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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2015)
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015 LOCAL WEATHER EBERT: Today's Weather Local 5-Day Forecast continued from page A1 people. I just can’t do it 40 hours a week. When you have four heart attacks and (al- most) die, you get to thinking life’s pretty short. I wanted to see my family and do some other things.” In addition to her health problems, Ebert has had to overcome many other obsta- cles in her life. Ebert abused alcohol for years, but she kicked the habit in her early 50s. She is looking forward to celebrat- ing 14 years of sobriety next week. She survived being sexually assaulted. She lost a husband and a grandchild within two months of each other and overcame the grief. She spent 11 years in a rela- tionship where she was the victim of domestic violence and didn’t even realize she had been abused until she was out of the situation, when she moved to the area and attend- ed a training to volunteer for DVS. “I took the training, and it really opened my eyes,” she said. “When they showed me the cycles (of abusive situa- tions), I knew that was me. I think education is really the best thing in the world. It re- ally would have saved me a lot of trouble before those 11 years. I just thought we couldn’t get along, like most people.” Like herself, many peo- ple do not realize they are in a domestic violence situation or that resources are available to help them escape, she said. After training as a volunteer for DVS, Ebert applied for and eventually received a full-time position as an advo- cate for the organization and worked for years helping peo- ple understand what was hap- pening and what they could do to improve their lives. “When they come in and they are not convinced, we can help them see,” she said. “We can do abuse assess- ments, so they can see it them- selves. My job as an advocate was to empower our clients to HOUSING: continued from page A1 the house from its basic framing stages to the near completion of the insula- tion process. Students in the program conducted the tours and explained each stage of the construction process. Herrera explained they had worked with a number of contractors and craftsman to get the exact look and de- sign they hoped will attract buyers. She said they have worked with those same contractors and tradesman to incorporate elements of the Wed Thu 3/4 55/29 do what they needed to do to get out of domestic violence or sexual assault situations. We don’t make decisions for them, but we help them be strong enough to make the right ones. We get them re- sources to get out and stay in touch with the community. You’ve got to have a good heart and know that you can do it and be able to convince them they can.” Ebert helped victims at DVS shelters, at the hospital and through the Oregon De- partment of Human Services in various positions with the organization. Last year, she was one of two recipients of the Oregon Attorney Gener- al’s Excellence in Victims Ser- vices Award. Reluctantly, she retired from DVS last month. “I honestly stayed there probably a month and a half longer than I should have be- cause I just couldn’t let it go,” she said. “I know that my job was to help other people let God help them. I feel very blessed that I did some good. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. I already miss it.” While she worked as an advocate, Ebert gave presen- tations on her experiences and about escaping unhealthy situations, and she said peo- ple always approached her afterward seeking guidance. After she retired, Ebert decid- ed to continue to turn the neg- ative events from her past into positive inspiration for others as a motivational speaker. “I believe it’s a God-given knack. I think God just gives me the right thing to say at the right time,” she said. “I guar- antee, every time I speak, at least one or two people will disclose that they need help, and that’s what needs to hap- pen. People need to be edu- cated.” Ebert said she understands people’s situations because she experienced them herself, and she tries to help people understand the reality of what they are experiencing. Al- WKRXJKLWFDQEHGLI¿FXOWVKH said, anyone can move for- ward and create a better life. “No matter what you’ve got going on in your life, you can overcome it,” she said. “Sometimes, you just need an advocate showing you what you can do.” For more information about Ebert’s next step as a motivational speaker, contact her at 541-571-7708. house that are top of the line. Herrera said the home features a vacuum system that runs throughout, includ- ing in the garage. The house DOVR IHDWXUHV HQHUJ\ HI¿- cient windows, an insulated heating and cooling system known as inside ducts, dou- ble-layered insulation in the FHLOLQJ ZDOOV DQG ÀRRU DQG a tankless water heater that heats water only when need- ed. Some of the other “wow” factors, Herrera said, include a surround-sound system that runs throughout the house, tile in