COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020
Former county commissioner
Emile Holeman dies at 89
By NADA SEWIDAN
STAFF WRITER
Contributed photo
Robert Davis was sworn in on June 4, 2020, as the new post commander of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars Desert Post 4750 in Hermiston. He is shown with his sister Emma Smith of Chicago,
left, who fl ew in for the ceremony, and his sister Rose Johnson Gale of Umatilla on the right.
Davis sworn in as new
VFW post commander
HERMISTON HERALD
Robert Lee Davis of
Hermiston was sworn in
Thursday, June 4, as the
new post commander for
Hermiston’s VFW Desert
Post 4750.
According to a news
release:
“The other offi cers that
took their oaths were Rob
Lovett, doing double duty
as both the quartermas-
ter and chaplain, and Den-
nis Aiken, who will be both
the post adjutant and senior
vice commander. The new
leadership team conceived
of the plan to assume the
duties of leadership just
moments before the April 2
elections, causing the pre-
dictable uproar that left
the longtime outgoing post
commander, Ron Jardine,
at times having the Devil’s
own time trying to suppress
both frustrations and out-
right laughter. In the end,
the ceremony went on with-
out further ado.
Robert Davis’ calm and
accepting presenting per-
sona garnered him the top
spot as a valuable asset
as the new team works to
return the post to both its
original intent of serving
the needs of existing mem-
bers and to begin to solve
the problem of recruit-
ing the younger veterans.
Also very high on the list
of things to be done is com-
munity outreach in general,
such as inviting the Red
Cross to have a blood drive
at the post, and all-vet-
eran outreach, such as the
All-Vet Swap Meet the last
weekend of July. One of the
post’s younger members
also wants to expand the gun
and hunting safety program,
and the post is looking into
supporting young people on
other ventures, such as the
FFA. Suggestions are cer-
tainly welcomed.”
Former Umatilla County
Commissioner Emile Hole-
man died at the age of 89 on
the evening of Sunday, June
7.
Flags on county property
will be fl own at half staff
all week long in honor and
memory of former Commis-
sioner Holeman.
Holeman served on the
county’s board of commis-
sioners from 1991–2007,
a total of 16 years and four
terms in offi ce. Sen. Bill
Hansell, a longtime county
commissioner
himself,
called Holeman his advisor,
friend and go-to guy.
“He was a very special
friend and individual in my
life,” Hansell said. “I was
very privileged to be able to
serve with him. He will be
missed.”
Born and raised in Pend-
leton, Holeman dedicated
his time to his hometown
and county. Prior to his days
as county commissioner,
he attended the University
of Oregon and later owned
a Texaco service station.
Hansell attributed Holeman’s
great public service attitude
to his time working at the
service station, where Hole-
man connected with people
in his community through his
customer service skills.
It’s this philosophy,
Hansell added, that then car-
ried over in Holeman’s ten-
ure as commissioner.
Staff photo by Jade McDowell, fi le
Former Happy Canyon president Emile Holeman, left,
prepares to cut the ribbon on a new plaque commemorating
the pageant’s former location while longtime Happy Canyon
actor Fritz Hill makes a toast in 2016.
“He truly was a public
servant,” Hansell said. ”He
wanted to do what was best
for the people and worked
hard at it. He came to work
with that attitude of ‘what
can I do for the people in
Umatilla County.’”
Holeman was dedicated
to community service and
maintained that commitment
beyond his tenure as com-
missioner. Current Commis-
sioner George Murdock said
Holeman was a remarkable
role model to his family, who
continue to be active in the
community.
“The
entire
county
mourns his loss,” Murdock
said. “Our thoughts are with
his family.”
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
Join the virtual race
The 21st Butte Challenge
walk/run will take place vir-
tually this year between Fri-
day, June 19 to Sunday, June
21.
Due to COVID-19 gath-
ering restrictions, this year’s
participants can do a 5K run,
5K walk or a 10K run on
their own time and record
and upload results via a fi t-
ness tracker website called
It’s Your Race or through the
company’s IYR Virtual app.
Another way to submit a time
is through itsyourrace.com.
