NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
Schools see savings in energy management program
By BEN LONERGAN
STAFF WRITER
Students in the Uma-
tilla School District energy
management team will soon
have a decision to make,
according to superintendent
Heidi Sipe.
Through the Umatilla
School District’s partici-
pation in Energy Trust of
Oregon’s Strategic Energy
Management Program, the
district has saved more than
$16,000 through changes
to energy policies through-
out the district, policies that
were largely shaped by stu-
dent action. Due to the stu-
dents’ involvement in the
cost savings, they will get
a say in how the money is
spent, said Sipe.
“The kids take their
work seriously,” she said.
“They’ve been treated as
adults with the same level
of voice and same level of
buy-in.”
The students in the Uma-
tilla district helped to drive
behavioral changes, such as
turning off lights and open-
ing blinds for lights rather
than using overhead light-
ing. In addition to behav-
ioral changes, the district
invested in technology, such
as smart power strips that
turn off unused computers
and attached devices.
Energy Trust of Oregon’s
SEM Program has been in
operation in Eastern Oregon
for roughly two years and
helps businesses to more
effi ciently manage their
energy usage to cut costs
and reduce their carbon foot-
print. Through the program,
the Energy Trust provides
“energy coaches” and mon-
itoring tools to allow busi-
nesses to better track and
analyze their energy usage.
Romana Cohen is one
of the program’s “energy
coaches” and an employee
of Stillwater Energy, a Port-
land-based consulting fi rm
that specializes in strategic
energy management. Cohen
said that the program pro-
vides businesses with the
tools they need to help curb
their energy use and imple-
ment policies that sustain
energy savings.
“We help in writing an
energy policy and making
sure there are specifi c points
of improvement,” she said.
“We’re offering an easy
plug-in program that ulti-
mately drives cost savings.”
Cohen stressed that con-
sultants and Energy Trust
employees work together to
form the energy coaching
teams, allowing people with
different backgrounds to
help offer a variety of solu-
tions to energy management.
“We see the commu-
nity evolving because of
the impact on members.”
she said. “It’s a combination
of people, and energy and
buildings.”
The program operates on
a revolving yearlong basis
and businesses can choose
to repeat the program in an
effort to drive additional
cost savings through the
development of more strin-
gent guidelines. Cohen said
the goal of the program is
to create a level of energy
management that is sustain-
able from year to year, and
energy coaches and organiz-
ers trade off to allow for new
ideas.
Blue Mountain Commu-
nity College was able to save
more than $30,000 in energy
costs during their fi rst year
in the program, a change that
freed up money in the opera-
tions budget for the purchase
of a new tractor.
According to Dwayne
Williams, the director of
facilities and grounds at the
college, the school is look-
ing to see similar, if not more
extensive, savings in their
second year in the program.
“It’s been a really good
experience, they’re a great
resource,” he said.
Williams said that the
primary savings have come
from adjustment to heating
and ventilation controls, as
well as behavioral changes
among staff to decrease
electric use.
In October, the commu-
nity college ran a competi-
tion to see which facilities
could decrease their energy
use the most, something
Williams said inspired a lot
of people to think differently
about how they use energy.
Grocery Outlet to open
in Hermiston on March 5
Hermiston mayor Drotzmann
fi les for re-election
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
during the mayor’s ten-
ure Hermiston assessed
Mayor David Drotz- value has grown by 42%,
mann has fi led to run for and the population has
reelection as Hermiston increased by approxi-
mayor.
mately 10%, to make
Drotzmann is currently Hermiston the largest city
in his third term after fi rst in Eastern Oregon.
being elected in 2012.
Drotzmann said he will
“I hope to con-
continue to focus
tinue the good work
on “fi scal trans-
my fellow coun-
parency, economic
cilors, city staff,
development, hous-
community, and I
ing,
infrastruc-
have accomplished
ture, public safety,
over the last eight
expanding
parks
David
years,” he said in a
and recreation pro-
Drotzmann
statement.
grams while con-
His involvement
tinuing to make
in the Hermiston commu- Hermiston a great place to
nity includes coaching soft- live and raise a family.”
ball and participating in
So far no other can-
Rotary Club, and he has didates have fi led. Addi-
volunteered with the Herm- tional candidates have until
iston School District in March 10 to fi le a decla-
various capacities, includ- ration of candidacy with
ing serving on the Herm- the city recorder. If two or
iston Booster Club board fewer candidates fi le by
and eight years as a mem- that date, then the May 19
ber of the school board election will be considered
previously.
the general election and the
According to his cam- winner will become mayor
paign
announcement, in January 2021. If more
HERMISTON HERALD
Hermiston is getting a
new grocery store in March.
Grocery
Outlet
has
announced the opening of
its new Hermiston location
is planned for March 5. The
store will be located in the
former Fiesta Foods build-
ing at 1874 N. First St.