the entry and other ar- eas that they designed them- VHOYHV DQG HQHUJ\HI¿FLHQW lighting. Susan Badger-Jones, out- reach manager for the Ener- gy Trust of Oregon, said, by the time the house is com- plete, it will have an energy score of 72 out of 200. She said a house of similar size in Oregon has an average score of 112, and a house built to code would have a score of about 98. “This house is consider- ably better,” she said. The eventual owner of the house will have a month- ly energy bill of about $74, which Hermiston School District Deputy Superin- To help or get help For more information about Domestic Violence Services, or to donate to or volunteer for the nonprofit agency that pro- vides emergency services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, call 541- 276-3322 or visit domesticvi- olenceservices-or.org. - C ONCLUDED Sat 3/6 61/34 Sun 3/7 63/34 3/8 65/37 67/39 Mainly sunny. High around 55F. Winds light and variable. Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 30s. More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 30s. Mainly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the upper 30s. Sunshine. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 30s. Sunrise Sunset 6:30 AM 5:47 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:28 AM 5:49 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:26 AM 5:50 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:24 AM 5:52 PM Sunrise Sunset 7:22 AM 6:53 PM SEAN HART PHOTO 0LFNLH(EHUWVWDQGVRXWVLGHWKH+HUPLVWRQRIÀFHIRU'RPHV- tic Violence Services, where she worked as an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault for almost 10 years. After retiring last month, the 65-year-old plans to con- tinue using her personal experiences as a victim and ability to help others by becoming a motivational speaker. Fri 3/5 Oregon At A Glance Portland 60/36 Salem 60/35 Eugene La Grande 50/27 Bend 51/21 59/33 Medford 64/32 Pendleton 52/30 Hermiston 55/29 Ontario 51/28 Burns 45/24 Klamath Falls 56/26 Area Cities City Albany Ashland Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Coos Bay Corvallis Eugene Hi 59 63 55 49 51 62 45 59 60 59 Lo Cond. 36 sunny 33 sunny 36 mst sunny 23 sunny 21 sunny 42 sunny 24 sunny 37 sunny 35 sunny 33 sunny City Florence Grants Pass Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Lakeview Lincoln City Mcminnville Medford Hi 59 63 55 46 56 50 52 58 59 64 Lo Cond. 37 sunny 34 sunny 29 sunny 26 sunny 26 sunny 27 sunny 24 sunny 42 sunny 35 sunny 32 sunny City Newport Pendleton Portland Redmond Roseburg Salem Springfield The Dalles Tillamook Vale Hi 56 52 60 55 61 60 59 58 59 52 Lo Cond. 40 sunny 30 sunny 36 sunny 26 sunny 36 sunny 35 sunny 31 sunny 35 sunny 38 sunny 29 sunny City Houston Los Angeles Miami Minneapolis New York Hi 77 68 82 10 44 Lo Cond. 38 t-storm 47 sunny 72 pt sunny -6 mst sunny 31 rain City Phoenix San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Washington, DC Hi 65 67 55 25 49 Lo Cond. 42 mst sunny 48 sunny 37 mst sunny 10 sn shower 36 rain National Cities City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Hi 72 42 19 53 22 Lo Cond. 52 cloudy 30 cloudy 0 pt sunny 25 rain 4 sn shower Moon Phases UV Index Wed First Full Last New Feb 25 Mar 5 Mar 13 Mar 20 ©2010 American Profile Hometown Content Service tendent Wade Smith said is VLJQL¿FDQWO\ORZHUWKDQZKDW the average homeowner of a house that size would pay. “Folks will see some seri- ous savings,” he said. Hermiston resident John Lauck said he couldn’t be- lieve how much the stu- dents had accomplished in so little time. He said he also couldn’t believe how innovative they were in the design and the features in- cluded. “I think it looks fantas- tic,” he said. “I think it’s a great program. They’re truly creating an immersive expe- rience for kids.” Thu 3/4 3/5 3 Moderate 2 Low Fri 3/7 Sun 3/8 3 3 3 Moderate Moderate Moderate The UV Index is measured on a 0 - 11 number scale, with a higher UV Index showing the need for greater skin protection. Hermiston resident and HHS teacher Kirby Warner brought his family to tour WKHKRXVHIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH and, before even stepping foot inside the main part of the house, he said he was al- ready impressed. “I think this is great,” he said. “I know some of these kids as a teacher at the high school. It’s fun to see all they have accomplished out here.” Berger said he wanted community members to see all the hard work that went into the structure before students put up the drywall, and the walls are sealed for Sat 3/6 0 11 good. He said the home will look much different at the next open house, which will be closer to when they sell the home. “Our next step in the process will be to roll out the sheet rock, and we start on that tomorrow,” he said Monday. 6WDQ¿HOG +LJK 6FKRRO student Nathan Hurty, also a homebuilding student, said KHFDQ¶WZDLWWRVHHWKH¿Q- ished product. “In 20 years, I can look back at this house and say, ‘I built that,’” he said to a cou- ple as they gave them a tour of the home.