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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 2018)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 COMMENTARY/NEWS process results What makes Hermiston tick? ‘Random’ in jury duty, again O F ne of the great through the usual test — experiences of my designing their own front professional career page. We divided the 18 class members into teams has been Leadership Herm- of two and gave them all iston, a chamber of com- the stories we had at our merce program intended to fingertips the night before give people a crash course on what makes this commu- with the instruction to put out the most impactful front nity tick. page they could come Even as someone up with. who grew up here The results are and has worked at always interesting. the newspapers (both Some go with the Hermiston Herald dramatic — arrests and East Oregonian) and sentences, car since moving back Daniel chases and crashes in 2005, there’s a — while others go lot happening that’s Watten- with the positive — easy to miss. By the burger MANAGING feel-good stories time you’ve toured EDITOR of redemption, the farms, factories, awards and scholarships. city hall, safety center, port Sometimes they prefer and schools, you have a strong sense of the diversity stories of national significance, other times and potential in this area. they opt for small, local It’s also a joy to make events. connections in the class Usually, it’s a with people who have come combination of all of the to Hermiston from all over and are interested in making above. And that’s what we try to deliver. it a better place. If you’re reading this, That’s why I’m always you know what goes glad when Media Day into each edition of the comes around and we at Hermiston Herald. And the Herald and EO get to you’ve probably noticed tell the class about what some of the changes we’ve we’re up to and why it’s made in recent months. important. For one, we’ve This year’s class visited emphasized a front page a few weeks back, and we centerpiece with content started by putting them you can only find here. In today’s paper, it’s a developed follow-up to the highly significant decision by the city and county to turn control of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center over to the city. A shorter, on-deadline version of the story ran in Tuesday’s East Oregonian, but we’ve added context, quotes and fresh photos to help explain what happened and what will happen next. We’ve also used the front page spot to explore our new cuisine options in Hermiston, tourism potential in the city and celebrate the high school football team’s state championship (with an accompanying five- page spread of photos and stories). Also on the front page we’ve added a By The Way column, giving an inside look at some of the stories that are developing or tidbits from around town. We hear as much scuttlebutt as you do, and it’s a place where we can address rumors, share kudos and give a brief glimpse at what’s in store in the coming weeks and months. We’ve also done away with the funny page in favor of a local photo page toward the back of each edition. While newspapers traditionally carry at least a handful of comics, and we realize a good laugh is a gift, we want to emphasize local people and places as much as possible. We want the Hermiston Herald to be a place of shared experience for the people of Hermiston and the surrounding area. We want to answer your questions, understand your point of view, attend your events and write your stories. Each Wednesday is our chance to do that. And we’re always up for a helping hand. If you have an idea for a story, a great photo you’ve taken, a piece of writing you’d like to publish or even a comic you’ve drawn, send it to editor@hermistonherald. com, call us at 541-567- 6457 or stop by the office at 333 E. Main St. We’re proud to be your community newspaper, and want to hear from you on what we can do to make it even better. ——— Daniel Wattenburger is the managing editor of the East Oregonian and a contributing editor for the Hermiston Herald. Choir students headed to Disneyland By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN STAFF WRITER Some of Hermiston High School’s choral students will be taking a trip to Dis- neyland this spring, but they won’t just be enjoying the rides and sunshine. The group of 31 students will be working with Disney pro- duction teams and vocal coaches, as well as touring a major university and getting some choir lessons. The students will head south the last week of March, during their spring break. Choir director Jordan Bemrose-Rust said she has done this specific trip five times, either as a student or instructor. While in California, WATER continued from Page A1 As the city looked for bet- ter solutions, Hermiston was pioneering a reuse program with West Irrigation District. Water coming from Herm- iston’s recycled water treat- ment plant built in 2014 was well within the state’s stan- dards for cleanliness, but was too warm to put in the Umatilla River in the sum- mer. So the city worked out a deal with West Irrigation District to pipe the water into their canal during the grow- ing season instead, allowing the district to save money by pumping less water from the Columbia River. “We’re really excited about the project because it was the first time it was done the students will perform onstage at Disneyland and participate in a recording