A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
2
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022
LIGHTER SIDE
THREE MINUTES WITH...
HERMISTON HISTORY
Umatilla County Fair gets
lots of ink 25, 50 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
Kathryn Mc-
Cluskey, left,
takes a pic-
ture of Af-
ton Gawith,
14, middle,
and Meagan
Allen, 13, at
the Old Time
Photo Booth
during the
1997 Umatilla
County Fair in
Hermiston.
AUG. 12, 1997
Terry Cummings
Who are you and what do you do?
I am a retired minister and I currently serve as the lead chaplain for
Hermiston Police Department and Umatilla County Fire District No. 1.
Where did you grow up? When did you come to Hermiston?
I grew up in (at that time) the little town of Eagle, Idaho. Population
about 200 on a good day. My wife and I came to Hermiston in the fall
of 2006 to be the interim pastor of the Church of the Nazarene, and
they voted for us to stay, so we did.
What are a few of your hobbies?
I like to hunt, fish and do about anything outside. One of my indoor
hobbies is leather work. I especially enjoy making belts, holsters and
will tackle about anything else.
How do you spend your free time?
My free time is spent with my wife doing different things and trying to
figure out how we can see our grandkids who do not live near us.
How would you describe yourself?
I am an easy going person with a positive outlook on life who tries to
see the good in everyone and everything. I try to give people the benefit
of the doubt until they prove me wrong. One of my life-philosophies is,
“Let’s agree to disagree agreeably.”
What is something that you’re passionate about?
I am passionate about my faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ,
my family and serving our first responders. These men and women put
their lives on the line daily for the rest of us and I am proud to be con-
sidered a part of their teams.
What are a few of your proudest accomplishments (can be per-
sonal or job related)?
I really can’t take all of the credit for these but my sweetheart has stayed
with me for 55 years, I have two grown children who love God and
still love me and four grandchildren who love to spend time with their
grandpa. These are worth more to me than anything else. I pastored
full time for over 43 years and my wife and I still have friends from all
of those churches — some going back to 1970. With the encouragement
of Chief Jason Edmiston I was able to be a part of starting the first offi-
cial chaplain’s program here in Hermiston in 2011, and the fire district
joined a bit later. But you see, all of these “accomplishments” were not
mine alone. They resulted because I was privileged to work with others
who made these things possible. And most of all the thanks and praise
go to God for leading me and giving me what I needed and not what I
deserved.
What do you like most about the community you live in?
The people. The friendliness of Hermiston’s folks makes this town a
place where I want to live.
Kathryn McCluskey’s Old Time Photo
booth gave those attending the Umatilla
County Fair the opportunity to relish in
the past while providing funding for her
private Christian schools.
McCluskey established the Three R’s
Schools, open to preschoolers through
third grade, in Pendleton and College
Place. With 125 students total, she en-
countered some monetary challenges,
adding, “It’s so expensive to run a school.”
Fundraisers such as this one enabled her
to cover the rent while keeping tuition
low.
Inspiration for the unique fundraising
method came from McCluskey’s 16-year-
old daughter, who brought home a picture
of herself sporting an old-fashioned out-
fit from a Washington fair. Since she used
the same Polaroid film in her camera as
that photographer had, McCluskey rea-
soned she could give it a try.
McCluskey searched remote shops for
vintage clothing and some of her student’s
parents even crafted old-fashioned outfits.
The result was a closet ranging from off-
the-shoulder satin dresses, ruffles, march-
ing band jackets trimmed with gold braid
and more.
Since 1976, McCluskey had traveled
to the Umatilla County Fair, Walla Walla
Days, Pendleton Round-Up and other
events to feature her Old Time Photo
Booth.
50 YEARS AGO
AUG. 10, 1972
Although the 1972 Umatilla County
Fair parade had fewer entries, parade
chairman Tim Gilleese predicted it to be
even better than previous ones.
To start off, there would be a greater
number of larger floats, from the Uma-
tilla Army Depot, Tri-Cities Water
Follies, Pacific Power and Light, Mil-
ton-Freewater and Hermiston chambers
of commerce and other organizations.
In addition to the typical bands, politi-
cal candidates, antique cars, riding clubs,
church groups and fair and rodeo courts,
the parade was expected to entertain a
wide audience.
In addition, two color guards were to
be featured in the parade, one from the
Hermiston
Herald, File
90 YEARS AGO
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the other
from the Disabled Veterans organiza-
tions. According to Gilleese, A.H. Nor-
ton, president of Inland Empire Bank,
would march as the parade’s grand
marshal.
Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug 12,
the 90 entries were scheduled to walk,
drive, wheel and float from the fair-
grounds, heading west from Orchard Av-
enue at Northwest Sixth Street, turning at
Northeast Seventh Street, and looping all
the way back to the formation area.
AUG. 11, 1932
75 YEARS AGO
AUG. 14, 1947
Otis Jordan’s Signal Service Station expe-
rienced an extremely close call with a fire,
barely escaping an explosion.
A routine refilling of the station’s gas
tanks was occurring when static electricity
started a fire under the bulk of the delivery
truck. According to Jordan, flames began
sprouting at the opening of one under-
ground tank and then spread to the other
tank while both were being refilled by the
delivery truck. As you know, gasoline and
flames are a highly dangerous combination
and a huge fire erupted.
