A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Soil fungus wreaks havoc with alfalfa in 1971
25 YEARS AGO
Oct. 22, 1996
VAL HOXIE
Hermiston
What is your position with the Hermiston
Chamber of Commerce?
Executive director.
How do you feel about living in Hermiston?
When you live in a city this size, your sense of com-
munity is everywhere. Living in Hermiston, I know
all the things the Hermiston community sees and
knows. Also, being new to Hermiston — I’ve only
Get ready to cast your votes, Sun-
set Elementary School is holding a
mock political convention!
Fifth grade teacher Marie Gro-
shong, whose class is beginning to
study the various political systems,
introduced Bill Clinton, Bob Dole
and Ross Perot. The students playing
these roles prepared speeches, taking
the actual stances of the candidates
from the voter pamphlets and rewrit-
ing them into simpler language. “The
main point is to teach them that it’s
important to vote,” Groshong said.
Both Don Armstrong and Bob Jen-
son, state representative candidates
for District 57, also spoke at the con-
vention. Jenson explained the demo-
cratic process and importance of par-
ticipating. “Voting is going to be one
of the most important things in your
life if you care about what happens
in your country and in your commu-
nity,” he said. Armstrong informed
students about the legislative pro-
cess and warned them that campaign
promises are just ideas until they’re
discussed and agreed upon.
The kids were very excited to
have real political candidates there,
and had some good questions. One
student asked if Jenson and Arm-
strong disliked each other, to which
Armstrong replied, “We don’t dislike
each other. Elections aren’t about
like or dislike — it’s about choosing
who will best represent you.”
lived here a year — it gives me a perspective of what
visitors might be looking for. This community is just
so amazing.
Do you belong to any other clubs?
Not yet. I am investigating where I want to go.
I am very interested in Altrusa and the Lions Club.
I have a deep history with the Lions Club. When my
daughter was very young, she was almost legally
Lions) purchased her glasses, so I have a soft spot
for them.
Can you tell me more about your family?
Between my husband and myself, we have fi ve
buses is scheduled to arrive at
Hermiston in early December. The
total cost of all the buses, which
feature numerous improvements
from the old “Victory” ones during
the war, is an estimated $30 million.
They will be 37- and 41-pas-
senger “Silverside,” the distinctive
Greyhound model developed just
before the war but produced in lim-
ited numbers. Although the exterior
will be fairly similar, the new “Sil-
versides” will be powered by die-
sel engines, equipped with the most
modern air-conditioning units, and
boast more than 100 upgrades for
passenger comfort, riding ease and
mechanical performance.
However, due to wartime restric-
tions that limited bus manufactur-
ing and postwar production delays,
the wait will be a bit longer until
these advanced buses come our
way.
100 YEARS AGO
Oct. 22, 1921
What clubs do you have in mind?
blind. As a single mother, going to school, (the
Shirley Wentworth/Hermiston Herald, File
In October 1996, Sunset Elementary School students participated in a mock
political convention.
Hermiston Herald, File
Hermiston took 31 boys to a
three-day leadership conference
and football game in Heppner, and
though the game was lost, they got
a lot out of the leadership work-
shops and meetings.
The group left Hermiston at
11 a.m. Friday, and engine troubles
resulted in them abandoning the truck
and walking the last six to eight miles
to Heppner. They fi nally reached their
destination around 11 p.m. Friday
and soon after went to bed.
Saturday morning, the football
team ran a few signals while the oth-
ers participated in a discussion about
high school problems. There was
another meeting in the afternoon,
then the football game at 3:30 p.m..
with Heppner beating Hermiston
14-3. One of the largest gatherings,
the banquet, took place that evening
in the Patrick Hotel.
Sunday was the last day of the
conference, and the boys attended
Sunday school, church, a big lunch
at the homes of Heppner residents,
and then the last meeting in the eve-
ning. Since the group didn’t arrive at
the conference on time Friday night,
they missed the election of offi cers.
As a result, there weren’t any Herm-
iston boys elected as offi cers of the
conference as they were undoubtedly
expected to be.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore
at Echo High School, searched
Hermiston Herald archives to
compile these article summaries.
Superintendent Tom Davidson, of the
Umatilla Branch Experiment Station,
points to evidence of Fusarium wilt.
