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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2017)
A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2017 COMMUNITY Transformer joins tractors, more at County Fair parade By EMILY OLSON FOR THE HERMISTON HERALD A celebrity visitor with Hollywood connections may have been the fan fa- vorite at Saturday’s Uma- tilla County Fair Parade, over the numerous local businesses, dignitaries and rodeo royalty. “I’m going to see Opti- mus Prime,” said Bentlee Dean, 3. His family drove him from La Grande for his fi rst-ever fair parade, just to see the souped-up truck featured in “Transformers: The Last Knight.” Scott Teeples of Hermis- ton agreed that’s what made this year’s fair special. He staked out his spot along the route at 8:30 a.m. and took his twin grandsons, Gerrel and Jackson, 3, to peek at the big rig before the start of the parade. Teeples couldn’t deny that he was just as excited about the truck as the boys were. As Optimus Prime passed — boasting blue and red fl ames and movie-qual- ity sound effects — Gerrel and Jackson jumped up and down, brimming with won- der. The truck paraded as part of a nation-wide tour pro- moting the Paramount Pic- STAFF PHOTO BY EMILY OLSON Bentlee Dean, 4, salutes a passing entry decked with fl ags during Saturday’s parade in Hermiston. STAFF PHOTO BY EMILY OLSON Optimus Prime, customized for the movie “Transformers: the Last Knight,” drives down Hermiston Avenue during Saturday’s Umatilla County Fair Parade. tures movie franchise and Western Star truck compa- ny. It was one of nearly 120 entries that moseyed down Hermiston’s downtown and beyond, completing a miles-long route. The path saw only slight alterations this year, still ending near the old fairgrounds even though the fair has moved Printed on recycled newsprint VOLUME 111 ● NUMBER 32 Gary L. West | Editor • gwest@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4532 Tammy Malgesini | Community Editor • tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4539 Jayati Ramakrishnan | Reporter • jramakrishnan@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4534 Jade McDowell | Reporter • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536 Jeanne Jewett | Multi-Media consultant • jjewett@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531 Shannon Paxton | Offi ce coordinator • spaxton@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4530 Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538 Dawn Hendricks | Circulation District Manager • dhendricks@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4540 To contact the Hermiston Herald for news, advertising or subscription information: • call 541-567-6457 • e-mail info@hermistonherald.com • stop by our offi ces at 333 E. Main St. • visit us online at: hermistonherald.com The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN 8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838, (541) 567-6457. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Delivered by carrier and mail Wednesdays Inside Umatilla/Morrow counties .......... $42.65 Outside Umatilla/Morrow counties ....... $53.90 Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR. Postmaster, send address changes to Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838. to the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. Heat and a smoky haze left by re- gional fi res did nothing to deter thousands of folks from lining the streets. Some were less inter- ested in Optimus Prime, instead looking forward to the parade’s classic entries. “I’m most excited about the cheerleaders,” said Rey- na Mendoza, 5, of Hermis- ton. “I’d really like to be one in high school.” Her mom, Gracie, was most excited to see the farm equipment, explaining that it’s not something she gets to see on the street every day. “They’re so big,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be in the fi eld in one of them.” Other attendees discov- ered delightful surprises along the way. Emily Shontz, 9, traveled from Castle Rock, Washin- gon, to visit family for fair week. The promise of candy brought her to the parade, but her favorite part was receiving a free Hermiston watermelon for showing enthusiasm as a fl oat with a super-sized slice from Wal- chli Farms drove by. “I had no idea they did that here,” Shontz said, adding that it left her even more excited for the fair. Sam Surber, 15, of Hermiston, sourced some surprises of his own. He gifted balloon animals to all the kids near his family’s spot along the route. He decided to bring his balloon supplies because his church, New Hope, distributed balloons along with their fl oat entry. Surb- er knew they wouldn’t have enough for everyone. “I wanted to spread these to all the kids around me,” he said, estimating that he’d made about 35 that day. Some balloons suc- cumbed to the heat, but a sea of colorful fl owers and swords still waved around him, proof that Surber had helped elevate the festive atmosphere. The Umatilla County Fair is currently going on at EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport Road, through Saturday. STAFF PHOTO BY EMILY OLSON A girl scout on an ’80s themed fl oat shows some enthusiasm for spectators during the Umatilla County Fair Parade. STAFF PHOTO BY EMILY OLSON Crews pass out Hermiston watermelons from Walchli Farms on Saturday to spectators watching the fair parade. Member of EO Media Group Copyright ©2017 MORE WINNERS. MORE OFTEN. More options at a better price? RDO DOES THAT. WILDHORSE RESORT & CASINO CONCERT LINE UP TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 1025R Sub-Compact Utility Tractor ONLY 150 /Month $ * Our entertainment line up is Wild! DOKKEN AUGUST 31 TONY! TONI! TONE! SEPTEMBER 21 SAWYER BROWN OCTOBER 7 TRAVIS TRITT (ACOUSTIC SHOW) NOVEMBER 17 Add a 60D Mower for $ * 28/ Month 285 $ 70/ Month 50 /Month * HERMISTON | 844-551-5594 See more and GET A QUOTE at RDOEQUIPMENT.COM ® 800.654.9453 • PENDLETON, OR • I-84, EXIT 216, wildhorseresort.com. 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