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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2015)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 COMMUNITY NEWS IN BRIEF Medicare presentations off er help Information about applying for Medicare and the latest updates to the program will be presented at free community meetings. 3resented by of¿ cials from Oregon’s State Health Insurance Bene¿ ts Assistance program, Are You Ready for Medicare? features 90-minute sessions, which include a question and answer period. Other topics covered in the sessions include important deadlines to purchase additional insurance or prescription coverage, what happens if people continue to work after becoming Medicare eligible, how to compare Medicare supplements and how to evaluate long-term care insurance. Cynthia Hylton, a SHIBA ¿ eld of¿ cer, said many Oregon seniors have too much or inappropriate health insurance. Others don’t get all their medical claims paid because they’re overwhelmed by paperwork. SHIBA assists people in avoiding these pitfalls and enjoying all the bene¿ ts to which they’re entitled. Area presentations are: •Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave. •Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m., Umatilla Public Library, 700 Sixth St. •Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m., Oregon Trail Library District, 490 N.W. Main Ave., Irrigon •Thursday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m., Port of Morrow, 2 Marine Drive, Boardman •Thursday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m., Stan¿ eld Public Library, 180 W. Coe Ave. To ensure there are enough materials, RSVP by contacting 800-722-4134 or shiba.oregon@oregon.gov. Although pre-registration is requested, no one will be turned away. For more information, visit www.oregon.gov/dcbs/ shiba. Altrusa hosts author Jane Kirkpatrick Eastern Oregon author Jane Kirkpatrick will make an appearance in Hermiston as her latest book is released. Based on true events, “The Memory Weaver” takes a journey into the past, where threads of western landscapes, family and faith weave a tapestry of hope inside every pioneering woman’s heart. The book is based on the life of Eliza Spalding, a strong pioneering woman who, as a child, witnessed the attack on Whitman Mission west of present day Walla Walla, Washington, in November 1847. The author’s presentations have been called “lively, inventive, authentic and wise.” Kirkpatrick, who resides in Moro and has penned more than 25 books, ¿ nds a way for participants to experience the lessons of her historical characters. Having received several awards -ane .irkpatrick for her historical ¿ ction, Kirkpatrick helps readers ¿ nd healing and hope through the power of the written and spoken word. Kirkpatrick will read from “The Memory Weaver” and sign copies during a presentation hosted by Altrusa International of Hermiston. The event is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Extension, Hermiston. To reserve a copy of the book, call Armchair Books at 541-276-7323. For more about the author, visit www. jkbooks.com. WWII veteran still serving his country and community By SEAN HART Staff Writer The walls of Willard “Bill” Runion’s room are lined with recognitions from various organizations, but the Hermiston World War II veteran will have to make room for one more. The 88-year-old was recently named the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Associa- tion 2015 Oregon Citizen of the Year for helping pro- vide life-saving equipment and survival training for law enforcement of¿ cers. Runion said he doesn’t have much money to give, but he tries to help as much as he can. “After I lost my wife in ’98, I went back and took care of my mother for sev- en years until she passed away,” he said. “And then I came back and I said, ‘Bill, you’re going to go out and make a name for yourself.’ So I did.” Runion has been a mem- ber of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled Amer- i c a n eter- VETERAN V ans. He served as commander of a local American Legion post and on the honor guard in hun- dreds of veterans’ funer- als. Giving back to service members and law enforce- ment personnel is his top priority, he said, having served as a military police of¿ cer in the Army. At the age of 16, Run- ion said he lied about his age to enlist and was sent to Japan during World War CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Willard Runion sailed on the troop ship the USNS David C. Shanks during World War II. STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Hermiston World War II veteran Willard “Bill” Runion has been named a 2015 Oregon Citizen of the Year by the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Runion served in the U.S. Army and was involved in the 3aciÀ c theater and the occupation of -apan. II. At Okinawa, he lost vi- sion in his right eye from the muzzle blast from an unseen enemy soldier, who also stabbed him in the leg with a bayonet. “I didn’t even see the stupid (Japanese soldier) right on the side of me — it was that dark — but my buddy did, and he killed him,” Runion said. “After he killed him, he pulled that bayonet out of my leg. At least it didn’t go through the bone.” Runion said he was sent to Nagasaki after the atomic bomb had been dropped there. It looked “like hell,” he said, with little left standing. After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, he said he was stationed at Camp Drake in the Tokyo area with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Runion said he had many interactions with the leader of the allied forces in Japan. He said he even saved MacArthur’s son from falling down a mountain when he wan- dered off alone. “I had never seen a tear drop out of that man’s eye,” Runion said. “But when I pounded on the door and said, ‘Sir, here’s your son,’ tears came down his eyes.” After Runion was dis- charged from the Army in 1949, he got a job driving trucks in his Ohio home- town. Four months later, he decided to “see some country,” so he hitchhiked to Key West, Florida, and then across the nation to Seattle, with a truck driv- er. “When I got out of the rig, I had one stink- ing dime in my pocket,” he said. “I put my dime in a phone box, and you would have thought I was in (Las) Vegas. Money just kept pouring out. I took my cap (to collect it). Some fell on the ground, but I had $17 in my cap.” With the money, Run- ion bought a ticket to Ta- coma, Washington, where he took a job driving truck and met his wife, Yvonne. The couple moved to Umatilla County in 1975 and he secured a job with Threemile Canyon Farms. Runion said he retired more than 20 years ago, but remained active in veteran and military ser- vice organizations. He has received the Veter- ans of Oregon Honorable Service Medal and a U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute commendation, as well as multiple cer- tificates of appreciation from the groups in which he participated. Runion continued giv- ing back to law enforce- ment organizations as well. He has made month- ly donations to the Na- tional Law Enforcement Of¿ cers Memorial Fund for the last 15 years, along with the recent donation to the deputy sheriff’s asso- ciation. ANNIVERSARY Jim and Lola Pettyjohn The family of Jim and Lola Pettyjohn is inviting family and friends to help celebrate the couple’s 65th wedding anniversa- ry. The celebration will be held Sunday, Sept. 6 from 2-4 p.m. at the Fam- ily Closet building, 205 Tumbleweed Blvd., Irri- gon. The couple requests no gifts. Jim Pettyjohn and Lola McCabe were married in 1950. Longtime Morrow County residents, the Pet- tyjohns now live in Mc- Nary (Umatilla), Ore. Jim is a retired farmer and truck driver, and Lola is a homemaker. The couple has four children: Earl Pettyjohn, Anchorage, Alaska; Linda Groce, Boardman; Jerry Pettyjohn, Heppner; and Nancy Lancaster, Oak Harbor, Wash. They also have five grandchildren and nine great-grandchil- dren. Inland Musicians set rehearsals The Inland Northwest Musicians are getting set to warm up their voices and instruments. Rehearsals for the 2015- 16 chorale season began Monday at Harris Junior Academy, 3121 S.W. Hai- ley Ave., Pendleton. The weekly practices lead up to the ¿ rst set of concerts, which are Oct. 17-18. The orchestra’s weekly rehearsal begin Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m., also at the junior academy. Their ¿ rst concerts are Oct. 10- 11. Try-outs aren’t required to participate with the orga- nization’s ensembles. T H E Formed in 1999, Inland Northwest Musicians is committed to providing free live performances through- out rural Eastern Oregon and southeast Washington. The organization’s mission is to provide an atmosphere to support musicians in de- veloping their talent. For those interested in joining the chorale, contact Salli Ketchersid, 541-314- 5833 or email ketchersid@ eotnet.net.; and for the orchestra, contact R. Lee Friese at 541-289-4696 or innw@machmedia.net. The organization’s website is www.inlandnorthwestmu- sicians.com. N AT I O N A L MODEL TRAIN SHOW Portland Expo Center | Aug. 28th-30th NATIONALTRAINSHOW.ORG WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO HOMES? 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