OPINION
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
HerMIsTOnHeraLd.COM • A9
This is your newspaper, Hermiston
ear Hermiston Herald readers:
tos of community events on the features
page. Last week we announced a new
Now that I’ve had a few weeks
Screen Time section that will come with
to settle into my official role as
the Herald each week starting Feb. 13,
Hermiston Herald news editor (and get
expanding and replacing the single-page
over the cold everyone has been fight-
ing!) I wanted to share some thoughts
TV listings that have traditionally been
with you.
found inside the paper. The
First of all, thank you to our
change will free up space inside
subscribers, single copy buyers
the paper for more local content.
and advertisers for your support
One change I would like to
of the Herald. We literally could
make right away is featuring reg-
ular guest columns. I’m work-
not do this without you.
ing on getting the ball rolling
News products take a sig-
nificant amount of money to
there by reaching out to local
research, write, edit, photo-
pastors and talking to the school
graph, print and publish online.
district about getting some stu-
J ade
MCDOWELL
dents to participate. If you know
In communities that have lost
an engaging writer in the greater
sight of that fact, news outlets are
COMMENT
Hermiston area whose thoughts
shrinking and closing altogether.
you would love to read in the
Research shows that where news
newspaper, send them my way.
coverage disappears, corruption and
I’ve also been throwing around plenty
waste in government increase. Hermis-
ton is lucky to have community members
of other ideas with people in the news-
room — everything from a fact-check-
like you, who realize the importance of an
ing-Facebook feature to including local
informed citizenry and are willing to step
student journalists’ work.
up and support that.
While I’ve been proud to work for the
In return, our staff want the Hermiston
Hermiston Herald all along, I am excited
Herald to be a product that is worth sup-
porting. Late last year, EO Media Group
to make improvements to the paper and
conducted a survey about what people
continue looking for additional ways to
help our readers stay “in the know” about
find valuable in the Herald. There were a
their community. This is your newspaper,
wide variety of responses (some of which
and I want it to feel like your newspaper.
directly contradicted each other), but one
If you ever have news tips, questions,
message I saw frequently was that peo-
ple value community news. They want to
photos to submit, letters to the editor,
be in the know about upcoming events,
rumors you’d like us to look into, results
incoming businesses, new construction
from your child’s trip to a sports tourna-
ment, ideas for changes to the paper or (I
projects and what cool new things their
suppose...) complaints, you can reach me
friends and neighbors are up to.
at 541-564-4536 or editor@hermistonher-
The Herald has been adding more
ald.com.
community-focused elements in recent
Jade McDowell is the news editor for
years, including our Three Minutes With,
the Hermiston Herald.
Hermiston History, By The Way and pho-
D
Photo contributed by Michael duffy
The Echo Kiwanis expressed appreciation to the Wal-Mart Distribution Center for its help
over the years in support of Chester’s Food Pantry and other projects.
Echo Kiwanis draft open
letter of thanks
Wal-Mart Distribution Center
in Hermiston has been very helpful
over the years with in-kind and grant
funds contributions to the efforts of
the Echo Kiwanis. Recently, Kiwanis
held their monthly Food Pantry at
the Masonic Lodge building, which is
operated by city of Echo. The pantry
was named in honor of Chet Prior,
who initiated the project in 2010.
Just days before the Christmas hol-
iday, it was the Echo’s largest Pantry
ever with service to 44 households,
including 124 individuals. In a town
of about 700, over 17 percent were
treated to food including a turkey
for dinner at Christmas, by Chester’s
Food Pantry.
In 2016, Wal-Mart DC provided
grant funds to purchase a commer-
cial-quality refrigerator which has
been in constant use by the pantry
since first arriving. With about nine
or so volunteers each month, the
group packages large boxes of food,
and sometimes other contributed
items, for distribution to Echo res-
idents. Agape House, RiverPoint,
Amstad’s, Echo second grade, Girl
Scouts, FFA students, Echo Ridge
Cellars as well as the local harvesters
at JOB Enterprises have been among
the dozens of local sponsors that keep
Chester’s Food Pantry going.
OkotoberFest is a production of
Echo Kiwanis. The group has also
assisted with other events including
Red2Red, Sage Trail Run, Memo-
rial Day Car Show and the annual
yard sales. This year, Walmart DC
contributed grant funds to support
traffic safety with which Kiwanis
could purchase Uniform Traffic Code
approved devices such as barricades
and delineators which will be used in
support of local events.
At this time of year, it is good to
reflect with appreciation. We want
to publicly say thank you to those
who take the time to share; especially,
Walmart DC of Hermiston — thank
you for helping to make our commu-
nity a better place to live.
Michael Duffy, past president
Echo Kiwanis
P.O. Box 91
Echo, OR 97826
The most valuable and respected
source of local news, advertising and
information for our communities.
www.eomediagroup.com
Contact your representatives
U.S. SENATORS
——
ron Wyden
Washington office:
221 dirksen senate Office Bldg.
Washington, dC 20510
202-224-5244
email: www.wyden.senate.gov/
contact
La Grande office:
541-962-7691
——
Jeff Merkley
Washington office:
313 Hart senate Office Building
Washington, dC 20510
202-224-3753
email: www.merkley.senate.gov/
contact
Pendleton office:
541-278-1129
——
u.s. representative
Greg Walden
Washington office:
185 rayburn House Office
Building
Washington, dC 20515
202-225-6730
email: walden.house.gov/con-
tact-greg/email-me
La Grande office:
541-624-2400
——
Governor
Kate Brown
160 state Capitol
900 Court street
salem, Or 97301-4047
503-378-4582
email: www.oregon.gov/gov/
Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
——
state senator
Bill Hansell, district 29
900 Court st. ne, s-423
salem, Or 97301
503-986-1729
email: sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
——
state representative
Greg smith, district 57
900 Court st. ne, H-482
salem, Or 97301
503-986-1457
email: rep.Gregsmith@state.
or.us
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