A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
Man saved from drowning 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
March 11, 1997
AMANDA OLIVO
Hermiston
Were you born in Hermiston?
I was born and raised here. I only left in 2018 for
three years to go to college. Then I came back.
Where did you go to college?
The Art Institute of Seattle.
So you’re an artist?
Yes. I went there for fashion design. Now, I do alter-
ations and I make custom shirts. So I have a side
business, Olivo Alterations and Design. I work out
of my home. I’ll do hemming, zippers and I’ll make
shirts for birthdays. I do a lot of funeral shirts, ones
with the image of the person on them and lettering.
What’s it like going to an art school?
It’s diff erent. It’s fun. I really liked the project assign-
ments. I’d have sewing projects, and it wouldn’t be
like a class with something on the board. You’d be at
a sewing machine. Like I said, it was diff erent, and I
liked it.
Do you miss it?
I do. I was supposed to get my bachelor’s in Port-
land. But I took a break during the summer, I came
here, met my ex-husband, had a baby and put things
on pause.
You’ll go back to school though, right?
I don’t know. I have four kids now. So I’m just jug-
gling a lot.
Do you like being a mom?
Yes.
What do you like about it?
Going to games, teaching them what I was taught.
Things like that. There are morals and culture that
my mom gave to me. That’s what I’m teaching them.
So you’re a very family-oriented person, right?
Yes. Right now, I’m helping my mom take care of my
grandmother. My grandpa passed away last year
from COVID. That’s when I stepped in to help. She’s
96.
Such a terrible disease. Have you been aff ected
by COVID in any other way?
We all got it at the house, but it was my grandfa-
ther’s passing that was hardest on all of us at the
house. That was the big thing, especially for my kids.
You know, we did everything with the masks. We
were careful. Everyone in the house had it, except
my kids and my grandma. It was crazy she didn’t get
it.
You’re probably like the rest of us, and will be
excited when this is done. What will you do when
the pandemic is over?
We’ll have a party. We’ve had parties, but small
ones. I guess we’ll just have a bigger one when
it’s over. Other than that, I don’t know. Right now,
I’m just busy with the kids. That won’t change. I’ll
always be busy with them and their sports.
The keen eyes of a semi-truck
driver and fortunate location of a
passing motorist saved the life of an
unlucky man whose boat had cap-
sized in the Columbia River.
The man found himself in this sit-
uation when his craft’s anchor caught
in the propeller, causing it to over-
turn. He was attempting to swim to
shore, but the cold waters of the river
made this a very diffi cult activity and
posed the danger of drowning.
Myron McCrady, a passing semi-
truck driver, spotted a man struggling
in the water and called 911. While
responders were on their way, nearby
motorist William Hunt of Pendleton
heard of the incident on his police
scanner and hurried down the steep
bank to the shoreline. Responding
Umatilla patrol offi cer Bill Wright
was also nearby, and together they
were able to help the man get to shore.
Soon after, a rescue team from
the Benton County Plymouth Dis-
trict Fire Department arrived and
treated the man until the Umatilla
Fire Protection ambulance crew
came. Besides suff ering from hypo-
thermia, it seems the man escaped
without other major injuries.
50 YEARS AGO
March 9, 1972
Dr. Jack A. Woodhall, a 58-year-old
Milton-Freewater dentist and farmer,
is the newest candidate for the state
Senate seat vacated by Sen. Raphael
R. Raymond, a Helix Republican.
Woodhall grew up in Sault Ste.
Marie, Michigan, and has lived
in Oregon the past 32 years. He
worked in the plastering contracting
business with his father and broth-
ers in Walla Walla before graduat-
ing from Walla Walla College. From
there, he attended the University of
Oregon Dental School.
Upon graduating in 1947, he
moved to Heppner with his wife,
Bernice, and fi ve children. Woodhall
practiced dentistry there for three
years, and then moved to Mil-
ton-Freewater where he continued
working as a dentist and farmer.
He claimed that he intends to
represent the low-and middle-in-
come classes, saying, “I feel that
these people are not adequately rep-
resented in the Legislature.”
Like many people today, he also
opposes high medical costs; “It is
my belief that we all have a right to
health (...) Any family confronted
with prolonged illnesses should not
be burdened beyond their ability to
pay because of high medical costs.”
Hermiston Herald, File
William Hunt and patrol offi cer Bill Wright help rescue a man whose boat
capsized in the Columbia River in 1997.
Hermiston Herald, File
The Umatilla Vikings basketball team celebrate their school’s fi rst-ever sports
championship after beating Santiam Christian, 59-54, in Pendleton in 1997.
90 YEARS AGO
March 10, 1932
75 YEARS AGO
March 13, 1947
To prepare for the expected infl ux
of development and population in the
Hermiston area, the Pacifi c Power &
Light company began undertaking
the largest program in its history.
