WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
LOCAL NEWS
Desert Arts Council unveils ‘Dancing with the Stars’ lineup
By JADE McDOWELL
Staff Writer
Six of Hermiston’s local
dignitaries will be getting
their groove on in January
at the fifth annual Dancing
with the Hermiston Stars.
Bill Elfering, Clara Beas
Fitzgerald, Eva Swain,
Greg Smith, LuAnn Davi-
son and Spike Piersol will
be pairing up with profes-
sional dancers to compete
for the mirror ball trophy
and raise money for charity.
The event, put on by the
Desert Arts Council and
sponsored by the Hermiston
Breakfast Kiwanis Club,
will take place Jan. 14 at
Hermiston High School at
7 p.m.
The first half of the eve-
ning’s performance will
feature the stars and their
partners from the Utah
Elfering
Fitzgerald
Swain
Smith
Hermiston Dancing with
the Stars has become a fa-
vorite event in the Desert
Arts Council’s lineup that
everyone looks forward to.
Performers for the 2017
season:
• Bill Elfering is a Uma-
tilla County Commissioner
from Hermiston. He grad-
uated from high school in
Vale and played on three
state champion football
Ballroom Dance Troupe
competing before a panel of
judges. Audience members
can vote too, using their
ticket stubs and cash dona-
tions to the charity of per-
formers’ choice. After in-
termission the dance troupe
will perform a collection of
ballroom dance routines.
Event coordinators Mary
Corp and Karen Davis
said in a news release that
New reporter joins
Hermiston office
Hermiston Herald
Reporter Jayati Ra-
makrishnan joined the
Hermiston Herald and East
Oregonian on Monday as a
reporter in the Hermiston
office.
She will cover education
and public safety for the
two publications, as well as
general assignment duties.
Ramakrishnan
comes
to Eastern Oregon after
spending two years as a re-
porter at the biweekly Cur-
ry Coastal Pilot in Brook-
ings, the southernmost
town on the Oregon Coast.
She has covered education,
ports, city and county gov-
ernment and worked as a
copy editing assistant. She
also enjoyed writing feature
stories and profiles of the
town’s residents.
After two years on the
coast, Ramakrishnan want-
ed to broaden her experience
and learn about the
issues in a different
part of the state.
She was drawn to
Umatilla County
for its proximity to
the Columbia Riv-
er and its plethora
of hiking opportu-
nities.
A lifelong Ore-
gonian, Ramakrishnan was
born in Portland and gradu-
ated from the University of
Oregon in Eugene, study-
ing journalism and psychol-
ogy. She said she is eager to
explore a new part of her
home state, and get used to
the extreme weather.
“I like the idea of getting
to be a true Oregonian,”
she said. “I’ve experienced
urban and coastal
Oregon, but there’s
much more to see in
this state. I’m look-
ing forward to the
new adventure.”
Ramakrishnan
fills the position
most recently held
by Alexa Lou-
gee, who accepted
a teaching position with
Umatilla School District
earlier this fall. Ramakrish-
nan can be reached by
email at jramakrishnan@
hermistonherald.com or by
phone at 541-564-4534.
EOTEC met $2 million goal in 2016
Additional funds
raised will go to
lights, seating in
new arena
By JADE McDOWELL
Staff Writer
If anyone is looking to
squeeze in one more tax
write-off before the end of
2016, the Eastern Oregon
Trade and Event Center
fundraising committee is
happy to help.
Committee chair Dennis
Barnett said the committee
did meet its goal of raising
$2 million for the new fair
and rodeo grounds outside
of Hermiston, but since bids
came in higher than antici-
pated there are still plenty
of needs that could be met
with more donations.
“I will take money any
time,” he said.
Barnett said the commit-
tee raised “a little over” $2
million through 2016, and
recently two anonymous
donors announced they
will match up to $200,000
of new donations to EO-
TEC through the nonprofit
Friends of the Fair and Ro-
deo. The project needs an
extra $400,000 to add light-
ing to the rodeo arena and
end of Umatilla County.
He said it was disappoint-
ing that there wasn’t more
support from the other end
of the county for a project
that will benefit 4H and
FFA kids from all over the
county, not just Hermiston.
