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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 11, 2015 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Veterans need more services Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who served and are still serving. This day, and for the whole year, consider thank- ing veterans with more than just a handshake. There are a few ways you can do more to help veterans. The first is with your vote. Our vets face challenges as they struggle with the vortex that is life after the military. Many struggle to get the medical and mental health care they need because they are stuck going through the Veterans Affairs system. The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs is not very helpful. Representa- tives say all they can do is help file paper- work. They say it is the U.S. VA — a feder- al program — that is ultimately responsible for getting things taken care of, yet when it comes to appointments with caring doctors, it is the ODVA that continually lets vet- erans down. Federal Congressmen say they are helping by providing options for local care, called the Choice program, but ODVA representatives, including the people who are sup- posed to be veterans advocates, get around this system by refusing to set appointments for veterans. If an appointment is not available quickly, veterans are not called back at all, not put on a waiting list. This makes the VA look better, as if no one is waiting. In reality, veter- ans wait in a black hole for vital appointments and help getting medical and mental health care. Disabled veterans wait to be classified as such, not compensated properly and trying to survive on meager incomes. Consider voting for people who have a real plan for changing the VA system, who will stand up and hold VA of- ficials accountable for veterans who are dying for lack of services. Secondly, help veterans get their schooling by writing a note to your university board of education. Universities, including Western Oregon University, try to be veteran friendly by offering veteran support groups. However, one way they could truly be veteran friendly is by acknowledg- ing the vet’s years of service as education. A retired veteran with 20 years under his or her belt has learned more col- lege credit than a couple of physical education credits, yet many university registrars will not accept military tran- scripts. It’s lovely to see such an outreach from the community, offering free breakfasts, dinners, coffees and milkshakes to veterans on Veteran’s Day, but much more needs to be done before our servicemen and women are really taken care of. PUBLIC AGENDA Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov- ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County. To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503- 623-2395) or email (ionews@polkio.com). — THURSDAY, NOV. 12 • Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510. • Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631. • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Luckiamute State Natural Area, 8997 Buena Vista Road, Albany. www.luckia- muteLWC.org. MONDAY, NOV. 16 • Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal- las. 503-831-3502. TUESDAY, NOV. 17 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Polk Soil and Water Conservation Board Meeting — 6 p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main. St. Suite A, Dallas. 503-623- 9680 Ext. 5. GOVERNOR Gov. Kate Brown (Dem.) 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-378-4582 Email: via website, http://governor.oregon.gov/ — STATE LEGISLATORS Sen. Arnie Roblan (District 5, Democrat) S-417 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Present-day politics is grim picture “Amid the snarling, the gears of government at all levels continue grinding away with inexorable per- sistence. Our functionaries keep beavering away at their appointed tasks.” Anti-government senti- ment in America is fierce. Yet despite this insurgent clamor, it seems that the proportion of our GNP de- voted to federal, state and local expenditures has al- tered little over the past few decades. Everyone hankers after the grail of reduced government spending and a smaller public sector. That is, until our hypothetical cit- izen who falls under the “everyone” designation views the possibility of his or her interests being threatened by budgetary cuts. No surprise is at work in this inconsistency. Hu- mankind revels in self-cen- teredness. Elite American service- men were able to rescue 70 Kurdish hostages held by ISIS, but at the price of one of their own number being slain. “Freedom,” as they say, “isn’t free.” Despite the incredible heroism by our service personnel, we know that there are members of Congress from all along the political spectrum who prat- tle about “debt ceilings” and “threatened government shutdowns” if the two-part duopoly that shapes our destinies cannot agree. Bizarre indeed is this juxta- position of fiscal meta- physics and political fend- ing in Congress, on the one hand, with the incredible bravery of our soldiers on the other. Rome possessed very brave and skillful soldiers as well, and rather after the manner of contemporary America, they managed to blight their defensive efforts by tolerating a governmen- tal structure whose frustrat- ing inertia was all but guar- anteed to destroy what was left of civilization. A very discouraging pic- ture it is. Frank W. Goheen Camas, Wash. Veterans breakfast slated for Saturday It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling; the weather is turning cold; and the American Legion Post 20 and American Legion Auxil- iary Unit 20 are gearing up for our annual events. Every year, the