DAWGS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER IN COACH MOORE’S HOMECOMING » PAGE A10
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
HermistonHerald.com
$1.00
INSIDE
DAD DIES
SAVING SON
Umatilla man drowns
after helping son out of
chilly Columbia River.
PAGE A3
BATTLE OF
THE BOOKS
Hermiston opts out of
reading competition
because of book about
transgender youth.
PAGE A3
MARATHON
WOMAN
Meet Angie Treadwell,
local nutritionist freshly
back from the Boston
Marathon.
PAGE A2
HELP AT
YOUR DOOR
Community paramedics
bring health care to
homes to avoid ER visits.
PAGE A9
FRENCH FRY FACTORY
GOING VERTICAL
Lamb Weston already recruiting
for new facility, will pay workers
$38,000 annually
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
STAFF WRITER
T
hough french fries weren’t on the menu Fri-
day, Oregon’s governor stopped by to feast
her eyes on one of Hermiston’s fastest-grow-
ing areas.
Lamb Weston Hermiston welcomed Gov.
Kate Brown, who got a look at the site where work-
ers are expanding to build a $250 million facility.
It’s not far from the planned Vadata data center on
Westland Road southwest of Hermiston.
Brown presented members of Lamb Weston
with a check for $500,000, an award from the
state’s strategic reserve fund. The money will go
toward infrastructure, as well as workforce devel-
opment and training, said Lamb Weston Director
of Communications Shelby Stoolman.
Located on Westland Road in Hermiston,
the new factory will open in spring 2019 and is
expected to create 170 new jobs. Stoolman said the
nearby plant already employs about 400 people.
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
Gov. Kate Brown presents a check to Lamb Weston employees, in front of
the site where the business will open a new facility next year.
Below: Construction crews work Friday on the new Lamb Weston french fry
facility in Hermiston.
See FACTORY, A16
BY THE WAY
Ditch the screen and
come downtown
Ditch the cell phones
and iPads and join Screen-
Free Week activities in
downtown Hermiston. The
public is invited to partic-
ipate in a learning pic-
nic and interactive games,
enjoy healthy food sam-
ples and kids can make a
bouquet.
The event is Thursday
from 4:30-7 p.m. on East
Main Street, Hermiston.
People who fill a passport
card for activity partici-
pation can enter to win a
prize.
The event is organized
by the Oregon State Uni-
versity Extension Ser-
vice. For more infor-
mation, contact Angie
Treadwell at 541-567-
8321 or angela.tread-
well@oregonstate.edu.
See BTW, A16
Cinco de Mayo party fires up Saturday
Music, food and games
on Saturday and Sunday
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Hermiston Cinco de Mayo
celebration is gearing up for a big
bash this weekend at the Eastern
Oregon Trade and Event Center,
1705 Airport Road.
The popular event, which is mov-
ing for the third time in six years,
is Saturday from noon-11 p.m. and
Sunday from noon-10 p.m. The two-
day festival features live entertain-
ment, food vendors, a beer garden,
food-eating contests, a dancing horse
competition and family activities.
There is no admission charge.
“Every year it’s been growing and
growing,” said Hermiston Cinco de
Mayo board president Moises Lopez.
The carnival, presented by Rainer
Amusements, opens Friday from
4-9 p.m. with a Buddy Night, offer-
ing two-for-one wristbands. Advance
sale discount carnival ride wristbands
are $20, which includes one game, at
Quick Stop Drive Thru Food Mart,
455 N. First St., Hermiston. The car-
nival also runs Saturday from noon
to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to
9 p.m. Children must be at least 2
years old to ride.
Bands include Grupo Control Los
Reyes de la Cumbia, Domador and
Mariachi Los Temerosos, Liberados
See CINCO, A16
FILE PHOTO
Musicians with Mariachi de los Temerosos serenade the crowd during a past
Hermiston Cinco de Mayo celebration. The group returns for this year’s event,
which is Saturday and Sunday at Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center.