Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 16, 2015 5A
Polk County News
CASA opens new home More money needed for project
Organization outgrew old office, moves to its own building
Concrete removal to add $166,000 to grading of site
By Jolene Guzman
By Emily Mentzer
See CASA’s
new digs
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — CASA of Polk
County has a new home and
is ready to show it off during
an open house on Wednes-
day.
CASA (Court-Appointed
Special Advocates) pairs
trained volunteers with
abused and neglected chil-
dren who have been re-
moved from their homes.
The volunteers advocate on
behalf of children as they
move through the court sys-
tem.
CASA’s new office is at 580
Main St. in Dallas. Until a
few months ago, the organi-
zation was housed in the
Polk County District Attor-
ney’s Office.
With the DA’s office and
CASA both expanding, that
arrangement was becoming
cramped.
“We have grown to the
point that we needed our
own place,” said Mike Bar-
net, CASA’s assistant direc-
tor. “Before we had (space) a
little bit bigger than a cubi-
cle in the DA’s office.”
Barnett said now CASA
has easier access for the
public and longer office
hours. He added the move
wouldn’t have been possible
without the help of the Polk
County commissioners and
Administrator Greg Hansen
helping the organization
find and pay for the new of-
fice.
“The county really went to
bat for us,” Barnett said.
With a new home to grow
into, CASA also will hold an-
other training session begin-
ning Friday. Training will be
held each Friday for 10
weeks from 4 to 7 p.m. The
first session will include an
orientation describing the
role of a CASA in a child’s
life.
Wednesday’s (Sept. 23)
open house, which will in-
What: CASA of Polk
County’s open house.
When: Wednesday
(Sept. 23) at noon.
Where: CASA’s new of-
fice, 580 Main St.
Of note: Want to vol-
unteer? CASA will begin
its next 10-week training
session on Friday at 4
p.m. at the new office.
For more informa-
tion: 503-623-8473.
clude the office “ribbon cut-
ting” is from noon to 1 p.m.
Office hours are 10 a.m. to
5p.m. Monday through
Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. on
Friday.
Barnett said with a new
office and a growing number
of volunteers, the next task is
moving CASA of Polk County
Director Katey Axtell from
part time to full time. The or-
ganization is seeking grants
to enable her to work more
hours.
“We are trying to make it
happen,” Barnett said.
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — In-
dependence city coun-
cilors, acting as the Urban
Renewal Agency, approved
a contract with Willamette
Valley Concrete for the
mass grading of the old Val-
ley Concrete site in down-
town Independence.
The contract is for an ad-
ditional $166,085 for a total
of $403,930, which will be
paid for using money from
the economic development
fund and wastewater enter-
prise fund, depending on
the outcome of an internal
budget review scheduled in
October, according to City
Manager David Clyne’s
memo to the urban renewal
agency.
The grading project is
part of the preparation the
city has done to market the
20-acre riverfront parcel to
developers. The city bought
the property from Valley
Concrete in December 2014
for $800,000.
The additional $166,085
was added to Willamette
Valley Concrete’s contract
at the urban renewal
agency’s Sept. 8 meeting.
“It has become clear to
us that the geotechnical
work, which focused on the
prospective building pads
and development area,
failed to disclose the pres-
ence of significant amounts
of covered concrete place-
ments primarily adjacent to
the shoreline,” Clyne noted
in his memo.
He said that paying for
the work to be done now
would make park develop-
ment on the shoreline easi-
er and would lower the risk
to prospective developers
and ultimately help market
the parcel.
“At the end of the day, we
think this is work that will
be a return on our invest-
ment,” Clyne said at the
meeting.
The work will not remove
concrete slabs below the el-
evation of 152 feet, which
floods on an annual basis.
Solution on Page 2A
What’s YOUR neighbor up to?
Find out in the Itemizer Observer. You may find your neighbor, your
boss, your friend or yourself in the pages of the Itemizer Observer.
Local stories on local people—that’s our specialty.
