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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2020)
COMMUNITY A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM THREE MINUTES WITH … WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020 HERMISTON HISTORY Residents complain of rotting potato stench ABBIE ELLIOT Teacher, Sunset Elementary School Hermiston Herald, File When and why did you move to Hermiston? I moved to Hermiston in 2016 for school. I was interested in the teaching program through Eastern Oregon University. A 1943 vintage locomotive sits on display at Hinkle Rail Yard in 1995. Where is your favorite place to eat in Hermiston? Hales The pungent aroma of rotting potatoes isn’t exactly appetizing, said neighbors of Lamb Weston’s Westland plant Wednesday night. The residents presented their opin- ions about the stench at an Oregon Department of Environmental Qual- ity hearing Wednesday. The hearing was called to give residents a chance to comment on Lamb Weston’s application for a water pollution control facility per- mit. Though many complained about “persistent and offensive” odors coming from a surge pond, more said they believe the potato process- ing company is taking steps to lessen the stench from the stinking spuds. Lamb Weston has, since the plant began operations in 1972, produced nearly 900 million gallons of potato waste each year as a result of its pro- cessing 1,200 tons of potatoes daily. The problem residents have been complaining about though, comes from a surge pond located at the North Site fi elds. Effl uent sitting in the pond and solids in the effl uent create an odor so strong that 63 citi- zens sent a complaint petition to the DEQ in June. Don Walls, who lives just east of the pond, said he is “right in the wind path,” of the odor. “You know what I’m concerned about,” he said later, “is the tourist people. I mean, it’s a stench.” Walls said odors travel east across Interstate 82 to his home. High- way motorists he said, could get the impression that Hermiston is gener- ally a smelly place. Sheri Wadeka- mper, a Westland-area resident, com- plained that the permit Lamb-Weston applied for places the burden of odor monitoring on residents. Provisions in the permit regulate effl uent fl ows and solids storage to reduce putrifi - cation, not necessarily odors. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to play with my puppy, go fi shing and watch movies. What surprises you about Hermiston? I am always surprised by how kind and friendly our community is. What was the last book you read? “The First Days of School,” by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong What website or app do you use most other than Facebook? Pinterest If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? The Caribbean What is the funniest thing that’s ever hap- pened to you? I ripped my pants while at work! It was not funny then, but it is sure funny looking back at it now. What is one of your goals for the next 12 months? One of my goals is to teach my dog how to not dig holes in my yard! What is your proudest accomplishment? Becoming a fourth-grade teacher at Sunset Elemen- tary School! Sunday morning fi re damages Hermiston apartment complex HERMISTON HERALD Four apartment units at Ridgeway Apartments in Hermiston were damaged in an early morning fi re on Sunday, Oct. 4. According to a news release from Umatilla County Fire District #1, the district received a call at 2:10 a.m. about a fi re in a two-story apartment building at the apartment complex. “When crews arrived at 2:13 a.m. heavy fi re was showing from the fi rst-fl oor apartment window, extend- ing into the second-fl oor apartment window and roof eves,” the release stated. Two units in the building were damaged by fi re and two more were damaged by smoke and water. Fire crews also “opened up” walls and ceilings on the units to bring the fi re under control. The cause of the fi re is under investigation. According to the release, no one was injured “because the occupants of the apart- ment complex were very effective at getting every- one out before fi re crews arrived.” 25 YEARS AGO Oct 3, 1995 50 YEARS AGO Oct. 1, 1970 The son of Hermiston residents has been awarded the Army Com- mendation Medal for exceptional meritorious service in Vietnam. Spec. 5 Ross D. DeGroff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross O. DeGroff, Route 1, was recognized for his distinguished service while serving with the 176th Veterinary Detachment in Pleiku. His citation reads, in part, “He astutely surmounted extremely adverse conditions to obtain consis- tently superior results. Through dil- igence and determination he invari- ably accomplished every task with Hermiston Herald, File A fi refi ghter sprays water on a fi re outside of Hermiston caused by a burn barrel that got out of control in 1995. 