REGION
Saturday, February 23, 2019
East Oregonian
A3
Heppner celebrates
Town & Country awards
East Oregonian
Former Morrow County
commissioner
Leann
Rea was presented with
the lifetime achievement
award during the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce’s
annual Town & Country
Community Awards.
With a theme of “An
Evening with the Stars,”
others recognized during
the Feb. 7 event included
Rep. Greg Smith, man of
the year; Susan Hisler,
woman of the year; Jason
Palmer,
citizen/educa-
tor of the year; and Mad-
ison Combe, youth recog-
nition award. In addition,
the Heppner Rural Fire
Department and South
Morrow County Health
District EMS team were
recognized as co-recipi-
ents of the business of the
year award.
In addition to being
internally driven, Rea is
known for her contagious
laugh and sense of humor.
She is said to have a deep
dedication to Morrow
County and its citizens.
And, she is committed to
making the county a better
place to live, work, recre-
ate and conduct business.
Serving his 10th con-
secutive term as a state
representative, Smith was
referred to as the “gem”
of Heppner and Morrow
County. Despite all his
commitments, Smith is
said to be attentive, sup-
portive and approachable.
A Heppner native, His-
ler gives from the heart —
whether as a friend, 4-H
leader or life coach. She
organizing activities or
efforts — from a fundrais-
ing walk to coordinating
meals for firefighters — to
help others.
A Heppner High School
graduate, Palmer returned
to his hometown and has
been teaching since 2000.
In addition to his class-
room duties, Palmer helps
with math and writing
contests, coached track
and volunteered with the
4-H rocket club.
Jeannie Collins, a HHS
teacher, called Combe a
“natural born leader” in
and out of the classroom.
While striving to do her
best academically and in
sports, Combe also partic-
ipates in community ser-
vice activities, such as food
drives, Mustang Mop Up
and hanging community
Christmas decorations.
Rusty Estes and Steve
Rhea, who help lead the
25-member fire depart-
ment and EMS team, were
recognized for their pro-
fessionalism and commit-
ment to the safety of the
community. The men and
women make personal
sacrifices — often leaving
work, getting out of bed
in the middle of the night
or putting family time on
hold — to help local citi-
zens during times of need.
BRIEFLY
Hermiston man
charged with
strangulation
A Hermiston man was
arrested on Wednesday and
charged with strangula-
tion constituting domestic
violence.
Gregory Markel, 32, was
charged with the crimes
against a family member
or person in his household,
both constituting domes-
tic violence, as well as
harassment.
Markel was lodged in
the Umatilla County Jail.
He has a hearing on Feb. 27.
2 men suspected in
thefts at Pendleton
business
PENDLETON — Two
men were arrested for
stealing tools and equip-
ment from a Pendleton
business. One was charged
with aggravated theft, bur-
glary and unauthorized use
of a vehicle, and the other
is believed to be involved.
Levi Reed, 35, is
charged with several
counts of aggravated theft
and burglary. According
to court documents, Reed
stole merchandise, tools,
and equipment valued
at $10,000 or more from
Western States Equip-
ment in Pendleton. He is
also charged with driving
a Ford F-150 that belonged
to Western States.
He was arraigned
Thursday afternoon in
Umatilla County Circuit
Court. Steven Ressler,
44, is also believed to be
involved in the thefts.
Police Chief Stuart
Roberts said they believe
there may be other peo-
ple involved, and that one
of the co-consipirators
offered to sell some of
the equipment to the wife
of one of Western States’
employees.
Roberts said most of
the equipment had been
recovered, and officers on
Thursday were recovering
the last two laptops that
had been stolen.
Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini
Owner Cathy Stolz announced that after 48 years, the Chuckwagon Cafe is closing March 6. A “Farewell and Thank You Party”
runs Feb. 26 through March 1 at the restaurant, located north of Hermiston.
Chuckwagon Cafe serves up 48 years
Cathy Stolz retires,
sells restaurant
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
After 48 years of provid-
ing comfort food, the Chuck-
wagon Cafe is closing.
Owner Cathy Stolz
said people have made
the endeavor fulfilling
and enjoyable. She said
the motto, “Serving the
best since 1970,” refers to
the food, the guests and
employees.
“You don’t last 48 years
in any business without a
stellar staff,” she said. “And
we’ve had the best of the
best.”
Leading up to the
Wednesday, March 6 clos-
ing, Stolz is hosting a four-
day “Farewell and Thank
You Party.” It runs Tues-
day, Feb. 26 through Thurs-
day, Feb. 28 from 6 a.m. to
2 p.m. at 81027 N. High-
way 395, Hermiston. The
celebration crescendos Fri-
day, March 1 from 6 a.m. to
8:30 p.m.
Free cake will be served
all four days. Featured spe-
cials include New York
steaks, catfish dinners and
encrusted French toast
breakfasts.
Also, the Buttercreek
Boys will assist in the fare-
well by performing toe-tap-
before heading to the coast
in 1981 to work for The
Daily Astorian, also owned
by EO Media Group. After
six months, her position was
eliminated.
Dorothy and Duane Bea-
son, her mother and stepfa-
ther, suggested she return
to Hermiston to help at
the Chuckwagon Cafe.
The Beasons opened their
first Hermiston eatery in
1970. The Chuckwagon, a
drive-in, was located at the
current site of Panda Inn. A
couple of years later when
a fire destroyed the struc-
ture, they reopened it as the
Chuckwagon Cafe where
The Nickel is now housed.
They built the current cafe
in 1979.
In retirement, Stolz plans
to continue volunteering in
the community. Over the
years, she has given back
by donating gift certifi-
cates, holding fundraisers
and supporting such groups
as the Boy Scouts of Amer-
ica, a local race car team,
the Community Fellowship
Dinner and Umatilla High
School’s first robotics team.
pin’ tunes Friday from
6-7:30 p.m. The seasoned
musicians have performed
monthly at the cafe since
November 2010.
All former staff will
receive a 48 percent dis-
count — in recognition of
the cafe’s 48 years. Stolz
hopes to catch up with lots
of familiar faces.
“I love connecting with
past staff members who
come in to dine or text me
or post updates and pho-
tos on Facebook,” she said.
“They will always be family
to me.”
Stolz didn’t initially
have her sights on a career
in the restaurant industry.
She studied the Bible and
journalism at Multnomah
School of the Bible (now
Multnomah University) in
Portland before heading
to the Chicago area. After
working from 1972-79 on
the editorial staff at Conser-
vative Baptist Foreign Mis-
sion Society, Stolz returned
to Eastern Oregon.
She worked at The Nickel
Classifieds, Hermiston Her-
ald and East Oregonian
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“They named their robot
Chuck, which made me
cry,” she said.
Recent hip problems,
Stolz said, have slowed her
down. Tired and in pain,
she decided to sell the cafe.
In the fall she put a notice
on the cafe’s website and
got a couple of bites. How-
ever, the parties were inter-
ested in leasing. When Stolz
finally decided to list it, she
received two offers in less
than a week.
“I decided I wanted to
sell it and walk away,” she
said. “I’m so amazed and
I’m so grateful.”
While not finalized, Stolz
said a couple of sisters plan
to turn the cafe into a Texas
barbecue.
“I’ve been ‘married’
to the Chuckwagon. Who
knows, I may start dating,
get married, settle down and
raise a family,” she said with
a laugh.
Stolz reminds people to
redeem Chuckwagon gift
certificates by March 6.
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