REGION
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Walla Walla General
Hospital to close
By SHEILA HAGAR
The Union-Bulletin
Walla Walla will become
a one-hospital town July 24
with Monday’s announce-
ment that Walla Walla
General Hospital will close.
A planned absorption of
Adventist Health Service’s
Walla Walla General Hospital
into Providence Health &
Services’ Providence St.
Mary Medical Center has
been halted and will not go
forward, Adventist Health
said.
“Adventist Health received
word that unexpected regula-
tory challenges have arisen
which could linger for an
undetermined duration of
time and could ultimately
prohibit the anticipated
transfer of membership,”
spokeswoman Judy Leach
said in the release.
“Because of this new
development,
Adventist
Health and Providence Health
& Services have ceased
planning for the transfer of
membership and Adventist
Health has announced its
intention to instead close
facilities effective Monday,
July 24.”
Hospital employees were
informed Monday morning.
The closure means 72
fewer hospital beds and
Providence St. Mary as the
only acute care hospital in
the Walla Walla Valley. Walla
Walla General was founded
in 1899.
The closure will include
all Adventist Health services
in Walla Walla — the hospital
as well as Adventist Health
Home Care Services and
Adventist Health Medical
Group.
Walla Walla General has
faced mounting financial
challenges over the last
decade,
during
which
time Adventist Health has
explored multiple options to
provide a sustainable model
for the hospital, Leach said.
Adventist Health has
invested more than $68
million in the hospital in recent
years, added Joyce Newmyer,
president of Adventist Health
Pacific Northwest Region and
Board chair for WWGH.
Leach said it is anticipated
many employees and physi-
cians will pursue local job
options, but that Adventist
health has position openings
at 19 other hospitals in the
western United States.
Kevin Michelson, chief
executive of Walla Walla
Clinic, said that although it
is too early to know what
the halted merger will look
like for the community, his
clinic is open to exploring
opportunities with WWGH
providers.
Two local residents
hospitalized after crashes
East Oregonian
Two Umatilla County
residents went to hospitals
following separate crashes
in Washington.
The
first
occurred
Friday at about 8:25 p.m.
near Kennewick when an
inattentive driver caused a
three-car wreck, according
to a written statement
from the Washington State
Patrol.
Tammy N. Hammitt-
Jackson, 25, of Richland,
was driving a 2008 Mazda
MX3 eastbound on Highway
240 when she struck a 2013
Nissan Altima driven by
Christopher C. Medina, 30,
of Hermiston, then collided
with a 2013 Toyota Camry
driven
by
Maucimino
Manuel, 48, of Kennewick.
Medina and a passenger,
Antoinette J. Candelaria,
30, of Kennewick, suffered
injuries while a 1-year-old
girl in their car did not.
The Tri-City Herald
reported Trios
Health,
Kennewick, treated and
released
Medina
and
Candelaria.
Washington State Patrol
reported Hammitt-Jackson
and Manuel were not harmed
and the cause of the crash
was
Hammitt-Jackson’s
“inattention” while driving.
She received a citation for
second-degree
negligent
driving.
In a separate, unrelated
accident Brittney L. Kelp,
24, of Milton-Freewater was
driving west on Highway
12 about 11 miles east of
Dayton when a deer just
before 4 a.m. ran in front
of her car. Washington
State Patrol reported Kelp
swerved to miss the animal
and rolled the 1997 Toyota
Camry.
An ambulance took her
to Dayton General Hospital,
where medical staff treated
and released her.
Hermiston Post Office
offering passport fair
East Oregonian
Hermiston
residents
looking to travel abroad can
take advantage of the Herm-
iston Post Office’s passport
fair to apply for a passport
Saturday.
The post office’s regular
passport hours are 9-11:30
a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. on
weekdays. Appointments are
required and can be made by
calling 541-564-9721.
On Saturday, June 24
the post office is offering
passport appointments from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spots are
limited, so customers are
urged to call 503-294-2350 to
make an appointment as soon
as possible.
