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YOUR EO NEWS
East Oregonian
Milton-Freewater Scouts soar with Eagle rank
Milton-Freewater Boy
Scout Troop No. 315 added
two more Eagle Scouts in
2017. Kaiden Verkist and
Kaleb Scott earned the
highest rank attainable in the
Boy Scouts of America.
The son of Richard
and Jill Verkist of Weston,
Kaiden graduated last year
from Weston-McEwen High
School.
Kaiden’s little brother,
Eli, was born with a heart
defect in 2015. When he was
4 months old, Eli had open
heart surgery in Portland
and the Verkist family was
able to stay at the Ronald
McDonald House.
Kaiden wanted to give
back to the organization
so, for his Eagle Project, he
recruited volunteers to make
an 80-piece block set for the
toy room and 30 fleece blan-
kets for the welcome bags
they give to sick children
when they arrive.
Kaleb is the son of
Russell and Cassie Scott of
Milton-Freewater. He orga-
nized a crew for an Eagle
Project at the Whitman
Mission National Historic
Site.
For his service project,
Kaleb, cut and removed the
plastic liner from around new
plants and trees, pulling up
plant stakes and finishing a
new section of native plant
revegetation along the creek.
Photo contributed by Milton-Freewater Boy Scout Troop No. 315
Russell Scott watches as Cassie Scott pins the Eagle Scout medal on their son, Ka-
leb, during an Eagle Scout court of honor held in Milton-Freewater.
Both young men were
pleased that their projects
helped others and expressed
appreciation for the many
people who have helped
them along their way in Boy
Scouts.
Only around 4 percent
of Scouts earn the Eagle
rank. Requirements include
earning at least 21 merit
badges and demonstrating
Scout Spirit, service and
leadership,
along
with
completing an extensive
service project for the good
of the community.
Photo contributed by Erwin Watson
Taekwondo studio crushes fundraiser for Echo girl
The group presented a check
for $4,534 to the family of Maddy
Thomas to assist with medical care.
The money was raised during a Feb. 3
benefit event.
In addition to the participants,
Home Depot partnered with the event
by donating the boards and bricks.
Also, Erwin Watson of the Stanfield
studio expressed appreciation for
students from Loneys Taekwondo in
Hermiston for their contributions.
Walla Walla woman tastes success with PEO grant
P.E.O. Chapter AP of
the
Milton-Freewater
recently announced that
Laura
Rose-Grabinski
of Walla Walla is the
latest recipient of a P.E.O.
Program for Continuing
Education grant.
The $1,100 grant will be
used towards the completion
of a program in Hospitality
and Tourism Management
at Walla Walla Community
College. She has been placed
on the school’s President’s
List for maintaining a 4.0
grade point average.
Rose-Grabinski
serves
as the assistant director
of the WWCC Business
Club, works part-time at
Wheatland Village Retire-
ment Community and
recently began managing
Gino Cuneo/Cote de Ciel
Tasting Room in downtown
Walla Walla. She also does
independent
marketing
management work for local
wineries.
For
several
years,
Rose-Grabinski worked with
the Walla Walla YMCA
as an exercise and swim
instructor and served as lead
lifeguard. She holds certi-
fications for CPR/first aid,
lifeguard, food handling and
exercise programs.
Rose-Grabinski said her
to women in the United
States and Canada.
Applicants
must
be
women whose education
has been interrupted for at
least 24 months and find it
necessary to return to school
to support themselves and/or
their families.
Founded in 1869, the
P.E.O Sisterhood is a phil-
anthropic and educational
organization interested in
providing increased opportu-
nities for women. There are
approximately 6,000 local
chapters with 240,000 active
members. The Milton-Free-
water chapter was organized
in 1928. For more informa-
tion, visit www.peointerna-
tional.org.
Photo contributed by Gail Beeson
Shadra Sanchez, education committee co-chair of
P.E.O. Chapter AP of Milton-Freewater, presents Laura
Rose-Grabinski, right, with a P.E.O. Program for Con-
tinuing Education grant.
current studies allow her
to learn both the business
and management aspects of
tourism in this region. She
has taken several marketing
courses, which sparked
her interest in this line of
Hermiston pregnancy
center celebrates
inaugural fundraiser
TruCare
Pregnancy
Resource Center recently
celebrated the success of its
first fundraising event. The
local nonprofit organization
provides assistance to
people facing an unplanned
pregnancy.
The Jan. 28 event
featured keynote speaker
Kirk Walden, a longtime
pro-life advocate and author
of “The Wall: Rebuilding a
culture of LIFE in America
and ending abortion as we
know it.” Executive director
Debbie Cissna said the
generosity of local churches,
businesses and individuals
was overwhelming. Money
raised during the banquet
helps
in
highlighting
life-affirming choices to
community members.
“We would like to extend
our deepest and most heart-
felt appreciation for your
support at the “Rebuilding
A Culture of Life” banquet,”
Cissna said. “Thank you for
making the evening such a
endeavor. In the long run, she
hopes to be the owner of her
own business.
The P.E.O. Program
for Continuing Education
was established in 1973 to
provide needs-based grants
Daughter appreciates professional
care at St. Anthony
I almost lost my mom two weeks ago. When I got her
to the emergency room at St. Anthony Hospital I didn’t
know if she would make it or not.