75 YEARS AGO Sept. 27, 1945 Hermiston Herald, File A photo in the Oct. 3, 1995, Hermiston Herald shows the damage to a PGE coal plant in Boardman after coal dust ignited, blowing a hole in the plant and causing $600,000 worth of damage. No one was injured in the blast. dispatch and effi ciency.” A native of Pocatello, Idaho, DeGroff attended Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, before entering the Army in December, 1967. He is presently assigned to the Dept. of Biological Sensor Research, a tenant activity at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. In addition to the Army Com- mendation Medal, his decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal. DeGroff is active in the youth pro- gram of his church, serving as chair- man of a scout troop committee, helping sponsor weekend activities and weekly youth meetings for study and recreation. Mrs. Roy Close this week received word from Capt. Rober G. Conner Jr., commanding offi cer of the infantry regiment of which Mr. Close was a member at the time of his death on Okinawa last May 30. The captain wrote: “Your husband’s duty was that of a rifl eman which he performed admirably. He was in charge of a squad that was attacking an enemy held hill in the vicinity of Shuri. His platoon’s attack had been temporarily halted by intense enemy fi re. With complete disregard for his own safety, your husband charged the position only to be instantly killed by machine gun fi re. This brave action so inspired the remaining number of the platoon that they quickly rushed and seized the position.” 100 YEARS AGO Oct. 1, 1920 George Strohm has returned from Portland where he went the fi rst of the week with a load of hogs. Mr. Crossland and Mr. Payne also shipped with him. Mr. Strohm reports that he got 18 cents, which is 40 cents on the hundred more than was paid for other hogs in the Port- land yards the day he sold. C. C. Mason and C. P. Adams are exhibit- ing at the state fair, four hogs of Mr. Strohm’s having gone down with their stock. Mr. Strohm was able to spend only one day at the fair, but he states that Mason secured a fi rst with his hogs in the Junior Yearling class, and Adams second, and out of a group of 42, made up of six months old males, Strohm got 5th prize. BY THE WAY Commission, council candidate forums available online A candidate forum hosted by the Hermiston Cham- ber of Commerce took place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6. It featured candidates for Hermiston City Council and the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners. The forum began after the Hermiston Herald’s print deadline, but articles about it will be published online on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at www.hermistonherald. com, and in next week’s print edition along with other stories about candidates and measures for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. Video of the forum can also be found on the Her- ald’s Facebook page. The Umatilla City Council candidate forum will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at Umatilla City Hall, 700 Sixth St., Umatilla. The Boardman Chamber of Commerce has been hosting a series of candidate forums for various Mor- row County candidates over the past two weeks, includ- ing candidates for the Morrow County Board of Com- missioners, Boardman City Council, justice of the peace and county treasurer. Video of those forums can be found on the chamber’s Facebook page. • • • Rodeo photo gallery posted Last weekend, the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston hosted the Columbia River Cir- cuit rodeo fi nals. For a photo gallery, results and features from the rodeo, as well as other regional sports news, visit www. eastoregonian.com or subscribe to the East Oregonian. • • • Drive-thru fl u shots off ered The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center will have a drive-thru fl u shot clinic for seniors at the center, located behind the Hermiston Public Library, from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 14. • • • Senior lunch menus include pork chops The center’s takeout and delivery menu for Thurs- day, Oct. 8, is pork chops, stuffi ng, apple salad, veggies and dessert. Tuesday, Oct. 13, will be hamburger patties, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn and dessert. For a Meals on Wheels delivery in Hermiston, call 541-567-3582 before 10 a.m. to place an order. To pick up a meal from the center at 255 N.E. Second St., call the same number before 11 a.m. Meals are $4 and can be picked up between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. The Boardman Senior Center is now providing meal delivery. Meals are $4 paid upon delivery. Call 541-481- 3257 to order. The Boardman menu for Thursday, Oct. 8, is fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad and dessert. Tuesday, Oct. 13, is chicken pot pie, salad, bread with butter and dessert.
