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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 2016)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 IN BRIEF Insurance group announces 2016 scholarship winners The Blue Mountain chapter of the National As- sociation of Insurance and Financial Advisors recently awarded $1,500 scholar- ships to 10 local students. West Umatilla County students earning awards were Soia Gispert Tello and Brady Linnell of Herm- iston High School, and Yazzmin Chavez of Stan- ield High School. NAIFA-Blue Mountain is a group of local insurance professionals dedicated to providing quality service to its clients and communities. The group donates more than $30,000 per year to projects in Eastern Oregon. Catholic Daughters award scholarships A pair of scholarships were recently awarded by Catholic Daughters of America Court No. 1692 to young adults from Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church. The Marilyn Har- ris Memorial Scholarships are for $750 each. Grace Klein of Hermis- ton inished her high school studies with Mother of Di- vine Grace Catholic Ho- meschool, and is planning to attend Blue Mountain Community College to study business. Ricardo Mendoza, also HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 LOCAL NEWS of Hermiston, is a 2015 graduate of Hermiston High School with plans to study criminal justice at BMCC. Klein and Mendoza were selected from an im- pressive pool of applicants, said Delia Wallis. Their commitment to their faith and academic work stood out, resulting in being se- lected for the scholarships. Farm Bureau scholarships awarded to local grads The Umatilla-Morrow County Farm Bureau has awarded scholarships to two Hermiston High School graduates. Brady Linnell was awarded a $1,000 scholar- ship. He is the son of Brock and Marie Linnell of Herm- ston. He will attend Colora- do State University major- ing in animal science and agriculture business, and plans a career as a livestock geneticist. Jessica Smelser was awarded a $500 scholar- ship. She is the daughter of Edwin and Marianne Smelser. She plans to at- tend Tarleton Stage College to study animal science and animal production, and will purse a career as a livestock producer. For more information on Umatilla-Morrow County Farm Bureau scholarships, contact Julie Spratling at 541-457-6045. Student home-builders earn scholarships HERMISTON – Four participants of the Columbia Basin Student Homebuild- ers Program received the 2015-16 one- time $3,000 scholarship by the same name: Elizabeth Herrera, Cameron Me- ade, John Mejia and Emily Vandehey. The application process included a Meade scholarship application and required two letters of recommendation, a copy of the student’s transcripts, and an essay de- scribing how the student’s educational plans/goals and experiences in the CB- SHP helped to shape and support their ca- reer aspirations. Applicants had to be senior classmen in Hermiston, Stanfield, or Umatilla high schools; a student in good stand- ing; an active participant in the CBSHP; Hererra and demonstrate a sincere interest in and intent to pursue a career in the building trades. These trades might include, but are not limited to, welding, sheet metal/ HVAC, heavy equipment operating, car- pentry, electrical, plumbing, construc- tion managing, architecture, engineering (civil, landscape, mechanical, electrical, etc.). Recipients were selected on the ba- sis of his/her desire and intent to pursue training and education, performance in Vandehey the program during their high school ten- ure, and who best articulated their need through the application process. The revolving scholarship fund was es- tablished through the generous sponsor- ship arrangement with the Northeast Ore- gon Home Builders Association. Awarded annually, generated dollars are provided to support graduating high school seniors who have actively participated in the pro- gram and express a desire to pursue post Mejia high school education in a CTE related field through a four-year, two-year, or trade school opportunity. Umatilla County trims costs with reorganization By PHIL WRIGHT Staff Writer Umatilla County Board of Commissioners formal- ized the reorganization of county human services and public health programs to save $250,000 a year. Commissioner George Murdock has been head- ing up the revamp project and Wednesday, June 15, the board voted 3-0 to di- vide the county’s Health and Human Services De- partment into the Public Health Department and the Human Services Depart- ment, each with its own di- rector. The changes go into effect July 1. The county had planned to have public health ad- ministrator Meghan De- Bolt oversee the Health and Human Services De- partment with the aid of two deputy directors. But DeBolt is leaving in July, which prompted the county to sever the depart- ment, give each a director and cut out the deputy po- sitions. The county also contin- ues to forgo having a man- ager for the developmental disabilities program. In- stead, Kim Weissenluh, head of the county’s juve- nile department, oversees the program that operates