NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
Council learns more about digital infrastructure plan
By JEFF BUDLONG
STAFF WRITER
In a special work ses-
sion before the Monday, July
12, Hermiston City Council
meeting, Hermiston Energy
Services General Manager
Nate Rivera discussed the
digital infrastructure strate-
gic plan for Hermiston.
City staff has been
researching fi ber broad-
band infrastructure options
to connect city-owned facil-
ities with the help of Strate-
gic Networks Group, which
did the state’s broadband
assessment and best prac-
tices study.
The work will create a
digital infrastructure road-
map for the city to assist in
long-term planning to max-
imize infrastructure invest-
ments. Currently, at least
25% — and perhaps more
than 50% — of the com-
munity is underserved with
broadband access, which has
been highlighted during the
pandemic, Rivera said.
“SNG comes in and helps
community leaders and coun-
cil to understand how ready a
community is to undertake
this type of initiative,” Rivera
said. “They help us identify
what the goals in the commu-
nity are and the needs.”
IN OTHER BUSINESS
The council also took care of the following business:
• Unanimously adopted the Umatilla County Natural Hazard
Mitigation Plan.
• Councilors received the Hermiston fourth quarter invest-
ment report that saw corporate bonds increase by 3.03%
to $1,427,944. The total investable portfolio is just above $5
million, earning a 3.23% return. Total investments are more
than $8.5 million.
Strategic Networks pro-
vided a score for Hermiston’s
readiness for a digital infra-
structure initiative of 63%,
below the recommended
71%. Rivera told the council
a clear vision of what broad-
band service and digital infra-
structure is needed as well as
identifying where the gaps
are within the community.
“Seventy-one
percent
means your community is
ready to proceed to the next
step,” Rivera said. “We rank
just underneath that. We are
on the path, but there are
some areas we need to work
on to be successful.”
Key goals were identifi ed
as economic growth, more
robust broadband access
and expanded education and
training opportunities. The
ability to pay and maintain
the initiative is a concern
voiced by community leaders
as well as making broadband
access more robust. Seven-
ty-eight percent of council-
ors listed it as a high priority,
compared to 57% for com-
munity leaders.
During the city council
meeting, councilors unani-
mously accepted the assess-
ment and authorized staff to
proceed with a digital infra-
structure economic case
assessment. The eight-week
process will help determine
if the benefi ts outweigh the
cost of investing in digi-
tal infrastructure. The cost
of both the fi rst and sec-
ond phase, not counting
staff time, is approximately
$15,000, Rivera said.
Rivera said the slow pace
is deliberate to allow the city
council to decide if it wants
to continue with the proj-
ect and keep it informed at
every step.
Easterday sentencing postponed Boardman gets the fi rst Think
Big Space on the West Coast
Easterday pleaded guilty
March 31 to one count of
wire fraud. He faces up to
Washington
rancher 20 years in federal prison
Cody Easterday’s sentenc- and has agreed to pay
ing for selling $244 mil- $244,031,132 in restitution
lion worth of non-
to Tyson Foods and
existent cattle has
an unidentifi ed sec-
been pushed back to
ond company.
October so his attor-
Delaying
the
ney can recover from
criminal
sentenc-
surgery and he can
ing will allow time
raise money for res-
for Easterday to fi n-
titution by complet-
ish complex bank-
Easterday
ing bankruptcy sales.
ruptcy proceedings
U.S.
District
and have restitu-
Judge Stanley Bastian in tion funds available, accord-
Richland,
Washington ing to his attorney, Carl
signed an order Wednesday, Oreskovitch.
July 7, rescheduling the sen-
Oreskovitch also said
tencing to Oct. 5 from Aug. in court documents that he
4. Federal prosecutors and had knee-replacement sur-
probation offi cials did not gery in mid-June, hamper-
object.
ing his ability to prepare for
By DON JENKINS
STAFF WRITER
the August sentencing.
Easterday billed Tyson
and the other company for
buying and feeding cattle
that didn’t exist and spent
much of the proceeds to
cover losses he racked up
on commodity futures con-
tracts, according to court
records.
Easterday’s two compa-
nies, Easterday Ranches and
Easterday Farms, are going
through bankruptcy. Farm-
land Reserve Inc., owned by
the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, submitted
the high bid of $209 million
for several Easterday prop-
erties in the Columbia Basin.
A hearing is set for July
14 in the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court for Eastern Washing-
ton to fi nalize the sale.
3 county fi re districts receive grants
HERMISTON HERALD
Umatilla County Fire
District No. 1 is one of three
local fi re districts to receive
$3,000 each in matching
internship grants from the
Special Districts Associa-
tion of Oregon.
