Since I have taken over writing this weekly address more than a month or so ago, I’ve linked nothing but stories that have come from our staff reporters, East Oregonian reporters, the freelance reporters who help and Michael Kane of Northeast Oregon Now, with whom the Hermiston Herald shares content.

However, what I haven’t shared are links to stories that we get from press releases. When we get a press release, if we deem it worthy, we will “clean it up” for Associated Press and EO Media style. Sometimes we move information around to make it flow better or cut some information because it seems unnecessary or other edits to make it read better.

If it needs some more information, we will add to it, but we don’t use our bylines on them unless we do the vast majority of original reporting.

So this week, I wanted to share some examples of releases that we thought were newsworthy enough to “clean up” and rework so that we could publish them.

The first one is of Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann filing as a candidate for the State Senate District 29 seat. 

Another one is about the Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington, which includes troops in Umatilla and Morrow counties, receiving a Community Grant from the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation. Congratulations, girls.

Here’s another about a local entity getting some money. The city of Echo is expecting to get $450,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to replace 30-year-old water service connections and create a digital mapping system.

Here’s one about a coalition of businesses and community organizations that formed to provide drinking water resources to residential well users in Morrow and Umatilla counties officially renaming itself Water for Eastern Oregon, or H2OEO. I added more information to this one, but not enough original reporting went in on my part to put a byline on it.

But we didn’t sit around all week cleaning up press releases. Reporter Daneli Atilano covered a story about a Umatilla man being arrested by Hermiston police on multiple counts of sex crimes following a grand jury indictment. She will also follow up as the story progresses.

She also wrote a short story about Pendleton resident Juanita Brown retiring after 48 years from Pendleton’s Rite Aid. The story was a hit on Facebook with, as of this writing, 888 likes, 76 comments and 13 shares. Just goes to show you never know what type of story will be popular.

Freelance reporter Ashley Seibel got us a story on a new coffee shop opening in Hermiston soon. The Human Bean will open its first Hermiston location at 205 S. Highway 395 when it finishes its final touches.

And I wrote a story about another business opening as 67-year-old Sabas Arenas Gonzalez, of Umatilla, fulfilled a nearly 20-year-old dream of owning his own taco truck when he opened it Wednesday in Umatilla.

And finally, Reporter Tammy Malgesini didn’t want you to forget about the upcoming Rock the Locks Music Festival set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 6-8 at Big River Course in Umatilla. I know I’m looking forward to seeing Everclear.

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 for the Hermiston Herald.