Snyder into shim-
mying one more time.
While the results were
being tallied for the competi-
tion, the audience was treated
to a dancing showcase by
professionals in the troupe.
Plans
are
already
underway to bring the Utah
Ballroom Dance Company
back next year for another
installment of the popular
show, Lowes said.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
Hermiston School District recognizes Educators of the Year
East Oregonian
Hermiston School District recognized
some of its best and brightest Monday night
with the annual Educator of the Year awards.
The district also honored Sunset
Elementary School principal Devin Grigg
as Administrator of the Year.
Grigg has been in education for 21 years,
including 11 years with Hermiston School
District, and has served as principal at
Sunset for the past seven. Superintendent
Dr. Fred Maiocco said Grigg puts student
learning ahead of everything he does and is
quick to study out a solution when he sees a
need. Through his participation in the Herm-
iston Lion’s Club he has also become the
district’s point person when a student needs
help obtaining glasses or a vision screening.
“He is a tremendous educator,” Maiocco
said.
Educator of the Year recipients honored at
Monday night’s school board meeting were
nominated by their
coworkers. Maiocco
said he hoped the
teachers hung up the
award in their class-
rooms, where students
and their parents would
see it.
“It is important that
we let them know you
are an example,” he Grigg
said.
Recipients were Melody Bustillos, Mary
Robinson, Lisa McElroy, Ashlie Stanley,
Robbie Storagee, Stacy Shaefer, Jessica
Campbell, Deanna Plum, Dia Bernabe and
Arta Jones.
The educators will also be presented to
the community at the Hermiston Chamber
of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizens
Awards banquet on Feb. 3. The district will
then select one recipient to be nominated for
Oregon Teacher of the Year.
Bustillos
Robinson
McElroy
Stanley
Storagee
Shaefer
Campbell
Plum
Bernabe
Jones
BRIEFLY
Speaker’s schedule postpones Rowan to address
Eastern Oregon Forum
Republican women
PENDLETON — The Eastern Oregon
Forum scheduled for Tuesday at Blue
Mountain Community College has been
postponed because the scheduled speaker,
Anna King of Northwest News Network,
has been assigned to cover the standoff in
Harney County.
The forum on the topic “Daughters of
Hanford” will be rescheduled for a date later
this month
The Eastern Oregon Forum is a
collaborative effort among leaders from
Blue Mountain Community College,
InterMountain Education Service District,
the East Oregonian, American Association of
University Women and Harriet Isom, former
United States ambassador.
For more information, call Karen Parker
at 541-966-3177.
Echo ranch joins Angus
association
ECHO — Double M Ranch, of Echo, has
joined the American Angus Association, the
country’s largest beef breed association.
Based in Missouri, the association has
more than 25,000 members and keeps
records on more than 18 million registered
Angus cattle. The information is used to
help producers select the best animals and
genetics for their herds.
For more information, visit www.angus.org.
PENDLETON — Umatilla County
Sheriff Terry Rowan is the special speaker
for the upcoming Roundup Republican
Women meeting.
Rowan will discuss immigration in
Umatilla County during the no-host
luncheon gathering. The meeting is Thursday
at 11:45 a.m. at the Red Lion, 304 S.E. Nye
Ave., Pendleton.
Those planning to attend are asked to
RSVP by Wednesday morning. To RSVP or
more information, contact Marcia Stewart at
rounduprepublicanwomen@hushmail.com,
541-276-1206 or 541-969-9163.
Hospital auxiliary meets
Thursday
HERMISTON — People interested in
learning more about Good Shepherd Medical
Center’s hospital auxiliary are invited to
attend an upcoming meeting.
The gathering is Thursday with
socializing at 9:30 a.m. and the business
meeting at 10 a.m. in Conference Room
1 at the hospital, 610 N.W. 11th St.,
Hermiston.
The volunteer organization provides
services at the medical center and
participates in fundraising projects for
student scholarships in nursing/medical
careers and medical equipment for the
hospital.
New members are welcome and
applications are available in the hospital gift
shop. For more information, contact June
Rosenberg at juner1942@gmail.com.
Local author Ira White
to sign latest book
PENDLETON — The public can meet
local author Ira White, who will be at
Armchair Books.
White, whose latest novel, “We Won’t
Forget You, Mr. McGillicuddy,” explores the
everyday heroics of a family dealing with
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grandpa’s dementia.
People can pick up a copy of the book
and have it signed Saturday, Jan. 23 from
noon to 2 p.m. at 39 S.W. Dorion Ave.,
Pendleton.
White has written short stories, poems,
essays and novels. In addition to speaking
engagements about his publications,
White addresses such topics as poverty,
government surveillance and care giving
for elderly people with Alzheimer’s and
dementia.
For more information or to reserve a copy
of the book, call 541-276-7323. For more
about the author, visit www.irawhite.com.
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January 14 th • 1:00 pm or 6:00 pm
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