East Oregonian Page 11A
OFF PAGE ONE
HEAT: ‘Extreme heat causes a lot of death each year’ WHERE TO GO TO BEAT THE HEAT
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Continued from 1A
Thursday and 104 degrees
Friday. The record high
temperature in Pendleton for
Aug. 3 is 104 degrees, set in
1998, and 106 degrees on
Aug. 4, set in 1904.
“We’ll be within a degree
or two of the daily record,”
Smith said.
Hermiston, on the other
hand, is primed to break the
record on both days. The fore-
cast for Hermiston calls for
105 degrees Thursday and 107
degrees Friday, beating the
record highs of 103 degrees
and 105 degrees, respectively.
That intense heat has
certainly caught the attention
of local health and recreation
officials, who are urging
precaution when heading
outdoors.
John Hitzman, a Pendleton
physician and Umatilla
County public health officer,
said kids and the elderly are
the most vulnerable to heat-re-
lated injuries. He emphasized
the need to stay hydrated in
such sweltering conditions.
And no, alcohol and caffeine
drinks don’t count.
“Dehydration is the biggest
danger people run into in the
hot weather,” Hitzman said.
“They may not realize how
dehydrated they’re getting
until it’s too late.”
When people become
dehydrated, Hitzman said they
may feel dizzy, lightheaded
and eventually become
delirious or pass out. It is
important to monitor sweat
losses closely, he said, and
drink plenty of appropriate
fluids to avoid a potentially
life-threatening situation.
“Some people actually die
from heat-related injuries,”
Hitzman said. “When their
body stops sweating, they’re
already starting to get into
some pretty big trouble.”
Hitzman also recom-
mended people wear plenty
of sunscreen and lightweight
clothing if they plan to go
outside, and take frequent
breaks from direct sun expo-
sure. Otherwise, Hitzman
said people should stay inside
especially during the heat of
the afternoon if they don’t
have to go out.
“There’s obviously a
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Patrons play in the water at McNary Beach on the Columbia River on Monday in
Umatilla. With rising area temperatures, the beaches along the Columbia River will
become a popular place for those looking to escape the heat.
“Dehydration is
the biggest dan-
ger people run
into in the hot
weather. They
may not realize
how dehydrated
they’re getting
until it’s too late.”
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Children play in the Columbia River near McNary
Beach on Monday in Umatilla.
whole lot of common sense
that has to take place,” he said.
On Monday, Oregon
OSHA reminded employers
in labor-intensive industries
such as construction and
agriculture to monitor their
employees closely for any
signs of trouble. Penny
Wolf-McCormick,
health
enforcement manager for
Oregon OSHA, said those
workers need to be provided
with drinking water and given
shaded areas to take breaks in
order to prevent heat exhaus-
tion.
“Employers and workers
in Oregon need to be espe-
cially aware of the dangers
of working high heat,”
Wolf-McCormick said in a
statement. “That’s because
workers here tend to be used
to working in mild weather
and are frequently not accli-
mated to this type of heat.”
If someone is suffering
from heat exhaustion, the
American Red Cross recom-
mends moving the person to
a cooler location, loosening
or
removing
clothing,
applying cool, wet towels
and providing fluids such as
a sports drink to restore both
water and electrolytes. If
the condition worsens or the
person loses consciousness,
call 9-1-1 immediately.
Tom Roberts, Umatilla
County emergency manager,
QUESTIONS: Facility has 604 paved
parking spots, 2,656 overflow spots
Continued from 1A
construction. The city of Hermiston
also agreed to a $1 million bond that
is being paid back through a $1 per
room per night fee that hoteliers are
assessing on their customers.
The Farm-City Pro Rodeo is
footing the bill for a $500,000
mercantile building near the arena.
Where will the money come
from to operate EOTEC once it is
finished?
