HERMISTON GRADUATE HAS A HEAD START ON CHOOSEN CAREER » PAGE A12
Emilio Leal
HermistonHerald.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019
$1.00
GREG SMITH COMING UNDER FIRE
District 57 representative responds to
scrutiny of perceived confl icts of interest
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
As the 2019 legislative ses-
sion winds down, Rep. Greg
Smith, R-Heppner, is busy cast-
ing votes and fulfi lling commit-
tee assignments as he represents
District 57.
It’s his other role, however
— private economic develop-
ment consultant — that is get-
ting all the attention lately.
Smith has always been very
careful to try and separate his
private roles from his public ser-
vice as a state legislator. He can
often be seen at public meetings
around the state letting people
know which “hat” he is appear-
ing before them with today. But
for some people, the perception
is that the hat is a red herring for
the fact that they are all worn on
the same head.
Public agencies often receive
investments from the state leg-
islature while employing Smith.
Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity, which serves residents
BY THE WAY
Blood drive
rescheduled
Due to a schedul-
ing confl ict, the upcom-
ing
American
Red
Cross community blood
drive will be held Mon-
day, June 17 from noon
to 6 p.m. at Our Lady of
Angels Catholic Church,
565 W. Hermiston Ave.
The April 15 drive,
held at Good Shepherd
Medical Center, col-
lected 18 units from 24
donors. Volunteer Patti
Perkins expressed grat-
itude to the Hermiston
Emblem Club for supply-
ing homemade treats for
the donors. The May 20
drive at New Hope Com-
munity Church collected
26 units from 40 donors.
The canteen was provided
by Eastern Star.
Perkins
encourages
people to double-check
their appointment sched-
ule for the time and place.
A community drive is held
the third Monday of each
month in Hermiston.
While walk-ins are
welcome, Perkins said it’s
helpful for scheduling vol-
unteers if people make an
appointment by calling
1-800-448-3543. For more
information, visit www.
redcross.org.
• • •
The
Harkenrider
Senior Activity Cen-
ter will be having a spe-
cial Father’s Day lunch
on Thursday, with cubed
steaks, vegetables, pota-
toes and gravy and des-
sert. Friday is tacos and
dessert; Monday is salad
bar, garlic bread and des-
sert and Tuesday is tater
tot casserole, salad, fruit
and dessert.
of Smith’s district but is not
located inside it, received a $9
million commitment from the
legislature last year to build a
new fi eld house. EOU employs
Smith’s company, Gregory
Smith & Company LLC, to run
its Small Business Develop-
ment Center.
The Columbia Develop-
ment Authority, which employs
Smith directly as its executive
director, received about $6.5
million in the 2017 transporta-
tion package to reconfi gure an
interchange leading to property
Smith is tasked with marketing.
Last year, the legislature
See Smith, Page A10
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, does carry more infl uence in Salem than
many legislators. He has the most seniority of any state representative
after voters in District 57 sent him to the legislature 10 terms in a row,
and the connections around Salem that go with that longevity.
HERMISTON GRADUATION
READY FOR THE FUTURE
Staff photos by E.J. harris
Hermiston Schools superintendent Tricia Mooney straightens the shirt collar of Joshua Brown backstage before the Hermiston High
School commencement ceremony on Thursday in Kennewick.
Class of 2019 bids
Hermiston High
School farewell
By JESSICA POLLARD
STAFF WRITER
hree hundred and forty six
Hermiston High School stu-
dents became graduates in a sea
of purple caps and robes last
Thursday at the Toyota Center.
The ceremony celebrated how far
students had come while looking for-
ward to what their future might hold.
The evening of celebration com-
menced with a rendition of “The Star
Spangled Banner” by the HHS Cham-
ber Choir. The soprano voices of Sopho-
more Anna Guerrero and Senior Alyssa
Perkins rang out across the gym, carry-
ing the piece to the end.
Student Body President Isel Tijeda
Urenda delivered a welcome speech,
and Alexandria Varela Lepe gave a
Spanish welcome.
“Tonight is one of the last times we
stand together as the Hermiston High
School Class of 2019,” Urenda said.
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08805 93294
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A Hermiston High graduate points toward the audience during the commencement
ceremony in Kennewick. More photos of graduation on Page A11.
“We will see where the crow fl ies, but
until then, let’s enjoy the celebration.”
Parking lots overfl owing with cars
stood testament to large crowds of fam-
ilies and friends who enjoyed conces-
sions and cheered on their graduates as
each one entered onto the stage through
a pair of white columns shrouded in
ferns to pose with their diplomas before
the audience.
Principal Tom Spoo led a round of
thanks to Hermiston School District
staff, families, alumni, and HSD board
members.
See HHS, Page A10