A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020
HERMISTON HISTORY
HH fi le photo
NADA SEWIDAN
Intern
Hermiston Herald
When and why did you move to Hermiston?
I moved to Hermiston only a few days ago. I was
awarded the Snowden Excellence in Journalism,
which pairs me with an Oregon newspaper in order
to learn and grow as a journalist. It’s how I ended
up working as an intern reporter at the Hermiston
Herald and East Oregonian.
Where is your favorite place to eat in
Hermiston?
I have not had a chance to go out and eat in Herm-
iston yet due to COVID-19, but my back patio is as
good a place as any to eat a breakfast burrito and
drink coffee.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’m an avid reader, especially nonfi ction works and
comic books. I also enjoy traveling and exploring
new places and possibilities.
What surprises you about Hermiston?
Its beauty. It is the sort of place where you can look
out onto the fi elds and feel endless.
What was the last book you read?
“Oceanic” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
What website or app do you use the most?
Instagram and the Apple News app
If you could travel anywhere, where would you
go?
It changes from time to time, depending on the cur-
rent environment. Some days I long for Portugal or
Greece. Today though, I’m missing my hometown in
Alexandria, Egypt.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened
to you?
The only thing that comes to mind is my most embar-
rassing moment. I was on a date, and after using
the restroom, I had a long piece of toilet paper
stuck to my boot. I walked back to the table, and my
date kept pointing at my shoe. It was a classic awk-
ward girl moment. We laughed it off, though. I wish
I could say that was the only time I walked out of a
public bathroom with toilet paper stuck to my shoe.
What is one of your goals in the next 12 years?
I want to become a foreign correspondent someday,
reporting for a national newspaper. I also want to
publish the book I’ve been working on for the past
two years.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Where I am now. Getting to work in a newsroom and
learning about an unfamiliar city.
Oregon State Police explosives technician Steve Sigurdson checks out a suspicious package near Highway 395 and
Jennie Avenue in 1995. It turned out to be harmless.
Local students decry protests by ‘radicals’
25 YEARS AGO
June 6, 1995
Vandalism has taken Hermiston’s
parade fl oat out of commission for at
least this summer, said Jeff Pardue,
who has cared for the fl oat for the
past fi ve years.
“It was like a bomb hit it,” Pardue
said. “You will defi nitely not have
anything in this year’s parade.”
At least two juveniles repeat-
edly broke into a city shop building
on Newport Avenue between Thurs-
day and Saturday, using a camp site
in a nearby wooded area as a base
of operations, Pardue said. He said
the vandals absconded with at least
$1,000 in property and caused sev-
eral thousand dollars of damage.
The other half of the metal build-
ing is used by the Hermiston Neigh-
borhood Center to store food.
Though not yet examined, police
said there had was evidence people
had been inside. Hermiston police
cited two 11-year-old girls for the
break-in. More arrests are expected.
The fl oat has been a popular item
with vandals. Two years ago, the
trailer that houses the fl oat when it
travels sustained several bullet holes.
50 YEARS AGO
June 4, 1970
Formal dedication and open
house of the new Wanahla Marina,
developed by the Port of Umatilla, is
scheduled for June 6-7, according to
Walt Peters, port manager.
In an announcement this week,
Peters said, “The Port of Umatilla
takes great pride in presenting to
the citizens of Umatilla County, the
Wanahla Marina and Park.”
2) Two members of the Associ-
ated Students of University of Ore-
gon Senate, Thursday told Rotarians
and many guests that U of O is not
fi lthy and dirty, and that the actions
of a small minority group there
“hurts us all.”
Mike Sweeney, Heppner, and
Kevin McDonald of Portland, both
political science majors at the uni-
versity, said that all of the demon-
strations and unrest at the school
is being done by only about 200 to
500 persons out of a student body of
15,000.
“You never hear of the good
things that are going on,” said Swee-
ney in telling of the various cam-
pus campaigns that are worthwhile.
