• Union Pacific workers are assessing the damage from a multi-car collision at the Hinkle Rail yard, which derailed several rail cars and spilled several hundred gallon of diesel fuel. Bill Nolen, manager of terminal operations at Hinkle, said a mechanical failure caused the accident, which occurred Sunday, April 12. “When the engineer started forward, a coupling snapped and the 25 cars behind rolled back into a waiting group of 60 cars, “Nolen said. “It was a pretty big mess.” Over 600 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from ruptured tanks on two refrigerated cars. Workers hurried to clean up the spilled fuel, but were hampered by the derailed cars.

• Umatilla Sage Riders was host to the Beard Rodeos Rough Stock Schooling over the weekend. Over the three-day weekend rough-stock instruction from three top PRCA cowboys will be given. A National Finals Rodeo veteran gave instruction in saddle bronc riding with current world champion Clint Corey of Kennewick handling the bareback event. Charles Sampson a 1982 world champion bull rider was there to school the local cowboys on bull riding.

• “It was like looking into a white-hot fire,” Mrs. N.V. Ford said, in describing the unidentified flying object she sighted as she stood in her yard on Bridge Road, west of Hermiston, about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13. The object was visible for only a few seconds, she said. It came toward her out of the eastern sky, at a very low altitude and traveling at a very high rate of speed. It was round, flat on the bottom, and had a dome-shaped upper portion; something on the order of an inverted bowl. It was of a white-hot color in the center, shading to deep violet on the edges. A cylindrical shaped flame came from the back of the object. These flames were of varying length and looked exactly like those from a blow torch. The object seemed to be very low, almost at house top level, and was traveling on a horizontal course. And though it seemed to be very near her, Mrs. Ford said she could hear no sound from it what so ever.

• Bids will be received for 16.4 mile Interstate project on the Stanfield Junction-Pendleton section of the Old Oregon Trail Interstate 80N. This project in Umatilla County involves paving, structures and signing from point 0.8 miles west of the Stanfield Junction to a point three miles west of Pendleton, near Reith. The project plans call for four 12-foot lanes, continuously reinforced concrete pavement (slip form permitted). eight structures, a 7×5 siphon box, construction of signs and sign supports, and four interchanges. Cost of the project is estimated at approximately $9 million. Completion time is 480 calendar days.

• Hermiston merchants and business men who have been in the habit in the past of disposing of excess paper, cartons and other rubbish by burning it in outside trash burners are doomed for disappointment. B.A. Doyle, local fire chief, this week has issued a special notice forbidding this practice within the fire zone, which is composed of the territory from Stone’s Market to the Legion hall and from the Methodist church block to Hamby’s Auto Parts. Any violation hereafter will be punished by a $50 fine. Accumulation of rubbish is also included in the above law. All fireman have been instructed to check on the matter and report violations to the chief.

• Stores, business houses, boarding houses, hospitals, other users or sellers of sugar, other than individual families, will register at the high school April 28 and 29, for their sugar rationing booklets. The school has no discretion or authorization in the matter whatsoever. It simply acts as a place of registration and forwards the results to the county administrator. However, there is now a supply of the blank forms available and people may take them home, and make out their report at their leisure, always providing the reports are registered on April 28 or 29.

• Monday afternoon organization of a branch of the National Honor Guard was completed. Twenty-five joined at the first meeting as that was all the application blanks on hand. Another supply has been sent for and at the next meeting at least 10n more will affiliate. Officers elected were: Vera Purdy, leader; Marion Briggs, assistant leader; Doris Percey, secretary; Esther Graham, treasurer. The honor guard is really a branch of the Red Cross and those joining designate whether they may be had for home work only or whether it necessary they can take up active Red Cross work in the field.

• The campaign by the Civic club to raise funds for fencing the cemetery is making good progress and enough will soon be on hand to start the work. Already about $40 has been raised. Just now the club is working on chain teas and these are spreading rapidly to all sections of the community. Feeling that the cemetery is something all will want to help with the teas are not being confined to club members alone. The first chain was given last week by Mrs. Handline. This week Mrs. Cressy and Mrs. McNaught each gave one and from now on there will be a number each week. The lady giving the tea invites five for an afternoon. Each guest leaves 10 cents with her hostess, which is turned into the cemetery fund and then each guest entertains five of her friends and so on. A record is being kept and the ladies are not to accept but one invitation, which also means she will only entertain but once. In this way the cost to each one is very light but taken collectively a good fund will be raised.