The association in a press
release Wednesday, July,
7, announced it awarded
more than $65,000 total to
23 special districts to help
them secure summer intern-
ships. In addition to Uma-
tilla County Fire District
No. 1, the Umatilla Rural
Fire Protection District and
Pilot Rock Fire District also
received grants.
Special districts deliver
much needed services to
their communities while
supporting the local work-
force, according to the
press release. In addition,
many districts off er summer
internships to college-level
students in their area who
are seeking to learn more
about local government
careers.
For consideration of a
matching grant to support
an internship, districts must
submit applications outlin-
ing the details of their proj-
ect, the benefi ts it will bring
to the district and how they
will use a summer intern.
A project that will cost
$6,000 or more is eligible
for a grant of $3,000. The
district also must provide
the matching funds.
At the end of the sum-
mer, recipients must sub-
mit a project summary and
receipts to the Special Dis-
tricts Association of Oregon.
The Special Districts
Association of Oregon rep-
resents more than 920 spe-
cial districts in Oregon,
assisting them in providing
cost-eff ective and effi cient
public services. For more
information, visit www.
sdao.com.
IN BRIEF
BOARDMAN — The
Port of Morrow’s Sus-
tainable Agriculture and
Energy Center in Board-
man has been selected
as the site of a new AWS
Think Big Space.
The new K-6 classroom
and school visitation pro-
gram is funded by Ama-
zon Web Services and will
be overseen by the Mor-
row County School Dis-
trict. An AWS Think Big
Space is an enhanced
classroom for students to
explore and cultivate sci-
ence, technology, engi-
neering and math interests
with labs that encourage a
hands-on approach where
students think big to solve
real world problems.
This
collaboration
brings together regional
partners that include early
childhood
education,
post-secondary schools,
and community sponsors.
The AWS Think Big
Space serves as an “edu-
cational incubator” uti-
lizing cloud comput-
ing, AWS technology
and Amazon’s Leader-
ship Principles. Students
and teachers are encour-
aged to “Think Big” as
they explore cloud com-
puting to solve problems
using creativity and imag-
ination. The AWS Think
self-directed learning.
AWS selected the
SAGE Center as the fi rst
AWS Think Big Space
on the West Coast. Ryan
Neal, Port of Morrow
executive director, is look-
ing forward to expanding
opportunities for students.
“THIS PARTNERSHIP IS AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH
AND THEIR FUTURE.”
— Ryan Neal, Port of Morrow executive director
Big Space is an integrated
environment where every-
thing from the furniture to
technology and curricu-
lum work together to sup-
port interactive hands-on
learning. The space prior-
itizes personalized learn-
ing to engage students
of all ages, interests and
abilities.
Morrow County School
District is hiring an
instructional lead that will
oversee the new space.
The instructional lead will
implement a practice of
Oregon Department of Transportation
“This partnership is an
investment in our youth
and their future,” he said.
“We see the AWS Think
Big Space as a catalyst
for supporting students
as they develop new solu-
tions and ideas that will
make our world a better
place.”
Construction is under-
way at the SAGE Cen-
ter where the new AWS
Think Big Space will be
located. It is expected to
open in the fourth quarter
of 2021.
7/9/2021
PROJECT UPDATE – U.S. 395 nighttime
paving starts July 18
U.S. 395: SE 4 th – I-84 (Hermiston/Stanfield)
Paving and ADA upgrades
Work is
is continuing
on a major
paving
and ADA curb
ramp upgrade
along
U.S. 395
in the upgrade
Work
continuing
on
a major
paving
and project
ADA
curb
ramp
Hermiston and Stanfield area. Curb ramp upgrades to meet current ADA standards are ongoing. Nighttime
project
U.S.
395
in 188
the south
Hermiston
Stanfield
area.
Curb
paving of along
the highway
between
I-84 Exit
of Stanfield and and
SE 4 Street
in Hermiston
will begin
July 18.
ramp upgrades to meet current ADA standards are ongoing.
U.S. 395 Paving:
Work begins
evening, July 18 between
at 7 p.m. Night I-84
paving will
occur 188
7 p.m. south
through 7 of
Nighttime
paving
of Sunday
the highway
Exit
a.m., Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
Stanfield and SE 4th Street in Hermiston will begin July 18.
th
Paving will begin just north of the Stanfield High School (near milepost 10) and move north to the ODOT
maintenance station on U.S. 395 (milepost 7). Paving activities will be postponed during the Umatilla
County Fair, after which they will resume along the rest of the project limits.
Cool Rides celebrates
25th annual car show
Gordon Smith drove away
with the best of show award
during the 25th annual Cool
Rides Car Show with his
1933 Ford Vicky. Hosted
by the Hermiston Classics
Car Club, nearly 150 vehi-
cles were entered in the
July 10 event, which was
held at McKenzie Park in
Hermiston.
