25 YEARS AGO

Feb. 23, 1999

Generation Jesus, a four-member band from Hermiston, aspired to be a voice for change.

Mosca Hulgin, 19, and 16-year-olds Mike Moore, Joey Konty and Kurtis Paine had grown disillusioned with the lyrics of secular music and set out to make their own tunes with a combination of punk, heavy metal, alternative and rock. They also incorporated lines from the Bible and other religious texts.

Rod Bragato, director of Campus Life, described their music as energetic and driven by purpose.

“They want to make a difference for Christ,” he said.

Moore was the vocalist and on the keyboard, Konty performed both lead and rhythm guitar, Hulgin played bass guitar and Paine pounded the drums. Konty’s father, Phil Konty, acted as manager of the nonprofit group of musicians, which was supported by donations from local churches.

Composing 15 songs in just one year, Generation Jesus hoped to record a CD with the Washington company Mop Buckets Productions/Squeaky Clean Records. However, the group’s overall goal was to prove people could still be fun and exciting while also being Christians.

50 YEARS AGO

Feb. 21, 1974

The Northwest Livestock Commission’s Spring Bonanza Sale sold a record 888 horses.

This topped the previous year’s sales by more than 100 horses. The event featured Omer Bonney as the auctioneer.

“This is the first year we’ve had to schedule a three-day sale in the spring,” Bonney said.

Not only were there more horses, but Bonney said they sold for higher prices. Bringing in the most money, at $2,600, was a 2-year-old quarter horse filly of Doc Bar and Dandy Trump. Well-broke geldings averaged $1,000, while broad mares and barrel horses were also highly sought after.

“We had something for everybody,” Bonney said.

Bonney said the crowds held strong throughout the entire sale. Bidders remained for the last horse of each night, which went as late as 10 p.m.

Although the nation was experiencing a gas shortage, folks from all over made the trip to Hermiston.

“Fuel problems just don’t stop horse people,” Bonney said.

75 YEARS AGO

Feb. 24, 1949

Hermiston was about to begin another major development project, which would result in 50 new homes.

H.R. Ketell and A.H. Mayne traveled to Hermiston to discuss the city’s newest development. Ketell was the president of the Ketell Construction Company in Los Angeles and Portland, while Mayne was a Portland engineer.

The homes would be built on the Hermiston Park Addition, which occupied land owned by Elmer Fritzkez. It had been gradually developed throughout the winter, but Ketell said there was still much work to be done.

Their first task would be grading Sunset Avenue, which they hoped to accomplish within the next few weeks. Then, sewer and water lines would be laid in the southern portion of the Hermiston Park Addition to connect with the existing system at the intersection of Fourth Street and Ridgeway Avenue. The final touches would be constructing the houses and paving sidewalks.

Ketell said the present plans called for building 171 homes in the addition, depending on how the market played out. With the houses moderately priced, he was optimistic there would be sufficient interest to warrant following through on the project.

90 YEARS AGO

Feb. 22, 1934

The Inland Empire Waterways Association was formed Feb. 17 in Walla Walla with Judge Calvin L. Sweek, of Pendleton, as its first president.

The association’s goal was to represent inland interests regarding the development of the Columbia and Snake rivers. Numerous delegations from various towns in Eastern Oregon and Washington attended the meeting, including H.T. Frasier, Thomas Campbell, E.P. Dodd, J.H. Reid, Pauline M. Stoop, J.A. Clarke and H.J. Stillings from Hermiston.

B.M. Huntington, of Walla Walla, opened the meeting by ensuring everyone was on the same page as to the association’s purpose.

“We are not here to argue,” he said. “We are here to act.”

There were several informational speeches given, with W.S. Nelson highlighting points of emphasis in the Army Corps of Engineer’s report. Capt. J.T. Shaver spoke about navigation on the waterways.

In closing their meeting, the Inland Empire Waterways Association established several articles and bylaws modeled after those of the Mississippi Valley Association. With all the framework in place, the association looked forward to putting plans into action and giving a voice to people directly affected by these rivers.