HERALD
OPINION
and
reader’s
forum
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
OUR VIEW
Be mindful
of summer’s
heat impact
N
o one can do much about the weather except
note its severity — in the next few weeks the
region will enter one of its typically hot periods,
so area residents should be aware of how to stay cool and
safe.
That might be a tall order for some. Those of us who
must work outside on a regular basis do not have the
opportunity to simply stop our labors and go find some
shade or an air-conditioned building.
Others — such as those who lack housing — are also in
the bull’s-eye when it comes to extreme weather conditions,
whether it is dangerous cold temps or a severe heat wave.
Hopefully, we will not face the kind of high tempera-
tures we experienced last summer. Then, a seemingly
endless heat blanket descended on the Pacific Northwest
and baked the region.
The tips to avoid an injury from heat are simple and
relatively easy to adopt. Residents should wear light,
loose clothing, avoid high-energy, outdoor activities and,
perhaps most important, drink plenty of fluids, including
water.
It is also a good idea to keep a close watch on each
other to ward off a serious heat injury. An injury from
heat often can manifest itself in cramps, headache or diz-
ziness and confusion. Those types of symptoms are the
body’s way of warning it is in serious distress, and they
should not be ignored.
These all seem like simple — almost no-brainer —
types of steps and suggestions, but as we roll into the
deep summer it can be easy to forget that heat is as dan-
gerous as extreme cold temperatures.
In a way, we all can get complacent regarding how
quickly heat can sap our body and potentially create a se-
rious medical situation.
We all want to enjoy the great vistas and mountains
our area offers every summer. Finding a great place to
camp or spending a day out in the woods is one of the
key attributes of our region, why it is such a great place
to live, work and play. But we also want to make sure we
don’t underestimate how fast extreme heat can injure.
COLUMN
See you soon, Hermiston
BY ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Herald
A
couple of weeks ago, I awoke in
the middle of a conversation. I
was in the hospital, talking to a
doctor. Other medical professionals and
my wife were around me.
The doctor asked, “What year is it?”
The question shocked me, because
I wasn’t sure of the answer. I guessed,
wrongly, that it was 2014. I think that’s what
I said, though I may have said 2018. As I’m
writing this column, on Friday, July 22,
2022, my sister’s birthday, my mind still is
fuzzy.
I remember feeling panic when I didn’t
know the year. My worry grew when I was
asked for my location.
“Do you know where you are?” the doc-
tor asked.
I didn’t have a clue. When I was told that
I was in Hermiston, I didn’t even know what
Hermiston was or why I’d be here.
After a while, my thoughts began to clear.
I remembered my town and all of the good
memories I have created here.
This is where I met my wife, Nancy. We
had our first date at Hale’s Restaurant down-
“I am not sure when I will return.
... I will need to find out what is
wrong with me and how it can be
fixed.”
ERICK
PETERSON
PETERSON’S POINTS
— Erick Peterson, Hermiston Herald editor
town. I met her sons, who became my step-
sons after Nancy and I got married at Hat
Rock.
There are many places here that are im-
portant to me — the Hermiston Butte, the
Columbia River and more.
The Hermiston Herald office is perhaps
the most dear place in the world to me, and
memories of it have come back to me as
strong as anything else.
Almost a year ago, I was hired to be the
editor of this paper. Since then, I have come
to the Herald office to write stories about
some of the most terrific people I have ever
met. I wrote on a man who was braving can-
cer to be Santa Claus one last time. I wrote
on a woman with autism who worked day
in and day out as she battled a seizure dis-
order. I’ve met politicians, business leaders
and students, who were all trying to im-
prove the world in some way.
As I’ve done stories on them, I have
worked alongside the best journalists I have
ever met. EO Media editors, writers, pho-
tographers, page designers and more are
an amazing lot. I am honored to be in their
company, and I have learned much from
them.
It makes me sad that this is my last day
for a while.
I’m not sure when I will return. I hope it’s
soon, but I can’t be certain. My memory is
fading and my mind is cloudy. I will need to
find out what is wrong with me and how it
can be fixed.
In the meantime, there will be people
looking after this newspaper. I wish them,
and all of you, the best.
Goodbye for now.
█
Erick Peterson is editor of the Hermiston Herald..
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Let’s stand up for Melissa Lindsay
I write this letter after just leaving another
funeral meal that Melissa Lindsay is organiz-
ing. This may be the 10th one that I have ob-
served her helping the families that need help. I
see her everywhere doing this. That is the per-
son that she is.
My thought as I pass the people manning
the tables to spread half-truths and misinfor-
mation so that they can waste our county’s re-
sources on an unnecessary recall action, is that
I never seen them helping, organizing or vol-
unteering. This may be why they have time to
do this horrible thing. I say horrible because it
is unfair and presents an inaccurate picture.
As a long-time resident of our community,
I have witnessed the hard work Melissa Lind-
say has undertaken to assist the efforts of our
local organizations. I can speak for Heppner
Day Care. She approached Amazon regard-
ing their community outreach program and
directed them to this struggling non-profit.