in the juvenile building. Marie Simonis, assis- tant director of county Business and Finance, estimated the entire plan saves $253,766, includ- ing general fund savings of $218,086. Most of that comes from not hiring the deputy directors or the de- velopmental disabilities manager, she said, and some comes from tapping other funds to pay for sal- aries. Pinching every penny matters, Murdock said at the meeting Wednesday, with the county facing a $1.1 million increase in 2017 from the Public Em- ployee Retirement Sys- tem. The county already established a reserve fund to deal with that cost, but Murdock said it may have to make more adjustments throughout the year. The county is now searching for DeBolt’s successor. Murdock will serve as interim director of public health, a position he held for ive months during a similar search. The county has hired Amy Ashton-Williams of Pendleton as the new di- rector of Human Services, a department that over- sees alcohol and drug pro- grams, gambling addiction services, veterans services, and mental health and oth- er services. She starts July 1. Girl Scouts thank volunteers HERMISTON HERALD Girl Scouts of Oregon and South- west Washington’s Service Unit 22 celebrated the outstanding service of some of its adult volunteers at a Court of Awards ceremony held May 31 at New Hope Community Church in Hermiston. Charles Clupny of Hermiston was recognized as an Outstanding Commu- nity Partner. Clupny is a certiied irst aid and CPR instructor and has provided trainings for Girl Scout volunteers and youth members for the past three years. Michelle Kane, a Girl Scouts service unit volunteer, said Clupny helps in keeping the training costs down and works around people’s busy schedules. Amber Ruiz-Burleson was pre- sented with the Volunteer of Excel- lence. The Hermiston woman initial- ly got involved as a leader for her daughter’s troop. Kane said Ruiz- Burleson was so impressed with the organization that she wanted to be even more involved. She joined the service team, providing assis- tance to Girl Scout volunteers in the four-county area, as the event/travel coordinator and a trainer. Jenny Thomas of Echo and Ja- mie Wiseman of Hermiston received Rising Star Awards for “hitting the ground running” during their irst year as Girl Scout volunteers. They helped in establishing the irst troop that Echo had in about a decade. Their troop participated in sever- al community service projects and hosted a service unit event. Hailey Owens, a Girl Scout Ca- dette from Umatilla, received Wind Beneath My Wings award. Owens, an eighth grader, was nominated by her troop’s leaders for stepping up as a helper for the troop. Denise Grifith, leader of Uma- tilla Troop 50117, and Eva Owens, the troop’s assistant leader, said Owens stays positive and is a tre- mendous role model for the 19 girls, who range in age from kindergarten through ifth grade. “We are very thankful for the time, patience and work our volun- teers give to Girl Scouts each year,” said Kane. “They make the program work for the girls in our community.” There is a waiting list of girls who would like to join Girl Scouts, but there is a shortage of leaders, Kane said. If you would like to join Girl Scouts as a youth member or volun- teer, visit www.girlscoutsosw.org or call 541-389-8146. Two injured in motorcycle vs. pickup wreck near Hermiston STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL Two people were taken to the hospital on Friday morning after the motorcycle they were riding col- lided with a pickup at the intersection of Baxter and Canal roads east of Herm- iston. Hermiston Fire & Emergency Services responded to the crash shortly after 9 a.m. First responders from Hermiston Fire & Emergency Services move a patient to an ambulance after a crash between a pickup and a motorcycle at the intersection of Baxter and Canal roads outside of Hermiston Friday morning shortly after 9 a.m. Two patients were transported by ground ambulance from the scene. Rollover wreck sends 15-year-old juvenile to hospital A 15-year-old girl was flown to a Tri-Cit- ies hospital with serious injuries Friday morning after a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 207 at Bombing Range Road in Morrow Coun- ty. Oregon State Police Trooper Jerrad Little did not identify the vic- tim, but said she was the only person in the truck, which rolled three or four times before ending up on its side in a field. Little said the girl was wearing her seatbelt. Authorities closed the highway for about 45 minutes while the juve- nile was loaded into an air ambulance and tak- en to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Rich- land, Washington. Little said the girl is from the Heppner area, and was traveling north on the highway before she crashed. The cause of the wreck is under inves- tigation. Veronica Zapata Auto Health Home Life habla español 541/289-3300 • 800/225-2521 The Stratton Agency Hermiston / Pendleton • stratton-insurance.com GO ONLINE www.hermistonherald.com Need Shade or Outdoor Living Space? W e’ve Got YOU covered! 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