Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 2015)
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015 COMMUNITY • FROM PAGE A1 EOT bringing ultra-fast Internet to Hermiston BY JADE MCDOWELL EO MEDIA GROUP Internet in Hermiston is about to get a whole lot faster. Eastern Oregon Telecom has announced it is bring- LQJ D ¿EHU EURDGEDQG QHW- work — boasting speeds 100 times faster than the average broadband Internet — to Hermiston and parts of Uma- tilla, Irrigon and Boardman. The telecommunications company estimates the ul- tra-fast Internet will con- nect to about 8,000 homes and businesses by the end of 2016. CEO Joseph Franell said about 200 homes in Hermiston and on Umatil- la’s Main Street are already hooked up, with a second phase of 550 homes in the works. The new Internet speeds, which can down- ORDG DQ HQWLUH KLJKGH¿QL- tion movie in 36 seconds, ZLOO KHOS ¿OO D GHPDQG IRU more Internet capacity that Franell said has skyrocket- HGLQWKHODVWVL[\HDUV “Anyone who is at all connected understands the voracious appetite for con- nectivity,” Franell said. More and more people are using the Internet to watch television and play games, but Franell said it’s about more than just HQWHUWDLQPHQW 7KH ¿EHU broadband will improve residents’ ability to do ev- erything from paying bills to taking college courses online. It will also increase HI¿FLHQF\ IRU EXVLQHVVHV and government entities that spend all day upload- ing and downloading data. Franell said, once the project is done, all of Hermiston, as well as the commercial corridor of Umatilla, Irrigon and Boardman, will have bet- ter Internet connectivity than Portland and Salem. He said when Google Fiber UROOHGRXW¿EHUFRQQHFWLYLW\ in Kansas City, the prices of homes connected to the lightning-fast Internet in- creased by 17 percent and EXVLQHVV VWDUWXSV ÀRFNHG to the area. “When you start looking for economic development in the region, robust tele- communications is certainly going to help our economy continue to grow,” he said. Eastern Oregon Tele- com was created by Uma- tilla Electric Cooperative about 13 years ago to help the community, and Franell said the company is as fo- cused on serving the com- PXQLW\ DV LW LV RQ SUR¿WV That’s why it is reinvesting so much revenue into cut- ting-edge technology for the Hermiston area. EOT is working with a 7H[DVEDVHG WHFK FRPSD- ny called Huawei to create the infrastructure (known as Gigabit Passive Opti- cal Network) necessary to bring Internet speeds of 1,000 mbps to the area. Bill Gerski, Vice Pres- ident of Sales for Huawei USA, said in a news release WKDWWKHFRPSDQ\ZDVH[FLW- ed to bring its technology to the Hermiston area. “Rural communities in America, which are typical- ly under-served by broad- band, are beginning to rec- ognize the economic and VRFLDO EHQH¿WV RI KDYLQJ fast and reliable connec- tivity,” he said. “Huawei is committed to working with rural carriers and communi- ties across the U.S. to help them get connected.” Mayor David Drotz- mann said in a statement that the high speed Internet ZLOO H[SDQG HGXFDWLRQDO and economic opportunities in the area. “Super-fast, reliable and affordable broadband connectivity is becoming increasingly important in helping our community and businesses stay competi- tive,” he said. VISIT: continued from page A1 a year to Umatilla schools, alone. On the subject of Com- mon Core State Standards, however, Wyden said he feels the system needs to do a better job at meshing ac- FRXQWDELOLW\ZLWKÀH[LELOLW\ He said the CCSS haven’t reached that point yet. Community members voiced their concerns of WKH 7UDQV3DFL¿F 3DUWQHU- ship trade agreement that the federal government is currently in the process of negotiating. Wyden said, while he thinks of- ficials need to do a better job of being open to pub- lic constituents about the process they are taking in developing that agree- ment, he feels it will ben- efit individuals across the nation. “In Oregon, one out of VL[ MREV LV GHSHQGHQW RQ international trade,” he said. “I’m going to do ev- erything I can to come up with a fresh approach.” Wyden said his ap- proach involves less se- crecy over trade. He said secrecy just makes people cynical about what is tak- MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden speaks with community members and students about his efforts to make Oregon a better place Friday during a town hall meeting at Clara Brownell Middle School. MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO Umatilla High School student Bradley Bensen shows U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden how the robotics team’s robot operates during Wyden’s visit to Umatilla Friday morning. ing place. He said he also wants to enforce the laws already established more aggressively. Lastly, he said more accountability is needed over discussion on trade agreements. “It’s very important that the entire proposal is out in front of the public before the president signs it,” he said. Dennis Burke, CEO PARK RULE: police department to monitor and babysit individuals such as this, but I believe that is continued from page A1 consistent with our goal of dinance states, “Defacing, addressing livability issues in mutilating or damaging any the city of Hermiston.” buildings, equipment, tables, Recreation Supervisor benches, signs or other public Dan Earp said he believes property in any public park the new language would be a is prohibited,” Edmiston rec- positive step. ommended adding, “This in- “I think it will help,” he cludes any person using park said. “I don’t think that it will equipment in any manner QHFHVVDULO\ ¿[ WKH SUREOHP other than the intended use or but, obviously, any little help design.” we can get and partnering The current ordinance with other departments of the VSHFL¿HVWKDWEUHDNLQJWKHSDUN city is moving in the right di- rules is a class A violation, and rection.” Edmiston recommends autho- Jackie Myers and Doug UL]LQJ RI¿FHUV