All times must be placed
between Friday, June 19 to
Sunday, June 21 by midnight.
Those who join the chal-
lenge can either do the Butte
Challenge loop or participate
from anywhere else in the
city. There will be no awards
this year, unlike previous
years where participants were
given prizes based on times in
each category.
“Since we cannot meet
in large groups we are doing
it as a virtual race,” reads a
statement on the Butte Chal-
lenge website. “This still
allows you to support and
join us for this event.”
All proceeds from the
event benefi t Hermiston
Cross Country.
Registration information
can be found on their website.
HAREC hosts live potato
research update
Oregon State Universi-
ty’s Hermiston Agricultural
Research and Extension Cen-
ter is hosting their fi rst virtual
live potato research update
provided by university sci-
entists from 6–8 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 17.
HAREC’s interim direc-
tor Clive Kaiser will give an
opening update on the station.
Scientists Sagar Sathuvali,
Silvia Rondon, Ken Frost and
Ray Quin will discuss the sta-
tion’s potato breeding pro-
gram, plant pathology pro-
gram and agronomy program,
with data and information on
potato nutrient management
and production. Each session
is approximately 15 minutes,
followed by a question and
answer period at the end.
The
research
center
focuses on agricultural and
horticultural
productions,
plant breeding, nutrition and
more. The virtual update is in
place of fi eld days HAREC
usually hosts this time of year.
Participants need to reg-
ister prior to the meeting by
emailing silvia.rondon@ore-
gonstate.edu.
LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
Pastor David Dever
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm
www.hermistonlmbc.com
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday
...............................English 7:00 am
Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm
SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm
...............................Spanish 7:00 pm
SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am
..........................Bilingual 11:00 am
..............................Spanish 1:00 pm
Office..............................567-5812
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Amy Puzey races to victory in the Butte Challenge women’s
10-kilometer run in May 2017 at Hermiston Butte Park.
MEDICAL DIRECTORY
DENTURES
BLUE MOUNTAIN
DENTURE CENTER
FAMILY DENTISTRY
Affordable Care in Eastern
Oregon since 1991
A Better Way to Oral Health
COMPREHENSIVE
CARE
MENTAL HEALTH
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
t. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
First Christian Church
“Proclaiming the Message of
Hope, Living the Gospel of Love”
Sunday School...9:15 am
Worship Service...10:30 am
Children’s Church 10:45 am
567-3013
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
NEW BEGINNINGS
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Worship Service 10:30 AM
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Pastor J.C. Barnett
Children’s Church &
Nursery Available
700 West Orchard Avenue
P.O. Box 933
Hermiston, Oregon
541-289-4774
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Saturdays
Sabbath School........9:30 a.m.
Worship Service......11:00 a.m.
English & Spanish Services
567-8241
Hermiston Jr. Academy
1300 NW Academy Lane, • Hermiston
LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS!
• Adult, Child & Family Therapy
• Psychiatric Evaluation & Treatment
• Mental Health & Crisis Services
• Confidential & Professional Care
TROY STEWART
Licensed Denturist
UMATILLA, OR:
1300 6th St., Suite G
BAKER CITY, OR:
2194 Court Ave.
541-519-4696 • 541-523-4752
URGENT CARE
995 Orchard Ave.,
Hermiston, OR
RYAN M. WIESELER,
D.D.S, PC
www.desertdentalsmiles.com
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
HERMISTON
FAMILY MEDICINE &
URGENT CARE
Family Care • Minor Injuries
Sports Physicals • Minor Surgeries
We accept Medicare & some
Advantage Medicare plans
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
236 E. Newport, Hermiston
(across from U.S. Bank)
Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am-7:00pm
Call Today! 541-289-5433
1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston
(across from Good Shepherd Medical Center)
www.apd4kidz.com
Office hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
CRISIS PHONE: 866-343-4473
HERMISTON: 595 NW 11th St. • 541-567-2536
PENDLETON: 331 SE 2nd St. • 541-276-6207
WWW.LIFEWAYS.ORG
To advertise in the
Medical Directory,
please call
Jeanne
541-564-4531
email:
jjewett@hermistonherald.com
To share your
worship times call
541-278-2678