I would like to start off this week by announcing we have hired Daneli Atilano as a general assignment reporter. Daneli is from Hermiston and has experience writing for Go! East Oregon Magazine and the Eastern Oregon University newspaper. We are happy to have her on board and look forward to her starting Monday morning.

In next Wednesday’s Hermiston Herald, look for Reporter Beau Glynn’s first of two back-to-school stories for Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield, Echo and Morrow County public schools.

But this week, we are covering the Umatilla County Fair, which kicked off on Saturday, July 21, with a parade. We are updating our website and social media as the fair goes along, and we have stories and photos from the fair’s Farm-City Pro Rodeo thanks to Reporters Annie Fowler and Kathy Aney. 

On a more serious note, Beau brought us a story about the Port of Morrow Board of Commissioners deliberating whether to continue allowing people, including media representatives, to virtually attend executive sessions of its meetings. The board is concerned about privileged information leaking from the executive sessions to the public. Eventually, the board tabled the item to gather more information.

Beau also covered a story about newly built houses in the Santiago Columbia Village at 845 E. Diagonal Road in Hermiston. The houses are meant to be affordable with first-time home buyers in mind.

Hermiston Herald contributor Laura Kostad let us know about a 274-acre data center with a proposed site 11 miles outside of Boardman in Morrow County. The county’s planning commission recently approved it, and it goes before the county’s commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 16 for a hearing. 

Also planned for that day is the start of the Fire-Rescue International convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The FRI will spotlight 10 North American fire departments with short videos to its estimated 10,000 attendees. One of the spotlighted fire departments is the Umatilla County Fire District No. 1. Fire Chief Scott Stanton said the UCFD1 was selected for its community paramedic, workforce development and mental health awareness programs.

And finally, we have an update on a 4-month-old Hermiston baby who is still in a Portland hospital as he recovers from heart surgery. Avery Henderson is improving but continues to battle episodes of low oxygen levels. 

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 me at tsnell@hermistonherald.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. 

Travis Snell is the editor of the Hermiston Herald.