NEWS
A16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Plant:
Gifts:
Continued from Page A
Continued from Page A1
The company worked
to address the smell, but
there were complica-
tions that drew out the
process, including sev-
eral more fi res — one of
which burned the plant’s
new scrubber in February
2018. In response, the city
modifi ed its nuisance ordi-
nance to address odors,
and for a while during the
summer of 2018 the plant
was garnering fi nes of up
to $500 on an almost daily
basis.
Things improved in
2019, however, as the
company’s
mitigation
efforts kicked in. Gard-
ner said there had been a
92% reduction in calls to
the city about the smell
this year.
City Manager Ben Ber-
gener confi rmed that there
had been no citations
issued to 3D Idapro Solu-
tions in 2019.
“Complaints are sig-
nifi cantly down,” he said.
Bergener said his heart
goes out to all the laid-off
employees, and he hopes
that they will be able to
fi nd work elsewhere in
the community.
Gardner said for now
3D Idapro Solutions will
hold onto the property
instead of marketing it,
in case market conditions
become more favorable
in another year or two.
Bergener said the city has
developed a good rela-
tionship with the com-
pany and he has spoken
with company leadership
about what the city might
be able to do to help.
Gardner said for now,
they are partnering with
WorkSource
Oregon
to help employees fi nd
new jobs when the plant
ceases operations on
Dec. 31.
“We’ve got some very
talented people here
looking to transition to
something else,” Gardner
said.
to contribute. He said they
want to make a difference
in the community and rec-
ognized there’s a huge need
for area foster children.
“This is the most gen-
erous group of people you
will ever meet,” Hankel
said. “If you put a need in
front of these folks, they
really respond.”
And respond they did
— the fi rst week of advent
resulted in 56 baby items
being donated; during the
second week, 64 gift cards
were collected; and in
the third week, 266 items
for kids were brought in.
During the last week of
advent, items are being col-
lected for foster teens that
are close to aging out. Han-
kel said everything from
bedding and household
needs to paper products and
cleaning supplies are com-
ing in.
Meakins and her cowork-
ers are thrilled with all the
support from the commu-
nity. She said each person
and business that contrib-
uted is making a difference.
“You have made their
lives a little brighter and
brought love to their
hearts,” Meakins said.
“Our foster children
will be so excited Christ-
mas morning when they see
there are gifts under the tree
for them.”
BTW:
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warmest days on record last
week.
The records were broken
on Friday. According to Ann
Adams, assistant forecaster
at the National Weather
Service offi ce in Pendle-
ton, the Pendleton airport
recorded a high temperature
of 63 degrees that day.
The previous high tem-
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019
Contributed photo
Contributed photo
Brooke Perez of the Hermiston offi ce of the Department of
Human Services Child Welfare program wraps Christmas
presents for local foster children.
Members of New Hope Community Church collected baby
items during the fi rst week of advent to provide for area
foster children.
Far left, as part of “It Takes
A Village,” New Hope
Community Church collected
64 gift cards for area teens
who are in foster care.
At left, Harley Swain Subaru
collected coats as part of
“It Takes A Village” for area
foster children.
perature was 61 degrees,
recorded in 2018.
At the Hermiston airport,
the temperature rose to 66
degrees, breaking a record
held since 1933. The previ-
ous high was 63.
• • •
A program to support
youth programs is offered
through U.S. Cellular.
In its fi fth year, The
Future of Good raises
awareness for youth causes
and increases their impact
through fi nancial contribu-
tions. Now through April 15,
anyone over the age of 18 is
encouraged to visit www.
thefutureofgood.uscellu-
lar.com to nominate young
people ages 6-17, who are
making a positive impact in
communities served by U.S.
Cellular.
A total of six winners
— three in February and
another three in May — will
be announced.
These six individuals will
join the community of over
40 extraordinary The Future
of Good winners and receive
$10,000 each to put toward
their cause.
The
entry
process
includes a description of the
nominee’s cause, how it is
helping his/her community
and how the nominee could
use a cash grant for tech-
nology or other means to
continue and grow his/her
efforts.
Nominees must not turn
18 before August 30, 2020.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior
Activity Center is closed
this week in honor of
Christmas.
It will reopen Monday
with a menu of hamburger
gravy over rice, veggies and
dessert. Tuesday is a smor-
gasborg of “cook’s choice”
items. Next Wednesday
there will be no meal for
New Year’s Day.
— You can submit items
for our weekly By The Way
column by emailing your
tips to editor@hermiston-
herald.com.
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