A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Festival of Trees pulls in a lot of green
25 YEARS AGO
Dec. 3, 1996
CINDEE HENDERSON
Hermiston
We’ve spoken a lot about fi tness, because you
are the owner of Higher Power Fitness in Herm-
iston, but could we talk a bit about your religious
faith?
Sure. What would you like to know?
What is your religion?
I am Protestant, Christian. I’ve been part of the
Hermiston Nazarene Church. I was born and raised
in the First Christian faith, and have attended New
Hope and a couple of diff erent churches in town.
Mostly, my relationship with God is very deep and
personal — a prayer relationship, reading His Word.
I think with God, everything is possible.
Do you have a specifi c prayer that you say at
mealtime?
No, I just off er thanks. It’s usually just what’s on my
heart. He tells me what I need to pray for.
You said you’ve visited diff erent churches in
town. What makes for a good church?
I think they’re all good churches. For me, a good
church has a sense of community. I love the Naza-
rene Church, but I moved to New Hope because they
have an earlier service. A church needs to be warm
and welcoming, Bible based, needs to be steeped in
religion.
Do you have a favorite piece of scripture?
No… I think there’s Romans 12, where it talks about
the renewing of your mind. That was a piece of
scripture that was mentioned to me by my fi rst coach
who was very strong in religion. He shared with me
that scripture that if you can change your mind, you
can do anything.
The
Hermiston
Breakfast
Kiwanis club heads the annual Fes-
tival of Trees auction and dinner,
which brought in over $10,600 this
year.
Many elegantly-decorated trees
were present, such as “O Holy
Night,” “A Royal Christmas,” “A
Russian Christmas,” and “Ginger-
bread House All Frosty and Spice.”
J.L. Brandt Electric bought and
donated the “O Holy Night” tree,
decorated by Kari Christansian,
to the Hermiston Public Library;
“A Royal Christmas” was deco-
rated by Express Personnel Ser-
vices, bought by Sherrell Chev-
rolet and J.L. Brandt Electric, and
donated to Rose Arbor Assisted
Living Facility; “A Russian Christ-
mas” was decorated by Bonnie and
Glen Greiner, bought by Amstad
Farms and Bothum Construction,
and donated to Our Lady of Angels
Hospital; and the “Gingerbread
House All Frosty and Spice” tree,
created by Cottage Flowers, resides
in The Hermiston Herald building.
In addition to the auction were
a fabulous dinner and free family
day — where the many families
crowded the Hermiston Community
Center for numerous activities, vis-
iting with Santa, and viewing ven-
dor booths.
The majority of funds will be
used to improve Newport Park, the
oldest baseball fi eld in the city. Spe-
cifi cally, the focus is on rebuilding
a backstop, concessions stand, and
repairing a portion of the chain-link
fence.
“It’s important because those
who can’t walk, like grandparents,
can watch from their cars,” explains
co-chair-person of the festival Kari
Christiansen.
through an examination of expe-
rience of training — but a written
test isn’t required. Applicants must
be between ages 18 and 62, though
exceptions might be made for vet-
erans and war service indefi nite
employees.
The starting pay for the posi-
tion is an attractive $0.94 an hour,
a little over 1946’s minimum wage.
One could even apply for perma-
nent positions, which would lead to
probational appointments with per-
manent classifi ed civil service sta-
tus at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot.
In addition to supporting the war
eff ort and making some money, the
chance of getting a closer look at
the mysterious Umatilla Ordnance
Depot probably adds another layer
to the appeal of this job.
50 YEARS AGO
Dec. 2, 1971
A new daycare center is opening
its doors in Hermiston, though staff
interviews are still being conducted
and some construction is yet to be
fi nished.
According to temporary director
Mrs. Norma Rebmann, necessary
work like separating the furnace
from the utility room, installing a
fi re protection sprinkler system,
and fi nishing the cyclone fence still
needs to be completed to meet state
Do you have any favorite Christian music?
There’s so much. I love any Lauren Daigle puts out.
She’s amazing. Matthew West is one of my favorites.
And then there’s Christmas music. The secular stuff
is fun, but I love the religious Christmas music.
What do you do for Christmas?
We go to church, when we can, and we’ll have fam-
ily gatherings. We’ll make sure Christ is the center.
You named your business “Higher Power Fit-
ness.” How did you come up with that name?
I was sitting at a lake at 5 a.m. after we came back
from a backpacking trip. I was watching the sun
come up and I was watching the mountain goats run
across a glacier. It was through God’s grace that I
was there. My belief in a higher power is Christian
based. Not everyone who enters our door has that
faith, but if they come in that door I hope they will
see a little bit of Jesus in me.
Joyce Hensley/Hermiston Herald, File
What does it mean to have a little bit of Jesus
in you?
That I show love and compassion and care for
everyone.
Joyce Hensley/Hermiston Herald, File
Seven-year-old twins Corey and Colt Kelly view ‘A Russian Christmas’ tree,
which was designed by Bonnie and Glen Greiner for the 1996 Hermiston
Festival of Trees.
