A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 Herald Business Follow us on Twitter @HermistonHerald Gail Nelson takes on economic development The county’s hiring committee interviewed Gail Nelson is leaving three candidates last week. the Pendleton Chamber of Nelson won’t start in the Commerce to become eco- job until Feb. 1. nomic development and She said that is by tourism coordinator for design. This is a busy time Umatilla County. of year for the Pendle- ton chamber, and Nelson has been the chamber’s she said that wait- ing until the sec- executive direc- ond month of 2018 tor since 2011. provides time for Umatilla County the board to search Human Resources for and hire a new Director Jennifer chamber director. Blake announced Nelson will Wednesday that Gail Nelson work with Com- Nelson accepted the new position with the missioner Bill Elfer- ing, who heads up eco- county. Nelson said she does nomic development for the some economic develop- county. Elfering said Nel- ment and tourism work in son has the skills and abili- her role with the chamber, ties to “land her feet on the so the county job should ground running.” He said Nelson already is familiar be a fine fit. “On some levels I think with key economic needs it can be similar,” she said. for the area, such as work- “And it is a new challenge, force housing. “We’re excited to have too. I’m always looking to try something and chal- her coming our way,” he lenge myself.” said. HERMISTON HERALD Computer shop re-opens after technician shortage By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER A Hermiston computer shop is back open for busi- ness again after Ama- zon hired away all of its technicians. “They’re definitely in high demand right now,” said Jon Farrester, whose hiring allowed M2 Net- nerds to re-open after being closed for almost a month. Amazon, under the name VaData, has multiple data centers at the Port of Uma- tilla and Port of Morrow, and is working to construct more off Westland Road in Hermiston and Lind Road near Umatilla. Uma- tilla County Commissioner Bill Elfering has said in the past that each building rep- resents 40 to 60 employees. Farrester said the staff of M2 Netnerds also includes owner Michael Calame and an intern, but the business is still looking to hire more technicians. M2 Netnerds offers home services — includ- ing file recovery, virus removal, networking and refurbishing — as well as IT consulting and other services for businesses. With the addition of Far- rester, the shop has now added web services such as website design and search engine optimization. Farrester said he hails from the Bend area, where he had his own computer business for years and also worked as the Jeffer- son County School District webmaster. In addition to owning M2 Netnerds, Calame also owns M2 Machmedia, a wireless internet provider. M2 Netnerds is located at 1565 N. First St., Suite B, next to Quiznos Subs. It is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call 541-567-1918. Christmas tree permits available on national forests ‘Tis the season for a hike in the woods to find the per- fect Christmas tree for the family. Permits are now avail- able on the Umatilla, Wal- lowa-Whitman and Mal- heur national forests, and fourth-graders are once again eligible for a free per- mit as part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative through the National Parks Foundation. Christmas tree permits are $5, and limited to one per household. Fourth-grad- ers may receive a free per- mit by presenting a voucher from everykidinapark.gov to their local national for- est office. Students must be present to claim the free permit. Permits may also be pur- chased from any forest ser- vice office or participating local businesses, including Smitty’s Ace Hardware in Hermiston. Christmas trees must be cut at least 50 feet away from any road, and the max- imum height for trees is 14 feet. Trees cannot be cut on private land, in wilderness areas, designated camp- grounds, active timber sales or existing tree plantations. For additional info, call the Forest Service office in Pendleton at 541-278-3716. Call Today to Save 25% DISH Special Offer 49 99 $ /mo for 24 mo. 190+ Channels Watch all of your favorites FREE Next Day Installation! Scheduling may vary & up to 6 TVs FREE Hopper HD DVR Record up to 16 shows at the same time Call Today & Save Up To 25%! Call for more information High Speed Internet 14 95 $ /mo SAVE When You Bundle Apply additional savings when you add Internet Options Available Nationwide Pricing and speeds vary #1 In Customer Satisfaction 2016 independent study Subject to availability. Restrictions apply. 1-866-373-9175 Want Year Around Outdoor Space? W e’ve Got Solutions! FREE Estimates! 