Thankfully, commercial fire extinguish-
ing powder was soon applied and the fire
was brought under control, but not before
both the station and delivery truck sus-
tained heavy damage. Though the dam-
age would render a high cost in monetary
terms, it was quite miraculous that the gas
tanks on the truck did not explode, as they
were heated considerably.
With three new teachers, plans to con-
tinue the music program and their athlet-
ics coach attending the Olympic Games,
Hermiston High School Superintendent
R.H. McAtee was looking forward to the
1932-33 school year with excitement.
The high school faculty was to remain
the same, with all three position adjust-
ments occurring in the grade school. Ra-
chael Slon would be the new first grade
teacher, Clarence Henning in charge of
second grade and eighth graders would be
taught by Millie Holm. One position that
had not been filled, though, was a full time
music teacher.
To avoid termination of the progress
made in their music department over the
last couple of years, the school district
planned to have a few teachers share the
load and teach music to all grades. Also, ar-
rangements were in motion for a part time
high school orchestra and band teacher,
though an official announcement had not
yet been made.
Wallace J. Cochran would again teach
athletics and coach the football team, but
with a new style. Not only had he taken
a special course on coaching at the Uni-
versity of California, but also attended the
Olympic Games in Los Angeles over the
summer. With the knowledge Cochran
gained from both events, the upcoming
football season was greatly anticipated.
█
McKenzie Rose, a junior at Echo High School,
searched Hermiston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
By The Way
Hermiston Herald celebrates with trio of ONPA newspaper awards
The Hermiston Herald is celebrating winning three individual
awards in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association‘s annual
Associate Member Publications Contest.
Community editor Tammy Malgesini and Herald editor Erick Pe-
terson both won awards in best local column. Malgesini took first
place for a selection of her “Inside My Shoes” columns and “Peter-
son’s Points” won the third-place award.
Former Herald photographer Ben Lonergan‘s “Dream Team
Softball” photo took third place for best news photo.
The awards were for the 2021 calendar year. ONPA announced
the awards July 28-29, at Mount Hood Resort in Welches.
• • •
Another kind of celebration — and the more the merrier. It’s been
45 years since the Hermiston High School class of 1977 turned the
tassel. Fellow Dawgs from 1974-80 are invited to a multi-class re-
union party weekend:
Friday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m., no-host social at Midway Bar & Grill, 1750
N. First St.
Saturday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m., official reunion party at the Har-
kenrider Senior Activity Center, 255 N.E. 2nd St. (registration re-
quired).
Saturday, Aug. 13, 10 p.m., no-host after party at Hale’s Restau-
rant & Lounge, 174 E. Main St.
Admission is $35 for the official event, which includes dinner, danc-
ing and music by Brass Fire Band. To register, contact LelaGreg Loftus,
Angel Piatt or Robin Peck Young via Messenger. For more informa-
tion, search Facebook for “Hermiston High School Class of 1977.”
• • •
And don’t forget, the Hermiston Rotary Club Cowboy Breakfast
is at a new venue this year.
A 50-plus year tradition during the later part of fair week, Ro-
tarians will serve up a hearty meal of pancakes, sausage, eggs, hash
browns and fresh fruit. The breakfasts are Friday, Aug. 12 and Sat-
urday, Aug. 13, 6:30-10:30 a.m. at the Hermiston Community Cen-
ter, 415 S. Highway 395.
The cost is by donation. Money will support the Umatilla County
Fair Youth Livestock Sale.
• • •
The 34th annual Farm-City Pro Rodeo kicks off this week at the
Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1705 E. Airport Road,
Hermiston. It runs nightly Aug. 10-13, 7:45 p.m.
General admission tickets are $17 and reserved seats are $20.
Children’s tickets are $5 on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
Come early for mutton bustin’
contests. And after the last bull has bucked, adults are can linger in
Chute Eight for drinks and dancing with Dan Burns 3D Produc-
tions.
Tickets are available at www.farmcityprorodeo.com and at the
FCPR office, 975 S.E. Fourth St. For questions, call 541-564-8500.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for Thursday,
Aug. 11, is hamburgers, chips, potato salad, fruit and dessert.
The menu for Tuesday, Aug. 16, is spaghetti, cottage cheese, gar-
lic bread 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.
AGRICULTURE & YOUTH NIGHT
CALF DRESSING EVENT
FFA members from
throughout the county compete
Winning chapter will receive $1000
courtesy of Elmer's Irrigation, Inc.!
NOW HIRING
Hermiston & Morrow County locations
are in need of safe and reliable
ELMER’S IRRIGATION, INC.
"Proudly serving and investing in the future of our communities."
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
• Paid training
• Paid licensing fees
• Medical - Dental - Vision • Paid sick leave
• $18.75 per hour to start
• Part time
• 401k 100% vested + 4% match
• Holidays & weekends off
• Sign on bonus of up to $6,500 depending
on location
80527 Hwy 395 N. • Hermiston • 541-567-5572
$
6.00
HAMBURGER
www.midcobus.com • 541-303-5093
1740 E. Airport Rd., Hermiston, OR
230 Boardman Ave. NE, Boardman, OR
lb
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541-567-2011
253 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston
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