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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
CULTURES COMBINE RIBICH CRUISES SMITH FINE ARTS SPEED DEMON Page 7A Volume 141, Issue 39 Page 10A www.Polkio.com Myrold to face three charges $1.00 September 28, 2016 IN YOUR TOWN OREGON Elegance By Jolene Guzman DALLAS Dallas City Council race draws seven candi- dates. The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Kirk David Myrold, the Dallas High School teacher accused of having a relation- ship with a student, pleaded not guilty to three charges in Polk County Myrold Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Myrold was arraigned on one count of luring a minor and two counts of second-degree sex abuse in the case that involves a 17-year-old female stu- dent. All three counts are Class-C felonies. Polk County Circuit Court Judge Monte Camp- bell set the case for a pre- liminary hearing on Oct. 14 a 9 a.m. Myrold is or- dered to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case and minors not related to him. Dallas police arrested Myrold, a Spanish teacher, on Sept. 12 on one count each of luring a minor and second-degree sex abuse. The arrest followed a re- port from the Dallas School District made that same day that a male teacher employed by the district was alleged to have been involved in an inappropri- ate relationship with a 17- year-old female student. Dallas Detective Darren Buchholz found evidence supporting those allega- tions and arrested Myrold. He was taken to Polk County Jail and released on Sept. 12 »Pages 2-3A FALLS CITY Schools city talk fu- ture funding for Wagn- er Library. »Page 5A INDEPENDENCE JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Crews will continue to pick grapes at Cherry Hill Winery for the next few weeks after the vineyard’s earliest harvest. Harvest indicators point to return to traditional pinots for 2016 By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Follow- ing two hot growing seasons, local winemakers are seeing more of what made Oregon pinot noirs famous coming out for the vineyards. While the beginning of harvest this year is even ear- lier than last year — by a full two weeks in some places — a milder mid-summer has produced hints that has been missing from the last two vintages. “It’s been great, ideal ac- tually,” said Ken Cook, the winemaker and vineyard manager at Cherry Hill Win- ery in Rickreall. The hot spring made for an early bud break, which ex- plains the early harvest, but Cook said the wines will have characteristics of cooler years with longer growing seasons. “This year will have more complexity and more inter- esting flavors,” he said. He said the 2014 and 2015 vintages were pleasing, but atypical for Oregon wines. “They are bigger, bolder JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Volunteer picker Amanda Kelly dumps a bucket of grapes at Emerson Vineyards on Sunday. and rich with higher alcohol content,” he said of the pre- vious two vintages. “They are nice wines by any measure.” But in Cook’s opinion, and that of other local winemak- ers he’s talked to, those vin- tages have too much in com- mon with those produced in the state to our south. Elliott Johns, winemaker and field manager at Emer- son Vineyards in Mon- mouth, said he hopes for a strong contrast this year, too. “Their (California) sea- sons are so abbreviated that they don’t get the complex flavors out of their pinot noir,” Johns said. “A long season generally leads to more complex, more elegant pinot noir.” He’s been watching the fla- vors build and tracking weather reports to find the best time to take the grapes off the vine. A rain storm forecast for this weekend and next week may force him to start harvest Wednesday (today). “They are very close,” Johns said Sunday of the wine flavors. “I did a sample a few days ago. It tasted real- ly nice and I was waiting an- other couple of days to look at the forecast. I’m happy if I have to pick on Wednesday, but I wouldn’t mind a little more hang time to get our traditional Oregon flavors.” Cooks took an opposite ap- proach, choosing to harvest early to avoid the fruit being overripe like it was the last two years. He said those two hot seasons had winemakers and vineyard managers talk- ing about techniques that they could use during hot years to maintain pinot traits that set Oregon apart from other winemaking regions. Early harvest and late irri- gation — on those vineyards that are irrigated — are two options being looked at, he said. Later irrigation slows the ripening process, which allows flavors to develop. The hope is creating wines with lower alcohol content