Ruralite
UMATILLA ELECTRIC
SEPTEMBER 2024
Tamara Bow, a registered nurse for Umatilla School District and InterMountain Education Service District, began her career with the support of a UEC scholarship in 2014.
Ruralite
September 2024 • Volume 72, No. 9
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS Chasity Anderson, CCC; Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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611 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 504 Austin, TX 78704
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Shining a Light on Rural Life
While I live in the suburbs now, I grew up on a country farm until I was about 12 years old. I understand what life away from common services and conveniences is like.
I had few neighbors as a child and even fewer with children my age. I spent a lot of my youth roaming our 50 acres with my dog, catching salamanders, feeding sheep and riding my bike. I became adept at entertaining myself.
Two stories this month highlight different aspects of rural living and the effort required to overcome obstacles.
Our Spotlight feature on Page 12 looks at how two rural high school athletes successfully raised their profiles to attract interest from college programs. Success wasn’t easy or instant. It took dedication and hard work to accomplish—something rural athletes know a lot about.
The Up Close feature on Page 10 takes us to
a small, remote Alaskan village, where harsh elements make having a solid home a matter of survival.
One organization designed a new energyefficient home that is expandable and adjusts as the foundation shifts due to temperature changes. So far, six of these homes have been built. The villagers who live in them save significant money on their heating bills thanks to the efficiencies of the new construction. They also are more comfortable and have room to process and store the fish and game they harvest to feed their families.
More homes are planned as funding becomes available.
Calendar Photo Contest
I want to thank the many readers who entered our calendar photo contest this year. As always, choosing the winners is a challenge. Congratulations to the winners. Visit ruralite.com/2025-calendar-winners to see the winning photos.
Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.
In 6 In the Kitchen 16
Hunt 22
Better Homes for a Better Life
New energy-efficient design changing lives in small community Up Close, Page 10
Running Toward the Future
Rural athletes overcome hurdles to win scholarships Spotlight, Page 12
You Go 30 Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32
Umatilla Electric Programs Help Local Students Turn Dreams into Reality
UEC’s youth programs have history of springboarding students into meaningful careers
Rural scholarship programs play a crucial role in empowering students from small communities by providing the financial support and resources they need to pursue higher education. These programs not only ease the burden of college expenses but also offer connections to their home community, supporting their pursuit.
The Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) scholarship program exemplifies this mission by investing in the futures of local students. Up to $50,000 in financial assistance is given annually, supporting young people to pursue their educational goal. By fostering the growth of the next generation, UEC is supporting these students to become leaders, innovators, and active members of the region.
By ANDREW CUTLER
Since she was 15, Juana Gaytan had a singular focus of becoming a physician assistant and with the support of a Umatilla Electric Cooperative scholarship, she was eventually able to turn that dream into reality.
Gaytan, a 2011 graduate of Riverside High School in Boardman, is a certified physician assistant/associate and currently works at Hope Clinic, a health center in Houston, Texas.
“I do family medicine and daily I get to treat the majority of my patients in their native language, Spanish,” said Gaytan, who is fluent in both English and Spanish. “Most of my patients come in with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol. I get to spend time with them educating them on the importance of health prevention.”
Gaytan said she chose to work in family medicine because that was where she felt she could make the most impact.
“I am fortunate to follow many patients’ progress providing them with the appropriate treatment and adjusting it as needed to reduce their risk factors,” she said.
As a PA-C, Gaytan has found a fulfilling career that offers both professional autonomy and personal flexibility.
“The great thing about being a PA-C is the work-life balance. The majority of us work in either a clinic or hospital setting. Despite the word ‘assistant’ in the title, we don’t actually assist anyone,” Gaytan said. “We collaborate with doctors and the medical team but we independently see, diagnose and treat our own patients. We also have flexibility of cross training in different specialties as well.”
After graduating from Riverside, Gaytan attended Oregon State University where she graduated in 2015 with honors.
While attending school in Corvallis, Gaytan received a boost from Umatilla Electric. After reading about the cooperative’s Scholarship Program in Ruralite, the first generation Mexican-American applied.
