HERMISTON — The Adult Battle of the Books team from Our Lady of Angels Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court No. 1692 placed dead last during the inaugural event in 2023 — walking away with a bag of coal.

However, the group turned the page by taking first during the second annual event March 12 at Armand Larive Middle School. The team — Melissa Doherty, Laura McClanahan, Sarah Thompson and Annika Miller — cashed in with the $250 prize. Moderator Kristi Smalley, also the regent for the local Catholic Daughters, said they will use the winnings to support the Marilyn Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“I showed no partiality to the Catholic Daughters,” Smalley said with a laugh. “I had my Alex Trebek hat on.”

Hosted by Altrusa International of Hermiston, the epic page-turning battle also included teams representing three other local service clubs. Linda Turner, Altrusa Literacy Committee chair, said the Rotary Club of Hermiston placed second and also won the golden trophy as crowd favorites. The Hermiston Lions Club came in third, winning a giant candy bar, and the Kiwanis Club of Hermiston bagged the coal for last place.

A retired educator, Turner launched the Battle of the Books program four decades ago in Hermiston as a way to inspire her students to enjoy reading. She said the adult version of the event is a great way to highlight literacy and have fun.

In advance of the event, participants were provided with six children’s books, which questions would be derived from. While similar to the student version, Smalley, a retired library media specialist with the Hermiston School District, said the Adult Battle of the Books features friendly banter.

“We have a lot of fun with it,” Smalley said. “Dan Dorran said he didn’t read any of the books last year, but he said he read all of them this year and did worse.”

In addition, the book battle raised money to support Altrusa’s Read and Walk Trail. The story walk project will be erected along the path at Hermiston’s Riverfront Park.

Turner said it will feature 21 posts, each with a page from a book. While walking along the path, people can read an entire book.

“It combines … physical activity (with) literacy,” Turner said. “It also gives family time with a child.”

The books, she said, will be changed out intermittently. Although the focus is on younger readers, Turner said the story walk will include reading materials for older youths and information about the history of Hermiston and the surrounding areas.

In addition, children who participate in the Read and Walk Trail — either by reading it or being read to — can enter a monthly drawing for a chance to win free books. She said Altrusa anticipates the program will begin by mid-May.

“I hope people support Altrusa,” Smalley said. “They still have some fundraising for the story walk project to bring it to the finish line. And when it’s done, I would encourage people to take their kids to Riverfront Park and enjoy an outdoor literacy activity.”

“It combines … physical activity (with) literacy. It also gives family time with a child.”

{p style=”text-align: right;”}— Linda Turner, of Altrusa International of Hermiston, about the Read and Walk Trail

Send donations to:

Altrusa International of Hermiston

P.O. Box 794, Hermiston, OR 97838