FROM PAGE ONE
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Fishing:
Continued from Page A1
The men and women who
served America’s armed
forces deserve respect, he
said. In their service to the
nation, they made our free-
doms possible. Those free-
doms include fi shing, he
added.
Thirty-three boats, cap-
tained and prepped by vol-
unteers, carried the veter-
ans. The captains, who also
were experienced fi shing
guides, took the veterans
out for sturgeon, salmon and
walleye.
The starting time was
8 a.m., with the singing of
the national anthem and
a prayer, though veterans
arrived hours earlier and
chatted with one another.
Breakfast —turnovers, cin-
namon rolls, doughnuts, and
more — was provided for
them, as was coff ee. Lunch
and dinner also were pro-
vided, as were prizes. Fisher
wrapped up the event at
5 p.m.
Participants and volunteers
As they participated in the
event, the veterans articu-
lated their gratitude for labor
and resources given, making
Fish’n the Brave possible.
Meanwhile, the volunteers
also gave their appreciation
for the sacrifi ces the veter-
ans made for their country.
Shelter:
Continued from Page A1
Rather than each of the
four cities creating its own
solution for the new man-
dates, Smith said the shelter
is an eff ort by the cities to
fi nd a comprehensive solu-
tion to assist those experi-
encing homelessness.
The project still is in its
early stages, Smith said,
and offi cials have yet to
determine what kind of ser-
vices would be provided.
He added city or county
employees are not likely to
staff the shelter but perhaps
a local nonprofi t would
take on the task. Organi-
zations, such as Stepping
Stones, which has taken the
area’s homelessness prob-
lem, will continue to be
welcomed for input.
Smith said offi cials
are also in the process of
exploring funding for the
shelter’s operations. How-
ever, he said the county and
the four cities would each
have a fi nancial stake in the
project.
Echo City Administra-
tor David Slaght said he
David Stockdale, Uma-
tilla city manager, said he is
happy for his city’s involve-
ment. Umatilla has hosted
the last four of the six annual
Fish’n events. Though not a
veteran, he has family mem-
bers who have served.
“This event means a lot
to me and to Umatilla,” he
said. “It’s an opportunity for
our community to say thank
you to our vets. It’s great.”
At the event, Jon Cox of
Western States Equipment
Company said supporting
veterans is important both
for him and his company.
Western States provided
bait for Fish’n.
“They give us the free-
dom to do what we do and
live in the nation we live in,”
Cox said of our veterans.
Rick Henderson, a vet-
eran from Moscow, Idaho,
was in the Navy from 1990
to 1994. Saturday was the
fi rst time he had been to this
event. He went because a
friend suggested it to him.
He had not fi shed in a long
time, he said, and he has
rarely gone to veterans’
events. As he prepared for
his day on the river, he was
excited.
“It’s nice to have peo-
ple recognize the service
that we signed up for,” he
said. “It sends a good mes-
sage to the young right
now that it’s worth joining
our military and taking on
that sacrifi ce.”
Dave Winters, veteran,
served at the “tail end”
of Vietnam. From Hep-
pner, he said he was happy
to make the trip from his
home to Umatilla. It was
his fi rst time at the event, as
his friends encouraged him
to attend. He said he was
happy to commune with his
friends and possibly make
new friends.
His brother was in the
Vietnam War, as were many
other people he has known.
People spit on those veterans
upon their return stateside,
Winters said. Finally, those
former servicemen and
women, as well as other vet-
erans, are getting the respect
they deserve.
“It’s really nice that peo-
ple are taking the time to
recognize the sacrifi ce these
men and women made,” he
said.
Dan Seimer, Irrigon, said
it also was his fi rst appear-
ance at Fish’n. A veteran,
he described himself as an
“anxious fi sherman,” as get-
ting on the water, and being
the subject of so much atten-
tion, made him feel a little
overwhelmed.
“These guys are put-
ting on a real fi ne deal for
us vets,” he said. He partic-
ipates in American Legion,
and he likes gathering with
people who share his mili-
tary experience.
Bill Jennings, Hermis-
ton, also is a veteran, hav-
ing served 1969-70. When
events like this one occur,
he said, it shows people are
looking after veterans. This
makes him feel good, and
he appreciates the eff orts.
Not a veteran, Lisa
Reardon was one of the
few women at the event.
A Hermiston resident, she
was a volunteer deckhand
at Fish’n. As she has two
sons who serve, she said
she is proud of the people
who have fought and con-
tinue to fi ght for America.
Wearing a United States
Marine Corps sweater,
she described herself as a
patriot. Several members
of her family have served,
she said, adding “service is
a big deal.”
“I think any way that
you can honor people who
served, have served, is the
right thing to do,” Reardon
said.
Mark Ribich, Umatilla
Chamber of Commerce
executive director, is not
a veteran, though he said
being at Fish’n the Brave
means a lot to him.
“I get a little choked up
about that,” he said. His
oldest brother was wounded
in the Vietnam War, and he
did not survive his injuries.
This gave him an affi n-
ity for those that did return
from that war and all the
U.S. wars which followed.
“We’ve got millions of
out there in the country,
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
and they need to be sup-
ported in various ways,” he
said. Any chance he gets to
be at veteran events to sup-
port, he said, he is “all in”
in participating.
The chamber has been
supporting Fish’n as a
sponsor for four years. Rib-
ich called it the “signature
event” for Umatilla. There
are other events in Uma-
tilla, but this one is extra
special. Several organiza-
tions and local businesses
also helped, he said. Oper-
ating Engineers Local 280,
Ranch & Home, the city of
Hermiston, Hagerman Inc.
and the city of Umatilla are
just a few other groups that
made this event possible.
