A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022
LIGHTER SIDE
THREE MINUTES WITH...
HERMISTON HISTORY
Hermiston woman becomes a
master tour guide 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
JUNE 24, 1997
Teres Fair
Echo
Can you tell me about your home?
My family has lived here for five generations. My grandkids are the fifth
generation.
How important is family to you?
Family is the most important thing to me — absolutely, bar none, the
most important thing to me. To support and help support a family is
what I love the most.
Can you tell me about your family?
In my family, I have two boys, Rubin and Raymond. Raymond is mar-
ried to Jenna. He’s got two little girls. Rubin is married to Amanda. He
has three children.
What do you like to do as a family?
There’s so much. There’s sports. We do a lot of sports. We go to the fair.
The grandkids have animals. I own and run a ranch with my old-
est son, Rubin. Everyone works on the ranch. My youngest son, Ray-
mond, is a firefighter and his wife is a paramedic.
What’s your ranch work? What do you do?
I manage. I don’t have to sit on tractor anymore. I used to, and I used
to buckaroo in my younger days. I’ve done it all, and so now I have kids
and grandkids who do it.
Do you miss it?
I can look out my window and watch them do it, and that makes me
happy.
What do you want for your grandkids in life?
I want them to have a world where they have opportunities. I’d like
them to be able to do anything they want, and be successful in it.
I want my grandkids to choose positive things in their lives and be
around positive people.
With “the patience of a saint,” as tourist
Sylvia Gettig described her, Jo Lagerberg
quickly became a favorite local tour guide.
Lagerberg lived in Bend for 44 years until
moving to Hermiston in 1992. She moved to
town with her son, Phil Hamm, who took a
job in the area.
Not long after, she received a phone call
from the Hermiston Senior Nutritional Cen-
ter asking for volunteer tour guides.
Having extra time on her hands with re-
tirement, Lagerberg jumped right in.
“It was the best thing that could have
happened; it came at a time when I needed
something to do. I would rather arrange
tours than stay home and stagnate,” she said.
Although Lagerberg had never organized
a tour before, she had traveled extensively
around the world with her husband, Ted La-
gerberg, who died in 1988.
Travel experience would come in handy,
as she “knew what I (she) liked and didn’t
like about tours.”
Not only did the tourists enjoy Lagerberg’s
work, but Lagerberg herself also loved the
position, claiming that she had made “more
(friends) than I could have met on my own
in a million years.”
50 YEARS AGO
JUNE 22, 1972
As Armand O. Larive served as superin-
tendent at Hermiston Schools for nearly 30
years, the Hermiston City Council decided he
needed to be honored. A committee was es-
tablished to head the project.
The group got right to work discussing
several suggestions that had been offered, in-
cluding naming the junior high auditorium,
football field, an elementary and high school
swimming pool after Larive.
However, they agreed there should be a sin-
gle large, meaningful memorial designation
rather than several smaller ones named after
Larive.
There would still be more planning and
discussion required, but many people were
looking forward to what the committee would
come up with to honor the former longtime
Hermiston superintendent.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1997, volunteer tour guide Jo Lagerberg was hard at work organizing tours for local seniors.
Today, a Hermiston school bears his name.
75 YEARS AGO
Many agreed with Eaton, who voiced his fear
that, “without the fishing industry, the city
would face economic ruin.”
JUNE 26, 1947
90 YEARS AGO
“The past and the future of our city is
wrapped up in fish, and destruction of the
salmon run would mean the city we know
would cease to exist,” said Astoria Mayor Or-
val Eaton, regarding the construction and
development of dams along Oregon rivers at
a recent Federal hearing.
However, Paul J. Raver, the Bonneville
Administrator, countered by stating that
a full development of dams was crucial to
meet the Pacific Northwest’s growing power
needs. Raver even predicted the area might
face a “brownout” in the winter due to over-
whelming power demands.
These conflicting statements highlighted
the two-day debate between fishing and
power agencies, where over 300 people, in-
cluding local Indians dressed in colorful na-
tive attire, attended.
A 10-year moratorium on new dam proj-
ects in the Columbia River below Okanogan
and the Snake River below its Salmon River
confluence was proposed, to allow time for a
salmon protection program.
A decision had not been made official,
but numerous fishing representatives were
in support of the moratorium suggestion.
JUNE 23, 1932
When rumors had spread that the annual
Oregon State Fair would be discontinued, a
storm of protests began.
The fair, held in Salem, had always re-
ceived a large attendance and was a favorite
summertime event for many.
Unsure of where the rumors originated
and anxious to put out the fire of public dis-
content, a committee of the State Bard of Ag-
riculture submitted plans for the operation of
the state fair to the governor.
But that wasn’t the only story that week.
Some Oregonians believed they had dis-
covered a new, resilient potato variety, only
to learn that it had already been growing for
the past year.
W.H. Zivney, president of the Oregon Po-
tato Growers Association, received the start
of the potato seed through County Agent J.
J. Inskeep from the Oregon Experiment Sta-
tion the previous year. Since then, Zivney
had been experimentally growing and ob-
serving the new variety.
The Katahdin Potato is round and short,
with smooth sprouts and shallow divots .
