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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2017)
INSIDE 2017-2018 LOCAL WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 $1.00 HermistonHerald.com INSIDE DEAR BILL A countdown to Christmas READ LETTERS TO BILL CLINTON FROM HERMISTON ELEMENTARY STUDENTS 25 YEARS AGO PAGE A2 LITTLE TOWN BEHIND THE SCENES AT JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM PAGE A6 LOGGING IN REPORTER JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN DESCRIBES HER FEELINGS ON FINALLY JOINING FACEBOOK PAGE A8 BY THE WAY Chamber hoping search almost over CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Rev. John Hurty of Stanfi eld reads from “Christmas Crazy to Jesus Joy!,” an advent devotional book written by his wife, Maria Hurty Stanfi eld family creates traditions without breaking the spirit By TAMMY MALGESINI COMMUNITY EDITOR Anxiety and pressure from the holiday season can put a damper on the true meaning of Christmas. Sources of stress include every- thing from fi nancial burdens and being overwhelmed with social engagements to feelings of loneli- ness and pressures to compete with the neighbor’s light display “If you’re feeling stressed out about Christmas, you’re doing it wrong,” said Maria Hurty. And, the Stanfi eld woman knows fi rsthand what it’s like to get caught up in trying to create the perfect Christmas. Hurty said her turning point took place several years ago when she was crying and hiding in the closet — hoping that her family CONTRIBUTED PHOTO “Christmas Crazy to Jesus Joy!” is an advent devotional book by Maria Hurty of Stanfi eld. would just do Christmas without her. “A few years back, I was really convicted that it wasn’t honoring to God,” she said. Hurty said it’s important to pause and remember why Christmas is See CHRISTMAS, Page A16 Time is ticking for the Greater Hermiston Area Chamber of Commerce to fi nd a new home, but board chair Josh Burns said an announcement should be coming later this week. The chamber’s offi ces have been located in the Hermiston Conference Center, but Hermiston Parks and Recreation plans to take over man- agement of the building starting Jan. 1. The cham- ber has been searching for a new location after turn- ing down the city’s offer earlier this year to use the basement of the former Carnegie Library across from city hall. News of the cham- ber’s new location will be posted on www.herm- istonherald.com when it becomes available. • • • If you get a call from 541-276-4455 with caller ID “East Oregonian Pub” — do not answer, this is a scam. The caller is some- one with a foreign accent indicating he is calling about your credit card debt. This is not an East Oregonian number, and both the East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald have absolutely nothing to do with credit card debt collection. • • • A fi re that engulfed a backhoe on property behind the former Herm- See BTW, Page A16 Recycling unrest As China shuts down recyclable imports from U.S., local disposal companies change procedures By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER A chain reaction caused by Americans’ sloppy recycling hab- its has thrown the recycling mar- ket into disarray, and companies are encouraging everyone to think twice about what they’re tossing into collection bins. “A little contamination turns a recyclable into waste,” said Bill Kik, maintenance supervi- sor at Sanitary Disposal outside Hermiston. Much of the western United States’ paper and plastic has been shipped to China for recy- cling in the past. But in July China announced it would cease importing 24 types of solid waste, including several categories of paper and plastic, by the end of the year and require a less than 0.5 percent contamination rate for the rest. Chinese offi cials complained U.S. companies were sending loads that were up to 20 percent contaminants, ranging from food See RECYCLING, Page A16 STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Bill Kik, maintenance supervisor at Sanitary Disposal, pulls Styrofoam someone put in a cardboard recycling bin in front of the offi ces of Sanitary Disposal in Hermiston.