The Herald Herald website has provided updates about the Hat Rock Fire, north of Hermiston. The blaze started Tuesday, June 13, and quickly spread — fueled by dry brush and high winds. Before the night was over, Gov. Tina Kotek invoked an Emergency Conflagration Act, which provided additional resources in Umatilla County. It also covers the Mount Hebron Fire, which ignited several hours later northeast of Pendleton near Highway 11.

In the June 14 print edition, readers celebrated with the Hermiston High School class of 2023. Michael Kane of Northeast Oregon Now and photojournalist Yasser Marte provided coverage of the June 8 commencement ceremony, held at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

Also, the schools page was full of announcements about recent scholarships disbursed to area students. It also included information about Leslie Mendoza Romero and her GoFundMe campaign. The 17-year-old Hermiston student is raising money to travel and perform in Europe next summer as part of the Oregon Ambassadors of Music program. 

In addition to wildfire coverage in the upcoming edition, look for a story on the Outskirts page about a rotating art exhibit at the Broken Barrel. Herald reporter Beau Glynn provides details about the popular Stanfield bar and grill’s efforts to showcase local artists.

And readers can learn about Tommy Rivers Puzey’s battle with cancer in a book review. When the 2003 Hermiston High School graduate fell ill shortly after the onset of the global pandemic, his wife, Steph Catudal, processed her feelings through writing.

“Everything All At Once” is a raw and riveting memoir. Catudal weaves the narrative of her husband’s illness with teenage memories and the rebellious aftermath of her father’s death from lung cancer.

Also, learn how you can Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back during Relay for Life of Umatilla and Morrow Counties. The American Cancer Society fundraiser is Saturday, June 24, 3-10 p.m. at Roy Raley Park in Pendleton.

It’s all part of the Hermiston Herald’s efforts, both in print and online, to keep you informed about the latest happenings throughout Umatilla and Morrow counties. As always, if you have a news tip to share or want to ask a question about our news coverage, drop a note to Herald publisher Andrew Cutler at this email address: acutler@eomediagroup.com.  

And, finally, let me take this opportunity to thank our subscribers: We simply would be unable to do this vital work without your support. 

Tammy Malgesini is the community editor for the Hermiston Herald.