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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 14, 2015 Polk County News Safety levy is more than a patrol issue By Jolene Guzman Learn More The Itemizer-Observer EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Norman Scott and Harry Stalnaker (front) wait their turns during an elimination round on Sunday. Longtime Independence gun club survives financial issues By Emily Menzter The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Norman Scott remembers the days when he worked as a trap boy at the In- dependence Elks Gun Club. Now, he is a regular participant of the club, which was formed in the mid-1940s. The range is shot- gun-only, and open to the public. For people on the north side of Monmouth and Independence, shotguns going off on Sunday mornings is old hat, but the club was briefly in jeopardy of silencing those sounds, said Scott, 83. “There was a funding issue,” said Rusty Poage, president of the gun club. “We got it all straight- ened out.” The club was sold to the Inde- pendence Elks Lodge for $1 during the Korean War with the under- standing that the Elks would be the governing body, but the club would be open to all shooters, not Pull the Trigger What: Independence Elks Gun Club. Where: On the north side of Hoffman Road, just west of Gun Club Road. When: Second and fourth Sundays of the month, 10 a.m. Cost: $1 range fee; $3 for 25 clay targets. Shells and ear pro- tection are available for pur- chase, or bring your own. Of note: Often, people will have extra shotguns that they will let people borrow, making this something even the non- gun owner can participate in. For more information: Rusty Poage, 541-231-9662; email to rustypoage@gmail.com. just those who were members of the Elks. Through the years, the Elks has not made much investment in the gun club’s facilities, from the old building to the trap throws, Scott said. Recently, the gun club’s money was in jeopardy of being absorbed into the Elks’ general fund. With the gun club’s future again feeling stable, about a dozen men came out to shoot Sunday morn- ing, a small crowd for the gun range sitting on Hoffman Road at the end of Gun Club Road — a co- incidence, Scott said — the road was not named after the club. Before the action started, John Miller of Salem dug through empty, used shotgun shells. He is looking for a particular shape in the hull, straight rather than tapered. “This would be a very expensive hobby if you didn’t reload,” Poage said. “It’s a very fun sport,” Miller added. “It’s expensive, and it’s habit-forming. If you want to learn, come out here and we’ll show you.” FALLS CITY — Polk County’s public safety levy proposal isn’t just about patrols. That was the message both county officials and city residents tried to send at a public hearing in Falls City regarding a possible five- year, 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value tax levy to pay for public safe- ty services. That comes down to about $90 per year on properties with an assessed value of $200,000. “I think that sometimes we don’t think about that piece when we are thinking about this levy,” said Falls City resident Amy Houghtaling, who is the Falls City School Dis- trict’s after-school program direc- tor and the former mayor. “We are only thinking about patrol.” For patrol officers to do their job, the county needs fully staffed dis- trict attorney’s and community corrections offices to prosecute criminals and supervise them once released from jail, she said. At the Jan. 6 hearing held at the Falls City Community Center, draw- ing about 20 people, the system as a whole was characterized as an “um- brella” requiring all parts to work together. The Polk County Jail, dis- trict attorney’s office, community corrections and juvenile depart- ment serve the entire county, not just rural residents covered by Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrols, said Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe. District Attorney Aaron Felton said compared to other similarly sized counties — Polk’s population is approximately 77,000 — his office is the smallest with only four crimi- nal prosecutors. “If this levy were to pass, just on numbers alone, that would be sig- nificant — I call it transformation- al,” Felton said of the levy’s potential to add more prosecutors. “The three additional deputies, criminal prose- cutors, in this office would make a remarkable difference in what we are not able to do right now.” Limited patrol does remain the most visible example of the decline The Polk County Board of Commissioners is continuing its tour of the region with sev- eral more public hearings on the proposed public safety local option tax. Upcoming meetings are scheduled: • Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m., Dallas Civic Center, 945 SE Jeffer- son St., Dallas. • Wednesday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m., Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. • Thursday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m., Chemeketa Viticulture Center, 215 Doaks Ferry Road, West Salem. in public safety funding. Wolfe said his department is down 14 deputies, resulting in just 10 patrol hours per day. That has a direct impact for Falls City because it doesn’t have its own police department. Falls City residents asked what would change if the levy passed. Houghtaling asked if the sheriff would be more responsive to prob- lems like those that arose over the summer, with noise and gun-toting in the city park next to the falls. Most of those issues are addressed in the city’s code, which the sheriff’s office doesn’t have the authority to enforce. Wolfe said if he had more offi- cers available, they would spend more time in Falls City checking in on those situations and talking to residents, but they still wouldn’t be able to address code issues. Mayor Terry Ungricht asked if an intergovernmental agreement giv- ing the sheriff authority to enforce city code, including park curfews, is possible. “I think that would go a long ways to getting support for the levy,” Ungricht said. Wolfe said an agreement is pos- sible, but it all comes down to whether deputies are available. “It doesn’t do me any good to have the agreement if I don’t have the resources to enforce it,” Wolfe said. HEALTH DIRECTORY AUDIOLOGY 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 Audi- ologists 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 manage- ment techniques. An Audiologist, having the Audiol- ogy credentials of the American Academy of Audiology (F-AAA) and the