Sheila Hagar

Washington

Columnist and Reporter at Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

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Articles

Snack food company a tasty Weston treasure

1 week ago | foodsafety.einnews.com | Sheila Hagar

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, May 28, 2025 By By SHEILA HAGAR | For the East Oregonian 1 of 2 J&J Snack Foods in Weston sends 40 million pounds of frozen food product into grocery stores every year. Plant manager Michael Watts credits the national company with creating a nurturing work culture and his employees for having a strong work ethic. (Michael Watts/J&J Snack Foods) J&J Snack Foods operates a plant at 103 E. Depot St., Weston.
Situation critical - eastoregonian

2 months ago | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

Published 7:00 am Monday, March 31, 2025 Rural communities lack veterinarians; suicide rates, clinical depression high in the professionSpice was not very happy to be at the Animal Urgent Care on Highway 11 in Milton-Freewater on a recent Friday morning. Cory Egan and Erika Long’s cat, adopted from the Pendleton Animal Welfare Society, gets care in Milton-Freewater from veterinarian Kelli Kidd. Kidd owns the walk-in urgent care clinic with partner and veterinarian Patrick Kennedy.
Homeplace: Tiny library fills big role in Weston

Mar 2, 2025 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

On Friday things looked traditional enough at the Weston Public Library. Library Director Heather Culley sat criss-cross applesauce as youngsters listened to weekly storytime, shouting out their delight for stories like “Wild Boars Cook” and “Brenda Is a Sheep.”It’s not the usual library fare that brings me to Heather’s domain, though. It’s the cooking. This winter recipes started popping up on the library’s Facebook page.
Homeplace: Making every breath count

Jan 19, 2025 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

Brent Oliver refuses to die. And since things that should’ve killed him haven’t, the Milton-Freewater man is using every breath he has for the good of people and communities. To fulfill what he sees as his mission, Brent has created the nonprofit “Brent Oliver 541 Foundation” as an avenue of help for others. Plus, despite being painfully introverted, he’s working with a film company to produce a documentary.
Milton-Freewater city manager addresses incomplete police station

Jan 18, 2025 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

MILTON-FREEWATER — Nearly 15 months past its projected completion date, the ne isn’t, actually, complete. Voters approved the $7.7 million building bond in 2021 for the new build, and a grant from the state of Oregon put another $3 million into the pot. Residents were told the station, situated on a former vacant lot behind City Hall on Main Street, would be done by October, 2023.
Reaching more hands, hearts for 4-H in Umatilla County

Dec 3, 2024 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

UMATILLA COUNTY — Courtney Waliser could hardly wait for her job with Oregon State University to begin. After 16 years of teaching in Milton-Freewater’s public schools, much of that in dual-language classrooms, this past summer Waliser took a new position to match a long-held belief — that 4-H should include every child who wants to join. While the role is officially titled “associate professor of practice,” that sounds like “cheerleader for inclusivity” to Waliser.
Reaching more hands, hearts for 4-H in Umatilla County

Dec 3, 2024 | hermistonherald.com | Sheila Hagar

UMATILLA COUNTY — Courtney Waliser could hardly wait for her job with Oregon State University to begin. After 16 years of teaching in Milton-Freewater’s public schools, much of that in dual-language classrooms, this past summer Waliser took a new position to match a long-held belief — that 4-H should include every child who wants to join.
Homeplace: Ouch! Expert to the young, my hunter still has some learning to do

Nov 16, 2024 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

I love watching this happen during interactions with the younger men we encounter in hunting season. They’ve hiked miles into the forest before first light on a frosty Tollgate morning. Shiny rifles hang straight from squared shoulders garbed in sleek, modern gear. You know, the specialty camouflage jackets over matching insulated pants. Sturdy boots fresh out of the box, nary a hole in a glove. Then there’s Camo Man and me.
State social services on path to relocate in Milton-Freewater

Oct 28, 2024 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

MILTON-FREEWATER — Oregon Department of Human Services officials have signed a 99-page lease, at least a year in the making, signifying an expansion of the state's social-service offices in Eastern Oregon. According to a projected timeline, services for child welfare, seniors and more will begin a transition in the spring of 2025 to occupy about half of the former Sykes call center building on southbound Highway 11 near Milton-Freewater. The building at 151 Sykes Blvd.
Homeplace: Happy bidet to me

Sep 28, 2024 | eastoregonian.com | Sheila Hagar

If you're squeamish about bathroom things, look away. But if you love best friend stories, stay. A year ago I began having some serious health issues. I won't bore you with how much I whined but, after hearing I probably needed spinal surgery, I was ecstatic to discover my pain actually stemmed from carpal tunnel syndrome. Fixable!"Very severe" was the diagnosis. Bad enough that during the nerve test, the doctor thought his machine wasn't functioning.