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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2017)
A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 Our Community IN BRIEF Hospital administrator to provide update The public is invited to learn about new develop- ments at Good Shepherd Medical Center during the upcoming Hermiston Chamber of Commerce B2B Luncheon. Nick Bejarano, market- ing and communications director, will share on the topic of “What’s Hap- pening at the Hospital?” Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. at the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S. Highway 395. The cost for the no- host lunch, which is ca- tered by Nookie’s, is $10 for members and $13 for non-members. Those planning to at- tend are asked to RSVP by Friday. For more infor- mation or to register, con- tact 541-567-6151, info@ hermistonchamber.com or visit www.hermiston- chamber.com. to help raise money for EOTEC and the plowing event. Organizer Lee Carlson said horse plowing is be- coming a lost art, and he hopes the competition will help renew interest. He said at least 12 teams are already slated to partici- pate, and more are likely to sign up. The event is open to the public. “We’d like to get more younger people involved in this,” Carlson said. “It’s a lot of fun. We need to promote it, to get more people involved in want- ing to do this.” Judges will grade the teams based on how deep they plow, how straight the rows are and how well the team works to- gether. It’s an intense job, Carlson said, and one that could use some fresh fac- es. For more information or to sign up, call Carlson at 541-571-4045. Museum foundation EOTEC hosts horse plans special board plowing competition meeting The Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center will host a horse plow- ing competition and ex- hibition this weekend in Hermiston. Prizes will be awarded for teams on both walking and riding plows. And, members of the public can even get in on the action, walking behind one of the plows for a small dona- tion. CC Plowing starts Saturday at 10 a.m. at EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport Road, Hermiston. Do- nations are encouraged A special board meet- ing of the Umatilla Muse- um and Historical Foun- dation board is planned to inform current members of changes and allow the election of board mem- bers and officers. The meeting will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the museum, 911 Sixth St., Umatilla. All current members are encouraged to assist the vice president in a successful transition toward future endeavors. For more information, call the museum at 541- 922-0209. E-mail your community news items to: community@hermistonherald.com Volunteers cook up fundraiser to benefit Laurie Ball-Kiser By TAMMY MALGESINI Community Editor Friends and volunteers with the Community Fellow- ship Dinner are continuing to serve up support for Laurie Ball-Kiser, the longtime co- ordinator of the twice-yearly meals. Tom Marks, who first met the Hermiston woman at the First Christian Church and has volunteered with the hol- iday meals for two decades, said Ball-Kiser was trans- ferred to Regency Hermiston a couple of weeks ago. While she is closer to home, her medical bills continue to pile up, Marks said. “She’s drowning in debt and we’re trying to help her out,” he said. A benefit dinner is Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the Herm- iston Senior Center, 435 W. Orchard Ave. A suggested do- nation of $10 is appreciated for the meal, which includes ham, turkey, cheesy mashed FILE PHOTO Laurie Ball-Kiser gives directions to volunteers during a past Community Fellowship Dinner. potatoes, vegetables, rolls, coffee, tea and dessert. Marks said donations have been made for the food and use of the senior center. In ad- dition, it’s an all-volunteer ef- fort, so all money raised will go to help Ball-Kiser. Marks said people can still get on board to help with the event, as they are expecting a large turnout. While being treated for a kidney stone and urinary tract infection diagnosed in September, Ball-Kiser suf- fered at least one stroke. In addition to time spent in a recovery home, she has had extensive hospital stays, in- cluding the intensive care unit at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Although she has medical insurance, when a GoFund- Me campaign was set up in late January, it was reported Ball-Kiser and her husband, Joe, were facing more than $20,000 in medical debt. That campaign recently indicates nearly $5,000 has been raised. Cathy Stolz, owner of the Chuckwagon Cafe, said Ball-Kiser often reaches out to others, aware of their needs and struggles. “She’s just a warm and loving woman who loves helping people,” she said. “It’s a ministry for her.” It’s the community’s turn, Stolz said, to reach out and minister to Ball-Kiser. Karen Snyder, who helped set up a benefit account, agreed. She said people who aren’t able to help financially are asked to provide prayer support for the Kisers. People can also make do- nations via: • A GoFundMe link at www.gofundme.com/lau- rie-ballkiser-benefit-fund • By check or cash via the Laurie Ball-Kiser Bene- fit Fund at Columbia River Bank, 1033 S. Highway 395, Hermiston. • Drop off cash or checks for the Laurie Ball-Kiser Benefit Fund at Chuckwag- on Cafe, 81027 N. Highway 395, Hermiston. For more information on how to help, call Jan Cassens at 541-720-8262 or Cathy Stolz at 541-567-6329. Wildhorse Foundation giving tops $10 million Hermiston Herald The Wildhorse Founda- tion recently announced it had surpassed $10 million in total giving, which it dis- tributes through quarterly grant awards. George Murdock, board chairman, said the huge milestone reflects the rich tradition of the Confeder- ated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in shar- ing and giving back to the community. “A study of history ac- tually reveals that Native Americans have a culture of giving and sharing dat- ing back hundreds, if not thousands, of years and our board is proud to be able to contribute to that legacy,” Murdock said. The foundation manages a community benefit fund established by the Confed- erated Tribes of the Uma- tilla Indian Reservation. The board considers grant applications in the areas of public health and safety, education, the arts, histor- ic preservation, gambling addiction services, salmon restoration, environmental protection and cultural ac- tivities. During the history of the foundation, more than 1,750 local and region- al nonprofit organizations have benefited from Wild- horse grants. The foundation also announced fourth quarter awards, which included 28 disbursements for a total of $205,369. The local recip- ients and purpose for the grants include: HERMISTON: Friends of the Fair and Rodeo, $10,000 for development of fair and rodeo facilities at Eastern Or- egon Trade and Event Center; Umatilla County Fair, $10,000 for ADA/safety access corri- dor 1 paving. BOARDMAN: Co- lumbia River Community Health Services, $3,500 for medical equipment; River- side High School, $7,500 for repair and resurfacing of track; Sam Boardman Elementary School, $8,000 for Phase 1 of playground renovation. ECHO: Echo School District, $12,000 for com- munity meeting and fitness center project. IRRIGON: Irrigon Ele- mentary School, $5,000 for music enrichment opportu- nity. The next application deadline is April 1. For more information, visit www.thewildhorse- foundation.com or contact Tiah DeGrofft at 541-966- 1628 or tiah.degrofft@ wildhorseresort.com. 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