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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2018)
A16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM EMPLOYMENT Continued from Page A1 ton’s regional water system, which the city implemented in the mid-1990s, with mak- ing many of Hermiston’s major employers possible. And when people move into town to work for one of the largest employers, it often creates a trickle-down effect of more jobs in areas like retail and education. “The formula is pretty simple around here: Just add water, and you will get jobs,” Morgan said. The city continues to “add water,” extending the system to the yet-undevel- oped Cook Industrial Site south of town and starting WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 FROM A1 the groundwork for a new water tower on the northeast side of town. The water tower project is more to encourage hous- ing development than indus- trial development, but more housing means more work- ers for potential employers to consider when moving to town. Finding employees can be hard. Shearer’s Foods expanded in Hermiston in 2014, adding 114 jobs. The company is holding a job fair Friday at Worksource Hermiston, 950 SE Colum- bia Drive Suite B, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to recruit for positions ranging from reach truck operators to mechanics. Worksource Oregon is a statewide network of pub- lic and private partners that provides employers and employees a one-stop shop to help match job seekers with open positions created by turnover or by new job growth. Manager Tara Morrell, with the Oregon Employ- ment Department, said the recruitment events at Work- source Oregon’s Hermiston site can help area employ- ers come into contact with a diverse range of candidates in a few hours, which they would have otherwise taken weeks to vet. Events like the one for Shearer’s on Friday have been a successful strat- egy in the Hermiston area, she said. “We customize recruit- ment strategies to fit the needs of the employer,” she said. She said the success of Worksource Hermiston depends on maintaining a good relationship with local employers. Agencies at Work- source Hermiston also help job seekers, offering assis- tance with applications and résumés, free workshops, skill assessments, copy/fax machines and free internet access for job-hunting. According to the employ- ment department’s data web- site qualityinfo.org, unem- ployment in Eastern Oregon hit a record low of 4.7 per- cent in July. That was down from a high point of 11.2 percent in May 2009. TREATMENT Continued from Page A1 be in court in Hermiston. Koski said that’s the kind of structure she needs so she can’t get into her “comfort zone” and give in to using. The structure also pres- ents challenges. Some of the clients don’t have vehi- cles or can’t drive. Primmer said Thursday afternoons mean a hectic series of calls to make sure someone can bring the clients to court. Those clients are crimi- nal defendants who pleaded guilty to drug charges to get into treatment court, but this is not your usual criminal proceeding. The treatment team of counselors and court staff sits in the jury box, and rather than weigh guilt or innocence, the team gives thumps up and applause when clients meet a goal, such as submitting a per- sonal essay about how drugs affected their lives. That may seem corny, Primmer said, but it encour- ages the clients to keep working and the team to look for the successes. Roy Blaine said wit- nessing those personal suc- cesses is what he likes about STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Judge Heidi Van Kirk speaks with a candidate in treatment court, not photographed, on Friday in Hermiston. the court. Blaine is the trial coordinator for the circuit courts of Umatilla and Mor- row counties. Attorney Heidi Van Kirk of Pendleton serves as the treatment court judge. She said the program’s multi-discipline approach to treatment attracted her to the oversee the court because addiction is often multi-lay- ered. She spent most of Fri- day’s proceeding asking the clients how their week went and what stresses they were dealing with. One woman said she was scared about the health of her unborn child, and an ultrasound appointment ear- lier in the week assuaged some of those fears. She said the doctor called her baby “beefy” but healthy. “We’re all looking for- ward to meeting Mr. Beefy when he’s born,” Van Kirk replied, drawing chuckles in the courtroom. Treatment court also offers a big carrot for the defendants who complete the 18-month program: Wiping off their drug con- viction from the court record. Koski said just watching from the front row Friday made her feel positive, “like I have a whole crew of peo- ple behind my back.” BY THE WAY BTW Continued from Page A1 2016, will be making an appearance in Pendleton on Oct. 9. Huckabee will be speaking at the Pendle- ton Convention Center to promote Pregnancy Care Services, a Pendle- ton anti-abortion nonprofit that provides counseling services, parenting classes, and other resources to expecting mothers and fathers. Pregnancy Care Ser- vices Executive Direc- tor Laura Jensen said the event where Huckabee will speak, “Unite for Life,” will not be a political rally. Pregnancy Care Service’s goal is to raise $100,000 from the event and use it as a launch pad to raise more money toward their expansion project within the next 3-5 years. The Pendleton Con- vention Center seats 500, but Jensen said last week there were only about 300 free tickets left for the event available to the gen- eral public. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis through Pregnancy Care Services (541-276-5757). The dinner will start at 6:30 p.m. and Huckabee’s speech at 7:30 p.m. • • • There are more pages to turn these days at the Umatilla Public Library — thanks to a grant from the Oregon State Library. Director Kel- lie Lamoreaux said the library recently received a $3,000 Refreshing Youth Collections Grant. The money is being used to purchase a vari- ety of materials to enhance the collection for younger readers, including picture books, early chapter books and young adult books. Funding for the grant was provided by Oregon’s Library & Technology Services Act Program, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Lamoreaux said. The Umatilla Public Library is located at 700 Sixth St. For more infor- mation, call 541-922-5704. • • • Area students recently cashed in with their good grades. During the eighth year of Community Bank’s Earn While You Learn Program, 704 stu- dent-customers in East- ern Oregon and southeast Washington area earned $16,777. Students in first through 12th grade presented their end-of-the-year report cards during the months of June and July and were rewarded with $1 for every top grade received. Students can earn up to $50 annually through the program. CEO Tom Moran said the program encourages the academic success of young people and assists in teaching students the value of saving. Since the pro- gram’s inception in 2011, a total of $96,385 has been paid out, said Leah John- son, the bank’s marketing manager. Community Bank has 11 branches in Eastern Oregon, including Herm- iston, Heppner, Pendleton and Milton-Freewater. For more information about the Earn While Your Learn Program, visit www.com- munitybanknet.com. ——— You can submit items for our weekly By The Way column by emailing your tips to editor@herm- istonherald.com. Visit us online at www.HermistonHerald.com Thank you to the volunteers and community partners who made our August Adolescent Wellness Events in Hermiston and Milton-Freewater a success! We saw Umatilla County Public Health would like to especially thank the following provider team from Columbia River Health for volunteering their time: Meet our newest pediatrician Lina Castillo, MD As a Pediatrician Dr. Castillo brings with her compassion and a desire to care for your children. In addition to caring for the general pediatric needs of children, newborn to 18 year olds, she also specializes in gastroenterology and hepatology. “ Welcoming New Patients Good Shepherd Medical Group Pediatrics 541.667.3740 600 NW 11th Street Suite E-33 Hermiston, OR 97838 I wanted to become a pediatrician because it brought me joy to know that by making a positive impact on a child’s life it could positively impact our world for generations to come. ” Alysia McDonald, PA-C Austin Higginson, PA-C David Collins, PA-C Michael Sermon, PA-C Nathan Lystrup, FNP And thank you to Hermiston High School and Central Middle School for hosting these events! 297 students!!
