WINNER OF THE 2020 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022
HermistonHerald.com
EasternOregonMarketplace.com
Hermiston’s
Snow
White
Jilli Smalley poses
March 30, 2022,
with tiny fi gurines
that she fashioned
herself.
Erick Peterson/
Hermiston Herald
By ERICK PETERSON • Hermiston Herald
J
illi Smalley is open about her abilities. The 31-year-old
Hermiston resident smiled broadly prior to a recent exercise
session, and she boasted of her ability to make friends.
“Even Grumpy likes Snow White,”
Jilli Smalley said.
Her mother, Kristi Smalley, explained
that her daughter, who is autistic and has
a seizure disorder, loves Disney and often
communicates with references to Disney
movies. She will refer to herself as Snow
White, though she sometimes calls herself
Doc or Sleepy, depending on the situation.
Speaking in a soprano-like, melodi-
ous tone, the younger Smalley indeed
sounds a bit like Snow White of the Dis-
ney movie. Also like the young princess,
she is warm and draws people near her. At
the exercise session, a gathering of people
at The Arc Umatilla County, she met with
several other Zumba practitioners. Before
rushing over to join the Zumba crowd, she
talked about her life.
The fi rst thing she mentioned was her
work at Pizza Hut, employment that she
said she enjoys. She works as a dish-
washer four nights a week, 3.5 hours per
shift.
“I wash dishes and mess around,” she
said.
She added she likes the people there,
and she sometimes makes sugar cookies
for them.
Over at the pizza place, her co-work-
ers stated their profound aff ection for the
woman. Manager Dave Beaty, said she is
a great asset to his team.
“The mood around here is diff erent
when she is not here,” he said. When she
is present, the atmosphere is bright. When
she is gone, less so.
In addition, he said, she is a hard
worker. In contrast to some other employ-
ees, she is approaches each task with sin-
gle-minded focus.
“She’s a highly-valued employee,
because she loves repetitive work, so
she’s perfect,” her mother said.
A fellow employee, Kimberly Parker
attested to Jilli Smalley’s drive.
“She is a bulldog in the dishwash-
ing pit,” Parker said of Jilli Smalley. She
added that Jilli Smalley will spray people
with water on occasion when they get in
her way.
Michele Kietzke, job coach with East-
ern Oregon Support Services Broker-
age, said that it is not all fun and games.
There are times when Jilli Smalley will
lose muscle control, succumbing to her
seizure disorder. This trouble can last 20
minutes. While temporary, Kietzke said, it
does necessitate the presence of a trained
professional.
Kristi Smalley said her daughter is
“pretty independent with her work skills,”
but also needs assistance if something
comes up that she doesn’t understand or if
there are communication issues. On occa-
sion, the communication issues are due to
the Disney references she makes.
“Some of her communication is taking
lines from Disney movies and trying to
apply them to situations,” her mother said.
“So, if you don’t speak Disney, it doesn’t
make any sense.”
Kietzke is present, too, to help trans-
late for her. She has been shadowing Jilli
Smalley for 13 years. During that time,
according to the job coach, they have
Erick Peterson/Hermiston Herald
Jilli Smalley practices Zumba at a class on March 30, 2022, in Hermiston.
become tight friends. They are together in
social settings, as well as work. They cook
and craft together, too. And of course,
they watch Disney cartoons.
Asked about the Pizza Hut menu,
Jilli Smalley said she does not eat pizza.
Instead, she said, she likes eating the
breadsticks. Along with French fries and
hot dogs, they are among her favorite
foods, she said.
A day in the life of Jilli Smalley
Even aside from her dishwashing job,
Jilli Smalley leads a busy life. She said
she wakes up at 5:20 a.m. and eats break-
fast, packs her lunch and readies for the
day. She goes to Trendsitions Inc., an
organization that teaches job skills to peo-
ple with disabilities.
Shredding documents, she said, is
among her favorite activities there.
After Trendsitions, she will run errands
Then, she will meet with friends for
games before going to work. On good
days, she said, she will be able to attend
Zumba classes.
“I love Zumba,” Jilli Smalley said, add-
ing it’s fun because it lets her “shake the
body.” Other favorite activities include
swimming, bowling and walking. If she
has time, she will do crafts, including
bead making.
After work and activities, she returns
home and gets ready for bed. Bedtime is
8:20 p.m., she said.
Kristi Smalley said she and her husband
accompany their daughter on many of these
activities, as the young woman would not be
able to do these things on her own. Also, she
gets help from the Eastern Oregon Service
Support Brokerage, which has been helping
people like Jilli Smalley for 20 years.
At the age of 18, Jilli Smalley was able
to enter the brokerage. Three years later,
after she graduated from high school,
the EOSSB stepped up its assistance to
See, Jilli/Page A9
Candidates in commissioner races come to Hermiston
By ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Herald
John Shafer told a group of
people Thursday, April 7, his
hope for his future as a Umatilla
County commissioner.
“I want to continue being your
humble servant,” the incumbent
said.
He added there was work left
to do, and he wanted people to
reelect him into offi ce so he can
resume it.
Shafer is running against two
challengers, HollyJo Beers and
Rick Pullen, who made their
appeals to voters, too, at the
county commissioner candidates
INSIDE
forum at the National Guard
Armory in Hermiston before
about 50 members of the public.
The three are running for com-
missioner Position 2.
Meanwhile, a fi eld of six can-
didates is vying for votes in their
race for Position 1, which is an
open seat in the upcoming elec-
tion. All six candidates, Bob Bar-
ton, Jesse Bonifer, Susan Bower,
David Nelson, Cindy Timmons
and Alvin Young spoke before the
Hermiston audience.
The Umatilla County Repub-
licans organized the forum, and
a moderator asked the candi-
dates a variety of questions. The
format capped most answers at
A3 SHIP plan approved by
council, property owners
30 seconds to a minute. Candi-
dates could say whatever was on
their mind, provided there was no
unruly behavior and they kept to
the time limits.
What followed was a cordial
series of talks from candidates
who off ered little disagreement.
They spoke on the priorities of
a county commissioner, solutions
for homelessness, plans for spend-
ing money given to the county for
COVID-19, the Greater Idaho
movement and more.
Candidates understood a ques-
tion about what rights do people
have when it comes to what to
See, County/Page A9
A6 Easter events scheduled for
area
Kathy Aney/Hermiston Herald
Alvin Young, a Hermiston store manager, introduces himself at the Umatilla
County Commissioner forum on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the National
Guard Armory in Hermiston.
A7 Umatilla High School heads to
Houston for world robotic competition
A10 Reunion brings back Irrigon
basketball heroes