Dr. Ryan LeMert is not a Randle native. Or a Washington native. He grew up in Oregon. “We lived all over,” he says, talking about himself and his wife Gena, who is a dental hygienist. “Portland, Medford, Roseburg, Corvallis, Klamath Falls. When we moved to Klamath Falls, we really liked the feeling. There are only about 40,000 people and the community just felt different, and the way people treated each other felt so different. We knew we wanted to find that feeling wherever we decided to settle down.”
So about four and a half years ago, “Circumstances came together,” LeMert says. “I had always planned on buying my own business and the opportunity came up in Randle. We came up and looked around a couple of times, talked about it for just a short time. And, of course, we did it. We moved here took over the Randle Dental Clinic. We absolutely love living here. There are so many recreational opportunities.”
LeMert is correct—the opportunities for tons of outdoor fun are everywhere. A short drive will take you to Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainer, and White Pass ski area. Great rivers and lakes supply ample fishing for family fun, large herds of elk and deer for hunting. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the many miles of hiking trails and off-road vehicle trails. Pretty much if you can think of the outdoor recreation activity, you can do it all near Randle.
To say Randle is a “tad” smaller than even Klamath Falls, would be an understatement. It is an unincorporated area, so trying to find population statistics is nearly impossible. There isn’t even one stoplight in town. But the recreation isn’t the only thing LeMert loves about Randle. It’s the people and how they care for each other, and how they support education, just as LeMert does.
“My educational progress throughout my life did a lot for me. I support everything I can to do with education, and talk to as many juniors and seniors as I can. I have so much fun talking to the kids to see what they’re up to, find out what their thoughts are at this point in their lives. A handful of them are in the Running Start Program,” he says of the program where students can enroll in college classes their last two years of high school, earning their high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time.
“I’ll ask them what their plans are after high school. We talk about the fact that while there are jobs that can be acted on without further education, education is one of the paths to reach their goals in life,” he says. “The common response from most of them is that they plan to go to a community college for a couple of years. I highly encourage that. It saves a ton of money. I went to community college and the education I received was by no means inferior. It was great.”
Every once in a while, he runs into a student interested in his or his wife’s path. “We’ve had three or four students who have shadowed me or my wife. We welcome any student to observe and see what we do,” LeMert says. “We give our thoughts, encourage them, talk about the reality of their goals.”
And what LeMert loves so much about Randle is that the community is as dedicated to education as he is. One of the ways the residents show their support is through the White Pass Scholarship Committee Dinner and Auction. The fundraiser began 55 years ago and provides scholarships as well as awards at a presentation completely organized by the community. Three years ago, a silent and live auction was added to the dinner.
LeMert talks about his first time at the White Pass Scholarship Committee dinner and auction last year. “I wanted to support it so I planned on bidding for quite a few items. I was surprised to find I was outbid many times! People feel the same way I do. When you see someone bidding $800 plus for a dinner, you know it’s not really about the dinner, it’s about helping the kids. You don’t always know who the supporters are, but you meet them at events such as the auction.”
Dr. LeMert also enjoyed contributing some dental products to be bid on as well. The clinic gave an electric toothbrush and a new patient exam and cleaning.
LeMert says that the 2015 – 2016 dinner and auction brought in a total of $33,315 for scholarships. “Fourteen high school seniors were the recipients of these funds, which are awarded not just for college bound seniors but those entering trade programs or the equivalent of them,” he reports.
“It all makes me proud of my community and happy to be part of it. It was a tremendous move for us. I would absolutely do it again,” LeMert beams.
Randle Dental Clinic
214 Silverbrook Rd.
Randle WA 98377
(360) 497-5741
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