A16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018
FROM A1
SAFETY
Continued from Page A1
skills whether they choose
to work at a pool next sum-
mer or not.
“They’re going over
training that lifeguards go
through,” recreation super-
visor Brandon Artz said.
“They get to shadow some
too. It’s a good opportunity
to learn.”
On Monday morning the
junior lifeguard class was
treading water in the lap
pool, passing a 10-pound
brick between them with
encouragement from instruc-
tor Brittin Braithwaite as
some students struggled to
complete the task.
Afterward, she said it was
important for lifeguards to
build endurance and mental
toughness, which is why she
tries to push her students to
keep going even when they
said they were too tired. The
HFAC’s real lifeguards have
to swim nonstop for one
hour each week during their
inservice days.
Braithwaite said much
of the work the staff at the
aquatic center does is pre-
ventative, from teaching
water skills to asking kids
not to run next to the pool.
“People think lifeguards
save people from drowning,
but really we’re preventing
drownings,” she said.
Alysia Garcia, 19, teaches
all levels of swim lessons at
the HFAC. This is her third
year.
“I like working with kids
because it gives me prac-
tice,” she said. “I want to be
a teacher.”
She said most of her les-
sons are focused on helping
kids be safe in the water, so
that if they get caught in a
current at the beach or ven-
ture too far out and get tired
they can get themselves to
safety or at least stay afloat
until they are rescued.
New at the aquatic
center
Adding swim lessons
isn’t the only thing the Herm-
iston Family Aquatic Center
has adjusted this year. The
aquatic center’s public swim
hours have been streamlined
to 1:10-6:45 p.m. every day.
People can also hold
semi-private parties from
9:30-11 a.m. on weekends
— they might have to share
with a couple of other small
parties but it is cheaper (only
$150) than renting the entire
pool and they will have their
own area. During public
swim hours HFAC is also
adding private cabanas that
can be rented.
Infants under a year old
now have free admission,
with kids age nine and under
$4 a day (children under
nine must be accompanied
by an adult). Ages 10-17 or
55-plus are $5 and all other
admission is $6. The HFAC
is offering half-price admis-
sion to public swim after 5
p.m.
“This
discount
is
designed for working fami-
lies who get off in the eve-
ning and can’t make it to
an all day public swim,”
Artz said. “We want them to
enjoy the last two hours of
the pool day.”
Chantel Osborne is pro-
viding concessions this year,
including Dippin’ Dots.
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Mekena Royer tells her level 1 swim class to hold on to the
edge of the pool Monday at the Hermiston Family Aquatic
Center.
Pool safety important at
home, too
With the mercury hit-
ting triple digits multiple
times during the summer,
many area residents are
trying to find ways to beat
the heat.
The popularity of swim-
ming pools has increased
as portable backyard mod-
els are becoming more
affordable and easier to
maintain. However, peo-
ple need to remember
that safety is important,
regardless of the pool’s
depth.
With the start of the
summer season, Shauna
and Mike Smith recently
set up their 12-foot-by-30-
inches Intex metal frame
pool. The couple has two
children, ages 12 and 5.
While the pool is fairly
small, the Smiths have
outlined several rules,
including
appropriate
supervision is required, it
must be light outside and
water play is determined
based on the youngest
child that’s in the pool. For
instance, “rough-housing”
or splashing isn’t allowed
with smaller kids in the
pool.
In Hermiston, City
Ordinance 135.040 out-
lines requirements for
swimming pool enclo-
sures, defined as being at
least 18 inches deep. Pools
that aren’t totally enclosed
by a structure must have a
“substantial” fence at least
four feet tall and equipped
with a self-closing and
latching gate.
A standard question on
homeowner insurance pol-
icies, said John Herrera of
the Simmons Insurance
Group, asks about swim-
ming pools and hot tubs.
He reiterated the impor-
tance of pool security with
a fence with locked access.
Also, Herrera urges peo-
ple to follow up with their
insurance agent to make
sure they have appropriate
coverage if they purchase
a pool after their initial
insurance policy is issued.
Great things
are
happening!
STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY
Monica Arias holds her diploma high Thursday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
GRADUATION
Continued from Page A1
Anguiano, a student speaker
who encouraged her class-
mates to be patient if they
still hadn’t figured out their
path in life.
“Finding your passion
will happen at an unex-
pected moment,” she said.
“My advice is to seize that
moment when it comes.”
Judge Dan Hill, the dis-
tinguished alumnus, gave
students several pointers.
“Focus on lifelong learn-
ing, formal or informal,” he
said.
He urged the graduates
to engage with the world,
put down their cell phones
and take their futures
seriously.
“If you think for some
reason you don’t have the
right stuff, I’m here to tell
you that you do,” he said. “I
challenge you to prepare for
every opportunity.”
After each student had
received their diploma,
valedictorian Reed Mid-
dleton said a few words.
She asked her classmates
not to back down from the
challenges that might come
their way.
“We may even have to
pump our own gas — the
atrocity!” she said to laughs
from the crowd.
“Never forget to turn
around and thank the peo-
ple who got you there,” she
said.
Then, she led her class-
mates in the turning of the
tassel.
As graduates tossed their
caps and reunited with their
families, many reflected on
the last few years.
Ja’Qwaya Gooden said
the reality hadn’t quite hit
her yet.
“I’m really happy I made
it,” she said. “I thank every-
one who got me here.”
Though parents and
families faced heavy traffic
while traveling from Herm-
iston to Kennewick, many
said they were happy with
the new venue.
“It was good to have
it here, so many families
could come,” said Betty
Gutierrez, there to watch
her grandson Joey gradu-
ate. “Everybody wants to
be here to see this happen.”
School board member
Bonnie Luisi said count-
ers at the door counted
about 4,400 attendees at the
event. The Hermiston High
School gym, where gradu-
ation has been held in the
past, seats about 1,800.
EOU
IS
EOU ranked No. 5 among
CONNECTED
all higher education
institutions in the state
for affordable online degrees
Senior Rachel Roelle wins 3,000-meter
steeplechase national championship, setting
school and conference records
EOU Trustee Bobbie Conner will give the
commencement speech at both the 10 a.m.
and 2 p.m. ceremonies June 16
For more information visit
eou.edu/connected
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McKay Creek Estates
We need to talk
about your driving.
PUBLISH DATE:
Driving represents freedom and
independence for people of all ages. Asking
an aging parent to hand over their keys can
be a difficult and emotional conversation,
even when safety is the main concern.
June 27th, 2018
in the EO, HH, WCC & BME.
DEADLINE:
June 20th, 2018
• How do I start the conversation?
• When is the right time to bring it up?
• How will they react?
This could be one of the most challenging
talks you’ll have with your loved one.
We’re here to help.
Visit TheyDeserveTheBest.com to learn more about transitioning
your loved one from driver to passenger.
McKay Creek Estates
1601 Southgate Pl.
Pendleton, OR 97801
(541) 704-7146
www.PrestigeCare.com
Jeanne Jewett
541-564-4531
Audra Workman
541-564-4538
jjewett@hermistonherald.com
aworkman@eastoregonian.com
Kimberly Macias
541-278-2683
Angela Treadwell
541-966-0827
kmacias@eastoregonian.com
atreadwell@eastoregonian.com