A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Birdwatcher Nancy Brown
decks out her Christmas tree
25 YEARS AGO
Dec. 21, 1996
ANGEL AGUILAR
Hermiston
Can you tell me something interesting about
yourself?
I’m a cattle rancher on the side. I raise my own cat-
tle, and I have about 27.
Does that require a lot of work?
Yeah. I’m busy mornings, nights and even before
I come to work. I’m out at about 7 a.m., and I get
to them real quick. Later, I go back to make sure
they’re watered during the day. I have to check on
them, and it’s time-consuming, but it’s a lifestyle that
I enjoy.
How long have you been doing this?
It’s been on and off for the past six years, but these
last two years have been consistent. I went to col-
lege, so I got out of it because I didn’t have the time.
Then, I got back into it.
Six years is a long time in the life of a young
man. How old are you?
I’m 20, almost 21.
Do you have plans for your 21st birthday?
I think we’re going to be going to Vegas right about
the end of January.
Have you done much traveling?
Not recently, with COVID and everything. Before
then. we’d do maybe two trips a year, at least once
to Vegas. I haven’t been able to gamble, because I’m
too young, but this year I’ll be able to. I’d like to try,
but I don’t think I’ll get too far into it because I don’t
want to lose too much.
Have you practiced?
No, not really. I’ve played cards on the side with
friends, but nothing compared to what I’d be facing
up there. But I’ll probably just be playing the slot
machines.
While most of our Christmas trees
sport handmade ornaments, souve-
nirs and tinsel, Nancy Brown adds a
new spin to the classical decorations
by dressing her tree in birds.
An avid bird watcher and admirer,
her 6-foot Christmas tree exhibits a
colorful peacock with vibrant busy
tail feathers (her newest addition),
little birds created from mushrooms,
pheasants, snow owls, penguins, peli-
cans, a goose and just about any other
bird you could think of. “I don’t have
many bulbs, I like birds instead,”
Brown said. One of her favorites is
a 100-year-old bird carried over the
Atlantic Ocean by her great-grandfa-
ther from Germany. “(My) dad can
remember it being on the tree when
he was a little boy,” Brown said.
This treasured family heirloom has
received special care over the years
and even has its own box.
Brown also has chains of gold
musical notes, candy canes and glit-
tering circle branches, but the unique
birds are the spotlight of this nature-
full tree.
50 YEARS AGO
Dec. 23, 1971
Along with other new offi cer
installations and appointments, Janet
Langenwalter became the Honored
Queen of the International Order of
Job’s Daughters, Bethel No. 44 (a
program promoting leadership, con-
fi dence and charity).
The ceremonies opened with the
entrance of the Bethel Guardians,
Mrs. Marcia Close and Dr. Owen
Corley, escort of the master of cer-
emonies by Dr. Corley, and then
the installing offi cers. Once every-
one had entered, songs were sung
and poems presented. Then came a
Bible ceremony, presentation of the
fl ag, and installation of the Bethel
offi cers.
Following this emotional moment
was a wonderful reception with food,
friends, congratulations and min-
gling as the people present enjoyed
a ceremony of advancement in righ-
teous journeys.
75 YEARS AGO
Dec. 26, 1946
Christmas season, though fi lled
with joy and cheer, also brings con-
cerns about diseases — and not just
Hermiston Herald, File
An illusion of a giant Christmas tree, breaking through the roof, at Ardis Carter’s
house in December 1971.
for humans. Specifi cally for the
upcoming Dairy Convention on Jan.
6-8, disease control is going to be
their main focus.
On the fi rst day, Jan. 6, groups will
present tentative reports on disease
control, herd improvement, dairy
products promotion and resolutions.
This day will just be a basic shar-
ing of information. Next comes the
presentations and speeches of multi-
ple notable members of the Oregon
Dairymen’s Association, including
President Fred Knox, P.M. Brandt,
O.H. Muth with “Current Status and
Most Recent Research Findings on
Brucellosis of Cattle and Swine,”
and Palmer Torvend concluding the
day with a report on artifi cial insem-
ination in Oregon.
Thankfully, after all this think-
ing and hard work, a banquet will
help the convention attendees relax
a little. Then they’re at it again, with
Wednesday’s presentations centering
mainly on the production and promo-
tion of dairy products: Dr. G.H. Wil-
Will you see any shows while you’re in Las
Vegas?
Yeah, it’s my girlfriend’s fi rst time being over there,
so I’m letting her pick what we’re going to see. Since
I’ve seen it all before, and it’s new to her, she’ll be
making choices about what we see and do.