P OLK C OUNTY W ORSHIP D IRECTORY
DALLAS
Calvary Chapel Dallas www.calvarydallasor.com
Currently meeting for worship and verse by verse
Bible teaching at 628 SE Jefferson St. Worship
service begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday
school is available from youth ministry and below
to nursery. Wednesday evening cafe-style Old
Testament study starting at 6:30 pm. Come join
us for a relaxed study around a cup of coffee or
drink. Mens prayer is Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Wom-
ens Bible studies are scheduled also, call for
times. Last Sunday of the month Jubilee Service,
old time hymns and bluegrass music, 6:30 pm -
7:30 pm. Community invited. The Pastor/Teacher
is Larry King. Come join us and be a part of God's
family here in Dallas. For more information call
503-831-1074.
Church of God of Prophecy New Beginnings
- 575 SW Ash St., (corner of Ash & Stump St.)
Pastor Raul Lopez, 971-209-0452. Bible Study
School 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
(bi-lingual) Bible Study 6:00 p.m. presently
studying the book of Ezekiel. We welcome all.
Associate Pastor Jim Dickason 503-302-9816.
Church of Christ - North Kings Valley Hwy.
Sunday Class 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30
a.m. Sunday Evening Service 5:30 p.m. Thurs-
day Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m. We are a
Bible Based Church. Visitors welcome. For in-
formation call 503-420-4010. If no answer,
please leave a message and we’ll return your
call as soon as possible.
Dallas Alliance Church - 775 E. Ellendale, Dal-
las, 503-623-2265, Email office@dallasal-
liance.org, Lead Pastor Jim Jamieson; and
Youth/Children’s Pastor Lance Baker; Every
Sunday: classes for all ages at 9:15 a.m., Morn-
ing Worship at 10:30 a.m., (Nursery provided for
a.m. services); Tuesdays: Youth Night 7:00 p.m.
in Ediger Hall; Wednesdays: Adult Prayer Meet-
ing 1:00 p.m., Choir practice 6:45 p.m. Call for
info on current Bible Studies. Web: dallasal-
liance.org.
Dallas Church - PO Box 462, Dallas, OR
97338, 503-623-2711. Worship Gatherings:
Sundays 10am. Meeting at 450 SE Washington
St., Dallas OR 97338. Atmosphere is relaxed,
families & children welcome, come as you are,
current music & relevant teaching about Jesus.
Pastor: Ben Bauman. www.dallaschurch.org
Dallas Foursquare Church—Located at 976
SW Hayter St. on the corner of Washington and
Hayter. Worship Service: Sundays at 10am.
Youth Group: Sundays 6pm to 8pm. Pastor:
Darrin Hausler. We are a multi-generational
church with a heart for our community. Our mis-
sion is to Love God and Love People to Extend
His Kingdom. For more info call us at 503-623-
8277 or visit us online at dallasfour.com.
Dallas Presbyterian Church invites you:
Warm, spirit-filled fellowship with traditional
Sunday worship 10:30 am, engaging discus-
sion study groups, prayer "chain" and a loving
spirit.—Adult Sunday School 9 am, men's
breakfasts Tuesdays at 7 am, women's
groups, needle crafts group and Indoor Play
Park (for children with accompanying parent).
Sensitivity to older adult accessibility and
needs. 789 SW Levens, Dallas. 623-3397
dalpreschurch@gmail.com.
Evangelical Bible Church - 1175 S.E. Howe,
Dallas 503-623-2331. Senior Pastor Jerry
Franz, Visitation Pastor Allan Wiebe, Youth Pas-
tor Nathan Ensz. Sunday: Worship *8:00 a.m.;
*10:45 a.m.; *6:00 p.m.; Sunday School 9:30
a.m.; High School Youth Group 7:00 p.m.;
Thursday: Jr. High Youth Group - 7:00 p.m.; 2nd
& 4th Tuesday: MOPS *9:00 a.m.; Wednesday:
AWANA - 6:30 p.m.; Prayer Meeting & Bible
Study 7:00 p.m.; Thursday: Bible Studies *9:00
a.m. & *7:00 p.m. (women); Thursday Group
Bible Study 2:00 p.m. *Nursery care provided.