American Legion Post 20, assisted by the American Legion Auxil- iary Unit 20, in Dallas hosts our annual Veteran’s Day breakfast for all the veterans and their families in the community. The breakfast is free to veterans, but dona- tions are accepted from everyone. This year our breakfast will be Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Dal- las United Methodist Church, 565 SE LaCreole Drive. We will be serving eggs, pancakes, sausage, coffee, and orange juice. For more information, you can contact Beth Lillib- ridge at 503-480-6254. We look forward to seeing you there. Joe Lillibridge Dallas LaCreole students help at arboretum On Oct. 13 and 20, 23 stu- dents from Michelle Schilling’s leadership class at La Creole Middle School volunteered to help out at the Delbert Hunter Arbore- tum. They raked leaves, cleaned benches, planted shrubs, and spread wood- chips around various plants. These young people did an outstanding job in all re- spects. The arboretum vol- unteers who supervised the students were unanimous in praising the work-ethic and positive attitude shown by everyone involved. Ms. Schilling did a great job of preparing her charges to come to the arboretum ready to work. We often hear about what our schools are doing wrong. The work of the LCMS leadership class is a great example of something that is being done right in the Dallas public schools. Paul Mannen Dallas Vet’s celebration at MVCA a success Mid-Valley Christian Academy would like to thank the Monmouth Dairy Queen for generously part- nering with us for a fundraiser which was a fan- tastic success. Thanks to everyone who came and supported us. We would also like to thank Sandy Larson, from the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, who came and captured the hearts of our students with a crayon trick, followed by an inform- ative lecture/speech/talk on how prayer works during one of our weekly chapel service. Veteran’s Day is a time to honor the heroes that sacri- ficed for our freedom. MVCA had the honor of hosting a special chapel followed by a complimentary pancake breakfast for veterans in the Polk County community. Many came and shared their story of military duty and to receive the gratitude from our students for what they have because of these brave souls. Thank you, service men and women, for the sacrifices you have made for our freedom. For more information about school events or class schedules, call 503-838-2818. Sen. Jackie Winters (District 10, Republican) S-301 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1710 sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters Sen. Brian Boquist (District 12, Republican) S-305 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1712 sen.brianboquist@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist Rep. David Gomberg (District 10, Democrat) H-471 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1410 rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg Rep. Paul Evans (District 20, Democrat) H-281 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1420 rep.paulevans@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans Rep. Mike Nearman (District 23, Republican) H-378 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1423 rep.mikenearman@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman — U.S. CONGRESS Sen. Ron Wyden (Dem.) 221 Dirksen SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-5244 Fax: 202-228-2717 Salem oice: 707 13th St. SE, Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-589-4555 Email: via website, www.wyden.senate.gov Miranda Long MVCA administrator Monmouth WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dis- senters are welcome to respond. Letters must include the author’s name, address and telephone number, even when submitted online. Letters must be submit- ted from individuals, not organi- zations, and must be original submissions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. For the complete letter to the editor policy: www.polkio.com. — Reach us at: Mail: Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338. Fax: 503-623-2395. Email: ionews@polkio.com. Oice: 147 SE Court St., Dallas. Sen. Jef Merkley (Dem.) 313 Hart SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3753 Fax: 202-228-3997 Salem oice: 495 State St. SE, Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-362-8102 Email: via website, www.merkley.senate.gov Rep. Kurt Schrader (Dem.) 108 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202-225-5711 Fax: 202-225-5699 Salem oice: 544 Ferry St. SE, Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-588-9100 Fax: 503-588-5517 Email: via website, www.schrader.house.gov — POLK COUNTY Board of Commissioners 850 Main St. Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: 503-623-8173 www.co.polk.or.us — CITIES Dallas 187 SE Court St. Dallas, OR 97338 503-623-2338 www.ci.dallas.or.us Falls City 299 Mill St. Falls City, OR 97344 503-787-3631 www.fallscityoregon.gov Independence 555 S. Main St. Independence, OR 97351 503-838-1212 www.ci.independence.or.us Monmouth 151 W. Main St. Monmouth, OR 97361 503-838-0722 www.ci.monmouth.or.us HOW TO REACH US Vol. 140, No. 45 (USPS) - 437-380) The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875 Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR. Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street Dallas, Oregon 97338 Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $27 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33 Outside of Oregon — One Year $38 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no inancial responsibility for errors in adver- tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault. 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