POLK STUDENTS ARE
THANKFUL
Volume 141, Issue 47
DALLAS, CENTRAL
Page 8A
GREAT SEASON
Page 10A
www.Polkio.com
November 23, 2016
$1.00
Falls City’s do-all mayor
IN
YOUR
TOWN
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Terry Un-
gricht’s routine begins with
arriving at city hall in Falls
City at 6 a.m.
“That gives me a couple of
hours of work without dis-
ruption,” he said. “If we have
a water main break, I’m in
the ditch and driving the
dump truck. That’s why I like
to show up early — that
gives me a couple of hours
to work. Then you open your
email or the phone starts
ringing.”
His official title with the
city of Falls City is mayor.
It’s safe to say that is an un-
derstatement of the responsi-
bility he’s taken as the city
contends with limited fund-
ing. He is the city’s mayor, the
city manager, a public works
assistant, volunteer organizer
and grant writer.
He does all of that with lit-
tle background in public ad-
ministration — he served as
a city councilor for two
years — and no financial
compensation.
“Mayor Ungricht volun-
teered to serve as city man-
ager so he could help re-
move roadblocks keeping
Falls City from moving for-
ward and help the city save
money,” said City Clerk
Domenica Protheroe. “This
is exactly what he has done.”
By filling the role of city
manager, which requires
him to work about 50 hours
per week, if not more, Un-
gricht is saving the city
about $82,000.
His work on infrastructure
improvements in town —
water, sewer and streets —
no doubt will save the city
more money. Ungricht does
it with the municipal equiv-
alent of clipping coupons:
Applying for grants and
seeking partnerships with
other cities or agencies.
A retired railroad conduc-
tor and lobbyist on behalf of
his union, Ungricht said he’s
versed in “government
speak” and another trick
DAllAS
Water and sewer
rates set to increase
next year.
»Page 2A
FAllS CITY
Falls City High School
changes its grading
policy.
»Page 12A
InDEPEnDEnCE
Minet finds a fix to
slowing service.
»Page 3A
MOnMOUTH
Western Oregon re-
news its strategic plan.
that has been useful.
“I know how to twist
arms,” he said, smiling.
Protheroe can tick off a list
of the successful grants Un-
gricht has applied for or has
assisted in applying for on
behalf of the city in his first
term. His first was a HEAL
Cities grant used to repair
and upgrade the 119 steps
that connect downtown to
the Falls City Elementary
School neighborhood.
The city has received
grants to pay for water treat-
ment facility plans, an in-
come study for households
served by city sewer services,
street paving, expanding
Michael Harding Park, and
one under consideration for
sewer system upgrades.
Federal and state grants
will pay for a replacement
bridge on Mitchell Street
crossing Dutch Creek which
washed out in December
2015. Ungricht established a
»Page 11A
Remember
safety when
cooking
partnership with Polk Coun-
ty to manage the project.
Ungricht has plans for the
city, in partnership with the
county, to receive more
grant money to pave streets
in town. That way the city
can use state grants to small
cities to pave frequently
used gravel roads.
“I have a lot of goals for
the city, mainly infrastruc-
tural,” Ungricht said. “My
thing is to try to look 10
years out.”
City Councilor Jenn Drill
Itemizer-Observer staff report
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
In addition to administrative duties, Ungricht also is ac-
tive in the community, here at July 4 events.
said his foresight is appreci-
ated.
“I think he’s made a huge
impact, not just personally,
but financially,” she said.
“He’s able to look at things
as a whole and not just his
own agenda.”
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
THE NEXT
7
DAYS
PLANNING
FOR YOUR
WEEK
Photo courtesy of DALLAS CHRISTMAS CHEER
Dallas Christmas Cheer volunteers gather on Christmas Eve to pack and deliver food.
Eve, with volunteers show-
ing up at LaCreole Middle
School to pack boxes.
You don’t have to wait that
SPORTS
Western men’s bas-
ketball depends on
newcomers.
She added he’s good at
rallying people for a com-
mon cause.
“He brings unity to our
community,” she said. “It
comes down to having a
heart for the community.”
