NAIFA Blue Mountain donates $1,000 to 3 Rivers Race

Shelter From the Storm’s largest annual fundraiser received a major financial shot in the arm recently from the Blue Mountain chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

Blue Mountain NAIFA has donated $1,000 to the 3 Rivers Race, which benefits Shelter From the Storm.

Founded in 1890 as the National Association of Life Underwriters, NAIFA is one of the nation’s oldest and largest associations representing the interests of insurance professionals. The Blue Mountain chapter, which supports various community projects and programs, includes member companies from Umatilla, Union, Baker and Wallowa counties.

The 3 Rivers Race is slated for Saturday morning, beginning at Pioneer Park. Bikers are set to start around 6 a.m., while half-marathon runners and all walkers will start at 10 a.m. The 5K and 10K runners start at noon. Registration information is available online at www.3riversrace.com or at the Mountain Works bike shop.

Tate earns principalbroker’s license

Local real estate broker Gary Tate took a step forward in his career recently, earning certification as a principal broker.

Tate, of Mt. Emily Realty, was licensed as a broker three years ago, and earned his principal broker’s license by completing the 40-hour online Brokerage Administration and Sales Supervision course required by the state.

Mount Emily Realty at 1112 Adams Ave. is staffed by Tate, Arnie Hill and Bill McDonald. All are licensed as principal brokers.

Northwest Farm Credit Services hands out scholarships locally

Northwest Farm Credit Services announced the winners of the 2014 Scholarship Program. Forty-four scholarships were given, including two locally, to sons and daughters of Northwest FCS customers and employees in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Eight high school students and three college students from each state were awarded $1,500 scholarships. Four employees’ students received $1,500 scholarships. Human Resources also awarded two diversity and four land grant university scholarships worth $1,500 apiece.

High school scholarship recipients from Northeast Oregon included Emily Spang of Wallowa. She is the daughter of Derek and Julie Spang. She has been her high school class vice president and treasurer, student body vice president and treasurer and FFA chapter vice president and president. Spang enjoys softball and volleyball. She is involved with 4-H, National Honor Society and the Rotary Interact. She’s a member of Grand Ronde Model Watershed and has worked as a ranch hand. She plans to pursue a degree in nursing and livestock production management.

Luke Coomer of Baker City is the recipient of a Northwest FCS Employee Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a son or daughter of a Northwest FCS employee.

Luke is the son of Mark and Beverly Coomer. He is a student at Oregon State University studying agricultural education. He has been an active member of his 4-H and FFA, and has been a 4-H teen leader and historian and reporter for the Baker FFA Chapter. He was part of a 4-H equestrian team that competed in the Eastern National 4-H Roundup in Kentucky.