16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
NEWS
WEDNESDAy, JANuARy 16, 2019
CONCUSSION
Continued from Page A16
The district admits that
Martin
participated
in
another game on Oct. 20
between Hermiston and
Redmond High School, but
said they didn’t have enough
knowledge to respond to the
claim that Martin had a hel-
met-to-helmet collision with
another player, or that he fell
to the ground and his head
bounced off the turf.
They admit that the same
day, athletic trainer Dan
Emery evaluated Martin and
concluded he may have suf-
fered a concussion, but deny
that Emery told his father
to take him home to rest, as
well as subsequent claims
about Emery’s assessment of
Martin’s condition.
They admitted that Dr.
Derek Earl evaluated Mar-
tin around Nov. 7, 2016, but
said they lacked knowledge
to admit or deny what the
family claims Earl told them
about his condition.
They also denied the fam-
ily’s claim that the district
did not have rules or policies
ensuring that coaches should
be trained to recognize con-
cussion symptoms, or poli-
cies that students should not
return to play or training the
same day they exhibit signs
of a concussion.
An article published Fri-
day by the Pacific North-
west-based news organiza-
tion InvestigateWest says
that while Oregon has laws
for when students can return
to athletic activities after
concussions, the state is
lacking in specific rules for
when concussed students
return to the classroom, or
for accommodating students
in class that are recovering
from concussions.
The article reports that
many schools don’t know
about or take advantage of
the free resources for learn-
ing about how to help con-
cussed students.
The Center for Brain
Injury Research and Train-
ing, based in Eugene,
released a free 10-hour
online course to train edu-
cators, called “In the Class-
room After Concussion.”
The article also states that
many times, the protocol for
treating non-sports related
brain injuries varies by indi-
vidual school.
Federal court documents
for the case state that the
deadline for setting a pre-
trial hearing is May 6, 2019.
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Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Jonny Badillo Guerrero and his partner Katya, of the Utah Ballroom Dance Company, perform during Dancing with the Hermiston Stars on Saturday at
Hermiston High School.
DANCE
Continued from Page A1
the night went to Desert View Ele-
mentary School first grade teacher
Kara Frazier, who shook and shim-
mied her way through a salsa to
the sounds of Shakira’s “Hips
Don’t Lie.” Frazier earned an
almost-perfect 29 out of 30 for the
performance.
In a video interview with Frazier
and her professional dance partner
Trevor, she said the hardest part was
learning to do the dance while wear-
ing high heels. She danced for Made
to Thrive, which provides money
and support for students who might
not otherwise be able to participate
in extra-curricular activities.
Jonny Badillo of Umatilla-Mor-
row Head Start danced a “Thriller”-
themed cha cha as Michael Jackson,
raising money for Court Appointed
Special Advocates. CASAs act as
advocates for children in the foster
system.
Ashley Umbarger, looking very
country in a fringe dress and cow-
boy boots, did a country two-step
inspired by Loretta Lynn that fea-
tured a back flip. Umbarger and her
husband Jeff Umbarger recently
became co-directors of Campus
Life, which provides wholesome
activities and a safe, positive place
for teenagers to hang out.
Mary Winebarger, a semi-re-
tired bookkeeper, put in a long
black wig and danced disco to
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Jake Bacon and his partner Katya, of the Utah Ballroom Dance Company,
perform during Dancing with the Hermiston Stars on Saturday at Hermiston
High School.
Cher’s “Believe.” She is the trea-
surer for Altrusa International, and
raised money for the service club
Saturday.
Tony Garberg, director of car-
diopulmonary services for Good
Shepherd Medical Center, donned a
purple velvet blazer and whirled his
partner around in a foxtrot to “Walk
Like a Man” by Franki Valli and the
Four Seasons.
“You didn’t just walk like a man,
you were the man!” judge Dawn
Kennison-Kerrigan told him before
the three judges awarded him a
score of 26.
Votes for Garberg raised money
for Rotary Club.
Bacon, who raised the most
money of the night, put it toward
the Kiwanis Club, of which he is a
member. One of the ways the club
will spend the money is on sponsor-
ing Outdoor School for local fifth
graders.
“Everyone wins out of this,” he
said. “The bragging rights are fun
to have — and they will be used —
but really, everyone wins, the danc-
ers and the community.”
While the Utah Ballroom Dance
Company has 45 stops planned
for its tour, Saturday’s emcee told
the audience that Hermiston holds
a special place in the company’s
heart as the longest-running Danc-
ing With Your Stars show at seven
“seasons.” The Desert Arts Council
had previously sponsored the event,
but the Hermiston Education Foun-
dation stepped up this year instead,
with the help of U.S. Bank.
Bacon said he got recruited by
Hermiston School District Superin-
tendent Tricia Mooney, and despite
what some may think, didn’t have
any dance experience whatsoever.
Once the seven participants
were chosen, they got together for
a “reveal” party where they were
able to hear the songs available and
choose which routine they wanted
to tackle.
“When they brought up MC
Hammer, everyone laughed and
pointed at me, so I kind of got it by
default,” Bacon said.
Each dancer had one-hour prac-
tice sessions Sunday through Thurs-
day, with a dress rehearsal Saturday.
Bacon said his professional partner
Katya was “amazing” and helped
him learn quickly.
He said he was so nervous he
almost felt sick, but once he went
out on stage it went well, and he had
fun bonding with the other amateur
competitors throughout the week.
Bacon said he brought the mir-
ror-ball trophy to school on Mon-
day and presented it to the students,
who asked if they could call him
“McBacon” from now on.