“This is a marvelous
event,” Salud Campos,
Umatilla, said. This was her
third years as a volunteer.
Pablo Ames, Umatilla,
said providing food and fun
for veterans is important
to him. They deserve it, he
said, and he feels satisfi ed
to see smiles on their faces.
As a serving member of the
National Guard, he said he
likes veterans’ events such
as this one. It kind of gives
him a look at his future, he
said. He said he likes to
hear their stories, too.
Darla Huxel, Umatilla
chief of police, is a mem-
ber of the American Legion
Auxiliary. Not a veteran
herself, she is appreciative
of those who served. She
also is proud of her town
and all the volunteers who
helped.
Being that Fish’n was
on Sept. 11, the day of
remembrance for terrorist
attacks in 2001, this event
has deeper reason for extra
thought, she said. She said
she remembers the people
who were lost on Sept. 11
and the soldiers who took
up arms in defense of the
country after the attacks.
The Umatilla Police
Offi cers Association was
among the groups that
donated items to be raffl ed
for the event.
As he was preparing his
boat to take veterans fi sh-
ing, Travis Larson said he
is glad to give veterans a
good time. In addition to
helping others, he also is
able to enjoy the experi-
ences himself, as he likes
listening to the stories told.
Cathy Stolz, Hermiston
resident and president of
the American Legion Aux-
iliary Unit 37 of Hermis-
ton, was another one of the
volunteers and said she had
been encouraging veter-
ans to participate because
Fishn’ participation is lim-
ited. Participants need to
sign up prior to the event.
They can do so at fi sh-
erscatchoutfitters.com/
fi shn-the-brave.
This year was full,
and next year looks to be
the same.
is enthused about a plan
between larger partners, as
Echo has diffi culties with
homelessness but cannot
fund a solution on its own.
“I totally, 100% believe
we need to do this,” Slaght
said.
He said he will bring
the plan to the Echo City
Council for further discus-
sion. The council then will
determine the role Echo
will have in enacting the
plan. This will take time,
and though Slaght would
like to see a shelter created
before winter, he does not
know when it will be built
and open for use.
Stanfi eld City Manager
Ben Burgener said Stan-
fi eld stands with other
Umatilla County cities in
trying to help homeless
people, and he is hopeful.
“We’re looking forward
to continue working with
the county and the cities
over here to fi nd a solution
to best help,” he said.
This shelter plan works
toward the aim of helping,
though more discussion is
needed regarding trans-
portation and resources,
he added.
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald, File
Stella Queen of Echo poses for a portrait in October 2019 holding a picture of her great-niece Antonia Cobarubias, who was
killed in an unsolved hit-and-run in Hermiston about two months earlier.
Hit-And-Run:
Continued from Page A1
Erick Peterson/Hermiston Herald
The cities of Hermiston, Stanfi eld, Umatilla and Echo are
partnering to establish a homeless shelter on 10 acres
Umatilla County owns at the intersection of Lind and
Bensel roads, Hermiston.
Follow us on
Facebook!
The entire front bumper
came off in the collision.
By the time police and
other emergency person-
nel arrived at the scene at
2:30 a.m., the driver was
gone. Police searched for
the vehicle, which was
believed to be a 1994 to
2001 Acura Integra. The
car was missing its pas-
senger side mirror, as well
as its front bumper, which
were recovered on the road.
Authorities hoped they
would fi nd the damaged car
and then fi nd the driver.
Cobarubias, born June
12, 1978, was remembered
by her family, as well as
her faith community. Des-
ert Rose Ministries, which
off ers services to home-
less people, posted photos
of her, according to a 2019
article by the East Orego-
nian and Hermiston Herald.
Echo Community Church
held her funeral on Sept. 18,
2019.
Cobarubias’
family
off ered a $1,000 reward for
any information that would
lead to a conviction of the
responsible person.
Cooney has spoken
with Cobarubias’ family
regularly, he said, since the
hit-and-run. He said hopes
someone will come for-
ward with information that
will help him solve this
case. Maybe then, Cobaru-
bias’ family will fi nd some
peace.
Meanwhile, even Coba-
rubias’ friends are looking
for answers and refl ecting
on the woman’s life.
Cobarubias was a part
of the Echo Community
Church’s
congregation,
according to Charlene
Marcum, wife of the pas-
tor. She knew Cobarubias
well, believing her to be a
helper, sometimes to her
own detriment.
“She had a big
heart,” Marcum said of
Cobarubias.
B
Red
Weekly Specials: Sept 12-18
• 10% Wedding
gifts
• 10%
Feel Great, Live it Up!
541-567-0272
2150 N. First St., Hermiston
WE ARE OPEN TO SERVE YOUR HEALTH NEEDS
Natures Way
Gluten
Defense 120
vegan cap
• 10% Traditional
Medicinal Teas
H
$ MANGO
1 OFF CHEESECAKE
Show off your
hunting skills
SMOOTHIE
DAILY LUNCH SPECIAL
$6.95
Beany Baby Wrap
with 12 oz soup
CALL AHEAD AND USE OUR DRIVE THRU!
• WATCH FOR OUR IN STORE SPECIALS •
FACE SHIELDS & MASKS $5-$7
BRAGGIN'
RIGHTS
HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST
ENTER NOW
hermistonherald.com/braggin-rights