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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2017)
INSIDE SPORTS BULLDOGS TO PLAY ACROSS THE BORDER IN 2018 Hermiston Herald WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017 HermistonHerald.com $1.00 INSIDE NEW TO THE BOARD MARK GOMOLSKI WINS WRITE-IN RACE FOR HERMISTON SCHOOL BOARD SEAT. PAGE 3 THE MAN WHO WEARS A STAR... RECORD NUMBERS HERALD FILE PHOTO Graduates from the Hermiston High School class of 2016 participate in commencement ceremonies in this fi le photo from one year ago. HERMISTON GRADUATING CLASS TO BE BIGGEST EVER By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN Staff Writer Hermiston’s population has spiked over the last decade, and with it, so have Hermiston School District’s graduating classes. This year’s graduating class is 332, the largest in Hermiston’s histo- ry, and an increase of 91 students from last year. They will walk at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 10. Tricia Mooney, Hermiston School District assistant superintendent of hu- man resources, said there were a few reasons for the sudden increase. “First, our senior class this year is about 40 students larger than last year,” Mooney said via email. “Second, and more exciting, is that our staff have been working really hard with our stu- dents this year and we are anticipating an increase in our graduation rate.” While an increase of that magnitude in just one year is unusual, the overall growth of the district’s student popula- tion has been consistent. According to data on the district website, the district has added an average of about 100 stu- dents each year since 2005, with 5,609 currently enrolled. The trend is ex- pected to continue through the decade. Hermiston was the second-fastest grow- ing district in the state as of 2015-2016, according to the Oregon Department of Education. “We’re going to have to continue to look at how to accommodate that,” Mooney said. “Right now the three smallest classes in the district are at the LOCAL JUDGE PROMOTED TO ONE-STAR GENERAL AND NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU POST. PAGE 7 STEPPING DOWN BULLDOG BASEBALL COACH LANCE HAWKINS STEPS DOWN. PAGE 9 IN BRIEF Wyden holds town hall June 10 Hermiston Herald See GRADS, A14 HERALD FILE PHOTO This fi le photo shows some of the approximately 240 Hermiston High School graduates who received diplomas in 2016. The graduating class for 2017 will set a new record for seniors receiving diplomas this weekend. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is coming to Umatil- la County for a town hall on June 10. The public event will be held at 1 p.m. at Nixyaawii Community School, 73315 July Grounds Lane in Pend- leton. He will also hold a town hall later that evening at 6 p.m. on the Wheeler County Courthouse lawn, 701 Adams Street in Fossil. There will be another town hall in the pub- lic park in Condon at noon on June 11. Wyden has pledged to hold at least one town hall meeting in each county in Or- egon each year. This will be his second in Umatilla Coun- ty this year. “It’s clear from the in- credible turnout at my 42 town halls so far in 2017 throughout Oregon that there’s unprecedented in- terest in issues such as cli- mate change, healthcare and the Russia investigation,” Wyden said in a statement. “With such strong evidence that participatory democracy is alive and well in our state, I want Oregonians to have every possible opportunity to share their views with me.” Got a place for your stuff? New storage units coming Hermiston residents will have an easier time getting mini-storage units after two new projects. EZ Mini Storage in Hermiston, located at 2315 S Highway 395 across from the Wal-Mart Distri- bution Center, is in the process of adding 195 units to the 479 currently there. Sizes will range from fi ve by 10 feet to 12 by 30 and the units should be available by the end of the summer. Owners Bill and Mary Cole of Bend said there is a critical shortage of mini-stor- age units in the Hermiston area, leading to a waiting list at EZ Mini Storage and other units around town. The Coles’ project will help ease that shortage, as will a project by Steve Richards of Eastern Ore- gon Development, LLC. Richards has applied for a con- ditional use permit to build a mini storage unit at 1330 Highland Ave- nue south of NW 11th Street that will include more than 300 units. A pub- lic hearing in front of the Hermiston planning commission will be held June 14 at 7 p.m. at city hall. • • • Umatilla County Fire Dis- trict 1 Chief Scott Stanton will now wear two hats: fi re chief and statewide board member. Stanton was re- cently nominated to serve as a director on the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association board. “It’s kind of an honor,” Stanton said. “I’m the only one from East- ern Oregon, so I get to represent the entire area.” BY THE WAY See BTW, A14 STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Hill (center) poses for a photo with current and former Circuit Court staff, including Roy Blaine, trial court administrator, Judge Eva Temple, Judge Christopher Brauer, and former judge Jeff Wallace after Hill’s military promotion ceremony on Sunday.
