A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Thursday, June 9, 2022
We can impact Pendleton rolls out the Pride weekend
the world to be
a better place
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
MARC
MULLINS
MARC’S REMARKS
M
y wife, Wendy, and
I recently returned
from a trip to
Italy, Austria and Germany.
It was a wonderful jour-
ney, beginning with a visit
to Rome and culminating
with a visit to Oberammer-
gau, Germany, where we
attended the world-famous
once-every-10-year passion
play.
Two days into our jour-
ney, during a visit to the
Vatican, we received the
horrific news of a mass
shooting that occurred in
Buffalo, New York. Ten
black people were killed
and three others were
injured as a result of this
tragedy. Then, following
our return home, there was
another report of a shoot-
ing at an elementary school
in Uvalde, Texas. Nineteen
children and two adults
died in that terrible incident
that marked the 27th school
shooting in the United States
this year. Still, according to
the latest news reports, inci-
dences of shootings continue
to escalate.
My reflections on events
such as these described
prompt me to ponder the
question, “What will the
world be like for the next
generation?” What amount
of love, respect and kind-
ness will be left in this
world that is so afflicted by
mental illness, hostility, gun
violence and war?
The situation may seem
futile, but I am convinced
that we can make a differ-
ence. No matter how great
or small a difference it might
be, we can impact the world
to be a better place as we do
our utmost to demonstrate
love and respect for others,
even those different from
ourselves.
In the early first century
the Apostle Paul wrote a
letter to a church he founded
in Philippi. That letter,
which is found in the Bible,
contains instruction that is
good for us all to apply to
our lives. Here is a snippet
as found in Philippians 2:3-5
(from the New International
Version of the Bible):
“Do nothing out of selfish
ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves,
not looking to your own
interests but each of you to
the interests of the others.
In your relationships with
one another, have the same
mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Some may think it
far-fetched to imagine that
we can make much of a
difference in the face of
hostilities, shootings and
even war. However, for
every action there is a reac-
tion, and positive, loving
actions can result in positive,
loving results.
Christine Todd Whitman,
former governor of New
Jersey, once said, “Anyone
who thinks that they are too
small to make a difference
has never tried to fall asleep
with a mosquito in the
room.” Absolutely. No good-
ness that we impart to others
will go unnoticed or wasted.
Love and kindness always
will make a difference.
———
Marc Mullins is pastor of
the First Christian Church
of Pendleton, where he also
utilizes his gifts as a musi-
cian, singer and songwriter.
PENDLETON — A pair
of events are planned in
Pendleton this weekend to
help commemorate Pride
Month. In addition, Pendle-
ton Mayor John Turner made
a proclamation declaring
June 11, 2022, as “Pendleton
Celebration of Pride Day.”
In the proclamation, which
the city council adopted
April 15, Turner urges “all
residents to respect and honor
our diverse community and
celebrate and continue to
build a culture of inclusive-
ness and acceptance.”
Kicking off the fun is Let
‘Er Drag, hosted by Tatiana
Rexia, the evening features
DJ Ricochet and talent from
Pendleton and the Tri-Cities.
Billed as a night of “queens,
kings, drinks and fun,” the
drag show is Friday, June 10,
at Electric Sundown, 14 S.E.
Third St., Pendleton.
The doors open at 7 p.m.,
with the show starting at
East Oregonian, File
Drag queens cheer and wave from a trailer June 12, 2021,
as they ride away at the end of the Proud Together Pride
Parade in Pendleton. A pair of 2022 Pride Month events are
planned this weekend, including Let ‘Er Drag on Friday,
June 10, at Electric Sundown, and a Pride Parade and ven-
dor booths Saturday, June 11, in downtown Pendleton.
8 p.m. Those ages 18-20 are
welcome from 7-9 p.m., and
the 21 and older crowd can
party until midnight. Full bar
service is available.
Tickets are $15 at the
door or $10 if purchased in
advance via pflag.pendle-
tontickets.com. The event is
hosted by PFLAG Pendle-
ton, which provides support
to family and friends of the
LGBTQ community. For
more information, search
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
PFLAG.Pendleton.
Then
S a t u r d a y,
June 11, United Pendle-
ton Pride is hosting a Pride
Parade. People are invited to
gather for announcements at
11 a.m. at Brownfield Park,
12 S. Main St., Pendleton.
Parade participants are asked
to park in the parking lot on
Northwest Bailey Avenue,
located across from Pendle-
ton Center for the Arts.
The parade starts at
11:30 a.m. and will head
towards Museum Park, 108
S.W. Frazer Ave. Vendor and
information booths will run
from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
at the park.
United Pendleton Pride
describes its group as a
queer and Black, Indige-
nous and People of Color
— BIPOC — community
in Eastern Oregon. They are
dedicated to inclusiveness
with a mission of support-
ing people’s ability to live
without fear of prejudice,
discrimination, violence or
hatred. For more informa-
tion, search www.facebook.
com/up.pride.50.
