A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
Protesters show up at prison
groundbreaking 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
April 8, 1997
MARGARET
WETTERLING
Hermiston
How long have you lived in Hermiston?
Most of my life, except for a while in Umatilla. I grad-
uated in 1966, so I go way back.
What do feel being around the students today,
accompanying them in jazz choir?
I adore being around the kids. I had a little girl the
other day, a freshman, who asked if she could call
me grandma. All the kids call me by my fi rst name
and they clap when I come in the room. It’s very
ego-boosting.
It must be very satisfying to pass down your
learning and your love of music, right?
Yes, it is. I had a girl who came to me the other day.
She’s taking piano lesson, and she’s working on a com-
plicated piece. She asked me how to do it, and I was
able to show her.
What do you think of their work ethic?
They work hard. If you ever come to one of our con-
certs, you’ll see that. Some of them, especially Man
Choir, are very bombastic, but they work hard. They
sing, and give it all they got. We have one choir that’s
all girls, Electra. Another that’s all boys, and that’s
Man Choir. And then there’s jazz choir and chamber
choir.
Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
No. I just play piano here and at church. I go to the
Umatilla Assembly of God, and I play the piano there.
Which do you prefer — your congregation or
your students?
I like both, because they’re totally diff erent things.
What do you like about performing at church?
Singing songs about Jesus, who I love so much. That’s
important to me, as a Christian.
Can you tell me about your faith?
I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior as a little girl,
and I’ve been serving him ever since. I go to church
regularly, and my husband and I have gone on four
summer mission trips to Namibia and Botswana. He
built things, and I cataloged the library.
Did you have experience in library work?
I worked for 25 years at McNary Heights Elementary
School. The last 15 years were in the library, so I knew
how to do that. I also taught music classes to pastoral
students there.
What do you get out of your mission work?
I get to help people. We see how much we have in
America and how little they have, but how joyful they
are. They don’t let not living in a big, fancy house hold
them back. It was just amazing, and I’m still friends
with them on Facebook.
So what’s the next place you want to go?
Hawaii. I already have plans. It’ll be my 50th state to
go to.
The scene was an interesting one
for the groundbreaking ceremony
of Oregon’s newest prison. Dave
Cook, Oregon Department of Cor-
rections director, was at the podium
giving an address while protestors
upset with Measure 17 made up the
background.
Measure 17, which was passed
by Oregon voters in 1994, required
state prison inmates to work or train
for 40 hours a week. The theory
was that this will give them nec-
essary skills for when their sen-
tences ended. However, some peo-
ple believed these inmates would be
taking away jobs from highly qual-
ifi ed candidates and not stimulating
the economy since they are without
an outlet to spend the money.
According to George Gritz, pres-
ident of Laborer’s International
Local 121 for Central and Eastern
Oregon, there would be approxi-
mately 300 to 500 people working
on the new prison during the con-
struction peak, 140 of whom will be
inmates.
“This will go into a statewide
protest — the entire construction
industry will be involved,” Gritz
said. However, more than two-
thirds of Oregon voters supported
Measure 17, so there was popular
appeal.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1997, Measure 17 protestors made up the background of Department of
Corrections Director Dave Cook’s prison opening ceremony address.
50 YEARS AGO
April 6, 1972
Yes, we can have students read
the books. Or, we can give them
the opportunity to learn by doing.
Charles Cruikshank, director of the
Ag Department, prefers the latter.
This year, the Hermiston Voca-
tional Agriculture class had many
opportunities to learn by doing. For
starters, they constructed a green-
house, the fi rst greenhouse this
class has had the privilege to use.
This has enabled students to learn
about construction methods, how
to care for plants within a con-
trolled environment, the diff erent
characteristics and growing pro-
cesses of numerous plant varieties
and much more.
In addition, students had been
working on the 19-acre lot of land
behind Rocky Heights to prepare
it for pasture. Barley was planned
to be planted in a portion of the
area to prevent soil erosion, which
off ered another prime teaching
opportunity. This Vocational Agri-
culture class had seen so much suc-
cess and growth in its students that
the Agricultural Department hoped
to involve all students in this area
to create well-rounded individuals.
75 YEARS AGO
April 10, 1947
Hollywood sensation Janis Paige
was on her way to Hermiston to
add a little pizazz to the McNary
Dam Completion Celebration.
Paige graduated from Stadium
High School in Tacoma, Washing-
ton, and went straight to Holly-
wood to pursue her dreams of star-
dom. She got her fi rst chance as a
substitute singer at the Canteen,
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1997, Armand Larive eighth-grader Brandy Tompkins won this $400-valued
duck for guessing how many jelly beans were in this jar at Flowers by the Petal
Pusher: she guessed 7,643 and there were 7,971.
