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
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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
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The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
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Herald, E. 0ain St., Hermiston, OR
788, (541) 567-6457, FA; (541) 567-1764.
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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.
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We can help.
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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.
Dr. Robert
Johnson
Sue Mandell, MD
Medical Director
Radiation Oncologist
Your Tri-Cities
Cancer Center
has invested
in the latest
radiation
technology:
the Edge™
radiosurgery
system from
Varian.
Juno Choe, MD, PhD
Radiation Oncologist
Guy Jones, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Graham
McEntire
Dr. McEntire specializes in general dentistry
for patients of all ages and will be
extending our services to include oral
surgery and dental implants.
We will continue to provide the same great
dental care. New patients and same day
emergencies are always welcome.
809 SW Court Ave. • Pendleton
541.276.3241
Saving Lives Everyday...
7350 W. Deschutes Ave.
Kennewick, WA
(509) 783-9894 | tccancer.org
