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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 2018)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 NEWS Umatilla County tourism jumps in 2017 By ANTONIO SIERRA STAFF WRITER Oregon’s tourism indus- try has seen persistent state- wide growth this decade, and Umatilla County is no exception. Travel Oregon released a new report Thursday about the tourism industry impact, including detailed estimates for each county. According to the report, Umatilla County generated $165.5 million in direct tour- ism spending in 2017, a 13 percent increase from 2016 and a 3.1 percent increase since 2010. That figure also accounts for 60 percent of the direct spending in the 11-county Eastern Ore- gon region. Other statistics showed jobs, earnings and tax revenue derived from tourism had all risen in recent years. A Travel Pendleton coor- dinator for four years before he became Pendleton Con- vention Center manager, Pat Beard said he wasn’t sur- prised that the figures showed growth in Umatilla County tourism. Beard said Umatilla County has started to real- ize the economic potential of tourism in recent years. STATE Total Direct Spending: $11.8 billion Jobs: 112,200 Earnings: $3.3 billion Total Tax Revenue: $1.2 billion EASTERN OREGON* Total Direct Spending: $383 million Jobs: 5,930 Earnings: $123 million Total Tax Revenue: $17 million Local Tax Revenue: $5 million UMATILLA COUNTY Total Direct Spending: $165.5 million Jobs: 2,480 Earnings: $52.4 million Total Tax Revenue: $6.3 million Local Tax Revenue: $1.7 million Source: Travel Oregon *Eastern Oregon includes Umatilla, Morrow, Baker, Gil- liam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Sherman, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. HH FILE PHOTO The Hermiston Holiday Inn Express opened in 2017 as another option for tourists to Umatilla County. “We’re just barely scratch- ing the surface of what can be done,” he said. Many statistics were fairly flat from 2014-2016, before seeing a substantial jump in 2017. Beard theorized that a strengthening economy aided the tourism industry in 2017 in addition to low fuel prices that made road trips attractive. Gail Nelson, Umatilla County economic develop- ment and tourism coordina- tor, pointed to some more local factors that could have boosted tourism. 2017 was the first full year of operations for the new 93-room Holiday Inn in Hermiston, which pro- vided more lodging revenue for events like the Umatilla County Fair and the Farm- City Pro Rodeo. Nelson said tourism efforts in Athena, Mil- ton-Freewater and the Uma- tilla Indian Reservation also provide options for tour- ists. But ultimately, Pendle- ton remains the top tourism attraction in the region. According to the report, tourists in rural communities tend to stay in private homes rather than a hotel room, and Umatilla County is no dif- ferent. When visiting, 39.9 percent of overnight tourists stay at a hotel, motel or short- term vacation rental while 45.3 percent use a private residence. Travel Oregon provided a wide array of statistics state- wide and locally, but Nelson said one figure sticks out — the 2,480 jobs in the Umatilla County tourism industry in 2017, a 2.2 percent rise from the year before. WORSHIP COMMUNITY Spring Fling draws area vendors By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER Everything from tacos to turtles were on sale at Stan- field’s Spring Fling down- town on Saturday. The market took over Coe Avenue for the day offering up food, crafts, art and vendors for items such as Tupperware and Scentsy. Susan Kendrick of Ione was there selling jew- elry and Western-themed purses. She said she sets up her booth at markets on the weekend to raise money for the Stormy Kendrick Memorial Scholarship, which she gives to a local student each year in honor of her son. “Anything local I can do, I try to get out there,” she said. “I’m glad to be here.” Around noon she said crowds had been pretty steady so far, and she enjoyed seeing people stop by and check out her wares. She originally started sell- ing beadwork necklaces she made herself but has since expanded. Charles Hlawek was set up on the edge of Coe Ave- nue selling freshly made ket- tle corn, which he churned Seventh-day Adventist Church Saturdays Sabbath School........9:30 a.m. Worship Service......11:00 a.m. English & Spanish Services 567-8241 855 W. Highland • Hermiston STAFF PHOTO BY JADE MCDOWELL Kim La Plant, right, who works under the name Ozark Hippie, shows one of her paintings to a customer at the Stanfield Spring Fling on Saturday. out over an open flame. He said he came down for the market from the Tri-Cities because he knows organizer BeAnn Smith from her time working on the Hermiston Farmer’s Market. Hlawek said he also plans to be at the Hermiston market this year, which has been rebranded as the Maxwell Market and moved to Thursday nights on South First Street. He said he was excited about the thought of some new life being breathed into that market. Saturday, how- ever, he was focused on the Stanfield market. Some vendors had their attention split over multi- ple markets Saturday, as the Open Air Market in Echo and Crafters in the Pas- ture in Hermiston were run- ning at the same time. Jose Gutierrez of Potteryplus in Hermiston said his business First Christian Church also had a stall at Crafters in the Pasture. “We’re doing double duty,” he said. The Potteryplus booth featured small, colorful tur- tle sculptures and larger peacock statues. Sitting on the corner across from the kettle corn, the peacocks drew in passerby to the mar- ket, which stretched down Coe Avenue past the city council chambers. “Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love” Sunday School 9:15am Worship Gathering 10:30 am Children’s Church 10:30 am 567-3013 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston Call Today! 541-289-5433 1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR (across from Good Shepherd Medical Center) www.apd4kidz.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children’s Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-567-8441 Episcopal Church MENTAL HEALTH Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS! St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. Scripture, Tradition and Reason • Adult, Child and Family Therapy • Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment • Mental Health and Crisis Services • Confidential and Professional Care LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON 331 SE 2nd St., 595 NW 11th St., 866-343-4473 Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838 Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536 Family service 9am Sunday N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston t. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. ll. Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 VISION CARE COUNSELING Eye Health & Vision Care Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 NEW BEGINNINGS MEDICAL DIRECTORY PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY The Full Gospel Home Church Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” Optometric Physician 1520 W ORCHARD AVE Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE www.hermistonnazarene.org LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 Pastor David Dever Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm www.hermistonlmbc.com First United Methodist Church Hermiston 191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002 Nursery available Check us out on Face Book Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130 541-567-1837 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. URGENT AND FAMILY CARE FAMILY DENTISTRY HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE & URGENT CARE Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans Family Dentistry NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY ~ N ew Patients Welcome~ HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 7:30am-7:00pm 541-567-1137 236 E. Newport, Hermiston (across from U.S. Bank) 541-567-8161 995 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S . To advertise in the Medical Directory, please call: Jeanne at 541-564-4531 or Audra at 541-564-4538 DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday ...............................English 7:00 am Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm ...............................Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am ..........................Bilingual 11:00 am ..............................Spanish 1:00 pm Offi ce..............................567-5812 To share your worship times call 541-278-2678
