A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022
LIGHTER SIDE
THREE MINUTES WITH...
HERMISTON HISTORY
Rotary in 1972 welcomes
Finnish exchange student
25 YEARS AGO
AUGUST 26, 1997
Matt Combe
MORROW COUNTY
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Matt Combe, superintendent of Morrow County School District.
Where did you grow up? When did you come to Morrow
County?
I grew up in Summerville. I have lived in Morrow County since June of
2006. I attended Imbler High School, Imbler. Undergraduate at Eastern
Oregon State College (Bachelor of Science in physical education and
health). Graduate Studies: Eastern Oregon University (master’s degree
in teacher education), Lewis & Clark College (administrative licensure
program).
What are a few of your hobbies?
Spending quality time with my three kids; Madison (21-years-old),
Kaden (18) and Mariah (14). We enjoy outdoor recreational activities.
How do you spend your free time?
Attending local youth and high school athletic events and extracurricu-
lar activities. And, spending quality time with my kids.
Joseph Overstreet, a 15-year-old Pend-
leton resident, had thrived in the art of
karate, having qualified for international
competitions in Hawaii twice, where he
placed third in fighting. However, earning
a black belt would perhaps be his hardest
task yet.
Overstreet’s career began at a very
young age, as both of his parents were Ka-
rate-ka, practitioners of karate. Before he
could walk, he was introduced to the art of
punching and kicking. By age 3, Overstreet
was in uniform and started formal instruc-
tion just two years later, practicing twice a
week for 10 years.
His test for a black belt in Shito Ryu Ka-
rate spanned three days, during a train-
ing camp that covered typical karate as-
pects such as exercise, basic skills training,
kata — forms — self-defense and weap-
ons. While the other participants rested
in between training events, the black belt
candidates underwent further testing. In
addition to all those physical rigors, they
also had to teach karate to younger ones to
demonstrate their mental capabilities.
Overstreet was undaunted by the tests
that pushed his boundaries. As his mother,
Karen Overstreet, added of his perfor-
mance, “You find out you can do a whole
lot more than you think.”
50 YEARS AGO
Hermiston Herald, File
Joseph Overstreet, 15, proudly poses in August 1997 with his large collection of karate awards.
What is something that you’re passionate about?
In addition to my work as an educator for Morrow County School Dis-
trict, I am passionate about my service on the Oregon Schools Activities
Association Delegate Assembly and Executive Board.
What are a few of your proudest accomplishments?
Without a doubt my three kids, Madison, Kaden and Mariah. Addi-
tionally, being elected to serve on the Oregon Schools Activities Asso-
ciation Executive Board and receiving the Heppner Chamber of Com-
merce “Lifetime Achievement” Award for community service in 2021.
What do you like most about the community you live in?
What I like most about living in Morrow County is all of the hard
working people and community leaders who have “can-do” attitudes
and continually strive to make our communities a great place to live
with lots of activities and opportunities for kids.
90 YEARS AGO
AUGUST 25, 1932
75 YEARS AGO
AUGUST 24, 1972
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a civic minded educator who enjoys living, serving and working in
Morrow County.
50-gauge thread. That effort and all the
other time she dedicated to crafting was
well spent as her masterpieces would prove
to fairgoers.
worried his English would not measure up,
it was observed that he spoke the language
well. After all, like many European coun-
tries, Finnish students were required to
learn English.
However, leaving one’s family, of which
Hakunti had a brother and two sisters,
would be difficult. In the event he felt
homesick, it was a lucky coincidence that
another Finnish exchange student would
be attending Pendleton that year as well.
AUGUST 28, 1947
Jouni Hakunti, a 17-year-old from Rai-
sio, Finland, was the first foreign exchange
student to attend Hermiston schools under
the Rotary International program.
Selected on a scholarship and good am-
bassadorship basis, Hakunti stayed with
the Klum family. One of the Klum boys,
Lyle, was around Hakunti’s age and the two
became friends quickly, spending his first
Sunday in America rowing across the Co-
lumbia River.
As you can imagine, traveling to a for-
eign country offers exciting opportunities
to experience many new things. A futbol
enthusiast, Hakunti was eager to observe
the American spin of the game and hoped
to play.
As for school, Hakunti was most look-
ing forward to math and history. Although
Lela Sievers of Hermiston brought
something unique to the Umatilla County
Fair. More than 1,000,000 feet of thread
and 10 hours of unique, that is.