541-720-0772 Visit our showroom: 102 E Columbia Dr. Kennewick, WA 99336 Patio Rooms Awnings · Sunrooms Pergolas · Patio Covers All Season Shades Solar Screens & More! (Call for Showroom Hours) www.mybackyardbydesign.com License #188965 STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Shoppers Cathy Michael, center, and Marilyn Gardner, right, talk with shop owner Brandi Howard about shoe styles while shopping at Andee’s Boutique in March in Hermiston. Small businesses ask shoppers to buy local Greater Hermiston Area Chamber of Commerce director Debbie Pedro said she hasn’t compiled a list of Hermiston businesses hav- ing sales that day, but if peo- ple check businesses’ Face- book pages or just hit the stores on Saturday they should find plenty of shop- ping opportunities at places like Lucky Endz Gifts. “I think a lot of our local businesses are participat- ing in Small Business Sat- urday,” Pedro said. “I know a lot of our downtown mer- chants are.” Pendleton Chamber of Commerce is currently ask- ing local business owners to submit information about their Small Business Satur- day participation. The cham- ber plans to compile the list and put it on their website so that shoppers can know before they leave the house which stores will have sales. Pedro said she received gift bags, posters and signs that chamber members will be able to pick up from the chamber offices to let customers know they are participating. She said lots of chamber members are also jumping into the Black Friday frenzy by offering sales on the day after Thanksgiving. “It’s really exciting to see some of the businesses ramp- ing up for that,” she said. Pedro said whenever peo- ple choose to do their shop- ping for Christmas pres- ents, buying local is always a way to support friends and neighbors. “When you support your local businesses, you’re sup- porting jobs, and you’re sup- porting the opportunity to have great products avail- able right here in the com- munity,” she said. Community Bank collects cash for charities U.S. Cellular dials in manager for Hermiston, Pendleton New administrator for Morrow County The annual holiday Char- ity Drive for local nonprofit organizations is underway at each branch of Commu- nity Bank. Donation jars will be available at each branch through Wednesday, Dec. 20. Community Bank will match donations of 50 cents on each dollar, up to $500 at each branch. In 2016, $24,440 was disbursed to charities in communities where the bank serves. The Hermiston branch of Community Bank is located at 50 E. Theater Lane. Money collected will be donated to the Hermiston Warming Station. For more information, contact marketing man- ager Leah Johnson at ljohn- son@communitybanknet. com, 541-207-0717 or visit communitybanknet.com. Kimberly Goodhue was recently named store man- ager for the Hermiston and Pendleton locations of U.S. Cellular. In her role as man- ager, Good- hue leads store asso- ciates in helping cus- tomers and Kimberly Goodhue businesses select the best plan and devices to meet their needs. She has more than eight years of wireless experience, all with U.S. Cellular. Goodhue moved to East- ern Oregon when she was 4 years old and likes living in a small community. She enjoys spending time with her son, water sports and snowmobiling. “Kimberly’s passion and leadership throughout her U.S. Cellular journey is inspiring and motivating, and I am excited to have her guide our teams in Pendle- ton and Hermiston,” said Erryn Andersen, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Pacific Northwest. By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is on the calen- dar once again for local businesses. The national movement, which encourages people to shop at local small busi- nesses for the holidays, trick- led into Umatilla County a few years ago as downtown businesses in several cit- ies began offering special deals on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. IN BRIEF Sassafras blooms with open house For a chance to win an artificial Christmas wreath, RSVP to attend the grand opening open house at Sas- safras Flowers by Shera. The event is Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 611 E. Highland Ave., Hermiston. The event includes refresh- ments and door prizes. Sassafras Flowers is a full service floral and gift shop. Delivery service is available in the surrounding areas. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call 541-701-0717. Morrow County will have a new administrator start- ing this month, filling a posi- tion that has been open since August. Darrell Green will begin Nov. 27, taking over the role from interim administrator Kim Cutsforth. Green has been a Herm- iston resident for the last 12 years and will relocate to Morrow County for the job. For the past four years, he has served as the Blue Mountain Community College JOBS Program manager. “My whole goal in find- ing a job like (that) was to live, work and be a part of Hermiston,” he said. “I had the same opportunity with the position for Morrow County.” Green said he is still fig- uring out exactly what his priorities as administrator will be, but he hopes to work with others.