Hermiston
postmaster
Scott Green said in a news
release that he hopes having
the special Saturday event
will make it “quick and
convenient” for customers
who can’t usually make it
to the post office during
their weekday hours. He
recommends applying for a
passport at least two months
before international trips, and
it is recommended applicants
print and fill out the appli-
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cation at usps.com/passport
ahead of time (applications
must be signed in front of the
passport acceptance clerk,
however).
Proof of U.S. citizenship
and a copy of that proof are
required. Options include
a previously issued U.S.
passport, certified birth
certificate issued directly
by the government (not the
hospital), consular report of
birth abroad, naturalization
certificate or certificate
of citizenship. A current
government ID must also
be presented, including
naturalization
certificate,
valid driver’s license, current
government ID or current
military ID.
The passport application
also requires a recent pass-
port photograph, which can
be taken at the post office for
a $15 fee.
The cost of a passport book
is $135 for adults and $105 for
applicants under 16, and the
cost of passport cards are $55
for adults and $40 for those
under 16. Children under 16
must be accompanied by both
parents when applying for a
passport or passport card.
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East Oregonian
PENDLETON
Cancer survivors rally for relay
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Carrie and Ray Larson
of Pendleton uprooted their
lives this past winter so Ray
could battle prostrate cancer.
The
featured
guest
speakers at Saturday’s Relay
for Life of Umatilla County
in Pendleton, the couple said
the American Cancer Society
made Ray’s treatments
possible.
Ray received his cancer
diagnosis late last year, his
wife told the modest crowd at
Roy Raley Park, Pendleton,
and on Christmas day they
left their home for treatment
in the Tri-Cities. They would
not be back again for nine
weeks.
Much of that, Carrie said,
was because the harsh winter
made driving back and forth
impossible. She also said she
has muscular dystrophy and
worried how she would care
for her husband.
That, Ray said, is where
the American Cancer Society
stepped in.
He said he needed medical
treatments five days a week
for nine straight weeks, and
the ACS made sure they
had a roof over their head
the whole time. The last six
weeks they spent at Riverton
by Bonaventure: Retire-
ment and Assisted Living
Community, Richland. The
Larsons said they soon plan
to move there.
The money people give
to the American Cancer
Society, he said, helps people
like himself and his wife.
Ray said his last treatment
was Feb. 24, and tests a
month later showed he was
cancer free.
“I’m a survivor!” he
declared.
Carol Preston of Pend-
leton headed up the event.
For the first time, Preston said
Pendleton and Hermiston
joined efforts to create Relay
for Life of Umatilla County.
Holding it at Roy Raley from
Staff photo by Phil Wright
Cancer survivors and their caretakers turn the corner Saturday in Pendleton
during the first lap of Relay for Life.
Staff photo by Phil Wright
Diana Nehila of Pendleton takes a moment to chat as
she joins other cancer survivors Saturday in Pendle-
ton for the first lap of Relay for Life. Nehila endured
13 surgeries and other treatment to beat cancer 30
years ago.
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. was in
hopes of getting more people
Hodaka Days revs up this week
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Do you have the mettle
to become a Hodaka Club
Iron Man?
Participate or volunteer
during at least five activ-
ities during Hodaka Days
and you can earn an Iron
Man patch. Previous Iron
Man participants can get a
2017 rocker patch.
It’s been 53 years
since Hodaka trail bikes
and motorcycles were
manufactured in Athena.
However, hundreds of
enthusiasts make an annual
pilgrimage to Eastern
Oregon for Hodaka Days.
Athena City Park serves as
celebration central during
the Thursday through
Sunday event. In addition,
activities are held in
multiple venues in Athena
and Weston.
The event, which also
includes activities for
non-Hodaka riders, kicks
off Thursday from 2-4 p.m.
with the Umatilla County
TT and Poker Run. The
50-mile ride features back
roads of Eastern Oregon. It
starts at Suzie’s Handi Mart
in Weston. The registration
fee is $25 or $20 for club
members.
Friday activities include
the 10th annual Bad
Rock Reunion Trail Ride
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It
departs from downtown
Weston. The registration
fee is $25 or $20 for club
File photo
Hodaka enthusiasts converge on Athena City Park
this weekend for Hodaka Days.
members. The Swap Meet
and Hodaka Club Tent
will be open from noon to
4:30 p.m. at the park. The
evening ice cream social
(from 6:30-9 p.m. at the
Swanson residence, 424
E. College St., Athena)
includes an opportunity to
get an up-close look at rare
Hodakas and memorabilia.
