WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
COMMUNITY
Boardman pool makes big splash
Boardman’s
indoor pool and
recreation center
opened over the
weekend
By JADE MCDOWELL
STAFF WRITER
A project dreamed up
more than 30 years ago is
now open and expects to
draw people to Boardman
for years to come.
The Boardman Pool and
Recreation Center’s grand
opening was Saturday from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cen-
ter features an indoor pool,
gyms, exercise equipment
and a climbing wall.
Parks and Recreation
board member Ray Michael
said the fi rst plans for the
center were drawn up in the
1980s.
“Everyone wanted to
have it,” he said.
“But no one knew how
to pay for it,” chimed in
parks and recreation secre-
tary Lynn Prag.
Building
the
43,000-square-foot center
would require a bond, but
the hard part was fi guring
out how to pay for the cen-
ter’s yearly operating costs
once it was built. In 2013
the parks district commis-
sioned a feasibility study
and began working with
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Lifeguards Abby Hernandez, Taylor Hamby and Faith Rosen
assemble a desk in the lifeguard offi ces on Thursday at the
Boardman Pool and Recreation Center.
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
A whirlpool feature and a waterslide are two of the main attractions of the indoor pool at the
new Boardman Pool and Recreation Center.
consultants on a plan. In
November 2014 the com-
munity approved a $12.39
million bond, and the dis-
trict created a fund using
money from sponsors and
memberships to pay the
center’s operating costs.
Boardman only has
about 3,400 residents, but
booming businesses at the
Port of Morrow bring in
thousands more commuters
during the workweek.
Many of the new recre-
ation center’s rooms bear
the names of those busi-
nesses, and the port itself
donated most of the exer-
cise equipment. But Prag
said there are still naming
rights left for some rooms
and smaller items.
“Our goal was to raise
$300,000 and we’re ap-
proaching that,” she said.
Michael said many of
the companies have also
purchased corporate pack-
ages that give member-
ships to their employees
at a bulk discount. Since
Blue Mountain Community
College’s pool is closing in
Pendleton and Hermiston’s
Columbia Court Club has
not re-opened after a fi re in
June 2016, there has been
particular interest in the
center’s indoor pool.
“I think it’s not just
the local community (that
will use it),” Michael said.
“We’ve had a lot of ques-
tions from Hermiston and
even Pendleton.”
The pool area features a
four-lane swimming pool
that goes to 10 feet in the
deep end, connected to a
shorter recreational pool
and a round vortex pool that
creates a whirlpool effect.
There is also a large water
slide and a smaller, warmer
therapy pool. A multi-use
room and patio off the pool
are both available for par-
ties.
The center’s 27-foot
climbing wall features 500
different handholds spread
out to create multiple routes
to the top. Prag said someone
with expertise in climbing
walls came out and helped
arrange the routes to provide
a challenge for climbers at
various skill levels.
“We will keep changing
these as people get bored,”
she said.
A multi-court gym will
be available for basketball
and volleyball games, and
a room with fl oor-to-ceil-
ing windows holds exer-
cise machines and weights.
Once the landscaping
outside is fi nished it will
include a walking path
around the center. Prag said
the district is has put to-
gether a schedule of swim
lessons and fi tness class-
es and is looking for more
instructors to expand those
offerings.
The facility, at 311 N.
Olson Road, Boardman,
will be open 6 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through Fri-
day, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sat-
urdays and noon to 7 p.m.
on Sundays. Daily admis-
sion will be $4 for in-dis-
trict youth ages 4 to 18 and
$5 for out-of-district youth,
$6 for in-district adults and
$7.50 for out-of-district,
and $4.50 for in-district se-
niors over 64 and $5.50 for
out-of-district seniors.
Monthly and yearly
passes are also available for
families and individuals,
including $480 a year for
adults living in the Board-
man Parks and Recreation
District. For an extra $50
adults can access the gym-
nasium and cardio room 24
hours a day. For more infor-
mation call 541-616-1050.
West Nile virus found in Umatilla Gas station and
First detection in
Oregon this year
Umatilla County Offi -
cials report that West Nile
virus has been detected in
Umatilla County in the city
of Umatilla, the fi rst case
detected in Oregon so far
this year.
The virus was found in
a mosquito sample trapped
June 21 near the mouth of
the Umatilla River in the
city of Umatilla.
Oregon State Univer-
sity, Oregon Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory in
Corvallis confi rmed the
fi nding in testing done
June 25.
This is the fi rst mosqui-
to detection of West Nile
virus in Oregon in 2017.
Local residents can ex-
pect to see an increase in
mosquito spraying based
on the positive sample.
Ultra-low volume applica-
tions of insecticides from
truck-mounted
sprayers
will be used to reduce mos-
quito populations. These
applications will typically
be made after sunset when
mosquitoes are most ac-
tive. All applicators are li-
censed by the Oregon De-
partment of Agriculture.
West Nile is primarily
a disease infecting birds.
Some birds — including
magpies, blue jays and
crows — are especially
susceptible.
Mosquitoes
become
infected by feeding on an
infected bird and can pass
the virus to humans, hors-
es or other hosts when they
bite.
The public is encour-
aged to alert district of-
fi cials when they come
across dead birds so the
district can track the spread
of the virus.
There is a vaccine avail-
able to prevent West Nile
virus disease in horses.
Contact your veterinarian
for more information.
The risk of West Nile
is low but people are en-
couraged to take appropri-
ate precautions to protect
themselves against mos-
quito bites.
Most people who be-
come infected with West
Nile virus do not become
ill. Some people develop
mild fl u-like symptoms
such as fever, headache,
body aches, and occasion-
ally swollen lymph glands
or a rash.
