Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 7, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
How to
Contact
Officials
Charitable giving
a year-round affair
Another Christmas has come and gone. Thanks to the
hard work of a number of groups and individuals in and
around Polk County, the holiday was a little more joyous for
those less fortunate in our communities.
But Christmastime makes up just a small part of the 365
days on the calendar, and the need for assistance by mem-
bers of our communities doesn’t magically disappear after
the holidays are over at the snap of a finger.
Just because the local school isn’t conducting a food
drive or you don’t see a Salvation Army bellringer outside
your favorite store doesn’t mean the demand for help has
ended.
By nature, people seem most charitable during the
Christmas holiday season or following a natural disaster.
But it shouldn’t take a holiday or a catastrophic event to
bring out the best in people. The need exists throughout
the year.
Please do your part and donate food, clothing or make a
monetary contribution to those agencies who help our
neighbors in need. And if you cannot afford to help in those
ways, consider a donation of your time. A number of groups
are looking for volunteers to help meet their demands.
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County.
To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the
actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503-
623-2395) or email (kholland@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central
Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
• Polk County Public Safety Local Option Tax Hearing — 6
p.m., Grand Ronde Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde. Polk County Board of Commissioners-hosted pub-
lic forum to discuss proposed countywide public safety levy.
503-623-8173.
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-837-0237.
• Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community
Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631.
MONDAY, JAN. 12
• Dallas School Board — 3 p.m., Dallas High School, 1250 SE
Holman Ave., Dallas. 503-623-9664, ext. 2334.
• Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative Board — 7 p.m.,
Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative business office, 8585
Suver Road, Monmouth. 503-838-2075.
• Perrydale School Board — 7 p.m., Perrydale School, 7445
Perrydale Road, Amity. 503-623-2040.
TUESDAY, JAN. 13
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m.,
Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-0030.
• Dallas Planning Commission — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE
Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Kings Valley Charter School Board — 7 p.m., Kings Valley
Charter School, 38840 Kings Valley Highway, Kings Valley. 541-
929-2134.
• Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14
• Monmouth Library Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth Public Li-
brary meeting room, 168 S. Ecols St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Polk County Public Safety Local Option Tax Hearing — 6
p.m., Dallas Civic Center, 945 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Polk County
Board of Commissioners-hosted public forum to discuss pro-
posed countywide public safety levy. 503-623-8173.
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board — 6 p.m.,
USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-9680.
• Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
GOVERNOR
Gov. John Kitzhaber (Dem.)
160 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4582
Email: via website,
http://governor.oregon.gov/
—
STATE LEGISLATORS
Sen. Arnie Roblan
(District 5, Democrat)
S-417 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/roblan
Sen. Jackie Winters
(District 10, Republican)
S-301 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1710
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/winters
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Political correctness
spoiling Christmas
With the beauty of the
Christmas season we just
enjoyed, I wanted to com-
ment on some things that I
observed this year, along
with a revisiting of Christ-
mases in Dallas of years
gone by.
First, I’d like to say a huge
“thank you” to Janice and
Judy for displaying the na-
tivity scene we have seen in
the window of Guy’s Gifts
and then, more recently,
Plain and Fancy. Even
though the business is gone
now, you two gals put in
extra time and energy to set
this lovely scene up for
those of us who have en-
joyed it over the years.
As a person who was born
and raised in Dallas, I have
many great memories of
past Christmases. Other
folks I have visited with re-
call seeing the nativity scene
that was placed on the Polk
County Courthouse lawn
during the month of De-
cember. I miss this, too, and
have wondered whatever
happened to this special set
and who made the decision
to take it away. Another ob-
servation was the replace-
ment of wishing the com-
munity a “Merry Christmas”
on the school signs.
I feel we have become so
sensitive to political correct-
ness that we are missing out
on the most important areas
of positive joy that could be
ours as a community.
Jerry Thiessen
Dallas
Homeowners should
attend city meeting
All residents and home-
owners of Independence are
invited to attend our Jan. 13
city council meeting at 7:30
p.m. at the Civic Center.
At the December meeting,
questions were raised about
homeowners required to pay
water base rate and sewer
fees that average $85 per
month on a vacant home.
This means any home that
sits empty between tenants
or for months, possibly
years, waiting to be sold is
still required to pay this
monthly expense for unused
services.
Where is this money
going? David Clyne, city
manager, will report on
questions that were asked. A
letter has also been submit-
ted to the mayor asking for
all documentation as to
when, why and how the de-
cision to charge these ex-
treme rates were made and
implemented.
Who can afford to pay an
average of $85 per month on
a vacant home that is not
bringing any revenue? It is
imperative that every home-
owner who has experienced
this expense on a vacant
home or may in the future
attend this meeting and get
some answers.
If you wonder what this
money is paying for since no
water/sewer services are
being used at a vacant prop-
erty, this would be a great
way to find out. Don’t sit
idle; attend this meeting and
express your concerns by
being present or stand up
and say what you feel. If you
have any information rela-
tive to this issue, you may
want to address them at this
meeting.
