A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020
HERMISTON HISTORY
Manslaughter results in four-year sentence
25 YEARS AGO
May 9, 1995
KRIS BARNUM
Semi-retired
When and why did you move to Hermiston?
I came here for a position with Blue Mountain Com-
munity College that my wonderful daughter, who
lives here, encouraged me to apply for. She kept tex-
ting me openings at BMCC and eventually I decided
that sounded like a good idea. I started in the fall of
2016.
Where is your favorite place to eat in
Hermiston?
It would have to be between Veg Out and Delish
Bistro.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Now that I’m supposedly, partially, retired, in my
spare time I’m fi nding more time to sew, and to
spend time with my grandchildren, and connect vir-
tually with the ones that don’t live here.
What surprises you about Hermiston?
I knew Hermiston, because I had visited a lot before
I moved here, but what surprises me is how much
that it has what I need. I don’t need to go to bigger
places very often, because it has a little bit of a lot of
different things, and that suits me just fi ne.
What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was a birthday present, because
my children know where my interest is. It was “The
Faraway Horses” by Buck Brannaman. It was funny
because at the beginning of the book he talks about
growing up in the Northwest, and he had an experi-
ence with his brother at a children’s talent show in
Spokane, and I was in that talent show myself once.
What website or app do you use most other
than Facebook?
I would say Instagram, but the only people I connect
with is my children. It’s my favorite way to stay con-
nected to what they’re all doing.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you
go?
I would say Japan. I’ve hosted quite a few exchange
and international students from Japan in the past.
They were wonderful young women who shared their
beautiful culture.
What is one of your goals for the next 12
months?
To move into retirement, and get back to visiting
family and making fun trips to visit friends. I also
have a goal to get more seriously and productively
into family history.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My children, absolutely. All four of my wonderful
children and their families.
John Ralph Crespin Jr. will spend
the next four years in prison for the
June 6 shooting death of Jose Tige-
rino Perez.
Although he said he was sure
that Crespin had led “an exemplary
life,” Umatilla County Circuit Court
Judge Robert Abrams said he could
not ignore the crime.
“This is not easy for the court —
it is very diffi cult — but I also have
an obligation to society,” Abrams
said. “We cannot allow people to
take the law into their own hands.”
Crespin was found guilty of man-
slaughter in a March trial. Ken Mor-
row, his attorney, contended the
killing was manslaughter, not mur-
der, because Crespin experienced
extreme emotional disturbance at
the time of the killing.
On June 6 Crespin chased Perez
through east Hermiston before
shooting him three times with a .22
caliber revolver at Southeast Second
and Highway 395.
Perez, who was involved with
Crespin’s wife, Darla, had been liv-
ing with the Crespins at their East
Newport home.
2) Stafford Hansell, innovative
farmer and respected statesman,
died at his home in Boardman Fri-
day of cancer. He was 81.
A native of Athena, Hansell and
his brother, William, purchased the
town of Ordnance near the Umatilla
Army Depot and established what
would be by 1960 the largest hog
farm in the free world. The use of
buildings intended for humans led to
innovations that assured the broth-
ers’ success.
He is better known throughout
Oregon as a public servant of the
highest integrity.
HH fi le photo
Maria Guadelupe Mendoza, 17, of Hermiston, dances at the Cinco de Mayo
festival in McKenzie Park in 1995.
50 YEARS AGO
May 7, 1970
An explosive fi re in Stanfi eld
Monday afternoon destroyed the
trailer home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Gaustad and their six children.
The fi re started about 4:22 p.m.
when three of the Gaustad boys
were in the home with a jug of gas
for the lawn mower.
Fire Chief Jim Nyman said some
of the gas apparently spilled and ran
under the gas stove where it was
ignited by the pilot light.
The three youths immediately ran
out of the trailer before the explosion
occurred and none were injured.
The intense heat destroyed the
trailer home in about eight min-
utes, the time it took to put the fi re
out, according to Chief Nyman. The
55-foot mobile home was a total
loss, including all the furniture and
most of the family’s clothing.
