August 14 | Rich Cearns, UCFD1; Ben Wagner, Hagen and Paradise Fires Management Team

Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 Deputy Chief Rich Cearns discusses local and statewide deployments, the challenges of balancing EMS calls with firefighting, and recent station renovations. Ben Wagner of Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 6 highlights the specific challenges of combating …

August 13 | Umatilla County Board of Commissioners

Umatilla County Commissioner Cindy Timmons to discuss the ongoing wildfire season sweeping through the Columbia Basin. Commissioner Timmons shares her personal reflections on the Lower Dry Creek Fire, highlighting the community's swift evacuation efforts, the selfless work of local emergency respon…

August 12 | Joe Fiumara, Umatilla County Public Health Director

Umatilla County Public Health Director Joe Fiumara breaks down the Air Quality Index (AQI) categories and provides practical safety advice for managing smoke and heat risks during wildfire season. He also reviews a recent Umatilla/Morrow County Drinking Water Roadmap public meeting focused on long-…

August 11 | Wheatstock

Morgan Dunlap with the Wheatstock Music Festival discusses preparations for the 20th annual event in Helix, highlighting its growth from a small local benefit into a major two-day community event. Originally created to honor the victims of the Mustang 22 tragedy, the festival continues its legacy o…

August 10 | Blue Mountain Community College

What’s new at Blue Mountain Community College this fall? Host Dan Thesman sits down with newly appointed BMCC Foundation Executive Director Casey White-Zollman to discuss how the foundation empowers students through crucial emergency assistance, scholarship opportunities, and expanding alumni netwo…

August 7 | Umatilla County Historical Society & Pendleton Center for the Arts

Join host Dan Thesman as he sits down with two leading local directors for a fascinating dive into Umatilla County’s vibrant cultural scene. First, Shannon Gruehagen, Executive Director of the Umatilla County Historical Society Heritage Station Museum, shares how a partnership with Southern Oregon …

August 6 | Umatilla County Board of Commissioners

Join host Dan Thesman on this episode of the KUMA Coffee Hour as he sits down with Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer to tackle the big stories impacting our community. The pair open with a heartfelt tribute to retiring County Counsel Doug Olsen after nearly three decades of dedicated service…

August 5 | City of Pendleton

On this episode of the KUMA Coffee Hour, host Dan Thesman sits down with Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett and Councilmember Ellie McBride to break down the latest decisions from the Pendleton City Council. The group discusses key updates on local public safety and infrastructure, including clari…

August 4 | Pendleton Police Department

Join KUMA Coffee Hour host Dan Thesman as he sits down with Lieutenant Tyler Reddington and Corporal Ben Carleton of the Pendleton Police Department for an insider look at local law enforcement operations. In this episode, the officers break down the massive logistics behind securing major regional…

August 3 | City of Hermiston

Join host Dan Thesman on the KUMA Coffee Hour as he sits down with Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan to discuss critical updates impacting the local community. Beyond major developments at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC), Morgan breaks down the city’s comprehensive stra…