A3 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2022
LOCAL NEWS
3
Amazon Think Big Space to open at UHS
Hermiston Herald
Umatilla High School is get-
ting its own Amazon Think Big
Space.
Umatilla School District on
June 29 announced in a press
release a collaboration between
Amazon Web Services Inc. and
the high school’s robotics pro-
gram is resulting in a revamp of
the space the program now uses.
The robotics program aims
to spark student interest in
STEAM — science, technology,
engineering, arts and mathe-
matics — and the new educa-
tional lab is going to support
that effort with a “stimulating
learning environment” that
helps expand the “school’s in-
teractive hands-on technical
education, cloud computing
training and advanced manu-
facturing technology offerings.”
This is the third AWS Think
Big Space in Eastern Oregon
and the second in Umatilla
County. Amazon opened its
first Think Big Space in the
county in April at Nixyaawii
Community School on the
Rosa Salinas/Submitted Photo
Phoenix Davis and Weston Elliott, students, interact with technology Dec. 2, 2021, at the Think Big Space at the
SAGE Center at the Port of Morrow in Boardman. Umatilla High School is next up to get an Amazon Think Big Space.
Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Umatilla School Board
Chair Jon Lorence in the press
release said it was “wonderful
to see this investment from
AWS in our school and com-
munity. We’re excited to get
started on the design and con-
struction work, which we ex-
pect to begin this summer so
we can open in January 2023,
just in time for the Umatilla
Robotics season kick-off and
game challenge reveal.”
Umatilla School District Su-
perintendent Heidi Sipe ex-
plained this Think Big Space is
unique because Umatilla robot-
ics students took the lead in cre-
ating the initial concept, project
design “and every step of the
grant application process for
the space.” The team ensured
AWS understood the full spec-
trum of the K-12 robotics and
STEAM offerings and articu-
lated its vision for a revamped
space, which is to have a strong
focus on advanced manufactur-
ing technologies.
This new training lab, she
continued, “will provide in-
dustry grade opportunities for
Umatilla students so they can
take their robotics work to a
new level.”
Sophomore Avery Gutierrez
was one of the students who
assisted with the grant applica-
tion process. She is the junior
project manager for Team Con-
fidential, the school’s robotics
team. She said is was a thrill to
help with the grant and honor
to receive it.
“I’m excited to see what we
can do as a team in this space,”
she said in the press release,
“and what opportunities we
can hopefully offer to the com-
munity as we learn to use our
equipment and teach others.”
The AWS Think Big Space
is an AWS InCommunities
program. Cornelia Robinson,
global lead of inclusion and
outreach for AWS InCommu-
nities, in the press release said
Amazon is committed to mak-
ing a positive impact in the
communities where its employ-
ees live and work.
“We are proud of our pres-
ence in Eastern Oregon and to
have the opportunity to sup-
port our neighbors who share
our passion for STEM educa-
tion,” according to Robinson.
“I hope this AWS Think Big
Space at Umatilla High School
allows its students to not only
‘think big’ but to also dream
big. I can’t wait to see what
they will create.”
Deadline nears for proposal for
Umatilla transitional housing project
Hermiston Herald
Good Shepherd Health Care System/Contributed Photo
The former site of Rogers Toyota in Hermiston is under new ownership. Good Shepherd Health Care System on
Wednesday, June 29, 2022, announced it plans to build a new urgent care facility at the Highway 395 location.
Good Shepherd readies to
build new urgent care facility
BY JOHN TILLMAN
Hermiston Herald
Good Shepherd Health Care
System announced it plans to
build a new, state-of-the-art
urgent care facility at a former
auto dealer site in Hermiston.
The local hospital and health
care provider announced it
closed in June on the purchase
of the former Rogers Toyota
property off Highway 395 in
Hermiston.
“Good Shepherd is expand-
ing its footprint to better serve
this great community,” accord-
ing to Brian Sims, GSHCS pres-
ident and CEO. “We are in the
early planning stages of con-
structing a whole new urgent
care that provides one-stop care
for our patients that need it.”
Caitlin Cozad, Good Shep-
herd public relations director,
said the total investment for
purchase and development of
the facility is around $10 mil-
lion. The project is in the design
phase, she emphasized, with
construction planning in early
development.