“It really helped with tuition,” Gaytan said of the scholarship. “Between employment, grants and many scholarships, I graduated with my bachelors degree without any student debt.”
The Umatilla Electric Cooperative Scholarship Program supports the accomplishments of its members and their children by awarding up to $50,000 annually to deserving students. The program is divided into three categories — academic, engineering and lineman trade.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from OSU, Gaytan applied to
a few PA programs in 2019 and was accepted to the University of St. Francis in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Gaytan said the role that the cooperative’s Scholarship Program played in her realizing her dream of becoming a PA-C can’t be overstated.
“Eastern Oregon is fortunate to have local companies such as UEC using their platform to support students in our region pursue higher education in all disciplines,” she said.
Gaytan emphasized the importance of determination and resilience for students pursuing their dreams, especially for those who are firstgeneration college students.
“For those students interested, my biggest advice is be willing to get out of your comfort zone, seek a mentor, and understand a lot of sacrifices are needed in order to achieve your goals, especially if you are a first-gen student,” she said. “We have to overcome more, as we are generally our family’s trailblazers.”
Hydromania Camp sparks interest in science, electrical career for Hermiston graduate
For Thomas Mabbott, the chance to attend Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s Hydromania Camp was initially just a chance to get out of the house during the summer and be with friends.
Little did the Hermiston High School graduate know at the time, it would spark a career in the trades.
“My sister, who is five years older than me, attended a year of Hydromania,” Mabbott said. “It’s safe to say, I was jealous that she got to be with friends and make memories, while I was stuck at the babysitters. So from that point I always looked forward to the chance of going.”
Mabbott finally got his chance to attend during the 2011 and 2012 summers.
UEC’s Hydromania Camp is focused on science, water, environment and energy. Hydromania includes hands-on experiments, activities, field trips and interaction with other students, making for an unforgettable experience.
“The best part of Hydromania were the field trips. Two that standout the most were the trip to the Umatilla River to learn about water and aquatic life,” he said. “And the tour of the inside of McNary Dam.”
Mabbott said it was that tour of McNary Dam where he met the
Juana Gaytan
Thomas Mabbott
Even for a basic battery backup system, the upfront cost of a battery backup is more than a standby generator—in some cases, twice as much for comparable performance.
Like those in your mobile phones, batteries in these systems can degrade over time. In five to 10 years, they may need to be swapped out with new batteries, adding to the overall cost. Recharging battery backups with solar panels appeals to many homeowners, but the performance depends on the amount and angle of sunlight on your roof.
So, is a battery-powered backup system right for your home? The answer is different for every homeowner, but whether you’re considering a battery system or a traditional standby generator, start by calculating the amount of power you need to keep your home’s systems and conveniences operating efficiently. Once you know that,
you can determine which models are up to the task and calculate how long the device you’re considering can power your home.
If you have a family member whose health depends on devices such as a CPAP machine or supplemental oxygen, be sure to factor that into your decision.
Whether you choose a battery backup or a traditional standby generator, make sure it’s designed to protect your home and all your electronics from power surges and other issues that may damage your TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. That way, you won’t have to worry about remaining without them long after an outage has ended. n
Battery backup systems, such as Tesla’s Powerwall, are high-capacity batteries that store a set amount of electricity that powers your home during an outage. PHOTO COURTESY OF TESLA
Running Toward
Rural athletes overcome hurdles to win scholarships
By David Herder
Dannika Goss has always wanted to play collegiate volleyball. Life put many challenges along her way to that goal. She honed her vision, reactions and other skills to fulfill her athletic potential. She also put in thousands of miles of drive time, traveling more than an hour from her rural home along the Oregon Coast in Tillamook to practice and play with her club volleyball team in Salem. She spent her high school years attending camps and tournaments where she was one of hundreds of athletes evaluated by college coaches.
Each year, thousands of studentathletes across the country pursue college scholarships. Ultimately, only 1 of every 50 is likely to reach that level, according to a 2021 study by Next College Student Athlete. That bar can be even tougher to clear for athletes like Dannika, who live in rural areas where getting the attention of major programs can be more difficult.