75 YEARS AGO
May 10, 1945
V-E day came to Hermiston in a
quiet and subdued manner. Very lit-
tle hilarity was shown — so many
families still having sons, husbands,
or brothers in the service who either
now are fi ghting the Japanese in the
Pacifi c or perhaps may be trans-
ferred to the Pacifi c with their
fi ghting in Germany at an end. As
was general in most communities
located near war industries, Hermis-
ton business houses remained open,
with only the beer parlors and other
unessential business houses closing
their doors.
Hermiston schools continued
classes with appropriate program
touching on the signifi cance of the
day were held.
2) Mr. and Mrs. Vern Daugherty
probably were the happiest couple
in Hermiston on V-E day Tuesday.
HH fi le photo
Students get ready for prom at Stanfi eld Secondary School in 1995.
In addition to receiving word that
hostilities had ceased in Germany,
they were in receipt of a letter from
their son who has been a prisoner in
Germany for many months:
“Well I am a little closer to home
now. Rode in a plane from Germany
to France. Am now waiting for
transportation to get to the States.
It won’t be long now. Should be
home on furlough in about a month.
I hope!
“It sure is nice to be a free man
again. Am getting plenty to eat now.
That is also swell. Had my fi rst bath
and new clean clothes in two and a
half months last night. What a relief.
No more lice now. Well, I will write
again in a few days. There isn’t any
use in answering back because I
probably won’t get any return mail.
Hope you are well and happy. See
you soon.”
100 YEARS AGO
May 8, 1920
Tuesday evening of this week,
Harry M. Straw had the misfor-
tune of having his Ford car partially
burned. After fi lling the gasoline
tank at the Hermiston Auto Com-
pany’s gasoline station, Mr. Straw
noticed sparks issuing from the gas-
oline tank and before he could sum-
mon assistance the car was afi re.
With the combined efforts of the
garage men and several passerby the
car was shoved away from the build-
ing into the middle of the street,
where, with the aid of shovels and
sand, the fi re was subdued. The foot-
board and cushions on front and rear
seats were badly burned, the damage
estimated to be about $40.
BY THE WAY
City taking applications for
new councilor
The Hermiston City Council is looking for a new mem-
ber after former councilor John Kirwan resigned April 27
after accepting a career opportunity in another city.
Kirwan was one of the council’s four at-large members
who do not represent a specifi c zone of the city. The four
seats are up for reelection in November. The applicant cho-
sen by the city council will serve through the end of 2020
and must run and win in November if they want to keep
their seat in 2021.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on May 18 to city
recorder Lilly Alarcon Strong, and can be found online at
hermiston.or.us.
• • •
U.S. Census continues
The U.S. Census is still ongoing, despite the diffi cul-
ties presented by COVID-19.
Participation in the census is required by law, and the
results of the census are used to calculate everything from
how much federal grant money a community receives to
how many seats Oregon gets in Congress.
Everyone can respond to the census by phone, by mail
or online. Taxpayer-funded census takers will work to
track down those that haven’t responded yet later in the
year.
For more information, visit 2020census.gov.
• • •
Virtual storytime with a
fi refi ghter
Umatilla County Fire District 1 is hosting story time
with a fi refi ghter each Friday on Facebook.
Each Friday night, a different staff member will read a
children’s book out loud. The district is also posting vid-
eos throughout the week with tours of the fi re stations and
demonstrations of their vehicles and special equipment.
New videos and ones from previous weeks are avail-
able on the Umatilla County Fire District #1 Facebook
page.
• • •
Senior center continues with
meal delivery and takeout
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center continues
to be closed to the public during the COVID-19 outbreak,
but the senior center is still providing meals by delivery
or takeout to senior citizens every Tuesday and Thursday.
Thursday’s menu is meatloaf, mashed potatoes and
gravy, vegetables and dessert. Next Tuesday’s menu is
pork loin, stuffi ng, vegetables and dessert.
For a Meals on Wheels delivery, call 541-567-3582
before 10 a.m. to place an order. To pick up a meal from
the center at 255 Northeast Second St., call the same
number before 11 a.m. Meals are $4 and can be picked up
between noon and 12:50 p.m.