Faith Evangelical Free Church - 2290 E. El-
lendale Ave., Dallas, 503-623-8034; Senior
Pastor Al Perkins, Associate Pastor Ed Sutter,
Worship Pastor Ted Kitzmiller, Youth Pastor
Aaron Swank, Ministry of Children & Family
Debbie Davies. Sunday School 9:00 a.m.; Sun-
day Worship 10:30 a.m., Sunday High School
Youth Group 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday Jr. High
Youth Group 7:00 p.m. Please call or visit our
website for information about other meetings.
www.faithfreechurch.org
First Baptist Church - 245 S.W. Church St.,
Dallas, 503-623-5189; www.gofbc.org; Church
Office Hours: Mon - Fri. 10 am - 2:30 pm; Pastor
Rick Bratton 503-551-9561; Sunday School
9:30 a.m., Worship 10:45 a.m., Wednesday
Bible Study 6-7 p.m; Everyone Welcome!
First Christian Church - Joyfully Worshipping &
Serving 1079 S.E. Jefferson Street, Dallas, 503-
623-2569. Pastor Darren Anderson. “Live Wire
Worship” with Praise Team - 8:30 a.m., Adult,
Youth & Children Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.,
Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m. (Nursery pro-
vided), Men’s Bible Study - Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
Christian Women’s Fellowship - 2nd Tuesday,
1:00 pm (Sept through June). Please call church
office for information about other meetings.
Grace Community Church - 598 E. Ellendale
Ave. PO Box 69, Dallas, 503-623-4961. Senior
Pastor-Dave Bertolini, Pastor of Worship & Dis-
cipleship-Ryan Bucher, Pastor of Student Min-
istries-Ben Potloff. Sunday Worship: 1st
Service-9:00 a.m. with Kids, Youth, & Adult Sun-
day School running concurrently. 2nd Worship
Service-10:45 a.m. with Kids Worship running
concurrently. Nursery provided for 0 - 2 year
olds during both services. Office open Tuesday-
Friday for office hours visit our website at
www.graceindallas.org. All are welcome!
Living Hope City Church - 1156 SE Holman,
Dallas. Family Worship 10:30 am. www.living-
hopecitychurch.org Equipping Center & Offices
186 SE Mill St., Dallas. For more information
call 503-623-6890.
Living Word Faith Fellowship - 830 SE Shel-
ton Street, Dallas, 503-623-9062. Pastor Joan
Siewert. Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Wednes-
day Worship 7:00 p.m. Children's Sunday serv-
ice 10:00 a.m., nursery provided. Men’s
fellowship second Saturday of month breakfast
at 8:00 a.m. at Murphy’s Restaurant, Dallas.
Pastor Michael Van Dyke in charge of men's fel-
lowship. Call for additional information. Website:
www.proclaimhim.org
Salt Creek Baptist Church - 15075 Salt Creek
Road, Dallas, 503-623-2976. Senior pastor
David Curtis. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday
morning Worship 10:50 a.m. Nursery provided
for worship services. Classes for all ages.
Wednesday Senior High and Middle School
Youth at 6:30 p.m. Please call for information
about other meetings or visit our website at
www.saltcreekchurch.org.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 589 SW
Birch, P.O. Box 450, Dallas 97338-0450. 503-
623-5872. Services on Saturday: 9:30 A.M.
Sabbath School Bible Study for all age groups.
10:50 A.M. Worship Service. Office Hours: Mon-
day, Wednesday, Friday, 9 to Noon. Pastor:
Lary Brown
St. Thomas Episcopal Church - 1486 SW
Levens St., Dallas (at the corner of Levens &
Cherry) 503-623-8522. Email: stthomasdalla-
sor@gmail.com 10:00 a.m. Worship with Holy
Eucharist. Sunday School and Nursery Care
available during worship. Sundays 1:30-3:00 all
ages FREE singing lessons. St. Thomas Epis-
copal Church 1486 SW Levens Dallas. Call Re-
becca 503-559-5205 with questions. The
Episcopal Church and St Thomas Welcomes
you —please join us.
