COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021
Drone technology gets nod with Walchli ag award
Echo middle schoolers
also receive recognition
can’t be viewed from a vehi-
cle. It’s equipped with an
infrared lens that observes
aspects about crops the
human eye cannot detect.
Also, Coleman devel-
oped a program that con-
verts the raw data into
usable information. For
instance, the drone is capa-
ble of detecting excess
water or dry spots, Mehren
said, such as from an indi-
vidual sprinkler head that’s
not working. In addition,
plant growth and health are
monitored as well as weeds,
disease or parasites. Fer-
tilizer needs also can be
determined.
“The drone is an amazing
tool that he has been able to
adapt to crop conditions and
needs,” Mehren said.
Also receiving recog-
nition for their livestock
enterprise were Kellan
Smith and Logan Smith.
The brothers, who attend
middle school in Echo, raise
sheep, hogs and cattle on
their parent’s ranch, Meh-
ren said. They show, sell
and purchase animals from
all across the Pacifi c North-
west. The boys raise money
for their enterprise by sell-
ing locker meat, showing
and selling their stock and
working on their parent’s
ranch.
“They are amazing kids,”
Mehren said.
The John F. Walchli Ag
Entrepreneurs Award is
delivered to the Umatilla
County Courthouse or to
hr@umatillacounty.net.
is off ered to all new mem-
bers of the Hermiston Amer-
ican Legion Auxiliary Unit.
For more informa-
tion, call 541-720-1815 or
541-571-5816.
Volunteers are appointed
to a four-year term ending
December 2025. At the end
of the term, there is the
option for reappointment
for another four-year term.
The planning com-
mission meets once each
month with the option of
in-person or remote par-
ticipation with video tech-
nology. The commission
holds hearings on a variety
of land use applications. It
also reviews changes to the
county’s subdivision and
zoning ordinances and the
comprehensive plan. Addi-
tionally, the commission
guides staff on other long-
range planning projects
related to land use.
“Being part of the plan-
ning commission is a unique
opportunity to learn about
Oregon’s Land Use Plan-
ning Program and infl uence
how it is implemented in
Morrow County,” accord-
ing to a press release from
the county.
For more information,
visit www.co.morrow.or.us,
or call planning staff at 541-
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Hermiston Herald
The winner of the sec-
ond John F. Walchli Ag
Entrepreneurs Award for
2020-21 is Bob Coleman of
Hermiston.
According to a press
release from board member
Mike Mehren, Coleman has
started an agricultural moni-
toring service using a drone.
A 2016 Hermiston High
School graduate, Coleman
received an agricultural
business degree from Ore-
gon State University.
Coleman initially began
using the drone as a tool
on his parent’s farms until
neighbors and others heard
about its capabilities. Cole-
man is able to view crops in
about 1/10th the time that it
would take a person using a
vehicle, Mehren said.
The drone also measures
details about a crop that
Mike Mehren/Contributed Photo
Kellan and Logan Smith, who operate a livestock enterprise, received special recognition
during the second annual John F. Walchli Ag Entrepreneurs Award for 2020-21.
designed to provide sup-
port to young people under
the age of 25 living in west
Umatilla County to achieve
their goal in the agricul-
tural world. It’s based on
initiative and drive to suc-
ceed rather than academic
performance. The winners,
Mehren said, can use their
award where it is needed,
rather than for tuition only.
The award’s namesake,
John Walchli, died in Sep-
tember 2018. He began
his farming career raising
watermelons while attend-
ing Stanfi eld High School.
He and wife, Marge,
eventually moved to the
Hermiston area, where he
expanded his farming oper-
ation to include potatoes,
asparagus, wheat, alfalfa,
cattle and bison. Walchli
was known for his gener-
osity to friends and neigh-
bors, and giving back to the
community.
For more information
about the award, contact
Mehren at 541-561-4762 or
mehrens@eotnet.net.
922-4624. To apply, submit
a letter of interest to the
Morrow County Planning
Department, P.O. Box 40,
Irrigon, OR 97844, or by
email to gnairns@co.mor-
row.or.us by noon Dec. 3.
