Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 24, 2018
Homeless
Polk Connect provides services
By Jolene Guzman
Continued from Page A1
He said he’s talked with the
city of Dallas and Dallas School
District, as LaCreole Middle
School is next door, and they’ve
been supportive.
“What we want to do is work
with veterans who either want
to get back into the workforce
or find permanent housing,
and they just don’t know how
to do that part,” DeMoe said.
“We want to provide drug and
alcohol treatment if that is
needed.”
Marie McCandless, Polk
County’s veterans’ service
officer, said 13 chronically
homeless, 14 “couch surfing,”
and 21 “at-risk” veterans have
contacted her office since
February. She’s been able to
help some of them get housing
outside the county.
“We can get them services,
we can get them benefits, and
then as soon as they leave our
county, they no longer have
that support system,” she said.
“This facility that we are talking
about is going to give them
housing where their support
system is.”
R i t a G ra d y , w i t h Po l k
Community Development
Corporation, said longer-term
plans are in the works for
permanent veterans housing
in Independence and Dallas.
A grant to build one-bedroom
units in Independence has
been approved, and the Polk
CDC board approved buying
property in Dallas for veteran’s
housing next to the county VSO
office.
B u t i n t h e m e a n t i m e,
DeMoe said the church is an
ideal place to locate the shelter
because Dallas United Meth-
odist Church is the host for
weekly James2 Kitchen meals,
addiction treatment classes
and parenting classes.
“If the plan takes root, part
of the church would become a
day center to serve the veterans
with computers, and social ser-
vices (organizations) that help
veterans would visit the center
at the church,” DeMoe said.
“Anybody who does something
with veterans would be able
to come here and help those
veterans get on their feet a lot
quicker.”
Polk County will apply for a
one-time Oregon Department
of Veterans Affairs grant. While
the money can’t be used to
buy the shelter building or any
other capital expenses, it could
help pay for the day center ser-
vices, or other services.
He said community feed-
back is important to help de-
sign the shelter and respond
to concerns, several of which
were expressed Thursday.
Neighborhood residents said
they were worried about put-
ting the shelter so close to a
school, as well as property
values, and having volunteer
training, and on-site supervi-
sion, especially at night.
Attendees also said that if
the shelter opens, managers
should offer community mem-
bers ways to support it through
donations or volunteer oppor-
tunities.
DeMoe assured those at the
meeting Thursday that more
information and meetings will
follow.
“It’s important for not only
myself, and the congregation
here, but for neighbors to know
that we want to hear from you,
if you are excited about it or if
you have concerns about it,”
he said.
For more information: Polk
County Family & Community
Outreach: 503-623-9664, ext.
2118.
the spring of 2014, shortly after
her children were old enough
to attend.
“My kids had been a part of
the choirs in Dallas and one of
the biggest disappointments
for my son was that there
would be no choir,” Dotson
said. “I thought well, I can just
try an after-school club and see
if there’s an interest.”
There was, and the next fall
the choir was part of the reg-
ular schedule as an elective.
Dotson was still a volunteer,
which excused her from teach-
er certification requirements.
“My degree is in English
literature, not in music, but I
really wanted to provide an
opportunity for my kids to feel
and experience the joy of sing-
ing, and singing in a group,”
Dotson said. “My first year was
wonderful and exciting. I got a
really great pianist to work with
me.” See polkio.com for more.
Music
Continued from Page A1
Dotson said the school
has small class sizes and an
exchange program that sends
students to Japan, but few re-
sources to offer extracurricular
activities.
She started teaching music
as an after-school program in
A7
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — The Polk County
Homeless Connect began in
2012 with the idea to both get
an accurate count of home-
less individuals in the county
and to help get them into
permanent housing.
Soon the event grew to
include assistance for those
considered “at-risk” of becom-
ing homeless. Organizers for
the event, which is Wednes-
day (today) from 9:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. at Valley Life Center,
1795 SE Miller Ave., are taking
it back to its roots: helping the
unsheltered homeless.