WR EDQ SHRSOH Primmer, the committee’s who break the rules from the City Council liaisons, said the park for 30 days. proposed ordinance change “I believe an addition such would address the issue and as this will give the police make the parks more enjoy- GHSDUWPHQW WKH OHJDO MXVWL¿- able to the public. cation to stop a person who is “I do think it’s a problem, sitting on a countertop inside and I think it’s a necessary the cook shack designed for thing so the police depart- food preparation and actu- ment can have a way to actu- al cooking and advise them ally make something happen to move on or be cited,” he there,” Myers said. “I think said. “... This will require the it’s better than what we have at Good Shepherd Medi- cal Center, asked Wyden about the 96-hour rule, which requires medical fa- cilities to send patients to other facilities if they are unable to get treated with- in 96 hours. He said Good Shepherd may be perfect- ly capable of caring for that patient, but, instead, it has to spend the money and resources to ensure now, and I think it’s a way for them to actually be able to en- force these ordinances.” 3ULPPHUVDLGKLV¿UVWFRQ- cern when considering a new rule is whether it will be too restrictive or if it could be misused, but, after reviewing this change, he did not believe that would be the case. “I think it just gives the po- lice department one more tool WRKHOS¿[DSUREOHPDQRQ- going situation,” he said. “We don’t want to take anything away from people. We don’t want to restrict access, but we do need to give (the police) a tool that can help save our parks and help save the area from just being misused and abused.” that patient is transferred. Wyden agreed some changes to that law are Student Spotlight: p g Did You Know? Kevin Hawman Hermiston BMCC Precision Irrigated Ag Student K ev grew up on his family’s farm in Hermiston, and Kevin when he got to BMCC, he wanted the precision whe w irrigated irr r rig agriculture program to have its own pivot. E ve the go-getter, Kevin was able to raise more than Ever $6 60 6 $60,000 in donations towards a new pivot. He then wo w worked with Valley Irrigation to obtain a $30,000 d disc di i scou ount nt o discount on the pivot’s price. Valley Irrigation was so i mpr im pressed with h Kevin’s tenacity that its leadership invited Kevin to impressed Omah Om aha, h a, N ebraska, ebr eb raska, to see V Omaha, Nebraska, Valley’s headquarters in person earlier this month. BMCC is proud to call Kevin one o of its outstanding students! Have you heard about the BMCC bond? BMCC wants to continue to provide a high-quality education for students so they can succeed like our many distinguished alumni! Check out the bond page on our website to learn more about how BMCC could continue to provide an affordable education for family- wage jobs, a safe and secure learning environment and protect the community’s investment. Look for the bond on the May 19, 2015, ballot! www.bluecc.edu/about-bmcc/bond-measure BMCC is an equal opportunity employer and educator. • Adult, Child and Family Therapy • Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment • Mental Health and Crisis Services • Confidential and Professional Care 331 SE 2nd St., Pendleton, OR 97801 Office: 541-276-6207 Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON 595 NW 11th St., 866-343-4473 Hermiston, OR 97838 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536 P EDIATRIC D ENTISTRY Call Today! 541-289-5433 Spring is in the air and creativity is blooming everywhere! 1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR (across from Good Shepherd Medical Center) Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm Spring Show One of a Kind Jewelry U Wearable Fiber Art U Mosaic Glass Original Paintings U Metal Garden Art U Woodworking UÊPhotography Functional Pottery U Mixed Media U Specialty Foods and much more! T R A C Center 6600 N. Burden Blvd. U Pasco, WA U Free Parking March 20 - 21 - 22, 2015 Saturday 10 am - 6 pm Sunday 10 am - 4 pm V ISION C ARE Eye Health & Vision Care Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC Optometric Physician 115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130 541-567-1837 U RGENT & F AMILY C ARE Admission $ 6.00 U Good all weekend! U Kids 12 & under free Presented by: MEDICAL DIRECTORY U RGENT & F AMILY C ARE URGENT CARE Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY HOURS: 236 E. Newport Mon.-Sat. 541-567-1137 Hermiston 7:30am-7:00pm (across from U.S. Bank) www.apd4kidz.com Custer’s 16 th Annual Friday 10 am - 8 pm should be made to prevent those illnesses, which would decrease costs. Wyden said he introduced a Medicare reform bill in January called the Better Care, Lower Cost Act, which would encourage providers to do more with prevention while also treating the illness. lue ountain ommunity ollege MENTAL HEALTH LIFEWAYS PENDLETON needed. “It means well ... but PLVVHG WKH QHHG IRU IOH[- ibility,” he said. Wyden also addressed health care costs, stating 90 percent of Medicare payments are for people with chronic diseases like diabetes and heart dis- ease. He said more effort Over 150 Professional Artists and Crafters! Good Shepherd Medical Group The specialists you asked for... ...Right here at home. Family Medicine Internal Medicine Pediatrics Women’s Health General Surgery Urology Appointments 541-567-5305 600 NW 11th St., Suite E-37 • Hermiston • www.gshealth.org xäÓ{äxnnÊUÊÜÜÜ° ÕÃÌiÀ- ÜðV F AMILY D ENTISTRY Family Dentistry ~ N ew Patients Welcome~ 541-567-8161 995 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S . U RGENT & F AMILY C ARE Good Shepherd Medical Group The specialists you asked for... ...Right here at home. Family Medicine Internal Medicine Pediatrics Women’s Health General Surgery Urology Appointments 541-567-5305 600 NW 11th St., Suite E-37 • Hermiston • www.gshealth.org To Advertise In The Medical Directory, Please Call Jeanne At 541-564-4531