Shannon Nobles, 5, enjoys a
candied caramel apple from Lind’s
Concessions. Throughout the month
of December in 1996, a percentage of
profi ts were donated to the Pioneer
Humane Society.
Hermiston Herald, File
In December 1971, Mrs. Norma
Rebmann was the temporary director
of the new Hermiston Day Care Center.
standards. Rev. Jack Naff , chairman
of the personal committee, con-
ducted interviews for teacher and
director applicants and expects all
positions to be fi lled by the end of
the week.
• Though Christmas is nearing,
it seems some people are increas-
ing their chances of landing on
the naughty list. Vandalism at the
Boardman Riverview Cemetery,
destruction of rural mailboxes and
bicycle theft have been repeatedly
reported in the past few weeks.
Postmaster Fred Reeves of Hemris-
ton informed The Herald that mail-
box destruction carries penalties
of heavy fi nes, prison time or even
both. As for the theft, 10-speed
bicycles have been stolen in the
Hermiston area — four of which
were taken from the West Highland
Avenue region alone.
75 YEARS AGO
Dec. 5, 1946
An area shrouded in secrecy, the
Umatilla Ordnance Depot, is hir-
ing ammunition handlers. Those
who desire the position will go
100 YEARS AGO
Dec. 1, 1921
The newspaper was quite fright-
ening this morning in 1921, bear-
ing the news of a train collision that
killed at least eight people.
Union Pacifi c Trains 12 and 17
collided near Rufus, the result of
a miscommunication. Train 17 is
the westbound afternoon train that
travels through Hermiston and train
12 is the night train that travels
between Portland and Spokane.
Union Pacifi c was using only one
of its two tracks between Rufus and
The Dalles, and failure to inform
the trains of this resulted in them
using the same track. They collided
at high speeds — one at 25mph
and the other at 55mph. Both trains
were derailed from the shock, and
the tracks are consequently already
cleared.
The fatalities are still being deter-
mined, but it’s certain that eight are
dead and at least 25 injured. Thank-
fully, the three Hermiston residents
aboard — Dr. and Mrs. F. V. Prime
and F.B. Swayze — survived.
——
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at
Echo High School, searched Herm-
iston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Santa comes to town to light the Hermiston Christmas tree
The Hermiston Parks and Recreation Department
is inviting people to gather around Hermiston’s Christmas
Tree for the Hermiston Tree Lighting Celebration. This
community tradition starts 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 2, on
Hermiston’s Festival Street. Music, carolers, performances,
vendors and Santa pack the night.
Visitors to the tree lighting event can also visit the Com-
munity Vision Open House on the same day, 5-7:30 p.m.
at the Victory Baptist Church, 193 E. Main St., Hermis-
ton. Cookie decorating and prizes will be available, as peo-
ple also can review the draft vision and action plan and
off er feedback.
• • •
The Umatilla Winter Festival is this weekend, Dec. 3-4,
at Village Square Park, next to Umatilla City Hall, 700
Sixth St. Friday‘s activities are 4-8 p.m., including the tree
lighting at 6:15 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 12-8 p.m. The
event includes ice skating, pictures with Santa, food and
craft vendors, games and activities and music.
• • •
Festival of Trees 2021 is Saturday, Dec. 4, 2-7 p.m. at
the Hermiston Community Center, 415 S. Highway 395.
Tickets are available at the Hermiston Chamber of Com-
merce, 630 S. Highway 395. The event’s theme is “The
Gift of Giving.” It includes online bidding, a Family Hour
and in-person viewing and wine tasting. Funds go towards
scholarships and community projects supported by Herm-
iston Kiwanis Foundation and Good Shepherd Commu-
nity Health Foundation.
• • •
The Boardman Christmas Tree Lighting event is Satur-
day, Dec. 4, 6-7 p.m. at the SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road.,
Boardman. Live Christmas music, a Christmas Tree lighting
and a light show are part of the planned festivities. Visitors
will also be able to have their photos taken with Santa and
Mrs. Claus, and they will be able to enjoy cookies and hot
cocoa from Mid-Columbia Bus Company.
• • •
The Festival of Lights, which started Friday, Nov. 26,
continues through Sunday, Jan. 2. It is open as a drive-thru
event Thursday to Sunday, 6-10 p.m., closed Christmas
Even and Christmas Day. Donations go towards Hermiston
Rotary Club charities. It is at EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport Road.
• • •
Domestic Violence Services recently expressed thanks
for all the support they have received from the community
— especially through the diffi cult items during the global
pandemic.
“We could not do this without you,” they wrote in a recent
newsletter.
Serving Umatilla and Morrow counties for more than
four decades, the nonprofi t organization has shelters in Herm-
iston and Pendleton. Its mission is to provide help to all vic-
tims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dat-
ing violence and stalking. Services are available in English
and Spanish.
The agency also maintains a 24-hour crisis line at 800-
833-1161. For more information, call 541-276-3322, 541-
567-0424 or visit www.dvs-or.org.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, Dec. 2 is beef stew, biscuits, fruit and dessert.
The menu for Tuesday, Dec. 7, is spaghetti, salad, garlic
bread 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.