GOOD FIRST TRIP
PREP BASKETBALL
STANFIELD ROBOTICS TEAM
PLACES 48TH AT STATE
HERMISTON GIRLS OPEN
LEAGUE AGAINST THE DALLES
PAGE A3
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015
SPORTS PAGE A9
YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER
HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Heidi Sipe Umatilla man shot in dispute in Hermiston
HPD continues to
refl ects on investigate Thursday
trip to D.C. evening incident
BY MAEGAN MURRAY
HERMISTON HERALD
This year, Umatilla Super-
intendent Heidi Sipe didn’t
have to watch the State of the
Union Address on television
because she there to watch the
president deliver his speech in
person.
Last week, Sipe was asked
by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley
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guest for the occasion. The
two had built a profession-
al relationship through their
efforts to secure science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics opportunities
for children in rural areas.
On Sunday, Sipe and her
family packed their bags and
headed to the nation’s capital,
where she not only got to hear
the president speak, but min-
gled with other senators and
their guests.
“It was amazing,” Sipe
said of the trip after return-
ing this week. “It was full of
new information and new ex-
periences, and I am just very
thankful for it.”
In addition to touring the
White House, Capitol Build-
ing and Library of Congress
and attending other events
planned by Merkley and his
Department Chief Jason
Edmiston, at about 10 p.m.,
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Orchard Ave., Hermiston,
after receiving a report of a
person being shot following
a dispute.
BY SEAN HART
Edmiston said that four
HERMISTON HERALD
males from Umatilla —
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continue to investigate a 5DXO )ULDV *LRYDQ
shooting Thursday evening QL $YLOD DQG $YLOD¶V
that sent one male to the 17-year-old brother — were
hospital with a critical gun- involved in a dispute with at
shot wound.
least three other unknown
According to a press re- males in Hermiston.
lease from Hermiston Police
Edmiston said, during the
dispute, Giovanni Avila was
shot in the chest, and he was
transported to Good Shep-
herd Medical Center.
“(Frias) sustained head
injuries as a result of the
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ported to Good Shepherd
Hospital, where he was held
overnight for observation,”
Edmiston said.
Avila was later transport-
ed to Legacy Emanuel Med-
ical Center in Portland, and
as of Friday afternoon, he
was listed in critical condi-
tion in the neuro-trauma in-
tensive care unit, having im-
proved slightly after internal
bleeding was controlled, Ed-
miston said.
He said detectives con-
tinue to investigate, inter-
viewing witnesses and oth-
ers with information and
attempting to collect surveil-
lance footage from nearby
stores.
“As is often the case in
major crimes such as this,
events take place, and law
enforcement is left trying to
connect dots and ascertain
what truly happened, versus
what a person wants us to
believe happened,” Edmis-
ton said. “We are diligently
working this investigation
with the assistance of the
Umatilla County District
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He said, although the
department has an initial
account of what transpired,
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solve without more informa-
tion to pursue.
Edmiston said there is
“absolutely no evidence or
statements that would sug-
gest this is gang related,” but
he is not certain the depart-
ment has “a full account of
what truly transpired.”
MAKING BOOKS
MORE ACCESSIBLE
SEE SIPE/A14
TODAY’S WEATHER
SEAN HART PHOTO
Mostly cloudy
High: 63º Low: 44º
Hermiston Public Library Volunteer Coordinator Jodi Hansen, right, delivers new large-print books to Guardian Angel Homes resident John Proudfoot Thurs-
day. Hansen delivers bo[es of books to À ve Hermiston assisted living facilities for the library·s (lderlibraries outreach program and makes special deliveries
to two ¶voracious readers· at Guardian Angel Homes.