To add the icing to this won-
derful cake of accomplishments
and fame, Paige would be crowned
“Miss Damsite” at the McNary
Dam ball and festivities to be held
at the Hermiston High School
Monday night.
90 YEARS AGO
April 7 1932
Hermiston Herald, File
Mrs. Genevieve Templeton shows the
large collection of Native American
artifacts she and her husband found
along the Columbia River to Rocky
Heights students in 1972.
and then her career soared after her
talent was discovered. Paige per-
formed in numerous Warner Broth-
ers musicals and dramas, includ-
ing “Of Human Bondage.” The
previous winter, she appeared at
the Strand Theater in New York as
headliner with the Vincent Lopez
orchestra.
Paige is even being featured in
the Salute Magazine article “312
Nights with Soldiers,” where the
story of her entertaining soldiers,
sailors and marines with over 1,600
songs for 312 days will be told.
While we all thought distanced
learning was a recent development,
they were apparently learning out-
side the classroom back in 1932.
At the Oregon State College,
KOAC started a new program in the
fi eld of educational radio broadcast-
ing by placing a microphone in one
of the lecture rooms. In this case, the
room belonged to Dr. E.H. Moor,
professor of sociology. At 11 a.m.
each Tuesday morning, listeners
could tune into the radio and listen
to the lecture.
Arrangements had even been
made for listeners to follow the
course more closely, as they could
enroll for home study and would
then be provided additional mate-
rials. Examinations would be given
for the radio class and certifi cates
issued to those who “passed,”
though there would not be college
credit given.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at
Echo High School, searched Herm-
iston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Umatilla County commissioner forum coming to Hermiston
To learn more about those running for Umatilla County
commissioner, be sure to head to a candidate’s forum in
Hermiston or Milton-Freewater. They are:
• Thursday, April 7, 6 p.m. at the Oregon National
Guard Armory, 900 S.E.Columbia Drive., Hermiston.
• Friday, April 8, 6 p.m. at the Milton-Freewater Com-
munity Building, 109 N.E. Fifth St.
For questions about the Hermiston forum, email valerie.
bradley@gmail.com or josiahbarron.pcp@protonmail.
com. For the other event, contact Suni Danforth, Central
Committee chair, at 541-215-9389 or ucrpchair@gmail.
com.
• • •
You still have time to get your act in gear for the Com-
munity Talent Show. Organized by the Hermiston High
School Band Boosters, all ages and any and all forms of
talent are welcome.
Open auditions are April 12-13, 6-9 p.m. in the HHS
band room, 600 S. First St. People do not have to regis-
ter in advance. The performance is April 23, 6 p.m. in the
school’s fi ne arts auditorium.
The show will serve as a fundraiser for the HHS Band
Boosters. The top three acts will receive prizes.
For more information, email Mike Kellison at michael.
kellison@hermistonsd.org or search/send a message via
www.facebook.com/hermistonbandboosters.
• • •
Oregon School Employee Association Chapter 10 of
Hermiston is off ering two scholarships worth $500 each to
help those planning to continue their education through an
accredited college or university.
One of the scholarships will be awarded to a classi-
fi ed employee of the Hermiston School District who is
an OSEA member in good standing. The other is being
off ered to a graduating high school senior residing within
the United States who is related to a current OSEA Chap-
ter 10 member.
Scholarship applications are available at the Hermiston
High School counselor’s offi ce or by contacting Michelle
Kane, Chapter 10’s scholarship chair. Completed applica-
tions and accompanying materials need to be turned in at
Desert View Elementary School by April 20 at 3 p.m.
For more information, contact Kane at michelle.kane@
hermistonsd.org.
• • •
Stop by the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys
Ave., April 15, 1:30-4:30 p.m., make a craft, participate in
an Easter puzzle hunt and collect a goody bag. This event
is for kids from preschool to fi fth grade. Items are available
while supplies last.
• • •
Are you in need of a book recommendation? Or, per-
haps, you would like a new group of literate and friendly
new chums. The Bookminders book club, has chosen “The
Healing of Natalie Curtis,” as its book of the month. The
book is available at the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave.
• • •
Did you miss Craft Night at the Hermiston Public
Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave.? If so, do not fret. April 6,
the library will be doing some spring cleaning. Library staff
will set out bags of crafts for you to do at home.
• • •
In-person Story Time at the Hermiston Public Library,
235 E. Gladys Ave., is back. Join the storyteller every Tues-
day at 10:30 a.m.
• • •
Blue Mountain Community College recently
announced its winter term 2021-22 honor roll, with more
than 200 students who made the President’s List with a
GPA of 3.75 to 4.0 and more than 100 are on the Vice Pres-
ident’s List, earning a 3.5 to 3.74 GPA. To view a list of the
students, visit www.hermistonherald.com.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, April 7, is turkey noodles, salad, green beans
and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, April 12, is barbecue
pork, pea salad, fruit 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.