FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 8, 2015 LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE! A look back at Ione’s 2015 Fourth of July celebration. -Fireworks volunteers contributed photo by Jay Reid. All others staff photos by Andrea Di Salvo. City of Irrigon plans Watermelon Festival The City of Irrigon will hold its annual Watermelon Festival on Saturday, July 25. This year’s theme is “Remembering the Past, Looking to the Future.” A full schedule of events will begin at 6:30 a.m. and run through 12 p.m. “(It’s) A great com- munity event where funds raised go to benefit various areas across the commu- nity of Irrigon,” says Ir- rigon City Manager Aaron Palmquist. Funds raised go to scholarships, Cooley Sports Complex, senior center, the food baskets program, flags for events, and other items. This year an array of donated items will be raf- fled. Some of the items are: Self-propelled lawn mower, gazebo and luggage from Walmart distribution cen- ter; large flat screen TV from State Farm; $250 cer- tificate for teeth whitening; rodeo and fair tickets from Umatilla and Morrow coun- ties; several beautiful gift baskets; and much more. Events and opportuni- ties taking place at the Ir- rigon Marina Park include: Breakfast beginning at 6:30 a.m.; the annual parade at 10:00 a.m. down NE Main Avenue; the opening ceremony at the Irrigon Ma- rina Park Band Stand at 11 a.m.; on-going raffle items throughout the day; and a variety of games, contests, vendors and foods, as well as live music venues and the annual mayor’s watermelon seed spitting contest. For more information, contact Renee Couchman at 541-922-1560 or Aaron Palmquist, City Manager, at manager@ci.irrigon.or.us. Local students make OSU honor roll CORVALLIS—Names of students who have made the Scholastic Honor Roll for spring term have been announced by Oregon State University. Among local recipients are Devin B. Robinson of Heppner, a senior in agri- cultural sciences, and, with a straight-A average, Mary V. Rietmann of Ione, a se- nior in human development and family science. From Boardman are Cheyenne A. Kennedy, senior in public health; Chase H. Simpson, senior in civil engineering; and with a straight-A average, Sonia A. Barrera, junior in exercise and sport science. From Irrigon are Sean G. Barron, junior in pre- business, and Adriana San- chez, junior in accountancy. Carrying the flame of a long-time tradition Ione residents and visitors hailed the Ione Fourth of July fireworks as “spectacular” once again this year. The Ione fireworks show has a long tradition within the Ione community. It was begun by World War II veterans upon returning home in 1946, and has continued each year, with the launching area moving from the football field at the school, to the west end of town, and now to the east end of town. Pictured are volunteers Wayne Rietmann, Ed Rietmann, Corey Baker, Arthur Ekstrom and Joe Rietmann preparing the fuses for the night’s events. –Photo by Jay Reid EOU announces spring term dean’s list LA GRANDE, Ore.—Two local students are among the 464 Eastern Oregon University has named to the dean’s list for spring term 2015. Named to the dean’s list are Charlette Burghard of Ione and Victoria Lankford of Lexington. Qualifying students achieve and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework for the duration of the term. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.