HHS graduate soars with ag award
Bob Coleman
recognized for
use of drones
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — For a
second year in a row, Bob
Coleman received the $2,500
John F. Walchli Memorial Ag
Entrepreneurs Award. The
2016 Hermiston High School
graduate was first recognized
in 2020-21 for use of a drone
in his agricultural monitor-
ing service.
Accordi ng to a
May 31 press release from
board member Mike Mehren,
Coleman utilizes a drone to
photograph and monitor
crops. The voluminous infor-
mation collected, he said,
is fed into a program that
Coleman designed, which
condenses it into practical
and usable data.
“Using this technology,
not only saves many man
hours spent in the field but
also allows correction of
problems created by heat,
cold, wind, disease, para-
sites and imprecise water
use,” Mehren said. “Changes
can be made quickly and effi-
ciently to improve the health
and yield of each crop.”
In his spare time, Cole-
man manages many of the
crops grown on his family’s
farms. The young entrepre-
neur, Mehren said, plans to
add thermal imaging to the
drone, which will further
increase and improve data
collected.
Coleman, who earned an
agricultural business degree
from Oregon State University,
initially began using a drone
as a tool on his parent’s farms.
Coleman is able to view crops
in about 1/10th the time that it
would take a person using a
vehicle, Mehren said.
In addition, utilizing
advanced imaging technol-
ogy reveals crop issues that
aren’t visible to the human
eye. Mehren said the idea for
developing the monitoring
service grew when neighbor-
ing farms and others learned
of its capabilities.
The John F. Walchli
Memorial Ag Entrepreneurs
Award, Mehren said, was
created to provide support to
young men and women living
in west Umatilla County to
achieve personal business
goals in the field of agricul-
ture. The recipient is selected
based on initiative, innova-
tion and accomplishments
rather than academic perfor-
mance. The winner, Mehren
said, can use the cash award
at their discretion; it does not
have to be used for tuition or
educational expenses.
The award’s name-
sake, John Walchli, died in
September 2018. He began
his farming career raising
watermelons while attending
Stanfield High School.
Walchli and his wife,
Marge, moved to the Herm-
iston area, where they
expanded their farming
operation to include pota-
toes, asparagus, wheat,
alfalfa, cattle and bison. Also,
Walchli was known for his
generosity and giving back
to the community.
For more information,
contact Mehren at 541-561-
4762 or mehrens@eotnet.net.
Field Test CANDIDATES WANTED
You may be qualified to participate in a special Field Test of NEW
hearing instrument technology being held at a local test site!
An industry leader in digital hearing devices is sponsoring a product field test in
your area next week, and they are selecting 15 qualified candidates to participate!
They are interested in determining the benefits of GENIUS™ 5.0 Technology in
eliminating the difficulty hearing aid users experience in complex environments,
such as those with background noise or multiple talkers. Candidates in other test
areas have reported very positive feedback so far.
We are looking for additional candidates in Hermiston and the surrounding areas.
Product Test Sites:
Hermiston
955 SE 4th St, Ste B
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 716-5092
Pendleton
29 SW Dorion Ave
Pendleton, OR 97801
(541) 224-8661
In an effort to accurately demonstrate the incredible performance of these devices, specially trained
representatives will be conducting testing and demonstrations during this special event. In addition
to an audiometric hearing evaluation, candidates will receive a fiber-optic otoscope exam, a painless
procedure that could reveal common hearing problems such as excessive wax or damage to the
eardrum, as well as other common causes of hearing deficiencies.
Qualified Field Test Candidates:
• Live in Hermiston or the surrounding area
• Are at least 55 years of age or older
• Have experienced some level of hearing difficulty, or currently wear hearing aids
• Don’t currently work for a market research company
• Must Call Before June 15th, 2022 and Mention Code: 22JunFT
We have also been authorized to offer significant discounts if you
FIELD TEST decide to take the hearing instruments home. If you choose not to
keep them, there’s no risk or obligation of any kind.†
PARTICIPANTS
TO PARTICIPATE:
Will be tested
1) You must be one of the first 15 people to call our office
and selected
2) You will be required to have your hearing tested in our office, FREE OF
same-day.
CHARGE, to determine candidacy.
3) Report your results with the hearing instruments to the Hearing Care
Specialist over a three week test period.
Qualified candidates will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis so please call us TODAY to secure your spot in the
Product Field Test. Participants who qualify and complete the product test will receive a FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift
Card* as a token of our thanks.
AVOID WAITING – CALL AND MENTION CODE: 22JunFT
*One per household. Must be 55 or older and bring loved one for familiar voice test. Must complete a hearing test. Not valid with prior test/purchase in last 6 months. While supplies last. Free gift card may be used toward the purchase of
food at participating restaurants where a minimum purchase may also be required. See restaurant.com for details. Not redeemable for cash. Promotional offer available during special event dates only. †Pursuant to terms of your purchase
agreement, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition. See store for details.