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.