Umatilla County and the
city of Hermiston each plan to
contribute about $75,000 toward
EOTEC’s operations in 2017-
2018, but hope that as the facility
becomes more well-known it will
eventually become self-sustaining
through event revenue and the
$10,000-per-year leases paid by the
Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City
Pro Rodeo. The facility’s marketing
budget comes from a Tourism
Promotion Assessment that local
hotels and RV parks have added to
their prices.
How do I get to EOTEC?
EOTEC is located at 1705 E.
Airport Road. Although there is
access off Ott Road, during fair
week vehicles will be blocked from
using the Ott Road entrance and
must enter and exit off Airport Road.
If you’re coming from Hermiston,
travel south of town on Highway
395 and turn left on East Airport
Road just after the Hermiston Veter-
inary Clinic. If you’re coming from
Pendleton, head north on Highway
395 from Stanfield and turn right on
East Airport Road just after the Best
Western hotel. From either direction,
look for the green road sign and
don’t turn down the similarly named
Airport Way, which leads to a dead
end at the Hermiston Municipal
Airport.
How much parking is avail-
able?
The facility has 604 paved parking
spots in front of the event center.
During fair week there will also be
approximately 2,656 overflow spots
on grass and dirt, as well as “park
and ride” spots around Hermiston
with shuttles to the fairgrounds. At
EOTEC, parking will cost $5.
Are there enough restroom
facilities for fair week?
There are restrooms in the barns
and the event center, as well as a large
ADA-compliant restroom building
located between the fairgrounds and
rodeo arena with enough stalls to
meet state requirements during peak
fair attendance without bringing in
additional portable restrooms.
Is there any shade?
Not much. You can get out of
the sun — and into the air condi-
tioning! — at the event center, where
exhibits that were previously spread
throughout Thompson Hall and
the senior center will be displayed.
There will also be shade in the animal
barns, and some food vendors will
likely provide canopies. But the trees
donated by the Rotary Club won’t be
planted until the fair and rodeo are
over — and the rodeo arena isn’t
covered, so consider wearing a hat.
Will the old fairgrounds be used
for anything during fair week?
No. Hermiston School District
now has full ownership of the
former fairgrounds and everything
from fairs past — animals, vendors,
carnival rides, exhibits, contests,
concert and rodeo — will be located
at EOTEC.
What will go on at EOTEC
when it’s not being used for the
fair and rodeo?
EOTEC’s event center — which
features meeting rooms, a board
room, exhibition hall and commer-
cial kitchen — can be rented year-
round for weddings, quinceañeras,
conferences, banquets and more.
The EOTEC Authority is also
hoping to market other parts of the
facility for everything from horse
sales to RV shows. Some availability
is restricted, however, by the leases
with the fair and rodeo. The rodeo’s
lease states that EOTEC must get
approval from the rodeo board for
any third-party event held in the
rodeo arena 60 days before and
30 days after the Farm-City Pro
Rodeo, and the fair’s lease states
that EOTEC must get permission
from the fair board for hosting any
concerts 60 days before or 30 days
after the Umatilla County Fair.
Will all of the construction be
done in time for this year’s fair
and rodeo?
That’s a good question. The
EOTEC board says yes, but contrac-
tors and volunteers are still putting
in long hours each day on site, so no
one will know for sure until the sun
rises on Aug. 8.
———
Contact Jade McDowell at
jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com or
541-564-4536.
— John Hitzman,
Pendleton physician and
Umatilla County public
health officer
said his office will be spon-
soring a number of misting
fans at next week’s Umatilla
County Fair in Hermiston
to keep the crowds cool. As
for this week’s triple-digit
onslaught, he is urging people
to heed the warnings and
protect themselves.
“We’re not taking the
heat lightly,” Roberts said.
“Extreme heat causes a lot of
death each year. By simply
taking some precautions when
the temperatures start to rise,
you can mitigate a lot of that.”
———
Contact George Plaven at
gplaven@eastoregonian.com
or 541-966-0825.
