WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7
OPINION
Discovering new places, seeking out backroads
Weston, Tollgate, Elgin,
Wallowa, Lostine,
Enterprise, Joseph, Pilot
Rock, Ukiah, Long Creek,
Whenever I’ve had the
Mount Vernon, John Day
pleasure of moving to a
and La Grande. I still have
new town, I’ve
Irrigon, Boardman,
always tried to be
Helix, Heppner,
very receptive to
Lexington, Baker
the good advice
City and other
offered by folks
towns on my
who have lived
to-visit list.
there for awhile
Each
and know the ways
community
and customs of
usually hangs its
Chris Rush
their community.
proverbial hat on
That is certainly PUBLISHER
something that
true of my first few
sets it apart. For
weeks here in northeast
instance, I now know
Oregon.
that watermelons play
I relocated here in
an important part of
May after spending three
Hermiston’s branding
years on the west (and
identity: “Where life is
wetter) side of the state
sweet.”
in Coos Bay/North Bend.
Prior to that, my 26-year
newspaper career has
taken my family to small
cities like Bentonville,
Ark., Aberdeen, Wash.,
and Bartlesville, Okla.
Although dramatically
different in climate,
culture and economic
fortunes, each of the
communities in which I
have lived and worked
shared something in
common: They are all
fiercely proud of their
unique heritage and the
niche they occupy in the
world.
I have discovered
Chris Rush, Publisher
this to be true here in
northeast Oregon as
well. In the brief time
I have been here, I’ve
Of course, everyone
had the opportunity to
identifies Pendleton with
visit numerous towns in
a bronc-riding — “Let ‘er
the region: Pendleton,
Buck” — cowboy image,
Hermiston, Stanfield,
but as Mayor John Turner
Umatilla, Echo, Milton-
pointed out to me recently,
Freewater, Athena,
the actual city seal honors
By CHRIS RUSH
PUBLISHER, HERMISTON
HERALD
“But beyond
the cities and
towns, it is clear
to me that the
land of Eastern
Oregon is a
special place.”
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: 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 250 words.
No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person.
The Hermiston Herald reserves the right to edit letters for
the city’s woolen products
heritage with an image of
a sheep.
I see that the hamlet
of Athena honors its
19th-century Scottish
settlers with the annual
Caledonian Games “to
preserve and perpetuate
Scottish social manners
and customs.” The event is
scheduled for July 13-15
this year, by the way.
According to
Wikipedia, Wallowa
County’s Lostine was
named after a short-lived
place by the same name
in Cherokee County,
Kansas. Further down the
road, the tourist town of
Joseph, originally named
Silver Lake or Lake City,
eventually adopted its
name for the legendary
chief of the Nez Perce.
In Grant County, John
Day takes its name for a
member of the famous
1811 Astor Expedition.
A renowned hunter and
fur trapper, his name is
well remembered in the
state as it is attached to
multiple river branches in
Oregon as well as the John
Day Fossil Beds National
Monument.
But perhaps my favorite
name so far is the quaint
hamlet of Echo, “Where
History Blooms.” It was
named by one of the
town’s founding fathers,
J. H. Koontz, for his then
three-year-old daughter
in 1880. Her Victorian
image, as an adult, still
adorns the city’s signage
and marketing materials.
But beyond the cities
and towns, it is clear to
me that the land of Eastern
Oregon is a special place.
I’ve taken the opportunity
on weekends to steer
my four-wheel drive
down some unpaved and
unmarked roads in the
beautiful Blue Mountains
that surround us. The
views from a mountain
meadow at 4,000 feet
in elevation can be
breathtaking.
Most recently, I
discovered the joy of
taking the slow route
from Deadman Pass
down Cabbage Hill via
the narrow and winding
Poverty Flat Road (now,
there’s some interesting
names for you!). If you’re
not in a hurry and the
weather is clear, I highly
recommend it.
Once down the
mountain and back onto
the gently rolling plains
of golden wheat fields, the
drive through the Umatilla
Indian Reservation
is enlightening. The
Confederated Tribes are
doing some extraordinary
things with their facilities
and services. And I
truly believe I’m getting
closer every day to the
correct pronunciation of
“Tamastslikt.”
It’s clear that we live
in an incredibly rich and
diverse area and I can’t
wait to continue my
education and exploration
here.
Here’s to a safe and
happy Independence Day
holiday to everyone!
■
Chris Rush is the new
regional publisher of the
East Oregonian, Hermiston
Herald, Wallowa County
Chieftain, and Blue Moun-
tain Eagle newspapers.
length and for content.
Letters must be original and signed by the writer or writers.
Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include
a telephone number so they can be reached for questions.
Only the letter writer’s name and city of residence will be
published.
LETTERS TO THE EIDTOR
Fundraising effort supports Ellwood
family
On behalf of the Ellwood Family we wanted to say
thank you to everyone who donated to the Jasmine
Ellwood Fundraiser on June 2, 2018.
We had so many generous donation from individuals
and businesses including the Hermiston Police
Association, Umatilla County Fire District 1, Hermiston
School District, Teri Allstott, Tom Spoo and Cooking Spoo
Style Catering, Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics
Team, Filipino Society of Hermiston, Dorothy Cofelt,
Premier Designs, Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute,
Two Rivers Correctional Institute, Main Stylin’ Nook,
Good Shepherd Gift Shop, Hermiston Cinema, Pilar
Portrait Studio, Good Shepherd Auxiliary, Alive and
Well, Norma Kightlinger, Catholic Daughters of America,
Simply Divine, Kandie Jensen, Mike Botti, Hermiston
Parks & Recreation, Buttercreek Salon, Carrie Marcum,
Scott Miller, Nookies/Hermiston Brewing Company,
Eastern Oregon Mobile Slaughter, city of Hermiston,
Hermiston Vet Clinic, RDO, Lularoe with the Littles,
Defining Details Photography, Angling Oregon, Wraptor
Rods, Stahl’s Guide Service LLC, Bookagami by Jamie,
Greg and Sherri Smith, Jermey Kile, Farmhouse 73,
Hales, Ford Bonney, Balance Chiropractic, Ken and
Gale Gorrod, Diane McClure, NW Metal Fabricators,
Smitty’s Outpost, Breckyn Mecham, Last Supper Dining,
26 Mile by Whitney Knowles, Seattle Seahawks, Les
Schwab Tire Factory, O So Kleen, James Simpson, Banner
Bank, Neighbor Dudes, Terry Cummings, Desiree Balli
Photography and to our other very generous anonymous
donors. We also want to thank everyone who took the time
out of the busy graduation weekend to attend.
The family is very grateful for the all of the support
from the community!
SINCERELY,
JESSICA MARCUM, QUIDA GENTRY
AND CAROLINE JOURDAN
Special Olympics appreciates news
coverage
The Hermiston/Pendleton Special Olympics Local
Program #510 would like to express our appreciation for
the wonderful news coverage our athletes and coaches
have received through the past many years from the
Hermiston Herald. On this 50th anniversary of Special
Olympics, we appreciate having the light shine on not
only our local program but also on Special Olympics
International, which grew from one track meet to a
worldwide program serving over one million athletes.
Our area athletes and coaches have always felt strong
support from our local communities. We know that one of
the reasons for this support is due to the positive coverage
we have received highlighting our program and activities
in the Hermiston Herald.
The local board, made up totally of volunteers, is
incredibly committed to bringing sports training and
competition to individuals with intellectual/developmental
disabilities. Thank you for helping us in this worthy effort.
Angela Schneider, program coordinator,
and program board members
HERMISTON/PENDLETON
SPECIAL OLYMPICS LOCAL PROGRAM #510
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