The American Speech Hearing and Language Association’s Certificate of Clinical Compe- tency (CCC-A) is the professional of choice for any- thing related to hearing and or hearing related issues. Serving our hearing impaired since 1980, with two lo- cations to serve you. Audiology Associates 1343-A Monmouth St., Independence • 503-838-3001 2296 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis • 541-757-2500 CHIROPRACTIC • JOYNT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC - Dr. Brian Joynt, DC - 629 Clay Street East, Monmouth, OR 97361 Family-oriented chiropractic clinic, dedicated to cre- ating an unparalleled experience of service, quality and care by teaching the true principles of chiroprac- tic. We look forward to empowering each of you to help your family participate more fully in life. New pa- tients welcome. Accept most insurance. Auto/per- sonal injury and work comp. Massage therapist 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-Fri 8-noon & 2-6 pm. Thurs 2-6pm. 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 effective full-spine and extremity adjusting for all ages in a loving and caring environment. We are ac- cepting new patients for Family Wellness Care, Medicare, Auto or personal injury & Workers Comp. We now have Massage Therapy with Lisa R. Roe L.M.T. #12832 COUNSELING • CROSS AND CROWN COUNSELING ~ KATE KOENS, NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor and Cer- tified Temperament Therapist is accepting new clients at her Dallas and Falls City offices. She works with in- dividuals in a safe environment to help individuals find healing and fulfillment by teaching good commu- nication skills, appreciation for self and others, appro- priate responses to individual and family needs, how to build relationships of trust, appropriate crisis re- sponses, and how to obtain overall family wellness emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Some specific areas of counsel offered are marriage and family, ado- lescent issues, depression, past and present trauma, grief, identity crisis, divorce, childhood losses, and feelings of hopelessness. Our goal is to help individu- als realize their full potential and 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: www.crossand- crowncounseling.com GENERAL DENTISTRY • RANDALL C. JONES, DMD - 1004 Monmouth St., In- dependence, OR 503-838-0434. Offering a broad range of dental services in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. New patients and emergencies welcome. • DR. JOHN D. SHURTZ DDS - 196 Catron Street N., Monmouth,OR 503-838-1800. We are welcoming new patients and we accept most insurance plans! • 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. Atwater, Monmouth, OR 503-838-2998. Providing all phases of dental care for children and adults. We welcome new patients! • KENNETH WINOKUR, DMD - 329 South Main Street Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1633. High quality service with your comfort in mind. Nitrous oxide gas sedation available. www.independencedental.org GENERAL SURGERY SERVICES • WEST VALLEY SURGICAL SPECIALTY CLINIC sur- geon, Dr. Alison Smith, provides general surgery serv- ices for a wide range of needs including breast cancer, gallbladder, biopsies, abdominal surgery, hernia re- pair, appendectomy, as well as colonoscopy. General surgery appointments are scheduled at the clinic on Mondays and Thursdays. Dr. Smith does her surgeries at West Valley Hospital's spacious, state-of-the art new surgical suite. West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic is located at 591 SE Clay St., Dallas. Call 503-831-0784 or fax 503-623-2612. Visit salemhealth.org/specialty. GYNECOLOGY SERVICES Gynecological care is now available in Dallas at the West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic. Gynecologist Keita Sakon, MD, specializes in gynecology exams and procedures, including hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, as well as family planning, abnormal Pap evaluation, treatment of pelvic pain, symptom control for menopause and abnormal periods. Dr. Sakon works in Dallas on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seeing patients at the clinic and performing gynecological procedures in the West Valley Hospital surgical suites. New patients are welcome! West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic is located at 591 SE Clay St., Dallas. Call 503-831-0784 for an ap- pointment. Visit westvalleyhospital.org/specialtyclinic. (UPDATE W/ONLINE APPT URL WHEN AVAILABLE.) 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, Diagnos- ing hearing loss; Impedance; Fitting all types of hear- ing devices, Servicing all makes and models of hearing aids; Ear inspections; Wax removal; Hearing protec- tion. Hours: Monday - Thursday 9-4pm. (Fridays by appointment only) HEART SERVICES • WEST VALLEY HOSPITAL provides heart diagnostic services including electrocardiograms (EKG), pul- monary function tests, cardiac stress tests and echocardiograms with a physician referral. Cardiolo- gists Dr. Raghu Kamineni, Dr. William Stiles and Dr. Kevin Thompson see patients for office visits at West Valley Hospital at 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. For more heart health information, call 503-623-7304. IMAGING SERVICES • WEST VALLEY HOSPITAL offers state-of-the-art all- digital diagnostic imaging services. With your physi- cian's referral, we provide your bone densitometry, CT scan, fluoroscopy, mammography, ultrasound, X-ray and MRI services. Check out our new comfortable and spacious mammography suite. We are located at 525 SE Washington St., Dallas, 503-623-7302. LABORATORY SERVICES • DALLAS FAMILY MEDICINE has maintained a fully accredited laboratory for decades, along with X-Ray capabilities, including the specialized X-Ray to evalu- ate bone density, known as DEXA. We also offer many point-of-care tests including EKG, oximetry, protime, and spirometry. Our lab and diagnostic services are available to our patients Monday to Friday 7:30-4:00 at 641 SE Miller Ave, Dallas - 503.623.2345. Learn More at dfmCARE.com • WEST VALLEY HOSPITAL provides lab services at two convenient locations in Dallas and Monmouth. Both labs are fully accredited, providing collections and testing with healthcare provider referral. Employ- ment 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 Washington St., 503-623-7303. The Monmouth lab is located in the Monmouth Med- ical Center, 512 Main St., Suite 300, 503-838-1388. It is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed be- tween noon and 1 p.m. Appointments are not re- quired.