The next commission
meeting is Tuesday, Oct.
26, 7 p.m., in the Riverfront
Center, Port of Morrow, 2
Marine Drive, Boardman.
Zoom meeting information
is available on the commis-
sion’s meeting agenda on
the website.
— EO Media Group
BRIEFS
SHIBA off ers help with
Medicare enrollment
Each October, open
enrollment begins for Medi-
care Advantage and Part D
prescription drug plans.
Medicare plans and cover-
age for prescription drugs
change each year, so it is
important for Oregonians
who are enrolled in Medi-
care to evaluate their plan
options and make changes
during open enrollment.
Open enrollment for the
2022 Medicare plan year
began Friday, Oct. 15, and
continues through Dec. 7.
The Senior Health Insur-
ance Benefi ts Assistance
program with the Oregon
Department of Human Ser-
vices is available to help
Oregonians
understand
their Medicare options and
benefi ts, provide enroll-
ment guidance and answer
questions related to Medi-
care benefi ts.
Local SHIBA counsel-
ors are available to help
and can be found by vis-
iting
www.SHIBA.Ore-
gon.gov or calling toll-free
800-722-4134. To accom-
modate COVID-19 safety
precautions, SHIBA coun-
selors are providing tele-
phone and limited in-per-
son support.
County seeks
applicants for fair
board vacancies
Umatilla County is
looking to fi ll two vacant
positions on the Uma-
tilla County Fair Board of
Directors.
One position on the
board is vacant and another
will be vacant soon, accord-
ing to a press release from
Angie McNalley, the fair
manager.
All Umatilla County
residents are eligible for
the positions. An applicant
from another county also
would be eligible for the
director position with the
approval of the fair board.
Applications are avail-
able at the Umatilla County
Human Resources offi ce on
216 S.E. Fourth St., Pend-
leton. They also are avail-
able on the county’s web-
site, www.umatillacounty.
net, or on the fair website,
www.umatillacountyfair.
net.
Applications must be
Benefi t to support
Mendiola family
An afternoon of family
fun will serve as a fund-
raiser for the Mendio-
las. The Hermiston fam-
ily recently lost two family
members.
The benefi t event fea-
tures a cowpie cornhole
tournament, pork loin sand-
wiches and DJ music. In
addition, people can watch
afternoon games on NFL
Red Zone and buy raffl e
tickets for cornhole LED
boards.
The event is Sunday,
Oct. 24, 1 p.m. at 33838 E.
Spearman Road, Hermis-
ton. Entry is $20 per person,
with teams being drawn
for. The fi rst place prize is
$300. For questions, call/
text Greg at 541-969-0677.
Morrow County
Planning Commission
seeks volunteers
Morrow County needs
people to represent the
Boardman and Ione area on
the Morrow County Plan-
ning Commission.
Library off ers
pumpkin decorating
kits
The Hermiston Public
Library has the perfect Hal-
loween activity for families
— pumpkin decorating.
People are invited to
stop by the library to pick
up a free Take N Go pump-
kin decorating kit. While
supplies last, they will be
available beginning Tues-
day, Oct. 26.
Located at 235 E. Gladys
Ave., the library is open
Monday through Thursday,
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fri-
day/Saturday, 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. For more informa-
tion, call 541-567-2882.
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BUY-IN $200
American Legion
& Auxiliary meet
monthly
For Both Saturday and Sunday
Limited seats available, social distancing
guidelines in effect. Buy-in at the door for
$125 only if seats are available.
American Legion &
Auxiliary, Hermiston Post
37 meets the fi rst Mon-
day of each month, 7 p.m.
at Agape House, 500 W.
Harper Road, Hermiston.
The next meeting is Nov.
1. A light refreshment is
provided.
All veterans are wel-
come. The organization
pays for fi rst-year dues for
new veteran members who
join the American Legion
Post. The same arrangement
Win up to
$500 FreePlay & Candy Treats!
Two Winners Every 30 Minutes!
Sunday, October 31, 10pm–Midnight
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