Her efforts brought them enough money to
re-open after the coronavirus pandemic, but
to also improve staffing and many programs.
She encouraged them to apply for COVID-19
relief funding and other available dollars that
helped to continue operations.
The Heppner Community Foundation was
also a recipient of her encouragement. As a
board member, I can say that opening the
Gilliam and Bisbee Building weeks before
COVID-19 shut us down was discouraging.
Melissa found ways for this organization to
find funding to finish the projects and offer a
valuable gathering spot for our area residents.
I hope that the people that have benefited from
this spot remember that Melissa is a key factor
that made it available for us.
Funerals, weddings, proms, so many things
have been celebrated there. None of these
things would have been possible without the
foresight of Melissa Lindsay.
This is just the beginning of my list of reasons
that we need to fight against this horrible injus-
tice to one of our best residents. I hope that many
of you think back — have you been touched by
the day care, preschool (children, grandchildren?)
Have you had a reason to use or attend an
event at the Gilliam and Bisbee Building? If
yes, then please stop and thank Melissa. Let’s
stand up for the person that has helped so
many. We truly need people like her, here.
Kim Cutsforth
Heppner
HERMISTON
HERALD
Volume 115 • Number 30
Andrew Cutler | Publisher • acutler@hermistonherald.com • 541-278-2673
Erick Peterson | Editor • epeterson@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4536
Angel Aguilar | Multi-Media consultant • aaguilar@hermiston herald.com 541-564-4531
Audra Workman | Office Manager • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
Tammy Malgesini | Community Editor • community@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4532
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news,
advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
• email info@hermistonherald.com
• stop by our offices at 333 E. Main St.
• visit us online at: hermistonherald.com
The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston
Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838,
541-567-6457.
Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR.
Postmaster, send address changes to
Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main St.,
Hermiston, OR 97838.
Member of EO Media Group Copyright ©2022
Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District
needs a veteran to represent us
Issues linger with proposed
B2H transmission line
This letter is directed to every veteran in Ore-
gon’s 2nd Congressional District because our won-
derful representative, Cliff Bentz, voted against
allowing 56,000 veterans who are victims of the
burn pits in the Middle East from having access to
Veteran’s Affairs Health Care, citing it would cost
too much.
What Rep. Bentz fails to realize is that taking care
of the men and women who fought for freedom in
a far off land is part of the cost of war. To not vote
for that bill shows me that Bentz hasn’t been in the
military nor has he talked to any of you who are
suffering from the after-effects of those burn pits.
I think it’s high time that Oregon’s 2nd Con-
gressional District got a veteran to represent us
who knows what it means to protect his men and
women.
Dr. Joseph Yetter is a military veteran and a med-
ical doctor who will represent all of the district, not
just those who gave him big campaign contribu-
tions. Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District is better
with Yetter. So in November remember vote Joe Yet-
ter for Congress and send a fighter to Washington.
Barbara Ann Wright
Pendleton
For 13 years Idaho Power has been trying to
railroad the 310-mile-long B2H, Boardman to
Hemingway power lines through Eastern Or-
egon. No one wants it, but Idaho Power keeps
pushing, trying to outflank the public and gov-
ernment agencies, state and federal.
By the time they go into service they will be
archaic, but Idaho Power gets around 10% of the
building cost bonus, most of which will go into
stockholders’ pockets. Nor does Idaho Power
have an adequate fire plan for when the lines
break and start fires, as it did in Paradise, Cal-
ifornia, when PG&E ignited fire. Death toll: 85
people.
Nor has weed control from building the proj-
ect been properly addressed. The power lines
cross the Oregon Trail numerous times, but
Idaho Power could care less about preserving
them or the heritage that goes with them. Their
plan is to place their lines directly in front of
the $16 million Oregon Trail interpretive center
outside of Baker City.
The list goes on.
Whit Deschner
Baker City
CORRECTIONS
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
It is the policy of the Hermiston Herald to correct
errors as soon as they are discovered. Incorrect
information will be corrected on Page A2. Errors
committed on the Opinion page will be corrected on
that page. Corrections also are noted in the online
versions of our stories. Please contact the editor at
editor@hermistonherald.com or call 541-278-2673 with
issues about this policy or to report errors.
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters Policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for
the Hermiston Herald readers to express themselves
on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is
good, but longer letters should be kept to 250 words.
No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the
person. The Hermiston Herald reserves the right
to edit letters for length and for content. Letters
must be original and signed by the writer or writers.
Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should
include a telephone number so they can be reached
for questions. Only the letter writer’s name and city of
residence will be published.
OBITUARY POLICY
The Hermiston Herald publishes paid obituaries; death
notices and information about services are published
at no charge. Obituaries can include small photos and,
for veterans, a flag symbol at no charge. Obituaries and
notices may be submitted online at hermistonherald.
com/obituaryform, by email to obits@ hermistonherald.
com, placed via the funeral home or in person at the
Hermiston Herald or East Oregonian offices. For more
information, call 541-966-0818 or 800-522-0255, x2211.