Wednesday’s event will
offer medical screenings,
information on benefits and
housing program, bike repair,
camping supplies, showers,
pet care, dental care, clothing,
haircuts, veteran services and
more.
Last year, the point-in-time
count that coincided with the
event tallied 102 sheltered
homeless, meaning they’re
living in cars or camps.
That’s greatly underes-
timated, said Jimmy Jones,
with Mid-Willamette Valley
Community Action Commu-
nity Resource Program. Jones
works with MWVCA’s Arches
Project serving the homeless,
and presented information
about Polk County’s homeless
population Thursday at an
informational meeting for a
proposed veterans’ shelter.
He said the number of
people living in their cars or
camps in Polk County is at
least 300, based on the con-
tacts he’s made and research
he’s done in the last year and
half.
“Essentially the size of the
Polk County homeless pop-
ulation is much larger than
people have understood in
the past,” Jones said. “The
nature of the homeless popu-
lation is much more desperate
than what people have gener-
ally realized in the past.”
That is why the Dallas
Ministerial Association and its
numerous partners organizing
the connect event wanted to
focus on unsheltered home-
less people and families.
“It’s unlikely a one-day
event will end someone’s
homeless journey, but it is
highly likely that someone
takes on hope and makes a
connection that will actually
follow through,” said Heather
Wright, a member of DMA
and the pastor of Dallas’ Liv-
ing Hope City Church.
Transportation is available.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEED-
ED: polkconnectvolunteer@
gmail.com or call 971-599-
3845 for more information.
Donations of sleeping bags,
tents, tarps, flashlights, batter-
ies and new underwear and
socks are needed. Items can
be dropped off at Valley Life
Center, 1795 SE Miller Ave., or
Ace Hardware in West Salem,
820 Wallace Road NW, Salem.
For more information: 503-
623-4116.
HEALTH DIRECTORY
AUDIOLOGY
GENERAL DENTISTRY
MASSAGE
Trust your hearing to those that specialize in hearing
and hearing related disorders. Evan L. Evans, Ph. D,
and Julie B. Evans, AuD are both doctoral level Au-
diologists who have the knowledge, experience and
compassion to provide you with the best care for your
hearing health. We offer free hearing screenings; by
our hearing aid specialist. We offer full & complete di-
agnostic evaluations, counseling and recommenda-
tions by our clinical Audiologists. Other Audiological
services include testing, management and treatment
options for Tinnitus. We have the knowledge and ex-
perience to assist your physician with the diagnosis
of diseases and disorders pertaining to hearing and
the hearing mechanism. We offer wax removal or
cerumen management, Tinnitus testing and Tinnitus
management techniques. An Audiologist, having the
Audiology credentials of the American Academy of
Audiology (F-AAA) and the The American Speech
Hearing and Language Association’s Certificate of
Clinical Competency (CCC-A) is the professional of
choice for anything related to hearing and or hearing
related issues. Serving our hearing impaired since
1980, with two locations to serve you.
Audiology Associates
1343-A Monmouth St., Independence • 503-838-3001
2296 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis • 541-757-2500
• DALLAS FAMILY DENTAL - Benjamin James DDS,
Tom Davis DMD, Les Wheeler DDS. 289 E Ellendale
Ave Ste. 204, Dallas. Dallas Family Dental provides
general and cosmetic dentistry for children and
adults. We are happy to serve as your dental provid-
ers, and are accepting new patients. www.dallasfami-
lydentaloregon.com
• RANDALL C. JONES, DMD - 1004 Monmouth St.,
Independence, OR 503-838-0434. Offering a broad
range of dental services in a relaxed and comfortable
atmosphere. New patients and emergencies wel-
come.
• WESTON K. MORRILL, DMD - 289 E. Ellendale
Suite #201, Dallas. 503-623-6616. Family, preventive,
and cosmetic dentistry. Complete dentistry for the
entire family. Se habla español.
• DR. MICHELLE HASBROOK, DMD - 120 N. At-
water, Monmouth, OR 503-838-2998. Providing all
phases of dental care for children and adults. We wel-
come new patients!
