Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 29, 2015)
KRAZY DAYS SUMMERFEST WEEKEND Volume 140, Issue 30 www.Polkio.com Page 7A 75¢ July 29, 2015 250 ACRES BURNED IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS NEWS In years past, the Old Timers Reunion in Dallas brought hundreds of people to Dallas City Park each August. The Dallas Area Visitors Center, which organizes the tradition going in its 53rd year, would like to see it regain those numbers. In recent years, the attendance has been closer to 50 people. “It used to be a huge thing, 200 to 300 people,” said Bonnie Dreier with the Dallas Area Visitors Center. “I don’t know if we can bring it back, but we are going to try.” »Page 15A FALLS CITY NEWS EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Steve Roberts flies a helicopter to fight the fire on Ohms and Fishback roads from the sky on Friday afternoon. More than 250 firefighters from 22 agencies respond By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Smoke filled the air on Friday after- noon after a combine sparked a 250-acre field fire off Ohms Road near Fish- back Road and Monmouth Highway. Fire departments from 22 different agencies attacked the blaze on all sides. A heli- copter unit with the Oregon Department of Forestry fought the fire from the sky. Residents were under vol- untary evacuation orders by the Polk County Sheriff’s Of- fice, with the recommenda- tion to gather any animals and leave the area. An emer- gency shelter was set up at Central High School by the Red Cross in case it was needed. More than 250 fire- EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Apparatus from 22 fire agencies from Yamhill, Benton, Polk and Marion counties quickly responded to and bat- tled a 250-acre field fire sparked by a combine on Friday. fighters tackled the fire. None were injured. No resi- dents reported injuries, and no livestock was reported in- jured. The call came in just after 2 p.m. on Friday, and the fire was under control about four and a half hours later, said April Welsh, Dallas Fire and EMS community servic- es. In total, firefighters were on scene for about 10 hours to ensure no hot spots reignited. “It was incredible how many apparatus showed up,” Welsh said. “That kind of response just facilitated that fire getting under con- trol, going from one point of not having containment to in an hour having 90 percent containment.” At one point, the fire began to spread to nearby timber, but was never considered a timber fire. A “finger fire” began spreading away from the main location toward the staging area on Monmouth Highway, where firefighters arrived for directions. See FIRE, Page 6A Dancing in the Rain Last year’s summer of trouble in Falls City’s parks doesn’t appear to be repeating itself. In fact, a group of residents are working to improve the en- vironment in the town’s three parks this summer. Activities in the parks — particularly near the Lit- tle Luckiamute River falls — were a point of con- tention with residents last year, with drinking, loud music and people carrying guns the most common complaints. Falls City Mayor Terry Ungricht said city hall has gotten calls from residents living next to the parks who are concerned about troublesome and possibly illegal actions taking place. »Page 5A INDEPENDENCE NEWS The city of Independence wrapped up a new parks master plan, which was presented to the city council on July 14. “The big shiny piece is the riverfront,” said Shawn Irvine, economic development director. “Part of the reason we (the city) purchased the Valley Concrete site was to maintain control of the riverfront.” The city owns 2-1/2 miles of land along the Willamette River, and whoever buys the Valley Con- crete site will have to allow public access, Irvine said. “We want to extend (trails) to the south, ideally out to the island,” he said. »Page 2A MONMOUTH NEWS Some ride for pleasure. Others to get into shape. For those taking part in Bike MS, which takes place Friday through Sunday at Western Oregon Univer- sity, they are riding for a purpose. “A lot of bike events are just about getting on our bike and riding,” Bike MS Manager Amy Harris said. “More than that, this ride is about supporting peo- ple with multiple sclerosis (MS). Many of the people who ride with us either have MS or love someone who has MS or has a family member with MS.” MS is an often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. »Page 11A POLK COUNTY NEWS In 2014, the timber harvest in Polk County fell, following a statewide trend. Polk’s overall harvest declined from approxi- mately 161 million board feet to 150 million board feet, according to an Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) report. A board foot of lumber measures one foot wide, one foot long by one inch thick. Statewide, the overall harvest decreased 1.74 percent to approximately 4.13 billion board feet, making 2014 the second consecutive year Oregon’s harvest has been more than 4 billion board feet. JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer »Page 5A Dancers from M.O.M. Dance Company don’t let a little rain stop them from dancing in the parade on Saturday. THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK wed thu fri sat sun mon tue World’s Finest, a reg- gae and bluegrass band, will fill Main Street Park with music as part of Music in the Park. 6:30 p.m. Free. Kids activities, music, food and fun will be at Christ’s Church’s second an- nual summer block party. 6-8 p.m. Free. Check out the “Huge $6 Sale” fundraiser benefiting the West Valley Hospital Vol- unteers and local high school seniors. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Interested in own- ing a horse, or al- ready do? Old Mill Feed & Garden hosts the horse owner’s workshop today. Mel Brown and Friends perform a free evening of jazz at Main Street Park to kick off the an- nual jazz camp. 5 p.m. Free. Today is National Grab some Nuts day. What better way to support Polk County’s filbert farms than by pick- ing up some nuts? It’s National Night Out, when commu- nities gather to stand together with law enforcement against crime. Times vary. Free. Sunny Hi: 97 Lo: 60 Sunny Hi: 100 Lo: 64 Sunny Hi: 98 Lo: 60 Sunny Hi: 95 Lo: 58 Sunny Hi: 92 Lo: 57 Sunny Hi: 90 Lo: 58 Sunny Hi: 89 Lo: 57 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.