Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current, March 18, 2020, Image 3

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Hermiston herald., March 18, 2020, Page 3, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextLOCAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 Drotzmann among candidates running unopposed in May By ANTONIO SIERRA STAFF WRITER Staﬀ photo by Ben Lonergan /East Oregonian Rogers Toyota of Hermiston oﬃ cially broke ground on its new dealership and service center Rogers Toyota breaks ground on new dealership By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR North Highway 395 in Hermiston is about to get a shiny new addition. Rogers Toyota held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning for its new dealership on the corner of Highway 395 and Punkin Center, which will cover 7 acres of ground and include a 30,000-square-foot main building and a detailing shop. It is expected to be complete in November. Owner Ryan Rogers said when Larry Campbell, who owned Hermiston’s former Toyota dealership, asked if he would be inter- ested in buying the dealer- ship in 2014, accepting that offer was “one of the best business decisions ever.” The Hermiston community has embraced Rogers Toy- ota with open arms, he said, making it an easy decision to expand. “Normally, I would be nervous as heck to put this big of an investment in, but it’s a no-brainer,” he said. Rogers’ father started the company in 1971. At the time, he was the youngest Pontiac dealer in the country at age 19, Rogers said. His father taught him the impor- tance of putting customers ﬁ rst. At Thursday’s ground- breaking, Hermiston Cham- Staﬀ photo by Ben Lonergan Rogers Toyota of Hermiston president and owner Ryan Rogers delivers remarks Thursday during a groundbreaking for the company’s new dealership. ber of Commerce director Kimberly Nevil noted that Rogers Toyota is a major sponsor of many of Herm- iston’s events, and said she was excited to see their growth. “Of all the community events the chamber does, Rogers is always a partner,” she said. “We’re very thank- ful for Rogers.” She and Umatilla County Commissioner Bill Elfering both praised the project for helping to develop Herm- iston’s main thoroughfare through town. The car dealerships up and down Highway 395 have helped make the com- munity a “car dealership capital” in the area, Elfer- ing said. “We’re excited to see this development here on this corner, and excited to see development all the way up and down Highway 395,” he said. The dealership’s general manager, Glenn Silaski, told the East Oregonian that the new dealership will address crowding problems at the current location farther south on the highway, from park- ing to bathrooms. There will be space for more inventory on the lot and twice as many service bays, including three enclosed drive-through lanes that will shelter people from the weather as they get out of their vehicle. The business currently employs 50 people, and Silaski said the extra ser- vice bays will result in hir- ing additional staff after the project is complete. On Thursday, as heavy construction equipment moved dirt around in the background, Silaski told the community members gath- ered on a corner of the lot that he understands peo- ple are always skeptical that construction projects will stay on timeline, but he had a good feeling about meet- ing the projected timeline to move into the new building in November. “Just since yesterday, you can hardly recognize (the site),” he said. The project is being built by McAlvain Companies, Inc. of Boise. School district announces administrative changes HERMISTON HERALD Highland Hills Elemen- tary School will still be run by “Principal Bacon” next year, but it will be a new face at the helm. Hermiston School Dis- trict announced this week that Principal Jake Bacon will be stepping into the role of human resources direc- tor for the 2020-2021 school year. His wife, Becky Bacon, will step in as principal. Becky is currently serv- ing as dean of students for Sunset Elementary School. Jake is replacing cur- rent Assistant Superinten- dent of Human Resources David Marshall, who has been hired as superintendent of the Brookings-Harbor School District in Brookings for the upcoming school year. “The district has made it a priority to invest in our staff and leaders, and at this time we are fortu- nate to be able to promote from within,” Superinten- dent Tricia Mooney said in a statement. “Our administrators will have the opportunity to apply the leadership skills they have gained over the years and I am conﬁ dent that they will contribute to the success of the district.” 2020 PRIMARY CANDIDATES Hermiston Mayor David Drotzmann is running unopposed this May. He is in his third term after ﬁ rst being elected in 2012. The ﬁ ling deadline for the May 19 primary has passed without oppo- nents for Drotzmann, Umatilla County Sher- iff Terry Rowan and Uma- tilla County District Attor- ney Dan Primus, meaning they’re all but assured new, four-year terms in 2021. Hermiston Munici- pal Judge Thomas Creasing is also running unopposed. The open Position 3 seat on the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners, on the other hand, had no trouble attracting candi- dates. The race to replace retiring Commissioner Bill Elfering is set at ﬁ ve — Milton-Freewater can- vasser HollyJo Beers, Hermiston sales executive Dan Dorran, Hermiston school board member Mark Gomolski, Hermiston busi- ness owner Jonathan Lopez and Hermiston business owner Patricia Maier. