Next week is spring clean-up week at Sanitary Disposal.

On April 1-7 residents can dump free loads less than 2.5 cubic yards and get up to $14 off acceptable loads at the transfer station at 81444 N Highway 395. Tires are billed at the regular rate.

For questions, call Sanitary Disposal at 541-567-8842.

On April 13, the city of Hermiston will get in on the action by hosting its free recycling day in the parking lot of Umatilla Electric Cooperative from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Look for more information in next week’s Hermiston Herald.

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If you’re a Trace Adkins fan, you might find it worth your while to mosey on over to this year’s Pendleton Round-Up. Adkins will take the Happy Canyon Arena stage as a part of the rodeo kickoff concert Sept. 7, the Round-Up announced this week.

Tickets go on sale 6:30 a.m. on Friday.

And no, the lineup for the Pendleton Whisky Music Fest hasn’t been announced yet, but we will let you know when we find out who this year’s much-anticipated act will be.

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We hope you enjoyed our spotlight of Highland Hills Elementary School this month. We wrap it up today by featuring one of their staff in our Three Minutes With column on A2. For April we will take a break from spotlighting individual schools to feature the Hermiston School District maintenance department.

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Hermiston Herald readers have an opportunity to help a Virginia student. Andrei, who is a third-grader at The Langley School in McLean, Virginia, is researching the state of Oregon for a school project.

In addition to gathering information from books and the internet, students are reaching out to people in the states. Andrei recently sent a letter requesting help:

“I am hoping that you would be willing to send me some items to help me learn more about the best things in your state. It could be things like postcards, maps, pictures, souvenirs, general information, this newspaper article, or any other items that would be useful,” Andrei wrote.

Items should be addressed and mailed to: Ms. Lyons’ Class, The Langley School, 1411 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101.

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Congratulations are in order to several people who make Umatilla a special place to live and work.

During the March 21 Distinguished Citizen Awards Banquet, Tina Ridings was named Citizen of the Year; AgSource Laboratories received Business of the Year; and Above and Beyond recipients were Clyde and Betty Nobles, Larry and Marge Nelson and William Meade. The event was coordinated by the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.

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Area golfers finally got back into the swing of things in Umatilla. Big River Golf Course opened its season March 16 with the annual Brown Grass Tournament.

The foursome of Josh Williams, Josh Browning, Mark Herman and Bob Barton placed first with 62 gross; second with 63 were Rick Jewett, Blue Blackhurst, Jorge Pantoja and Zeno Marvin; and third with 64 was Carlos Chavez, Don Daggett, Heather Villaneuva and Ian Coyle.

For upcoming tournaments at Big River, contact Megan Olsen at 541-922-3006, megan@golfbigriver.com or search Facebook.

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Thursday’s menu at the Harkenrider Senior Activity Center is oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, fruit salad and birthday cake. Tuesday’s meal will be BBQ pork sandwich, potato salad, fruit and dessert.