A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Fire chief urges people to be careful in 1921
25 YEARS AGO
Oct. 15, 1996
JANET MITCHELL
What is your occupation?
I am the Business Developer for Express Employ-
ment Professionals in Hermiston.
What do you like about your job?
The positive impact we have on people’s lives every
day.
In which town do you live?
Echo.
How long have you lived there?
I grew up there but moved out of the area when I
was 21. I just moved back to Echo in February of
this year.
What do you like best about it?
It’s a slower pace of life than Eugene (where I lived
for almost 30 years) and I love that.
What are your hobbies?
Cooking, reading, taking care of my dog.
Do you have any favorite movies, books or tv
shows? What are they?
Favorite movie: The Shack. Favorite book: Out-
lander series. Favorite TV Shows: Outlander and
most dramas
Grant Asher is enjoying every bit
of retirement, though it’s much dif-
ferent than the “normal” retirement.
Since retiring as Hermiston Police
Department chief in November
1994, he’s become a private inves-
tigator, sports offi cial, safety teacher
and more.
He enjoys the thrill and variety of
being a private investigator, mainly
working for defense attorneys
with cases like accidents, unfaith-
ful spouses and child custody. One
of Asher’s more interesting cases
involved theft and vandalism for a
huge Washington farm, with drugs
and gun running also suspected.
“I spent 30 hours a month for
fi ve months on that farm investigat-
ing and providing security. That was
fun.” Still wanting to be involved in
the justice and corrections systems,
Asher teaches gun safety, personal
protection and a lethal weapons class
for Blue Mountain Community Col-
lege, and advises criminal justice stu-
dents. If all this isn’t enough, he also
offi ciates sports games for youths
through adults.
Though Asher is engaged in many
activities, he claims, “I wouldn’t
want to spend 40 hours a week at
any of them.” He likes to stay busy
doing multiple activities, not solely
dedicated to just one. “I’m a jack of
all trades, a master of none.”
50 YEARS AGO
Oct. 14, 1971
On Oct. 30, Hermiston will have
the pleasure of hosting former Hit-
ler-worshiper and escapee Mrs.
Maria Hirschmann, who will speak
of her experiences and renewed
Christian faith at the Seventh-day
Adventist Church on Highland
Avenue.
At the age of 14, Maria under-
went training to become a Hitler
Youth Leader in Prague, Czechoslo-
vakia, in which her Christian image
of God was changed to Hitler and
the “Mein Kampf” became her new
Bible. Many trusted and viewed Hit-
ler as a messiah because he’d brought
hope and employment to Germany
— but after Maria observed the bru-
tality and starvation of a Russian
camp in Bohemia, she became out-
Can you tell me about your favorite teacher?
What did you learn from that person?
Dr. Jacobson at Blue Mountain Community College.
red blood cells than most men, which apparently is
uncommon for women.
Can you tell me about your family?
My parents live in the area. My brother and his wife
live in Clarkston, Washington. My sister lives in
Eugene. I have two nephews, four nieces, four great-
nieces and three great nephews.
When you meet strangers, what do you tell
them about yourself fi rst?
About my love for dogs. I’ve been an advocate of
don’t shop!
Joyce Hensley/Hermiston Herald, File
A couple of years after retiring as the Hermiston police chief, Grant Asher shared
in October 1996 that he remained busy as a private investigator, teaching
personal safety classes at Blue Mountain Community College and offi ciating
youth and adult sports.
raged and disgusted. She then made
a walk/run escape all the way to East
Germany, through no man’s land,
and to the safety of West Germany
where she eventually married a for-
mer U-boat offi cer.
The Hirschmanns lived in
Munich before coming to the
United States in 1995, where she is
a counselor-teacher in a California
school for dropouts and he is study-
ing for his PhD. She appreciates
America and often says, “Freedom
makes good people better, and bad
people worse.”
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. 17, 1946
He was my biology instructor. I learned I have more
dog rescue programs for the last 20 years. Adopt,
Joyce Hensley/Hermiston Herald, File
Grant Asher, former Hermiston Police Department chief, offi ciates a football
game in October 1996 between Umatilla and Pilot Rock.
Hermiston Herald, File
Maria Hirschmann was scheduled to
speak in October 1971 at a Hermiston
church about her faith and life as a
once-Hitler worshiper.
Crashing into structures is danger-
ous enough, without having a 750-
pound siren falling down as well.
Leighton Smith of Hermiston was
driving by the First National Bank
building when his front left tire blew
out and caused him to swerve, hitting
the steel tower hosting the fi re siren
and bell that stood at the intersection
of First and Main. The siren landed
just a few feet away from Smith’s
car, and though it was undoubtedly
frightening, Smith was exceedingly
fortunate that the siren missed him.
