COMMUNITY
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
MCKENZIE ROSE
Echo
Hermiston Herald, File
What do you like best about living in Echo?
It has a peaceful aura, since it’s small and there’s
not a lot of traffi c, people, etc. that causes busyness.
I know my neighbors really well and have created
great friendships that probably wouldn’t have lasted
in a huge town where people are coming and going
all the time. There’s just a strong sense of community
and friendliness.
What is your favorite restaurant in the area?
Probably Lawan’s Thai Garden or Veg Out. Their
food always tastes fresh and amazing.
What are your hobbies or sports? What do you
like about them?
I play soccer, basketball and started golf last year. I
enjoy these sports for the life lessons they teach me,
exercise they provide and opportunity to give my
mind a break. I also like to read, bike, bake occa-
sionally and write poems.
What do you like best about school?
Learning is probably my favorite thing about school,
because there are so many interesting things out
there. Specifi cally, my favorite subjects are history,
math and science.
What was the last book you have read or
movie that you have seen?
The last book I read was “Lincoln: Team of Rivals”
by Doris Goodwin. I’m still reading it. It’s taken
a while but is very interesting because it off ers an
insight into Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet mem-
bers that we don’t cover in our history books.
Who are your role models?
Oh goodness there are many. Some I can think of
off the top of my head are: Greta Thunberg, Malala
Yousafzai, Megan Rapinoe, Russell Wilson, Taylor
Swift and my friends, Sandra and Lily.
What do you like about those people?
I admire the dedication and action that Thun-
berg, a Swiss environmental activist, puts towards
a cause I believe in. Yousafzai is a symbol of stand-
ing up for what you believe in, in her case educa-
tion for women, and is a great example of courage.
Rapinoe fi ghts to improve equality for women and
is an amazing soccer player. Wilson preaches about
how important the mental game is and I love watch-
ing how much control over his emotions he prac-
tices, even when the game isn’t going his way. Swift’s
songs, specifi cally older ones like “Never Grow
Up,” “Our Song” and “Mean,” are fi lled with great,
inspiring and beautiful messages. My friend San-
dra is the most positive person I know — I’ve never
caught her in a bad mood because she believes it to
be a waste of life and energy, and she never tries to
pick a fi ght. Lily is also very positive, kind and ded-
icated. She’s a great student and successful outside
of school too, which I believe is vital to success later
in life.
What do you think older people misunder-
stand about your generation?
Again and again, I hear it all the time — they live
on their phones, they don’t know how to use a dic-
tionary, they can only read digital clocks — that our
generation is spoiled by technology. While this is
true for some kids, it’s way too overgeneralized. It’s
super frustrating when the older generations make a
comment or roll their eyes when someone pulls out
their phone. For all they know, that person might be
working on a school essay. Honestly, downloading
Google documents is one of the most helpful apps.
When did you start writing for the Hermiston
Herald?
I started writing the weekly Hermiston History sec-
tion for the Hermiston Herald during the late sum-
mer of 2021 — around August.
The most destructive windstorm in the memory of Hermiston residents resulted in numerous uprooted and downed trees,
such as this one on Northeast Third Street at Ridgeway Avenue in 1972.
Local Republican invited to Clinton inaugural
25 YEARS AGO
Jan. 14, 1997
“I have no idea why I would get
an invitation, I’m a Republican,”
Irene Miller said.
The Hermiston resident had just
returned home from Christmas cel-
ebrations in Portland, and a mix-
ture of surprise, shock and curios-
ity came upon her when she found
a letter from the White House with
her mail.
She opened it almost immedi-
ately, and to increase her surprise
it read, “The Presidential Inaugu-
ral Committee requests the honor
of your presence to attend and par-
ticipate in the Inauguration of Wil-
liam Jeff erson Clinton as President
of the United States of America
and Albert Gore Jr. as Vice Presi-
dent of the United States of Amer-
ica on Monday, the twentieth of
January one thousand nine hun-
dred and ninety-seven in the City
of Washington.”
Now why would Miller — a
Republican and not an active sup-
porter of President Clinton — get
this invitation? “The only connec-
tion I have to the White House is
I contribute monthly to Results, a
lobbying group that works to end
world hunger,” expressed Miller.
At fi rst, she thought her invi-
tation was a mistake — then that
everyone got it. She tried calling
the White House for answers, but
was unsuccessful. Lenora, a woman
from the inaugural committee, said
there could be “a litany of reasons”
why Miller’s name was on the invi-
tation list, as “someone could’ve
put her name in anonymously. It’s
impossible to pinpoint exactly why
her name was chosen.” Lenora also
added that many Republicans were
sent invitations, and Miller wasn’t
the only confused recipient.
Though thrilled to receive the
invitation, Miller doesn’t plan to
attend the Inauguration. Instead,
“I’m going to frame it (the invita-
tion) and show it off .”
50 YEARS AGO
Jan. 13, 1972
This is the time of year that most
seniors regard with excitement and
anticipation — the time when schol-
arships are awarded. Four Hermiston
High School seniors will be honored
by the Hermiston Elks Lodge as win-
ners of the annual scholarships —
Jill Ainslie, Ramona Music, Steve
Wick and Suzi Davis.
