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Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 24, 2018
BIRTHS
COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK
ACAC displays art
collection
Something to cheer about
Indy Commons, 278 S. Main
St., Independence, will host the
Ash Creek Arts Center’s fourth
anniversary exhibit reception
from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Past and present artists who
have worked with ACAC have
been invited to participate in
this group exhibit, which is
the first of a new partnership
between the center and local
business Indy Commons.
A rotating series of art ex-
hibits will be displayed at the
business throughout the year.
ACAC leaders also are coordi-
nating with the River Gallery,
184 S. Main St., Independence,
to hold events on the same
dates, creating evenings for the
community to enjoy a stroll.
While visiting the ACAC
four-year exhibition, walk
down to the River Gallery to
view its annual Wild Women
exhibit reception.
Community Calendar is a listing of upcoming events taking
place in Polk County that are open to the public. To submit
an event for calendar consideration, please send it at least two
weeks before the actual event date to the Itemizer-Observer via
email (ionews@polkio.com).
Emily Mentzer/Itemizer-Observer
The crowd roared and the Dallas Dragons cheered as the boys basketball team took
the lead in the third quarter.
information: 503-623-2633, or
check  facebook.com/dallasli-
braryoregon.
Dallas boosters to
host pizza party
The Dallas Booster Club and
Dallas’ Papa Murphy’s have
teamed up to raise money for
artificial turf field for Dallas
High School as part of the
Booster’s ongoing efforts.
On Wednesday (today),
20 percent of sales at Papa
Murphy’s will go toward the
turf project. No coupons are
required for the event.
Also, Dallas Les Schwab will
collect cans and bottles for the
“Bottle Drop for Turf” efforts
on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. Les Schwab will continue
to collect bottles and cans on
the last Saturday of the month
to help with the project.
Free man-tracking classes
offered
The Joel Hardin Profes-
sional Tracking Services-Vi-
sual Tracking and Training
Inc. organization will offer
man-tracking classes in Polk
and Yamhill counties to inter-
ested persons at no charge.
These classes are conducted by
certified trackers and designat-
ed trainers.
Classes consist of weekly
two- to six-hour training ses-
sions on Fridays and/or Sun-
days. Times and locations vary.
For more information: Ron
Glaus, apprentice tracker and
designated trainer, rag7@com-
cast.net.
Love is in the air in
Independence
The Independence Down-
town Association presents its
annual Walk of Hearts.
Express your sentiment on
a bright red heart hung on the
lamppost in downtown Inde-
pendence. Cost is $30 per side.
Order online at indyhearts.
eventbrite.com by Feb. 4. For
a paper form, email pd1571@
yahoo.com, or call 503-838-
2314.
MI TOWN
Old Man Winter has moved
to MI Town and it looks like
he’s unpacked his suitcases
and is planning a long visit
this year. These frosty early
mornings can make drives or
walks to school and work an
unplanned and sometimes
eventful adventure. Brave
and hardy souls who bundle
up and are not deterred from
those morning walks notice
more slippery sidewalks and
frosty streets as a part of the
daily trek. Some mornings all
our reflexes are challenged as
we venture out into the cold
and quiet day, and we need
to take extra care to prevent
a nasty fall on wet or slippery
sidewalks. Let’s all remember
to take a few extra minutes to
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
be prepared before we set out
on these cold and frosty days.
—
And while we’re on the
subject, on dark and rainy
—as well as those occasional
snowy — winter days, it’s al-
ways a good idea to turn on the
headlights as soon as you start
your car, even though it’s in
the middle of the day. It helps
other drivers see other cars
on the road and can prevent
nasty fender-benders or more
serious crashes from happen-
ing. Cheers to bicyclists who
have added both front and rear
lights. We want to see you get
to your destination —and back
home again —safe and sound.
—
O ne g o o d thing ab out
reaching this point in winter
is that we are getting just a bit
more daylight in the morning
and some afternoon sunshine
— on the days we can see that
big orb in the sky — than we
had even a couple of weeks
ago. The first green tendrils
of springtime bulbs are mak-
ing an appearance here and
there, which always gives our
hearts just a bit more hope of
the brighter season that’s just
around the corner.