Trinity Lutheran Church - 320 SE Fir Villa Rd,
Dallas, 503-623-2233. Pastor - David Pederson.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service
10:00 a.m.; Kids Church during 10:00 a.m. Wor-
ship. Youth Group HS/MS 11:30 a.m. Sundays.
Free Medical Clinic 1st & 4th Saturday of each
month. www.dallastlc.org. Catch us on Face-
book.
United Methodist Church – A church with Open
Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors. 565 SE
LaCreole Drive, Dallas, 503-623-2481. Rev. J.
Quinton Kimbrow, Minister. Worship Service 11
a.m. Sunday School for Adults & Youth, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School for Children during worship serv-
ice. Child-care available. Handicap access. All
are welcome! Email: dallasumc@qwestoffice.net
Website: www.sites.umcdallas.com
Valley Life Center (Assemblies of God) -
1795 S.E. Miller Ave., Dallas, 503-623-4116.
Pastor Chris Barker, Children’s Director, Crystal
Barker, Sunday Morning Service 10:30 a.m.,
Wednesday Family Night 6:30 p.m. Please call
for more information or visit our website at
www.valleylifecenter.com
FALLS CITY
Falls City Christian Church 233 S. Main
Street, Falls City, Oregon 97344, 503-787-3104
Sunday Service: 10 am; Website: www.fallsci-
tycc.com
Falls City United Methodist Church - 242 N.
Main Street, Falls City, 503-851-3213. Pastor
Rebecca Strader. Morning worship Sunday 9:20
am. All denominations are welcome. www.fallsc-
ityumc.org
Mountain Gospel Fellowship - 303 N. Main,
Falls City, 503-787-8037. Sunday School 10:00
a.m., Worship Service 11:00 a.m., Wed. Dinner
6:15 p.m. Everyone welcome just as you are.
Join Us!
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 205 N. Main,
Falls City 97344, 503-787-3907. Pastor Lary
Brown. Sabbath School Sat. 9:30 am-10:40 am;
Worship Service 11 am. Community Service
Center (Food Bank) third Wed. of each month,
noon-3pm.
INDEPENDENCE
Buena Vista Community Church - 11355
Church St., Buena Vista. Independence. Pas-
tor Larry Lyon. Morning Worship 10 a.m.
Cornerstone Church of God - 4395 Inde-
pendence Hwy, Independence, 503-838-5119.
Sunday Service 10:30 a.m., Wednesdays 6:30
p.m. Nursery available.
First Baptist Church - A warm, friendly church
that cares about you! Located at 1505 Mon-
mouth St., Independence (across from Central
High School); 503-838-1001. Senior Pastor
Michael Parks. Sundays: Worship Service 11
am Wednesdays: AWANA 7 pm (during the
school year). Thursdays: Youth Group
6:15pm. Join us for small groups and life
groups throughout the week. First Baptist
Church has ministries for children, youth,
adults, families and seniors, throughout the
week. Check us out at www.independencefirst-
baptist.com
Life Center Foursquare Church - 437 D Street,
Independence, OR Phone: 503-838-6507. Pas-
tor Larry Gratreak. Worship Service and Sunday
School starts at 10:30 a.m. Various Studies,
Prayer Groups and Home Fellowships available
throughout the week. Call for more information.
You are welcome! Find us on Facebook.
St. Patrick Parish, Catholic - 1275 E St., In-
dependence. 503-838-5801. Father Henry
Guillen Vega Masses Sat., vigil 5 p.m.; Sunday
9:30 a.m. (English), 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Span-
ish); Weekdays Mon, Tues, Wed, & Thurs.
