Hermiston High bowler takes 2nd at state

HERMISTON — Lilian Fields of Hermiston High School rolled her way into second place during the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association State Bowling Championship on Feb. 5-6 at Bowlero in Tukwila, Washington.

Fields began bowling at age 10 when she joined a junior league for fun, according to a press release from the Hermiston School District. As she entered high school, she became more competitive. After placing ninth in state during her sophomore year, Fields trained rigorously, competing in tournaments across the region.

Her dedication paid off with a six-game total of 1,124, including 203 in Game 1 and 201 in the final game of this year’s championships.

“My dad has played an instrumental role in my bowling career,” Fields said. “He’s bought all my equipment, driven me to countless tournaments, and been my biggest supporter from the very beginning. Without him, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I do today.”

This past summer, Fields competed at Junior Gold Nationals, showcasing her talent on a national stage. Her performance caught the attention of several college recruiters, and she has been in contact with multiple programs as she considers her next steps in the sport.

Larry Usher, HHS athletic director, praised Fields’ dedication and leadership.

He said her work ethic and competitive spirit set a great example for other student-athletes.

“She has represented Hermiston High School with pride, and we are incredibly proud of her accomplishments,” Usher said. “We look forward to seeing what she achieves next.”

EOU opens high school art show

LA GRANDE — The Nightingale Gallery at Eastern Oregon University opens the annual Eastern Oregon Regional High School Exhibition on Friday, Feb. 21, 5-7 p.m. Awards will be presented at 5:30 p.m.

The show continues through March 14. Artwork features student artists from Baker City, La Grande, Powder Valley, Union, Elgin, Enterprise, Grant Union, Joseph, Milton-Freewater, Monument, Pendleton, Echo, Burns and Crane.

Nightingale Gallery is located in Loso Hall on the campus of EOU. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free lecture Feb. 22 for music teachers

LA GRANDE — A free lecture for pianists, piano teachers and the public is set for Saturday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m. to noon at Eastern Oregon University’s Groth Recital Hall, One University Boulevard in La Grande.

Barbara Baird, recently retired from the music faculty of the University of Oregon, is presenting the lecture “Finding Musical Expression in the Music We Play.” No preregistration, membership or fee is required to attend. For more information, email Jan Miller at j.d.miller@frontier.com.

The talk will focus on Baroque music and how to play it “in a way that shows stylistic awareness, and yet in a way that accommodates the instrument being used,” according to a press release.

Baird taught organ, piano and harpsichord for more than 35 years at U of O. A critically acclaimed performer, she has played throughout the United States, as well as in Germany, France, Holland, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil and Australia. She regularly conducts workshops and master classes for keyboardists, particularly on Baroque and Classical period performance and keyboard pedagogy.

The Oregon Music Teachers Association, in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation and the Nellie Tholen Fund, organized the event. For more information on the OMTA, visit oregonmta.org.

Hanford official to speak at Athena Study Club

ATHENA — A special presentation titled “The Hanford Reservation: Its Past and Present” is featured during the upcoming Athena Study Club.

Will Nichols, senior vice president of Hanford, will share information Friday, Feb. 21, 12:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Athena City Hall, 302 E. Currant St. Visitors interested in attending need to call Sherry at 541-918-1084 or Christy at 541-310-8621.

The Athena Study Club was chartered in 1925. It meets the first and third Fridays from October through May.

Each year, a topic is selected — the current topic is “The Sciences in Our Lives.” During regular meetings, a member gives a report, followed by the tradition of roll call, which brings lively sharing.

Membership is open. For more information about the meeting schedule and membership, call President Mary Helen Wright at 541-566-0207.

Hermiston swim coach earns COY award

HERMISTON — Hermiston High School’s Tammy Fisher has been recognized as the 2024-25 Mid-Columbia Conference Boys Swim Coach of the Year after a vote by her peers.

Fisher, who coaches both the boys’ and girls’ swim teams, helped the school build a “competitive and thriving program,” said a press release announcing the award. The announcement said her dedication to “fostering a positive team culture” has created a swim team environment that student-athletes are excited to join.

“We are beyond excited about all the work (Fisher) is doing,” said Larry Usher, Hermiston’s director of athletics and activities, in the release. “She is developing a strong, competitive program while creating a supportive environment for our athletes.”

Her recognition as MCC Boys Swim Coach of the Year is a reflection of her dedication, leadership, and impact on student-athletes. In addition to coaching, Fisher is a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Hermiston High School.

Youth chess club meets at Hermiston City Hall

HERMISTON — The Hermiston Public Library invites students in third through fifth grades to join a juvenile chess club.

Checkmate Champs meets Saturday, Feb. 22, 1-2 p.m. at Hermiston City Hall, 180 NE Second St. All skill levels are welcome — from beginners to budding grand masters. Participants can learn, play and grow during the casual club gathering.

For more information, search www.hermiston.gov/library or www.facebook.com/hermistonlibrary. For questions, call 541-567-2882.

Irrigon Chamber accepts nominations for awards

IRRIGON — The Irrigon Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its annual Time to Shine Citizens Recognition Banquet.

Award categories include outstanding citizen, volunteer, educator, employee, youth, public servant and business of the year. The nomination deadline is March 10. The nomination form is available on Facebook via bit.ly/3x2cYU0.

The celebration is April 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 150 Columbia Lane, Irrigon.

Ticket sales will be announced. For more information, visit www.irrigonchamber.com, call 541-626-2045 or email irrigonchamber@irrigonchamber.com.

Riverside Jr/Sr High School salutes new flag

BOARDMAN — A special ceremony was held Jan. 4 to dedicate a new roll-down flag at Riverside Jr/Sr High School.

According to a press release, the Riverside Pirates Booster Club coordinated the purchase, shipping and installation of the new flag. Booster Club President Emerald Lantis said the project was made possible through the generosity and coordination of local businesses and organizations, including sponsorship from Threemile Canyon Farms with Garrett Electric donating the electrical work.

“This new flag installation represents our school’s commitment to patriotism, community and unity,” Lantis said. “We are incredibly grateful to Threemile Canyon Farms, Garrett Electric, and the members of our Booster Club for their dedication and generosity in making this happen.”

The flag, she said, stands as a symbol of pride for students, staff and the entire Boardman community and serves as a daily reminder of the values and freedoms it represents.

In other booster club news, tickets are on sale for the 2025 Booster Bash. The 21 and older event is April 5, 5-9 p.m. at the Port of Morrow’s Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive. The fundraiser features a beef tri-tip dinner, raffles, door prizes and dessert, live and silent auctions. Proceeds support athletic programs and clubs at the school.

Only 150 tickets will be sold. They are $35 each and available at the RHS office or from high school coaches.

For more information about the booster club, search Facebook via bit.ly/3TJOYzW. For questions, email riversidepiratesboosterclub@gmail.com.

— East Oregonian