Talented with intricate handiwork, Siev-
ers made and collected numerous rugs, ta-
blecloths, pillow slips and other articles to
feature in her fair exhibit. Among the items
were a pair of pillow slips handwoven and
handmade in Sweden over 100 years prior.
A quilt pieced together by her great-great-
grandmother during the Civil War would
also be on display, in addition to rugs that
Siever wove from clothesline and nylon
shroud lines from a parachute.
According to Sievers, the longest
amount of time she spent on a project
was 18 months for a tablecloth made of
While sad to see another Hermiston pi-
oneer die, the life of Thomas Walter Botkin
was one to remember.
He came to Hermiston in 1910 and es-
tablished one of the first farms in an area
now known as North Hill. A member of
the Odd Fellows Lodge for many years, he
also served in the Spanish-American War.
Botkin was very active in public af-
fairs and cared deeply for the land, hav-
ing served two terms on the district water
board. Also, he was in charge of the tur-
keys at the old Umatilla Experiment farm,
where Botkin had lived with his wife since
1945.
After several years of failing health, Bot-
kin died at the Veteran’s Hospital in Walla
Walla. To honor his historically rich life, fu-
neral services were to be held in La Grande
followed by a burial at the La Grande Cem-
etery. Botkin was survived by his wife,
daughter and Rube Zweifel of La Grande.
█
McKenzie Rose, a junior at Echo High School,
searched Hermiston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
By The Way
Make a paws-itive impact on National Dog Day
With National Dog Day coming up on Friday, Aug. 26, people
might consider lending a paw to dogs (as well as cats and kittens)
that are going through a “ruff” spot. Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue is
seeking foster providers.
Needs and situations vary — for the animal and the potential
placement. From emergency fosters on short notice for a few days or
several weeks to longer-term foster homes, Fuzz Ball is looking for
people to join its pack.
The nonprofit organization wags its tail for donations, including
monetary, pet food and supplies. Also, other volunteer opportuni-
ties are available.
To inquire about fostering, submit an application via www.fuzz-
ballrescue.com. For questions, email fuzzballrescue@gmail.com.
• • •
An old-fashioned county fair is underway in Moro. The Sherman
County Fair kicked off Tuesday, Aug. 23, and runs through Satur-
day, Aug. 27. It features free admission, including all the special ac-
tivities. However, bring your wallets — a handful of food vendors
will be on hand, as well as a beer garden.
While there isn’t a glitzy midway, the fair is packed with
fun things to do and see, including rodeo action Friday, Aug.
26, 7:30 p.m. and live music with Countryfied at 9 p.m. And a
demolition derby is Saturday, Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m., followed by
live music with Jager Bumz at 9 p.m.
For more information, search www.facebook.com/shermancoun-
tyfair. For questions, call 541-565-3510.
• • •
Book lovers won’t want to miss the opportunity to peruse more
than 50,000 books and media available for purchase. After a two-
year hiatus, Pendleton Friends of the Library is turning the page
with its annual book sale at the Pendleton Convention Center, 1601
Westgate.
To take advantage of the first selection, register as a member at
the door or in advance via www.pendletonfriendsofthelibrary.word-
press.com.
• Thursday, Aug. 25, 7-9 p.m. (member preview sale)
• Friday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 27, 3-5 p.m. ($1 bag sale)
For more information, email pendletonfriendsofthelibrary@gmail.
com or search www.facebook.com/pendletonfriendsofthelibrary.
• • •
The doctor is in — mark your calendars because the Teddy Bear
Clinic is returning as part of Family Health & Fitness Day. The free
family-friendly event is Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hermiston High
School. Watch for a story in mid-September with more details.
New this year is a pre-event 5K Fun Run. For an event T-shirt,
participants must register by Wednesday, Aug. 31 at www.
eventbrite.com. The fee is $20 or a family ticket for up to six people
is $90 — without a shirt, registration is $15 or $60, respectively.
Also, vendor applications — related to health or fitness — are ac-
cepted through Aug. 31. For questions, contact 541-667-3509 or
healthinfo@gshealth.org.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for Thursday,
Aug. 25, is baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables
and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, Aug. 30, is pork loin chops,
stuffing and gravy, vegetables 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.
priorities
A hundred years from now it will not matter what My bank account
A hundred years from now
it will not matter what my
bank account was, the sort
of house I lived in, or the
kind of car I drove... but
the world may be different
because I was important in
the Life of a Child.
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