He cited Christmas parties given
by living groups for the Pearl Buck
School for the Blind, a very effec-
tive March of Dimes campaign
and others. “These things never get
HH fi le photo
Students and teachers hug after graduation at Hermiston High School in 1995.
any publicity.”
In speaking of the 13th Street
blockade recently set up by a small
group of radicals, Sweeney said
many of the rest of the students felt
the same as the radicals that the street
should be closed because of the seri-
ous traffi c hazard. “but we got it
closed by going to the Eugene city
council and using political methods.”
“In doing it, we eliminated the
radicals’ whole program.”
Well, let’s look at that angle. There
isn’t a suitable building available in
the west end of the county, and as
Miss Moore stated, “This is a com-
munity proposition.”
About $3,000 was voluntarily
subscribed by those present at the
meeting toward building and equip-
ping a modern hospital structure in
this part of Umatilla County, pre-
sumably in Hermiston. No locations
has been selected as yet.
75 YEARS AGO
June 7, 1945
100 YEARS AGO
June 5, 1920
Now that the building which has
been used as a hospital in Hermiston
for the past 20 years is reported sold,
the question of what to do about the
situation has become a “hot one”
on Main Street this week. Miss Ina
Moore, present operator of the insti-
tution, appeared before the Chamber
of Commerce Monday evening and
really stirred things up by putting
the facts before the group.
Point blank, Miss Moore
remarked that she was doing the
very best she could to operate the
hospital in the limited space pro-
vided at present and that if ordered
to vacate the building she could do
so. What to do with the patients?
Reports have been received by
the poultry department of the col-
lege that the state is being system-
atically worked by agents who are
selling remedies, sprays and disin-
fectants. In some cases it is reported
that the agents represented them-
selves as agents of the college, and
their plan of operation seems to be
to visit the farmers or poultrymen
as poultry experts and offer their
services.
The methods recommended,
as reported to the college, for the
destruction of pests are practically
worthless, and the prices charged
for the disinfectant or sprays are
exorbitant.
BY THE WAY
City off ers advice for tree clean-up
Photography exhibit goes online
After a wind storm knocked down trees all over
Hermiston, the city has issued advice for dealing with
the problem.
City residents can pick up free permits to take yard
debris to Sanitary Disposal by visiting the temporary
city hall at 215 E Gladys Avenue.
According to the city, if a tree on one person’s prop-
erty falls onto their neighbor’s property, “trees are gen-
erally a civil matter between property owners.”
“If a neighboring tree’s branches hang over into your
yard,” the city wrote on Facebook, “you may trim the
branches back to the property line. If a branch falls
onto your property it is your responsibility to remove
the branch. If a tree or branch falls and causes damage
to your property, you may want to call your insurance
agent to determine if it’s necessary to fi le a claim.”
• • •
The 47th annual Open Regional Exhibit, this year
featuring photography entries in an online slideshow
format, opens June 4 at 5:30 p.m. on the Pendleton
Center for the Arts website. Prize money provided
by Banner Bank totaling $1,000 will be awarded to
the winners in two age groups. A separate award of
$200, the Jaqueline Brown People’s Choice Award, is
sponsored by the Brown/Picken family.
Due to restrictions for the COVID-19 outbreak, the
exhibit is available online only for the fi rst time. The
arts center is encouraging their regular patrons and
those who might not have attended an opening before
to make the night special at home, preparing their
own hors d’oeuvres and beverages since they will be
missing the treats typically provided at an in-person
event.
The exhibit will be available on the center’s web-
site for at least six months, extending the time that
viewers typically get to have access to the work.
More information is available by emailing director@
pendletonarts.org.
• • •
Tamale pie on Thursday
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center contin-
ues to be closed to the public during the COVID-19 out-
break, but the senior center is still providing meals by
delivery or takeout to senior citizens every Tuesday and
Thursday.
The menu for Thursday, June 4 is tamale pie, green
salad and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, June 9 is spa-
ghetti, garlic bread, salad 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.