INSIDE ...
BLUE JEANS,
BACK TO SCHOOL
COUNTRY DREAMS
Section C
Page 7A
Volume 140, Issue 32
www.Polkio.com
August 12, 2015
75¢
IN YOUR TOWN
DALLAS NEWS
The Dallas School Board took comments Mon-
day on its option to adopt a construction excise
tax, or school construction system development
charge (SDC).
If adopted, a fee would be collected on new con-
struction within the district.
The maximum the district could collect in the
2015-16 school year is $1.20 per square foot on res-
idential construction and 60 cents per square foot
on commercial construction. About a third of the
districts in the state have adopted the charge.
»Page 11A
FALLS CITY NEWS
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Jenna Tompkins, left, with Bolt listens to the advice of MaKayli Laizure before the start of the livestock auction.
GOING, GOING, GONE
Bolt the goat earns reserve champion, and good price at auction
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
RICKREALL — Jenna
Tompkins,11, had a very
good three days at the Polk
County Fair.
A first year 4-H
goatherder with the “Mis-
chief Makers” club, she was
named a champion junior
showman and reserved
champion goat showman.
Her project goats took re-
serve champion and fifth-
place ranks.
Not bad for her first time.
“She’s pretty amazing,”
said Jenna’s mother, Kathy
Tompkins, Thursday after-
noon following the market
goat show.
The last day of the fair
may have been both the
highlight and the most diffi-
cult. Saturday is the day of
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Bolt, Jenna Tompkins’ market goat, was named reserve
champion at the Polk County Fair. He’s the highet ranking
goat she raised this year, and the one she took to auction.
the Polk County Livestock
Association youth livestock
auction, when the time and
effort put into projects are
rewarded for the kids. But,
it’s also the day Jenna may
have had to say goodbye to a
friend she raised from the
time he was just a few
months old.
Jenna’s market goat, Bolt,
earned reserve champion
honors in the goat show,
making him eligible for the
auction. Bolt is a big boy, tip-
ping the scales at 136
pounds, nearly double
Jenna’s weight.
He’s calm, contently
chewing and sniffing any-
thing within reach as the
market goats line up outside
the swine barn before the
auction begins.
“He’s always happy, real-
ly,” Jenna said of Bolt.
This being the first time
Jenna and her family tried
raising goats, there was a bit
of a learning curve, especial-
ly regarding keeping the
goats where they are sup-
posed to be.
See BOLT, Page 6A
Ready for rain
this fall season
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Workers with Robert Young Construction place a board
on the roof of the new cover over the stadium at Falls City
High School’s football field on Friday.
THE NEXT
7
DAYS
PLANNING
FOR YOUR
WEEK
wed
Tonight into early
tomorrow is the
best time to catch
the Perseid meteor
shower, if the skies
will stay clear
enough to catch it.
Sunny
Hi: 85
Lo: 56
FALLS CITY — The sound
of hammering and saws cut-
ting boards filled the football
field below Falls City School
Friday afternoon.
A long-awaited goal of the
district was taking shape::
Mountaineer fans will finally
have a grandstand.
In 2008, district officials
began discussing a stadium,
but it took the effort of vol-
unteers to see it through,
said John Gilbert, the dis-
trict’s facilities manager.
What used to be a set of
modest bleachers, built with
the help of students a few
years ago, will now be a cov-
ered stadium, thanks to the
donated labor of Robert
Young Construction.
Before the start of football
season, owner Bob Young
and his crew will have spent
a combined three to four
days putting the cover over
the bleachers.
This summer, the district
purchased materials from
Van Well Building Supply in
Dallas and rented a lift to get
workers and materials on
the roof to finish the job.
See STADIUM, Page 6A
Bad to the Bone is back and taking over Falls
City’s Lower Park Saturday.
The event, now in its eighth year, is a fundraiser
for the Falls City Alliance. Bad to the Bone no
longer features a barbecue contest, but does have
plenty to keep people busy from noon until sun-
down.
Have musical or dramatic talent? Come on down
to the entertainment stage in the park and partici-
pate in the open mic.
Food vendors, merchandise vendors, horseback
rides and games will be open all day.
»Page 5A
INDEPENDENCE NEWS
A fleet of aircraft will descend at the Independ-
ence State Airport this weekend during the Inde-
pendence Fly-in and Van’s Homecoming.
While the fly-in runs from Friday through Sun-
day, the event is not just for general aviation pilots.
The public is welcome to come have breakfast, bid
on silent auction items, view classic aircraft, learn
about aviation and stay for lunch.
“The biggest activity will be Saturday,” said Mar-
cia Noell, event organizer.
This year the club is focusing on classic air-
craft — generally fabric-covered planes from the
1930s and 1940s.
»Page 5A
MONMOUTH NEWS
Angie Amos and Jan Warden have spent their
lives volunteering in one way or another.
The two were honored recently for more than 20
years of service at the Monmouth Senior Center,
but that just scratches the surface.
Amos, 82, said she remembers shoveling her
sidewalk for her children to get to school.
“Once they were off to school, I shoveled my
neighbor’s walk so they could get out,” she said. “I
think I’ve always wanted to help others that need-
ed it.”
Giving to others runs in her family, Amos said.
»Page 2A
POLK COUNTY NEWS
West Valley Hospital and its parent company,
Salem Health, will soon be part of Oregon Health &
Science University (OHSU) Partners.
The partnership, which was formed to stream-
line services and provide better care to patients of
both organizations, will officially begin on Oct. 1.
However, the governing boards at OHSU and
Salem Health last week announced the new name
of the organization, OHSU Partners.
The board also named Peter Rapp, the executive
director of OHSU health care and OHSU executive
vice president.
»Page 3A
thu
fri
sat
sun
mon
tue
Polk County Bounty
Market is running
strong each week
with fresh fruits,
vegetables and
homemade goods.
Pilots are flipping
pancakes to raise
money for teen avia-
tion at the airport at
the Independence
Fly-in.
7-10:30 a.m. $5.
Dallas First Christian
will host its annual
block party with
food, fun and a
chance to win
school supplies.
3-6 p.m. Free.
Donate blood to the
American Red Cross
and help those in
need during a drive
at First Presbyterian
Church in Dallas.
Independence
Downtown Associa-
tion hosts Art in the
Park today at
Riverview Park, arts
and crafts for kids.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.
The annual Contest
Powwow features
Native American
dancers competing
for prize money in
20 categories.
7 p.m. $1 parking.
12:30-6:30 p.m. Free.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.
Mostly Sunny
Hi: 78
Lo: 57
Showers
Hi: 74
Lo: 53
Partly Cloudy
Hi: 81
Lo: 54
Sunny
Hi: 85
Lo: 54
Sunny
Hi: 83
Lo: 54
Sunny
Hi: 84
Lo: 55