WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7
OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
GOOD OL’ DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
Hermiston’s water is
the best
In our travels throughout
many countries, we have found
the City of Hermiston’s drink-
ing water to be the very best. We
all should appreciate this very
important need. Thank you. So
“bottoms up.”
LAURA AND MIEL CASPER
HERMISTON
Habitats are being
destroyed
STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL
A car passes through the cones re-routing traffic near city hall.
D
owntown Hermiston is a mess
right now — there’s no deny-
ing it.
The maze of traffic cones that
has spilled over onto Main Street
and Gladys Avenue is enough to
turn a less daring driver away.
Combined with the unrelated
senior center construction site
on Ridgeway Avenue marked
by a foreboding “Closed to Thru
Traffic” sign and
it might seem
you’re not welcome
downtown.
It’s nothing
personal. And if
you’re willing to
brave the labyrinth
Daniel
you’ll find city
Watten-
services and
burger
CONTRIBUTING businesses are more
EDITOR
or less running as
usual.
But that’s the cost of change.
The city has undertaken two
major projects in the immediate
area around city hall that have the
potential to transform the area.
It’s the correct priority for the
city. For all the added jobs and
residents and new homes, the
town’s core hasn’t seen the kind
of attention it deserves. There are
some great cornerstone businesses
downtown, but other storefronts
have been revolving doors, unable
to attract enough foot traffic to
stay viable.
Any town can expect some
Harkenrider Center and library.
Highway 395 is an unfortunate
barrier in the long term, creating
a disconnect between assets like
McKenzie Park and Hermiston
High School and Main Street, but
that’s a problem for another day.
It takes a town like Hermiston
to make a 35-year-old feel like an
old-timer. Out with my 6-year-
old daughter at Lawan’s Thai
Garden, I was reminiscing about
the old Armand Larive Middle
School, the site of many of the
athletic activities of my youth,
now marked only by an archway.
Out the other window of the
restaurant is the new Holiday Inn
Express, new enough that she
vaguely remembers watching its
construction. We talked about the
old pool at the high school and the
new one by the Butte.
I also told her that when I was
growing up here, there was no
Thai food in town (at least that I
was aware of).
She was as shocked by that as
anything, as living in a city with
no Thai food is unthinkable to her
palate.
Of course she thinks I’m an
old-timer. But I’m glad she’s
getting a front row seat to a
growing town in the same way I
did.
———
Daniel Wattenburger is
a contributing editor to the
Hermiston Herald.
For all the added jobs
and residents and new
homes, the town’s core
hasn’t seen the kind of
attention it deserves ...
a walkable, shop-able,
diverse Main Street
would be a huge asset to
Hermiston.”
churn, but a walkable, shop-able,
diverse Main Street would be a
huge asset to Hermiston.
A festival street and a senior
center — which will be opened for
broader public use in five years —
are good ways to increase that foot
traffic. A healthy revival of the
Union Club on the corner of Main
and Second Street is another way.
The city’s long-term decisions
in regards to city hall and the
recently rebranded community
center just a few blocks to the
north will also factor in, as will
development along the nearby
train tracks. As city leaders
plot and entrepreneurs plan, it’s
not hard to imagine a corridor
stretching along Second Street
from Highway 395 to the
How much is enough?
Regarding the newly-cleared
area upstream from Riverfront
Park and under the West High-
land bridge: there was plenty of
room, near the bridge, for enter-
ing the small area that used to
belong to Oregon Fish & Wild-
life, for parking, and for a new
path to extend under the bridge
west into the downstream park
areas; even already in place, a
put-in/take-out area for rafters.
Who decided to slash and burn
the entire area upstream to the
boundary? Such a small area that
could have been left wild!
Public parks need the wild
areas too. Clearing and burning
that small upstream area changed
it forever. You destroyed a red
fox den with kits due soon. You
cleared out and burned a num-
ber of California quail shel-
ters, burned and cleared graz-
ing areas for herds of mule deer
and white-tails. You destroyed
nesting sites along the banks
that dozens of mergansers and
wood ducks used for longer
than any of us can remember.