In rare cases West Nile
may cause encephalitis, or
infl ammation of the brain.
Individuals with severe or
unusual headaches should
seek medical care as soon
as possible. Residents
of the district should re-
main vigilant in protecting
themselves from mosqui-
toes and the diseases that
they can carry, such as
West Nile virus.
In Washington state,
the Department of Health
reported on Thursday that
West Nile virus has also
been detected in mosqui-
toes in Yakima County, the
fi rst detection of the virus
in that state this year.
Produce, crafts and
more are featured during
the Open Air Market in
Echo.
Held the third Saturday
of each month, the next
event is Saturday, July 15,
from 4-7 p.m. at George
Park, located at Bonanza
and Dupont streets. There
is still space available for
people who would like to
sell their wares.
Proceeds from vendor
fees goes to the Echo Mu-
seum. Last year’s markets
resulted in a $600 contri-
bution to the museum.
For more information,
contact
echoopenairma-
Reduce West Nile risk
Here are some suggestions to
reduce the risk of exposure to
West Nile:
• Get rid of old tires and other
containers where water can
accumulate and serve as a
breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Flush or replace the water in
horse troughs weekly.
• Be sure to fl ush or add mosqui-
to fi sh to ornamental ponds.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk
and dawn when mosquitoes are
most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and
long pants when in mosquito
infested areas.
• Use mosquito repellents
containing: DEET, Picaridin, Oil
of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535 or
2-undecatone. And make sure
to follow the directions on the
container.
• Screen doors and windows.
• Report mosquito infestations
and dead bird sightings to the
West Umatilla Mosquito Control
District at 541-567-5201.
Because horses are also at risk
for West Nile, health offi cials
encourage horse owners to
check with their veterinarians for
vaccination. Veterinarians can
arrange for testing of samples
from horses suspected of infec-
tion with West Nile virus.
For West Nile updates
Updates about West Nile Virus in
Umatilla County will be released
to local media outlets or you can
go to the Oregon Department of
Human Services web page at:
https://public.health.oregon.gov/
DiseasesConditions/DiseasesAZ/
WestNileVirus/Pages/survey.aspx
Additional information on West
Nile is on the Web at:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
Psychic Medinm
LABEL XYXYX
Echo gears up for
Open Air Market
mini-mart coming to
Highland Avenue
and Prevention, http://www.cdc.
gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/
Oregon Department of Human
Services https://public.health.
oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/
DiseasesAZ/WestNileVirus/Pag-
es/survey.aspx
Umatilla County; http://www.
co.umatilla.or.us
West Umatilla Mosquito Control
District: http://www.wumcd.org
Author
&
Fun Factory builds
biblical learning
Kids are invited to at-
tend the Maker Fun Facto-
ry vacation Bible school.
“Created by God: Built
for a Purpose” is the theme,
which starts Monday, July
10, from 5-8 p.m. at the
First Christan Church, 775
W. Highland Ave., Herm-
iston. The program contin-
ues nightly through Thurs-
day, July 13.
For more information,
call 541-567-3013 or
search Facebook.
HERMISTON HERALD
An Irrigon man died
and a woman was injured
Thursday in a single car
crash in Irrigon, accord-
ing to the Morrow County
Sheriff’s Offi ce.
According to the sher-
iff’s dispatch offi ce, the
vehicle was traveling west-
bound on Columbia Lane
around 5:20 p.m. Thursday
when the driver lost control
for unknown reasons near
the intersection with West
Eighth Road.
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The vehicle rolled twice
and one person in the vehi-
cle was ejected. That person
was not wearing a seatbelt,
according to the sheriff’s
offi ce.
Rafael Garza, 23, of
Irrigon, was pronounced
dead at the scene. Katelyn
Tolar, 18, also of Irrigon,
was injured and transported
to Good Shepherd Medi-
cal Center, Hermiston with
serious injuries. It was not
immediately known who
was driving the vehicle.
QualifiedNlow-incomeNresidentsNofNOregonNmayNreceiveNaNfreeNphoneN
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household.NTo apply, visit www.enroll.accesswireless.com.
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Irrigon man dies in car crash
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structure committee, while
Hermiston
experiences
about 31 percent more re-
tail sales than expected for
a town of its size, it sells
35 percent less fuel. A 2013
study showed gasoline
sales within the Hermiston
city limits were $7,682,993
at the time.
The city council recent-
ly added multi-family res-
idential and mini storage
units as conditional uses for
roughly 8 acres of proper-
ty along Highland Avenue
running west of 11th Street,
including the corner prop-
erty where the Metro Mart
will go. Eastern Oregon
Development, LLC just got
the fi nal plat approved to
build a mini-storage facili-
ty on Highland just west of
the gas station project.
OREGONNRESIDENTS
John Edward
rket@gmail.com or vis-
it
www.facebook.com/
echoopenairmarket.
Hermiston is getting a
new gas station on the cor-
ner of Southwest 11th Street
and Highland Avenue.
The project at 1120 W.
Highland Ave. will include
a mini-mart, fuel station
and laundry facility run by
the owners of the Metro
Marts in the Tri-Cities area.
Carrie Sullivan, project
manager from LCR Con-
struction of Richland, said
they are hoping to fi nish
construction by the end of
October. A building permit
fi led with the city shows
plans for a 3,826 square-
foot convenience store and
1,554 square-foot laundro-
mat plus fuel canopy.
According to a recent re-
port compiled by assistant
city manager Mark Morgan
for the city’s public infra-
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