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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2017)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 LOCAL Superintendent to resign at end of school year School board chair Scott Morris said he didn’t totally expect Liscom’s resigna- Stanfield School Dis- tion, but he had been aware trict Superintendent Shel- that she didn’t see eye-to- ley Liscom announced eye with the board. Morris said the plans to resign board was sched- at last Wednes- day’s school board uled to have an meeting. She will executive session stay through the on Wednesday to discuss an investi- end of the school gation into a com- year, serving her plaint against Lis- last day with the com, but the wrong district June 15. policy number was Liscom sent Liscom listed on the agenda, an email message to district staff Thursday so they postponed the execu- morning informing them tive session until this week. At that point in the of her decision. “There really is not a meeting, he said, Liscom big story or scoop to tell — handed in her resignation. Morris said they will over the last few months it has become apparent that I likely still discuss the find- do not share the same phi- ings of the investigation losophy and beliefs as the at the executive session board members,” Liscom Wednesday, just to com- said in her brief email. plete it. Morris said the She thanked teachers for board will also set a time- allowing her to serve the line fairly soon for hiring Liscom’s replacement. community. By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN STAFF WRITER STAFF PHOTOS BY JADE MCDOWELL City of Hermiston staff, elected officials and their families assemble 420 food boxes assembly line-style during their annual holiday party at the Hermiston Conference Center on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Christmas Express to feed hungry By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER Canned corn and boxes of stuffing were practically fly- ing into boxes at the city of Hermiston’s annual office holiday party last week. Staff, elected officials and their families lined up along a conveyor belt set up in the Hermiston Conference Cen- ter, working together assem- bly line-style to fill 420 boxes with food for needy families in the community. The food, along with toys for families with young children, is being distributed via Hermiston’s Christmas Express program. “Henry Ford’s got noth- ing on these guys,” said Ric Sherman as he watched on Dec. 12. Sherman said he has been helping coordinate the food drive for Christmas Express for 37 years, but this year was the first time he had actually watched the food be packed into boxes. He said the program, administered by the Hermiston Police Depart- ment, is a shining example of Hermiston generosity. “This is Hermiston’s fin- est hour,” he said. Police Chief Jason Edmis- ton said the department had purchased $4,000 worth of turkeys and $6,200 in other food items, to be added to the 13,925 food items collected by Hermiston schools and the fresh produce donated by three local farms. The food was loaded into boxes and then shrink-wrapped onto pallets within 45 minutes. Extra food that didn’t go into the boxes for about 420 spe- cially chosen families will be donated to the Agape House to be used where the non- profit sees the most need. Christmas Express started 48 years ago when a local businessman had some toys he wanted to donate and asked then-police chief Bob Shannon whether he knew of anyone in town who needed them. From that grew a pro- gram that now serves hun- dreds of struggling families in Hermiston each year, nom- inated by churches and other local agencies to receive food and presents for Christmas. Edmiston said he was born and raised in Hermis- ton but didn’t understand the depth of the community’s generosity until he became involved with Christmas Express in 2004. Man stabbed, dumped from car by ‘friends’ HERMISTON HERALD A Umatilla man was treated for non-life threat- ening injuries Monday night after he reported an acquaintance stabbed him and threw him from a vehi- cle in the 800 block of North First Street, Hermiston. Hermiston Police said they received a call around 9:45 p.m., saying a male victim had been thrown from the vehicle. When officers responded they found that the victim, Jen- try P. Wedge of Umatilla, also had been stabbed in the abdomen. He was taken to Good Shepherd for treat- ment of non-life threatening injuries. Officers arrested Alex Ortega, 25, for second-de- gree assault and lodged him in the Umatilla County Jail. Ortega, of Hermiston, also owned the 1996 Honda Civic where the stabbing allegedly happened. Officers also arrested Nina J. Hodges, 22, of Hermiston, on a probation violation, and lodged her at the Umatilla County Jail. The vehicle was impounded and a search warrant was served Tues- day morning. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said the investigation is ongo- ing, and that it was an iso- lated and quickly contained incident. “[It] involved three per- sons known to each other with what we believe was a very unique ‘friendship’ leading to a dispute taking place inside a moving vehi- cle,” Edmiston said in a press release. Edmiston said police believe they have a confes- sion from Ortega, and all three people involved have a history with police in the area. Hermiston Police were assisted by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, the Stanfield Police Department and the Oregon State Police. Hermiston School District swaps Theater Lane parcel HERMISTON HERALD Whenever the Herm- iston School District builds its next elementary school, it will be on a new site — due to a land swap with the Hermiston Irriga- tion District conducted at this week’s school board meeting. The board exchanged their parcel of land, a 19.24-acre plot on East Theater Lane, with a par- cel of identical size at the corner of East Theater Lane and Northeast 10th Street, formerly owned by the Irrigation District. “The purpose was that the access to the site was much more favorable for the school district, with access to both Theater and 10th Street,” said Herm- iston School Board chair Karen Sherman. “The access to the property we held was very nar- row, except from Theater Lane.” Sherman said the topography of the new site was also a little flat- ter, meaning less money would have to be spent to excavate the property once a school is built there. The district will even- tually have to pave all of East Theater Lane, and put in a sewer line. Herm- iston Director of Opera- tions Brad Wayland said no immediate work would be done on the property, and any work such as pav- ing or sewer line installa- tion would only be done as part of a school construc- tion project. Choose from 2017-18 Toyota models with special financing. 22 nd Annual Christmas Spirit Award Presentations (Offers vary by model) AWD Every new Toyota comes with Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is pleased to announce 2018 RAV4 Kriss Dammeyer and John & Marge Walchli as the 2017 Christmas Spirit Award Recipients. 2018 Corolla 0.9 % APR for Hybrid $ 1,000 OR Cash Back 72 mos. Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is pleased to honor John & Marge Walchli as recipients of the 22nd Annual Christmas Spirit Award. 1.9 This award is given to those who exemplify the Spir- it of Christmas by giving of themselves to others all throughout the year. As lifelong farmers, John & Marge truly embody the Spirit of Christmas 365 days of the year. 2017 Tundra % APR for excludes TRD Pro 72 mos. 4x4 They are integral members of our community and sel- dom, if ever, does a fundraiser or request for support go unanswered, as they lend their time and talents to worthy causes and special events. Many organizations such as Agape House and Boosters Club are recipients of their quiet benevolence and philanthropy. They allow their own facilities to be used for weddings, birthday celebrations, and social gatherings that enhance the fl avor and culture of our local area and provide a friendly, more comfortable community atmosphere. It is not unusual for John & Marge to provide transportation to and from medical facilities to benefi t their friends, neighbors, and associates. They give untold gifts and acts of kindness and generosity that exemplify their desire to improve the lives of those around them. They are loved and honored by all who know them. Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is pleased to honor Kriss Dammeyer as a recipient of the 22nd Annual Christmas Spir- it Award. This award is given to one who exemplifi es the Spirit of Christmas by giving of themselves to others all throughout the year. She is the founder of Made to Thrive, a non-profi t organization, whose mission is to stop the cycle of child abuse, neglect, and pov- erty by participating in healthy community activities. She is chang- ing our community for the better as she advocates for the benefi t of underprivileged children. Kriss has built valuable relationships with local government agen- cies such as Hermiston School District, Department of Health Ser- vices, Umatilla County, and CASA, to name a few. 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