There’s usually a fi rst and second
place scholarship for both boys and
girls, but since no other male appli-
cation that met the qualifi cations was
entered, two second-place schol-
arships were given to the girls this
year.
Wick and Ainslie won fi rst place
Hermiston Herald, File
The four Hermiston recipients of the 1972 Elks Leadership Scholarship Awards,
from left, Jill Ainslie, Ramona Music, Steve Wick and Suzi Davis.
Hermiston Herald, File
A puzzled Hermiston resident, Irene Miller, received an invitation to President
Bill Clinton’s Inauguration in 1997.
and were each awarded a $250
scholarship to the college of their
choice, while Music and Davis were
awarded the second-place $100
scholarships.
All four of these scholarship
recipients have numerous accom-
plishments and memberships, some
of which include:
Wick has been a member of the
Math Club, National Honor Society,
Debate Team, Drift-Inn Board, MS
and HS junior council, Concert Band
Council, won the Gold Seal Award,
lettered in football, basketball, and
baseball and was the assistant coach
for Babe Ruth baseball.
Ainslie has served on the Art
Club, ASB, Oregon Student Council
Workshop, was student director for
several Thespian productions, editor
of Sage, representative for the Gov-
ernor’s Commission on Youth, is a
member of the National Honor Soci-
ety, French Club and was awarded
the GL service pin.
Davis is head cheerleader, presi-
dent of the Prep Club, member of the
National Honor Society, Math Club,
G.A.A., Ski Club, girls basketball,
was awarded the GL merit badge and
Youth Fitness Award for three years.
Music is a member of 4-H, the
National Honor Society, Spanish
Club, has won numerous awards
at the Pendleton Junior Livestock
Exhibit, Umatilla County Fair, P-I
show in Portland and was elected
F.F.A. Chapter Sweetheart in 1970.
75 YEARS AGO
Jan. 16, 1947
The Saylor’s store will be reopen-
ing soon, after vast improvements
and modernizations. The Grand
Rapids company of Portland man-
ufactured the new fi xtures. These
fi xtures were installed, importing
equipment found in only three other
foreign countries at the time. These
new additions will make the Say-
lor’s store one of the fi nest ones in
the area, and will bring to Hermis-
ton “a new type of store, diff erent
from all other department stores in
this section.”
The Saylors have operated a
store here for numerous years and
are very proud of the new transi-
tion it has undergone. Reuben Ells,
who has managed the store for the
last 18 months, will continue to hold
his position in this newly-furnished
department store. Local business
people and other friends wish the
Salyors continued success and are
excited to see for themselves its pro-
claimed grandeur.
— — —
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at
Echo High School, searched Herm-
iston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Melonville Comedy Festival brings laughs to Hermiston
Get ready to yuck it up
with laughter as Melon-
ville Comedy Festival
returns to Hermiston. In its
28th year, the event is Fri-
day, Jan. 28, 8 p.m. at the
Eastern Oregon Trade
and Event Center, 1705
E. Airport Road. Open to
adults 21 and older, tickets
are $300 for a table for 10
or individual reserved seats
are $35 each — tickets pur-
chased at the door are $40.
See next week’s Herm-
iston Herald for a full
story. For more informa-
tion, visit www.melonvil-
lecomedyfestival.com.
• • •
The American Red
Cross is partnering with
the National Football
League to help tackle the
worst blood shortage in
more than a decade. People
are urged to join the life-
saving team and score big
for patients in need.
Everyone who donates
blood in January will be
entered in a drawing for a
trip for two to Super Bowl
LVI in Los Angeles. In
addition to game tickets,
the winner will receive air-
fare, hotel accommoda-
tions for three nights and
a $500 gift card. An addi-
tional drawing will be held
for Big Game at Home, a
home theater package for
you to host a Super Bowl
viewing party.
Upcoming area blood
drives include:
• Thursday, Jan. 13,
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Our
Lady of Angels Catholic
Church, Hermiston.
• Friday, Jan. 14,
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Roundup Athletic Club,
Pendleton.
• Monday, Jan. 17,
12:45-5:30 p.m. at Good
Shepherd Medical Cen-
ter, Hermiston.
For other dates and sites,
visit www.redcrossblood.
org. To schedule a donation
appointment, visit the web-
site or call 800-733-2767.
• • •
The
Harkenrider
Senior Activity Cen-
ter menu for Thurs-
day, Jan. 13, is pork
loin, baked potato, veg-
etables and dessert. The
menu for Tuesday, Jan.
18, is turkey sandwich,
mashed potatoes, vegeta-
bles and dessert. (In-house
meals 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 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.
• • •
If an average picture is
worth 1,000 words, the art
being shown at the Herm-
iston Public Library, 235
E. Gladys Ave., might be
worth a million. Visit the
library for its monthly art
display. The photography
of Belen Thomas is on
view through Jan. 31.
• • •
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 oth-
ers. Take-out lunches
are available by calling
541-481-3257.