A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017
Our Community
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Ham radio enthusiasts
hit the airwaves
Nationwide on-air
open house draws
40,000 people
FILE PHOTO
John Kopta, right, cheers on another member of The
Power Team as he bends a steel rod during a 2015
performance in Irrigon. The 1983 Hermiston High School
graduate will speak and perform at a trio of upcoming
faith-based events in Stanfield.
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
Ham radio operators
across the United States and
Canada connected Saturday
in the largest annual on-the-
air event.
An open house of sorts
held each year on the fourth
weekend in June, Amateur
Radio Field Day features lo-
cal clubs and ham radio en-
thusiasts who set up tempo-
rary transmitting stations in
public places to demonstrate
the purpose and capability
of ham radios. Upwards of
40,000 people participate
each year.
“We try to contact as
many people as we can. We
operate for 24 hours if we
can stay awake that long,”
Jim Davis said with a laugh.
“What we’re doing is the
granddaddy of events.”
Davis and other members
of the Hermiston Amateur
Radio Club gathered Sat-
urday at Boardman Marina
Park. Using fishing poles,
nylon paracord and lead
weights, Don Drayton, club
vice president, said they uti-
lized the park’s tall and abun-
dant trees to set up antenna
lines.
While operating ham ra-
dios is a hobby for many,
they also serve a practical
purpose. In the event of a
natural disaster — which
might result in the loss of
electricity, cell phone tow-
ers, landlines and internet
access — amateur radio
operators are called on to
assist with communica-
tions and emergency man-
HHS graduate powers
into faith-based event
July 4, Kopta will again
demonstrate feats of
strength during “Strength
in Christ.” During the free
program, which starts at 7
p.m., Kopta will demon-
strate how faith is stron-
ger than people’s fears
and failures. Guest mu-
sician Tony Long-Drew
will sing several patriotic
numbers.
A 1983 Hermiston
High School graduate,
Kopta has spoken to more
than 1 million people in
30 different countries.
The former Bulldog foot-
ball player and wrestler
joined The Power Team
two years after gradua-
tion. He said the strength-
based ministry provides
an opportunity to grab
people’s attention, which
allows them to minister to
their hearts.
The event is spon-
sored by Anchor Point
Seventh-day
Adventist
Church, Stanfield Baptist
Church, Crossroads Com-
munity Church, Hope
Presbyterian Church and
Echo Community Church.
Everyone is invited to
bring a blanket or lawn
chair and attend the fam-
ily-friendly events. For
more information, contact
stanfieldag@eoni.com or
541-449-3434.
HERMISTON HERALD
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Whitley Smith, far right, makes contact with a ham radio operator out of California during
Saturday’s Amateur Radio Field Day Saturday at Boardman Marina Park. Looking on from left
are Bill Quick, Brenden Smith, 15, and Don Drayton.
agement, Davis said.
“We can be on the air in
an hour anywhere we go,”
Drayton said.
When trees aren’t avail-
able, Drayton said he has
an 80-foot mast in his truck.
Several of the club members,
he said, have travel trailers
with all their supplies, in-
cluding generators, batteries
or solar power systems. In
the event of an emergency,
everything is ready to go,
Drayton said.
Another purpose for Sat-
urday’s event, Davis said, is
to make sure all their equip-
ment is working. Many of
the local amateur radio op-
erators will be on-air during
the Aug. 21 eclipse.
In a May interview, An-
drew Phelps, Oregon Office
of Emergency Management
director, told the East Ore-
gonian that they are using
the celestial happening as an
emergency response exer-
cise. With a predicted influx
of a million people flock-
ing to the path of totality in
Oregon, he said they plan
to activate the emergency
coordination center. It will
provide valuable experience
in planning for and evaluat-
ing emergency responses to
disasters, such as an earth-
quake along the Cascadia
Subduction Zone.
The partnerships, Drayton
said, is beneficial to residents
in Umatilla and Morrow
counties, as well as the rest
of the state. He encourages
more people to obtain a li-
cense to operate ham radios
— especially in rural coun-
ties.
The Hermiston Amateur
Radio Club meets the second
Monday of each month at
7:30 p.m. at Umatilla Coun-
ty Fire District #1’s Station
23, 78760 Westland Road,
Hermiston. For more infor-
mation, visit www.ai7ho.org.
Hams “hogged”
airtime
According to the Amer-
ican Radio Relay League,
referring to amateur radio
operators as “hams” was
coined in the early days.
Amateur users com-
peted for time and signals
supremacy in each other’s
receivers with other radio
operators at government
stations, ships and coastal
stations. Often, the ama-
teur radio operators could
jam other operations with
their powerful stations.
Frustrated operators
referred to the amateur
“interference” as hams for
hogging up the time. —
www.arrl.org
John Kopta, a senior
member of the Pow-
er Team, a Christian
strength-based ministry,
is featured during a trio
of outdoor events at Bard
Park in Stanfield.