Barnett said somewhere
between a third and half of
the dollars donated will be
financed through Banner
Bank, allowing donors to
make multiple payments
instead of handing over all
the cash upfront. Barnett
said the community should
feel proud of the generosi-
ty showed this year toward
EOTEC.
“Any time you can raise
$2 million in five months,
that’s pretty amazing,” he
said.
For more information
call Dennis Barnett at 541-
567-5215.
restore the seats that were
cut when bids for the proj-
ect came in over budget.
Barnett also said that
there were a few $25,000
grants that the commit-
tee applied for that will be
awarded in the first part
of 2017, so there might be
some more money coming
in through that.
Several of the largest do-
nations made in 2016 came
from corporations, Barnett
said, but there was also an
individual who donated
$100,000. Many of the year’s
donations were in $25,000
increments from businesses
and private citizens.
“It was really a cross
section,” he said.
One thing most of EO-
TEC’s donors have in com-
mon is geography. Barnett
estimated 98 percent of
them were from the west
Davison
Piersol
teams there. Money raised
by his performance will
go to Pregnancy Care Ser-
vices.
• Clara Beas Fitzgerald
is a Hermiston city coun-
cilor and serves on various
volunteer boards, includ-
ing the Hispanic Advisory
Committee and Oregon
Commission for Women.
Her performance will raise
money for the Umatilla
Morrow Hispanic Scholar-
ship Foundation.
• Eva Swain is a busi-
ness owner who moved to
Hermiston in 1976 with her
husband Harley Swain to
start a car dealership. Today
Harley Swain Subaru is still
family-owned and carries
the name of Swain’s late
husband, who died in 1978.
She is raising money for the
Hermiston Senior Center.
• Greg Smith represents
District 57, including the
greater Hermiston area, in
the Oregon State Legislature.
He has served in the House
of Representatives since
2000. His performance will
raise money for the Hermis-
ton Warming Station.
• LuAnn Davis is a
Hermiston business owner
and community volunteer.
She is the current president
of the Altrusa Club and a
State Farm Insurance agent.
She is raising money for
Campus Life.
• Spike Piersol is a re-
tired Hermiston firefighter
and EMT who stays busy
with volunteer work and
sometimes serves as one of
Santa’s elves. He is raising
money and awareness for
the First Responder Memo-
rial in McKenzie Park.
Tickets are $20 for adults
and $10 for children under
18. They can be purchased
in advance online at www.
desertartscouncil.com or at
the Hermiston Chamber of
Commerce or Hermiston
Parks and Recreation of-
fice. For more information
call 541-667-5018.
———
Contact Jade McDowell
at 541-564-4536.
Made to Thrive gets holiday donation
By JADE McDOWELL
Staff Writer
More of Hermiston’s un-
derpriveleged students will
get a chance to play sports
next year after three local
businesses donated gear
to the nonprofit Made to
Thrive.
The organization, which
started in Hermiston three
years ago, provides the fees,
equipment, transportation
and other support for stu-
dents from needy families
to be able to participate in
extracurricular activities.
U.S. Cellular, Wal-Mart
and Obie’s Coffee donated
boxes of sports equipment
and athletic wear as well as
money to Made to Thrive
on Friday, just in time for
Christmas.
U.S. Cellular representa-
tives said the aim of the do-
nation was to help students
in the community, but also
to help bring more visibility
to the charity and encourage
others to contribute their
own donations or volunteer
power.
“At U.S. Cellular, we
aim to give back to our local
community and what better
CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO BY U.S. CELLULAR
Made to Thrive volunteers
help unload donations
made by U.S. Cellular, Wal-
Mart and Obie’s Coffee.
way than helping children
find productive and fun
outlets after school,” Erryn
Andersen, director of sales
in the northwest region, said
in a news release.
Kriss Dammeyer, found-
er and director of Made to
Thrive, said the boxes do-
nated filled two tables.
Some of the items will
be used for holiday gifts
for participating children,
while basics like socks, gra-
nola bars and water bottles
will be given to volunteers
to send with their students
when they drop them off at
practices and classes. Dam-
meyer said students partic-
ipating in Made to Thrive
often show up to sports
practices in worn-out shoes
with no socks underneath.