Good Shepherd plans to
break ground at the site some-
time this fall, once the building
is demolished.
“This will be a fully-sup-
ported urgent care, with diag-
nostic imaging and laboratory
services, right in the heart of
Hermiston,” Sims stated in the
press release. “We intend this lo-
cation to offer much more con-
venience, efficiency and space to
better serve our patients.”
Hospital administrators aim
to open the new urgent care in
October 2023, when the facility
on Elm Street relocates to the
Highway 395 site.
“We will have the same
amazing providers and staff,”
according to Sims, “but a more
robust facility to take care of you
quickly and efficiently, so that
you can get right back to your
work and family.”
The Toyota dealership in
December 2020 moved into a
new 30,000-square-foot build-
ing on the corner of Highway
395 and Punkin Center Road,
about 1 mile north of its pre-
vious location.
Organizations looking to manage the forth-
coming transitional housing project on the west
side of Umatilla County have about a week left to
make proposals.
Umatilla, Hermiston, Umatilla County and
other communities are partnering to create the
Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing
Project, or PATH. Umatilla on June 13 issued a re-
quest for proposal to identify a contractor to help
develop and manage the program.
Project PATH will serve as a safe place for un-
housed individuals to stay not only overnight but
for extended periods. The fenced facility, owned
by the city of Umatilla and on leased land, will in-
clude at least 12 rooms along with restrooms, open
areas, and office spaces, according to the request.
The RFP seeks an organization that will man-
age the Project PATH facility, including planning,
coordinating and delivering services. The fenced
facility will have at least 12 sleeping quarters, re-
strooms, common areas and office space. The con-
tractor will be responsible for providing 24-hour
“Eastern Oregon’s security company of choice.
“Eastern
ecurity company
of Oregon’s
choice. security company of choice.
We make your safety and security our top priority.”
Residential - Commercial Security Systems • Fire Alarm Systems
Video Surveillance • 24-Hour UL Monitoring
541-564-9398 • 541-276-4847 • www.smithsecurityllc.com
CCB#209095 WA: SMITHSL842C6
SPECIALS: July 3-8
$1.00 off
Energizer Smoothie
your local health food store & more ppp
20 % off
Keto Collagen by
Ancient Nutrition
collagen superfood powder
helps with skin, joints,
mobility, and is keto friendly.
19 oz
While you’re here - check out our deli specials!
2150 N First St. (Hwy 395), Hermiston, OR • 541-567-0272
WHERE YOUR HEARING IS MY CONCERN
Ears of Experience!
to help with your hearing needs
Verna Taylor HAS
Verna’s Hearing Care Center
Phone: (541) 667-9104 • Fax: (541) 233-2971
600 NW 11th St Suite E-21 , Hermiston, OR. 97838
vernashearingcarecenter@gmail.com
vernashearingcarecenter.com
Industry-leading rechargeability
rechargeability
ReSound ONE ™ rechargeable hearing aids feature
up to 30 hours of battery life* or up to 25 hours
with unlimited streaming from your favorite
devices.
*Expected battery life depends on active features, the use of wireless accessories, hearing loss, device age and
sound environment.
© 2020 GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved. ReSound is a trademark of GN Hearing A/S.
on-site staffing and access to educational, health
and care coordination services. PATH also aims
to provide educational and health services to its
occupants.
The contractor must “demonstrate success
bringing partners to the table with proven expe-
rience helping homeless individuals transition to
housing,” according to the request. Bids are due
July 7 by 4 p.m. to Umatilla City Hall.
With the Supreme Court’s September 2018 rul-
ing on the Martin v. Boise case, all areas that do not
allow homeless camping must provide shelter by
July 1, 2023. If completed on time, Project PATH
will help keep Umatilla County ahead of the curve.
Oregon House Bill 4123, a bill regarding home-
less services that passed in March 2022, will fund
the project in the beginning. Afterward, funding
shifts to other grants, the contractor and partner
governments.
A committee consisting of representatives from
Umatilla County and cities of Umatilla, Hermiston
Echo and Stanfield will evaluate the proposals. For
more information, visit www.umatilla-city.org.