Field tests conducted in the summer
and fall of 1971 confi rmed the soil
fungus disease had infected several
Hermiston area alfalfa fi elds.
daughters. We have 12 grandchildren.
What do you like best about being a grandma?
That I’m not raising them.
Is raising children so diffi cult?
No, I loved raising children, I did. I think what I
loved the best was that I while I was raising them,
I was raising my fi ve best friends. I love being a
grandma because, since I didn’t have boys, having
grandsons was a whole new thing for me.
How are boys diff erent from girls?
The girls were a diff erent kind of work. The boys are
easier to talk to some times. There’s no agenda, no
drama. But, as my children got older, there was none
of that, either.
Do you have any favorite hobbies?
Camping.
Do you know how to make a fi re?
Yes, I do. I know how to make a fi re and I know how
to build a motor home, because I did it for 11 years.
50 YEARS AGO
Oct. 21, 1971
It was not good news to Hermiston
alfalfa growers that a disease, Fusar-
ium wilt, has infected several alfalfa
fi elds in Hermiston. This soil fun-
gus disease causes plants to become
stunted, yellow and eventually wilt
away. None of the currently seeded
varieties have shown to be resistant
to the disease — in fact, they appear
more susceptible than others.
In August and September, Ore-
gon State University Extension
Plant Pathologist Dr. Paul Koepsell
detected the disease in Hermiston
alfalfa fi elds by studying root tis-
sue. Koepsell said Fusarium wilt is
known to kill alfalfa plants in sev-
eral warmer regions of the United
States. However, some solutions
include long rotations and seeding
orchardgrass with Washoe or Ranger
varieties until fi eld trials estab-
lish values of the “best techniques,”
he said.
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. 24, 1946
The fi rst of 1,257 new Greyhound
Joyce Hensley/Hermiston Herald, File
Bali Sipp, 2, fi nds the perfect pumpkin for her Halloween jack-o-lantern during a
pumpkin patch hayride in October 1996 at Tom Able Farms, Hermiston.
BY THE WAY
By the Way: Radio auction to sell goods from area businesses
The KOHU Fall Radio Auction is Thursday, Oct.
21, 5 p.m. on AM 1360 KOHU. A full list of items on
the auction block is available at gohermiston.com —
also, the auction will be livestreamed from the site.
Don’t miss an opportunity to save on merchandise,
services and gift cards from local and regional busi-
nesses. Be sure to call 541-567-6500 in advance to get
your bidder number.
• • •
Heroic deeds and jolly adventures await visitors
Saturday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. at the Hermiston Public
Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave.
“The Merry Tales of Robin Hood” will be pre-
sented by the Traveling Lantern Theatre Company.
The free interactive presentation is geared toward chil-
dren in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
For questions about the local event, call the library
at 541-567-2882. For more about the theatre company
or to view a virtual performance, visit www.travelin-
glantern.com.
• • •
Domestic Violence Services off ers several virtual
support groups:
• Turning Point: for survivors of domestic violence.
It’s available Mondays at 6 p.m.; Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
and a bilingual group is Thursdays at 6 p.m.
• Silence Breakers: for survivors of sexual assault
is Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m.
Those interested in participating are encouraged to
contact education@dvs-or.org or 541-276-3322.
The nonprofi t organization has provided services in
Umatilla and Morrow counties for more than 40 years.
The 24-hour crisis line is 800-833-1161. For more
information, visit www.dvs-or.org.
• • •
This week’s Hermiston Linebackers Club is
Thursday, Oct. 21, noon to 1 p.m., at Desert Lanes
Family Fun Center, 1545 N. First St., Hermiston.
Everyone is invited to the no-host luncheon event.
Coach David Faaeteete will share the game plan as
the team gears up for the battle of the Bulldogs. Still
looking for its fi rst win of the season, Hermiston will
host the Pasco Bulldogs (2-5) Friday at 7 p.m. at Ken-
nison Field.
For more information or to RSVP, call Flora Lar-
son at 541-567-5215 Wednesday by 3 p.m.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu
for Thursday, Oct. 21, is breakfast bake, fruit cock-
tail and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, Oct. 26, is
pork loin, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables 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.