After falling to the pavement, the
siren was considered a total loss. The
old fi re bell, however, was more for-
tunate and didn’t sustain any dam-
ages. It was soon removed from the
tower and placed on a temporary
structure near the jail for use during
the emergency.
City councilmen met three days
later to make arrangements for
replacing the siren and tower.
100 YEARS AGO
Oct. 13, 1921
You may recall reading about the
$20,000 fi re that happened in Herm-
iston about a month before (in 1921).
Well, due to that fi re and the fact that
it’s Fire Prevention Week, local fi re
chief I.E. Putman asks people to be
more conscientious and careful.
Films educating about fi re safety
are planned to be played at schools
this week, along with some guest
speaking in the hope of making the
public more aware of the dangers of
fi res before, not after, they happen.
Hermistonians are asked to clean up
prime fi re materials — like rags, old
papers, shavings — that are com-
monly found in houses and around
the town to prevent another drastic
fi re from occurring.
In addition, Putman stresses the
point that it doesn’t matter if you’re
insured. Insurance won’t entirely
cover the loss a fi re brings, and even
if it does, the fi re could spread to
uninsured property.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore
at Echo High School, searched
Hermiston Herald archives to
compile these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Umatilla library reopens for in-person service
Starting Monday, Oct. 18, The Umatilla Public Library
reopens its doors to the public. Hours are as follows: Mon-
day through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Curbside service is available during business hours.
Deliveries are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• • •
The Pet Rescue & Harley Swain Subaru Loves Pets
Adoption Event is Saturday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
Pet Rescue Humane Society of Eastern Oregon, 1844
N.W. Geer Road, Hermiston.
Harley Swain Subaru of Hermiston is sponsoring all
adoption fees at the event. Petsense in Hermiston will be
giving away a free coupon book for each animal adopted.
These coupons help with food, treats, tags and collars.
• • •
Echo Kiwanis hosts its fourth annual Oktoberfest Sat-
urday, Oct. 16. This year’s event is on Bonanza Street,
between H & P Cafe, 231 W. Main St.; Echo Community
Church, 21 N. Bonanza St.; and The Echo Fire Depart-
ment, 311 W. Main St. Oktoberfest will include a beer
garden, food and music. Food service begins at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $20.
The street permit approved by the city council allows
music outside until 10 p.m., in compliance with the city’s
noise code. ID is required for alcoholic beverages. Please
do not call the police about the music before 10 p.m.
Alcoholic beverages must remain within the beer gar-
den perimeter and cannot be in the park. Net proceeds
will support the old St. Peter’s Church historic landmark
and scholarships.
• • •
It is chowder time again, as the Hermiston Lions Club
is selling Mo’s Famous Clam Chowder. Chowder base is
$13 per quart, bread is $7 per loaf, garlic cheese butter is $5
per pint and marionberry cobbler is $25 per pan.
The Lions are taking orders through Oct. 20, and pick-up
date is Oct. 28, 4-6 p.m. at the West Park Elementary
School parking lot. Customers will receive an email prior
to pick-up date to confi rm time.
To order, contact a Lions Club member or call
541-567-8301.
• • •
The Hermiston Linebackers Club invites football fans
to join the huddle. A no-host luncheon meeting is Thursday,
Oct. 14, noon to 1 p.m., at Desert Lanes Family Fun Cen-
ter, 1545 N. First St., Hermiston.
Coach David Faaeteete will discuss the team’s recent
loss against the Southridge Suns and share the game plan
as they take on the Kennewick Lions. For more informa-
tion, or to RSVP, contact Flora Larson at 541-567-5215
Wednesday by 3 p.m.
• • •
The Hermiston School District is hosting a Community
Listening Session Monday, Oct. 18, 7-8 p.m. at Armand
Larive Middle School, 1497 S.W. Ninth St., Hermiston.
The meeting provides an opportunity for parents and
community members to engage in conversation with dis-
trict administrative staff and board of education members.
For more information, contact communications@hermis-
tonsd.org, 541-667-6010 or visit www.hermiston.k12.or.us.
• • •
The Hermiston Herald still is seeking your real-life scary
stories. See our Facebook page for more information. To
enter, Hermiston area residents are invited to post their story
(up to 300 words) no later than Saturday, Oct. 30, at noon
via www.facebook.com/HermistonHerald.
We’ll choose the scariest story and print it in the Her-
ald’s Nov. 3 edition. The winner will receive a $20 gift card
to a local coff ee shop and a copy of the newspaper that has
their story.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, Oct. 14, is creamy Italian sausage casserole,
garlic bread and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, Oct. 19,
is spaghetti, garlic bread, salad and dessert. (In-house meals
will be served from noon to 12:30 p.m. People planning to
dine in are asked to call by 11 a.m.)
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 before 11 a.m.
Meals are $5 and can be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and
noon.
• • •
The Boardman Senior Center now is providing meal
delivery. Meals are $4 paid upon delivery. Call 541-481-
3257 to order.