Hermiston
DAVIDSON
LEADS
HERMISTON
TO VICTORY
Herald
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016
HermistonHerald.com
SPORTS
Page 9
$1.00
ABOUT TOWN
‘16
Library display
features Hart’s
photographs
Former Hermiston Fire
Chief Pat Hart has sever-
al of his photographs on
display at the Hermiston
Public Library.
Specializing in land-
scape photography, Hart
considers himself a
semi-professional pho-
tographer. He has been
hired by local businesses,
such as Banner Bank, to
provide images to use as
decoration.
The public is invited
to a reception Thursday,
July 21 from 4-6 p.m. at
the library, 235 E. Gladys
Ave., Hermiston.
For more information,
call 541-567-2882.
West Nile
detected near
Umatilla,
Stanfield
Hermiston Herald
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Whoopsy catches some air while Sedona and Holiday keep their eyes on J.D. Platt during the K9 Flying Dog Show as part of Saturday’s Funfest
activities in Hermiston.
Event spreads the fun around town
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
rom lying dogs and souped-up lawn
mowers to chainsaw carvers and live en-
tertainment, the fun was spread all over
Hermiston Saturday during the annual
Funfest celebration.
In addition, the Cool Rides Car Show
illed McKenzie Park.
The city also kicked off its new “Where Life Is
Sweet” branding. Free cups, magnets and balloons
were handed out as part of the celebration. In ad-
dition, Debbie Pedro, Hermiston Chamber of Com-
merce executive director; Mark Morgan, Hermiston
assistant city manager; and Lori McNeil, Mrs. Ore-
gon from Baker City; tossed out special logo-brand-
ed T-shirts.
Morgan said thousands of area residents voted in
favor of the new slogan and logo. The new brand, Pe-
dro added, is one that the community can be proud of.
“This is what is going to be on the water tower,”
Morgan said. “We will have a watermelon on a fully
painted water tower.”
The day kicked off with the annual Rotary Break-
fast. In addition, food and beverage vendors were
available up and down Main Street. In celebration
of the new brand, Yo Country Frozen Yogurt hand-
ed out free watermelon lavored sorbet just after the
branding kick-off.
New to this year’s festival was the K9 Kings Fly-
ing Dog Show. J.D. Platt and his pack of lying dogs
entertained the crowds during three shows in the
ield at Sunset Elementary School.
Kids from the crowd even had a chance to toss
Frisbees to the pooches. In addition, meet and greets
after each show featured lots of laughter and licking.
“He got me in the face,” Amaya Aguiar said with
a big smile.
F
See FUN, A14
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Garrett Aries of George Kenny School of Chainsaw Carving visits with a festival-goer
Saturday during Funfest.
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Amaya Aguiar, 9, greets one of the canine athletes after the K9 Flying Dog Show as
part of Saturday’s Funfest activities in Hermiston.
Famous watermelons arrive at market
Growers pleased with
this year’s quality
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Staff Writer
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Hermiston watermelons are out of the ields on display at the Finley’s Fresh
Produce booth Friday at the Pendleton Farmer’s Market.
They’re here!
Hermiston watermel-
ons, savored by Orego-
nians for their distinctive
sweetness, are back in
season. Growers began
harvesting last week.
Hermiston watermelons
have earned their reputa-
tion thanks to the Colum-
bia Basin’s unique combi-
nation of climate and soil.
Watermelons themselves
See MELONS, A14
West Nile virus has
been detected in two mos-
quito samples in Umatilla
County, one east of Uma-
tilla and one on the south-
ern edge of Stanield.
The samples were
collected June 28, and
testing was done at the
Oregon State Universi-
ty Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory on July 6. It’s
the irst detection of West
Nile in Oregon so far this
year.
Residents can expect
an increase in mosqui-
to control operations,
including
Ultra-Low
Volume
applications
of
insecticide
from
truck-mounted sprayers.
Spraying will typically be
done after sunset, when
mosquitoes are most ac-
tive. All applicators are
licensed by the Oregon
Department of Agricul-
ture.
West Nile is primar-
ily a bird disease, with
magpies, blue jays and
crows especially suscep-
tible. Mosquitoes feed
on infected birds and can
pass the virus to humans
or other animals when
they bite. Most people
infected with West Nile
do not become sick, but
some may develop mild
lu-like symptoms and, in
rare cases, the virus may
cause encephalitis, or in-
lammation of the brain.
The risk of West Nile
is low, but the public is
encouraged to take pre-
cautions against mos-
quito bites. People can
reduce their exposure to
mosquitoes by avoiding
outdoor activities at dawn
or dusk, when mosquitoes
are active, using mosqui-
to repellent or wearing
long-sleeved shirts and
pants when working in
mosquito-infested areas.
Other tips include
screening doors and win-
dows, and getting rid of
old tires or other contain-
ers where water can ac-
cumulate and serve as a
breeding ground for mos-
quitoes. Those with hors-
es should check with their
veterinarians for vaccina-
tions, and be sure to lush
or replace the water in
their troughs weekly.
For more information
and updates on West Nile,
visit www.public.health.
oregon.gov or call the
Umatilla County Health
Department at 541-278-
5432.