I know, because the neighbors
along Quick Road have watched
all that activity and protected it
from human encroachment for at
least 80 years! Just how much is
enough?
JANET BOYD
HERMISTON
tilla County Fair Board came to
an end, the ability to say thank
you to the whole of Umatilla
County is lost in the magnitude
of emotions. Development of
unmatched success recognized
throughout the state and region,
the Umatilla County Fair and
Farm-City Pro Rodeo are liv-
ing and evolving monuments to
the generosity of community and
heart.
Sponsors in every corner of
the county have stepped up and
delivered not only finances, but
time and material with pride.
Donors have come through
annually and never hesitate to
find a way to fulfill last minute
requests.
Volunteers. Volunteers from
throughout Umatilla County
contribute and produce the Uma-
tilla County Fair from January
1 through December 31, from
setting up pens to picking up
trash, from mowing lawns to set-
ting up the stage, from organiz-
ing RVs, from hauling straw/
chips to cleaning tables, from
arranging entertainment to coor-
dinating with the Farm-City Pro
Rodeo. UCF is one of the larg-
est five-day fairs in the Pacific
NW. It is not a professionally
produced event, it is managed by
the Umatilla County Fair Board
with administrative support
of the Umatilla County Com-
missioners (liaison, Larry Giv-
ens) and staff. This is a unique
and extremely successful rela-
tionship that allows the Uma-
tilla County Fair Board to offer a
product to our community above
the expectations of communi-
ties of much larger populations
and financially stronger. It is the
volunteers.
What a humbling experience.
Thank you to the Umatilla
County community, Umatilla
County Fair Board and the Uma-
tilla County Commissioners for
letting my family and myself
participate.
DAN DORRAN
HERMISTON
Thank you Umatilla
County
LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor is a
forum for the Hermiston Herald readers to
express themselves on local, state, national
or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer
letters should be kept to 300 words.
What a humbling experience
the past two decades have been
for my family and myself. As
my participation on the Uma-
SHOP ONLINE 24/7 FORDCOUNTRY.COM
YOUR LOCAL TRUCK HEADQUARTERS
NEW 2017 FORD
FUSION SE
NEW 2017 FORD
ESCAPE S
NEW 2017 FORD F-150
SUPERCREW XLT 4X4
EcoBoost, Auto, SE Tech/
SYNC ® 3, Pwr Moonroof
Auto, Air, Cruise, Tilt, PL, PW,
Rear View Camera,
Keyless Entry
V8, NAV, Sport Appearance
Pkg, Rearview Camera,
Remote Start
SAVE
$5,301 off
MSRP
SAVE
$7,768 off
MSRP
MSRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,845
Combined Factory Rebate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$5,000
Fordcountry.com Discount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$2,768
Combined Factory Rebate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$3,000
Fordcountry.com Discount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$2,301
MSRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $52,200
Combined Factory Rebate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$4,750
Fordcountry.com Discount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$5,826
$
19,792 *
$
STK#
H7802
19,544 *
41,624 *
Ford Credit Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$1,250***
STK#
H8048
$
40,374 *
STK#
H7963
OVER 600 NEW AND USED VEHICLES
2008 CHEVY
SILVERADO
After Market Wheels & Tires
$
6,999
2009 GMC
YUKON AWD
2005 FORD
EXPEDITION 4X4
2015 DODGE
DART SE
Leather, 3rd Seat
Leather, 3rd Seat
4 Cyl, Auto, 27k Miles
$
7,999
$
7,999
$
H8076C
2016 HYUNDAI
ELANTRA GT
2005 FORD
RANGER
2013 HYUNDAI
TUSCON
2007 JEEP
WRANGLER 4X4
4 Cyl, Auto, 25k Miles
Ext. Cab, 68k Miles
55k Miles
Hard Top, V6, Manual
$
13,499
$
14,924
$
14,888
$
15,944
HC3186
2000 FORD
EXCURSION 4X4
2005 GMC
SIERRA HD 4X4
2008 FORD
F550 4X4
2017 MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER AWD
3rd Seat, Fully Equipped!
