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.
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