A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2022
LIGHTER SIDE
THREE MINUTES WITH...
HERMISTON HISTORY
Watermelon Festival
enjoyed 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
JULY 8, 1997
Rita Campos
Umatilla
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I’m originally from Costa Rica, lived in southern California, close to 38
years. I went to Bremerton (Washington) to work for Head Start for
a few years, then came over here to work at Umatilla-Morrow Head
Start where I’ve been working for four years. I love what I do, because
I get to make a difference for children. I work with parents to help kids
as they get ready for kindergarten. It’s all about making things better for
families, giving them tools.
Could you tell me a little more about Umatilla-Morrow Head
Start?
We are a non-profit organization that’s pretty much a blanket. We have
early Head Start, Healthy Families and WIC. We also have a program,
Pre-school Promises. We have CASA as well. We help people who go
through the foster program. There’s more, too. We’re part of the com-
munity, and I like to get out in the community to be present and share
with people about what we do. And everybody who is in the organiza-
tion, they’d say the same thing. We are there for families, children and
the community.
Today, you have a booth at the Umatilla Saturday Market,
talking to people about what you do. What do you think about the
market?
It is a great way to get to know people and organizations. I’ve gotten
to know people and the things they are doing in the community. And
there are other things like this. I went to Landing Days, and it was awe-
some. A lot of the vendors there are here (at the Umatilla Saturday
Market), so it becomes a community event. You get to know everybody.
What are some of your other favorite activities in Umatilla?
I’ve done the Polar Plunge.
Isn’t that dangerous?
No, not necessarily. There’s some ice, and it’s cold, but it’s not bad. It’s a
fundraiser, and we got more than 60 coats for kids.
It sounds like you do a lot of good for your community.
Yes, but I’m not the only one. There’re so many people with school dis-
tricts, libraries, police departments and more. There is so much work
with so many different people, and it’s just growing so there are more
and more.
It is pretty obvious this area is famous for
its watermelons. So when the annual Water-
melon Festival comes around, you can guar-
antee it will be packed with activities to cele-
brate Umatilla County’s prized crop.
The all-day gala began at 6:30 a.m. on Sat-
urday, July 26, 1997, with a “Breakfast In The
Park.” Once everyone was fed and energized,
the festivities began.
Some of the anticipated events were the
watermelon eating and seed-spitting com-
petitions, lawn mower races and demonstra-
tions by the Northwest Olympic Taekwondo
Oregon State National Junior Team. For
sport enthusiasts, there was even an all-day
softball tournament near the Marina Park.
A festival is not a true celebration without
music, though. Many performers, includ-
ing duet pair Lynette Barthel and Brenda
Goodyear, “Cowboy” Steve Ferrebee, Duane
McMillin and Tony Madrigal entertained
throughout the day.
Co-chairwoman Lavelle Partlow said,
“Everybody comes to hear Tony. He is our
main performer.”
Along with all the events mentioned, nu-
merous vendors, craft stations and booths
were open.
issued Wilson a citation.
Wilson countered that in his experience
as a law enforcement officer, suspended li-
censes that have not been surrendered are
picked up by the state police, and his had not
been picked up.
“I did not drive intentionally with a sus-
pended license,” he claimed.
After about 20 minutes of debate and dis-
cussion on the topic, the jury arrived at a ver-
dict, innocent.
50 YEARS AGO
75 YEARS AGO
A court filled the Echo City Hall for a rare
jury trial concerning the previous Echo mar-
shal and a suspended license.
Ronald D. “Tex” Wilson was charged with
operating a motor vehicle in Echo on the
evening of May 28, 1972, while his license
was suspended. He was town marshal until
two years prior, when the city hired Dennis
Rockwell as its police chief.
Joe L. Martin, who became municipal
judge in March, served as the judge. Leeroy
Ehlers, a Pendleton attorney, represented
Wilson. Donald Morrison served as city at-
torney. Dennis Rockwell was the key witness,
and his wife, Marcia Rockwell, served as
court clerk.
The trial opened with verification of the
accusation and Wilson’s license suspension.
Next was Rockwell, who explained how
he saw Wilson driving that night, communi-
cated with the vehicle department and then
According to the Umatilla City Planning
Commission, the town of Umatilla “ought
to be bigger.”
According to the previous census, Uma-
tilla had just 370 residents. However, with
the construction of the McNary Dam, an
estimated 4,000 workers would be required.
