A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022
OUTSKIRTS ECHO
Echo: A small town big on community
BY MCKENZIE ROSE
Hermiston Herald
W
ith a population well
under 1,000, there
is something special
about the tiny city of Echo.
There are multiple factors to
consider about the best aspects
of an area, the landscape, busi-
nesses, general community and
more. For now, let’s start with
Echo’s primary natural feature
— the Umatilla River.
This waterway provides
a wonderful opportunity to
cool off and
swim, with a
great stretch
of rocks for
peaceful riv-
erside strolls.
In addition to
the river, there
Rose
are some tran-
quil and beautiful walking paths
around the town. You even can
see wagon ruts from the Oregon
Trail in certain areas, monu-
mental history petrified in the
ground, which is truly amazing
to observe.
As you can imagine, a smaller
town is much less noisy and
busy than bigger ones. The train
comes through every now and
then, but that’s really the main
source of noise. For families
with younger ones, or just peo-
ple who enjoy biking or walking
around, you don’t have to worry
about traffic in Echo.
That being said, Echo is not
without character and flare.
Have you ever seen turkeys
wandering down Main Street in
Hermiston? How about pigs, or
my favorite, cows? I’ll admit, I
was very shocked to see all these
animals just sauntering down
the Echo streets. There’s also a
historic and old-town aura the
city possesses, with its antique
gas station and Western-style
buildings. Such features have
rendered Echo a prime spot for
high school senior and prom
photo shoots.
While small, Echo still has a
couple of neat downtown shops,
a cafe, two wineries, a museum
and a corn maze. Numerous
events throughout the year at-
tract many people to town, in-
cluding the Red to Red Bike
Race, Ace Car Show and Okto-
berfest, and on Saturday’s the
Echo Farmers Market starts in
the spring and wraps up in the
fall.
Just like Echo’s physical fea-
tures, our school is special in
many ways. Being K-12, there’s a
strong sense of unity as students
move up through the grades.
Whereas most towns have sep-
arate elementary, middle and
high schools, Echo has it all in
one. Soon enough, you get to
know people pretty well — and
not just their name or face, but
who they really are.
Our smaller size also enables
us to do many things that just
aren’t possible for larger schools.
For instance, during graduation,
the senior class compiles photos
of themselves throughout the
years into a slideshow. Gradu-
ating an average of 15 students
a year, each senior gets a good
three minutes to share a part
of their life with the audience.
With the hundreds of seniors
other schools graduate, such a
project would not be feasible.
One of my favorite parts
about Echo, though, is how the
community comes together.
Whether it’s Friday Night Lights
Football games, FFA events or
anything in between, the com-
munity is highly involved. Par-
ticularly, the state send-offs are
quite stunning. We have had
a few sports teams qualify for
state tournaments recently in
volleyball, soccer, basketball
and track and field, and they all
received a warm parting from
their proud community. On the
day the athletes are to depart,
their bus is escorted to the free-
way by firetrucks and police
cars with wailing sirens. Up and
down the streets, residents wave
and cheer them on.
Having been on the inside of
such buses, it is very humbling
to see how much your commu-
nity supports you. That is some-
thing I hope Echo never loses.
Having said all this, it is im-
portant to note that expansions
are being made. Grow though
it may, we can only hope that
Echo will retain its pleasant
small town feel that has at-
tracted people from all over.
█
Hermiston Herald, File
Hermiston Herald, File
A 1933 Ford Coupe owned by Todd and Mary Dimbat was on display
May 28, 2016, during the Echo Car Show.
Pastor John Marcum, right, of the Echo Community Church, passes
through the buffet line Nov. 20, 2021, during a Thanksgiving meal the
church in Echo hosted.
People with HIV
are our neighbors.
More than half of Oregonians with HIV
live outside Portland, often in suburbs or
small towns like this one.
But with today’s advances, HIV isn’t what it used to be.
People with HIV are living longer, healthier lives, with the
help of medication. By talking about HIV, we can support
our community. Testing and early treatment protect you
and your partner. Help is available if you’re HIV+.
Learn more and find free testing at endhivoregon.org
McKenzie Rose, a junior at Echo
High School, writes the Hermiston
History section for the Hermiston
Herald.
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TO
E CHO
L OCATED 188 MILES EAST OF P ORTLAND , THE C ITY OF E CHO IS SITUATED ALONG
THE U MATILLA R IVER WITHIN A TREE - LINED VALLEY KNOWN AS THE E CHO M EADOWS .
H UNTING , FISHING , HIKING , MOUNTAIN BIKING , GOLF , BOATING , BIRD - WATCHING AND
OTHER NATURE ACTIVITIES ABOUND . E CHO IS A POPULAR STOP FOR O REGON T RAIL
ENTHUSIASTS AND OTHER HISTORY BUFFS .
W ANT TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE ECHO PAGE ?
A GUILAR AT 541-564-4531 OR EMAIL AAGUILAR @ EASTOREGONIAN . COM