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will advance to a run off on Nov. 3. Legislature Despite the difﬁ cult polit- ical terrain, Democrats ﬁ led for every legislative seat in Northeast Oregon. State Rep. Greg Barreto is retiring, and the open House District 58 seat attracted two candidates for each primary. Echo farmer Bobby Levy and Elgin timber worker Mike Nelson are compet- ing for the GOP nomination. Pendleton college student Nolan Bylenga and Pend- leton merchandiser Barbara Wright are the candidates in the Democratic primary. In District 57, Repub- lican Rep. Greg Smith of Umatilla County Commissioner, Position 3 HollyJo Beers Dan Dorran Mark Gomolski Jonathan Lopez Patricia Maier Sheriﬀ Terry Rowan* District Attorney Dan Primus* Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann* Pendleton City Council Mayor John Turner* Ward 1 Kevin Martin Ward 2 Sally Brandsen Melissa Shumake Ward 3 Larry Anderson Dale Primmer* Morrow County Commissioner, Position 1 Joseph Armato Jim Doherty* Joel Peterson Michael Sweek Sheriﬀ ** Ken Matlack* Heppner and Irrigon Demo- crat Roland Ruhe have their primaries to themselves. Pendleton carpenter Gar- rison Lee Alger is challeng- ing Sen. Bill Hansell of Ath- ena for the Senate District 29 primary. Whoever advances as the Republican party’s candidate will face Joseph Democrat Mildred O’Cal- laghan, a retired secretary, in the general election. Morrow County With the exception of county clerk, every Morrow County ofﬁ ce is contested. One of the races — Boardman Police Sgt. Mark Pratt’s challenge to incum- bent Sheriff Ken Matlack — will wait until Novem- ber because there are only two candidates. Incumbent Position 1 Commissioner Mark Pratt Treasurer Sabrina Bailey Cave Cody High Jaylene Papineau Erik Patton Clerk** Bobbi Childers* Justice of the Peace Theresa Crawford Glen Diehl* Kelly Doherty Oregon Senate Dist. 19 Republican Garrison Lee Alger Bill Hansell* Democrat Mildred O’Callaghan Oregon House District 57 Republican Greg Smith* Democrat Roland Ruhe Oregon House District 58 Republican Bobby Levy Mike Nelson Democrat Nolan Bylenga Barbara Wright * Incumbent; ** Won’t appear on ballot until November Jim Doherty faces chal- lenges from sheriff’s ofﬁ ce dispatcher Joseph Armato, farmer Joel Peterson and chemical loader Michael Sweek. Morrow County employees Sabrina Bailey Cave and Jaylene Papineau are competing with former Heppner Mayor Cody High and sheriff’s civil records deputy Erik Patton for the open treasurer position. Justice of the Peace Glen Diehl, the incumbent, is fac- ing challenges from county chief deputy clerk Theresa Crawford and rancher Kelly Doherty. If no one takes a major- ity of the vote in the com- missioner, treasurer or jus- tice races, they will be decided in a run-off in November. Hurry in for a limited-time deal! NEW 2020 RAV4 LE Gas Only 229 $ PER MO. AFTER 36 $ 2,999 $ 500 MOS. DUE AT SIGNING, PLUS TAXES AND FEES † SUBVENTION CASH PET OF THE W EEK Little Meno is just a little over a year old. He was born blind. He is super loving, funny, playful and needy. His forever home will need to be with someone who is always home or can take to work with them. No children under 12, as he is only 4.8 pounds and can get hurt easily. Can not be left unattended outside. We will require that he has at least 3 visits with someone before he goes home with them. MEET MENO 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 NEW 2020 TACOMA CUSTOMER $ CASH 1,500 See Your Local Toyota Dealer BuyAToyota.com Financial Services Prototypes shown with options. Extra-cost color shown. Lease a new 2020 RAV4 LE for $229 a month for 36 months with $3499 due at signing on approved credit through Toyota Financial Services. $500 Subvention Cash applied to amount due at signing. TFS lease due at signing of $3,499 includes $2,620 Cap. Cost Reduction, $650 acq. fee which totals $3,270 down, and 1st month’s payment. Base MSRP excl. freight is $27,250. Cap cost $27,407. Lease-end purchase option $18,615. $350 disposition fee due at lease end. Total lease cost is $11,514. Bonus Cash on TFS contracts only. Customer cash from Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. must be applied to the transaction. No cash payment will be made to consumer. Call 1-800-79-Toyo- ta for details. Does not include taxes, license, title/registration fees, dealer fees and Oregon tax (.05%). Down payment may be required. Does not include College Grad or Military Rebate. Varies by region. See dealer for details. †$350 disposition fee due at lease end unless customer purchases vehicle or decides to re-ﬁnance through Toyota Financial Services. Customer responsible for maintenance, excess wear and tear and $0.15 per mile over 12,000 miles per year. Lease does not include taxes, license, title fees, insurance, regionally required equipment and other dealers’ charges are extra and not included in the amounts shown. Closed-end lease. Payment may vary depending upon ﬁnal transaction price. Subject to availability. Oﬀers may vary by region. See participating dealer for details. ToyotaCare Covers normal factory scheduled service for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes ﬁrst. See Toyota dealer for details and exclusions. Valid only in the continental U.S. and Alaska. Oﬀers end 3/31/2020.