They will hold a hir-
ing event on Jan. 26 from
1-4 p.m. and Jan. 27 from
4-7:30 p.m. at the Hermis-
ton Community Center, 415
S. Highway 395.
Full- and part-time posi-
tions in departments rang-
ing from freight to deli are
available. Résumés should
be emailed to hermiston@
groceryoutlet.com ahead of
the event.
The local owner-oper-
ators will be Nicole and
Alan Westing, who moved
their family (including six
children and a cat) from the
East Coast to join Grocery
Outlet. Alan previously
Staff photo by Jade McDowell
The former Fiesta Foods building is being remodeled into a
Grocery Outlet, which is set to open March 5.
managed grocery stores,
big box retailers, and
national drug stores, and
Nicole worked as a radio-
logic technologist.
“We are both absolutely
stoked for our new careers
as Independent Operators
of the Hermiston Grocery
Outlet — together, with our
kids alongside,” the West-
ings said in an email. “The
Hermiston community is
so friendly and welcoming
and we are proud to repre-
sent this city, ‘Where Life is
Sweet.’”
Grocery Outlet began
in 1946 and has more than
300 locations today. The
company, which describes
itself as an “extreme value
retailer,” purchases product
overruns, surplus inventory
and other items at a discount
to keep prices low.
than two candidates fi le, the
May election will become
a primary race with a run-
off in the November elec-
tion between the top two
vote-getters.
Mayoral terms in Herm-
iston were previously two
years, but a change to
Hermiston’s charter that
voters adopted in 2015
changed it to four years.
Municipal
Judge
Thomas Creasing is also up
for reelection in May. So
far he is the only candidate
that has fi led for the seat.
Hermiston’s
four
at-large city councilors —
Manuel Gutierrez, Rod
Hardin, John Kirwan and
Doug Primmer — will be
up for reelection this year,
but not until November.
Candidates for those seats
will be able to start fi ling
for offi ce on June 3.
For more information
about mayoral and city
council elections in Herm-
iston, visit https://herm-
iston.or.us/city-recorder/
city-hermiston-elections.
Hansell fi les for re-election
HERMISTON HERALD
Sen. Bill Hansell made it
offi cial Thursday morning.
The state senator from
Athena offi cially submitted
paperwork to run for re-elec-
tion in 2020.
He submitted the paper-
work in Salem while there
for legislative duty.
“I had made my intention
known last fall,” Hansell
stated in a recent news
release. “It has been my
honor to represent the good
people of District 29 in the
Oregon Legislature, and if
the citizens want me to con-
tinue for another term, I’m
willing and ready to serve.”
This year marks Hansell’s
eighth year as a senator serv-
ing District 29, which spans
across Wallowa, Union,
“IF THE CITIZENS
WANT ME TO
CONTINUE FOR
ANOTHER TERM,
I’M WILLING AND
READY TO SERVE.”
The Hermiston
Elks Lodge
Sen. Bill Hansell
Umatilla, Morrow, Gil-
liam and Sherman coun-
ties, as well as half of Wasco
County.
Citizens will vote in the
NW
Shade Co
general election on Nov. 3.
A primary is scheduled in
May, and the fi ling deadline
for District 29 candidates is
March 10.
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Hosting Membership Open House
Sat. January 25, 2020
Between 11am and 4pm
The Hermiston Elks Lodge, 480 E. Main
Appetizers and Beverages Available
102 E Columbia Dr. Kennewick 99336
eomediagroup.com
Elks Lodge has donated over $3.5 million dollars back to the community!
PET OF THE
Meet with Elk members from Hermiston and
across the state to find out more about how you
can make a difference in your community.
W EEK
Cody is a sweet & timid old boy who likes
to get loves and will give in return (on his
terms). He is sight impaired, which makes
him a bit skittish. He is scared of loud
noises, and will get excited when it’s time
to eat. He loves to lay out of the way where he
feels secure. Please consider meeting Cody so he
has a home to spend the rest of his days with love.
For more information, contact David Downing
541-571-1089
MEET
CODY
Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM
Eugenio Mannucci, DVM, cVMA • Jana von Borstel, DVM, cVMA
Small and Large Animal Care
Mon: 8-6
Tue - Fri: 8-5
Sat: 8-12
Emergency Service
541.567.1138
80489 Hwy 395 N
Hermiston
www.oregontrailvet.com
PLACE
YOUR AD
HERE!
Contact Audra at
541.564.4538
Today!
If interested please go to fuzzballrescue.com and fill out an application.
If you are not able to adopt, but would like to foster or donate, visit fuzzballrescue.com
or you can mail in donations to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838
Meet with Elk members from Hermiston and
across the state to find out more about how you
can make a difference in your community.
T HE H ERMISTON L ODGE NEEDS YOUR COMMITMENT OF TIME AND
SKILLS TO CONTINUE SERVING THE H ERMISTON COMMUNITY LIKE
THEY HAVE BEEN FOR 70 YEARS
Elks invest in their communities through programs that
help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the
needs of today’s veterans and improve the quality of life.
Since 1868, Millions and Millions of Americans
have joined The Elks, Find out why!