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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2015)
Hermiston A4 B USINESS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 Project builds more houses Most workers at Port of Morrow commute to job from other towns By GEORGE PLAVEN Staff Writer Boardman’s new Tuscany subdivision celebrated the completion of its ¿ rst two houses Friday on South Main Street and Wilson Lane. The development marks a major step forward for a city in need of housing to accom- modate a rapidly growing workforce. Employees of businesses at the nearby Port of Morrow now outrank the city’s overall population, and estimates show percent of those workers commute from other areas. Riverwood Homes, of Meridian, Idaho, began de- veloping the Tuscany and Chaparral Park subdivisions late last year to capitalize on the market in Boardman. Two homes are ¿ nished in Tuscany, and foundations laid for two more. Fourteen lots are slated for the proj- ect’s ¿ rst building phase. Greg Johnson, president of Riverwood Homes, said one of the ¿ nished houses has already sold. STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS 7ZoKoPeVKaYeEeenFoPSOeWeGVoIarLnWKeÀrVWSKaVeoI building at the Tuscany subdivision in Boardman. The subdivision could add as many as 160 homes to the city. Johnson said two more homes will be ¿ nished in the next days at Chapar- ral Park, located west of City Hall at the end of Kinkade Road. Four more homes will begin construction there be- fore the end of the year. The neighborhood will include rental units. Their goal, Johnson said, is to provide higher quali- ty housing at Tuscany and more moderately priced townhouses at Chaparral Park. With more options available, Johnson said some port workers might decide to live locally instead of driv- ing from Hermiston or the Tri-Cities. Housing has been a prior- ity in Boardman since com- munity leaders convened with the governor’s Regional Solutions team in 21 to capture an inÀ ux of industry at the port. At the time, the port claimed 1, employ- ees, though that ¿ gure has since swelled to ,-plus. Boardman’s population is roughly ,. The Regional Solutions team conducted a survey of employees at Columbia Riv- er Processing, GreenWood Resources, ReKlaim Tech- nologies and the Morrow County School District. Of those workers surveyed, about percent said they commuted to work, most from more than 2 miles away. The current housing stock in Boardman is ap- proximately living units, he said. There is a shortage of rentals. Barry Beyeler, commu- nity development director, said he is excited about a relatively new home-buying incentive program through the Boardman Community Development Association that provides , grants to potential homeowners. “The ball is rolling, but it’s not an avalanche,” Beye- ler said. “We’re starting to get to the place where com- mercial entities can look at us and say there’s a market here.” Jill Parker, president of the community development association, said they have already awarded grants in just 13 months. Of those, percent are moving into the community from outside Morrow County. Riverwood Homes will sell houses in the Tuscany and Chaparral Park neigh- borhoods as the market calls for them. Tuscany can eventually be built out to 1 lots, and 1 townhouses in the ¿ rst phase of Chaparral Park. Umatilla Electric receives $43M federal loan Staff Writer The Umatilla Electric Co- operative plans to use a 3 million federal loan to rebuild aging power lines and substa- tions, some of which are now more than years old. UEC was one of util- ities and co-ops in 31 states to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Devel- opment Electric Program, Printed on recycled newsprint VOLUME 109 ɿ NUMBER 58 To contact the Hermiston Herald for news, advertising or subscription information: • call 541-567-6457 • e-mail info@hermistonherald.com • stop b\ our of¿ ces at E. 0ain St. • visit us online at: hermistonherald.com The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN 8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston Herald, E. 0ain St., Hermiston, OR 788, (541) 567-6457, FA; (541) 567-1764. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Delivered by carrier and mail Wednesdays Inside Umatilla0orrow counties .......... $42.65 Outside Umatilla0orrow counties ....... $5.0 Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR. Postmaster, send address changes to Hermiston Herald, E. 0ain St., Hermiston, OR 788. 