For rural athletes like Dannika, winning a spot on a college roster takes more than just the talent and commitment to be a high-level athlete—it also takes a second job as a communicator and organizer, working just to be seen.
Club commitments
Dannika, a member of the Tillamook High School class of 2024, started playing volleyball in kindergarten. In fourth grade, she was excited because the players were now old enough to use a full-sized volleyball, and she joined the local club team, Tillamook Volleyball Club.
Club sports can be important to athletes’ development. School teams play in the fall, winter or spring, but club teams keep athletes in shape and improving throughout the year. Beyond gym and coaching access, clubs can also
switched to play with North Pacific Juniors, a club based in Salem, Oregon. That NPJ coaching staff included Haley Domeck, who is now the head coach at Linfield University, a Division III school in McMinnville, Oregon. While Haley coached the age group above Dannika’s at NPJ, she watched Dannika improve.
“She is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met in my entire life,” Haley says. “Coming from Tillamook to Salem was no small commitment on her end or her family’s end.”
Haley, who played volleyball at Hawaii Pacific University and graduated in 2015, says playing club sports is a great way to improve and get noticed.
“It’s not about what club you play for, it’s more so about getting touches on the volleyball,” she says.
These touches don’t necessarily have to come from club sports, but it’s important for athletes’ growth to be in the gym working on conditioning or finding other ways to play and improve.
When playing at the club level, an
I was just doing multiple things as much as I possibly could to get my name out there, because I am from a very small town here in Tillamook.
— Dannika Goss, college volleyball player
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNIKA GOSS
Toward the Future
advantage beyond practice is traveling to large tournaments. In her role as Linfield coach, Haley often attends these tournaments to scout talent. While sports like track or swimming can recruit athletes based on their times, and some more dynamic sports like baseball can recruit pitchers based on measurables like pitch speed and ball rotation, volleyball is more difficult to measure and requires the eye test.
“One of my rules as a coach is I have to see somebody play live in order to make them an offer,” Haley says, “because there’s things that you pick up on in person that you don’t see on film.”
Club tournaments can be large. There can be 200 courts running with four teams
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARK GILLILAND
Max Hannum, left, will play football at Montana State this fall. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX HANNUM
Even as a coach whose email inbox can get stuffed with messages from recruits, Haley agrees that athletes should reach out to coaches they’d like to play for. If an athlete doesn’t hear back, they should be persistent.
“It’s not fun hearing no, but at least you know where you stand,” she says. “If you are, for lack of a better term, annoying, or if you’re persistent, we’re going to respond to you at some point. There’s lots of things going on.”
Fulfilling the dream
Dannika tried many methods to get recruited. She attended showcases at colleges and the one hosted by her club team. She also used an app called SportsRecruits, which connects recruits and coaches and lets athletes post videos and highlights for coaches to scout.
“I was just doing multiple things as much as I possibly could to get my name out there, because I am from a very small town here in Tillamook,” Dannika says.
Max’s moonlighting as a video editor helped keep him in contact with coaches. After narrowing the list down to fit with his academic pursuits—he intends to study construction management, with an eye on the energy industry—the staff he was in the heaviest conversation with was at Montana Technological University in Butte, Montana. This fall, when he was attending the school’s football camp, the Montana Tech coaches offered him a scholarship.
“I felt like all the work I put in finally paid off,” Max says. “I’ve always wanted to be a collegiate football player. That’s always been my dream. I grew up with a bunch of friends that had this same goal, and not a lot of them reached it.”
For Dannika, being recruited by multiple schools was fun but also stressful.
“I didn’t want to let any of the coaches down or anything, because I wasn’t fully committing yet,” she says.
Dannika signed on to play for Haley at Linfield University. Strong academics were a major factor. Dannika wants to be a pediatric nurse, and Linfield has a strong nursing program. A high point of her campus visit was talking with an anatomy and physiology professor and touring the school’s cadaver lab.
After a long effort trying to get noticed by schools, she will pursue her dreams both on and off the volleyball court. “I’m super excited to go there in the fall,” she says. n
Scoring a Scholarship
By Sara Patterson
1. Know your skill level—find camps, clinics and clubs—and NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements found on their websites.