The Ultimate Youth
Smash 2017 kicks off the
free program Saturday
from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In ad-
dition to Kopta’s strength-
based presentation and
message, the evening also
includes a local band and
singing group made up
of members from area
youth groups. Sponsored
by Stanfield and Echo
churches and Hermiston
area youth leaders, middle
school and high school
students are encouraged
to attend the powerful pre-
sentation.
Kopta will speak Sun-
day at 9 a.m. during the
Stanfield and Echo Com-
munity Worship Service.
With a focus on uniting
believers, “The Church
Worshiping Together” is
sponsored by five local
churches. The Anchor
Point Seventh-day Adven-
tist worship team will lead
a program of lively music.
Refreshments will follow
the community service.
And, on Tuesday,
Landing Days brings back Friday entertainment to Umatilla
By JADE McDOWELL
STAFF WRITER
Landing Days was back
in full swing last weekend
after faltering a year ago.
The annual celebration
of Umatilla’s history was
kicked off Friday night in-
stead of Saturday morning
for the first time in sever-
al years. And Saturday’s
schedule was much more
full than last year, when the
event was first canceled due
to lack of volunteers and
then brought back in a very
limited form.
Only a handful of peo-
ple had shown up by the
time the first band started
playing at 6 p.m., but more
were slowly trickling in as
they got off work.
“Tonight might be a lit-
tle slow but we’re building
up to tomorrow,” said Mark
Ribich, Umatilla Chamber
of Commerce interim presi-
dent and city councilor.
He said organizers were
excited about the “fantastic
weather” for the weekend.
Friday night featured
food vendors, a beer garden
and bands The Outsiders
and Grupo Viajero. High
school students Bianca Es-
pain and Jacquelin Brown
showed up early and said
the part they were most ex-
cited about was the food.
Espain said she has been
to Landing Days before and
her other favorite part of
the event was the fireworks.
“Over here is just a
beautiful view of the river
and with the fireworks, it’s
just so pretty,” she said.
Brown said she had nev-
er been to Landing Days
before but was looking for-
ward to it.
Barb and Robert White
of Hermiston said they
had never been to Landing
Days before, but had talked
to someone at the marina
about it recently and were
Altrusa of Hermiston elects new officers
HERMISTON HERALD
Gearing up for its 41st
year since organizing,
Altrusa International of
Hermiston recently elected
Nancy Lauck to serve as
president for 2017-18.
Other officers include
Dawn Long, first vice pres-
ident; Lindsay Lloyd, sec-
ond vice president; Jackie
Dunlap, treasurer; Winnie
Earl, assistant treasurer;
and Naamah Franke, sec-
retary.
The group, which was
sponsored by the Pendleton
club at its founding on May
14, 1977, gives back to the
community through a vari-
ety of programs, including
those that focus on literacy,
education and environmen-
tal concerns. In addition to
working on local projects,
local Altrusans are often
seen participating in fund-
planning on attending both
days. After enjoying an el-
ephant ear, they were par-
ticularly interested in the
craft vendors, watching the
Round-Up City Cloggers
perform, listening to the
live music and watching the
fireworks.
Saturday’s
Landing
Days events drew large
crowds for activities in-
cluding a parade, contests,
bands, dance groups, beer
garden, food and craft ven-
dors, wood carvers auction
and kids’ talent show. The
event wrapped up with a
fireworks show over the
marina after dark.
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE McDOWELL
The Outsiders perform at Umatilla Landing Days on Friday at
Marina Park.
July 7th-9th
Athena Caledonian Games
Featuring the Celtic folk rock band Guess When
& Michael Mullen’s Trio of One
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY CONNIE FERRANTI
Altrusa of Hermiston recently elected new officers for 2017-
18. The are (front) Jackie Dunlap, treasurer; Winnie Earl,
assistant treasurer; (back) Dawn Long, first vice president;
Nancy Lauck, president; Naamah Franke, secretary; and
Lindsay Lloyd, second vice president.
raisers in order to raise
money to filter back into
the community.
Altrusa International is
celebrating its centennial
year. Founded by Mamie
L. Bass in Nashville, it be-
came an international orga-
nization 1935. Originally
called Altrusa Institute, the
name “Altrusa” is derived
from combining altruism
and USA.
For more information,
contact hermistonaltrusa@
gmail.com, visit www.dis-
tricttwelve.altrusa.org or
search Facebook.
Friday July 7
Saturday July 8
5:30-7:30pm
Caledonian
Dinner in the
City Park
8:00am - 8:00 pm
7:30pm
Candle lighting
ceremony and the
blessing of clans,
family and the
festival.
Parade, Vendors
Entertainment
in the Park
Dancing, Piping &
Scottish Athletic
Competitions
Kids’ Games
Story Tellers
Caledonian Tattoo
Sunday July 9
Beginning at 9:30am
Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan
Wool Demonstrations
Pipe Band
Horseshoe Tournaments
A Family Event with Scottish Music, Dancing & Sport
www.athenacaledoniangames.com