WINNER OF THE 2020 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021
HermistonHerald.com
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State, county add vaccination incentives
COVID-19 restrictions could lift by June 21 if enough people get shots
By GARY A. WARNER AND BRYCE DOLE
EO MEDIA GROUP
Nearly all COVID-19 restric-
tions could be lifted in as early as
just over two weeks, Gov. Kate
Brown said Friday, June 4.
The state was about 127,000
adults short of the goal of getting at
least one shot of vaccine into 70%
of eligible residents as of Friday.
Once the state crosses the
threshold, Brown said she would
lift masking, business capacity,
event size, social distance and
other limits that Oregonians have
dealt with for more than a year.
“We can fully reopen — we can
all look forward to that,” she said.
Local health offi cials would
then take over the daily decision
making and operations in counties
from the Oregon Health Authority.
Brown said even very large
events, such as the Pendleton
Round-Up in September, would
be good to go once the state hits its
target vaccination rate.
Oregon’s statewide mark stood
at 66.8% on June 6, although some
counties are far lower. In Uma-
tilla County, which still has high
enough COVID-19 numbers to
currently keep it in high risk sta-
tus, just 38% of residents over age
16 have received at least one shot,
according to OHA recordkeeping.
OHA Director Pat Allen said
that if the current pace continues,
the statewide mark of 70% would
be hit about June 21.
Most restrictions, including ask-
ing Oregonians to wear a mask in
public spaces if they can’t provide
proof of vaccination, are expected
to go away, although some rules
for schools and the workplace will
remain for the time being.
Brown also reiterated plans
to give away $1 million to a vac-
cinated Oregonian, along with
$10,000 to a vaccinated person in
See Vaccines, Page A8
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald, File
After an initial morning rush, lines sit empty at a Umatilla County Public
Health mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Pendleton on April 30, 2021. The
county is rolling out the “Community Rewards Program” to incentivize
vaccinations.
UPDATES
Umatilla
County
remains
in high
risk
HERMISTON HERALD
Umatilla County will
remain in the high risk
category for COVID-19
for at least another week,
according to the updated
categories released by
Gov. Kate Brown on
Tuesday, June 9.
The county is one of 11
in the high risk category.
There are now 21 coun-
ties in low risk and four in
moderate risk.
Risk levels are based
on a county’s COVID-19
cases per capita and test
positivity rate. According
to Oregon Health Author-
ity, Umatilla County’s
rate of tests coming back
positive on June 6 was
7.8%, compared to 3.1%
statewide.
In counties under high
risk, establishments such
as restaurants, gyms,
museums, theaters and
churches are only allowed
to operate at 25% capacity
or risk fi nes from OSHA.
Retail
stores
are
capped at 50% capacity.
Indoor social gatherings
are capped at six people.
Morrow County is in
the low risk category.
Under low risk, restau-
rants and gyms can oper-
ate at 50% capacity and
retail stores at 75%.
Indoor social gatherings
are capped at 10 people.
Brown has prom-
ised that the restrictions
based on risk level will go
away once 70% of Ore-
gonians over age 18 have
been vaccinated against
COVID-19.
“But, for unvaccinated
individuals, COVID-19
remains as large a threat
as it ever was,” she said
in a news release. “With
more contagious variants
spreading, far too many
Oregonians are still being
hospitalized when they
could be protected with a
vaccine. If you have been
waiting to get vaccinated,
go get your shot today. It’s
never been easier to get
an appointment, and you
may just win $1 million
through the Take Your
Shot, Oregon campaign.”
INSIDE
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald
Graduates wait in line before crossing their stage at the Hermiston High School commencement ceremony on Thursday, June 3, 2021.
Taking the next step
After graduation, Class of 2021
takes a moment to refl ect
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
A
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald
Graduates parade through the hallways at Hermiston High School
between speeches and walking across the stage to collect their diplomas
at the high school’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, June 3,
2021.
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald
Ella Hagel gives a farewell address to graduates before leading the
turning of the tassels at Hermiston High School’s commencement
ceremony on Thursday, June 3, 2021.
A2 Three Minutes with Sally
Anderson Hansell
A3 Hermiston’s Veterans of
Foreign Wars post has its charter
revoked
s they walked
out the door of
Hermiston High
School for the
last time, there
were mixed emotions from the
Class of 2021.
Some were grinning as they
left the graduation ceremony at
the high school on Thursday, June
3. Others got a bit teary-eyed as
they hugged friends and family.
While many said they were glad
to be leaving behind a diffi cult
school year, most could fi nd good
memories of high school, too.
Angel Barron said his favor-
ite memory was winning the state
football championship his fresh-
man year.
“It was really cold, but other-
wise really cool,” he said.
The Bulldogs took home the
Oregon 5A title in November
2017, going out on top as they
headed to the Mid-Columbia
Conference to compete against
Washington schools.
Now, Barron heads to Blue
Mountain Community College to
study criminal justice.
William Kern’s best memory
also was from his fi rst year of
A3 Funeral services are set for
Umatilla County Sheriff ’s Offi ce
deputy who drowned
MORE INSIDE
For photos from Umatilla, Stan-
fi eld and Echo graduations, see
Page A7. For full photo galleries
from all graduation ceremonies,
see www.hermistonherald.com.
high school, when he and the rest
of the cast took their bows at the
end of the musical “Seussical.”
Theater and choir were high-
lights for him the rest of his high
school career, and after playing
Horton he went on to play other
lead roles, including the Scare-
crow in “The Wizard of Oz.”
Now, he plans to start out at
BMCC before eventually trans-
ferring to a four-year university
to fi nish up a bachelor’s degree in
business.
“I’ll save some money at
home,” he said.
Gilberto Avila said the thing
he will miss most about high
school is the freedom from adult
responsibilities that he knows are
waiting for him on the other side.
He said he plans to go to a four
year university but he’s not sure
where yet.
See Graduates, Page A8
A6 Oregon Trail Library District is
waiving all fees for late books