The team of nurses, specialists and the attending
physician worked quickly and efficiently to help her, while
calming her at the same time. I appreciated and respected
the doctor’s expertise in quickly diagnosing her condition.
From there, she spent five more days recovering and
stabilizing while in St. Anthony’s care. The nurses were
extremely professional, caring, gentle, and kind. The
collaboration, cooperation and teamwork of the nursing
staff was impressive. My fear of losing Mom turned into
gratification and trust because of the nurses that first night.
I must admit that when I learned of Mom’s condition
I felt very anxious about how I could possibly help her
in the days following her release. I was sure I would
have to hire someone to help her. Not so! Throughout her
days there she was repeatedly visited by a dietitian, two
community resource specialists, a heart failure nurse, a
pharmacist, a physical therapist and several respiratory
therapists. These professionals were Mom’s dedicated
care team. Every day I learned more and more about how
to manage Mom’s condition. I don’t think I’ve ever had a
better, more relevant, education compacted into six days.
Now I felt fully confident that I could continue the care
for Mom, and do it well.
On the day Mom was discharged, she was a new
person! She felt good, she had more energy, she could
breathe deeply and her mind was sharp again. Her care
team visited once more to remind us that her care did not
end when she left the hospital. We were reassured that we
could call any of the specialists at any time. Sure enough,
the heart failure nurse called the next day to check in to
see how Mom was doing. I can see that our relationship
with these health care professionals will continue.
We have a great resource in this town, and it’s St.
Anthony Hospital. The excellent nurses, doctors, special-
ists and staff work as a dedicated team for patients’ care
and health during and after being discharged. They are
amazing and I’ll always be grateful to them. Thank you,
St. Anthony, for putting Mom on the road to recovery.
Connie Macomber
Pendleton
BIRTHS
Good Shepherd
Medical Center,
Hermiston
FEB. 14, 2018
CARNINE — Brooke
N. Carnine and Randy M.
Carnine of Hermiston:
a boy, Rhett Franklin
Carnine.
FEB. 16, 2018
ANDRADE — Tyli
Bailey
and
Anthony
the Week
ENGAGEMENT
Dreher-Badal
95 Pets Adopted in 2018!
the University of Arizona
Medical School, is an
anesthesiologist in Pasco,
Wash. Tara is a student at
the Gemological Institute
of America, and manager of
Jewelry Design Center in
Kennewick, Wash.
A June wedding is
planned in the scenic city of Tara Dreher and Dr. John
Badal
Cannon Beach, Ore.
Andrade of Hermiston: a
girl, Kayani Amya-June
Andrade.
SILVA — Maria E. Ryan
and Rogelio Silva Jr. of
Stanfield: a girl, Kataline
Elizabeth Silva.
FEB. 18, 2018
ERICKSON
—
McKenzie M. Estabrook
and Austin J. Erickson of
Hermiston: a boy, Jaxon
Joseph Erickson.
P et of
Scout is a 3 year old Persian who
loves attention and playing. This
sweet kitty comes spayed, up to
date on vaccines, and full of a ton
of personality and love to give! Come
meet this sweet girl at PAWS!
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen
Dreher
of
Hermiston
are pleased to announce
the engagement of their
daughter, Tara Chalaine
Dreher, to Dr. John Joseph
Badal, son of John Badal
of Albuquerque, N.M., and
Carmen Badal of Chandler,
Ariz.
John, a graduate of
special community event.
Each donation enables us
to continue bringing hope
to moms and dads facing
pregnancy decisions.”
Formerly known as
Pregnancy Care Services,
TruCare became an inde-
pendent entity from the
center in Pendleton with
its own local governance.
Services include preg-
nancy testing, community
referrals, parenting classes,
teen support groups, infant
supplies,
post-abortion
counseling and informa-
tion about birth control
and sexually transmitted
diseases. The pregnancy
center also has several
Spanish-speaking volun-
teers.
TruCare
Pregnancy
Resource Center is located
at 105 S.W. Second St.,
Hermiston. For more infor-
mation, contact 541-567-
2393, info@trucareprc.com
or visit www.trucareprc.
com.
THANK YOU
Photo contributed by Milton-Freewater Boy Scout Troop No. 315
Kaiden Verkist pins the Eagle Scout parents’ pin on his
mother, Jill Verkist, during an Eagle Scout court of hon-
or held in Milton-Freewater.
Students and instructors of Eastern Oregon Family Taekwondo in Stanfield raised $4,534 on behalf of
Maddy Thomas, an Echo girl with a brain tumor.
A group of students and instruc-
tors of Eastern Oregon Family
Taekwondo in Stanfield powered
their way through bricks and boards
to raise money for an Echo girl with
a brain tumor.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Visit Scout at the
Pioneer Humane Society/Paws
Tues - Sat • Noon - 4pm
517 SE 3rd ST, Pendleton
541-276-0181
Check out the PAWSABILITY
Thrift Store
Scout
PENDLETON
VETERINARY CLINIC
125 S. M ain St.,
Pendleton
541-276-9292
Serving Your Small
Animal Needs
Since1945
625 SW Emigrant Ave
Pendleton, OR 97801
(541) 276-3141