Other special awards
went to the Hamilton family
(people’s choice); Jim Mor-
ris (Andy Anderson Memo-
rial Award); and Bob Burke
(Mike Monroe Memorial
Award). In addition, awards
were given in more than a
dozen categories — based on
year, stock or modifi ed, cars
and trucks, import, work in
progress and the police and
fi re chief awards.
The Hermiston Clas-
sics Car Club includes local
car enthusiasts, who get
together to share their love
of all things vehicle-related.
Although the club’s name
includes the term “classics,”
anyone who has a passion for
cars and trucks is invited to
join. In addition to planning
their yearly show, during
the spring/summer months
members of the group often
hang out on Friday nights at
Les Schwab Tire Center in
Hermiston.
For updates on club meet-
ings and activities, visit
www.facebook.com/Hermis-
tonClassicsCarClub or www.
hermistonclassicscarclub.
com. For questions, contact
541-571-0141 or hermiston-
classicscarclub@gmail.com.
— EO Media Group
HERMISTON HERALD
U.S. 395 Paving: Work begins Sunday evening, July 18 at 7 p.m.
Night
paving
will occur
7 p.m.
through
7 Furnish,
a.m., Wood and
ADA curb ramp
upgrades:
Expect construction
activities
in Stanfield
at Ball, Tuttle,
Roosevelt streets. Curb ramp work in Hermiston will begin later this summer.
Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
Lane reconfiguration in Stanfield: New highway striping will result in traffic pattern changes that include
one northbound and one southbound lane, a dedicated center turn lane, plus new parking strip and bicycle
Celebration of Life Service for
LELA COLLIER
Saturday, July 24th • 11:00am
Hermiston First United Methodist Church
191 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston
Lela, age 95, passed away at her home on
November 13, 2020. Lela’s family would be
most grateful if you wear a mask while
attending the short ceremony.
July 31, 8 a.m.
Big River Golf Course, Umatilla
Registration deadline is July 24
Registration forms at
www.agapehousehermiston.org and at
Agape House, 500 W. Harper Avenue.
Help sustain the food, clothing, and
housing programs provided by
Eastern Oregon Mission.
Paving
will
just
north
of was
the applied
Stanfield
High
School
(near
lanes on both
sides begin
of the road.
Temporary
striping
July 9 and will
become
the permanent
configuration. It will create a safer downtown area by helping slow motorists down, enhancing bike routes
milepost
10) and move north to the ODOT maintenance station on
and parking, and reducing the number of traffic lanes that pedestrians have to cross.
U.S. 395 (milepost 7). Paving activities will be postponed during
Traffic impacts: Expect minor delays and single lane closures. Advance warning signs will be in place to
the
Fair,
after
which
they
will and resume
alert Umatilla
drivers of work. County
Slow down in all
work zones
and watch
for crews,
equipment
traffic pattern along
changes. All construction expected to finish by end of October. Work is dependent on weather conditions
the
rest
of
the
project
limits.
and dates are subject to change.
For more information, visit our project webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-
ADA
curb ramp upgrades: Expect construction activities in
details.aspx?project=20461.
Stanfield at Ball, Tuttle, Furnish, Wood and Roosevelt streets. Curb
More information: Contact ODOT Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg 541-963-1330,
ramp work in Hermiston will begin later this summer.
thomas.m.strandberg@odot.state.or.us . For eastern Oregon highway construction project information
www.tinyurl.com/odot-region5. Traffic information www.TripCheck.com
Lane reconfiguration in Stanfield: New highway striping will result
in We traffic
pattern
that during
include
one
one
greatly appreciate
your changes
support and patience
this project
that is northbound
improving safety and and
will help
southbound
lane,
a
dedicated
center
turn
lane,
plus
new
parking
preserve and extend the useful life of the highway surface. THANK YOU!
strip and bicycle lanes on both sides of the road. Temporary striping
was applied July 9 and will become the permanent configuration. It
will create a safer downtown area by helping slow motorists down,
enhancing bike routes and parking, and reducing the number of
traffic lanes that pedestrians have to cross.
Traffic impacts: Expect minor delays and single lane closures.
Advance warning signs will be in place to alert drivers of work.
Slow down in all work zones and watch for crews, equipment and
traffic pattern changes. All construction expected to finish by end of
October. Work is dependent on weather conditions and
dates are subject to change.
For more information, visit our project webpage at
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=20461
More information: Contact
ODOT Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg 541-963-1330,
thomas.m.strandberg@odot.state.or.us
For eastern Oregon highway construction project information
www.tinyurl.com/odot-region5
Traffic information www.TripCheck.com
We greatly appreciate your support and patience during this
project that is improving safety and will help
preserve and extend the useful life of the highway surface.
THANK YOU!