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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2017)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 LOCAL NEWS Umatilla airman dies in Syria Hermiston Herald had been her son’s plan Staff Sgt. Austin Bieren, from a young age. “He was amazing, kind, 25, of Umatilla died Tues- smart, always want- day, March 28, while ed to join the ser- serving as an Air vice,” she wrote in a Force security forces brief message to the airman in northern East Oregonian. Syria. She said he leaves The Department behind his wife of six of Defense released years, Rachel, sister Bieren’s name Brianne Bieren and a Thursday, March Bieren nephew Jaren, “who 30, and stated that he appeared to have died he adored,” as well as par- from natural causes in a ents Tracy and Jody Finck and John and Amber Bieren. non-combat situation. His mother Tracy Finck His identical twin brother, said joining the military Thomas, died at age 14. Air Force Base’s Facebook page said Bieren “was a valuable and beloved mem- ber of our team and will be sorely missed. His dedica- tion to his country was evi- dent in his actions – he was a superb Airman.” Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, led the Oregon House of Representatives in a moment of silence Thurs- day in honor of Bieren. A celebration of life ser- vice for Bieren has been scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at the Umatilla High School gymnasium. Finck said Bieren played basketball and football as a Umatilla High School stu- dent. According to AirForce Times, Bieren is the sec- ond American serviceman known to have died in Syria. There are currently about 900 U.S. troops there providing support to Opera- tion Inherent Resolve in the fight against ISIS. Bieren was assigned to the 21st Space Wing at Col- orado’s Peterson Air Force Base. A post by the Peterson PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JON MISHRA Barns being raised at EOTEC By JADE McDOWELL Mishra accepts job with Waitsburg School District Staff Writer Construction on barns at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center has gone vertical. Now that the snow is gone and the ground- work laid, contractors are working to raise the three large barns, adding their silhouettes to those of the event center and ro- deo arena on the EOTEC grounds. “It’s starting to look like a fairgrounds out there,” board member Larry Givens remarked during the EOTEC board’s Friday morning meeting. John Eckhardt of Knerr Construction said work on the barns is going well so far. He expects paving for the commons area where vendors will set up shop to be completed this week. They are also working on the donor wall, restrooms and landscaping. Eckhardt said securing enough water to irrigate that landscaping, in ad- dition to all of the other water that will be needed at EOTEC for fair week, Jon Mishra, who served as the Hermiston School District’s director of Special Programs, has accepted a job as the superintendent of Waitsburg School District starting in July. By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN Hermiston Herald STAFF PHOTO BY JADE McDOWELL Work has begun on the barns at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. continues to be a chal- lenge. The third well that was dug did not pan out, and well number four is producing only 50 gallons per minute. He said there were other options avail- able besides wells, how- ever, that EOTEC chair and Hermiston city man- ager Byron Smith contin- ues to work on. Board member Dan Dorran said he and Uma- “substantially complete” and they are working to add things like ADA ramps and the gold buck- le area. Fabrication of the bleachers is about 90 per- cent complete, he said. “We’re on, if not ahead, of the schedule we’re shooting for,” he said. ——— Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastorego- nian.com or 541-564-4536. tilla County Fair board chair Gay Newman looked at the pens and panels be- ing ordered for the barns and they are very pleased with the design. “I’ve seen hog panels across the U.S. ... and these are pretty slick,” Dorran said. On the rodeo arena side, Carl Hendon of Hen- don Construction said the concrete arena itself is Roberts sworn in as battalion chief Umatilla County Fire his career in Roseburg, and joined the Hermiston Fire District 1 saw a changing Department in 1991. He has of the guard last week, served as battalion from retiring chief since 2008. battalion chief Jeff Adkins to the “Jeff was a major influence in helping swearing in of the newest battalion plan and shape the future direction chief, J.W. Roberts. of the district and Adkins was its personnel,” the honored at a ceremony Thursday Roberts department said in a press release. “He afternoon, and was passionate about his Roberts was sworn in ‘fire family’ and the fire Friday morning. service traditions that went Adkins served with with it.” local fire departments for Roberts, a Hermiston nearly 26 years. He began Hermiston School Dis- trict’s executive director of special programs, Jon Mishra, has accepted a position as the superinten- dent of Waitsburg School District in Waitsburg, Washington, and will be- gin his new job July 1. Mishra will leave the Hermiston School District after eight years, and mul- tiple positions including principal of Sandstone Middle School and Di- rector of Operations and Business Services. This will be Mishra’s first superintendent po- sition, and he said he’s looking forward to the next step. Waitsburg School District has about 300 students. “I started in a district that size, and I always thought it’d be good to in Hermiston full time in 2003. He is the EMS coordinator for Eastern Oregon. native, has volunteered for both Hermiston Fire and the Umatilla Rural Fire District, and was hired MULTI-MEDIA SALES Great work environment. Super awesome team. Good pay. Retirement plan. Weekends off. Interested? NEW SPRING INDOOR R & OUTDOOR DECOR & FASHION ACCESSORIES! East Oregonian has an opening for multi-media sales. No multi-media experience? That’s fine, as long as you understand the importance of customer service, working hard and a desire to enjoy your job. Could this be you? Put a smile on the heart with the power of flowers. wers. HWY 395, HERMISTON 541-567-4305 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 12pm-5am www.cottagefl owersonline.com Balance Chiropractic & Massage is pleased to welcome Dr. Bianka Munoz to our clinic! 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I had multiple positions in Hermiston, so I appreciate being able to do that.” Mishra said he will miss Hermiston and the connections he made here. “You leave pieces of your heart wherever you go,” he said. “Those rela- tionships are invaluable, and I look forward to con- tinuing those throughout my career.” Base wage plus commissions, benefits and mileage reimbursement. Benefits include Paid Time Off (PTO), insurances and a 401(k)/Roth 401(k) retirement plan. Si Habla Español Call today to schedule your appointment 541-289-9966 1155 W. Linda Ave., St. B, Hermiston They’re your dreams. Start building them. Consider a U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit for your next project. With competitive rates and flexible payment options, lasting home improvements could be within reach. Introductory rates start as low as 1.99% APR. 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