COMMUNITY
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020
HERMISTON HISTORY
Arson suspected in cabin fi re
25 YEARS AGO
June 13, 1995
BRUNA CUCOLO
College student
When and why did you move to Hermiston?
I moved to Hermiston when I was 6 years old from
Brazil. My mom met her husband who’s from here,
so we moved when she got married.
Where is your favorite place to eat in
Hermiston?
Defi nitely Ixtapa. Their chicken enchiladas are
amazing!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to lie on my bed with my Christmas-type lights
on while listening to music through a physical form:
record vinyl, CD, or cassette.
What surprises you about Hermiston?
How rapidly it’s been growing these past few years.
It seems insane to me but it’s also really neat to see
the community grow.
What was the last book you read?
To be completely honest, I don’t quite remember, so
I’ll just go with “What Editors Do.” It’s one of my
required texts for my Book Editing class this spring
term.
What website or app do you use the most?
Twitter, I’ve had it since 2009. Yes, I have a problem.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you
go?
I’d love to go to Italy someday.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened
to you?
One time when I was bowling and it was my turn to
bowl, I swung my arm back and the ball fell right
out of my hand. I’m not sure how that happened.
What is one of your goals in the next 12 years?
A goal of mine by then is to have been copy editing
long enough and well enough to work for Pitchfork
in New York City.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Getting my work published on Vortex’s website. Vor-
tex is a Portland-based music magazine that I intern
at, so to have something of mine be on their site is
pretty cool.
Arson is strongly suspected in a
fi re that gutted an abandoned cabin
on Southeast Fourth Street south of
Highway 395 yesterday.
Fire crews spent several hours
extinguishing the blaze, which
threw fl ames as high as 50 feet. Of
particular concern for the fi refi ght-
ers were tall trees and power lines
near the property.
Since the incident, evidence
turned up indicating the fi re was
deliberately set.
“We got information last night
that a young man was bragging he
set the fi re,” said Fire Marshal Pat
Ward.
The culprit, he said, is a junior
high aged boy not living near the
cabin.
The long-vacant house, owned by
Wallace Mayfi eld of Walnut Creek,
Calif., had become a haven for chil-
dren sneaking a smoke or engaged
in other activities, Hermiston Fire
Chief Jim Stearns said.
HH fi le photo
Firefi ghters work to control a house fi re in Hermiston in 1995.
50 YEARS AGO
June 11, 1970
All of the major construction jobs
in Hermiston, totaling nearly $2 mil-
lion, are well underway or com-
pleted with the exception of Good
Samaritan Center.
P.A. “Al” Fredrickson, Good
Samaritan administrator, said work
on the $152,000 addition is expected
to begin in the near future. The fi rst
job planned will be a new fl oor for
the existing kitchen.
Golden Manor, a turnkey housing
project under construction on West
Hermiston Avenue, is progressing
on schedule, according to contractor
Walt Eiring of the Timber Co.
Work on the Good Shepherd
Hospital addition is well into the
“visual” stage. The contractors are
having to work around existing
facilities that must remain in opera-
tion, slowing them down somewhat.
Gilbert Gettman’s Smitty’s Pan-
cake House, under construction by
The Timber Company, promises to
add much to the looks of downtown
Hermiston.
HH fi le photo
Adam Schwartz, 13, takes advantage of a free fi shing day at the McNary Ponds
in 1995.
75 YEARS AGO
June 14, 1945
Thirty-six individuals and nine
departments were presented awards
Wednesday for their “no lost time
accident” record at the Umatilla
Ordnance Depot during the past year
at a ceremony at the post theater.
Col. A.S. Buyers, commanding offi -
cer of the depot, made the presenta-
tions for the Chief of Ordnance.
Lost time accidents per month
have dropped from 26 in 1942 to
three for the 1945 record to date.
In 1943 the statistics showed 13
lost time accidents per month, 1944
having a very low rate of four,
due largely to the safety campaign
results.
Included among the supervisors
receiving awards were nine gang
bosses in the explosive area, who
handle large crews and are subjected
to accidents more frequently than
other departments.
2) Electric service was inter-
rupted in part of the business section
of Hermiston on Saturday morning
for about half an hour as a result of
a meter at the Frank Pierson wreck-
ing offi ce being accidentally pulled
off the building by a passing truck.
The transformer in the alley “kicked
out” a fuse and no serious damage
was suffered.
HH fi le photo
Agustin Posada, left, an exchange student from Colombia, listens as farmers
Glenn Rohde and Marsh Meyers give a tour of a farm outside Hermiston in 1995.
100 YEARS AGO
June 12, 1920
Messers Jackson and Rod-
kin shipped a load of hogs on the
Steamer Northwestern last Tuesday
to the Benson Commercial company
of Portland. It is very convenient for
the farmers of this section who desire
to ship livestock to the yards in Port-
land to load them on the Northwest-
ern at Umatilla where they are taken
direct to the packing plant.
The trip down the river is cool and
the animals do not suffer from heated
cars and arrive at their destination in
much better shape.
2) The smoker given by the Amer-
ican Legion last Friday night was
well attended and the show was well
put on. The boys deserve great credit
in the way they handled the affair and
the fans went away voting it a good
evening’s entertainment.
The fi rst event was a wrestling
match between McKeen of Hermis-
ton and Dorn of Echo. McKeen won
the event with one fall in six and a
half minutes in the fi rst round, the
second being a draw.
Next on the card was another
wrestling match between George
Mathay and Harry Kelley, both of
Hermiston. This affair was a stem-
winder and both boys showed con-
siderable knowledge of the sport,
both getting into tight places and
surprising his opponent by cleverly
untangling himself. However, Kelley
got a fall in seven minutes in the fi rst
round, the second going to a draw.
BY THE WAY
Hermiston Herald
reopening its offi ces
The Hermiston Herald and East Oregonian will
reopen our offi ces to walk-in customers on Monday, June
15.
The lobby of our offi ce, at 333 East Main St., will be
open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for
the time being.
To prepare for the reopening we are installing a plexi-
glass barrier on our front desk and will be placing signs
reminding customers to observe social distancing and not
enter the premises if they are sick.
• • •
More than 30 park trees
lost to heavy storms
Hermiston’s city parks lost more than 30 trees during
the recent severe storm, according to Larry Fetter, the
city’s parks and recreation director.
Fetter called the loss “heartbreaking” and said many of
the trees were mature trees that were several decades old.
He said if anyone would like to sponsor the planting
of a new tree in a park, they can contact the department at
541-567-5018. Sponsors of trees can pick out the type of
tree and where it will be planted, and can designated it in
honor of a loved one if they choose.
• • •
Kayak is running
local routes again
Kayak Public Transit is back up and running along
local routes, including the HART in Hermiston.
The regional transit service had been interrupted since
March 23 due to COVID-19.
According to a news release, passengers are required
to wear face coverings, and keep 3 feet of distance from
other passengers along and 6 feet from the driver. The
transit service is also only meant to be utilized for essen-
tial trips.
• • •
Baked fi sh on Thursday
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.
The menu for Thursday, June 11 is baked fi sh, Carib-
bean veggies, rice pilaf and dessert. The menu for Tues-
day, June 16 is BBQ chicken, baked beans, macaroni
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.