COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
Amazon Web Services donates to area organizations
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
Communities in Umatilla and
Morrow counties are getting a
$520,000 boost from Amazon
Web Services.
The company is donating the
money it was set to receive from
Umatilla Electric Cooperative,
according to a news release from
UEC.
The not-for-profi t, mem-
ber-owned utility operates at cost
and refunds profi ts to its mem-
bers through its Capital Credits
program, based on the amount
of power a customer purchased.
Amazon is working with UEC to
donate its share of the refund to
provide relief from the economic
impacts of COVID-19.
The money is divided between
the following entities:
• $250,000 to UEC and
Hermiston Energy Services to
provide assistance to low-in-
come households struggling to
pay their utility bills. Accord-
ing to the release, the money
is enough to cover the average
energy bill for more than 1,000
households for two months.
• $25,000 each to the Irrigon
Food Pantry, Stanfi eld Food
HH fi le photo
Mark Gomolski loads food into a box while volunteering at the Agape
House in Hermiston in 2018. The Agape House was one of several area food
pantries to receive a $25,000 donations from Amazon Web Services in June
2020.
Basket, Pendleton’s Commu-
nity Outreach Food Pantry,
the Agape House in Hermiston
and Boardman’s food pantry.
• $20,000 to the Community
Action Program of East Cen-
tral Oregon (CAPECO) for its
senior citizen meal program.
• $25,000 each to Morrow
County, Umatilla and Herm-
iston school districts and the
InterMountain Edcuation Ser-
vice District to improve stu-
dents’ access to virtual learn-
ing from home.
• $25,000 to the Confeder-
ated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation.
The news release stated that
“additional funds will be ear-
marked to help respond to pan-
demic-related community needs
as they are identifi ed in the
future.”
At the Hermiston City Coun-
cil meeting on June 22, city coun-
cilors and staff expressed their
thanks for the investment in their
community. City Manager Byron
Smith said the money was a
“really great contribution for what
is becoming a large employer in
our area,” and Mayor David Drot-
zmann said he was grateful that
even though Amazon could have
just kept the money, they decided
to be a good community partner
instead.
Hermiston Energy Services
and Umatilla Electric Coopera-
tive also expressed their thanks in
the news release about the dona-
tion from Amazon Web Services.
“The effectiveness and reach
of the UCARE payment assis-
tance program will be amplifi ed
by our collaboration with AWS,”
said Lisa McMeen, UEC’s vice
president of administration.
Cleanup options available after storm
HERMISTON HERALD
After a major windstorm
hit the region May 30, Uma-
tilla County residents can
bring logs, branches and
other yard waste generated
by the storm damage to the
Stanfi eld Compost Yard on
Hoosier Street in Stanfi eld.
During the June 22 Herm-
iston City Council meeting,
City Manager Byron Smith
said the opportunity was a
partnership between the cit-
ies of Stanfi eld, Umatilla
and Hermiston.
People can get rid of
debris for free from 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m. daily until July 19.
The code to open the gate at
the compost yard is 7777#.
Umatilla residents can
also drop off yard debris,
appliances and household
garbage at the city’s public
works shops, 1203 Third St.,
on July 1-2 from 4-7 p.m.
The city’s annual spring
cleanup was postponed due
to COVID-19 and is now
the “Sweep into Summer”
event. In addition to the
ability to drop off items, res-
idents who need help trans-
porting their waste can
arrange ahead of time for a
curbside pickup during the
event.
For more information
or to arrange pick-up, call
541-922-3226 or email
esmerelda@umatilla-city.
org.
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan, File
A trampoline, blown by the wind, rests on the roof of a house
near downtown Hermiston on Saturday, May 30, 2020.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Hermiston student
councils recognized
HERMISTON HERALD
Hermiston High School
and Sandstone Middle
School student councils
were recognized by the Ore-
gon Association of Student
Councils as high-achieving
student councils, according
to a news release.
Under normal circum-
stances, schools are usually
recognized during the spring
conference; however, due to
COVID-19 social distanc-
ing guidelines, schools were
honored virtually.
The high school student
council accepted the Gold
Council recognition for out-
standing achievement, and
Sandstone Middle School
received the Bronze Coun-
cil award. Recognition is
bestowed on the student
councils when they achieve
standards related to com-
munity service, by creating
events that promote school
spirit and pride, sportsman-
ship, unity, recognition, and
leadership training.
Sara Marks, Sandstone
Middle School language arts
teacher and Leadership Club
advisor, said, “True leader-
ship comes out during chal-
lenging times and students
proved to be resilient. Prior
to the pandemic, the stu-
dents were actively work-
ing to keep students engaged
and connected. I am so
proud of them!”
LBCC awards degrees
to local students
HERMISTON HERALD
Linn-Benton Commu-
nity College awarded 923
degrees and certifi cates to
818 students in its 52nd
graduating class, includ-
ing the following Hermis-
ton students:
Breanna Bayer, Asso-
ciate of Arts Oregon
Transfer; Mary S. Hays,
Associate of Applied Sci-
ence occupational ther-
apy assistant; Vanessa V.
Stackhouse, Associate of
Applied Science diagnos-
tic imaging; Brigitte Valen-
cia Jimenez, Associate of
Applied Science occupa-
tional therapy assistant.
Although the college
was unable to hold a com-
mencement ceremony this
year, LBCC is commemo-
rating grads through online
recognition and a com-
memorative video, which
serves as a placeholder
until the college can cele-
brate its grads in person.
In June 2021, LBCC
will celebrate its fi rst com-
bined commencement in
its history — an in-person
event that celebrates both
the 2020 graduating class
and the 2021 graduating
class.
This will provide an
opportunity for the 2020
grads to take their symbolic
walks across the stage and
receive their degree.
“With such uncertainty and hard-
ship caused by the pandemic, it is
great to work with trusted part-
ners like AWS to keep our com-
munity operating at this time.”
In a separate news release on
June 11, Umatilla School District
announced that Amazon Web Ser-
vices had also become a sponsor
of the district’s robotics program
and other after-school programs
related to STEM (Science, Tech-
nology, Engineering and Math).
According to Superinten-
dent Heidi Sipe, before school
was closed students gave guests
from the company a tour of their
schools and highlighted the needs
for the STEM programs.
Following the visit, Amazon
donated $70,000 for equipment,
such as 3D printers, cameras,
computers and robot parts. After
the schools closed, they donated
additional laptops to help the pro-
grams make the jump to distance
learning.
“Years ago, we dreamed of
having the type of technology to
prepare students for the jobs of
tomorrow,” Sipe said in a state-
ment. “It’s amazing to think that
today, we have the technology
and the jobs for students right
here in Umatilla.”
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
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
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
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
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
MEDICAL DIRECTORY
DENTURES
BLUE MOUNTAIN
DENTURE CENTER
FAMILY DENTISTRY
Affordable Care in Eastern
Oregon since 1991
A Better Way to Oral Health
COMPREHENSIVE
CARE
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
MENTAL HEALTH
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