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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2020)
COMMUNITY A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM THREE MINUTES WITH … WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 HERMISTON HISTORY MALENY MONTES School Secretary, Hermiston School District When and why did you move to Hermiston? My family moved to this area when I was 8 years old because most of my mom’s family lives around the area. Where is your favorite place to eat in Hermiston? Lawan’s Thai Garden and Ruty’s What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to go hiking, play volleyball and spend time with family and friends. What surprises you about Hermiston? Just how much it’s changed, developed and grown since I moved here. What was the last book you read? The last book I read was “Never Touch A Shark,” to my son. What website or app do you use the most? It’s a tie between Pinterest and Amazon. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I’d love to go to Bora Bora someday. What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you? I can’t think of anything at the moment. But anyone who knows me, I’m sure, has a story about some- thing that is funny or embarrassing about me. What is one of your goals in the next 12 years? Travel more with my family. What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment in life, without a doubt, is my son; he is my pride and joy. Hermiston in fi rst place for census The city of Hermiston is challenging residents to help the city by partic- ipating in the 2020 U.S. Census. According to the city, so far Hermiston is the top- ranked city in Umatilla County for the percentage of residents who have fi lled out the survey. “At 58.9% we are ahead of the local pack, but we’re still 105th statewide,” the city wrote in a recent Face- book post. “If you hav- en’t taken a few minutes to fi ll out the census yet, visit my2020census.gov today. Your response means funding for schools, roads, housing, health and other services.” All U.S. residents have been encouraged to respond to the census online or to return the forms they were mailed since April. Participation in the cen- sus, which is used to deter- mined things like con- gressional districts, is mandatory, and people who don’t reply will eventually get an in-person visit from a census taker to collect information. Census takers will ask a few simple questions, such as the number of people liv- ing in the home. The Census Bureau has warned people to beware of scammers who ask for a Social Security number or bank account information. HH fi le photo Hermiston farmer John Lloyd stands in a potato crop destroyed by golf ball-sized hail during a freak storm in July 1995. Massive hail storm destroys crops 25 YEARS AGO July 11, 1995 Golf ball-sized hail stones, tor- rential rains, a small tornado and 70-mile-an-hour winds exploded windows, ripped roofs off houses and obliterated entire crops Sunday in what may be Hermiston’s worst storm ever. Seven people were treated for minor injuries at Good Shepherd Community Hospital’s emergency room. Hail stones more than three inches in diameter pummeled Hermiston shortly after 2 p.m. The attack lasted only 15 minutes but left its mark. Windows were the hardest hit. Any glass facing southwest when the storm hit was an open target for the storm’s fury. West Park Elemen- tary School lost 90 windows. Cari Seelye, 18, was working at Good Samaritan Center when the storm blew in. “Somebody said I should look at my car. The rear window was just gone,” she said. Larry Campbell said all of his 151 cars at his Campbell Motors lot were totalled. “We estimate over $1 million in damage,” he said. “We’ve never had this kind of damage before.” Vinyl siding on businesses and homes all over the area was left shot full of holes from the hail. 2) It lasted only 15 minutes but for many local farmers, the effects of Sunday’s hail storm will last well into next year. Bryan Wolfe, a Hermiston potato and corn grower, said Monday he was “trying to salvage what little Mother Nature’s left me. She’s seen fi t to treat us pretty harshly.” “It was total devastation,” he said of his 500 acres. As of Monday Phil Hamm at the Hermiston Agricultural and Research Extension Center said he had no acreage loss estimates yet. “The word?” he said. “Bad.” Crop damage in some areas could be “as high as 100 percent,” he said. 50 YEARS AGO July 9, 1970 A fi re that destroyed about $75,000 of equipment and buildings at the Hermiston Dairy after mid- night Saturday, July 4 was one of 13 calls answered by the Hermiston fi re department since last Thursday. HH fi le photo Mrs. Gilbert Gettmann, right, draws blood from Bill Hunsinger during a blood drive in Hermiston in July 1970. Most fi remen