Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 14, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
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Despite loss, Ducks
prove to be winners
Congratulations to head coach Mark Helfrich and every-
one associated with the University of Oregon football team.
While the Ducks came up short in their bid for the Col-
lege Football Playoff National Championship — Oregon
lost to Ohio State 42-20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington,
Texas, on Monday night — the team certainly came up big
winners in the eyes of many of its green and yellow-clad
Quacker Backers.
The attention the national championship game brought
to the Ducks’ football program, the University of Oregon
and the state of Oregon was unprecedented. Many jumped
on board the UO bandwagon, including non-football fans
who certainly enjoyed the ride.
That extra attention will surely pay off in a number of
ways, including the potential increase in student enroll-
ment at Oregon from young men and women across the
nation, and a boost in tourism to our state.
Even in defeat, the Oregon football team made many of
its supporters and others proud.
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. 14
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library 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 Coun-
ty 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.
THURSDAY, JAN. 15
• Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds
and Event Center, Main Building (Meeting Room No. 2), 520 S.
Pacific Highway (99W), Rickreall. 503-623-3048.
• Dallas Economic Development Commission — Noon,
City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Independence Parks and Recreation Board— 6 p.m., In-
dependence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-
838-1212.
• Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
MONDAY, JAN. 19
• Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative Board — 7
p.m., Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative business office,
8585 Suver Road, Monmouth. 503-838-2075.
TUESDAY, JAN. 20
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Falls City School Board — 5:30 p.m., Falls City High School
resource room, 111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St.,
Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Polk County Extension Service District Board — 12:30
p.m., Polk County-OSU Extension Service Office, 289 E. Ellen-
dale Ave., Suite 301, Dallas. 503-623-8395.
• Polk County Public Safety Local Option Tax Hearing — 6
p.m., Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth.
Polk County Board of Commissioners-hosted public forum to
discuss proposed countywide public safety levy. 503-623-8173.
• Luckiamute Valley Charter School Board — 6:30 p.m.,
Luckiamute Valley Charter Schools, Bridgeport Campus, 17475
Bridgeport Road, Dallas. 503-623-4837.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
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
Christmas Cheer
makes a difference
Our goal every year at
Christmas Cheer is to help
families in need in our area
to have a Merry Christmas
by providing them food and,
if possible, some gifts.
We had good indicators
that the number of applicants
may be larger than the 286
families we provided for in
2013 — and it was. For 2014,
we had 325 families and sen-
ior citizens apply for help,
and we can say with pure joy
that all were provided for.
Our goal was met because
many people from all walks
of life, young to old, stepped
up and came together not
just on Christmas Eve morn-
ing, but months prior to the
event. Our schools, local
businesses, churches, civic
groups and individual vol-
unteers gave goods, dollars
and time so the goal could
be reached.
The reward from all the
prior work happens on
Christmas Eve morning.
Without prompting, from
about 5:30 a.m. the volun-
teers start arriving at La Cre-
ole Middle School to sort,
shop, pack and deliver the
holiday food boxes that fill
receiving family’s refrigera-
tors and cupboards. The vol-
unteer count this year was
estimated at 550. What a
great time of reunion and
celebration was had by both
new and returning volun-
teers. It is pure joy to see the
hands and feet of our com-
munity come together to
provide to those in need.
We hope this letter of
thanks gets to all who took
the time to help both finan-
cially and physically, and
also to those who received
the gift of food and toys that
this act of kindness will be
remembered throughout the
new year.
On behalf of our board of
directors, to all the donors
and volunteers, again we say
“thank you” and look for-
ward to seeing you next year.
Warren and Sue Lamb
Dallas Christmas Cheer
Community should
support levy idea
Currently, the Polk County
commissioners are conduct-
ing a series of meetings
around the county to gather
public input on a new pub-
lic safety levy.
I recognize the challenges
the commissioners face. It is
hard to ask for new taxes
when the voter base doesn’t
have a sincere belief in the
value of the services to be
supported.