Looking for places to escape this week’s stifling heat
wave? Here are a few suggestions:
• Hit the pool
Public swimming pools are open in Pendleton, Herm-
iston, Milton-Freewater, Boardman, Heppner and Helix.
However, just because you are surrounded by water doesn’t
mean you shouldn’t still be hydrating.
“It’s important to monitor sweat losses and maintain
hydration, even at the pool,” said John Hitzman, Umatilla
County public health officer.
So make sure to keep drinking plenty of fluids. And, of
course, wear lots of sunscreen to protect your skin.
• Cool out in the Columbia
Some popular recreation areas around the Columbia
River near Hermiston and Umatilla include McNary Beach,
Hat Rock State Park and Sand Station, where visitors can
put in their boats or go for a dip. But swimming in a river
isn’t the same as swimming in a pool, and certain precau-
tions need to be taken.
“It’s always unpredictable,” said Gina Baltrusch, spokes-
woman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Walla
Walla. “Just because the water is calm at the surface doesn’t
mean it’s not moving at a good flow.”
In other words, be aware of undercurrents and floating
hazards, such as logs and debris. Water temperatures in the
Columbia also remain low year-round, and hypothermia is
a possibility no matter how scorching the air temperature
Lifeguards are not on duty at the river, even within
designated swimming areas.
Boaters should wear life jackets, Baltrusch said, and be
aware of fluctuating water levels when anchoring or tying
up their boats.
• Go camping
The Umatilla National Forest offers plenty of lakes
and campsites around the Blue Mountains to cool down,
including Jubilee Lake near Tollgate, Olive Lake in the
North Fork John Day Ranger District and Penland Lake in
the Heppner Ranger District.
“I imagine a lot of our water recreation campgrounds
will be receiving a lot of use,” said forest spokesman Darcy
Weseman.
A few reminders for the public — fire danger has been
bumped up to extreme in the forest, and Phase B public use
restrictions are in effect, meaning campfires are allowed only
in developed recreation sites. The restrictions also prohibit
chainsaw use, off-road vehicle travel and limit smoking to
cleared areas or enclosed buildings and vehicles.
• See a movie or visit a museum.
Sometimes the best answer for the cooling off is to stay
inside and find some air conditioning. Cinephiles have two
choices for movie theaters in Umatilla County — Hermiston
Cinema or the Wildhorse Cineplex at Wildhorse Resort &
Casino.
Nothing good playing? How about visiting one of the
area’s fine museums? Here’s a few recommendations:
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, 47106 Wildhorse Blvd.,
Mission. Learn about the history and traditions of the
Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes through interactive
exhibits and special events
SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman. Highlights
agriculture and energy around the Port of Morrow and
Eastern Oregon.
Umatilla County Historical Society, 108 SW Frazer Ave.,
Pendleton. Photographs, books, exhibits and genealogy
information available to explore Umatilla County’s history.
Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon, 400 S Main St.,
Pendleton. Bring your child to learn and explore through
hands-on play.
EOTEC: Hendon Construction finishing the stands
Continued from 1A
center, we thought that would a
good thing to help.”
Not all of the volunteers were
church members. Sanders said
the fair board helped recruit
volunteers too, and a contingent
came over from Boardman’s U.S.
Naval Bombing Range.
Bruce Mecham of Herm-
iston and his family are church
members. He, his wife and their
three daughters planted about
two dozen trees in the area of the
new rodeo arena and mercantile.
He looked around for a moment
before shoving a long protective
stake in the earth around one of
the new trees.
“It’s pretty awesome to see
the community come together
and put something together,” said
Mecham, who oversees food and
beverage operations at Wildhorse
Resort and Casino.
The volunteers were not the
only ones putting in their time
Saturday, with the fair just 10
days away. Hendon Construction
of Umatilla has a 12-man crew
finishing the stands for the Farm-
City Pro Rodeo. Carl Hendon,
secretary of the company, said the
crews are working seven days a
week to finish in time for the fair.
