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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2016)
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 COMMENTARY Chance encounters: Colorful character slings ish in Hermiston sic career. I heard the captain’s famil- Through my work as a jour- iar voice last week when he nalist, I get to meet all types of called to tell me he was com- unique and colorful characters. ing to Hermiston. Parked next And recently, I came to know to C&C Secondhand, 30654 Captain Jonny. Baggett Lane, which is located My first contact with off Highway 395 between Captain Jonny Rush was Hermiston and Umatilla, this past April as he was Rush is hawking fish in getting ready to come to the area as long as he can Eastern Oregon for a Cin- stand the heat. co de Mayo Seafood Cir- Rush says he moves cus in Milton-Freewater. with the tide. The first thing I learned “The freeway is my about Captain Jonny is Tammy ocean and the beaches are Malgesini that he’s quite the talker. INSIDE MY my rest area,” he said. Rush, AKA Carl Trenta- SHOES The captain isn’t exact- due, is an eccentric fish- ly sure how long he’ll be monger. in Hermiston during this trip, He sells salmon, halibut, sea but likely at least through Sept. bass, ling, shrimp and whatever 10. It depends on how quickly else is biting out of a bus named the fish moves, he said. How- Red Dog. More than a fish mar- ever, he’s offering a Red, White ket on wheels, the 1974 GMC and Blue Labor Day special Thomas bus also serves as a during his entire stay. He plans traveling billboard and catch- on giving away samples of all for artwork, souvenirs and salmon to people that stop in. If memorabilia from Rush’s mu- you have a few minutes to chat, By TAMMY MALGESINI Community Editor STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI Captain Jonny Rush travels throughout the Paciic Northwest selling ish out of a unique bus he named Red Dog. The colorful ishmonger is in Hermiston through the Labor Day weekend and beyond. you can call him at 503-860- 1851 to make sure he hasn’t drifted with the tide. Rush began slinging fish NEW MEMBERS CHAMBER EVENTS Eastern Oregon Mission Agape House Chamber Business Connecion nearly 20 years ago. An oppor- tunity to make some money fell into the longtime Washington resident’s lap when he was in Rapid City, South Dakota. “Captain Jonny had a van and one freezer. Broke and didn’t have a dime, he sold 15 cases of shrimp and that’s how he learned how to do it,” Rush said, referring to himself in the third person. For some photo opportunities and interesting conversation — and maybe pick up some fish — drive along Highway 395 and look for the red bus. You can’t miss it with the flashing lights. Also, it’s covered with every- thing from masks and flags to statues, corks and nets. In addi- tion, there are signs advertising a variety of fish. “It’s a sight to see,” Captain Jonny said. Indeed it is. ——— Tammy Malgesini is the com- munity editor. Her column, In- side my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4539. Nookies Hermiston Brewing Every Tuesday at 8:30am KOHU 1360am 500 Harper Road, Hermiston 541-567-8774 agapehousehermiston.org Club 24 Network Hermiston Wednesday, Aug. 31st 5:30pm Hermiston Pet 541-571-9117 hermistonpet.com Grand Opening Guardian Angel Homes Holiday Inn Express Leadership Hermiston Class 20 Thursday, Sept. 8th 3:00pm Tuesday, Sept. 13th 7:30am Hermiston Conference Center 245 N. 1st St., Hermiston 541-585-5656 Laino Business Network Goodwin Ag Enterprises Tuesday, Sept. 13th 10:00am Hermiston Conference Center Deer Meadows, WA 509-386-6870 Chamber Ambassadors Smity’s Ace Hardware 1845 N. 1st St., Hermiston 541-567-6816 Wednesday, Sept. 14th 7:15am Hermiston Conference Center Quality Inn Business to Business Luncheon Tuesday, Sept. 27th 11:45 am Hermiston Conference Center 705 Willamete Ave., Umailla 541-922-1101 GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY! 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