25 YEARS AGO

March 2, 1999

Inmates at the Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla elevated prison food to a whole new level. Six inmates prepared and served meals each day, in two shifts of three each.

One such shift included Mike Rankin, 48, Don Trombley, 42, and Tim Cato, 39. Bob Koch supervised these men as a temporary food service coordinator and guard.

“I make sure they have the food and that they follow the recipes,” he said. “I cook occasionally but mostly I oversee their training.”

Jack Thompson, the prison’s food service manager, said all inmates are allowed to partake in this activity.

“We screen them on intake and accept them if they have any food serving experience or wish to learn,” he said.

While serving time may seem like an eternity, the inmate crews prepare fresh meals in a whirl.

“It’s marvelous what they can do,” Koch said. “Mike Rankin just made an apple crisp that makes me envious.”

In addition to making everything from scratch, the inmates worked in a small, temporary mobile kitchen measuring a mere 11 feet wide by 48 feet long.

Construction on the prison was scheduled to finish in November, at which the first of 1,600 medium-security inmates would arrive and the kitchen crew expand to more than 120 cooks and assistants.

50 YEARS AGO

Feb. 28, 1974

After threatening to cut off service to Hermiston, the Union Oil Company of California had a change of heart.

In December 1973, a Union Oil official asked the Hermiston City Council to arrange an ordinance restricting the amount of gasoline delivered and stored at its service station. This was prompted by the 1970 Federal Clean Air Act, which required stations selling more than 200,000 gallons of gasoline a year to switch to unleaded regular gas.

Union Oil wanted to deliver the unleaded gasoline directly to the Hermiston station to avoid contamination by going through a local bulk distributor. However, the city ordinance did not allow direct delivery. If the city did not restrict the gasoline amount, the official claimed Union Oil would not continue business at that station.

In a letter Mayor L.P. Gray read to the Hermiston City Council, Union Oil took back the statement and proposed three alternate courses of action. Although Union Oil was aware this would take thorough discussion and consideration, they urged the council to be swift since the unleaded gasoline had to be delivered by July.

75 YEARS AGO

March 3, 1949

To reduce the chances of widespread illness, the Umatilla County Health Department was offering diphtheria and whooping cough immunizations for schoolchildren.

Sponsored by members of the Parent Teacher Association and other school personnel, this program would begin March 8. The agency would first travel to Columbia and Umatilla schools, then visit Hermiston schools the following day, to administer the shots.

Most children receive these vaccines at age 1, with a follow-up booster right before starting school. For those who had not received the initial shot, they would be given two shots one month apart.

To receive the immunizations, children were required to provide written consent from their parents or guardians. The health department highly recommended families take advantage of the opportunity.

90 YEARS AGO

March 1, 1934

The Hermiston Debate Team beat two-year defending champion Pendleton to seal a spot for the sectional competition.

Coached by Henry Harager, the team consisted of Wayne Power, Don Serell, Helen Couture and Edith Clarke. Power and Serell argued in the affirmative, while Couture and Clarke argued against the topic, “The United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of radio control and operation.”

Teams from Umatilla, Morrow and Gilliam counties competed at this district tournament, which was held in Pendleton.

The Hermiston team finished with a score of eight, while Umatilla was second with seven and Heppner placed third with five points. Pendleton, which had won the district tournament the last two years and the state championship last year, ended up placing at the bottom with two points.

The sectional competition, which was expected to be around mid-March, would feature debate teams from Baker, Wallowa and Union counties. The winner would then compete against other sectional champions around the beginning of May, with the KOAC radio station broadcasting the debate.