2. Compile an athletic resume with:
• Skills video
• Athletic stats
• Academic transcripts, ACT/SAT scores
• Extracurricular activities
3. Start emailing coaches.
• Include your athletic resume, especially your skills video.
• Subject line should include: name, current grade level, position and key stat. “Jane Doe, high school sophomore, pitcher, 90 mph fastball.”
• Individually craft each email, clearly stating why you’re interested in that program.
4. Make campus visits and line up meetings with coaches. Keep sending updated stats.
5. Lock down your offer and negotiate your amount. If a program can’t budget for a huge athletic scholarship, don’t discount merit-based, academic or other types.
To help get noticed, Max sent his highlight tapes to any coach he was interested in playing for. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX HANNUM
READER EXCHANGE
Books/Magazines
I am looking for a copy of the April 1978 Oregon Times magazine. I can find other issues but not this one. Thank you in advance.
Marlene McCormack P.O. Box 1472 Sisters, OR 97759
Please send Catherine Cookson books. I don’t have any more by her, and she is my favorite author.
Marsha Holeik
16637 William Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739
Crafts/Hobbies
Looking for jewelry—broken or otherwise, beads (no seed beads or children’s plastic) and macrame supplies to keep busy crafting to sell for my medical copays. I may not be able to send thank yous in the mail but will email if you include your information. Thank you for your consideration.
L. Thomas P.O. Box 421 Ocean Shores, WA 98569
Does anyone want new or used T-shirt hem remnants? They vary in size, color and wear. You pay for postage.
Elaine Fuchigami
8252 NW Oxbow Drive Corvallis, OR 97330-2835 lareifu@gmail.com
Milestones
My mom’s very good friend and next-door neighbor turns 86 years old in September. As a present to Trudi, my mom and I wish to have Ruralite readers surprise her with many cards to celebrate her special day. Trudi has been a helpful friend to my mom. They have known each other for 20 years and talk on the phone almost every day. Please help us give Trudi a deserving birthday present by sending your cards to Trudi Engen, P.O. Box 239, Pilot Rock, OR 97868. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Ron Kopp Condon, Oregon
My lovely mother turns 90 years old in early September. She has been a lifelong volunteer and still volunteers at the Fossil Museum two days a week through the summer. It would be great to surprise her with lots of birthday wishes! Please send wishes to Darlene Alexander, P.O. Box 141, Fossil, OR 97830.
Randi Fitch
Trout Lake, Washington
If you stopped by the Vida Cafe from 1979-94 my mom probably waited on you, cooked your meal or baked your piece of pie from scratch. Gracie “Leo” Brown enjoyed visiting with all the customers and would love to get a birthday card from you when she turns 90 years old at the end of September. Leo Bean moved to Finn Rock from Arkansas when she was 8 years old and attended McKenzie schools. After she married logger Sonny Brown, they moved to Vida to raise their family. Of course, she enjoys getting mail. Please send her birthday greeting to Gracie “Leo” Brown, Rawlin at River Bend, 3491 Game Farm Road, Unit 213, Springfield, OR 97477.
Wanda McClure
McKenzie Bridge, Oregon
Odds
I have been unable to find blades for my Fiskars 12" aluminum cut rail paper trimmer. I like it because I am blind in my right eye, and it’s easier to see lines. Please reach out if you can help. Thank you.
Jean Stewart
2657 Greyfox Drive
Sutherlin, OR 97479
Thanks
A few months ago, I asked for wooden thread spools for a friend who carves faces into them. The response was overwhelming. Ruralite readers sent more than 200 and they are still coming. He has all he can use for the rest of his life. Please, cease and desist. I can’t believe how many wooden spools are still in existence. Thank you for the response. You are the absolute best.
Barbara Cadwell
The Dalles, Oregon
Thank you to all the generous people who sent their beautiful fabric remnants for my granddaughter and I to use for our sewing projects. We were truly overwhelmed and will be able to continue with our sewing projects for many days to come.