• KENNETH WINOKUR, DMD - 329 South Main
Street Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1633.
High quality service with your comfort in mind. Ni-
trous oxide gas sedation available. www.indepen-
dencedental.org
• OUT OF GRAVITY MASSAGE - Julianne Klingberg
DeForest, LMT - 503.510.2256 - NOW IN INDEPEN-
DENCE Enter Stressed, Leave Blessed - Out of Grav-
ity Massage offers massage sessions to suit a variety
of needs and health concerns. Intuitive and holistic
bodywork are blended with extensive and varied edu-
cation, creating a caring and knowledgeable environ-
ment of healing. Also, with a prescription and a claim
number, up to a year’s therapeutic massage sessions
will help in your rehabilitation from a motor vehicle
accident. Relaxation, well care, geriatric and pediatric
massage is available, as well as motor vehicle accident
rehabilitation. Infant massage instructional sessions
available. Call today for an appointment. 503-510-
2256 OR # 7627/ National #295187-00
CHIROPRACTIC
GYNECOLOGY SERVICES
• JOYNT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC - Dr. Brian
Joynt, DC - 629 Clay Street East, Monmouth, OR
97361 Family-oriented chiropractic clinic, dedicated
to creating an unparalleled experience of service,
quality and care by teaching the true principles of
chiropractic. We look forward to empowering each
of you to help your family participate more fully in
life. New patients welcome. Accept most insurance.
Auto/personal injury and work comp. Massage ther-
apist on site. Complimentary consultations. Call us
today to make your appointment (503) 837-0550.
• THORNTON CHIROPRACTIC - Drs. Sharon and
Marty Thornton - Palmer Graduates - We care,
God cures. 1650 Monmouth St., Independence, OR
97351 • 503-838-3346. Office hours: Mon, Tues &
Fri 8-noon & 2-6 pm; Wed 8 -noon & 2-4 pm; Thurs
2-6 pm. Proudly serving Polk County for over 17
years. Offering Thompson Drop and other hands-on
techniques, as well as Advanced Activator Methods
and Functional Neurology. We provide gentle and ef-
fective full-spine and extremity adjusting for all ages
in a loving and caring environment. We are accepting
new patients for Family Wellness Care, Medicare,
Auto or personal injury & Workers Comp. Licensed
Massage Therapy available on site.
COUNSELING
• CROSS AND CROWN COUNSELING ~ KATE
KOENS, NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian Coun-
selor and Certified Temperament Therapist. Cross
and Crown Counseling offers counseling services to
individuals, couples and families as well as identity
seminars and grief recovery workshops. Our office is
located at 1156 SE Holman Ave. Dallas. Some specif-
ic areas of counsel are adolescent, premarital, mar-
riage, trauma, crisis, grief, depression, anxiety, anger,
divorce, and identity crisis. We help our clients find
healing, learn communication skills, and appropriate
responses to individual and family needs and how
to obtain overall health, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually. We provide a safe and caring environ-
ment to face life situations, address interpersonal and
intrapersonal conflict and help individuals realize
their full potential in order to live decisively with
truth, relevance, perspective, and purpose. For more
information or to schedule an appointment please
call (503) 917-1625 or visit our website at www.cros-
sandcrowncounseling.com
Gynecological care is available in Dallas at the Salem
Health West Valley Specialty Clinic. Gynecologist
Keita Sakon, MD, specializes in gynecology exams
and procedures, including hysteroscopy and laparos-
copy, as well as family planning, abnormal Pap eval-
uation, treatment of pelvic pain, symptom control for
menopause and abnormal periods. Dr. Sakon works
in Dallas on Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
seeing patients at the clinic and performing gyneco-
logical procedures in the Salem Health West Valley
surgical suites. New patients are welcome! Salem
Health West Valley Specialty Clinic is located at 591
SE Clay St., Dallas. Call 503-831-0784 for an appoint-
ment. Visit salemhealth.org/westvalley.