Hendon
Construction’s
specialty is building food
processing plants, which have
stringent deadlines. Hendon
said they are building something
different this time, but the hard
deadline remains the same.
Friday was the visual
inspection, he said, and the final
inspection is Tuesday. Come
Wednesday, Hendon said he
expects the arena to have its
occupancy permit. When the
fair opens Aug. 8, Hendon said
workers might have a few odds
and ends to finish, but the stands
will be ready for fans.
Hendon Construction serves
as the general contractor on the
project, and Hendon said the
company took on that role in large
part due to the subcontractors.
They are local and include Narum
Concrete Construction of Walla
Walla and Bothum Construction
of Hermiston. Hendon said they
are the kinds of companies he
trusted on handshake deals neces-
sary to get the work done on time.
Finishing everything, from the
interior of the mercantile to the
Rivera offered job as interim manager
The candidate for interim
manager of the Eastern Oregon
Trade and Event Center has
been identified — but he has yet
to accept the job.
During a special meeting
called for Monday afternoon,
the project’s board unanimously
approved a motion to hire
Hermiston Energy Services
superintendent Nate Rivera
to act as manager for a period
“not to exceed” six months,
and authorized board chair and
Hermiston City Manager Byron
Smith to work out the terms
with Rivera.
Rivera, who was present at
the meeting, did not officially
accept the offer and told the
East Oregonian he was not
comfortable commenting on
it before the discussions with
Smith, who also oversees
Rivera in his current position at
Hermiston Energy Services.
Heather Cannell has been
running the event center’s
day-to-day operations under
the title of business manager,
but Cannell has resigned
effective Aug. 14 to take a new
position at the SAGE Center in
Boardman. The EOTEC board
started advertising for a general
manager position in early June
and Cannell did not apply. After
an executive session Friday
to discuss employment of a
general manager, the board took
no action.
Rivera is the superintendent
of Hermiston Energy Services,
the city’s municipal electrical
utility, and is serving this year
as the president of the Oregon
Municipal Electric Utilities
Board. He previously worked
for Umatilla Electric Coopera-
tive for 10 years as its commu-
nity relations representative.
Rivera was involved in early
planning for EOTEC and served
as an “administrative volunteer”
and liaison between the board
and consultant VenuWorks
in 2013 as the company put
together a business plan for the
center. In late 2015 he came
back to serve on the fundraising
committee that raised more than
$2 million for EOTEC.
The motion on Monday to
extend the interim manager job
offer to Rivera took place after
an executive session that lasted
more than an hour. The meeting
took place at EOTEC’s event
center amid preparations for
the Umatilla County Fair and
Farm-City Pro Rodeo that are
in full swing, exemplified by
fair board representative Don
Miller’s mud-stained jeans as
he took a break from working
outside to participate in the
meeting.
———
Contact Jade McDowell at
jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com
or 541-564-4536.
acres of sod, will not get easier
in the finals days before the fair.
The National Weather Service
predicted temperatures Tuesday
to reach 100, then soar to as high
as 107 by Friday. Hendon said
work crews have been starting
their days at 5 a.m. but they
might come even earlier, take
afternoons off and work at night
to beat the heat.
Fair board member Dan
Dorran worked hand-in-glove
with everyone else, the sweat
showing through his shirt. This
has became par for this course,
he said, as he and the other six
members of the board put in hour
after hour to get EOTEC ready
for its first big show.
They had been away from
home so much in the last month,
he quipped that their wives
checked to make sure they were
working and not hanging out in
some bar.
Dorran stood in front of the
event center and pointed out the
animal holding area, which he
said is better than any he has seen
in years of livestock shows. But
beyond becoming the new home
of the fair and rodeo, Dorran said
the event center is the culmination
of a vision that began 35 years
ago and a community-wide effort.
———
Contact Phil Wright at
pwright@eastoregonian.com or
541-966-0833.
By JADE MCDOWELL
East Oregonian