CENTRAL BOYS SOCCER HERRERA GIVING IT HIS ALL Page 12A Volume 141, Issue 42 www.Polkio.com October 19, 2016 $1.00 Dallas EMS restructures rates By Jolene Guzman IN YOUR TOWN New rates The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Dallas Emer- gency Medical Services charges for responses will be going up effective in January. R a t e s t r u c t u re s w i l l change to incorporate sepa- rate resident and non-resi- dent charges into one flat fee. The current charges are: Resident — $1,113; non-res- ident — $1,336; mileage — $20 per mile; and treatment without transport — $471. New rates in January will be: Transport service (resi- dent and non-resident) — $1,500; mileage — $22 per mile; treatment with no transport — $471; and serv- ice delivery (call but no treat- ment or transport) — $250. The Dallas City Council voted 8-1 to approve the new rates on Oct. 3. Rates were last increased in May 2015, which included • Starting in January: Transport service (resident and non-resident): $1,500; mileage, $22 per mile. these rising costs,” Brum- field wrote in a memo about the rate proposal. “We will most likely need to evaluate our ambulance charges every two to three years and make base adjustments as necessary.” He said the department is on track for an 8 percent in- crease in ambulance trans- ports this year. The new rate structure will increase revenue by more than $100,000. Brumfield noted that en- rolling in the department’s FireMed program for $65 per year (resident) and $75 (non-resident) would pre- vent patients from having to pay ambulance bills. JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file Dallas Emergency Medical Services charges for responses will increase in January. an annual adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index. Todd Brumfield, EMS supervisor, said that hasn’t been sufficient. “Although the anticipated revenue from the CPI ad- justments offers support, it will not meet pace with DaLLaS Dallas officials pre- pare for 2017 eclipse. »Page 5a FaLLS CiTY Volleyball heads to league tournament. »Page 13a inDEPEnDEnCE Imani Hall set to help downtown shine. »Page 7a MonMoUTh MaMere’s celebrates new owners, 125 years. »Page 6a A soggy Homecoming Indy Latino liaison reaches out SPorTS Central volleyball prepares for postsea- son. »Page 12a ELECTionS Falls City council can- didates, Measure 98, Senate District 12, bal- lot drop sites »Pages 2a, 3a By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — For three years, the city of In- dependence has had a community liaison fo- cused on improving con- nections between govern- ment and Latino residents. Community liaisons were filled by interns, until now. The outreach was so successful, the city hired a full-time community liai- son, Erubiel Valladares. “My job is to figure out how the community inter- acts with the city, civic en- gagement or civic ac- tions,” he said. “The liai- son is part of the depart- ment heads meeting, and is able to help out with what is out there in the community, to help those department heads figure out how we can serve bet- ter.” Efforts to include the en- tire Independence commu- nity have been very grass- roots, and will continue that way, Valladares said. “Essentially, I’ll be in the front talking to people and hearing their con- cerns, but also their opin- ions,” he said. “If you can tell me things that need to be addressed … if it is something that needs to be brought up to the com- munity as a whole, or brought up to the city council or the respective department heads, they should be aware of it.” See LiaiSon, Page 10a THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK Bowling fundraiser set for Sunday itemizer-observer staff report LUkAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer Dallas players wait on the sidelines for the next snap during the team’s homecoming game against Corvallis on Thursday. The Dragons defeated the Spartans 2-0. Dallas scored on a blocked punt that went out the back of the end zone. For the full story, see page 12a. Shinn to take reins of Dallas chamber By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The Dallas Area Cham- ber of Commerce and Visitors Center’s new chief executive officer is a home- town boy. JD Shinn, who the chamber an- nounced Friday would be its leader, grew up in Dallas and graduated from Dallas High School in 1998. Shinn and his wife of 13 years, Raelyn, have four children and live in West Salem. His official first day is Wednesday (today) and he said he’s excited get to work on behalf of Dallas. “I’m quite thrilled to have the oppor- tunity to serve the town I grew up in,” Shinn said in a statement from the chamber. “It’ll be incredible to be a part of helping Dallas continue growing and build on its successful foundations.” Shinn spent nearly two years with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce under a contract with Incite Inc., where he participated in a workforce develop- ment project called the Career Achieve- ment Network. That project focused on helping young adult get first-time work experience. He said working with the Salem Shinn chamber helped him realize the positive impact the organi- zations can have on a community. He wants to bring that to Dallas. “I want to take a leadership posi- tion and push Dallas to the next level as far as commerce and community involvement,” he said in an interview Friday. Shinn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in management and organizational leadership from George Fox University. He will lead the chamber and visitor center, taking over for former executive director Chelsea Metcalfe. She is step- ping down to focus on event planning and other programs for the visitors center. One of his first tasks is evaluating both the chamber and visitor center operations, and making recommenda- tions for changes and improvements. Shinn said he will be asking for the community’s feedback during that process. “My goal for the first 90 days is to have conversations with people,” he said. He wants to talk about what is lack- ing in chamber services and what has been successful. “One the highest priorities for me is to hear from the community,” he said. See ChaMBEr, Page 7a DALLAS — Polk County Special Olympics will host the Bowling Tournament Tip-A-Cop fundraiser Sun- day at 1 p.m. at Starlite Lanes, 394 Main St., Dal- las. Cost is $20 for three games. A silent auction and drawings will also be held. For more information: Shirley Wimer, 503-428- 0384. Dalton to serve on mayoral board SALEM — Dallas Mayor Brian Dalton will serve on the Oregon Mayors Asso- ciation’s Board of Direc- tors for 2017. Dalton joins Bob An- drews, of Newberg, A.J. Mattila, of Depoe Bay, Lou Ogden, of Tualatin, Betty Roppe, of Prineville, and Sandra Roumagoux, of Newport, on the board. George Endicott, of Redmond, serves as presi- dent of OMA, while John Cook, of Tigard, is presi- dent-elect. The OMA aims to in- crease the knowledge and skills of Oregon mayors and makes an effort to in- fluence state programs and legislation. wed thu fri sat sun mon tue Have a nervous reader? No need when it’s reading to a dog at Dallas Li- brary’s Paws to Read program. 4 p.m. Free. Meet the candidates for Dallas City Coun- cil at a forum hosted by the Dallas Cham- ber of Commerce at the civic center. 7-8 p.m. Free. Get your bluegrass on at Faith Evangeli- cal Church where musicians of all lev- els can jam to- gether. 7-10 p.m. Free. Take a chance at winning some great prizes and support the Montessori school at a dinner and auction. 6-9 p.m. $20. Polk County Special Olympics will hold a bowling fundraiser at Starlite Lanes. For more info: 503-428- 0384. 1 p.m. $20 Enjoy a bite of your favorite meal to help celebrate Na- tional Food Day. Looking for some- thing fun for your young ones? Enjoy the Indoor Play Park at First Presbyterian Church. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free. Showers Hi: 58 Lo: 51 Showers Hi: 60 Lo: 48 Partly cloudy Hi: 60 Lo: 47 Partly cloudy Hi: 60 Lo: 49 Showers Hi: 59 Lo: 47 Showers Hi: 57 Lo: 44 Showers Hi: 57 Lo: 43