I know the dedication,
work and energy required to
get voters to support and
fund public services. Twice,
as a city councilor, I asked
Monmouth voters for
money. I campaigned to se-
cure passage of the Mon-
mouth police station bond
and worked with Polk Fire
District No.1 to gain ap-
proval of the recent bond
and levy measures. These
measures passed because
voters came to understand
the community value of the
requests.
More than ever, those of
you who voted for Commis-
sioners Pope, Ainsworth and
Wheeler should stand with
them and show support for
their difficult decision in ask-
ing you for additional taxes.
Let them know that, not only
will you vote “yes” for this
levy, but that you will support
their leadership in this chal-
lenge to make Polk County
safer by helping the commis-
sioners get out the vote.
Polk County cannot wait
for someone else to make us
financially whole.
Call, email or drop by the
commissioner’s office to let
them know you voted for
their leadership and still sup-
port their financial leadership.
Steve Milligan
Monmouth
Learn how public
safety system works
While the talks about the
proposed Polk County pub-
lic safety levy are ongoing, a
person must ask themselves
if this system is worth con-
tinuing or not.
People know they pay
their taxes to the county
treasurer, who then redis-
tributes tax dollars back to
the cities and leaves little for
the general fund, which is
responsible for operating
several key offices that could
benefit every person in Polk
County. Those departments
include: Polk County Sher-
iff’s Office and Jail, district
attorney’s office, juvenile de-
partment and community
corrections.
If enforcement action is
taken by a city police officer,
the case gets sent to the DA’s
office for prosecution and
possibly to community cor-
rections for supervision.
During this time, the offend-
er is being housed in the jail,
ran by the sheriff.
It is important for people
within a city to understand
what occurs after the hand-
cuffs are removed and the
person is taken to jail by
their local police depart-
ment. The cities don’t pay
for this process, yet the pub-
lic expects and demands
these essential functions.
If you have already made
up your mind to not support
public safety, I want to give
you some scenarios to think
about. If you have a police
department, but no district
attorney’s office, where does
that leave you? If you have
no jail, people who commit
crimes will not be held ac-
countable for their actions.
We can’t afford to only
have one or two parts of this
system functioning while the
others aren’t. If the system is
broken, then the public safe-
ty system won’t be able to do
what it is supposed to do,
which is to protect citizens of
the county by holding people
accountable for their actions
and to stand up for rights of
the victims in criminal cases.
Consider supporting the
entire public safety system.
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-471 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/gomberg
Mark Garton
Dallas
Volunteers are key
to tourney success
The third annual Brunner
Invitational, a Dallas High
School wrestling tourna-
ment named after Janet
Brunner, who ran the event
for 20 years, was an exciting
event yet again. This year,
there was a total of seven
teams competing on five
mats in two gyms at Dallas
High on Saturday. The tour-
nament consisted of 378
matches with 125 student-
athletes participating.
Huge kudos to the many
volunteers that assisted. The
tournament would not be
possible without you.
Special thanks to Liz
Dunagan, who has run an
outstanding concessions for
many years, and Betty Jor-
dan, who headed up the
hospitality room.
We are fortunate to live in
a generous community such
as Dallas. DHS wrestling
very much appreciates our
many sponsors: Thrifty Mar-
ket, Lime Berry, Rite Aid,
Mira Mar, Courthouse Café,
Ugo’s Pizza and North Dallas
Bar & Grill.
All admissions and con-
cessions receipts will help
fund the wrestling program.
Thank you for your contin-
ued support, and we hope
to see you next year.
Alice Bibler
Dallas
Rep. Paul Evans
(District 20, Democrat)
H-281 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.paulevans@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/berger
Rep. Mike Nearman
(District 23, Republican)
H-378 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
www.leg.state.or.us/nearman
—
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
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. 2
(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
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Phone: 503-623-2373
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