session in a studio. “They will get the music, and they’ve never seen it before,” she said. “They’ll sight-read it, and then the person there will rehearse it with them. Then they’ll record it, good, bad or ugly.” Then, she said, the stu- dents will get to hear their music played back, over an animated film. They will visit Univer- sity of Southern Califor- nia, where they will receive a clinic from the head of the choral department. She said some other musi- cians who live in the area will also come and speak to the students. in the state,” Hermiston city manager Byron Smith said. After getting approval for the project from a laun- dry list of state agencies, Smith said he and West Irri- gation District manager Bev Bridgewater are now sitting on a state committee work- ing to write a set of regula- tions for other communities that want to follow suit. Pelleberg said Umatilla wants to do something sim- ilar by diverting water com- ing out of data centers to West Irrigation District. “We really like what Hermiston is doing with reuse,” he said. Bridgewater said like the Hermiston water, the Uma- tilla water would likely be used to replace Colum- bia River water instead of expanding the district’s acre- STUDENT OF THE WEEK SPENCER WELLS Senior - McLoughlin High School Spencer Wells is a Senior at Mac-Hi. Spencer is part of our Mac-Hi Leadership and a 3 year lettermen in football and wrestling. He is a member of our Crimson and Black Honor Choir and 2017 prom and homecoming court. Spencer is active in his church youth group as well as a Eagle Scout. His parents are John and Amy Wells. Proudly Sponsored By: Dependable, Trustworthy, Successful. Attorneys serving Oregon since 1947 105 North Main Street, Milton-Freewater, Oregon 97862 Phone: 541-938-3377 | Fax: 541-938-6112 STAFF PHOTO BY JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN Hermiston Choir students and their instructor, Jordan Bemrose-Rust, accept a check from Tom Denchel and Nick Kennedy, of Tom Denchel Ford. Back row, from left: Cody Henderson, Denchel, Kennedy, Bemrose-Rust, Marco Lopez. Front row: Destiny Van Fossen, Hailey Roberts, Crystal Alvarez, William Kern, Madison Fricke. age. But Pelleberg said he is looking with city engineers at property that could hold massive open-air ponds to hold recycled Class A water created during the winter for use during the summer, and Bridgewater said that proj- ect could possibly lead to expanding the district’s acre- age. The city needs to secure funding first, however. The discussion was one of several presentations at the Oregon Water Coali- tion meeting, which was combined with the Greater Hermiston Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business breakfast at Herm- iston Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Miff Devlin, water qual- ity supervisor at the Port of Morrow, also spoke about a three-phase recharge proj- ect to dilute nitrogen from the groundwater around the port. JR Cook of Northeast Oregon Water Association spoke about an economic impact study being devel- oped for the Mid-Columbia Basin and goals for future water projects in the area. The meeting was wrapped up by a “water rights boot- camp” by attorney Laura Schroeder of Schroeder Law Offices. LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS Diagnosed with a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, depression, or another long-term health condition? Make a step- by-step plan to improve your health...and your life. Six FREE classes, for patients, caregivers/support person or both. Call for upcoming dates & times Must pre-register, call 541-667-3509 LUNCH & LEARN Join us for these FREE, informative and popular lunch & learn series covering various topics focusing on healthy living. Bring your lunch and your questions! Call for specific times, dates & locations 12:00-1:00pm call 541-667-3509 BABYSITTING BASICS 101 For babysitters ages 10-15. Learn childcare techniques, children's developmental stages and what to expect, basic first aid and infant and child CPR. Choose any one of the following classes: Saturdays, February 3, April 7 or May 5 9:00am-3:00pm $40, includes lunch & all class materials Must pre-register & Pre-pay, call 541-667-3509 our out of six staff process that’s random, that seems odd — especially writers in the news when numerous people tell department will have the jury message line me they’ve never served. on speed dial during the It’s not so much that I month of February. mind serving — if I actu- What are the odds? ally got to sit in one of With the random pro- the 12 special seats. I’ve cess for jury duty, it seems only been ushered into the the stars aligned in some courtroom on two occa- bizarre fashion for this to sions for the actual jury occur. selection process. I found out a However, I’ve few days after the had to drag myself new year that I was out of bed on count- being summoned as less occasions and a juror in the Uma- chug a sufficient tilla County Circuit amount of Pepsi in Court. My husband, order to keep my Tammy John, came bound- eyes open — only to Malgesini ing up the stairs with INSIDE MY show up and be told an envelope in hand. SHOES the jury trial wasn’t I didn’t even happening. When I have to look at it. I knew. whined about that on Face- I’m not the only one book, one of my old high who doesn’t warmly school buddies responded. embrace performing this “Thank you for your civic duty. The Honor- service! The jury system