Saturday offers a full
day of fun, including
breakfast (6:30-10 a.m.),
swap meet (9 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.), parade (9-10 a.m.),
car show (10 a.m. to 3
p.m.) bike show (11 a.m. to
1 p.m.), and silent auction/
sale (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
The banquet dinner is
Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at
Sacred Heart Hall, Fifth
and College streets, Athena.
The awards presentation,
raffle and auction follows
from 7:30-9 p.m. Dinner
tickets, which are $12,
Murder
is s P
Par for the Course
DINNER
p
en & Shrim
ck
hi
C
Fettuccine
Saturday, July 1st 5:30PM
• $25 per Person •
Maxwell Siding Event Center
Corner
C
Co
o r rn
n e of Locust & 1st PI (Behind Nookies)
Hermiston, OR
Seating is limited
Call Dave for info and tickets
License #188965
to see and participate in the
event.
ATHENA
FREE No Obligation Estimates!
www. mybackyardbydesign.com
Page 3A
541.567.8774
must be purchased in
advance.
A special raffle will
benefit Athena’s Gem
Theater restoration project.
Up for grabs is a custom
bike trailer. Tickets are $5
each and are available at
the Hodaka Club Tent or
the banquet. The winner
doesn’t have to be present.
The event concludes
with Sunday’s Open Track
Time from 8:30 a.m. to
3 p.m. at the Diamond
Eye Track. Amateurs and
experts are welcome. The
cost is $25 or $20 for
Hodaka members.
For more information,
including a full schedule
and locations, visit www.
hodakadays.org.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini
at tmalgesini@eastorego-
nian.com or 541-564-4539
Diana Nehila, 73, of
Pendleton, along with her
daughter and caretaker,
Keysha Nehila, 52, were
among the participants.
Diana said this was her fifth
year of in the Relay, having
survived cancer 30 years ago.
Diana, a greeter at the
Pendleton Walmart, said she
endured 13 surgeries, seven
months of chemotherapy and
five years of medication to
beat the disease.
“This is a big event for
me,” she said.
Relay for Life raises
money for cancer research,
help for cancer patients,
educating the public on
cancer prevention and more.
But the event does more than
that, she said.
“When you find out you
have cancer, you feel like
you’re the only person in
the world who has it,” Diana
said.
Relay for Life, she said,
offers the vital balm of
community support.
———
Contact Phil Wright at
pwright@eastoregonian.
com or 541-966-0833.
Free Medicare
seminar is this
Thursday
HERMISTON — An
informational
seminar
about Medicare is being
offered by the Simmons
Insurance Group.
The free event is
Thursday at 4 p.m. in
Room 133 at Eastern
Oregon Higher Education
Center, 975 S.E. Columbia
Drive, Hermiston. The
session is free and open to
the public. In addition to
the presentation, there will
be a Q&A session.
The seminar is designed
to help individuals as they
transition to Medicare, to
understand the different
parts of the program
and what is covered by
Medicare.
Transitioning
to
Medicare, said Josh
Goller, health insurance
manager at Simmons
Insurance Group, has the
potential to cause stress for
some people. Goller and
his associates look forward
to providing the service to
help educate people.
“With good planning
in addition to a basic
understanding of the
program, this significant
event for many people
can be something to be
embraced rather than
feared,” Goller said.
For more information,
contact
Goller
at
541-567-6367 or jgoller@
simmons-insurance.com
or visit www.simmons-
insurance.com.
Purple Ridge
Lavender Festival
June 24th - 9am to 5pm
2891 Bridge Road, Hermiston
Magic in the fields!
Come enjoy the backdrop of beautiful blooming lavender and a masterful
quilt expo. Listen to live music as you stroll through the fields of lavender.
Guests are encouraged to don their favorite storybook consumes and receive
$2 off admission!
General
admission: $10 • Including beer tasting: $12
Gen
nera
ne
n
ral admissio
Proceeds go to Agape House and
Pr
Martha’s House