OUTLOOK
• SUNDAY
Mix of sun and clouds
High: 61º Low: 38º
• MONDAY
Sunshine
High: 54º Low: 39º
Hermiston Elderlibraries program reaches
out to people who can no longer come in
A complete weather forecast is
featured on page A2.
said he is “quite pleased”
with the library’s outreach
HERMISTON HERALD
to provide him with reading
Guardian Angel Homes material.
resident John Proudfoot is
“I don’t do much of any-
unable to visit the Herm- thing now except sit around
iston library anymore, but and read and walk the dog,”
that is no longer a problem he said. “It seems to keep
for Proudfoot and many me pretty busy.”
others because of an out-
Hermiston library as-
reach program that puts sistant Jodi Hansen said,
books within their reach.
through the program, 700
Hermiston Public Li- large-print books are set
brary’s Elderlibraries pro- aside from the general col-
JUDPGHOLYHUVERRNVWR¿YH lection for delivery. She
assisted living facilities in leaves boxes containing
Hermiston, and Proudfoot about 50 books for three-
BY SEAN HART
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and join the conversation.
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BREAKING NEWS
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month intervals before
switching them out with
other books at Ashley Man-
or, Guardian Angel Homes,
Hermiston Terrace, Cot-
tonwood senior apartments
and Regency Hermiston
Nursing & Rehabilitation
Center.
“It’s set up for the people
who can’t get in here any-
more,” she said. “I think it’s
really appreciated that it’s
available.”
Hansen also tries to ful-
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residents and administra-
tors when possible.
“Besides the boxes, we
try to individualize, if pos-
HERMISTON HERALD
Hermiston Herald $1.00
8
08805 93294
© 2014 EO Media Group
2
Throughout the more than 35
years that newly retired and now
former Head Start director Cathy
Wamsley spent with Head Start,
one moment early on in her career
made her realize the importance of
what she would be doing.
In 1978, Wamsley had just
started with Head Start as a teach-
er and, while on a home visit, she
intended to do a painting activity
with the parents and their children.
“I told the parent that all they
needed was water, and they told
me they didn’t have any running
water in their home,” she said.
At that moment, Wamsley re-
alized she could never assume
that families have basic amenities
that the everyday person would
normally have. Instances such as
those, she said, really helped her
identify with the parents and chil-
dren she served.
“Starting out as a teacher, I
learned very quickly how re-
warding home visiting is,” she
said. “You get to know the child
a lot better when you visit their
home and meet their parents and
see where the kids come from. I
learned in home visiting that some
of the things we take for granted,
not all families have.”
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Start, Wamsley has dedicated
much of her life to the organiza-
tion that has grown from just of-
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SEE WAMSLEY/A14
BY SEAN HART
HERMISTON HERALD
Judy Barkhurst has
read hundreds of large-
print books through
Hermiston Public Li-
brary’s Elderlibraries
program, but because
of recent eye problems,
she hopes to continue
enjoying books using
technology.
Barkhurst said she
used to read more than
SEE BOOKS/A8
Newly retired Head Start
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BY MAEGAN MURRAY
Technology helps more
people enjoy new books
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but macular degener-
ation has forced her to
slow down during the
last several months.
“Sometimes,
the
letters are swinging
around a little, and I
have to try to catch up
with them,” she said.
“Sometimes, I look at
the word and (think)
that’s not right, so I re-
SEE TECH/A8
Service organizations
united with new kiosk
BY MAEGAN MURRAY
HERMISTON HERALD
Up until this week, Hermiston
didn’t have a central location in
town for people to identify the
local service organizations oper-
ating in the community.
On Wednesday, however,
Hermiston Rotary and Hermiston
Altrusa members, in partnership
with the city of Hermiston, un-
veiled a new sign they hope will
not only honor the service orga-
nizations in the community, but
provide one spot where people
can view just how many clubs
are available to join.
More than 10 organizations
submitted a one-time fee of $500
to display their organization’s
logo on a kiosk off of Highway
395 near the Hermiston Fire &
Emergency Services building.
The funds were used to construct
the sign, which cost more than
$13,000, even after local con-
tractors and community mem-
bers had donated their time and
supplies. The Hermiston Rotary
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Hermiston, which it will use for
upkeep and maintenance of the
sign.
While it may look like just a
sign with a bunch of names, the
hope, organizers Ann and Dean
Fialka said, is that it will generate
interest in the local organizations
so they can attract new member-
ship, as well as honor the groups
that have given so much back to
SEE KIOSK/A14