able Thomas Balmer, would not work without chief justice of the Oregon you,” wrote Martin Alvey. Supreme Court, acknowl- As a trial lawyer, Mar- edges this fact. tin knows first-hand how “I know that jury ser- important the process is. vice can be inconve- And honestly, if I found nient but it’s an important myself in a courtroom, I and essential part of our would want people sit- democracy,” he said in a ting in the jury box who “Juror Experience Video.” took their responsibility I must say, actu- seriously. ally finding that video In August 2013, Judge was grounds for serv- Dan Hill expressed his ing the Umatilla & Mor- gratitude for the jurors row County Circuit Courts being there and being will- with “contempt of inter- ing to serve before excus- net.” After clicking the ing us. I appreciated that link, I was greeted with he took the time to come the dreaded “404 Page Not in to address us rather than Found” message. sending in a clerk to con- With persistence, I vey the message. finally found the video and I truly do understand the watched the nearly 19-min- importance of jury duty. ute presentation. I’m not In reality, it’s just a minor sure how long ago it was inconvenience. Consider- created, but they may want ing all the rights and free- to consider updating it. doms I have as a citizen of Among those talking about this country, the least I can the importance of jurors do is be willing to perform was Bernice Barnett, for- this important civic duty. mer Lincoln County district ——— attorney, who hasn’t been Tammy Malgesini is the in that role for more than a community editor. Her col- decade. umn is Inside my Shoes. My husband and I have Contact her at tmalge- been summoned multiple sini@eastoregonian.com times over the years. For a or 541-564-4539. PETE HERNBURG Do you shudder at the mention of math? Pete Hernberg is one of BMCC’s soft spoken heroes ready and willing to swoop in and save BMCC students’ day by helping them venture through the gauntlet of mandatory math classes to get to their degree. Yes, you read that right! He’s Superman with a scientifi c calculator. Pete teaches math and computer science and two years ago, in response to the community’s request for trained data center technicians, he and our BMCC Offi ce of Instruction put together the area’s only Data Center Technician Certifi cate program. That program has placed 44 students into very well paying local jobs in the only two years it has been available. “I’ve been lucky to have my academic background in math and computer science combine with my hobby of fi ddling with computer stuff to give me lots of opportunities to teach interesting classes… I love my students and my colleagues. I enjoy getting to help folks every day.” Outside of working Pete likes to read, cook and travel and he goes on to say “…but if I’m honest I spend too much time watching Netfl ix and YouTube.” We hear ya, Pete! Even Superman needs some guilty pleasures! DEYANIRA MORALES Deyanira Morales recientemente llegó a la ciudad de Pendleton a establecer el programa de español para la facultad de Lenguas Extranjeras de Blue Mountain Community College. Originaria de una ciudad fronteriza de Baja California, localizada en el norte de México, realizó su formación académica superior tanto en México como en Los Estados Unidos, especializándose en español y francés. A lo largo de más de veinte años en este país, ejerció su carrera catedrática en varias universidades y colegios desde el sur de California, hasta el área de Washington, D.C. Dentro de los diversos sitios donde ella radicó y visitó, se encuentran partes de Europa, y Asia, incluyendo países como Japón, donde vivó por varios años. Ahora nos trae su experiencia profesional así como un enfoque cultural único y diverso a BMCC dónde actualmente desempeña el papel de catedrática impartiendo clases de español como lengua extranjera así como para hispanohablantes. Deyanira espera seguir conociendo e interactuando con el alumnado hispano de nuestro colegio y centros, conectando con la gran comunidad latina de la región, al igual que servir como contacto para los hispanohablantes. TRANSLATION: Deyanira Morales recently arrived to the city of Pendleton to establish the Spanish program for the Foreign Language Department at Blue Mountain Community College. Originally from a border city in Baja California, located in northern Mexico, she completed her higher education both in Mexico as well as the United States, specializing in Spanish and French. Throughout over 20 years living in this country, she has practiced her profession and teaching career in various colleges and universities ranging from southern California, to the Washington, D.C. area. Among the various places where she has lived and visited are parts of Europe and Asia, including Japan, where she lived for several years. Now she brings to us her professional experience as well as a unique and diverse cultural focus to BMCC where she currently serves as an instructor teaching classes in Spanish as a foreign language as well as Spanish for Heritage speakers. Deyanira hopes to continue getting to know and interacting with Hispanic students from our college and centers, connecting with the Hispanic community in the region, as well as serving as a liaison with Spanish-speakers. Information or to register call (541) 667-3509 or email healthinfo@gshealth.org www.gshealth.org www.bluecc.edu (541) 276-1260 PO Box 100 Pendleton, OR 97801