See MAYOR, Page 8A
Holiday programs need assistance, donations
DALLAS — Two organiza-
tions serving those in need
this Christmas — Dallas
Christmas Cheer and Dallas
Adopt-a-Family — are gear-
ing up to spread some holi-
day joy and they need your
help.
Dallas Christmas Cheer al-
ready is seeing strong support
from various food drives in
the area and will receive the
proceeds from a new
fundraiser, the Dallas Glow
Run, early next month.
“It just continues to blow
our minds,” said Sue Lamb,
Christmas Cheer’s secretary
and treasurer. “The program
truly belongs to the commu-
nity. I have never seen vol-
unteers come out like this.”
Christmas Cheer delivers
food boxes on Christmas
»Page 5A
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer
Falls City Mayor Terry Ungricht has a lot more on his plate than the traditional duties of the office. He serves as city
manager and can be found helping public works and writing grants for city projects.
long to lend a hand, though.
Food drives are underway at
several local organizations
and businesses.
For information about
where to donate, go to Dal-
las Christmas Cheer’s Face-
book page.
The Dallas High School
leadership class kicked off
the drive by collecting 7,650
canned food items.
Lamb said Monday that
about 100 families were
signed up and she expects
the organization will collect
enough food to provide for
many more.
“We would love to serve
300 families,” she said.
Dallas Adopt-a-Family
had signed up 143 families
for assistance as of Monday.
It is expecting about 250.
The program provides
food and gifts for local fami-
lies.
Melissa Baurer, director of
social services at The Salva-
tion Army, said 102 of those
families have been adopted,
so more families, businesses
and organizations are need-
ed to meet.
See CHRISTMAS, Page 8A
wed
thu
fri
sat
sun
Central hosts a Sen-
ior Thanksgiving
lunch at the CHS
cafeteria, with en-
tertainment by the
Main Street Singers.
noon. Free.
Happy Thanksgiving
from our family to
yours. Many organi-
zations will host a
traditional turkey
dinner today. See
Page 6A for details.
Ditch the big shop-
ping on Black Friday
for a low-key tour of
Polk County’s winer-
ies, who have spe-
cials all weekend.
All Day. $5-$10.
It’s Small Business
Saturday! The per-
fect excuse to get to
know your local,
neighborhood
shops.
Hours vary.
Today is the busiest
travel day of the
year as people make
their way home
from Thanksgiving
Day events.
Rain
Hi: 50
Lo: 45
Rain
Hi: 49
Lo: 43
Rain
Hi: 48
Lo: 42
Rain
Hi: 48
Lo: 40
Rain
Hi: 49
Lo: 44
POLK COUNTY — With
Thanksgiving just a few
days away, State Fire Mar-
shal Jim Walker is remind-
ing Oregonians to keep
fire safety front and center
when cooking and prepar-
ing holiday meals.
"When friends and fam-
ily gather at this festive
time of year, don't let it be
marred by tragedy," says
Walker. "By following a
few fire prevention tips,
you can keep yourself and
loved ones safe."
From 2011 through
2015, there were more
than 4,000 cooking-relat-
ed fires in Oregon causing
nine deaths, 228 injuries,
and more than $37 million
in property loss.
Cooking safety tips:
• Keep a close eye on
your cooking; never leave
cooking food unattended.
• Keep your cooking
area clean, including
stovetop, burners, oven,
and exhaust fan.
• Keep anything that
can catch fire — oven
mitts, wooden utensils,
dishtowels, and food
packaging away from your
stovetop.
• Wear clothing that will
not dangle onto stove
burners and catch fire.
• Keep pot and pan
handles turned inward on
the stove to avoid bump-
ing them and spilling hot
foods.
• Heat cooking oil slow-
ly and never leave it unat-
tended.
For more information:
www.oregon.gov/osp/SFM
/Pages/cookingsafety.aspx.
mon
Explorer Ferdinand
Magellan began
crossing the Pacific
Ocean on this date
in 1520.
Showers
Hi: 51
Lo: 43
tue
Because the spend-
ing isn’t over and
the need is great,
today is Giving
Tuesday, a time to
help those charities
in need.
Showers
Hi: 52
Lo: 42