The dam would be two miles up the Co-
lumbia River from the current city bound-
aries, though.
To prevent the appearance of “shackle
towns,” as the commissioner called it, the
city needed to grow. In addition, if Umatilla
was enlarged, the dam workers would have
a faster and easier commute. The proposed
expansion would have Umatilla run west
to Morrow County, south three miles and
east four more miles. If this were to happen,
Umatilla would end up being about a third
the size of Portland.
On August 11, the people of Umatilla
Hermiston Herald, File
Skip Walchli examines his crops to be donated to the 1997 Watermelon Festival with Tyler Fox
and Linda Fox, a member of the Watermelon Festival Committee.
JULY 6, 1972
JULY 10, 1947
would have the opportunity to vote on
whether to expand their city to an area of 35
square miles or keep it as it was.
90 YEARS AGO
JULY 7, 1932
After a long and full life, at the ripe age
of 89, Civil War Veteran William C. Morse
passed away.
Morse grew up and spent most of his
childhood in Indiana and Illinois. Still rather
young, he enlisted in the Civil War in 1861,
though it was not mentioned which side he
joined.
After serving for three years, Morse re-
mained in the area for a while. Then, in 1880,
he traveled west and settled in Idaho, spend-
ing his later years in California and Oregon.
A devout Christian, Morse was totally
blind for 18 years and in poor health for his
last three years. On June 30, 1932, he passed
away at the house of his son, J.P. Morse.
Morse left behind a large family to mourn
for him, including his three sons, J.P. Morse
of Hermiston, S.P. Morse of Pierce, Idaho, D.
Morse of San Diego, California, 14 grand-
children and 12 great grandchildren.
A funeral service was held at the Prann
Funeral Parlor and burial ceremony at the
Hermiston Cemetery to honor the long life
of this man who participated in one of our
country’s most influential times.
█
McKenzie Rose, a junior at Echo High School, searched
Hermiston Herald archives to compile these article
summaries.
By The Way
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ begins Movies in the Park season
Movies in the Park kicks off Friday, July 8 in Hermiston.
Grab some snacks and lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the
free flicks at Butte Park, 1245 N.W. Seventh St. Held the last
four Fridays in July, the shows start around sunset, approxi-
mately 8:30-8:45 p.m.
Scheduled movies include: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (July 8),
“American Underdog” (July 15), “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
(July 22) and “Beethoven” (July 29). For more information, visit
www.hermistonrecreation.com or call 541-667-5018.
• • •
Drop by the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., for
an extra-special event on Thursday, July 14, 6 p.m. Author Jane
Kirkpatrick is planning to be present at the library to discuss her
book “The Healing of Natalie Curtis.”
Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author and speaker from
central Oregon with more than 39 published works that have
sold more than a million copies.
She primarily writes historical fiction, often based on the lives
of real people, with themes of faith, commitment, hope and
love.
• • •
There’s a whole lot more at the Hermiston Public Library.
Its activities include the Teen Summer Reading Program Wa-
ter Balloon Fight on July 30, 3 p.m. The library is hosting this
event as a big thank you to everyone participating in its summer
reading program.
There is still time to join the program and get ready for the
balloon fight, but you’ll want to be quick. Go to the library and
ask how you can get involved right away.
• • •
Mark your calendars, the 234th Army Band is marching into
town for a concert. Among the performers is Kyle Ketchersid, a
2019 Hermiston High School graduate.
The event is July 22, 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Hermiston
High School, 600 S. First St. There is no admission charge.
• • •
Visit the Boardman Farmer’s Market Monday, July 11,
5-8 p.m., as it supports local farmers and artisans. Music, activi-
ties and fun await at The Farmer’s Cup, 450 Laurel Lane, Board-
man.
• • •
The Umatilla Saturday Market is the place to be for some fun
Saturday, July 9, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Located at Village Square Park on Sixth Street, next to Umatilla
City Hall, the market takes place every Saturday to September 10.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for Thursday,
July 7, is baked potato, salad, fruit and dessert. The menu for Tues-
day, July 12, is spaghetti, garlic bread, Jello salad 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.
priorities
A hundred years from now it will not matter what My bank account
A hundred years from now
it will not matter what my
bank account was, the sort
of house I lived in, or the
kind of car I drove... but
the world may be different
because I was important in
the Life of a Child.
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