—
We can all keep our spirits
up by following our local ath-
letes who are participating in
winter sports at both Central
High School and Western
Oregon University. Being in
a good and positive environ-
ment where youth and ability
combines to bring so much
enthusiasm can be highly
addictive, and those dark and
dismal days will disappear very
quickly.
—
Yoga group meets at Mon-
mouth Senior Center at 7:30
a.m. on weekdays, and there’s
always room for more. Coffee
and conversation after a gentle
session is a great reward.
PEDEE NEWS
The Polk County Saddle-ites
had about 28 riders from
around the county and beyond
out for their annual New Year’s
Ride on Jan. 6. The riders met at
Jerry Mentzer’s on Pedee Creek
Road for the two-hour ride on
trails that provided great scen-
ery, although with the logging
taking place by the Kovash’s,
they started further up Pedee
Creek Road than usual. They
ended with a big campfire and
potluck, with time for leisurely
visiting on that beautiful sunny
day.
—
Eric and Rebekah Schwanke
traveled to a conference in
Fremont, Calif., from Jan. 10-14
with their friends, the Russells,
to see speakers that Eric and
Marley May Wiley was born a 1:25 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2018, to
Lillian N. Baker and Dustin J. Wiley, both of McMinnville.
She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20 inches long.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Dallas library
to host novelist
Patchell
On Thursday at 7 p.m., the
Dallas Public Library will host
Oregon suspense writer Chris
Patchell.
Patchell is the bestselling
author of “In the Dark, Dark
Harvest,” and the Indie Read-
er Discovery Award winning
novel “Deadly Lies.” Chris re-
cently left her long-time career
in tech to pursue her passion
for writing full time. She pens
gritty suspense novels set in
the Pacific Northwest, where
she lives with her family and
two neurotic dogs.  She will
give a sneak peek at her newest
book, “Vowel of Silence,” which
will be released Feb. 6. Visit her
website at www.chrispatchell.
com.
This free event is made
possible, in part, by funding
from the Polk County Cultural
Coalition and the Friends of
the Dallas Library. For more
Wiley
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
Rebekah met during their
time in Mozambique with Iris
Global ministries last summer.
On the drive to California, the
van suddenly began leaving
an enormous cloud of white
smoke just south of Ashland.
It appeared the trip was over.
However, a mechanic shop
(conveniently situated next to a
motel) adjusted their workload
to make repairs on the van.
It turned out to be a pleasant
stay in Ashland, and the group
was only a little late to the con-
ference. They made it safely
home on Sunday after driving
through the night on Satur-
day. This was a new experience
for Allana, Alex, and Abigail
Russell, who had never attend-
ed an event like this before.
—
The Kings Valley Charter
School coffee shop, Kings
Crossing, which is run by the
high school students in the
school, wrapped up their shop
at the end of the holidays and
will reopen on March 31. It was
an exciting place to be this year,
with music, crafts and demon-
strations during the Saturdays
they were open. The students
put in an impressive 279 volun-
teer hours to make it happen,
with sophomore Bradley Davis
going above and beyond by
spending almost all of his Sat-
urdays helping. Senior Robert
Keep also put in a lot of hours
as the assistant manager. Con-
tact Jennie Wilder at jwilder@
kv school.org if you’d like to
participate, as a vendor, musi-
cian, or demonstrator.
—
Cor rection: The men’s
woodcutting crew at Pedee
Church meets every third Sat-
urday to cut wood, not the third
Saturday of the month. Their
next work day will be Saturday,
Jan. 27, and will meet at the
church at 8 a.m. for an oppor-
tunity to bless the community
with firewood.
—
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24
• Respite care — 1 to 3 p.m., 182 SW Academy St., Suite
216, Dallas. Free child care for parents who need time to run
errands, pay bills, etc. Free. Open for children ages 6 weeks to
5 years. 503-877-8473 to reserve space. Diapers are provided.
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Pickleball — 9 a.m. to noon, Roger Jordan Community
Park. Meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m.
to noon. Karen Freeman, 503-871-4172.