and subtle taste. See HARVEST, Page 16A Fire to bring regeneration to arboretum Dallas firefighters help Delbert Hunter Arboretum volunteers try an ancient practice of using fire By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Dale Derouin is hoping fire brings renewal. A volunteer for the Del- bert Hunter Arboretum, Derouin decided to experi- ment in the arboretum’s meadow section. Planted there are a number of native bunch grasses that in former centuries would have cov- ered the Willamette Valley. Derouin’s idea is to burn it to see if it comes back stronger in the spring. His suggestion has a basis in history. Native Americans used to burn meadows in the valley for the same pur- pose, he said. “I expect the grasses will regenerate,” Derouin said. THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK “I’m assuming most of them will come back because they developed under this regime.” According to his research, Native Americans noticed that plants flourished in areas of the valley that had burned in natural fires. The result was better hunting and a healthier ecosystem. “They thought, we don’t have to wait for nature to set the fire,” he said. Part of the mission of the arboretum is telling the his- tory of the area through plant displays and volun- teers thought adding a tradi- tional practice would further that mission. To make sure it was safely done, the arboretum needed assistance from the Dallas wed Want to learn to paint? Head up to The Boondocks in Falls City for Paint- ing, Canvas and Cocktails. 7 p.m. $30. Sunny Hi: 75 Lo: 44 Fire Department. Derouin said he didn’t know if the city would be in- terested in such an experi- ment, but he was pleasantly surprised. April Welsh, Dallas fire spokeswoman, said the burn helps both volunteer organizations — the arbore- tum with testing the theory and the department with training. “Anytime we get to work with another organization, especially another volunteer organization, we will always make that happen,” Welsh said. The controlled burn took place on Thursday, with ar- boretum volunteers and on- lookers there to watch. Both fire department offi- JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer A firefighter uses a drip torch to light grasses ablaze. cials and arboretum volun- teers are curious about how the experiment will turn out. “We want to try that and see what happens,” Derouin said. For more photos of the process, www.polkio.com. Taylor’s Building restoration is moving very carefully. »Page 6A MONMOUTH Suicide prevention is the focus of meeting, initiatives. »Page 5A ELECTION Measure 97 is topic of local forum. »Page 3A SPORTS Quarterback, receiver make connections for Central. »Page 10A SEDCOR honors Polk County Itemizer-Observer staff report POLK COUNTY — Polk County was among a group of partners recog- nized with the Outstand- ing Public/Private Part- nership award at the Strategic Economic De- velopment Corporation Annual Honors Luncheon earlier this month. The award honors “outstanding cooperation on a project or initiative with public benefit in mind” and was given to the “Make It in the Mid- Willamette Valley” proj- ect. The group includes Polk County, Marion County, Yamhill County, Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Mid- Willamette Valley Coun- cil of Governments, Ore- gon Manufacturing Ex- tension Partnership, and Incite. The project was started in 2013 with a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Eco- nomic Development Ad- ministration. These funds have helped keep businesses and jobs at home and to help train local workers. The three-year project has helped to support an innovative and collabora- tive culture for businesses in the region. thu fri sat sun mon tue Last chance to shop at the Polk County Bounty Market for the season. At the Academy Lawn on Main Street. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Listen to or play great live music at the Guthrie Park Community Center during the acoustic jam session. 6:30 p.m. Free. Polk Community Free Clinic at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dallas offers free medical care to those who need it 7 a.m. Free. Two flea markets are better than one. You can visit two in Rick- reall at the fair- ground and the grange hall. 9 a.m. Free or $5. New Horizons or- chestra invites be- ginning to intermediate players to join for a monthly fee in Monmouth. 6:30p.m. $25. James2 Community Kitchen offers free meals to those in need at St. Philip Catholic Church in Dallas. 4:30 p.m. Free. Partly sunny Hi: 70 Lo: 43 Showers Hi: 63 Lo: 46 Showers Hi: 59 Lo: 46 Rain Hi: 60 Lo: 46 Showers Hi: 61 Lo: 43 Showers Hi: 61 Lo: 44