Diane Sauer Sunriver, Oregon
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Request must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
The
Although tremendous strides have been made in
those cost reductions have not been passed on to
In the Autumn of My Life
By Dave LaBelle
I remember photographing an elderly man leaning on a hoe while working in his garden. Watching him through a telephoto lens, I was curious what he was thinking. I may have asked him, but I don’t remember. Later, as I looked at the photograph, I wondered what his life had been like.
What were his dreams or regrets?
Then a year or so later, I was assigned to photograph a philosopher who was in town to speak. He was staying at a luxurious inn. Arriving early, as is my habit, I noticed a man walking slowly down a tree-lined driveway, his hands behind his back. Unnoticed, I stopped and
made a few photographs before approaching him.
I asked him about his morning stroll.
“I take long walks alone,” he answered. “I ask intelligent questions and get intelligent answers.” Then he added, “But my best thoughts usually come to me when I am on the toilet and have nothing else to do.”
Fifty-five years later, I see myself in the posture of both aging men. Either image could be a self-portrait of sorts, of me contemplating life now.
I have often seen glimpses of myself in others, for good and bad. In a quiet, subtle way, I think I have photographed others to express what I was experiencing. In telling their story, I was telling my own. Someone once wrote and said they had watched my daily newspaper photos for years and felt they knew me. I hadn’t thought much about that before, but reasoned there was some truth in their observation. No doubt those who follow this column or read my blog can say with some accuracy, they know me. The subjects I choose, the personal things I share— they are doors into my life and heart. I feel the same about some authors or sports announcers.
There was a period in my young life when I felt alone and hopeless. I photographed
Reader Challenge
Make a picture that expresses where you are in your life’s journey. Maybe it is something that reveals what you believe or how you see yourself? Or perhaps, like me, it’s something or someone you aspire to be like. This is a tough assignment but one worth trying.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
many sad and lonely people, transients and those who had lost loved ones. I think I was crying in my camera, silently asking for help through my photographs.
I believe most of us ask ourselves why we are here on this earth and what plan or purpose we serve. Now, at 73, I have come to realize one of the talents my creator has blessed me with is the gift to give others a voice while serving as a mirror to show others themselves, especially their beauty and value. n
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
NIKON F2, 300mm lens Tri-X film at ASA 400, f/4.5 at 1/250
This quiet moment captured on film reflects the thoughtful feelings of the photographer.
PHOTO BY DAVE LABELLE
Praise for DiamondAura®
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How to Win at Love
A classic tennis bracelet serves up over 10 carats of sparkle for a guaranteed win
It was the jewelry piece that made the world stop and take notice. In the middle of a long volley during the big American tennis tournament, the chic blonde athlete had to stop play because her delicate diamond bracelet had broken and she had to nd it. e tennis star recovered her beloved bracelet, but the world would never be the same.
From that moment on, the tennis bracelet has been on the lips and on the wrists of women in the know. Once called eternity bracelets, these bands of diamonds were known from then on as tennis bracelets, and remain the hot ticket item with jewelers.
with D Flawless diamonds from another company that costs $57,000!
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We’ve captured this timeless classic with over 10 total carats of DiamondAura®, our signature diamond alternative stone. is sparkling marvel rivals even the nest diamonds (D Flawless) with its transparent color and clarity, and both are so hard they can cut glass. Don’t believe me? e book “Jewelry and Gems – e Buying Guide,” praised the technique used in our diamond alternative DiamondAura®: “ e best diamond simulation to date, and even some jewelers have mistaken these stones for mined diamonds,” it raved. For comparison, we found a similarly designed 10 carat tennis bracelet
Love Wins Tennis Bracelet (10 ¾ ctw) $399 $39* + S&P
FREE stud earrings (1 ctw) with your purchase of the Love Wins Bracelet — a $99 value!
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
Your Offer Code: LWB296-02
Looking to Save Energy and Money in Your Home?
Umatilla Electric Cooperative invites you to request your FREE Energy Saver Kit today!
Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) is committed to helping you cut down on energy costs and keep your home comfortable year-round. We invite you to order your FREE Energy Saver Kit today, designed to help you save money on your electricity bill.
Each kit includes three door sweeps that effectively reduce exterior air flow, helping to maintain your home’s temperature and lower heating and cooling expenses.
To receive your kit, simply submit your online “order” at https://ueckit.gpfulfillment.com/ or scan the QR code at right before September 30, 2024, to order your kit. Kits will be delivered to your door at no cost to you. But submit your order soon—this offer is good while supplies last! Please limit one kit per residential address.
Eligibility Requirements:
• Home must be electrically heated (Heat Pump, Ductless Heat Pump or “mini-split,” electric furnace, or electric baseboard/wall heaters)
• Limit of one kit per residential address
• Kits will ship at the close of the program, so please allow up to 12 weeks for delivery
• Kits will be delivered by USPS—ensure your mailing address is correct at checkout
For more details on UEC’s Energy Efficiency programs, visit UmatillaElectric.com or call us at (541) 567-6414. Save energy, save money—order your Energy Saver Kit today!
Order your FREE Energy Saver Kit today!
Order by September 30 to receive three door sweeps, delivered to you at no cost!
HERE
MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1224
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft.). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 43 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712.
2024 grass hay. 50 to 60 small square bales. Very good quality. 24760 Hwy. 101 South, Cloverdale. Call 503-812-2313 or 503-812-6539.
Antiques and Collectibles
Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0924
Antique country store items. 1910-60. Tins, light-up signs, clocks, Coca-Cola, drugstore, soda fountain, barber items, beer sign and much more. Cash. Gregory, 208-301-4246. 0924
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 1024
Collection of ID license plates from 1920-40. 23 plates, 14 dates. Can text photo, $400 for all. 509-254-1947.
Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Koufax, etc. If interested in buying 1957-73 vintage baseball cards, let’s talk. Jim, 530-283-2826 or 530-394-8668.
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1024
Automotive
Rare 1960 Chevy pickup 4x4. Shortbed. Not running now. Text or call 661-713-3377. Leave message. $7K. 0824
Storage space for any RV, vehicle, boat and trailer. 24/7 security and access. Any size, $100 a month. Text Mark for call back, 714-949-6913. 0924
Books, Magazines, Videos
Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 0924AR
Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad
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Business Opportunities
A great business opportunity in Boardman, OR. A small cafe you can use your imagination in. Frontage view of freeway, quick in and out access. A coffee shop on property for extra income. $1.1M. For more information, call Karen at 541-571-0636. 1024
Quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR, for sale. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $259K. 0924
Community Events
“Start the Story at the End,” Sept. 6-Oct.26 and “Journeys & Convergence,” Sept. 6-28. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0924
Equipment/Tools
DR multi trimmer, $350. Kubota rototiller. Only 25 hours use. $1,150. 11 push-pull control cables $40-$90 each. FOB Eugene, OR. Ted, 458-910-3727. 1024
Farm Equipment
1965 Ford 3000 Tractor with auger/utility crane, rotary cutter, brush hog and box spreader. Runs. Original operator’s manuals. $4K, OBO. Cottage Grove, OR. 541-942-6837. 0924
Free Items
Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 888-211-1715. 0924AR
Help Wanted
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for 2024 and 2025. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 1024
Hobbies, Gifts, Games
Selling United States postage stamp collection. Mint plate blocks and sheets dating back to the 1940s. Photo available. Bob, 541-786-6195 or brown.donna50@gmail.com.
Media
Watch Channel 25 (Southern NV)—on the go— for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or ROKU. Visit www.kpvm.tv and stream live today. 775-727-9400. 0924
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MonthlyNEWS
A New Chapter Unfolds: Transformation Underway at UEC Headquarters
With demolition complete, Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s Hermiston facility enters a new phase of development, featuring structural reinforcements, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, and the addition of a second story.
The Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) headquarters in Hermiston is undergoing a significant transformation, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the cooperative. In order to meet the needs of the growing membership, the existing facility is expanding, better utilizing existing spaces and adding a second story to the east side of the building. Construction activities began in April, preparing the site for expansion.
