HERMISTON
HERALD
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
INSIDE, FOR
SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.
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EasternOregonMarketplace.com
UMATILLA COUNTY
Jessie Leigh returns
to the Grant County
Fair to perform on
Friday, Aug. 12.
Tanni Wenger
Photography/
Contributed Photo
AUGUST 10-17, 2022
WWW.GOEASTERNOREGON.COM
Fair
days
GRANT COUNTY FAIR MARKS
113 YEARS AUG. 10-13, PAGE 8
Explore Celebrate
Listen
Charm Grassroots Afroman
Trail
Festival
Concert
PAGE 3
PAGE 9
PAGE 13
Go! Eastern Oregon
Arts & Events in Eastern Oregon
Popular magazine spotlights the best in local
entertainment.
SCHOOLS
Photos Yasser Marte/Hermiston Herald
A Hermiston Desert Shrine Club member gives a high-five Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, at the Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off Parade in Hermiston.
BattleBots
Area students take to robot battles.
A7
Fair kicks off with parade
LOCAL NEWS
Samantha Craig-Allen, 19, 2022 Happy Canyon princess, left, State Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athen, center, and Tiah Degrofft, Pendleton Round-Up Association board
member, all greet the crowds Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, during the Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off Parade in Hermiston. The fair runs Aug. 10-13 at Eastern Oregon
Trade and Event Center, Hermiston.
Umatilla Rural Fire brings on veteran chief. A3
COMMUNITY
Remembering Santa Claus
Morrow County Fair just a week away. A6
GOVERNMENT
Local officials support Oregon’s
fire risk map reversal. A14
John Perkins, beloved
Hermiston Santa Claus
and community
volunteer, has died
BY JOHN TILLMAN
Hermiston Herald
John Perkins, beloved Santa
Claus for the children of Hermis-
ton and other local communities
has died. He was 70.
“We were deeply saddened by
John’s passing,” Hermiston Parks
and Recreation Director Brandon
Artz said. “For over a decade, he
would stop in throughout the year,
bringing joy every time. We’d
see him beardless, then getting
ready for Christmas.”
Parks and Rec would have him
to its events. Perkins helped raise
donations for the teddy bear cam-
paign for nursing home residents
whose families weren’t able to visit
often.
“He was one of a kind,” Artz con-
tinued. “He told us stories about
what Christmas meant to him.
He was unique. We’ll miss him
even more when planning for the
Christmas tree lighting this year.”
Artz recalled Perkins’ appear-
ance at the aquatic center pool in
July 2019.
“We said it would be fantastic
for him to show up for Christmas
in July,” he said, “but it’s going to be
See Perkins / A12
Hermiston Herald, File
John Perkins, as Santa Claus, throws the switch to light the Hermiston Christ-
mas tree Dec. 2, 2021. Perkins, who had pancreatic cancer, died July 27, 2022,
at the age of 70.
BUSINESS & AG
OUTSKIRTS
Popeyes
Stanfield
Hermiston Popeyes’ location
receives construction update.
A8
Stanfield readies for another
housing development A9
The city on the Columbia River
makes moves for improvements.
A9
GOOD SHEPHERD HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
SAVE THE DATE:
Family Health & Fitness Day + 5K Fun Run,
September 24th, 9am – 1pm at
Hermiston High School!
FREE, fun, family-friendly event with health
information, health screenings, and giveaways.
NEW! Now with pre-event 5K Fun Run!
5K Registration available via Eventbrite.
Reach out to Good Shepherd’s
Community Health & Outreach
Department for more information
or to be fitted for a FREE Children’s
Bike Helmet: 541-667-3509 or
healthinfo@gshealth.org
www.gshealth.org