As homeowners and tax-
payers of the city of Inde-
pendence, we have a right to
know how this money is
being used and why we have
to pay for utilities at a va-
cant property. Most cities do
not charge a non-use fee, es-
pecially to this extreme. We
must stand together to be
heard. We urge you to at-
tend.
The evening of Dec. 19,
an employee at North Dallas
Bar & Grill had her Toyota
pickup stolen. The same
night, not far away, another
Toyota pickup was stolen.
If these were kids out joy
riding and they are caught,
they need to be punished,
not just a slap on the wrists.
The parents need to take re-
sponsibility for the actions
of their children and be
punished as well.
Rehabilitation is to make
them never want to go
through this again, not send
them to a camp or doctor to
talk out their problems. Put
their pictures and names in
the paper. Make their pun-
ishment very public.
If this was done by profes-
sionals, then it is the fault of
the community for not pay-
ing attention to what is going
on. You voted down a levy to
raise money for the sheriff so
he could have coverage 24/7.
Sheriff Bob Wolfe is a dedi-
cated law enforcement offi-
cer who is paid less than the
police chiefs of Independ-
ence, Monmouth and Dallas.
It is time that the residents
of Polk County step forward
and pay attention to what is
going on in Polk County. The
county gives more money to
social programs that should
go to the sheriff’s office.
With a staffed sheriff’s office,
we will not need the social
programs.
Remember the next time
you need the sheriff’s de-
partment and they aren’t
available. If you didn’t vote
for the levy it is your fault, as
well as all the others that did
not vote the levy in.
Parents, you are responsi-
ble for what your children
do. Do not count on the vil-
lage or a baby sitter to take
care of them.
Larry and Victoria Kruljac
Independence
Ted Campbell
West Salem
Public responsible
for crime in area
Sen. Brian Boquist
(District 12, Republican)
S-305 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1712
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/boquist
Rep. David Gomberg
(District 10, Democrat)
H-371 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/gomberg
Rep. Vicki Berger
(District 20, Republican)
H-479 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.vickiberger@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/berger
Rep. Jim Thompson
(District 23, Republican)
H-388 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.jimthompson@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/thompson
—
U.S. CONGRESS
Sen. Ron Wyden (Dem.)
221 Dirksen SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
Salem office: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer letters
will be edited.
Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
scene or in bad taste will not be
printed. Attacks by name on
businesses or individuals will
not be printed.
Letters to the editor that are
obvious promotions for a busi-
ness, products or services will
not be printed.
The Itemizer-Observer does
not guarantee the accuracy of
facts presented by letter writers;
dissenters are welcome to re-
spond. Letter writers who dis-
agree with other published let-
ter writers should maintain a
civil discourse and address the
subject, not the author.
Letters, like all editorial mate-
rial submitted to the newspaper,
are edited for length, grammar
and content.
Letters must include the au-
thor’s name, address and tele-
phone number. This includes
letters submitted via the I-O’s
website. Names and cities of res-
idence are published; street ad-
dresses and telephone numbers
are used for verification pur-
poses only.
Letters must be submitted
from individuals, not organiza-
tions, and must be original sub-
missions to the I-O, not copies of
letters sent to other media.
Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and organi-
zations are limited to 10 names.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is Monday at 10 a.m.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (Dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem office: 495 State St. SE,
Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
Rep. Kurt Schrader (Dem.)
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5711
Fax: 202-225-5699
Salem office: 544 Ferry St. SE,
Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-9100
Fax: 503-588-5517
Email: via website,
www.schrader.house.gov
—
POLK COUNTY
Board of Commissioners
850 Main St.
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173
www.co.polk.or.us
—
CITIES
Dallas
187 SE Court St.
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2338
www.ci.dallas.or.us
Falls City
299 Mill St.
Falls City, OR 97344
503-787-3631
www.fallscityoregon.gov
Independence
555 S. Main St.
Independence, OR 97351
503-838-1212
www.ci.independence.or.us
Monmouth
151 W. Main St.
Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-0722
www.ci.monmouth.or.us
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 140, No. 1
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards
from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Periodicals postage paid at
Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR.
Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street
Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $27
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33
Outside of Oregon — One Year $38
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in adver-
tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement
which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
NEWSROOM
Nancy Adams ...............Publisher ...........................................................................nadams@polkio.com
Kurt Holland..................Managing Editor...........................................................kholland@polkio.com
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
Emily Mentzer ..............Monmouth/Independence Reporter ..................ementzer@polkio.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING
Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com
Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com
Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com
CLASSIFIED LINE ADVERTISING
Dawn Ohren .....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com
PRODUCTION
Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com
Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com
BOOKKEEPING
Pat Letsch ......................................................................................................................pletsch@polkio.com
Web: www.polkio.com
Phone: 503-623-2373
Fax: 503-623-2395