• Brew and BS: The New Testament — 7 p.m., St. Thomas
Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. A lecture series
on New Testament figures. Bring brew of choice — coffee, tea,
chai, beer, wine, cider. 435-503-4304.
—
THURSDAY, JAN. 25
• Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club — Noon, First
Baptist Church, 1505 Monmouth St., Independence. Visiting Ro-
tarians, guests and prospective Rotarians are welcome to these
luncheon meetings. Free. 503-838-4884.
• Mom and Me — Salem Health West Valley, 525 SE Wash-
ington St., Dallas (enter through emergency door on Clay
Street). Breastfeeding support group. Free. 503-831-5593.
• James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., Dallas
United Methodist Church, 565 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas. Free;
everyone welcome. 503-623-8429.
—
FRIDAY, JAN. 26
• Take Off Pounds Sensibly Club Meeting — 9:45 to 11
a.m. Church of Christ, 127 Heffley St. N., Monmouth. First meet-
ing is free. 503-930-7936.
• Altered Attitudes Alcoholics Anonymous — Noon, 186
SE Mill St., Dallas. 503-399-0599.
• The Arc of Polk County Dance and Karaoke Night — 6:30
to 8:30 p.m., Academy Building, 182 SW Academy St., Dallas. For
adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Admis-
sion: $3 (staffers and family admitted free). Snacks available for
purchase. 541-223-3261.
• Guthrie Park Acoustic Music Jam Session — 6:30 to 10
p.m., Guthrie Park Community Center, 4320 Kings Valley High-
way, Dallas. Free (donations accepted). 503-623-0809.
—
SATURDAY, JAN. 27
• Polk Community Free Clinic — 7 to 11 a.m., Trinity Luther-
an Church, 320 SE Fir Villa Road, Dallas. Free medical and men-
tal health care for uninsured and underinsured. Held on the first
and fourth Saturday of the month. 503-990-8772.
—
SUNDAY, JAN. 28
• Last Sunday at River Gallery — 2 to 4 p.m., River Gallery,
184 S. Main St., Independence. Reception to honor corner and
window focus artists. Free. 503-838-6171.
—
MONDAY, JAN. 29
• Central Lions Club — Noon, Independence Elks Lodge
1950 Dining Room, 289 S. Main St., Independence. 503-606-
2150.
• Willamette Valley New Horizons Orchestra — 6:30 to
8:30 p.m., Monmouth Senior Center, 180 Warren St. S., Mon-
mouth. Local orchestra for beginning through intermediate
musicians. Meets every Monday. Players of all levels welcome.
$25 monthly fee to cover expenses. 503-838-4884.
—
TUESDAY, JAN. 30
• Indoor Play Park — 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., First Pres-
byterian Church, 879 SW Levens St., Dallas. Open to children
pre-kindergarten and younger with parent/adult. Mondays
through Thursdays. Free.
• James2 Community Kitchen Meal — 4:30 to 6 p.m., St.
Philip Catholic Church, 825 SW Mill St., Dallas. Free; everyone
welcome. 503-623-8429.
• Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club — 6 to 7 p.m.
weigh-in, 7 to 8 p.m. meeting, First Christian Church basement,
1079 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Meetings offer programs and ac-
tivities aimed at losing weight. Open to anyone. First meeting
is free.
• Overeaters Anonymous — Noon to 1 p.m., Salem Health
West Valley, 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. Support group
meets in the quiet room/chapel immediately inside the emer-
gency entrance on Clay Street. Dee Ann White, 971-718-6444.
• Dallas Rotary — Noon, Dallas Civic Center, 945 SE Jeffer-
son St., Dallas. Lunch and speaker. Public is welcome.
• Toastmasters — 6 to 7 p.m., Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar,
788 Main St., Dallas. Learn how to effectively speak in public
and increase your leadership skills.
—
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Pickleball — 9 a.m. to noon, Roger Jordan Community
Park. Karen Freeman, 503-871-4172.
VICE
SER
TAXI
. 24 Hour Service
. Pick up Drop Off
Merlin D. Berkey
Get home safe, call your D. D.