“We don’t like to send
them out to an activity hun-
gry and unprepared,” she
said.
Two laptops that were
donated will go to high
school students served by
Made to Thrive who are
working hard to better
themselves.
Currently
Dammeyer
has about 35 regular vol-
unteers and serves 300 stu-
dents. The community sup-
port means a lot, she said.
“It was really neat to see
multiple businesses come
together,” she said. “When
people come together great
things happen.”
She said the organiza-
tion’s volunteers are what
make Made to Thrive possi-
ble, and they could always
use more with “a heart for
kids.”
For more information
visit madetothrive.org or
call Dammeyer at 541-571-
6169.
———
Contact Jade McDowell
at 541-564-4536.
21st Annual
Christmas Spirit Award Presentations
The Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is pleased
to announce Cathy Putnam and Virginia Miller as the 2016
Christmas Spirit Award Winners.
The Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is pleased to honor
CATHY PUTNAM as a recipient of the 21st Annual Christmas Spirit Award.
This award is given to one who exemplifies the spirit of Christmas by giving
of themselves to others all throughout the year.
Cathy is the owner of Carlson Drug in Umatilla and is a prodigious supporter
of many community activities. Her caring attitude is evidenced by the many
times she has delivered medication to residents after a long day’s work. She
has been known to open the pharmacy on many occasions after hours just to
provide medication and expertise to many who are in need.
She uses her considerable talents and abilities to help young people develop
leadership skills and donates to many worthwhile community youth projects.
She instructs students on the value of being community-minded and shares
life experiences that help build and enhance their lives.
Cathy’s importance to the Eastern Oregon Mission and its two outreaches, Agape House and Martha’s Ho use, is
priceless beyond monetary value. She serves as a member of the board of directors and has been a pa st president,
guiding these outreach organizations to greater levels of success. Her leadership and support is a m ajor reason this
organization continues to serve those in need within our local communities.
Cathy may be found many mornings, prior to her work schedule, visiting the residents of Sun Terrace. Many just
want to talk and have someone to listen. She is an exceptional listener and cheerfully interacts wi th the residents to
make them feel comfortable.
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It is for these reasons that the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation, which strives to make ou r community
a better place to live, has selected Cathy Putnam as a 2016 Christmas Spirit Award recipient.
The Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is pleased to
honor VIRGINIA MILLER as a recipient of the 21st Annual
Christmas Spirit Award.
This award is given to one who exemplifies the spirit of Christmas
by giving of themselves to others all throughout the year.
Virginia is a beacon of generosity and blesses our community with
her example of service and long term dedication to the growth and
prosperity of the Hermiston and surrounding areas.
She has volunteered with integrity and extensive service on projects
with Altrusa International of Hermiston, the Board of Realtors, and
the Umatilla County Department of Land Use Planning.
Most recently, Virginia is a dedicated meal preparer at the Open
Table for First United Methodist Church. She shops for, plans, and
serves hot meals 2-3 times per month for Hermiston’s most needy individuals.
Virginia is always the first to volunteer and assist in any way to improve the lives of those around
her. Her benevolence, caring attitude, and enthusiasm for life is infectious to those around her wi th
hope and a desire to move forward.
She has blessed our community with many years of service and is held in high regard by those with
whom she comes in contact. She participated in the Ford leadership program and was an active
participant in the repurposing and repair of the Umatilla Community Center.
It is for these reasons that the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation, which strives to make
our community a better place to live, has selected Virginia Miller as a 2016 Christmas Spirit Award
recipient.
The Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is proud to recognize
Cathy Putnam and Virginia Miller as the 2016 Christmas Spirit Award winners.
The Foundation mission is to enhance the quality of life and general health of
residents living in West Umatilla and Morrow County communities by raising funds
and giving to community projects. Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation
reviews funding requests and makes awards for worthwhile projects twice a year.
The next deadline for submitting grant applications to the Foundation is January 31,
2017.
Groups or individuals interested in making a donation or being considered for
funding are encouraged to call the Foundation office at 667-3419.
Best Wishes For A Happy Holiday Season.