Hermiston Herald WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015 ABOUT TOWN SPORTS www.HermistonHerald.com PAGE 7 $1.00 Page 4 S E A S O N IS H E R E Local ag teachers honored PAGE 3 DUST DEVILS TEACH BASEBALL BASICS FUNFEST REVS UP THE WEEKEND School district updates its Internet connection The Hermiston School Dis- trict is updating its local Internet speed this week, upgrading from 0.4 gigabits per second to up to 10 gigabits per second. The upgrade is intended to im- prove Internet access and service for faculty, students and commu- nity members. The upgrade process started Monday. During the upgrade, the public will have limited access to school district websites. Full functionality should return no later than 6 a.m. today. Music, movies entertain on Friday nights in McKenzie Park FILE PHOTO BY SEAN HART George Kenny, Shelton, Washington, carves an eagle out of red cedar with a chainsaw at last year’s Funfest. He will be returning for this year’s event Saturday in downtown Hermiston. 10th annual event provides fun family experience BY SEAN HART Saturday events include 20th annual Cool Rides Car Show STAFF WRITER From the roar of chain- saws sculpting to the revved up lawn mower dragsters, the sounds of Funfest will echo through downtown Saturday. With a full lineup of lo- cal musicians and entertain- ment, a variety of vendors and a collection of children’s games and activities, the 10th annual event aims to provide a fun-¿ lled day for the entire family. Hermiston Chamber of Commerce Executive Di- rector Debbie Pedro said the free festival on East Main Street has become a local tra- dition. “We’re excited about having an event that brings the families out, and there’s something really for every- body,” she said. EVENTS “ T h a t ’s w h a t Funfest is really all about: bringing out the community together and providing a fun day.” The Hermiston Parks and Rec- reation Department is hosting a lineup of music and movies in McKenzie Park, 320 S. First St., on Fridays. The musical part of the summer program kicks off Friday. Bands are scheduled to perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the next three Fridays. On the bill are Rusty Roe and the Outsiders on July 10, Brass Fire Band on July 17 and Latin Fusion on July 24. The movies roll starting at dusk, or about 8:45 p.m., for three weeks. The movie Paddington is on the bill for July 31, Back to the Future rolls Aug. 7 and Cinderella takes her turn on the screen Aug. 21. Neon Nights 5k set for 10 p.m. BY SEAN HART STAFF WRITER FILE PHOTO BY SEAN HART Spectators look on as Outlaw Lawn Dragsters member Billy Loftin, right, New Plymouth, Idaho, races member Lisa Olson, New Plymouth, at Funfest last year. The lawn mower drag races will be back for this year’s event Saturday, with races scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Hermiston Rotary Club will start the festivi- ties with a breakfast from 7:30-9:30 a.m. on North Second Street near Main. Pedro said “all kinds of great eats” would also be available throughout the festival from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. East Main Street will be blocked to traf¿ c from High- SEE FUNFEST/A14 Funfest main stage entertainment 8:30 a.m.: Parks & Rec Dancers 9 a.m.: Totally Elite Cheer 9:30 a.m.: Round Up City Cloggers 10 a.m.: Jacob Looper (music) 11 a.m.: Dallin Puzey (music) Noon: Dakota Brown (music) 1 p.m.: Fiesta Foods Mariachi Band 2 p.m.: Masonic Lodge raffl e drawing 2:10 p.m.: Chainsaw wood carving auction Cold storage warehouse opens at Port of Morrow BY GEORGE PLAVEN STAFF WRITER A new freezer warehouse is open at the Port of Morrow in Boardman, where food processors can store frozen pota- toes and vegetables shipping their BUSINESS before product to stores. The $14.5 million project includes both the warehouse and a 2,500-foot rail spur on Lewis and Clark Drive in the port’s East Beach In- dustrial Park. Port of¿ cials will hold a ribbon-cut- ting ceremony Wednesday, though the facility actually began operating June 2 with 24 employees and enough capacity for 40 million pounds of frozen foods. Jim Barnes, general manager of the SEE STORAGE/A14 Saturday is full of events in Herm- iston. A short walk from Funfest, nestled in the shade at McKenzie Park, Herm- iston Classics Car Club’s 20th annu- al Cool Rides Car Show offers a trip down memory lane — or a glimpse into another era when classic muscle dominated the roadway. More than 85 cars were on display at the free show last year, and club President Gordon Blankenship said he hopes even more will attend this year. The event begins Friday evening with a poker run and barbecue for the people showing cars, followed by Hermiston’s ¿ rst Music in the Park SEE EVENTS/A14 Legislature writes check to EOTEC The end of the 2015 legislative session came with a $1.5 million gift for the East- ern Oregon Trade and Event Center. EOTEC board chair Ed Brookshier said the money was “absolutely critical” to ¿ ll- ing some funding gaps to make sure the project will be ready to host the Umatilla County EOTEC Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo in 2016. “We could not be happier, we really couldn’t,” he said. Brookshier said the board has been in touch with Rep. Greg Smith, R-Hep- pner, and his staff during the session, watching as he fought for funding for the project. Brookshier said without the money it would have been dif¿ cult to get everything done by early 2016. With the money, the board is con¿ dent that EOTEC will be fair and rodeo ready by next summer. — Jade McDowell Rep. Smith Brookshier HERALD PHOTO Class of 1980 reunion this month The Hermiston High School Class of 1980 is hosting its 35th class reunion Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, in Hermiston. Friday’s event is a 1980s theme night for socializing and bowling at Desert Lanes Bowling Alley in Hermiston. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. Saturday will feature a golf tournament at Big River Golf Course in Umatilla. It begins at 8 a.m. and costs $40 for 18 holes and a cart. At 9 a.m. Saturday, a walk starts at Hermiston’s River- front Park. The ¿ nal event Saturday, July 18, is dinner and dancing at Stet- son’s Steakhouse in Hermiston. The social hour begins at 6 p.m. and runs for an hour. At 6:30 p.m. is a class picture, and dinner be- gins at 7 p.m. with a choice of prime rib or chicken buffet. The dinner includes a memorial and awards presentation, followed by dancing. The registration deadline is Tuesday, July 7. The cost, exclud- ing golf, is $40 per person or $20 person without dinner. Checks may be mailed to Di Fordice, 29723 Minnehaha Road, Hermis- ton, or people can register at www. debbibaioa.com.