had attended or were leaving their annual Fire- men’s Ball Saturday night when they received the dairy alarm at 1:59 a.m. and fought the fi re until 9:20 Sunday morning. It is believed lightning ignited some hay earlier in the evening and the material smoldered until the blaze broke out. 75 YEARS AGO July 12, 1945 Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, Capt. V.E. Daughtery, 1st Lt. W.B. Carlson, 2nd Lt. Charles Friday and 35 members of the Hermiston State Guard Unit, Co. E 22 Bn. completed an all night biv- ouac and maneuvers at the forks of the Umatilla River approximately fi ve miles above Bingham Springs. The company traveling in the convoy arrived at the camp site, at 10 p.m. Saturday. Tents were pitched and a guard detail formed. All members took their turn stand- ing post through the long hours of the night. Breakfast at 6 p.m. consisted of hotcakes, butter, syrup, fried eggs, fried spuds and hot coffee. Upon completion of breakfast, the com- pany area was policed. The com- pany formed at 8 a.m. for a hike. The hike was up the North Fork of the Umatilla River and lasted approxi- mately three and a half hours. 100 YEARS AGO July 9, 1920 One of those delightful affairs that make the life and energy of our rural social activities appreciated and makes one “holler” more, was given by the Ladies of the H.O.A. of the North Ridge district last Fri- day evening, when they held their last meeting and a house warming of the present season, at the newly remodeled home of Mr. and Mrs. A. Biesse. The men of the community were the honored guests, and were very appreciative of the bounteous sup- per and social hour that followed. Mr. Blanchard, reclamation stat- istician, remarked during the eve- ning, “I am repeatedly impressed by the resourcefulness and versatility of the settlers on the project, espe- cially the women.” From the artistically decorated tables, and deliciously prepared viands, to the charming music and lively games that followed the feast, the ladies gave proof of their high effi ciency. BY THE WAY State Rep. Greg Smith to hold virtual town hall July 9 State Rep. Greg Smith is holding a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, July 9, at 5:30 p.m. Smith represents District 57, which covers parts of Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco coun- ties, in the House. To submit a question or receive an invitation to the Zoom video conference, email smithg@oregonlegisla- ture.gov. • • • The Hermiston Police Department brought several dogs running loose into Pet Rescue during the Fourth of July holiday, according to Chief Jason Edmiston. Pet owners, who are wondering if their missing dog was brought to the shelter by the police, can now check online at hpd.crimegraphics.com under the “press releases” section for a list of dogs that were impounded. The site also provides the daily log of 911 calls that police responded to, a list of recent arrests, a map of recent crimes in Hermiston, local missing persons, and a description of recently stolen vehicles that have yet to be recovered. • • • The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday, July 1, to implement a temporary ban on burning in the county’s unincorporated areas starting at noon on Thursday, July 2. The ban is issued yearly on July 1 and prohibits open, nonagricultural burns within the county’s unincorporated areas, except for those areas that are covered by a rural fi re protection district. The ban will remain in effect until the board of com- missioners votes to lift it. • • • Hermiston School District released an update on its bond construction projects. According to the news release, the fi rst project will go out to bid in August. The project will include new softball fi elds, paving, sidewalks and other improvements on the former Uma- tilla County Fairgrounds next to Hermiston High School. The improvements will pave the way for the fi elds at Rocky Heights Elementary School to become the site of the new, larger Rocky Heights. The new Rocky Heights and new Theater Lane ele- mentary school are in the design phase and will go out to bid in late 2020 or early 2021, with both projects expected to be completed in summer 2022. • • • After announcing it would reopen, the Harkenrider Senior Activity Center will stay closed for longer after all, according to parks and recreation director Larry Fetter. Fetter said the center will be closed until at least Aug. 1 in light of Umatilla County’s continued rise in COVID- 19 cases. The senior center will continue to provide meals by delivery or takeout. 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. The menu for Thursday, July 9, is baked chicken, pasta salad and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, July 14 is hams and yams, veggies and dessert.
