Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 15, 2015 15A
Polk County News
Student brings gun to Dallas High Utility fee option
Quick response from police, DHS admin diffuses situation
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Police say the
student who brought a gun
to Dallas High School on
April 7 had no intention of
using it to commit mass vi-
olence.
“There were some other
motives that are still under
investigation,” said Dallas
police Lt. Jerry Mott. “We
believe we have ruled out
any intent to do a ‘school
shooting’ though.”
Police responded April 7
after a parent called the Dal-
las School District with con-
cerns over a rumor that a stu-
dent had a gun at the school.
Police and school staff
quickly detained involved
students and officers were
quickly able to locate the
weapon in a field near the
school. Mott said because
the involved students and
firearm were found early —
with the cooperation of the
suspect — there was no
need to call for a lockdown
of the school.
“All of the involved
youths were also under im-
mediate control and sur-
veillance of police or school
staff away from the other
students,” Mott said, adding
every Dallas officer on duty
was called to the scene to
ensure the safety of stu-
dents.
The pistol was an antique
.44 Magnum revolver that
the suspect had taken from
a family member without
permission.
Thus far in the investiga-
tion, one juvenile has been
referred on charges of un-
lawful possession of a
firearm, tampering with
physical evidence, and un-
lawful possession of a
firearm in a public building.
Involvement of other juve-
niles remains under investi-
gation.
“We are very thankful for
the bravery of the student
who told their parent, and
the parent who called the
school,” Mott said. “These
actions, along with the dili-
gent efforts of school staff,
made the youth of our com-
munity safer.”
Interim Superintendent
Dennis Engle said district
officials are not aware of
any specific threats or the
reason the student brought
the pistol to school.
“(April 7) we faced a po-
tentially dangerous situa-
tion at the high school that
was quickly defused be-
cause of cooperation
among and quick responses
Council looks at fee to pay for
street, stormwater improvements
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
PROVIDED BY DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Dallas Police found an antique .44 Magnum revolver
at Dallas High on Tuesday after a tip from a student.
by our student body, par-
ents, staff and law enforce-
ment,” Engle said. “We re-
main very grateful for the
quick thinking and actions
taken today by students,
parents, police officers and
staff.”
Salem man arrested on alleged burglary spree
Itemizer-Observer staff report
DALLAS — Dallas police arrested a
Salem man in connection with several
business burglaries in Dallas in recent
weeks.
After releasing a photo of the suspect
taken off of a security camera, Dallas
for street upkeep
officers received a number of tips from
the public identifying the man as Adam
Harper, 27.
Officers arrested Harper on April 2 on
charges of: first-degree theft, two counts
of second-degree theft, three counts of
second-degree burglary, five counts of
second-degree attempted burglary, first-
degree criminal mischief and six counts
of second-degree criminal mischief.
Harper was taken to Polk County Jail
where he is being held on $137,500 bail.
Police continue to investigate the case
and anticipate more arrests.
MONMOUTH — Resi-
dents of Monmouth may see
a new charge on utility bills
if the council proceeds with
a transportation utility fee.
The fee, which a consult-
ant will put together at vari-
ous rates, would pay for
stormwater systems and
streets, City Manager Scott
McClure said at the April 7
council work session.
“We’ve been drawing
down the street fund,” he
said. “We’ve lost money. We
can’t touch any kind of seri-
ous improvements needed.”
A street funding task force
a s s e m b l e d i n Ja n u a r y
brought back suggestions for
the Monmouth City Council
to consider, all pointing to a
new transportation utility,
but at four different service
levels, or rates — dirt, sand,
gravel and asphalt levels.
Dirt would be the lowest and
least expensive level of serv-
ice, whereas asphalt would
be the highest.
McClure said at the dirt
level, street and stormwater
funds would struggle to con-
tinue the same service resi-
dents currently get.
“It would not provide ade-
quate funds to perform nec-
essary preventative meas-
ures,” he said.
The sand level would defi-
nitely suffice to hold services
where they are today, while
gravel and asphalt would
work to improve streets and
stormwater systems.
Councilor Marshall
Guthrie asked to see real
numbers for the asphalt
level of service.
“We should do it in a way
that sets our city up to look
and feel like a really nice
community,” he said, noting
the difference of how the
newly renovated stretch of
Talmadge Road feels to bicy-
clers as compared to Clay
Street.
McClure said the asphalt
level does set the city up to
be proactive in caring for
streets and stormwater sys-
tems.
Councilor Royal Johnson
said the asphalt level would
be too high — hypothetically
priced at $12.25 a month to
residential customers.
None of the costs are cer-
tain at this point, McClure
said. The task force just took
some estimates for examples
on how the utility might
work, but actual numbers
will vary once the consultant
is on board.
For more information or
to review the proposal:
www.ci.monmouth.or.us/do
cview.aspx?doctype=agen-
da&docid=5671.
