Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 2016)
Hermiston Herald ld HermistonHerald.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016 LOCAL ELECTION COVERAGE INSIDE Pages 7 & 14 $1.00 ABOUT TOWN BRAND NEW Leadership Hermiston celebrates 20 years A 20th reunion of Leadership Hermiston is planned this month. Explore, Discover, Dream is Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Hermiston Con- ference Center, 415 S. Highway 395. There is no charge for alumni and a guest. Classmates are invited for an evening of con- necting and networking with class participants from the past 20 years. The gathering will in- clude hors d’oeuvres, beverages, raffl es, door prizes and an inspiration- al speaker. Those planning to at- tend are asked to RSVP by Friday, Oct. 14, at 541-567-6151 or barb@ hermistonchamber.com. STAFF PHOTOS BY GARY L. WEST Workers from Dunkin & Bush Inc., industrial painting contractors, paint in the lettering of the city name on a new logo on the water tower on Highway 395 on Tuesday morning. Hermiston’s water tower gets a fresh coat of paint and a new look Hermiston Herald S omebody has a fashionable new coat for fall — or rather something does. Workers from Dunkin & Bush Inc. have been painting for a couple of weeks on the Hermiston water tower on the southeast entrance to the city on Highway 395. First came the light off- white base coat, but this week painters have added the splash of color. The repainting brings the iconic water- melon back to the high-visibility location and covers over the previous city slogan and mis-matched paint job — both of which have been the source of snickers and com- plaints. When the old logo of “Hermiston: You Can GROW Here” was painted on the tank in 2014, only the portion of the reservoir featuring the new slogan was repainted and the fresh paint didn’t match the faded paint surrounding it. Many residents also complained that there was no watermelon featured on that side of the tank either. Earlier this year the city adopted the new logo, featuring a watermelon wedge and the basalt butte, which is the city’s most prom- inent natural landmark, and a new slogan: “Where Life is Sweet.” The city budgeted $75,000 to fully re- paint the water tower and add the new logo earlier this year. The city also included an additional $25,000 in the budget to imple- ment the new branding on city stationery, signs and other materials. According to Mark Morgan, assistant city manager, painting work will continue this week, and possibly longer depending on weather, on the water tower including painting work on the side facing toward town. The new logo on the Hermiston water tower starts taking shape on Monday as painting contractors from Dunkin & Bush fi lled in colors on the new design. Workers from Dunkin & Bush Inc. work Monday on the watermelon portion of the logo on the water tower on the edge of town. The logo replaces the city’s former brand, which coupled with an uneven paint appearance on the water tower was a source of jokes and irritation for many Hermiston residents for more than two years. And the water tower, with completed logo, as it looked by mid-afternoon Tuesday. Contractors from Dunkin & Bush Inc. have some more work to do on the tower, including painting on the opposite side of the reservoir, but cars entering the city from Highway 395 near the Hermiston Municipal Airport are now greeted by a new look. Volunteer-powered warming station gets new home The Hermiston Warming Station has a new home, and needs some help from the community to get ready for winter. The center will open November 21 in a house at 1075 SW S. Highway 395, and will be available every night through February 28, if there are enough volunteers. Trish Rossell, the president of the nonprofi t that runs the overnight shelter, said people are the biggest need to run the station and “keep humans from freezing to death.” “We don’t need food, clothes or blankets as much as we need YOU,” she wrote in a message to the community. The center is looking for volunteers 18 and older who are willing to take one of three night shifts as often as they are able. Rossell said she hopes those who go through the training and background check are willing to commit to two nights a month. Training sessions are Monday, Oct. 17, from 6-9 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 191 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston and Friday, Oct. 21, from 6-9 p.m. at the Crossroads Community Church, 350 N. Sherman St., Stanfi eld. The background check costs $10 and Rossell asks that people pay for their own if they are able. Five candidates vie for four chairs ELECTION ’16 One challenger takes on four incumbents For details on statewide candidates and ballot measures, pick up the Saturday, Oct. 15, edition of the East Oregonian for an election guide to state races. Hardin Gomolski Gutierrez By JADE McDOWELL Kirwan Primmer Staff Writer Hermiston voters will be faced with fi ve choices for City Council on the ballot in November, but there are only four seats available. Incumbents Manuel Guti- errez, Rod Hardin, John Kir- wan and Doug Primmer, and challenger Mark Gomolski, are all running against each other for the four open at- large council seats. The top four vote-getters will take of- fi ce in January for a four year term. Here are the candidates, in alphabetical order: Mark Gomolski Gomolski retired to Herm- iston from Chicago about a year and a half ago and said he is anxious to get involved in the community in a more offi cial capacity. In Chicago he worked in various positions in city and county government. In Hermiston he managed Uma- tilla County Commissioner Bill Elfering’s re-election campaign in the spring. Gomolski said as a city councilor he would work to increase the city’s communi- cation with citizens. He said often Hermiston residents don’t even know who their city councilors are, and he would like to change that. He also had ideas for at- tracting tourism, including pursuing grants to expand the Maxwell Siding train muse- um, starting a hot air balloon festival and recruiting enter- tainment to the Eastern Ore- gon Trade and Event Center. A third focus is mental health in the community, which he hopes the city can improve by recruiting more See ELECTIONS, A14