Can you tell me about your girlfriend?
Yeah. We met at Ranch & Home. We were both
supervisors and worked together and started to fall
for each other. We got together on a Valentine’s Day
ad on TV, so that was really cool. They put us on as
the face of the company.
How do you feel about starting to work for the
Hermiston Herald?
I like it. People have already seen me around town
and called me “Mr. Hermiston.” I feel good about
representing this company and being in this town.
Joyce Hensley/Hermiston Herald, File
Walmart manager Yolanda Board displays the Holiday Barbie, a sought-after
Christmas toy that sold out soon after being stocked in 1996.
ster will touch on new dairy prod-
ucts, Russell J. Walts will present his
“New Developments in Marketing
Dairy Products,” and E.L. Peterson
will wrap it up with his “The Live-
stock Program of the State Depart-
ment.” By the end of this conven-
tion, the dairy farmers and experts
are hoping to fi nd new ways to pro-
tect their cattle — so that Christmas
is memorable for them too!
100 YEARS AGO
Dec. 22, 1921
The city of Boardman is looking
forward to expansion, as it received
a huge $50,000 school bond and its
population and acreage are on the
rise.
In 1919, at the age of 3, Board-
man had a lumber yard, feed busi-
ness, hotel, confectionery and a few
garages and grocery stores. Now,
only three years later, it also has a
post offi ce, glamorous hotel, numer-
ous cottages and residences and
two churches. In addition, electric
lights are expected to arrive soon
— though not seeming that impres-
sive nowadays, this was very excit-
ing 100 years ago!
The $50,000 school bond made
possible the addition of two 85-foot
wings to the central building, sev-
eral new teachers and increased
enrollment. In fact, enrollment has
increased by 33% and buses are at
their maximum capacity. Board-
man’s school is now one of the most
modern in Oregon, off ering a full
four-year high school course.
Agriculture is also experiment-
ing with new horizons: previously
an alfalfa-farming-dominant region,
several cartloads of cattle have been
imported to create a dairy industry. A
milk testing station is to be incorpo-
rated in the school and a new cheese
factory has been receiving encourag-
ing praise.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at
Echo High School, searched Hermis-
ton Herald archives to compile these
article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Community Fellowship Dinner brings free meals to Hermiston
Free food will be available to fi ll empty bellies on
Christmas Day for the Community Fellowship Din-
ner. Volunteers will prepare heat-and-serve dinners Sat-
urday, Dec. 25, available for pickup outside Hermiston
High School, 600 S. First St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Accord-
ing to volunteers, it will be just like the recent Thanksgiv-
ing meals, except the main course will include baked ham
with the roast turkey. They may also serve green beans
instead of kernel corn.
• • •
While waiting for your food to digest, you should
probably start thinking of ways to burn off extra calories
consumed during the holidays. Start making plans to par-
ticipate in the Hermiston Resolution Run. It is Satur-
day, Jan. 1, 9-11 a.m. with the starting point at the Riv-
erfront Park parking lot.
Participants can walk, jog or run the 3.1 mile Oxbow
Trail. People may, instead, choose some other distance.
One thing to keep in mind — there are no aid stations
on the course. Water is only available at the fi nish line,
where runners will receive some high fi ves. Also, there is
a photo booth.
This event, which is sponsored by local runners and
walkers, is free. T-shirts will be available for purchase.
Direct questions to timothybeal@gmail.com.
• • •
Do you know of any special people or businesses
in Boardman? If so, you can nominate them to be hon-
ored. The Boardman Chamber of Commerce is accept-
ing nominations for favorite Boardman businesses and
community members to be honored at the 2022 Distin-
guished Citizens Awards Banquet. Be quick, though, as
the nomination deadlines is Jan. 15.
For information about nominating, email the chamber
at info@boardmanchamber.org.
• • •
It’s not too early to start shopping for a coat to donate.
A new youth winter coat, purchased at www.yougive-
goods.com/coatsforkids2022, is the cost of participation
in the Polar Bear Plunge. Buy a coat, then drop it off at
the Umatilla Head Start, 1371 Third St., Umatilla.
The event is Jan. 8, 12-2 p.m. It takes place at the
Umatilla Marina Swim Beach, 1710 Quincy Ave.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center is closed
Thursday, Dec. 23. The menu for Tuesday, Dec. 28, is
baked chicken, 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 is open for dine-in
lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon at 100 Tatone
St. Meals are $4 for seniors and $5 for others. Take-out
lunches are available by calling 541-481-3257.