INSIDE SPORTS
DIAMOND STAR • GROGAN SELECTED AS BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR | PAGE B1
HermistonHerald.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017
$1.00
INSIDE
3 MINUTES WITH
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AGER ASPIRES TO OWNERSHIP.
PAGE A2
LANDING DAYS
UMATILLA EVENT ADDS FRIDAY
ENTERTAINMENT BACK.
PAGE A8
LAVENDER
FESTIVAL
EVENT RAISES FUNDS FOR
AGAPE & MARTHA’S HOUSES.
PAGE A9
DAWGED
DEFENSE
LINE HELPS HOLD NORTH
TO ONE SCORE IN ALL-STAR
FOOTBALL GAME.
PAGE B1
You can soon take
A BITE OUT
OF ECHO
BY THE WAY
Summer starts with
hellos and goodbyes
Researchers discuss new two new
potato varieties, including one
named for local community
By GEORGE PLAVEN
STAFF WRITER
TOP: Ryan
Graebner, with
Oregon State
University,
passes around
potato samples
affected by
nematodes
during fi eld
day at the
Hermiston
Agricultural
Research and
Extension
Center
wo new spud varieties are coming soon to
the Pacifi c Northwest.
Echo Russet and Castle Russet — de-
veloped by the Tri-State Potato Breeding
Program that includes Oregon, Washington
and Idaho — are just about ready to be released com-
mercially, according to Sagar Sathuvalli with Oregon
State University.
Sathuvalli, a potato breeder at OSU’s Hermiston
Agricultural Research and Experiment Center, dis-
cussed the traits of each variety with local growers
during the station’s annual potato fi eld day June 21.
Both varieties boast high yields and good cooking
quality, and can be used either for french fries or fresh
market.
T
STAFF PHOTO BY
GEORGE PLAVEN
See SPUDS, A10
STAFF PHOTO BY GEORGE PLAVEN
Ruijun Qin, left, and Sagar
Sathuvalli give a presentation during
potato fi eld day at the Hermiston
Agricultural Research and Extension
Center.
Communities blast off for Fourth of July
HERMISTON HERALD
Parades, park activities and fi reworks shows
are featured in area towns to help celebrate the
Fourth of July. Independence Day events in local
communities include:
HERMISTON
Stars & Stripes Fourth of July
• 1-10:30 p.m.
• Butte Park, 1245 N.W. Seventh St., Hermiston
www.hermiston.or.us/parks-recreation/home
Free. Games, entertainment, live music,
games, vendors and fi reworks show at dusk on
the Hermiston Butte.
Stars and Stripes Pool Party
• 7-10:30 p.m.
• Hermiston Family Aquatic Center
www.hermistonpool.com/events
$16/ages 16-and-older; $10/ages 2-14; free/ages
0-2. Pool party, barbecue (catered by Dickey’s Bar-
See FOURTH, A10
Nearly two dozen mem-
bers of Our Lady of An-
gels Catholic Daughters
of the Americas Court
#1692 gathered in the par-
ish hall to acknowledge
membership milestones.
Among those recognized
during the May 10 event
were Arlene Burns, who
received her 60-year pin and
is the only surviving charter
member of the court; and
Mary Newman, who re-
ceived her 55-year pin. Also,
the group received a new
member, Guadalupe Esc-
obedo. Court regent Kristi
Smalley chaired the event.
In addition to providing
scholarships for local grad-
uating seniors, the local
court supports many causes,
including Pregnancy Care
Services, The Arc Umatilla
County and several assisted
living facilities. For more
information about Court
#1692 and its activities, call
Smalley at 541-571-0997.
• • •
As the 2016-17 school
year came to a close, dep-
uties from the Umatilla
County Sheriff’s Offi ce
sent students into summer
with a safety presentation.
Sgt. Adam Gregory and
Deputy Rick Carter of the
All-Terrain Vehicle and
Marine Divisions shared
information about ATV,
boating and water safety
June 12 at Sandstone Mid-
dle School in Hermiston.
The sheriff’s offi ce reminds
everyone to be safe while
having fun in the mountains
and on the water.
• • •
On June 15, the Herm-
iston School District bid
farewell to a number of em-
ployees.
Beginning new chap-
ters in their life as retirees
are Mark Douglass, Julie
Hatch, Barb Leque, Sher-
rie Martindale, Jackie
Whitesell, Sheri Wick and
Janet Ward.
FILE PHOTO
Aria Patrick enjoys an infl atable slide during a past Fourth of
July celebration in Hermiston.
See BTW, A10