COMMUNITY
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH ...
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019
HERMISTON HISTORY
BLAINE CLOOTEN
Attorney at Clooten Law
When and why did you move to Hermiston?
I started working in Hermiston in 2013 after pass-
ing the Oregon State Bar. My wife got a job in the
area; and we decided to settle in Eastern Oregon
to raise a family. I began my role as Hermiston
city prosecutor in 2013, and currently hold that
position, today. I also practice civil work with my
wife in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, estate
planning, and personal injury.
HH fi le photo
Ana Sandoval and Michele Skinner had their hands full at the opening of the 99 Cent Store in Hermiston in 1994.
What is your favorite place to eat in
Hermiston?
This is a tough question. My wife and I used to
have a standing weekly afternoon date at Walk-
er’s Farm Kitchen, but sadly, they stopped serv-
ing lunch (#pleasebringbacklunch). Both Shiki and
Kobe are great for sushi. Delish Bistro is also con-
sistently good. An unexpected place I really like is
the salad bar at Good Shepherd Medical Center.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spend time with my 3- and 5-year-old sons. I also
like to run with my dog. I enjoy doing projects on
my house and old truck, but I seem to break more
than I fi x. I always make time to watch the Blazers
and college football, but I won’t say which college
team I favor (go Ducks!).
What surprises you about Hermiston?
The community was very welcoming when I
arrived, and it hasn’t changed. If you ask some-
one for help, they give it. That’s really a big bene-
fi t of a place like Hermiston. I’ve lived in big cit-
ies before, and there’s nothing like the feeling of a
small town. I also love how much Hermiston con-
tinues to grow and expand with new business. All
things considered, I think the city government does
a good job to promote business growth.
What was the last book you read?
“Watership Down” by Richard Adams. There’s
a version of it on Netfl ix, if you’re not into read-
ing (but you’re reading the Hermiston Herald, so,
chances are you at least moderately enjoy a good
read).
What website or app do you use most other
than Facebook?
Email, news, or the boring guy answers, like
ESPN. I visit my own site 3-4 times a day (oregon-
legalfi rm.com) and of course www.hermistonher-
ald.com. I do have to visit the Umatilla County
Jail Roster frequently for work.
If you could travel anywhere, where would
you go?
I’ve been planning a trip to Europe with my wife
Nicole Clooten, since we started dating. We plan
to go to Paris and London. I’d like to visit my
brother-in-law in Japan, and someday hope to visit
my adopted brother’s homeland of South Korea.
What is one of your goals for the next 12
months?
To make a positive impact on my community and
the legal profession [insert lawyer joke here]. If
you have a suggestion, please contact me.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I’m proud of the law fi rm I started with my wife in
Hermiston. I’m proud of the boys I’m helping to
raise, but again, that’s a team effort with my wife.
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 113 • NUMBER 44
Chris Rush | Publisher • crush@eomediagroup.com • 541-278-2669
25 YEARS AGO
NOV. 1, 1994
Completion of a new school build-
ing at the corner of 10th Street and
Diagonal Road is just part of a transi-
tion to a middle school format.
When the school opens in the fall
of 1995, both it and Armand Larive
school will continue to house only
seventh and eighth graders.
Sixth graders will remain at the
grade schools one more year until
renovations at Armand Larive are
complete.
Got 99 cents?
That’s all you need to buy most of
the items for sale at the 99-Cent Store
at Highway 395 and Southeast Fourth
in Hermiston.
The store opened last week and is
already doing brisk business based
solely on word of mouth.
“It’s all over town now,” store
manager Joe Key said. “Everybody
knows.”
HH fi le photo
Inland Empire Bank employees dressed up as prison inmates for the 1994 Treats
on Main in Hermiston.
50 YEARS AGO
OCT. 30, 1969
Colonel Charles R. Norris
announced Wednesday afternoon
that the Umatilla Army Depot work-
force would number about 750 by
early January as a result of civilian
strength reductions by the Department
of Defense, detailed yesterday morn-
ing in Washington by Secretary Mel-
vin Laird.
Currently 790 civilians are
employed by UAD.
Colonel Norris, commanding offi -
cer at the 20,000 acre installation,
stated that in order to align the number
of employees with budgeted funds,
it will be necessary to give 60-day
advanced reduction-in-force notices
to the affected personnel.
Changes in the depot organiza-
tional structure and realignment of
personnel are being studied, according
to Col. Norris, in order to use remain-
ing forces to best advantage in carry-
ing on the functions of the post.
He said there have been no changes
in the ammunition and general supply
missions of the installation.
75 YEARS AGO
NOV. 2, 1944
Two more Hermiston boys have
given their lives for their country. This
sad fact was revealed this week by
receipt of telegrams by Mr. and Mrs.
F.C McKenzie and Mr. and Mrs.
Fred J. Estle.
The fi rst sad message to arrive
came from the War Department, stat-
ing that Pvt. Frank McKenzie had
died from wounds received in action
in the Paullau Islands. The follow-
ing day another telegram, this time
from the U. S. Navy, stated that Rob-
ert Clair Estle, Gunners Mate 3/c,
USNR, had died of wounds fol-
lowing action in the service of his
country.
Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie had not
heard from their son since September
24, when he wrote that he was get-
ting along nicely and “not to worry.”
At that time he was thought to have
been on Anguar Island. The telegram
stated that he died of wounds on Oct.
1, indicating he was injured some-
time between Sept. 24 and Oct. 1.
He died the day after he reached his
22nd birthday.
Frank entered the service at Ft.
Douglas, Utah, on Dec. 29, 1942.
He had been overseas about four
months, serving with the 81st Divi-
sion, U. S. Infantry.
He was born and raised in Hermis-
ton, going through all local schools.
He was well liked by his fellow
classmates for his friendliness and
cheerful disposition.
Robert Clair Estle was born on
Nov. 20, 1922 in Sharon, Oklahoma.
He came to Oregon with his parents
in May, 1937 and lived here until he
enlisted on Dec. 11, 1941, four days
after the sneak attack on Pearl Har-
bor. He attended grade school here
and later worked on the farm with
his parents.
The telegram from the U.S. Navy
stated that he had died of wounds
following action in the service of his
country. No defi nite information is
available yet as to where burial ser-
vice was held. Bob was the youngest
of 10 children in the Estle family and
the fi rst to break up the family circle.
100 YEARS AGO
NOV. 1, 1919
Edward Rose Shaw and Ania
McMartin were married in Walla
Walla Thursday of last week. After a
little honeymoon trip they returned to
Cold Springs, east of this city, where
they will make their home.
The bride is a sister of Mrs. E.
E. Shaw of Cold Springs, and the
groom is the son of her husband by
a former marriage.
So the way this fi gures out in rela-
tionship now is that Mrs. E. E. Shaw
is mother-in-law to her own sister
and step-mother-in-law and sister-
in-law to the groom.
Carey Wood died from acute
nephritis Monday morning in St.
Anthony Hospital at Pendleton.
He was there only a few days, hav-
ing been taken from this city when
his condition after a week’s illness
became gradually worse.
His death was thought to be due to
the effects of shell shock and being
gassed while in service in France, he
having been at one time 72 days con-
tinuously on the fi ring line. He was
mustered out early in the year and
returned to Hermiston.
Tammy Malgesini | Community Editor • tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4539
Community Bank picks local teachers
Annie Fowler | Sports Editor • afowler@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4542
HERMISTON HERALD
Jade McDowell | News Editor • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536
Jessica Pollard | Reporter • jpollard@eastoregonian.com, 541-564-4534
Jeanne Jewett | Multi-Media consultant • jjewett@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
Dawn Hendricks | Circulation assistant • dhendricks@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4530
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news,
advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
• e-mail info@hermistonherald.com
• stop by our offi ces at 333 E. Main St.
• visit us online at: hermistonherald.com
The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston
Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838,
(541) 567-6457.
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CORRECTIONS
It is the policy of the Hermiston Herald to correct errors as soon as they are
discovered. Incorrect information will be corrected on Page 2A. Errors commited on
the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also are noted in the
online versions of our stories.
Please contact the editor at editor@hermistonherald.com
or call (541) 564-4533 with issues about this policy or to report errors.
As area educators were
returning to their class-
rooms in September, Com-
munity Bank was collect-
ing nominations for its new
Apple Appreciation Awards.
The bank congratulated
teachers with the most nom-
inations collected in the
communities where it has
branches. Meghan Dixon,
a fourth grade teacher at
Hermiston’s Desert View
Elementary School, was
among those recognized.
Other teachers from Uma-
tilla and Morrow counties
who received the award
included Sarah Matheny
(Heppner),
Makenna
Ramos (Pendleton) and Jeff
Bishop (Milton-Freewater).
In addition to honoring
kindergarten through 12th
grade teachers in local com-
munities, the award also
Photo contributed by Leah Johnson
Meghan Dixon of Desert View Elementary School, left,
receives an Apple Appreciation Award from Ashley Gonzalez,
a teller from Community Bank.
served to support school
clubs. The winning teacher
from each Community
Bank location received an
Apple Appreciation Award
trophy and was asked to
choose a club or student
organization at their school
to receive a $200 donation
from the bank.
Dixon selected the
school’s Robotics Club as
the recipient. In nomina-
tions for the award, Dixon
was noted for her hard work
and going the extra step.
“She goes out of her way
to not only teach her stu-
dents but to build a com-
munity of caring students
in her classroom,” the bank
shared from a submission.
The bank anticipates
continuing
the Apple
Appreciation Awards each
fall with plans to expand
the nomination radius to
include all schools within
the counties where Com-
munity Bank does busi-
ness. The fi nancial institu-
tion was founded in 1955
by a group of Joseph busi-
ness leaders as the Bank of
Wallowa County. For more
information, contact Tom
Moran, president and CEO,
at 509-525-9860 or tmo-
ran@communitybanknet.
com.