INSIDE
SPRING HOME AND GARDEN SPECIAL SECTION INCLUDED
Hermiston
Herald
HermistonHerald.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017
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INSIDE
PLANS TO GROW
HERMISTON SCHOOL BOARD
DISCUSSES EXPANSION
PROJECTS, APPROVES SENIOR
CENTER CONSTRUCTION
PAGE A2
THREE MINUTES
WITH...
GET TO KNOW HERMISTON
NATIVE ALEX HOBBS
PAGE A2
HITTING THE
RIGHT CHORDS
A CAPPELLA GROUP
WILL PERFORM AT HERMISTON
HIGH SCHOOL SATURDAY
PAGE A3
SPREADING
THE LOVE
FILE PHOTO
Alfredo Rodriguez, of Our Lady of the Angels Church, performs the part of Jesus during a past Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday in
Hermiston. The dramatic re-enactment starts Friday at noon at the church parking lot and travels to the top of the Hermiston Butte.
Communities offer Easter activities
Hermiston Herald
BRIEFLY
Hermiston Athletics
warns of scam
Hermiston Athletics and
Activities Director Larry
Usher reported that a compa-
ny has been contacting local
businesses soliciting money
in the name of the Hermiston
Athletics Department.
He warned business own-
ers that this is fraudulent ac-
tivity, and that any advertis-
ing or sponsorship requests
for the athletic department
will come directly from Ush-
er or Lindy Thompson.
In addition, he said the
high school has already sold
all their calendar ads for this
year and will not be contact-
ing businesses for any more
this year. Usher said he has
fi led a complaint with the Or-
egon Department of Justice.
HERMISTON:
HERMISTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Hop on over to the Hermiston Public Library for an Easter
egg hunt. The event is Thursday at 5:15 p.m. at 235 E. Gladys
Ave.
Open to babies and kids through fi fth grade, the activity
takes place among the book collection. A bag will be provided
to participants. In addition, prizes will be distributed. (541-
567-2882).
FLASHLIGHT EASTER EGG HUNT
See EASTER, A16
FILE PHOTO
Children collect Easter eggs during a past event at McNary Dam West Park.
There are numerous Easter egg hunts in the coming days sponsored by
area churches, service organizations and public entities throughout the
region.
Hermiston council postpones discussion about Conference Center
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
Staff Writer
Hermiston residents will have to
wait to fi nd out the city’s plans for
the Hermiston Conference Center,
as the decision for what to do with
the building was postponed at Mon-
day night’s city council meeting.
Although the meeting originally
called for a discussion about wheth-
er to allow the Parks and Recreation
Department to operate the confer-
ence center, no debate was had be-
cause three council members and
Mayor David Drotzmann were ab-
sent.
Nevertheless, some citizens spoke
about the future of the building.
Liz Marvin, a counselor at Herm-
iston High School, said she hopes
people will realize the city has use
for the conference center and the
newly-built Eastern Oregon Trade
LATE-GAME
MAGIC
GRITZ, BULLDOGS
COME IN CLUTCH AGAINST
HERITAGE IN 12-11 WIN
PAGE A10
Referred to as Holy Week —
which began on Palm Sunday and
culminates with Easter — many area
churches and organizations have
special services and Easter activities
planned. Most events are free,
unless otherwise noted. Information
about special events that were sent
to the Hermiston Herald include:
The Easter bunny is going to be hopping all weekend with
the Simmons Agency sponsoring the annual Flashlight Easter
Egg Hunt.
Thousands of fi lled eggs will be hidden in the dark. Chil-
dren 10-and-under are invited to bring a fl ashlight and gather
eggs Friday at 8:15 p.m. at Butte Park, 1245 N.W. Seventh
St. Don’t be late because the Easter bunny won’t wait. (541-
667-5018).
VOLUNTEERS SHOW UP TO
BEAUTIFY CITY
PAGE A3
and Event Center.
“I hope it’s not construed as an
‘either/or,’” Marvin said. “I think
we have use for both. I don’t want
it to be a divided camp.”
The Hermiston Conference
Center has been located down-
town at 415 S. Hwy. 395 since
1994, when community members
began looking for a building to
hold events, meeting and other
activities. The Hermiston Cham-
ber of Commerce helped raise do-
nations of more than $600,000 to
remodel the building, which they
currently operate. Last month,
chamber staff were notifi ed that
the city did not plan to renew their
contract for running the confer-
ence center in 2018.
Last week, assistant city man-
ager Mark Morgan said plans to
have the city’s parks and recreation
department take over operations for
the center would be discussed at a
future council meeting. The plan,
he said, was to continue using the
building as a conference center, but
have it run by city staff instead of
through a contract with the chamber
of commerce.
Morgan also said the city was
renovating the basement of the Car-
negie Library at 215 East Gladys
Avenue, and that starting Jan. 1,
2018, that space would be available
to the chamber.
Earlier this month, the chamber
released a prepared statement re-
minding people that there would
still be a Greater Hermiston Cham-
ber of Commerce, and it is separate
from city government and the con-
ference center.
See COUNCIL, A16
Farm Bureau seeks
scholarship applicants
The
Umatilla-Morrow
County Farm Bureau will
award up to $3,000 in scholar-
ships to high school seniors in
Umatilla and Morrow counties.
Eligible students may plan to
attend any school of higher ed-
ucation, including trade school,
university or community col-
lege. Priority consideration will
be given to students with an
agricultural background, FFA or
an intended major in an agricul-
ture-related fi eld.
Applicants will be selected
based on accomplishments and
need. An emphasis is placed on
ability, personal goals, school
and community participation
and citizenship.
The deadline to apply is Sat-
urday, April 15. Applications
are available from high school
counselors.
For more information, call
Julia Spratling at 541-457-6045.