HEARING HEALTH
• JOYFUL SOUND HEARING SERVICES, INC. Mark
Sturtevant, 312 Main Street, Dallas OR, 503-623-0290.
Providing Polk County with hearing solutions for 30
years. Services include: Hearing evaluations, Diag-
nosing hearing loss; Impedance; Fitting all types of
hearing devices, Servicing all makes and models of
hearing aids; Ear inspections; Wax removal; Hearing
protection. Hours: Monday - Thursday 9-4pm. (Fri-
days by appointment only)
ORTHODONTICS
• YENNE & SCHOFIELD - SPECIALISTS IN OR-
THODONTICS - 580 Main Street, Suite E, Dallas, 503-
623-5002. Providing Polk County with orthodontic
care for children and adults for functions and cos-
metics. Open Tuesdays & Thursdays.
PHYSICAL THERAPY/
REHABILITATION SERVICES
• PINNACLE PHYSICAL THERAPY is an orthopedic
physical therapy facility committed to getting great
results for each patient. We focus on advanced spine
care, women’s health issues, sport rehab, vehicle
accidents, and work injuries. We offer highly special-
ized care including manual therapy, aquatic therapy,
specific deep tissue mobilization techniques, Postural
Restoration Institute (PRI) techniques and therapeu-
tic exercise. We have a warm, caring and friendly
staff and accept most private health insurance, auto
insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. We
offer both male and female physical therapists. Often
no physician referral is needed to start care. Call us
today and ask how to get therapy for your condition
or talk to your physician to see if physical therapy is
right for you. Call us: 503-623-2433. We are conve-
niently located at 210 W. Ellendale Avenue Dallas,
Oregon 97338; (next to Taco Bell) Check us out on
the web: www.pinnacle-physicaltherapy.com
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY offers a wide
range of rehabilitation services. Our hospital in Dal-
las, located at 525 SE Washington St. in Dallas, offers
physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech ther-
apy and aquatic therapy (at Dallas Aquatic Center).
503-623-7305. Our clinic in Monmouth offers phys-
ical therapy, occupational therapy and speech ther-
apy. Located at 512 Main St. 503-838-1388. Visit www.
salemhealth.org/westvalley.
IMAGING SERVICES
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY offers state-
of-the-art all-digital diagnostic imaging services.
With your physician’s referral, we provide bone
densitometry, CT scan, fluoroscopy, mammogra-
phy, ultrasound, X-ray and MRI services. Check
out our comfortable and spacious mammography
suite. We are located at 525 SE Washington St.,
Dallas, 503-623-7302.
• DR. CHARLES ESSEX, family medicine, is accept-
ing new patients at Salem Health West Valley Medical
Clinic, located at 512 Main St., Suite 300, Monmouth,
503-838-1182. With a proactive healthcare approach,
Dr. Essex provides care for the entire family and will
work with you to build a healthy lifestyle with annual
exams, immunizations, lifestyle counseling, sports
physicals, skin care, cancer screenings and more.
New patients are welcome.
• DR. JOHN HADLEY, family medicine, is accepting
new patients at the Salem Health West Valley Medical
Clinic at 555 SE Washington St., Dallas, 503-623-7301.
With a proactive healthcare approach, Dr. Hadley
provides offers family medicine for your entire family
from newborns to adults with annual exams, immu-
nizations, lifestyle counseling, sports physicals, skin
care, cancer screenings and more. New patients are
welcome.
LABORATORY SERVICES
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY provides lab
services at two convenient locations in Dallas and
Monmouth. Both labs are fully accredited, provid-
ing collections and testing with healthcare provider
referral. Employment and self-referral drug testing
is offered. The West Valley Hospital lab in Dallas is
open 24 hours, seven days a week, at 525 SE Washing-
ton St., 503-623-7303. The Monmouth lab is located
in the Monmouth Medical Center, 512 Main St., Suite
300, 503-838-1388. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:30
a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed between noon and 1 p.m. Ap-
pointments are not required.
Call the Itemizer-Observer at 503-623-2373
to have your business listed in this directory.