In other business:
The city finance depart-
ment has switched to a new
billing system for its water
utility and has been having
some issues, which are being
worked out. In the mean-
time, Monmouth residents
may want to pay close atten-
tion to their bills for April.
OHA TIP fund pays $3,850 to witnesses who helped bag poachers
The Oregon Hunters Association's Turn In
Poachers (TIP) Reward Fund paid $3,850 in re-
wards to witnesses of wildlife violations in the
first quarter of 2015 in 10 cases that came from
Oregon State Police offices in Jackson, Clatsop,
Wasco, Douglas, Tillamook, Morrow, Linn/Ben-
ton, Umatilla, Josephine, and Deschutes coun-
ties.
Charges included criminal trespass with a
firearm, aiding in a wildlife offense/game viola-
tion, waste of wildlife and big game, hunting on
enclosed lands of another, and unlawful
take/possession of cow elk, mule deer doe, spike
ODFW family fishing event
at Hebo Lake April 18
TILLAMOOK, Ore. — The Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife invites anglers to get out and
enjoy a day of spring trout fishing when it hosts
a family fishing event Saturday, April 18 at Hebo
Lake from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ODFW will provide equipment including rods,
reels, tackle and bait for use during the event
while supplies last. Anglers are also welcome to
bring their own gear. Angling education instruc-
tors and volunteers will be present to provide as-
sistance and demonstrate good fishing
techniques.
To ensure that everybody has a good chance of
catching fish, ODFW will stock the lake with
3,000 trout just prior to the event.
“This is an excellent opportunity for anyone to
discover fishing, or get reacquainted if they have
been away from the sport for a while,” said Ron
Rehn, STEP biologist for ODFW’s North Coast
Watershed.
The event is open to the public, and no pre-reg-
istration is required. Anglers 13 years old and
younger do not need a fishing license while those
14-17 years of age will need a juvenile fishing li-
cense. Everybody else must have an adult fishing
license. Licenses will not be sold at the event so
individuals planning to participate should obtain
them ahead of time from an ODFW license agent,
ODFW field office or on-line at www.odfw.com.
Hebo Lake is a 2-acre lake located 3 ½ miles
east of the Hebo Ranger Station on the Hebo
Mountain Road. From Hebo, take Hwy. 22 ¼ mile
east, then turn left onto Forest Road 14. The U.S.
Forest Service, which manages the lake and
campground, will waive the $5 day use fee during
this event. Overnight camping fees will continue
to apply.
buck, buck deer, and wild coho
salmon.
"This was an above-average quarter
for TIP rewards," said OHA State Co-
ordinator Duane Dungannon, whose
office administers the reward checks.
"OHA's TIP fund typically pays about
$13,000 in rewards to witnesses of
wildlife violations in a year, so this
was a busy three months."
Rewards are paid for information
leading to an arrest/conviction for the
illegal possession, killing, taking,
and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope,
bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, moun-
tain goat, moose, and/or game birds. A large reward is offered in the recent case of two bull elk poached and
In addition, a reward may be issued wasted near Newport. The Oregon Hunters Association paid $3,850 in
for information that results in an ar- rewards in the first quarter of 2015. (State Police photo)
rest/conviction of a person who has
To report a wildlife and/or habitat law violation
illegally obtained Oregon hunting or angling li-
or suspicious activity, contact Oregon State Police
censes or tags.
Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by vehi- via the 24-hour TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or by
cles prompted OHA in 2009 to create the Natural email: TIP@state.or.us (monitored M-F 8 a.m. - 5
Resources Reward Program that offers a $200 re- p.m.). Please use the TIP Hotline for weekend and
ward for information leading to the arrest of any- evening reporting.
Witnesses can download and complete the vi-
one causing natural resources damage by the
olation/suspicious
activity report form and pro-
illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to
vide the information to us in person or via phone,
its highly successful TIP program.
The TIP reward scale is as follows: $100 game e-mail, fax, or mail. When reporting a violation,
fish; $100 game birds; $200 habitat damage; $250 advise the trooper of your interest in requesting
deer, bear, antelope, and cougar; $500 elk, the reward. TIPs can also remain anonymous.
OHA is the state’s largest Oregon-based pro-
bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat. Re-
wards can be higher in special circumstances, hunting organization, with 10,000 members and
particularly when local OHA chapters add to the 26 chapters statewide. Its mission is “to provide
abundant huntable wildlife resources in Oregon
reward offers.
The TIP fund is largely self-sustaining as the for present and future generations, enhancement
result of court-ordered restitution that convicted of wildlife habitat and protection of hunters
rights.”
violators are required to pay to the fund.
503
623-7056
Tues-Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-4
468 NE Bovard, Dallas
(Big red building behind Wal-Mart)