6.0L V-8
Diesel, Auto, Flatbed
16k Miles
15,944
H7840C
$
15,999
H5560PC
(541) 701-3476
H7962B
H5383PC
$
16,924
H6004TA
Monthly Drawings for $200
Annual Drawing for $2,500!
H5807PA
H5817P
$
Our Win-Win CD now has even more prize
money to help your savings grow.*
Open with as little as $25!
11,824
H5780PA
H5828P
You Don’t Have To Do
All The Heavy Lifting!
SAVE
$11,826 off
MSRP
MSRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $27,560
$
Get Your
Finances
In Shape!
$
17,492
H5826P
Mon.-Sat. 8am-7pm | Sun. 11am-5pm
555 US Hwy 395, Hermiston, OR
“WE ARE YOUR NO PROBLEM SALES
& SERVICE DEALER”
*Only one at this price. HURRY! Rebates subject to change without notice.
**Requires trade of ‘95 or newer vehicle. ***Must finance with Ford Credit, OAC. Some rules apply,
see dealer for details. All photos are for illustrative purposes only. All prices plus license,
title and up to $150 doc fee. Full VIN ID number available from dealer upon request. Offers expire 2/9/18.
*We can not help your muscles grow, that’s all you.
MONTHLY DRAWINGS: One (1) entry for every $25 balance increase as of the last business
day of each calendar month. Drawing limited to one (1) monthly winner of $200 (funds can be
deposited into CD or taken as customer wishes). (Account Opening deposit counts as 1 entry).
Each $25 increment added to the CD is another entry, limit of 8 entries ($200) through the last
ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĚĂLJŽĨĞĂĐŚĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌŵŽŶƚŚ͘ƌĂǁŝŶŐƚŽƚĂŬĞƉůĂĐĞǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞĮƌƐƚϱďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĚĂLJƐĂŌĞƌ
the end of each calendar month. ANNUAL DRAWING: One (1) Annual Winner of $2,500 (funds
can be deposited into CD or taken as customer wishes). To earn 1 entry, $25 must be added to
ƚŚĞŝŶϭŵŽŶƚŚ͕ĞĂĐŚĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůŵŽŶƚŚƚŚĂƚĂĚĞƉŽƐŝƚŽĨĂƚůĞĂƐƚΨϮϱǁĂƐŵĂĚĞ͕ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌĞŶƚƌLJ
is earned – limit of 12 entries for the year. (Account Opening deposit counts as 1 month). Annual
Drawing to take place each December, following the last business day of the month.
$25 Minimum deposit and balance required to obtain prize entry. Open to consumers only, ex-
clusions apply. Limit one (1) Win-Win CD per primary Tax ID Number. Must be at least 18 years of
ĂŐĞƚŽŽƉĞŶ͘KƉĞŶƚŽƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐŝŶƚŚĞĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐKƌĞŐŽŶ͕tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͕ĂŶĚ/ĚĂŚŽĐŽƵŶƟĞƐ͘KƌĞ-
ŐŽŶ͗tĂůůŽǁĂ͕hŶŝŽŶ͕ĂŬĞƌ͕hŵĂƟůůĂ͕DŽƌƌŽǁ͕tĂƐĐŽĂŶĚ,ŽŽĚZŝǀĞƌ͖tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͗tĂůůĂtĂůůĂ
ĂŶĚƐŽƟŶ͖/ĚĂŚŽ͗EĞnjWĞƌĐĞ͘ĐĐŽƵŶƚŵƵƐƚďĞŽƉĞŶĂƚƟŵĞŽĨĚƌĂǁŝŶŐƚŽďĞĞůŝŐŝďůĞ͘tŝŶŶĞƌƐ
are responsible for the payment of all taxes on prizes. Where required by law, form 1099 will
ďĞĮůĞĚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ/Z^ƚŽƌĞŇĞĐƚƉƌŝnjĞǁŝŶŶŝŶŐƐŽǀĞƌΨϲϬϬŝƐƐƵĞĚƚŽǁŝŶŶĞƌĨŽƌƚŚĞĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌLJĞĂƌ͘
Member FDIC
www.communitybanknet.com
800-472-4292