9am, Saturday 7 p.m. (Spanish). Evergreen
Nursing Home; Holy Days 9 a.m. (Eng) & 7
p.m. (Eng/Span). Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Sat 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Reli-
gious Education: RCIA Mon 7:00-8:30 p.m.;
Mid-High & High School Grades Mon 7:00-
8:30p.m.; Grades 1-4 Tues. 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WOU Campus Ministry: Mass Sun. 5:00 p.m.
at 315 N. Knox St., Monmouth followed by a so-
cial hour.
MONMOUTH
Christ The King Christian Church - Meets at
959 Church St. W., Monmouth 7:00 pm Satur-
day Night. Christ The King Christian Church is
a conservative, contemporary, charismatic Bib-
lical Church. At Christ the King we learn: the
truths of the Bible, how to live Biblical truths,
how to please God, and how to be a blessing
to all people. Come and join us as we learn
and grow together. Everyone is welcome. Wally
Wildman, senior pastor. For more information
call 503-623-2262. www.ctkmonmouth.com
Christ’s Church Methodist & Presbyterian
United - Come care and share with us. 412
Clay Street West, Monmouth, 503-838-1724.
Pastor Rebecca Strader. Worship Service 11
a.m. Call for information on small groups.
Church of Christ - 127 N. Heffley St., Mon-
mouth, 503-838-2360. Minister - Dan Brewer,
Youth Minister - Jon Siegrist. Sunday School
9:45 a.m., Worship Service 10:45 a.m., Sunday
Evening Service 6 p.m., Wednesday Service 6
p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church - 200 Monmouth-Inde-
pendence Hwy., Monmouth (the church with
the lighted cross on the “S” curve). School
Year Schedule: Sunday School and Adult
Bible Class 9:00 am; Divine Service of Holy
Communion 10:30 am. Adult Bible Class
8:15 am; Divine Service of Holy Communion
Pastor Dallas C.R. Dubke.
9:30 am.
www.FaithLutheranMonmouth.org; 503-838-
3459. Everyone is welcome!
Monmouth Christian Church - 959 Church
Street W, Monmouth, OR 97361; Office: (503)
838-1145; Fax: (503) 838-1162; Email:
mcc@mymcc.cc; Website: mymcc.cc; Lead
Pastor: Sean Bitzer; Pastors: Ulysses Vela,
Mary Weinbender, & Seth Halligan; Sunday
Worship Service: 10 am, English & Spanish;
children’s programming for birth to 6th grades
also available. Momentum (7th & 8th Grades)
meet Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 pm MCC; Join us this
Sunday in person or live online at
www.mymcc.tv.
New LIFE Ministries – we’re growing in Polk
County! CHILDREN'S CHURCH NOW AVAIL-
ABLE! We are a God-loving, Bible-believing,
non-denominational church body. This church
is a little different, in that it’s not just a church
service, but is all about being a “service
church”. We strive to seek out and serve the
needs of the community. It is our hope that
God will use us to make a difference. Come
join us! We meet at Henry Hill School 750 S.
5th St. in Independence every Sunday morning
at 10:00-11:00 am. Our minister is Marion
Seick. Feel free to call us at (503) 871-5207.
Please come visit and worship with us this
Sunday!"
Praise Assembly 189 Monmouth Ave S., Mon-
mouth (locations in McMinnville and Willamina
as well). Our English worship gathering is 11
am on Sundays, followed by a Spanish service
at 2 pm. Kid’s church available for 12 and
under. Youth group meets at 9:30 Sunday
morning. Other ministries include: Celebrate
Recovery (Tues, 7 pm), College Bible study
(Wed, 7 pm), and Spanish Bible study (Thurs,
7 pm). Please check our website for the most
up-to-date information, www.praiseonline.net,
or call us at 503-837-0300.
St. Hilda's Episcopal Church 245 Main St.
W., Monmouth, 503-838-6087, sthildas
church.org Sunday Eucharist - 10:00 am fol-
lowed by Fellowship. Children's Sunday School
& Adult Bible Study 9:00 am. Wednesday Wor-
ship at 8:00 am and 7:00 pm. Nursery care pro-
vided. Call for periodic small groups and
celebrations. All are welcome!