By The Way
Hermiston Cinema offers free summer movies for kids
Hermiston Stadium 8 Cinema, 355 W. Theater Lane, is throw-
ing open its doors for Free Summer Movies for Kids. Sponsored by
Advanced Pediatric Dentistry, the free flicks are Wednesdays and
Thursdays through Aug. 25. Adults accompanying kids are welcome
at no charge.
The doors open at 9:15 a.m. and the movie starts as soon as the
room fills. The last show starts at 10 a.m.
To see what’s showing, search facebook.com/hermistoncinema.
For questions, call 541-567-1556.
• • •
Also, for those looking for a mellow movie experience, Hermis-
ton Stadium 8 Cinema has you covered. Sensory Friendly Movies
will be offered Saturday, June 25 with “Jurassic World Dominion”
at 10 a.m. or “Lightyear” at 10:30 a.m. at 355 W. Theater Lane. The
doors open at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $6 per person.
The special arrangements, which include the lights up a little and
the sound down a bit, are presented through a partnership with The
Arc Umatilla County. The nonprofit organization said the sensory
shows are great for individuals with special needs.
For more information, call The Arc at 541-567-7615 or search
facebook.com/arcofumatillacounty.
• • •
Are you looking for a fun little day trip — the Spray Maker’s Market
might be just the thing for you. Crafts, produce and other wares will be
available for purchase. In addition, there is no charge to set up a table.
Our
The event, which also features a street dance, is Saturday,
June 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The General Store, 208 Main St., Spray.
The small town is located about 100 miles south of Hermiston.
Bring a hearty appetite, as Dayville’s Guyon Springs will serve a
smoked tri-tip lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Featuring Painted Hills
Natural Beef, the cost is $15.
A community gathering place, The General Store hosts every-
thing from musicians and film screenings to game nights and craft
fairs. For more information, call 541-468-2254 or visit spraygeneral-
store.com.
• • •
If you just want some low-key vibes, don’t forget about Music in
the Parks. The free summer concert series is weekly in North Mor-
row County.
One Trick Pony will perform Monday, June 27, 7 p.m. at Irrigon
Marina Park, 430 N.E. Eighth St. In case of inclement weather it will
be held at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 150 Columbia Lane.
Michael Trew offers an evening of Paul Simon solo hits and
Simon & Garfunkel covers, including some fun sing-alongs. People
are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs, as well as a picnic
and beverages to enjoy while listening to the music.
The venue alternates weekly between the marina parks in Irrigon
and Boardman — except the Fourth of July — through Aug. 1. For a
full schedule, search facebook.com/boardmanirrigon.
• • •
H ERMISTON and
M ORROW County locations
are in need of safe and reliable
S CHOOL B US D RIVERS
• Paid training
• Paid licensing fees
• Medical ' Dental ' Vision
• 401k 100% vested + 4% match
• $18.75 per hour to start
• Part-time
• Paid sick leave
• Holidays and weekends off
• Sign on bonus of up to $6,500 depending on location
www.midcobus.com • 541-303-5093
Hermiston office: 1740 E. Airport Rd. Hermiston OR., 97838
Boardman office: 230 Boardman Ave. NE, Boardman, OR. 97818
And for teens itching to get out of town before school starts,
Hermiston Parks and Recreation has just the trip just for you.
Students ages 12-17 are invited to RecDawg — Back to School
Shopping Day. A trip to Washington Square Mall in Portland is
planned. Participants will depart on Aug. 27 from the Hermiston
Community Center for the full-day excursion. The cost is $30 for
Hermiston residents and $41 for non-residents — must register by
Aug. 17. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/hermiston-
recreation. For questions, call 541-667-5018.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for Thursday,
June 23, is reuben sandwich, French fries, fruit and dessert. The
menu for Tuesday, June 28, is pork loin and stuffing, salad, vegeta-
bles 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.
LET US “MEAT”
YOUR NEEDS!
Beef • Pork • Sheep
• Wild game processing
• Curing
• Smoking • Jerky
• Smoked Sausage
AFFORDABLE
BEEF & PORK
BOXES!
Eastern
Oregon
Meats
253 Hermiston Ave.,
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-2011
WHEN EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS THESE DAYS,
STOP BY ELMER’S.
We have local familiar faces ready to help you with your irrigation projects.
“Proudly serving Eastern Oregon & Southeast Washington since 1978”
FEATURING:
Pipe: PVC, galvanized & black fittings;
Filters: Clemons, CTC, Gheen; Pumps: Small centricial pumps, Pressure Tanks;
Lawn & garden supplies: K-Rain sprinklers & valves;
Hand line, Main line, wheel line: gaskets & fittings, pipe cutting & threading
Pivot parts; Pivot sprinkler packages: Nelson & Senninger
Motors: UMC and US; Wheel Boxes: UMC & Valley
Valves: Butterfly, ball, gate, check;
Automatic control valves: Nelson, Netafim
ELMER’S IRRIGATION, INC.
“Proudly serving and investing in the
future of our communities”
Proudly serving Eastern Oregon & Southeast Washington since 1978
80527 Hwy 395 N. • Hermiston • 541-567-5572