The initial stage of the project focused on demolition, removing all existing walls and infrastructure to prepare for a redesign. Demolition is now complete, the construction team is moving forward with structural reinforcements and preparing to add a second story to the east side of the building.
The placement of structural steel, lifted into place by a crane, began in August, which now forms the new facade of the headquarters facility. This progress is just the beginning, as metal stud framing will continue into the fall, gradually shaping the building’s interior and providing essential support for the finishing touches.
Early stages of electrical and plumbing framework are being installed throughout the building, as well, refered to as “rough-in” in the construction industry. At this phase, the basic infrastructure for lighting, fixtures, and plumbing are put in place before walls, floors, and ceilings are fully sealed up.
The building’s transformation will become more obvious into the fall months as exterior walls, or the “skin” of the building will be installed, giving a more permanent and recognizable appearance.
“Members of UEC will see a lot of exciting progress into the fall as the building takes shape,” says Kevin Kiniry, project superintendent for Chervenell Construction. “While the winter months may appear quiet from the outside, inside the building, a whirlwind of activity will continue to unfold.”
For more updates on this project, visit UmatillaElectric.com and keep an eye out on our social media platforms for videos, behind the scenes looks, and to hear from your UEC leadership team.
Construction crews install structural steel as the second story takes shape at the UEC Headquarters expansion site.
INSET: The UEC Board of Directors and leadership tour the site on July 25. Pictured, left to right: Bryan Wolfe, board president, Steve Platt, board secretary-treasurer, and Robert Echenrode, general manager/CEO.
Offices
750 W. Elm Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
400 N.E. Eldrige Drive Boardman, OR 97818
Hours
7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Monday-Thursday 541 567-6414 1 800 452-2273
Report An Outage 1 888 465-5701 day or night
Directors
Bryan Wolfe, President
Jeff Wenholz, Vice President
Steve Platt, Secretary-Treasurer
Lee Docken
Phil Hamm
John Otis
Tom Pitzer
Management
Robert Echenrode, General Manager / CEO
Robert Cromwell, Vice President Power Supply
Josh Lankford, Vice President Engineering & Operations
Lisa McMeen, Vice President Administration
Our Mission
Umatilla Electric Cooperative is a member-owned business that sells energy and invests in and supports other services to improve the quality of life in our communities.
www.umatillaelectric.com
OR-8
Championing Community, A Successful Fair and Rodeo Season
e sound of laughter, the smell of elephant ears and communities coming together to showcase agriculture, our youth and all the aspects that make us proud to be from eastern Oregon.
ose are just a few of the pieces that we’re re ecting on as we celebrate another successful season of fairs and rodeos across our region.
is year, UEC was honored to be deeply involved in these events through sponsorships and volunteer e orts of our employees. From the Umatilla County Fair and the Farm City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston to the Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo in Heppner, and everything in between, our cooperative’s commitment to supporting local traditions was on full display.
I would like to extend my thanks to the organizers, volunteers, participants, and attendees who help make these fairs and rodeos a resounding success. e countless hours spent planning, coordinating, and executing these events do not go unnoticed. Special recognition goes to the youth participants who brought their best to the livestock shows, rodeo competitions, and exhibits. Your hard work and dedication inspire us all.
UEC was proud to have been a sponsor of these events. But beyond sponsorship, it was the time and e ort of our employees that truly stood out. Many UEC team members volunteered their time to assist with everything from setting up fairgrounds to ensure safety measures are in place, serving on planning committees, or cooking meals for a local organization and cause. Our employees demonstrated the cooperative spirit that lies at the heart of UEC.
e success of our local fairs and rodeos is a reminder that when we come together as a community, we can achieve great things. As we close this chapter on the fair and rodeo season, let us carry forward the energy, camaraderie, and community spirit that these events have ignited.
To everyone who contributed – whether as a participant, organizer, or volunteer –thank you for making these celebrations unforgettable. A special thank you to our UEC employees who gave their time and energy; your commitment to serving our community exempli es what it means to be part of a cooperative.
Robert Echenrode General Manager / CEO