Curtis Simons, Pacifi c Power &
Light’s local manager, explains that
a new 25000-KVA transformer will
be installed at the company’s substa-
tion to boost power delivery in this
area by more than 60%. This new
transformer, which is nearly com-
pleted, will arrive in May along with
a new voltage regulator twice the
size of the present equipment.
Other installations include a com-
plete rebuild of the existing distribu-
tion feeder lines, which will increase
the carrying capacity from 7,200 to
12,000 volts.
Hermiston Herald, File
Dr. Jack A. Woodhall became a state
Senate candidate in 1972.
Also, new copper conductors are
planned to be installed in the elec-
trical distribution system within the
next two months.
In addition, Simons says a large
share of more than $90,000 worth of
additional distribution lines to serve
new homes, businesses and indus-
trial establishments will take place
in Umatilla and Morrow counties.
All these improvements are
part of Pacifi c Power & Light’s
$3,874,000 system-wide construc-
tion program, and will be a great
luxury to the residents of the area.
With spring right around the cor-
ner, the Hermiston Commercial
Club decided it was time to start dis-
cussing “Clean-Up and Paint-Up
Week” and tree planting.
At a recent meeting, President
Felthouse appointed a committee to
meet with the city council to assist
in arranging the annual clean-up
day for Hermiston. This day will be
part of the nation-wide Clean-Up
and Paint-Up Week, which is sched-
uled for April 16 to 23. Some of the
members in this committee include
Jarvie Deurfey, Ceo. Wagner and
Joe Norton.
Another
committee
was
appointed to promote tree plant-
ing in Hermiston, which consisted
of T.H. Fraser, Antone Soneson and
H.A. Pankow. Many trees have been
cut down within city limits this past
year, and this committee plans not
only to replace them but to plant
additional trees as well.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at
Echo High School, searched Herm-
iston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Hermiston Lion Club sells chowder to support local charities
The Hermiston Lions Club is at it again. This time,
club members are selling Mo’s Famous Clam Chowder
as they gather money for their many local charities and
scholarships.
Mos’s homemade base is being sold at $15 per quart,
homemade bread is selling at $6 per loaf, garlic cheese
butter is $6 per pint and cobblers are $25 a pan. You can
order through March 22 for pickup on March 30 in the
West Park Elementary School parking lot.
Call 541-567-8301 to order your goodies today.
• • •
The Boardman Chamber of Commerce is welcom-
ing people for a night of denim and diamonds, as one of
the biggest days of the year in Boardman is upon us.
The 32nd annual Distinguished Citizens Awards
Banquet is 6 p.m., Thursday, March 12. It is held at
the Port of Morrow Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive,
Boardman. Tickets are $40 per person for dinner, which is
catered by Paradise Rose Chuckwagon.
Visit boardmanchamber.org/awards for more
information.
• • •
Join Hermiston Parks and Recreation for Sing!
Play! Jump! This is an event for parents with children
18-36 months old to share movement, games and sing-
ing while participating with their children. Classes start
Thursday, March 10, 4:30-5 p.m. This event, located
at the Hermiston Community Center, 415 S. Highway
395, is to help with increasing body control, motor skills
and creativity through music and activities.
Register at bit.ly/hermistonrecreation.
• • •
The friendly folks at the city of Umatilla are promot-
ing Spring Break Camp. They have scheduled fun activ-
ities, including a police and fi re department tour, fi shing
in Nugent Park, an outdoor scavenger hunt and plenty of
fun games and crafts. It is March 21-24 and is for youths
16-18 years old.
Register before Wednesday, March 16, at secure.
rec1.com/OR/umatilla-or/catalog.
• • •
Attention: teenagers. Visit the Hermiston Public
Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., on Tuesday, March 15,
at 5 p.m. for Teen Anime Club. Discussion is open to all
things anime and manga.
• • •
Join fellow painters for an afternoon of fun at the
Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave. On Sat-
urday, March 12, starting at 3 p.m., the library invites
folks to Paint Night. All supplies will be provided. All
you have to bring is your creative talent.
• • •
Visit your friends at the Boardman Chamber of
Commerce for their quarterly in-person luncheon
on Wednesday, March 16, 12-1:30 p.m. at the Port
of Morrow Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive N.E.,
Boardman.
The event will include its annual general membership
meeting. To ensure there’s enough food, RSVP by Mon-
day, March 14. The meal, which is $15, is catered by
Midway Bar & Grill.
Find registration information and other chamber
events, search www.boardmanchamber.org. For ques-
tions, call 541-481-3014.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, March 10, is pork loin, scallop potatoes, veg-
etables and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, March 15, is
beef stroganoff , 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.