0ember of EO 0edia *roup &opyright 2015 which has awarded 3 billion in low-interest loans since 2. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the an- nouncement Oct. 22, saying the program helps provide reliable and affordable elec- tricity to rural customers. Steve Meyers, UEC spokesman, said the loan will pay for system improve- ments in 21 and 21. It is the co-op’s primary source of funding long-range con- struction projects. “UEC is in its most in- tensive period of building and upgrading since the 1s,” Meyers said. “This loan reÀ ects that.” In recent years, UEC has rebuilt six miles of power SAVE THE DATE HONORING ALL VETERANS & WITH A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO UMATILLA COUNTY VETERANS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II 11 A.M. NOVEMBER 11 TH PENDLETON CONVENTION CENTER COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH IS BEING PROVIDED FOLLOWING THE PROGRAM FOR TICKETS PLEASE RSVP AT 541-278-6204 lines on Weston Mountain and completely rebuilt its Coyote Springs Substation east of Boardman. The Juni- per Canyon Substation was also refurbished in 21. Meyers said there is still work to be done around Hermiston and Irrigon. Meanwhile, the co-op re- cently broke ground on its 3th substation, named Tumbleweed, at the Port of Morrow. It also plans to build a 1-megawatt solar ar- ray east of Umatilla. BETTY FEVES MEMORIAL GALLERY By GEORGE PLAVEN HERMISTONHERALD.COM BRIEFCASE Good Shepherd hires communication director To help meet the demands of the changes in health care and to increase community awareness about Good Shepherd Health Care System services, the organiza- tion recently hired Nick Bejarano as its new marketing and communication di- rector. Bejarano comes to Good Shepherd with more than 12 years of experience in marketing. Most recently, he worked as senior marketing and communications Bejarano manager for a two-hospital and 22-clinic system in California. “Eastern Oregon is a beautiful place and Hermiston is a great small community to raise a family,” Bejarano said. “Good Shepherd Health Care System also has a reputation as being a great place to work and has a re- nowned legacy of caring for the community.” Yo Country off ers more than frozen yogurt Yo Country Frozen Yogurt in Hermiston also features kombucha, a fermented beverage available in a variety of À avors. The drink is available in pints, and growlers can also be ¿ lled at the shop, 12 N. First St., Hermiston. For more information, call 1-2-11. Umatilla County, BMCC announce partnership The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 21 to join Blue Mountain Community College in de- veloping a skilled workforce in the area. The partnership will include working with Susan Bow- er, owner of Eastern Oregon Business Source, to conduct a thorough study of workforce needs in the area. Commissioner Bill Elfering said in a news release that the need for skilled workers is second only to the need for more housing in Umatilla County. “The demand for a skilled workforce and skilled work- force training is a high priority in the private sector,” Elf- ering said. “We believe the county and BMCC can help ¿ ll that niche, which will lead to business expansion and recruitment for family wage jobs.” According to the release, Elfering has been meeting with industry leaders and state and local of¿ cials on the topic. It’s not like her. Mom has always been so patient, but now when I ask her questions she gets angry. We can help. 1-855-ORE-ADRC HelpForAlz.org OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM Feves Gallery 25th Anniversary: The Legacy Continues November 5 ~ December 17, 2015 Opening Reception: Thursday, November 5 • 4:30~6:30 pm FEATURING : Betty Feves, Aaron Burgess, Jan Dow, Alice Fossatti, Doug Kaigler, Joel Kaylor, Kyoung Sook Kim, Jim Lavadour & David Waln The Feves Gallery 25th Anniversary: The Legacy Continues celebrates the anniversary of the art gallery by honoring its namesake, late artist Betty Feves, whose pieces will be on display surrounded by the work of artists who apprenticed with her. Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30am-2:30pm Special Hours: Saturday, Nov. 7th 11am-4pm By appointment: 541-278-5952 Betty Feves Memorial Gallery located at Blue Mountain Community College, Pioneer Hall, 2411 NW Carden Avenue, Pendleton, Oregon Meet Your Cancer Crushing Team Welcome Dr. Robert Johnson is pleased to announce Dr. Graham McEntire will be joining his practice. 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